1That is another Question, and meet to be considered by the persons whom it concerneth: but not much material to the cause. The persons surprised in a ship by pirates whom they are not able to resist, may submit to this power which they cannot neither overcome, nor avoid: But Ministers and People, if they cannot overcome such usurped power in the Church (which now by the help of Christ they begin to do by the aide of some superior Power,) yet they may avoid it, by seeking the liberty of their consciences, and of their Churches, in some foreign Countries or Plantations. Neither can any men so lawfully give away upon any terms, the liberty of their consciences, and of their Churches, as they may give away the possession of their goods. But to speak to the cause in hand, though it be granted that the Patron and Bishop do unlawfully usurp such Power, and that the Ministers and people do unlawfully also submit to it: yet such adventitious & accidental corruptions of the Persons do not make void the spiritual true, and holy calling, which the Ministers receive from Christ, nor make their administrations dispensed in that calling to be of none effect. Nay verily their calling and the work of it (for the substance •hereof) God hath borne witness to it from heaven, by setting the seal of his blessing upon their labours in the Ministry. The Apostle Paul proveth himself to be sent of Christ, to the Corinthians ⟨p. 173⟩especially, by the conversion of many of them unto God by his Ministry. Though I be not an Apostle to others (saith he) yet doubtless I am unto you: for the seal of mine Apostleship are ye in the Lord, 1 Cor. 9.1.2. with Chap. 4.15, 16. By the same Argument Paul gathered that the Gospel of the Circumcision was committed to Peter, and the Gospel of the uncircumcision to himself, because of the gracious and effectual power of Christ, which breathed in his Ministry to the Gentiles, and in Peters Ministry to the Jews. Peter, James, and John, they saw (saith he) that the Gospel of the uncircumcision was committed to me, and the Gospel of the Circumcision unto Peter: For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the Apostleship of the Circumcision, the same was mighty in me to the Gentiles, Gal. 2.7, 8, 9.
1That is another Question, and meete to be considered by the persons whom it concerneth: but not much materiall to the cause. The persons surprized in a ship by pirates whom they are not able to resist, may submit to this power which they cannot neither overcome, nor avoid: But Ministers and People, if they cannot overcome such usurped power in the Church (which now by the helpe of Christ they begin to doe by the aide of some superior Power,) yet they may avoide it, by seeking the liberty of their consciences, and of their Churches, in some foraine Countries or Plantations. Neither can any men so lawfully give away upon any termes, the liberty of their consciences, and of their Churches, as they may give away the possession of their goods. But to speake to the cause in hand, though it be granted that the Patron and Bishop doe unlawfully usurpe such Power, and that the Ministers and people doe unlawfully also submit to it: yet such adventitious & accidentall corruptions of the Persons doe not make void the spirituall true, and holy calling, which the Ministers receive from Christ, nor make their administrations dispensed in that calling to bee of none effect. Nay verily their calling and the worke of it (for the substance •hereof) God hath borne witnesse to it from heaven, by setting the seale of his blessing upon their labours in the Ministery. The Apostle Paul proveth himself to be sent of Christ, to the Corinthians ⟨p. 173⟩especially, by the conversion of many of them unto God by his Ministery. Though I bee not an Apostle to others (saith hee) yet doubtlesse I am unto you: for the seale of mine Apostleship are ye in the Lord, 1 Cor. 9.1.2. with Chap. 4.15, 16. By the same Argument Paul gathered that the Gospell of the Circumcision was committed to Peter, and the Gospell of the uncircumcision to himselfe, because of the gracious and effectuall power of Christ, which breathed in his Ministery to the Gentiles, and in Peters Ministery to the Jewes. Peter, James, and John, they saw (saith hee) that the Gospell of the uncircumcision was committed to mee, and the Gospell of the Circumcision unto Peter: For hee that wrought effectually in Peter to the Apostleship of the Circumcision, the same was mighty in mee to the Gentiles, Gal. 2.7, 8, 9.
- 1Silvanus.
