This is our doctrine* concerning the Church of Christ, and these are the passages cited of the testimonies of Scripture, on which the doctrine of the Church depends. THE ELEVENTH SECTION. OF THE MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH, AND OF THEIR CALLING AND OFFICE. I. FROM THE LATTER CONFESSION OF HELVETIA. Chapter 18. Of the Ministers of the Church, their Institution, and Offices. God hath always used his Ministers, for the gathering or erecting of a Church to himself, and for the governing and preservation of the same; and still he doth, and always will, use them, so long as the Church remaineth on the earth. Therefore the first beginning, institution, and office of the Ministers, is a most ancient ordinance of God himself, not a new device appointed by men. True it is, that God can, by his power, without any means, take unto himself a Church from amongst men; but he had rather deal with men by the ministry of men. Therefore Ministers are to be considered, not as Ministers by themselves alone, but as the Ministers of God, even such as by whose means God doth work the salvation of mankind. For which cause we give counsel to beware, that we do not so attribute the things that appertain to our conversion and instruction unto the secret virtue of the Holy Ghost, that we make frustate the Ecclesiastical Ministry. For it behoveth us always to have in mind the words of the Apostle, "How shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Therefore faith is by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom. x. 14; 17. And that also which the Lord saith, in the Gospel, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth those that I shall send, receiveth me; and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me." John xiii. 20. Likewise what a man of Macedonia, appearing in a vision to Paul being then in Asia, said unto him; The concluding paragraph is omitted in both editions of the Translation, but is here restored from the Latin Harmony.-EDITOR. "Come into Macedonia, and help us." Acts xvi. 9. And in another place the same Apostle saith, We together are God's labourers; and ye are his husbandry, and his building." 1 Cor. iii. 9. Yet, on the other side, we must take heed, that we do not attribute too much to the Ministers and Ministry: herein remembering also the words of our Lord in the Gospel, "No man cometh to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him :" John vi. 44. and the words of the Apostle, "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but the Ministers by whom ye believed; and as the Lord gave unto every one? Therefore neither is he that planteth any thing, nor he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase." 1 Cor. iii. 5; 7. Therefore let us believe that God doth teach us by his word, outwardly, through his Ministers, and doth inwardly move and persuade the hearts of his elect unto belief by his Holy Spirit: and that therefore we ought to render all the glory of this whole benefit unto God. But we have spoken of this matter in the First Chapter of this our Declaration. God hath used for his Ministers, even from the beginning of the world, the best and most eminent men in the world; (for howsoever divers of them were but simple for worldly wisdom or philosophy, yet surely in true divinity they were most excellent ;) namely, the Patriarchs, to whom he spake very often by his Angels. For the Patriarchs were the Prophets or Teachers of their age, whom God for this purpose would have to live many years, that they might be as it were Fathers, and lights of the world. After them followed Moses, together with the Prophets, that were most famous throughout the whole world. Then, after all these, our heavenly Father sent his only-begotten Son, the most absolute and perfect Teacher of the world; in whom is hidden the wisdom of God, and from him derived unto us by that most holy, perfect, and pure of all doctrine. For he chose unto himself disciples, whom he made Apostles: and they, going out into the whole world, gathered together Churches in all places by the preaching of the Gospel. And afterward they ordained Pastors and Teachers in all Churches, by the commandment of Christ; who, by such as succeeded them, hath taught and governed the Church unto this day. Therefore, as God gave unto his ancient people the Patriarchs, together with Moses and the Prophets: so also to his people under the new covenant he hath sent his onlybegotten Son, and, with him, the Apostles and Teachers of this Church. Furthermore, the Ministers of the new covenant are termed by divers names; for they are called Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Bishops, Elders, Pastors, and Teachers. 1 Cor. xii. 28. Ephes. iv. 11. The Apostles remained in no certain place, but gathered together divers Churches throughout the whole world: which Churches when they were once established, there ceased to be any more Apostles, and in their places were particular Pastors appointed in every Church. The Prophets in old time did foresee and foretell things to come; and besides did interpret the Scriptures: and such are found some amongst us at this day.* They were called Evangelists, which were the penners of the history of the Gospel, and were also preachers of the Gospel of Christ;† as the Apostle Paul giveth in charge unto Timothy, to fulfil the work of an Evangelist." 2 Tim. iv. 5. Bishops are the overseers and the watchmen of the Church, which distribute food and other necessities to the Church. The Elders are the ancients, and as it were the Senators and Fathers of the Church, governing it with wholesome counsel. The Pastors both keep the Lord's flock, and also provide things necessary || for it. The Teachers do instruct, and teach the true faith and godliness. Therefore the Church Ministers that now are, may be called Bishops, Elders, Pastors, and Teachers. But in process of times there were many more names of Ministers brought into the Church. For some were created Patriarchs, others Archbishops, others Suffragans; also, Metropolitans, Archdeacons, Deacons, Subdeacons, Acolytes, Exorcists, Choristers, Porters, and I know not what a • To wit, interpreters of the Scriptures, that are endued with a special gift of the Spirit thereunto. For as touching the visions of Prophets, and those extraordinary motions and inspirations of the Holy Spirit, this gift, as also the gift of tongues and of healings, being fitted for the confirmation of the Church when it was beginning, is now long since ceased, after that the whole counsel of God, touching our salvation, was plainly revealed: howbeit God yet can, when he will, raise it up again. + Such as the Apostles did join unto themselves as helpers, and sent them now to this place, now to that: and these also are no more in use, since the Churches were settled in good order: of which sort, divers are mentioned in the Acts, and in the Epistles of the Apostles. Taking this name for those, which, in a more strict signification, are called Deacons, and are distinguished from them which attend upon the preaching of the word. To wit, spiritual things; by teaching, reproving, correcting, instructing both all in general, and man by man particularly, yet tied to their special flocks and charges. rabble besides; Cardinals, Provosts, and Priors; Abbots, greater and lesser; Orders, higher and lower. But touching all these, we little heed what they have been in time past, or what they are now: it is sufficient for us, that, so much as concerneth Ministers, we have the doctrine of the Apostles. We therefore, knowing certainly that Monks, and the Orders or Sects of them, are instituted neither of Christ nor of his Apostles, we teach that they are so far from being profitable, that they are pernicious and hurtful unto the Church of God. For although in former times they were somewhat tolerable, (when they lived solitarily, getting their livings with their own hands, and were burdensome to none, but did in all places obey their Pastors, even as laymen,) yet what kind of men they be now, all the world seeth and perceiveth. They pretend I know not what vows; but they lead a life altogether disagreeing from their vows: so that the very best of them may justly be numbered among those, of whom the Apostle speaketh; "We hear say that there be some among you which walk inordinately, and work not at all, but are busybodies," &c. 2 Thess. iii. 11. Therefore we have no such in our Churches and besides we teach, that they should not be suffered to rout in the Churches of Christ. : Furthermore, no man ought to usurp the honour of the Ecclesiastical Ministry; that is to say, greedily to pluck it to himself by bribes, or any evil shifts, or of his own accord. But let the Ministers of the Church be called and chosen by a lawful and Ecclesiastical election and vocation: that is to say, let them be chosen religiously of the Church, or of those which are appointed thereunto by the Church, and that in due order, without any tumult, seditions, or contention. But we must have an eye to this, that not every one that will, should be elected; but such men as are fit, and have sufficient learning, especially in the Scriptures, and godly eloquence, and wise simplicity; to conclude, such men as be of good report for a moderation and honesty of life, according to that Apostolic rule, which St. Paul giveth in the 1st Epistle to Timothy, iii. 2-7. and to Titus, i. 7-9. And those which are chosen, let them be ordained of the Elders, with public prayer, and laying on of hands. We do here therefore condemn all those, which run of their own accord, being neither chosen, sent, nor ordained. We do also utterly disallow unfit Ministers, and such as are not furnished with gifts requisite for a Pastor. In the mean time we are not ignorant that the innocent simplicity of certain Pastors in the primitive Church did sometimes more profit the Church, than the manifold, exquisite, and nice learning of other some, that were over-lofty, and highminded. And for this cause we also at this day do not reject the honest simplicity of certain men; which yet is not destitute of all knowledge and learning. The Apostles of Christ do term all those which believe in Christ, Priests; but not in regard of their Ministry, but because that all the faithful, being made Kings and Priests, may, through Christ, offer up spiritual sacrifices unto God. Exod xix. 6. 1 Pet. ii. 5; 9. Rev. i. 6. The Ministry, then, and the Priesthood are things far different one from the other. For the Priesthood, as we said even now, is common to all Christians; so is not the Ministry. And we have not taken away the Ministry of the Church, because we have thrust the Popish Priesthood out of the Church of Christ. For surely in the new covenant of Christ, there is no longer any such Priesthood, as was in the ancient Church of the Jews; which had an external anointing, holy garments, and very many ceremonies which were figures and types of Christ: who, by his coming fulfilled and abolished them. Heb. ix. 10, 11. And he himself remaineth the only Priest for ever: and we do not communicate the name of Priest to any of the Ministers, lest we should detract any thing from Christ. For the Lord himself hath not appointed in the Church any Priests of the New Testament, who, having received authority from the Suffragan, may offer up the host every day, that is, the very flesh and the very blood of our Saviour, for the quick and the dead; but Ministers, which may teach, and administer the Sacraments. Paul, declaring plainly and shortly what we are to think of the Ministers of the New Testament, or of the Church of Christ, and what we must attribute unto them, "Let a man," saith he, "thus account of us, as of the Ministers of Christ, and dispensers of the mysteries of God." 1 Cor. iv. 1. So that the Apostle his mind is, that we should esteem of Ministers, as of Ministers. Now the Apostle calleth them ηpéraç, as it were under-rowers, which have an eye only to their pilot; that is to say, men that live not unto themselves, nor according to their own will, but for others, to wit, their masters, at whose commandment and beck they ought to be. For the Minister of the Church is commanded wholly, and in all parts of his duty, not to please himself, but to execute that only, which he hath received in commandment from his Lord. And in this same place, it is expressly declared, who is our Master, even Christ; to whom the Ministers are in subjection in all the |