In the gospel church-state there were evangelists also, as they are mentioned, Eph. iv. 11; Acts xxi. 8 ; 2 Tim. iv. 5 ; — gospellers, preachers of the gospel, distinct from the ordinary teachers of the churches. Things, I confess, are but obscurely delivered concerning this sort of men in Scripture, their office being not designed unto a continuance. Probably the institution of it was traduced from the temporary ministry of the seventy before mentioned. That they were the same persons continued in their first office, as the apostles were, is uncertain and improbable, (though it be not [improbable] that some of them might be called thereunto) ; as Philip, and Timothy,
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and Titus, were evangelists that were not of that first number. Their especial call is not mentioned, nor their number anywhere intimated. That their call was extraordinary is hence apparent, in that no rules are anywhere given or prescribed about their choice or ordination, no qualification of their persons expressed, nor any direction given the church as to its future proceeding about them, no more than about new or other apostles. They seem to have been called by the apostles, by the direction of a spirit of prophecy or immediate revelation from Christ. So it is said of Timothy, who is expressly called an evangelist, 2 Tim. iv. 5, that he received that gift "by prophecy," 1 Tim. iv. 14, that is, the gift of. the office, — as when Christ ascended, he "gave gifts unto men, some to be evan- gelists," Eph. iv. 8, 11, — for this way did the Holy Ghost design men unto extraordinary offices and employments, Acts. xiii. 1-3. And when they were so designed by prophecy, or immediate revelation from Christ by the Holy Ghost, then the church in compliance therewith, both " prayed for them" and " laid their hands on them." So when the Holy Ghost had revealed his choosing of Paul and Bar- nabas unto an especial work, the prophets and teachers of the church of Antioch, where they then were, "fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them," so sending them away, Acts xiii. 3. And when Timothy was called to be an evangelist by especial revelation or prophecy, the apostle laid his hands on him, whereby he received the Holy Ghost in his extraordinary gifts: "The gift of God, which is in thee by the puttiog on of my hands," 2 Tim. i. 6. And as it was usual with him to join others with himself in those epistles which he wrote by immediate divine inspiration, so in this act of lay- ing his hands on an evangelist, as a sign of the communication of extraordinary gifts, he joined the ordinary presbytery of the church with him that wrere present in the place where he was so called. It is evident, therefore, that both their call and their gifts were extra- ordinary, and therefore so also was their office: for although men who have only an ordinary call to office may have extraordinary gifts, and many had so in primitive times; and although some might have extraordinary gifts who were never called unto office at all, as some of those who spake with tongues and wrought miracles, — yet where there is a concurrence of an extraordinary call and ex- traordinary gifts, there the office is extraordinary.
The power that these officers in the church were intrusted with was extraordinary; for this is a certain consequent of an extraor- dinary call and extraordinary gifts. And this power respected all churches in the world equally, yea, and all persons, as the apostles' also did. But whereas their ministry was subordinate unto that of the apostles, they were by them guided as to the particular places
CHAP. III.] OF EXTRAORDINARY OFFICES. 447
wherein they were to exercise their power and discharge their office for a season. This is evident from Paul's disposal of Titus as to his work and time, Tit. i. 5, iii. 12. But yet their power did at no time depend on their relation unto any particular place or church, nor were they ever ordained to any one place or see more than another, but the extent of their employment was every way as large as that of the apostles, both as to the world and as to the churches; only in their present particular disposal of themselves, they were, as it is probable, for the most part under the guidance of the apostles, al- though sometimes they had particular revelations and directions from the Holy Ghost, or by the ministry of angels, for their especial em- ployment, as Philip had, Acts viii. 26.
And as for their work, it may be reduced unto three heads: — 1. To preach the gospel in all places and unto all persons, as they had occasion. So Philip went down to Samaria and "preached Christ," Acts viii. 5. And when the apostle Paul chargeth Timothy to " do the work of an evangelist," 2 Tim. iv. 5, he prescribes unto him " preach- ing the word in season and out of season," verse 2. And whereas this was incumbent in like manner on the ordinary teachers of every church, the teaching of these evangelists differed from theirs in two things: — (1.) In the extent of their work, which, as we showed be- fore, was equal unto that of the apostles ; whereas ordinary bishops, pastors, or teachers, were to feed, teach, and take care of the especial flocks only which they were set over, Acts xx. 1 7, 28 ; 1 Pet. v. 2. (2.) They were obliged to labour in their work in a more than ordi- nary manner, as it should seem from 2 Tim. iv. 2, 5. 2. The second part of their work was to confirm the doctrine of the gospel by mira- culous operations, as occasion did require. So Philip the evangelist wrought many miracles of sundry sorts at Samaria, in the confirma- tion of the doctrine which he taught, Acts viii. 6, 7, 13. And, in like manner, there is no question but that the rest of the evangelists had the power or gift of miraculous operations, to be exercised as occasion did require, and as they were guided by the Holy Ghost. 3. They were employed in the settling and completing of those churches whose foundations were laid by the apostles; for whereas they had the great work upon them of " preaching the gospel unto all nations," they could not continue long or reside in any one place or church. And yet when persons were newly converted to the faith, and disposed only into an imperfect order, without any especial pecu- liar officers, guides, or rulers of their own, it was not safe leaving them unto themselves, lest they should be too much at a loss as to gospel order and worship. Wherefore, in such places where any churches were planted but not completed, nor would the design of the apostles suffer them to continue any longer there, they left these