Some, indeed, seem not satisfied whether to derive their claim from Timothy and Titus as evangelists, or from the bishops that were ordained by them or described unto them. But whereas those bishops were no other but elders of particular churches, as is evident,
vol. iv. 29
450 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX.
beyond a modest denial, from Acts xx. 28 ; Phil, i, 1 ; 1 Tim. iii. 1 , 2, 8 ; Tit. i. 5-9 : so certainly they cannot be of both sorts, the one being apparently superior unto the other. , If they are such bishops as Titus and Timothy ordained, it is well enough known both what is their office, their work, and their duty ; if such as they pretend Timothy and Titus to be, they must manifest it in the like call, gifts, and employment, as they had. For, —
(3.) There are not any now who do pretend unto their prin- cipal employment by virtue of office, nor can so do; for it is cer- tain that the principal wrork of the evangelists was to go up and down, from one place and nation unto another, to preach the gospel unto Jews and Gentiles as yet unconverted, and their commission unto this purpose was as large and extensive as that of the apostles. But who shall now empower any one hereunto? What church, what persons, have received authority to ordain any one to be such an evangelist? or what rules or directions are given as to their qualifi- cations, power, or duty, or how they should be so ordained? It is true, those who are ordained ministers of the gospel, and others also that are the disciples of Christ, may and ought to preach the gospel to unconverted persons and nations as they have opportunity, and are particularly guided by the providence of God; but that any church or person has power or authority to ordain a person unto this office and work cannot be proved.
2. Lastly, The continuance of the employment as unto the settling of new planted churches is no way necessary ; for every church, being planted and settled, is intrusted with power for its own preservation and continuance in due order according to the mind of Christ, and is enabled to do all those things in itself which at first were done under the guidance of the evangelists, nor can any one instance be given wherein they are defective. And where any church was called and gathered in the name of Christ, which had some things yet wanting unto its perfection and complete order, which the evangelists were to finish and settle, they did it not but in and by the power of the church itself, only presiding and directing in the things to be done. And if any churches, through their own default, have lost that order and power which they were once established in, as they shall never want power in themselves to recover their pristine estate and condition, who will attend unto their duty according unto rule to that purpose, so this would rather prove a necessity of raising up new evangelists, of a new extraordinary ministry, on the defection of churches, than the continuance of them in the church rightly stated and settled.
Besides these evangelists there were prophets also, who had a temporary, extraordinary ministry in the church. Their grant
CHAP. III.] OF EXTRAORDINARY OFFICES. 451
from Christ, or institution in the church, is mentioned 1 Cor. xii. 28, Eph. iv. 11; and the exercise of their ministry is declared, Acts xiii. 1, 2. But the names of prophets and prophecy are used variously in the New Testament: for, — 1. Sometimes an extraordinary office and extraordinary gifts are signified by them ; and, 2. Sometimes extraordinary gifts only •; and, 3. Sometimes an ordinary office with ordinary gifts, and sometimes ordinary gifts only. And unto one of these heads may the use of the word be everywhere reduced.
1. In the places mentioned, extraordinary officers endued with ex- traordinary gifts are intended ; for they are said to be " set in the church," and are placed in the second rank of officers, next to the apostles, "first apostles, secondarily prophets," 1 Cor. xii. 28, between them and evangelists, Eph. iv. 11. And two things are ascribed unto them : — (1.) That they received immediate revelations and directions from the Holy Ghost in things that belonged unto the present duty of the church. Unto them it was that the Holy Ghost revealed his mind, and gave commands concerning the separation of Barnabas and Saul unto their work, Acts xiii. 2. (2.) They foretold things to come, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, wherein the duty or edi- fication of the church was concerned. So Agabus the prophet fore- told the famine in the days of Claudius Csesar, whereon provision was made for " the poor saints at Jerusalem," that they might not suffer by it, Acts xi. 28-30. And the same person afterward prophesied of the bonds and sufferings of Paul at Jerusalem, Acts xxi. 10, 11 ; and the same thing (it being of the highest concernment unto the church) was, as it should seem, revealed unto the prophets that were in most churches, for so himself gives an account hereof: " And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there : save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me," Acts xx. 22, 23 ; that is, in all the cities he passed through where there were churches planted and prophets in them. These things the churches then stood in need of, for their confirmation, direction, and comfort; and were, therefore, I suppose, most of them supplied with such officers for a season, — that is, whilst they were needful. And unto this office, though expressly affirmed to be "set in the church," and placed between the apostles and the evangelists, none, that I know of, do pretend a succession. All grant that they were extraordinary, be- cause their gift and work were so; but so were those of evangelists also. But there is no mention of the power and rule of those pro- phets, or else undoubtedly we should have had, on one pretence or other, successors provided for them !