falve the honour of the Popes loft Apoftolate. Secondly, Bellarmine in the double aufwer, enterfeers, and contradicts; ni vib 3992 himself, for if the Pontificate be exprefly placed in the term Apoftles, then the Text doth not treat of extraordinary gifts, but if the text do treat of fuch extraordinary gifts,then his holynefs must go feek another Scripture to confirm his Apoftolate, b and fupport it from falling out of the Church together, and ceafing with thofe gifts. We are now got out of the fourth, and laft Objection, and enter upon the fecond Exception a gainst the Presbyterian Definitions.

4

Second ex

Second Except. Evangelifts did not officially fupply the Aception, the Evangelifts poftles places, nor doth the fo often mentioned Text in the were not the Epistle to the Ephefians (for all Calvin faith it) prove it. It Apoftles fupbarely mentioning the name Evangelifts, without any word, plies. or title of their Office. Their foundation being thus demo- Because the lished, we might furceafe all farther troubling our felves with text quoted to their fuperftru&ture, and leave it to fall of its felf; but because prove it doth all look nor folow as the bottom, and ground of things, and not prove it. because this building hath a gay, but deceitful afpect, we will 1. Their res come a little clofer, and view, and examine it more narrowly: fons for it ex The whole pile of the Evangelifts fupply of the Apostles places, amined. ftands upon those two flender pillars. First, a fuppofition of their diftinct works, the Apostles being the Apoftles prefumed to plant, the Evangelift to water Churches; fee planted, the moft of the fore cited Definitions. Secondly, a meer conceit of their diftinct titles, they allow watered ing the Apostles their name and title, without alteration, but Churches. do esteem the Evangelift to be the Apostles companions, or vicars; fee alfo the Definitions.

We will try whether thofe pillars be built upon the rock, or upon the fand, our fearch fhall begin with the firft of them, which is,

First Rea.

Evangelift

Second

Real. the Evangelifts were the Apostles companions and vicars.

Their fitt

Firft in one

First, Apostles and Evangelists did distinct works, or the Apoftles planted, and the Evangelift watered Churches. There reafon confiris fome ambiguity in the term planted, 'tis borrowed from ted. husbandry, and originally notes the fowing of the first feed of a fense the Avegetable, be it herb, flower, grain, &c. or the immediate poftles did entrance upon a country improvement. In this fenfe we deny not plant the that either the Apofiles,or the Evangelifts planted the Church, for Church. Chrift the chief husbandman, firft took in that vineyard, and appointed the Apostles, and all other Minifters to be but labou rers, and fervants under him to drefs, and look after it.

I 2

Bnt

the Apoftles planted the Church, but they did not do it fingly.

But befide this, to plant hath sagderivative fignification, fo'tis Secondly in ufed of the taking up, and fpreading into many places, what beanother fenfe fore grew in one place. In this fenfe.we confess the Apostles planted Churches. But, Firft, this in ftrictness of speech is ra ther propagation, then plantation. Secondly, this was no diftinct work peculiar to the Apostles, for even in the Apoftles times, the Evangelifttbus planted,pornconstituted Churches as we have already heard, from Beza, Faius, and Spanhemius, in their Definitions. And alfo much of that work, call it by what name you will, hath been done fince the death both of the Apofiles, 84 of the fuppofed Evangelifis,as will foon appear by a fearch after the originals of moft Churches how in being. Let -qu'Ame add, much if not moft of that work remains undone untill this day, the greatest part of the world being unconverted, and muft for ever continuefo, if propagating Churches, were the diftinct and incommunicable work of the firfts Church-officers chaloon So that no prefentChurch-officers have a power to preach unto „ji ɔvora jouthe Turks,ifers, Tartars, Perfians, and other numberless uncon verted Nations in the four quarters of the world, and to fettle them in a Church eftate upon their converfion. I am not now to be told, that the first Officers were builders, prefent Officers are confervers, and maintainers of Churches, or what vaft difference these terms are conceived to put betwixt them. But let it be told me never fooften, I shall never take it for a truth, till it fhall be proved that Chrift was not our Legiflator; that he did not promife a perpetual prefence to an Apoftolical fucceffion of Minifters: That no Church hath been formed out of a before unconverted people, fince the death of the twelve firft Apofiles. That never any more like Churches fhall be formed hereafter: And that the building Apoftles preached another 2004 word, adminiftred other Sacraments, exercised constantly, and officially other cenfures, then conferving Minifters, can now preach, adminifter, or exercife. This firft reafon therefore, for the Evangelifts supply of the Apostles places, as their inferiours, becaufe the Apofiles planted,and the Evangelift watered Churches, is no reafon. Proceed we to their

T

Their fe, cond reafon invalidated.

Evangelifts were not the Apostles vi

cars.

T

Second, or the diftinct titles betwixt the Apoftles, and the Evangelifts, these fo far as concerneth the Evangelift,are twofold. Babule 1. Vicars

to wi 2. Companions. First Vicars. It feems the Apostles were vangelists Vicars in the Catholick Church. This is affirmed by

Parfons, and the E

the

the London Presbyters,as we have beforeheard in their Definitions.But they bring no Scripture for it,neither is it agreeable to any of thofe found words, unless it be one of those prophane novelties, prophesied of, and prohibited by the Apostle, 1 Tim. 6. 10. Do Presbyters miflike our diligence in medling with their work, and fay they can do it better; we will not aufwer it with another queftion, why 'tis left undone? But are content to await their leifures till they can, or will do it. And as a fpur to their future diligence we make this ferious proffer. Let them give one clear and full Scripture inftance (one is not much in a business of this weight, and eafily produced, ifall Scripture be fo plain, as they boaft it is, for their notions) proving the vicariate into the Apoftles, of thofe who did the works mentioned in their Definitions: And by what authority the Apostles made them their vicars, theirs be both truth andvictory. Till which is done, we fay the notion is novel, and cenfure it as fuch ; fuffice this for the Evangelifts firft fuppofed title. Proceed we to the basics

companions

Second Companions. The Evangelift they fay accompanied The Apoftles with the Apostles: And it may be granted, for the Apostles had diftinguifhed. companions of feveral forts; what they were perhaps may not be unworthy of our inquiry and obfervation, as alfo whether the Evangelifts accompanied with the Apoftles, as inferiour to theni in dignity, but next unto them in office. I obferve the Apostles had befide companions on the road,two forts of companions in the work.

First, Minifters. Such was John-Mark to St. Paul, and St. Barnabas, A&. 12. 25. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jewhen they had their Miniftery,

Firft into

did no para

Minifters,who

John whofe firname was Mark. A and took with them lel works,

mentioned of

the Evange

lift.

13.5. And when they at Salamis, they preached the Word of God in the Synagogues of the Fems And they had alfo John to their Minifter, In the former of these two Texts, we have the affumption of John-Mark by the Apoftles; In the latter, we have the quality wherein they received him, namely to be their Minifter. Now whether Mark and his like, miniftred to the corporal neceflities of of the Apostles (as fome think they did) Scripture is filent, and it Vid.a Lap. contributes little to the clearing up of their Church-office, whe- in loc. ther they did, or did not. But this we may probably collect out of the story of the aforefaid John-Mark. The Apoftles in their travails took fome choife, and hopeful perfons to accom pany them, to Minifter unto them, and obferve their waies,

J

t

I 3

who

who were a kind of feminary, or nursery of Apoftles, planted, with defigned fucceffors. The Apoftles imitating Mofes therein, who in like Manner affumed Joshua, who according ly is called his Minifter. Exod. 14. 13. Deut. 1. 38. Jofh. 1. 1. These Minifters afterwards as occafion offered, the Apo Ale affumed into a partnership, or refufed them. Thus JohnMark the Minifter having juftly diftafted St. Paul by leaving, and not going with him, and Barnabas, unto the work at Pamphilia, (A&. 13. 13. Now when Paul,and his company loofed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphilia, and John departing from them, returned to Jerufalem.) after his coming back to them at Antioch, for this very reafon is adjudged by St. Paul (though Barnabas refolved the contrary)not fit to be received into a further fellowship with them. Act. 15. 37. 38. And Barnabas determined to take with him John whofe firname was Mark: But Paul thought it not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphilia, and went not with them to the work. This occafioned a paroxime, and violent feaver-fit of contention be twixt the Apostles, which proceeded to the breach of their prefent affociation. And Barnabas holds his former refolution, and affumes Mark: But St. Paul chofeth Sylas. A&t. 15. 39. 40. And when the contention was so sharp betwixt them, that they 'departed afunder one from another: And, Barnabas took Mark, and Jayled into Cyprus And Paul chofe Sylas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. Now that St. Paul withstood Marks re-admiffion; evidenceth that those Minifters(while fuch) ftood in the nature of Candidates for office; and might upon their good or evil behauiour be elected, or rejected. Otherwife St. Paul could not fo refolvtely have opPogy pl pofed Mark, and rather chofen to break with Barnabas, then to undclofe with him. Befides fome new honour was derived unto bono. Mark, by his readmiffion and reaffumption; because if at his Mreturn, he had been of an equal order with St. Paul, and Barnabas, his proffering himself to the work had been fufficient fatisfaction, efpecially when Barnabas was fatisfied. This gradual aftent of Minifters, is farther confirmed by Timothy, who is called St. Pauls Minifter. A&t. 19. 22. Sobe fent into Macedonia two of them that miniftred unto him, Timotheus and Eraftus, but himself abode in Afia for a feafon: Which Timothy, he the fame Apoftle afterwards exhorts to abide at Ephesus, and také an A poftolical charge of that Church, 1 Tim. per tot. But we read not either of Timothy, or Mark, doing, or being defi

red

Exam.

Concil. Trid.

3

red to do any works of that kind, while they were but Minifters to the Apostles: That Mark while a Minifter to St. Paul and Barnabas was initiated, and entred into an inferiour degree 2 par. Exof office in the Church, Ghemnitius affents. Calvin concer- am Can. 2 de ning the same faith, he was made a Minister, not that the de- facro ordene gree of honour was equal, but because the work of all of them was non quod acommon, whereby Mark was afterwards less excufable when he de- qualy's effet boferted his boly vocation, Beza faith the word Minifter, ftrictly fed communis fignifies an under-Rower, the Apostles as it were fitting at the omnium opera, fern. Befides it doth not favour of a Chriftian, much lefs A- quo minus expoftolical fpirit for any, one to call his fellow labourer in the cufabilis fuit fame work his Minifter. St. Paul ufeth another kind of lan- fan&am vocapoftea, cume guage concerning them,2 Cor 8.23.Whethe rany do enquire of Ti-tionem deferetus,he is my partner and fellow-helper concerning you,or our brethren ret. Cal. ad be enquired of, they are the Meffengers (or Apoftles) of the Churches, A. 13.5 i and the glory of Chrift. This leads us to the confideration of the, Subfervien Second fort of Apoftles companions, or partners, who were tem ad vermen affured, and ordained by the Apoftles into their bum fubr emiwhole work, and office. Thus Sylas by St. Paul, A&t. 15. 39, gem, Apofto 40. After which affumption both are joyntly ingaged in con- lis viz. quase gubernacula fuming of the Churches. Act. 16.4. And as they went through obtinentibus. the Cities they (i. e. Paul and Sylas, read the context) delivered Beza ad loc. them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained by the Apoftes and Secondly, Elders at Jerufalem. This Sylas did not do in virtue of his first into partners emiffion from Jerufalem, but in the authority of his new affum- who did like ption, recorded but five verfes before; the mention whereof work with were an infignificant copioufnefs, and waft redundancy of thofe mentiwords, if it did not raife Sylas to an higher order, or farther oned in the impower him for the work, becaufe long before he had travai- but were not led in company with St. Paul,& needed not now fo folemnly be Evangelifts in faid to be taken with him; Moft certain it is,while St. Paul& Sy the fenfe of as continued together, Sylas is not feripturally excluded from those Definitidoing of any work, or bid ftand by while St.Paul acted fingle,nei- ons. theris he called by any diftinct, or inferiour title to St. Paul. Suppofe Evangelift,or other: But on the contrary both he and St. Paul are directed in their journeying, and workby one fpirit. Act. 16.6, 7. conjoyned in the fubfcription of feveral Epiftles. 1. Theff. 1. 1,. 2 Theff. 1.1. the end and occafion whereof we difpute not till provoked by fome adverfary and the one is acknowledged by the other to be his fellow labourer in planting the Corinthian Church. 2 Cor. 1. 19. fuch a partner was Titus, he is so called 2 Cor. 8.23 and his discharge

of

Definitions,