structed, directed, to have the work of the ministry fulfilled among you to your edification: and this submission, wherein (as I could evince by arguments sufficient) the essence of the call doth consist, is to be testified by suffrage or by choice. When God ordered the Levites to be set apart unto the service of the tabernacle, in the name, and on the behalf of the whole congregation; to shew what weight he laid upon the consent and suffrage of the people, he caused all the people to come together, and to lay their hands upon them; Num. viii. 9, 10. Thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together:' all the church. And thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord, and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites: viz. to testify their consent in their solemn dedication to the Lord, to minister in the tabernacle in their name, and on their behalf.

We have, in the New Testament, thirteen times mentioned the setting apart of ministers unto their office; some of which I shall mention. The first account is in Acts i. 15. unto the end. It was was while they were praying, upon a sermon of Peter's, which he preached unto them, that they went about their work; for every thing is sanctified by the word and prayer.' There was an apostle to be called. But here God was to have a peculiar, sovereign interposition, and to give a special manifestation of his own divine choice; so that it could not be absolutely left unto the choice of the church. Yet thus far they went, that, antecedently unto God's choice, they appointed two;' v. 23. This was the first church act that ever was performed in the New Testament. There was in it a pattern to be laid for after times and ages. Let the church proceed as far as possible with a reserve to the sovereignty of God. They appointed two ;' so far, I say, they went: and then God took his man. still, to preserve the liberty of the church herein, it is added, when God had taken him, σvyкarɛnpion, he was, by common suffrage, as the word signifies, reckoned among the apostles. There was antecedently allowed them the choice of two; and consequently, their common suffrage, that he should be among the number of the apostles. The next call we have is in Acts vi. which is the call of deacons ;' where

But

the whole matter is, by the assembly of apostles, referred unto the body of the church. One would wonder how such a forgetfulness should befal a world of men who call themselves Christians, to do all these things without them, as though the church had no concern in them, when the whole body of the apostles, being assembled together (who had all the power and authority in their hands, as Christ had committed unto any of the children of men), direct the church to use what power Christ had intrusted them with. Brethren,' say they, 'look out from among yourselves;' ver. 3. 'And the saying pleased the whole multitude;' ver. 5. And they chose Stephen, a man full of the Holy Ghost;' and so the rest, who were afterward set apart. If all the apostles were upon the earth together, where there was in truth a church of Christ, called according to his mind, they would not undertake to deprive the church of their liberty, which any man now, who is far from an apostle, you know, will take upon him at any time. A third Scripture, where it is mentioned, is Acts xiv. 23. And when they had ordained them elders in every church,' &c. I confess, I am not free to manage the argument now from this place, although it is the most cogent; because it depends merely and purely upon the signification of the original word. Only this I would recommend to you, that before interest had guided men in what they had to do, all the translations, that were extant in English, did read this text,' And ordained them elders by election,' as the word doth signify: so you will find it in your old translations. But since, it was left out to serve a turn. We may freely say, there is no one instance to be found in the whole New Testament, concerning the practical part of communicating an office unto any person, but it is peculiarly also declared, that it was done by the election of the multitude, or the body of the church.

This is the third way, whereby Christ continues to give these gifts unto men.

Fourthly, The fourth way is, by his law, ordinance, and institution, that the person so qualified, and so called, should be solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer.' So you have it, Acts xiv. 23. And when they had ordained them elders,' chose them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord.' And upon the

like occasion, when Paul and Barnabas were to be separated anew unto a special work, it is said, Acts xiii. 3. 'When they had fasted and prayed, they sent them forth.'

These then are the four ways to answer that great inquiry, how doth Christ continue to give ministers unto the church? He doth it by his law, constituting the office, the law in the gospel, which is an everlasting ordinance. He doth it by his Spirit, communicating gifts unto persons. He doth it by his church calling of them, and by a submis sion to them according to the will of God, and testifying that submission by their suffrage. He doth it by his ordinance of solemnly setting them apart with fasting and prayer. And these, my brethren, are things that we are come together about this day. This is our faith, this is our warrant; wherein we do not pursue our own imaginations, nor the inventions of other men, nor follow cunningly devised fables; but from first to last have our warrant from Christ. The good Lord pardon us, wherein we come short of the preparation of the sanctuary, and accept us according to the desire of our hearts, to do the service of his house and tabernacle.

I will but speak a word or two of use to this part, and then we will proceed to that work which is your part this day; whereunto, if God give strength, I shall add some farther instructions, and then desire the help of our brethren present to carry it on.

First then, if there be any office, let it be under never so glorious, or so specious a title, if Christ hath not appointed that office by virtue of gospel ordinance and institution, there is a nullity in it; it is no gift of Christ, let who will bear it, and discharge it; with what formality soever they come unto it, popes and cardinals, metropolitans and diocesans, there is a nullity in the office, by reason there is no law, ordinance, or institution of Christ appointing of it. All the outward order and solemnity in the world, and all the holiness of persons, when engaging in such an office, cannot give it a right and title; because it wants the law of Christ for its foundation.

And where the office itself is appointed by Christ, if there be no communication of gifts unto the person; there is not a nullity in the office, absolutely; but there is a nullity as to the person. It is essential to the office, that Christ choose

the person by communicating of gifts unto him. Where this is not, I will not say, that there must always (for things are greatly varied with circumstances) be a nullity in all administrations; but there is a nullity in the person minis tering before Christ.

Secondly, Let the church consider aright, how they are to receive, and what apprehensions they have of a minister that comes to them according to this law, order, and institution of Christ, which I have unfolded to you. He is a gift of Christ. It requires wisdom and prudence in a man to receive a gift: consider what he doth, he takes an obligation upon himself; much more to receive a gift from a prince. But to receive a gift, and so great a gift from Christ! Certainly there ought to be some particular preparation of our hearts for it. How great a mercy, how great a gift this is, I could easily demonstrate.

There are two things that I will but name, 1. Valuation and thankfulness. 2. Improvement. As soon as we are a church of God, these things are expected of us. When we receive so great a gift from Christ, he expects that it be valued, that it be thankfully received, and that it be duly improved.

And on the part of him, or of any of us, who are called to the ministry, undoubtedly it is incumbent upon us, so to behave ourselves, and so to approve ourselves, as that we may own ourselves to be a gift of Christ unto the church, and be owned by the church, as a gift of Christ. I do not know, for my own part, a more trembling thought that a minister hath, or can have in the consideration of his office, work, and duty, whereunto he is called, than this one; How shall I approve myself so, as to be looked on as a gift from Christ, given unto the church?

There are three things that are required in every one, who may be esteemed to be a gift given by Christ unto the church. 1. An imitation of Christ. 2. A representation of him. And, 3. Zeal for him.

He

1. An imitation of Christ,' as the great Shepherd of the flock, in meekness, in care, in love, in tenderness towards the whole flock. So Christ is described, Isa. xl. 11. shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and shall

gently lead those who are with young:' here is the great pattern, here is an example for all who are shepherds of the flock under Christ (who intend to give an account with comfort unto the great Shepherd of the sheep, when he shall appear at the last day) in meekness and condescension, giving out help and assistance, bearing with all things, that cannot particularly be insisted upon; and especially conforming unto him, who knows how to have compassion on the ignorant, and them that are out of the way.

2. There is required, a representation of Christ;' and that in all his offices. (1.) A representation of him in the rule and conduct of the church. That the church under our rule and conduct, may be sensible that the government of Christ is spiritual and holy. What a woful representation of Christ is made by men, who undertake to rule the church of God, with rods and axes, with fire and fagot? Is this to represent the meek and holy King of the church, or rather, a devouring tyrant, unto the world? It is our great work in what interest Christ hath given us in the rule of the church, to represent him, as spiritual, as holy, as meek, as universally tending to edification, and not to destruction. (2.) To represent Christ in his prophetical office. He was the great teacher of the church; and the principal work of ministers is, to preach the Word in season and out of season,' by all means to carry on the church in the knowledge of God, and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I will give them pastors that shall feed them with knowledge and understanding.' Those who take upon themselves to be pastors, and neglect this work of feeding the flock, may, at as cheap a rate, and with equal modesty, renounce Jesus Christ.

(3.) Christ is to be represented in the imitable part of his sacerdotal office, which is to make continual prayers and intercession for the church, and that church in particular whereunto we belong. So the apostle speaks, Col. iv. 12. Epaphras, who is one of you (i. e. he was one of their elders and teachers), a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.' It is a great work thus, in all these things, to represent Christ in all his offices unto the church. And indeed, who is sufficient for these things? I might add,