Five disputations of church-government and worship

Sect. 8. And remember again, that it is not in the Power of Magistrates, Ordainers, People and all to make a Minister of Christ, of a man that wanteth the Essential Qualifications: Ex qu•vis ligno non fit Mercurius. He that is not qualified for the works Essential to a Minister, cannot by Ordination be made a Minister: No more then the bare stamp can make currant money of a piece of lead, when the Law makes the Metal Essential to currant Coin: And no more then a license will make him a School-master that cannot read: or him a Pilot, that knows not how to Rule the ship: saith Cyprian ubi sup. [Sed enim desiderio huic vestro, non tam nostra concilia, quam Divina praecepta respondent; quibus jampridem mandatur voce caelesti, & Dei lege prescribitur, quos & quales oporteat deservire altari, & Sacrificia Divina celebrare. (Here he citeth Scripture) Quae cum praedicta & manifesta sint nobis praeceptis Divinis necesse est obsequia nostra deserviant: Nec personam in ejusmodi rebus accipere, aut aliquid cuiquam largiri potest humana indulgentia ubi intercedit, & legem tribuit Divina praescriptio.] God gives not men authority to contradict his Law, or to Ordain a man uncapable of Ordination; nor introduce the form, where the matter is undisposed for it.

Sect. 8. And remember again, that it is not in the Power of Magistrates, Ordainers, People and all to make a Minister of Christ, of a man that wanteth the Essential Qualifications: Ex qu•vis ligno non fit Mercurius. He that is not qualified for the works Essential to a Minister, cannot by Ordination be made a Minister: No more then the bare stamp can make currant money of a piece of lead, when the Law makes the Mettal Essential to currant Coin: And no more then a license will make him a School-master that cannot read: or him a Pilot, that knows not how to Rule the ship: saith Cyprian ubi sup. [Sed enim desiderio huic vestro, non tam nostra concilia, quam Divina praecepta respondent; quibus jampridem mandatur voce caelesti, & Dei lege prescribitur, quos & quales oporteat deservire altari, & Sacrificia Divina celebrare. (Here he citeth Scripture) Quae cum praedicta & manifesta sint nobis praeceptis Divinis necesse est obsequia nostra deserviant: Nec personam in ejusmodi rebus accipere, aut aliquid cuiquam largiri potest humana indulgentia ubi intercedit, & legem tribuit Divina praescriptio.] God gives not men authority to contradict his Law, or to Ordain a man uncapable of Ordination; nor introduce the form, where the matter is undisposed for it.