service that is appointed to him. The daily sacrifices are not offered every where; nor the peace-offerings, nor the sacrifices appointed for sins and transgressions, but only at Jerusalem; nor in any place there, but only at the altar before the Temple; that which is offered, being first diligently examined by the High Priest and the other Ministers we before mentioned. They therefore who do any thing which is not agreeable to his will, are punished with death. Consider, brethren, that by how much the better knowledge God has vouchsafed unto us, by so much the greater danger are we exposed to.

42. The Apostles have preached to us from our Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ from God. Christ therefore was sent by God, the Apostles by Christ : so both were orderly sent, according to the will of God. For having received their command, and being thoroughly assured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; [1 Thess. i. 5.] and convinced by the word of God, with the fulness() of the Holy Spirit, they went abroad, publishing, "that the Kingdom of God was at hand." And thus preaching through countries and cities, they appointed the first fruits of their conversions,* to be Bishops and Ministers over such as should afterwards believe, having first proved them by the Spirit. Nor was this any new thing: seeing that long before it was written concerning Bishops and Deacons For thus saith the Scripture, in a certain place; "I will appoint their overseers in righteousness, and their Ministers in faith."(m) [Isa. lx. 17.]

43. And what wonder if they, to whom such a work was committed by God in Christ, established such officers as we before mentioned; when even that blessed and faithful servant in all his house, Moses, set down in the Holy Scriptures all things that were commanded him. Whom also all the rest of the Pro

(2) With the full assurance.

) Bishops, Deacons,

* Vid, Coteler in loc.

phets followed, bearing witness with one consent to those things that were appointed by him. For he, perceiving an emulation to arise among the tribes concerning the Priesthood, and that there was a strife about it, which of them should be adorned with that glorious name; commanded their twelve captains to bring to him twelve rods; every tribe being written upon its rod, according to its name, [Numb, xvii.] And he took them and bound them together, and sealed them with the seals of the twelve princes of the tribes, and laid them up in the tabernacle of witness, upon the table of God. And when he had shut the door of the tabernacle, he sealed up the keys of it, in like manner as he had done the rods; and said unto them, men and brethren, which soever tribe shall have its rod blossom, that tribe has God chosen to perform the office of a Priest, and to minister unto him in holy things.(q) And when the morning was come, he called together all Israel, six hundred thousand men, and shewed to their princes the seals, and opened the tabernacle of witness, and brought forth the rods. And the rod of Aaron was found not only to have blossomed, but also to have fruit upon it.

What think you, beloved? did not Moses before. know what should happen? Yes verily but to the end there might be no division, nor tumult in Israel, he did in this manner, that the name of the true and only God might be glorified: to him be honour for ever and ever. Amen.

44. So likewise our Apostles knew by our Lord Je, sus Christ, that there should contentions arise upon the account of the ministry.(s) And therefore having a perfect foreknowledge of this, they appointed persons, as we have before said, and then gave, direction, how when they should die, other chosen and approved men should succeed in the ministry.(t)

(9) To exercise the office of the Priesthood, and to minister, &c. (s) About the name of the Bishoprick,

(t) Left a list of other chosen and approved persons, who should succeed them in their ministry. See Dr. Arden's disc. upon this passage. Dr. Hammond's power of the keys, c. iii. p. 413.

Wherefore we cannot think that those may justly be. thrown out of their ministry, who were either ap pointed by them, or afterwards chosen by other emi, nent men, with the consent of the whole Church; and who have with all lowliness and innocency ministered to the flock of Christ in peace, and without self-interest, and were for a long time commended by all.

For it would be no small sin in us, should we cast off those from their ministry, (v) who holily and without blame, fulfil the duties of it.(w) Blessed are those Priests, who having finished their course before these times, have obtained a fruitful and perfect dissolution; for they have no fear, lest any one should turn them out of the place which is now appointed for them. But we see how you have put out some, who lived reputably among you, from the ministry, which by their innocence they had adorned.

45. Ye are contentious, brethren, and zealous for things that pertain not unto salvation. Look into the holy Scriptures, which are the true words of the Holy Ghost. Ye know that there is nothing unjust or counterfeit written in them. There you shall not find that righteous men were ever cast off by such as were good themselves. They were persecuted, it is true; but it was by the wicked and unjust. They were cast into prison; but they were cast in by those that were unholy. They were stoned, but it was by transgressors. They were killed, but by accursed men, and such as had taken up an unjust envy against them. And all these things they underwent gloriously. For what shall we say, brethren? was Daniel cast into. the den of lions, by men fearing God? [Dan. vi, 16.] Ananias, Azarias and Misael, were they cast into the fiery furnace by men professing the excellent and glorious worship of the Most High? [Dan. iii, 20.] God forbid. What kind of persons then were they that did these things? they were men abominable, full of

(v) Bishoprick:

(7) Offer the gifts.

all wickedness; who were incensed to so great a degree, as to bring those into sufferings, who with a holy and unblamable purpose of mind worshipped God: not knowing that the Most High is the protector and defender of all such as with a pure conscience serve his holy name: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. But they who with a full persuasion have endured these things, are made partakers of glory and honour; and are exalted and lifted up by God in their memorial throughout all ages.-Amen.

46. Wherefore it will behove us also, brethren, to follow(g) such examples as these; for it is written, "hold fast to such as are holy; for they that do so shall be sanctified. And again in another place he saith, "with the pure thou shalt be pure, [and with the elect thou shalt be elect,] (h) but with the perverse thou shalt be perverse," [Psal. xvii. 2.] Let us therefore join ourselves to the innocent and righteous, for such are the elect of God. Wherefore are there strifes, and anger, and divisions, and schisms, and wars among us? have we not all one God, and one Christ? is not one spirit of grace poured out upon us all? [Eph. iv. 4. 1 Cor. xii. Have we not one calling in Christ? why then do we rent and tear in pieces the members of Christ; and raise seditions against our own body? and are come to such a height of madness, as to forget that we were members one of another? [Rom. xii. 5.] Remember the words of our Lord Jesus, how he said, "wo to that man, [by whom offences come](k) it were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should have offended one of my elect. It were better for him, that a millstone should be tied about his neck, and he should be cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of my little ones." Your schism has perverted many, has discouraged many: it has caused diffidence in many,

(g) To cleave to.

(h) Omitted by Junius, and now restored from the MS. (k) For he said, Luke xvii.

and grief in us all. And yet your sedition continues still.

47. Take the Epistle of the blessed Paul the Apostle into your hands; what was it he wrote to you at his first preaching the Gospel among you ?() verily he did by the Spirit admonish you concerning himself, and Cephas, and Apollos,(m) because that even then ye had begun to fall into parties and factions among yourselves.(2) Nevertheless your partiality then led you into a much less sin: forasmuch as ye placed your affections upon Apostles, men of eminent reputation in the Church; and upon another, who was greatly tried and approved of by them. But considér we pray you, who were they that have now led you astray, and lessened the reputation of that brotherly love that was so eminent among you? It is a shame, my beloved, yea a very great shame, and unworthy of your Christian profession, to hear that the most firm and antient Church of the Corinthians should, by one or two persons, be led into a sedition against its Priests.(t) And this report is come not only to us, but to those also that differ from us. Insomuch that the name of the Lord is blasphemed through your folly; and even ye yourselves are brought into danger by it.

48. Let us therefore with all haste put an end to this sedition; and let us fall down before the Lord, and beseech him with tears that he would be favourably reconciled to us, and restore us again to a seemly and holy course of brotherly love. For this is the gate of righteousness, opening unto life as it is written, "6 open unto me the gates of righteousness; I will go in unto them and will praise the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord, the righteous shall enter into it," [Palm cxviii. 19, 20.] Although therefore many gates are opened, yet this gate of righteousness is that

(1) See Mr. Dodwell's add. ad Pearson. Chronol. p. 223. Dr: Grabe's Spicileg. to. i. p. 256

(m) Spiritually send to you, 1 Cor, i. 12. (n) Inclinations (for one above another.] (t) See Mr. Dodwell, 1. p. 222.