60 TRUE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH.
precedent for the future ordering of the calling of meet persons to office in the church, their interest, power, and privilege secured unto them, so as that they can never justly be deprived of it. And if there were nothing herein but only a record of the wisdom of the apostles in managing church affairs, it is marvellous to me that any who would be thought to succeed them in any part of their trust and office should dare to depart from the example set before them by the Holy Ghost in them, preferring their own ways and inventions above it. I shall ever judge that there is more safety in a strict ad- herence unto this apostolical practice and example than in a com- pliance with all the canons of councils or churches afterward.
The only objection usually insisted on, — that is, by Bellarmine and those that follow him, — is, "That this being the election of deacons to manage the alms of the church, that is, somewhat of their temporals, nothing can thence be concluded unto the right or way of calling bishops, pastors, or elders, who are to take care of the souls of the people. They may, indeed, be able to judge of the fitness of them who are to be intrusted with their purses, or what they are willing to give out of them ; but it doth not thence follow that they are able to judge of the fitness of those who are to be their spiritual pastors, nor to have the choice of them."
Nothing can be weaker than this pretence or evasion ; for, — (1 .) The question is concerning the calling qfpei'sons unto office in the church in general, whereof we have here a rule whereunto no ex- ception is any way entered. (2.) This cannot be fairly pleaded by them iuho ajypoint deacons to preach, baptize, and officiate publicly in all holy things, excepting only the administration of the eucharist. (3.) If the people are meet and able to judge of them who are of "honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom," which is here required of them, they are able to judge who are meet to be their pastors. (4.) The argument holds strongly on the other side, namely, that if it be right and equal, if it be of divine appointment and apos- tolical practice, that the people should choose those who were to collect and distribute their charitable benevolence because of their concernment therein, much more are they to enjoy the same liberty, right, and privilege, in the choice of their pastors, unto whom they commit the care of their souls, and submit themselves unto their authority in the Lord.
Thirdly. Accordingly they did use the same liberty in the choice of their elders: Acts xiv. 23, 'KnpoTov^savrtg cclroTg -rpssCuTepoug xut sxkXt]- ciav, Tpoffiv^dfMvoi fxsra vridniuv, — that is, say Erasmus, Vatablus, Beza, all our old English translations, appointing, ordaining, creating elders by election, or the suffrage of the disciples, having prayed with fast- ing. The whole order of the sacred separation of persons qualified unto the office of the ministry, — that is, to be bishops, elders, or pas-
THE OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 61
tors, — is here clearly represented ; for, — 1. Tliey were chosen by the people, the apostles who were present, namely, Paul and Barna- bas, presiding in the action, directing of it and confirming that by their consent with them. 2. A time of prayer and fasting was ap- pointed for the action or discharge of the duty of the church herein. 3. When they were so chosen, the apostles present solemnly prayed, whereby their ordination was completed. And those who would have •)(iipoTovia here mentioned to be •xiipokaia, or an authoritative impo- sition of hands, wherein this ordination did consist, do say there is an vffTspoXoyia in the words, — that is, they feign a disorder in them to serve their own hypothesis ; for they suppose that their complete or- dination was effected before there was any prayer with fasting, for by imposition of hands in their judgment ordination is completed: so Bellarmine and a Lapide on the place, with those that follow them. But first to pervert the true signification of the v/ord, and then to give countenance unto that wresting of it by assigning a disorder unto the words of the whole sentence, and that such a disorder as makes, in their judgment, a false representation of the matter of fact related, is a way of the interpretation of Scripture which will serve any turn. 4. This was done in every church, or in every congrega- tion, as Tindal renders the word, namely, in all the particular congre- gations that were gathered in those parts; for that collection and constitution did always precede the election and ordination of their officers, as is plain in this place, as also Tit. i. 5, So far is it from truth that the being of churches dependeth on the successive ordi- nation of their officers, that the church, essentially considered, is al- ways antecedent unto their being and call.
But because it is some men's interest to entangle things plain and clear enough in themselves, I shall consider the objection unto this reddition of the words. The whole of it lies against the signification, use, and application of -x^sipoTovYjsavrsg. Now, although we do not here argue merely from the signification of the word, but from the repre- sentation of the matter of fact made in the context, yet 1 shall ob- serve some things sufficient for the removal of that objection; as, —