CHRIST'S Commiſſion-Officer: OR, AN Ordination-Sermon.

THeſe two Epiſtles of Timo­thy, and the next to Titus; what are they, but Paul's Directory for the regu­lar continuance, and re­verend carriage of the Goſpel-Miniſtry? Two things he infi­ſle•h upon principally: The inveſtitu•e2 of ſome with the Office of Miniſters, the imployment of ſuch in this Office. How and on whom Timothy and Titus ſhall confer it, and how themſelves and thoſe ſhould carry themſelves in it: what was their part for delegating men to the Miniſtry, and what muſt be their own and others part and demeanour in the Miniſtry. Theſe things are very accu­rately and abundantly interſperſed.

Lo, it is not enough (without further preface) that Timothy in theſe, and Titus in the next Epiſtle look how they do comport themſelvs, but they muſt com­mit this ſacred truſt to others; the ne­ceſſity of the Miniſtry is ſo eminent: and this with the beſt-ſighted caution, and moſt ſtudious circumſpection, the nature of the Miniſtry is likewiſe ſo excellent. This, this beloved & much reverenced; which is the end of your preſent conven­tion, is Paul's charge, and muſt be Timo­thie's care in this verſe. The things that thou haſt heard of me among many witneſſes, the ſame commit thou, &c.

Four things wuſt be here briefly enqui­red into. 1. The matters or things which are to bee committed. 2. The manner3 how? 3. The man by whom. 4. The men to whom theſe things are to bee committed.

Firſt, what are the things which Timothy muſt commit? Paul tells him, The things that thou haſt heard of me, the ſame com­mit thou. But whether thoſe which hee had heard from Paul publickly and o­penly in his preaching, or more particu­larly thoſe at his own ordination, when hee was put into the Miniſtry by Paul,^a)a)2 Tim. 1.6. together with the Presbytery,^b)b)1 Tim. 4.14. be the chief or only things in our Apoſtles eye, it is not expreſſed: The enſuing words beſpeak the laſt (at leaſt partly, if not) principally intended. Ti­mothy it is plain, is not only charged in theſe Epiſtles with teaching others, but with or­daining teachers: And no doubt, but with committing unto others the Office to teach, he is to commit ſuch Goſpel-truths by teaching, as ſhall be of beſt, and moſt inſer­viency, to their holy and happy conduct, throughout the difficulties, and diſcharge of their office of Teachers. A point of eaſie obſervation, and eminent uſe, which could not probably be omitted at the Apoſtles Or­dination of Timothy, that hath obtained2〈1 page duplicate〉3〈1 page duplicate〉2〈1 page duplicate〉3〈1 page duplicate〉4well-nigh an univerſall concurrence, at eve­ry Ordination ſince.

Secondly, but how muſt Timothy com­mit theſe things? 〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. It would be little other than a waſt of precious time, and of your patience, to produce the ſe­verall Scriptures in which, or purpoſes to which, this word is uſed. There are but two ſenſes (I humbly conceive) that can with any probability bee tendered here: viz. Either that Timothy commit theſe things to others in way of doctrine only, by teaching and opening theſe things to them; or in way of delegation alſo; and ſpeciall truſt, as the word is often uſed;^c)c)1 Tim. 1 18. cum 2 Tim. 1.14. Lu. 12 48. 〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The ophyla­ctus hoc diſcrimen conſtituit in verbis〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Illud accipit de miraculorū doni, boc verò de Mi­nillerio. vi de•plura a­pud Bezam ad loc. & Leigh. Crit. ſac. ad ver­bum. truſting theſe things with them as Officers, who are to teach others, and muſt therefore be a depoſito­ry and treaſure-houſe of divine truths for others. This latter ſenſe, which emi­nently taketh in the committing of the Of­fice to teach, is that which to me ſeems, moſt eſpecially in our Apoſtles deſign and purpoſe, for theſe two reaſons. Be­cauſe, 1. This moſt openly correſponds, not only to the ſubject in hand, but to the ſcope of the whole: both Epiſtles being to direct Timothy, eſpecially about5 publick Ordinances and Officers: how he ſhall Ordain Officers, and how theſe and himſelf ſhall order the affairs of their Office. 2. This hath the moſt ob­vious, if not the only countenance from the Characters given us, of the men to whom Timothy is to commit theſe things which are immediately ſubjoined. For if Timothy were to commit theſe things to them only, in way of doctrinal teach­ing; what need or uſe was there, of ſo ſevere a reſtriction, or of ſuch ſpeciall qualifications, as we read added? faith­full men, able to teach others alſo: which Gilleſpy in his Miſcellany Queſtions, Col­lins in his Vindiciae, and the London Mi­niſters in their Jus Divinum Miniſterii Evangelici, do very well obſerve. No doubt, but as to the doctrinall teaching of theſe things, Timothy was no leſs a debtor, than was Paul to the Barbarian, as well as Greek; to the unlearned, as well as learned; both to the wiſe, and to the unwiſe, Rom. 1.14. So that Timo­thy is to cōmit theſe things, more than in way, of doctrine only: He is to com­mit them in way of delegation alſo, un­to ſuch faithfull men, as ſhall be able to6 teach others: which cannot rationally be underſtood, of other than publick and authoritative teaching; if either 1. the quality of the men, or 2. the contents and aim of theſe Epiſtles, which concern publick tranfactions in the Church, eſpecially publick teachers: or if 3. the command it ſelf be duly weighed: fo•ſuch as are to teach but privately, an•from grounds of charity only, need n•ſuch commitment of theſe things t•them; nor needs it that there be ſuch choyce of men: this being every ma•and womans duty, Heb 5.12. Nor ca•any thing be juſtly impleaded, from the Apo­ſtles uſe of the future tenſe, [who ſhall b•able to teach others alſo] for though tha•they ſhal be able to teachothers, be neceſſari•antecedent to the commitment of the Office•ſenſu phyſico, i. e. that they ſhal have abi•lities to teach: yet it followeth, the commit­ment of the Office, ſenſu morali, i. e. tha•they ſhall uſe ſuch abilities ordinarily, or b•able to teach others, acceptably, and lawful­ly: remembring ſtill that old, honeſt, an•veceived principle. Illud tantum poſſumu•quod jure poſſumus. We are able to do n•more, than we are able in Law, or may〈◊〉7lawfully. And thus our text aptly corre­ſponds to that of the ſame Apoſtle, Rom. 10. verſ. 15. How ſhall they preach except they be ſent? i. e. how ſhall they preach warrantably? Abilities they muſt have before ſending, but ſending veſts them with authority. So that the words ſpeak as much in effect as this; Doth Timothy know ſuch as are faithfull and fit, or a­ble to teach others; he muſt commit theſe things to them, as Truſtees for others. Doth he find any ſo qualified for the Of­fice to teach, hee muſt leave them Com­miſſioned to this Office: Are they quali­fied with fidelity and ability, Timothy muſt commit to them a furniture of au­thoriy.

Thirdly, but how muſt Timothy com­mit theſe things, this Office to them? What! he only? he, and none but hee? No, we never find the Miniſtry commit­ted to any, by a ſingle perſon; but ſtill it is done by ſeverall in ſociety. We al­ways read of more than one concurring to it, and never remember leſs than two: And thoſe are no leſs than were Paul & Barna­bas, Act. 14.23. The Twelve are aſſociates in it, Acts 6.2, 3, 6. and it is the joint act8 of how many teachers and Prophets? Act. 13.1, 2, 3. The ſeat and ſubject of this power, is not a Presbyter; but the Presbytery, 1 Tim. 4.14. Can we ratio­nally think, that Paul doth require Ti­mothy to commit the Miniſtry to others, ſo as recedes from, and hath no conſi­ſtency with the practice of Paul in the ſame caſe, upon Timothy himſelf? Well, and who of us doth not remember, that Timothy received his Commiſſion, no ton­ly by the laying on of Paul's hands, but of the Presbytery likewiſe? 2 Tim. 1, 6. and 1 Tim. 4.14. True 'tis, that Titus is to Ordain Elders,〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, City by City, where the Churches were planted, and their condition called for it; but with this proviſo, as Paul had appointed him. Tit. 1.5. And who can think, that Paul's appointments, and Paul's actions ſhould ſo little accord, or ſo much inter­fere? that Paul ſhould order either Titus there, or Timothy here, to do that ſingly by himſelf, which Paul an Apoſtle never did (if I may not ſay, never durſt) but in ſociety? It is granted, that this com­mand did concern Timothy eminently, and ſignally above others; but not ex­cluſively,9 ſo as to ſhut out all others. It muſt be done by others likewiſe, though it be directed to, and is to be directed by him eſpecially, as one that had an emi­nent and ſpeciall truſt, about the orde­ring of this and all other Church affairs being by office an Evangeliſt. 2 Tim. 4.5.

Fourthly. Yet once more; to whom muſt Timothy commit this truſt, theſe things in way of office? What? to all the Congregation? No: There muſt be ſome to be taught, as well as others ſent forth to teach. What then? to any of whatever qualification? Nor this. They muſt be at leaſt men of a good life, faith­full men; yea, and men of good learning too, that ſhall be able to teach others alſo.

The text thus opened, the truth is ob­vious, which I ſhall at this time take up, or obſerve from it.

Obſerv. Thoſe that are authorita­tively from Chriſt, in his Church, to teach others, muſt have that Office com­mitted to them, as well as bee qualified for that Office.

How orient (me thinks) is this obſer­vation in all its truths from the text! Lo, 1. Some there muſt be in the Church,10 who are authoritatively from Chriſt to teach others. But then 2. That there may be ſuch in the Church who are from Chriſt to teach authoritatively, they muſt have the Office committed to them by ſome Timothy. Yet 3. Timothy may not give Commiſſion to this Office, un­leſſe he find qualifications for this Office. Timothy may not dare to confer authori­ty on any, without due cognizance firſt had, both of their fidelity and ability. Well, 4. Hath God qualified any with fidelity and ability; yet though they are able to teach others, they may not acceptably teach others in the ſenſe mentioned, (unleſſe for proof of thoſe abilities) untill Timothy hath from God committed to them authority likewiſe.

But to lead you further abroad. Give me leave to open and offer to you, theſe five things, and thereto lend me I beſeech you, your moſt ſtrict and ſerious atten­tion. 1. There muſt bee ſome in the Church who are by Office from Chriſt authoritatively to teach others. 2. They muſt be qualified for this Office. 3. They muſt have this Office cōmitted to them. 4. How it muſt be cōmitted. And 5. Why11 it muſt be committed to them.

Firſt, there are to be ſome in the Church, who are by Office authoritative­ly from Chriſt to teach others. I ſay by Office; but this not civil, but ſpiritual. Officers wee are, not in the Common­wealth, but in the Church, to which Chriſt hath promiſed. I will alſo make thy Officers peace, Iſa. 60.17. Thus bre­thren and beloved, we may with Paul magnifie our Office. ^**Rom. 11.13.An Office the Mi­niſtry is, 1 Tim. 3.1. Yea, ſuch is the Deaconſhip, ver. 10.13. and therefore this much more, which as to your want, and its worth doth ſo much tranſcend that, as the Apoſtles intimate Act. 6.2. What leſſe than this? [that it is an Of­fice] doth Paul aſſert of his own Mini­ſtry? Rom. 11.13. or aſſure the Saints of ours? when he tells them, Rom. 12.4. That as we have many members in one body naturall, and all members have not the ſame Office; ſo 'tis in the body myſti­call too, ver. 5.6. wherein Deacons, Pa­ſtors, Teachers, and Rulers be in diſtinct Office, as the 7. and 8. verſes import. So that Preachers are by Office diſtinct from and dignified above the people. Are12 all Teachers ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 12.29. It is no more poſſible that all be Mi­niſters or Teachers in the body ſpiritual, than that all be Magiſtrates in the body civill; or that all be Officers in the body military; or that all the members be eye or tongue, in the body naturall: If all may be Teachers, where are the others to be taught? of whom this Text tells us. Need I mention the practice under the Law, the Prophecies then touching the Goſpel, or the precedents left us in the times of the Goſpel? He that runs may read, a conſtant diſcretion between the Prieſts and people then, between Pastor and people now, between the members of the Church, and the Miniſters of the Church in both. To the Law and to the Teſtimony. And here how eminent a difference hath the Holy Ghoſt made! Miniſters of the Church are to be overſeers, members of the Church to be overſeen, Acts 20.28. Theſe are ſet under, thoſe ſaid to be over them in the Lord, 1 Theſ. 5.12. Theſe are to ſubmit, thoſe to preſide and rule, Heb. 13.7, 17. Briefly, theſe to bee taught, the other to teach, Galat. 6. ver. 6.

Yea, teach we muſt not only with aſſi­duity, but with authority. With authority I ſay, not magiſterial indeed, as if we were Lords over the Church; 1 Pet. 5.3. That is interdicted: Mar. 10.42. but Mini­ſtertall, as over the Church in the Lord; 1 Theſ. 5.12. this is incouraged. Heb. 13.17. Far! far be it, that we ſhould preach up ſuch an authority, as if we had dominion over your faith! 2 Cor. 1.24. No, all the authority which we plead for, is the diſpenſation (not domination) committed to us, for the good of the faith­full. 1 Cor. 9.17. The authority which the Lord hath given us, is for your edifi­cation, and not for your deſtruction, 2 Cor. 10.8. And with this reſtriction, and un­der this reſpect, let me tell you; that we are to teach, and exhort, and rebuke, not only with authority, but with all authority, Tit. 2.15. and there is not that holy Miniſter, but may ſpeak wi•h holy Mi­cah, according to his meaſure: Truly I am full of power by the ſpirit of the Lord, & of judgment, and of might to declare un­to Jacob his tranſgreſſion, & unto Iſrael his ſin Mic. 3.8. True it is, that all Church­members ought to be teachers of others. 14Heb. 5.12. But this private and chari­tative: Chriſt hath therefore over and above, appointed in his Church ſuch tea­ing likewiſe, as may be publick and autho­ritative. i.e. that there be ſuch teachers, who are by power and authority derived from him to them, publickly to open and apply the Scriptures, for the converſion and edificati­on of ſouls; as in his ſtead, and not only in private, 'Where yet, ſuch in teaching are properly enough ſaid to preach, though it be in a private houſe. Act. 5.42. or but to one particular perſon; Act. 8.35.it being not ſimply an act of 'charity in them, but an act of authori­ty, which it cannot be ſaid to be in o­thers.Charitative teaching which ſhould be every mans work, too ſoon be­cometh no mans work. And therefore, Chriſt hath ordained, that there be pe­culiar officers for authoritative teaching, who are to give themſelvs wholly to it, 1 Tim. 4.15. and muſt not only be able to teach, as the Text ſpeaks; but muſt be apt to teach, 2 Tim. 2.24. and abide in teaching. 1 Tim. 4.16. And unto theſe teachers, all people are bound to attend, as thoſe that teach not only by a­bility,15 but by authority derived from Jeſus Chriſt. Luke 12.16. Indeed, how ſhall they hear without a preacher ſent? Rō. 10.14, 15