Before I come to speak to the dignity of ministers, I shall answer an objection or two against what hath been said.
Object 1. If none but such as have an outward call are to preach, what call had the first reformers ? I answer —
1 . The first leformers, most of them had a lawful call, being pastors and teachers before the reformation ; and though they had it from antichrist, as some plead, or the popish clergy, yet that did not make it less valid. The apostles say of Judas, Acts i. 17, ' He was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.' Wicked Judas, in
Joro ecclesim, was a true and lawful apostle, and whatever he did by virtue of his office was valid and lawful. So the Roman clergy, they have obtained part of this ministry with us, and inforo ecclesice, at least before the reformation, were lawful ministers ; it is disputable whether as yet God hath given such a total divorce, that all their ecclesiastical acts are nullities,
2, Others were stirred up by the special instinct of the Holy Ghost to undertake the work, and being received of their own churches, their call was valid ; for things of order must give way to things of absolute necessity, and where an ordinary calling cannot be had, God calleth men out of order. It is the duty of all saints to contend for the faith ; and when God, by a special instinct, stirreth up holy men to do this work, they are thereby authorised ; especially when there is a general defection and corruption among the officers of the church. Who would expect the reformation of stews from bawds and panders ? It is necessary the church should have pastors and teachers ; and where ordination cannot be had, the election and consent of the people sufficeth, God especially accompanying them with his presence, and the men being furnished with gifts and necessary qualifications, both as to life and doctrine, for that office,
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482 SEKMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [Ser. XXXII.
Object, or Case. 2. What shall be clone in case of propagating the gospel, where no lawful call can be had, or all die at a time ?
I answer — In extraordinary cases, God sui)i)lieth the want by extra- ordinary ways ; that may be done at one time that is not lawful at another, especially in matter of order, as eating the shew-bread in case of necessity. Edesius and Frumentius, travelling into the Indies, had an opportunity of spreading the gosjiel ; though the last afterwards returned, and was ordained by Athanasius. Natural bodies have their ordinary qualities; yet ad fugam vacui, they act contrary to them, as water will ascend contrary to the gravity of it. Before deacons were instituted, the apostles served tables, though it was a thing not meet for them : Acts vi. 2, ' It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.' Philip, of a deacon, was made an extra- ordinary evangelist, Acts viii.
SERMON XXXII.
As {Jtou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the ivorld.—Jon'^ XVII. 18.
Secondly, I now come to speak of the dignity tliat is put upon them that are called to the work of the ministry ; they are sent by Christ as his deputies and ambassadors, as those who impersonate Christ, and represent him to the world : 2 Cor. v. 20, virep Xpcarov ovv TTpea/Sevofiev, ' Wherefore we are ambassadors for Christ ; as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye recon- ciled to God.' Ministers are sent out as Christ's proxies.
Here I shall show — (1.) Who are sent ; (2.) From whom ; (3.) To whom ; (4.) Why, or about what business.
1. Who are sent? Principally the apostles, but secondarily the ordinary ministers of the gospel ; the apostles as ambassadors extra- ordinary, but we as liegers and agents. The apostles were imme- diately sent by Christ, and furnished with extraordinary gifts, as infallibility of doctrine, gifts of miracles, gifts of tongues ; as am bas- sadors are sent forthwith more pomp and state than agents. But now ministers are sent by a power derived and delegated from Christ ; and we have not like authority and infallibility as the apostles had, but the substance of the commission and of the work is the same ; we are to open the mind of God to men, and in Christ's name and authority to pray you to be reconciled to God. And therefore both apostles and Ordinary ministers of the gospel, ordinary pastors and teachers of the church, are sent.
2. From whom they are sent. From Christ, who is the king of the church, though with the consent of all the persons in the Trinity. The Father seudelh, Christ sendeth, tlie Holy Ghost sendeth : Gal. i. 1, ' Paul an apostle, not of men, neither by men, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.' Paul raiseth up his commission as far as the grant and consent of God the Father. And the Holy Ghost sendeth : Acts xx. 28, ' Take heed therefore unto
YrV.. 18.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 483