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SECT. XVI. His Conclusion, that the Pastor rightly orde∣red by the rule of Christ, gives the Essen∣tials to Ordination, discussed.
HIS Conclusion is, Election of the people rightly ordered by the rule of Christ, gives the Essentials to an Officer, or leaves the Impression of a true outward Call, and so an Office, power upon a Pastor.
This is the Proposition he undertakes to prove; and here I expected an explication of his Terms, especially of that, what he means by leaves an Impression; for since he before had de∣spised the Schools for treating of an Indelible Character, not only for making it indelible, but for making it a Character, and con∣temned both its being quality or relation; I did justly expect he should expound what he means by this Impression of an out∣outward Call, left in the receiver; but not a word. It must cer∣tainly be one of those, either quality or relation; for it cannot he substance, or quantity, and nothing else can pretend. But a∣gain, I expected he should have shewed, what was that rule of Christ he spake of, which should order the Election of the peo∣ple, for without we know that, we dispute at random; for that must be our sole guide; and indeed, at the first blush, when Christ is called and his rules to countenance any Cause, it will stagger any heedlesse Reader; but be not troubled with it, Christ never gave rule to the people to do any such Thing, If he had, this man would have shewed it; but the Truth is, he did not, all the Rules he gave were by his Apostles, as before expressed, and therefore Christ cannot Countenance that Cause with which he had not the least businesse to do: and therefore al∣though the Lawes of Disputations would have required this at his hands, yet he wisely avoids them, and from his Conclusion leaps into proofs of it; the first of which is.