448 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX.
evangelists among them for a season, who had power, by virtue of their office, to dispose of things in the churches until they came unto completeness and perfection. When this end was attained, and the churches were settled under ordinary elders of their own, the evan- gelists removed unto other places, according as they were directed or disposed. These things are evident from the instructions given by Paul unto Timothy and Titus, which have all of them respect unto this order.
Some there are who plead for the continuance of this office, — some in express terms and under the same name; others for successors unto them at least in that part of their work which consisteth in power over many churches. Some say that bishops succeed to the apostles, and presbyters unto those evangelists; but this is scarce defensible in any tolerable manner by them whose interest it is to defend it, for Timothy, whom they would have to be a bishop, is ex- pressly called an evangelist. That which is pleaded with most pro- bability for their continuance is the necessity of the ivork wherein they were employed, in the rule and settlement of the churches. But the truth is, if their whole work as before described be consulted, as none can perform some parts of it, so it may be very few would over- earnestly press after a participation of their office ; for to preach the word continually, and that with a peculiar labour and travail, and to move up and down according as the necessity of the edification of the churches doth require, doing nothing in them but according to the rule and appointment of Christ, are things that not many will earnestly covet to be engaged in. But there is an apprehension that there was something more than ordinary power belonging unto this office, — that those who enjoyed it were not obliged always to labour in any particular church, but had the rule of many churches committed unto them. Now, whereas this power is apt to draw other desirable things unto it, or carry them along with it, this is that which some pretend a succession unto. Though they are neither called like them, nor gifted like them, nor labour like them, nor have the same object of their employment, much less the same power of extraordinary operations with them, yet as to the rule over sundry churches they must needs be their successors ! I shall, therefore, briefly do these two things: — 1. Show that there are no such officers as these evan- gelists continued by the will of Christ in the, ordinary state and course of the church ; 2. That there is no need of their continuance from any work applied unto them.
1. And, (1.) The things that are essential unto the office of an evangelist are unattainable at present unto the church; for where no command, no rule, no authority, no directions, are given for the call- ing of any officer, there that office must cease, as doth that of the
CHAP. III.] OF EXTRAORDINARY OFFICES. 449
apostles, who could not be called but by Jesus Christ. What is required unto the call of an evangelist was before declared; and unless it can be manifested, either by institution or example, how any one may be otherwise called unto that office, no such office can be continued, for a call by prophecy or immediate revelation none now will pretend unto, and other call the evangelists of old had none.
Nor is there in the Scripture the least mention of the call or ap- pointment of any one to be an ecclesiastical officer in an ordinary stated church, but with relation unto that church whereof he was, or was to be, an officer. But an evangelist, as such, was not especially related unto any one church more than another, though, as the apostles themselves, they might for a time attend unto the work in one place or church rather or more than another. Wherefore, with- out a call from the Holy Ghost, either immediate by prophecy and revelation, or by the direction of persons infallibly inspired, as the apostles were, none can be called to be evangelists, nor yet to suc- ceed them under any other name in that office. Wherefore, the primitive church after the apostles' time never once took upon them to constitute or ordain an evangelist, as knowing it a thing beyond their rule and out of their power. Men may invade an office when they please, but unless they be called unto it, they must account for their usurpation. And as for those who have erected an office in the church, or an episcopacy, principally if not solely out of what is ascribed unto these evangelists, namely, to Timothy and Titus, they may be farther attended unto in their claim when they lay the least pretence unto the whole of what is ascribed unto them. But this " doing the work of an evangelist" is that which few men care for or delight in ; only their power and authority, in a new kind of ma- nagery, many would willingly possess themselves of.
(2.) The evangelists we read of had extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit, without which they could not warrantably undertake their office. This we have manifested before. Now, these extraor- dinary gifts, differing not only in degree but in kind from all those of the ordinary ministry of the church, are not at present by any pretended unto; aud if any should make such a pretence, it would be an easy matter to convince them of their folly. But without these gifts, men must content themselves with such offices in the church as are stated with respect unto every particular congregation, Acts xiv. 23, xx. 28; Tit. i. 5; 1 Pet. v. 1, 2; Phil. i. 1.