The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carryed on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...

Inference 1.

* 1.1If Jesus Christ who is now passed into the heavens be the great Prophet, and Teacher of the Church; hence we Justly infer the continual necessity of a standing Ministry in the Church. For by his Ministers he now teacheth us, and to that intent hath fixed them in the Church, by a firm constitution, there to remain to the end of the world, Matth. 28. ult. He teacheth men no more personally, but Ministerially. His Ministers sup∣ply the want of his personal presence, 2 Cor. 5.20. We pray you in Christs stead. These offices he gave the Church at his Ascen∣tion, (i. e.) when he ceased to teach them any longer with

his own lips. And so set them in the Church that their suc∣cession shall never totally fail. For so that word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 he hath set, 1 Cor. 12.28. Plainly implyes. They are set by a sure esta∣blishment, a firm and unalterable constitution, even as the times and seasons, which the Father hath put 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in his own power. It's the same word. And it's well they are so firmly set and fixed there, for how many adversaries in all ages have endea∣voured to shake the very office it self: Pretending that it's needless to be taught by men, and wresting such Scriptures as these to countenance their errour, Ioel. 2.28, 29. I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your Sons and Daugh∣ters shall Prophesie, &c. And Ier. 31.34. They shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord, for they shall all know me from the least of them, to the greatest of them. As to that of Ioel it is an∣swered, that if an Old Testament Prophesie, may be understood according to a New Testament interpretation, then that Pro∣phesie doth no way oppose, but confirm the Gospel Ministry. How the Apostle understood the Prophet in that his Prophesie may be seen in Acts 2.16. When the Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost upon the Apostles. And surely he must be a confident person indeed, that thinks not an Apostle to be as good an Expositer of the Prophet as himself. And for that in Ier. 31. we say,

• First, that if it conclude against ministerial teachings, it must equally conclude against Christian Conferences.
• Secondly, We say that cannot be the sence of one Scripture, which contradicts the same sence of other Scriptures. But so would this, Eph. 4.11, 12. 1 Cor. 12.28.
• And thirdly, We say the sence of that Text is not negative, but comparative. Not that they shall have no need to be taught any truth; but no such need to be taught the first truths. That there is a God. And who is this true God. They shall no more teach every man his brother saying know the Lord, for they shall all know me. To conclude, God hath given Ministers to the Church for conversion, and edification work; till we all come into the unity of the Faith, to a perfect man, Ephes. 4. 11, 12. So that when all the Elect are converted, and all those Converts become perfect men; when there is no errour in Judgement, or practice; and no seducer to cause it, then,

• and not till then, will a Gospel-Ministry be useless. But (as it's well observed) there is not a man that opposes a Gospel Ministry, but the very being of that man is a sufficient argu∣ment for the continuance of it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Infer. 1.