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EVery Christian, as hee is a na∣turall man, was borne of his Father and Mother, and is flesh of their flesh, and after his birth hee hath his beeing and subsisting in himselfe, and not in his Parents: but otherwise it is of euery Chri∣stian, as hee is a Christian, and of the Sonne of Adam, is in Christ made a new creature or regenerate man, and is become the Sonne of
God, hee hath in Christ, both the beginning of his new creation or regeneration, and also his being a new creature or regenerate man, and his continuing a new Creature, to wit, Hee hath in Christ his begin∣ning to be, and his being and conti∣nuing an holy member of his holy bo∣dy, of his flesh, and of his bones: But as a yong childe begotten after the flesh, after it is borne standeth in need of nourishment, thereby to be nourished and increased; so he that is made a new creature, or borne anew in Christ, by the seede of Gods word, must be fed with the same word that hee may grow in strength and spirituall increase, till (as the Apostle saith) he become to be a perfect man, and to the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ, that is, vntill he be come to perfection it selfe; vvhereunto because vvee shall neuer attaine so long as vvee liue in this world, vvee must all our life long be fed with the Word
of God: the want of which foode is a greater punishment then fa∣mine of victuals, as God testifieth by his Prophet, Amos 8. 11. Be∣hold, the dayes come that I will send a Famine in the Land, not a Fa∣mine of bread, nor a thirst of Water, but of hearing the Word of God, to wit, eyther publikely read or prea∣ched: by both vvhich vvee are effectually fed.
But who must preach the same? such as are thereunto lawfully cal∣led: for as in a Kingdome vvell ordered, there is no man vvhich ought or may exercise any pub∣like office, but by the appointment and commandement of the King, so none ought or can be accoun∣ted a Preacher, Minister, or Pa∣stor of the Church of God, to preach his word, except according to Gods owne ordinance hee be lawfully called, and by his lawfull calling, haue from God his Com∣mission to preach his Word: for
onely to the Apostles immediate∣ly, and extraordinarily sent by Christ, and to their Successors lawfully called by Apostolicall suc∣cession, hath Christ giuen Com∣mission publikely to preach, with spe∣ciall promise of his presence with them at their Preaching, by ioy∣ning the cooperation of his Spi∣rit vvith their Preaching: Also Christ in his Prayer made a little before hee vvent into the Garden, prayed onely for his Apostles, and them who shall beleeue by the Preaching of the Apostles and their Successors.
1 Cor. 1. 30. Ephes. 5. 30.
Ephes. 4. 13.
Mat. 28. 29. Luke 24. 49.
Iohn 17. 20.