Five disputations of church-government and worship

Sect. 4. There is considerable in the Ministry, 1. Beneficium. 2. Officium. 1. The Gospel, pardon, salvation-Ordinances are those great Benefits to the sons of men, which the Ministry is to be a means of conveying to them: And is it self a Benefit as it is the means of these Benefits. In this respect the Ministry is a Gift of Christ to the Church, and his Donation is the necessary act for their Ministration. But of this gift the Church is the subject. He giveth Pastors to his Church. 2. But in conjunction with the Churches Mercies, the Minister himself also partakes of mercy: It is a double Benefit to him to be both receptive with them of the blessing of the Gospel, and to be instrumental for them in the conveyance, and to be so much exercised in so sweet and honourable, though flesh-displeasing and endangering work. As in giving Alms, the giver is the double receiver; and in all works for God, the greatest Duties are the greatest Benefits; so is it here. And thus the making of a Minister is a Donation or act of bounty to himself. Christ giveth to us the Office of the Ministry, as he giveth us in that office to the Church. As a Commanders place in an Army is a place of Trust and Honour and Reward, and so the matter of a gift, though the work be to fight and venture life.

Sect. 4. There is considerable in the Ministry, 1. Beneficium. 2. Officium. 1. The Gospel, pardon, salvation-Ordinances are those great Benefits to the sons of men, which the Ministery is to be a means of conveying to them: And is it self a Benefit as it is the means of these Benefits. In this respect the Ministry is a Gift of Christ to the Church, and his Donation is the necessary act for their Ministration. But of this gift the Church is the subject. He giveth Pastors to his Church. 2. But in conjunction with the Churches Mercies, the Minister himself also partakes of mercy: It is a double Benefit to him to be both receptive with them of the blessing of the Gospel, and to be instrumentall for them in the conveyance, and to be so much exercised in so sweet and honourable, though flesh-displeasing and endangering work. As in giving Alms, the giver is the double receiver; and in all works for God, the greatest Duties are the greatest Benefits; so is it here. And thus the making of a Minister is a Donation or act of bounty to himself. Christ giveth to us the Office of the Ministry, as he giveth us in that office to the Church. As a Commanders place in an Army is a place of Trust and Honour and Reward, and so the matter of a gift, though the work be to fight and venture life.