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And first for the tvvo scriptures quoted in both your books.* 1.1 Rom. 10. 14. 15. 1 Cor. 9. 2. from the former of vvhich you cō∣clude, that bycause you
so preach, as people thereby do heare, beleeve, & call vpon God, you are therefore sent of God.
Let the Reader here observe, that the Apostle in both these places* 1.2
speaks of the conversion of Heathens, and Infidels to the fayth of Christ, as were the Romayns, and Corinthians before the prea∣ching of the Gospel vnto them: and so let him demaund of Mr B. whether the Ministers in England haue had the same effect in their preaching vnto the people there, with them, that preached vnto the Romayns, and Corinthians, and brought them by preaching from infidelity to beleeve in God? If they haue, then vvere the people Infidels before, and vvithout faith, and so are the rest not thus effectually converted by their preaching: if not, how then stands the comparison, or proportiō between the effect of their Mi∣nistery then, and theirs in England now? or what Argument can be taken from these effects compared together? In the generall, I confesse, there is a proportion, and so in that generall, and large sense, wherein Mr B. pag. 313. expounds the word sent, or Apostle, I do acknowledge many Ministers in Engl: sent of God▪ that is, that it comes not to passe without the speciall providence, and ordina∣tion of God, that such, and such men should rise vp, and preach such, and such truthes for the furtherance of the salvation of Gods elect in the places, where they come. They which † 1.3 preached Christ of envy, and strif••, to ad more afflictions to the Apostles bonds, were in this respect sent of God, and therefore it was, that the Apostle toyed a••* 1.4 their preaching. How much more they that preach of a sincere mind, though through ignorance, or infirmity▪ both their place, & en∣terance into it be most vnwarrantable? * 1.5 Iosephs brethren▪ the Pa••r••∣arks, did of h••••red and envy sell him into Aegypt: and yet the s••riptur••s testifie, that ‘* 1.6 God sent him thither. And the same God which could vse their malice (by which he vvas sold into Aegypt) for the bodyly good of his people there; even he can vse the power of A••tichrist, (by which the Ministers in the Church of England haue their cal∣ling)* 1.7 for the spirituall good of his people there. And yet neyther the secondary meanes of Iosephs sending, nor of the Ministers ey∣ther entry, or standing, any thing at all the more warrantable.
The other scripture is 1 Cor. 9. 2. of which I haue spoken some∣thing formerly, & others much more: & in which for the avoiding of ambiguity, I consider these two things. First, what the Apostle purposeth to prove: and 2. the medium, or Argument by which he proves his purpose.
Touching the former, it is evident, his purpose is to prove himself an Apostle, in the most strict, and propper sense, (hovvsoever * 1.8 Mr B. tri••les) contrary to the false insinuations of his adversaries, which bare the Churches in hand against him, that he was onely an or∣dinary Minister, or at least, inferiour to the Apostles, and had his calling, and other ministrations from, and vnder them: as appea∣reth. 1 Cor. 9. 1. 2 Cor. 10. 16. and 12. 12. Gal. 1. 1. 17. 18. 19. & 2. 6. 7. 8. 9.
The Argument to prove this, which he also calles the seal of his A∣postl••ship, and his work, Mr B. ••akes, the Lords effectuall working by* 1.9 his Ministery, in the conversion of s••ules vnto God.
Touching which his affirmation, I desire first to know whether* 1.10 this conversion of the Corinthians by Paul were to sanctification of life, yea, or no? If he say no, he gainsayes the Apostle, and his testimony of them: who, writing vnto the Church at Corinthus, con∣fesseth them there “ 1.11 to be sanctified in Christ Iesus, and Saints by cal∣ling: and again advertising them, that † 1.12 neyther fornica••ours, nor theeves, nor covetous, nor drunckards, nor raylers, nor extortioners should inherit the kingdō of heaven, he testifieth of thē, that such were som of thē, but sayth he, ye ar washed, but ye ar sanctified, but ye are iustified in the name of the L. Iesus, and by the spirit of our God. Besides, if Pauls work were not the work of sanctification vpon the Corinthians, how will M. B. rayse his Argument for the Ministers in England, from their work of san∣ctification vpon the people there? If on the other side he say, that the conversion by Pauls ministery was vnto sanctification, he con∣tradicts himself in his own distinction of double conversion, pag. 307: of his 2. book, where he allowes vnto the Romayns, Corinthians, and Eph••sians, onely the primary conversion, which is to the profession of Christ, but not the secondary, which is to sanctification of life. In which his distinctiō, as he idly imagins a true cōversiō without sanctifica∣tion, so doth he highly detract from the APOSTLE PAVL, as if he had not converted men to sanctification; or had gathered Chur∣ches of persons unsanctified outwardly, and in the judgement of charity.
2. How can the simple conversion of men prove both Mr Ber. an ordinary Minister, which he would be, and Paul no ordinary Minister, but an extraordinary Apostle, which he would be?
3. If conversing be a sign of a true Minister, then are both the Bishops in Engl: and the Ministers in the reformed Churches, true Ministers: for without doubt, some of both haue bene instrumēts vnder God of mens conversiō: but that is impossible, considering how the Ministery of the one, wheresoever it comes, eats vp, & de∣stroyes the other. Yea then should both the Ministers of Engl: and we here of the separation (who haue as M. B: truely answers Mr Smyth, renounced our Ministery received from the Bishops, and do exercise an other by the peoples choise) be true Ministers of Christ: for as they there avouch this work of conversion, so have wee al∣so here bene made partakers of the same grace of God: & found hi•• blessing even that way vpon our Ministery also.
4. As it was the most proper work of an Apostle to convert Heathens to the Lord, and † 1.13 in Christ Iesus to beget them through the Gospel, and so to plan•• Churches, not reioycing in the things already prepared by others, but to preach the gospel, even where Christ had not been named: so is it on the other side the Pastors work to feed thē that are* 1.14 already begotten, converted, & praepared: and therefore the Apostle* 1.15 Paul comprehends the whole Pastours, and Elders duty vnder the “ 1.16 fee••ing of the flock, all and every part whereof he avoucheth in the iudgement, and evidence of charity, to be purchased with the blood of Christ. And what is a Pastour, but a sheepheard? and over what flock is a sheepheard set, but over a flock of sheep? and who are sheep, but they which haue layd asyde their goatish, and swynish nature? which till men haue learnt to do, they are rather swyne, and goats, then sheep, and so are they, which keep them, rather swyneheards, and goteheards, then sheepheards.
Mr B. 2. book p. 308
Answ.
Phil. 1. 15 16.
ver. 18.
Gen. 37. 4 8. 11. 28. Act. 7. 9.
Gen. 45. 1. 7. 8.
Psal. 10••. 17.
pag. 321.
1. Book. p. 120.
2. Book. p. 321.
1 Cor. 1. 1
Ch. 6. 9. 1••. 11.
1 Cor. 4. 15. & 3. 6. ••.
Cor. 10. 16.
Rom. 15. 20
Act. 20. 17. 28.