The Christian divinitie, contained in the divine service of the Church of England summarily, and for the most part in order, according as point on point dependeth, composed; and with the holy Scriptures plainly and plentifully confirmed: written for the furtherance of the peoples understanding in the true religion established by publike authoritie, and for the increase of vnitie in that godly truth eternall. By Edmund Reeve Bachelour in Divinitie, and vicar of the parish of Hayes in Middlesex.

CHAP 33. Of the Ministerie which Christ appointed in his Church in generall.

IN the Booke of ordering Bishops, Priests, and Dea∣cons, in the Prayer afore the consecration of a Bi∣shop, it is said, That Christ being ascended into hea∣uen, powred downe his gifts abundantly vpon men,m making some Apostles, some Prophets, some Euange∣lists, some Pastors and Doctors, to the edifying and ma∣king perfect his congregation. And in the prayer afore ordering Priests, it is added; By whose labour and Mi∣nisterie, he gathered together a great flocke in all parts of the world, to set forth the eternall praise of his holy Name. It is there also added, So that as ••ell by these thy Ministers, as by them to whom they shall be appoin∣ted Ministers, thy holy Name may be alwayes glorified, and thy blessed kingdome enlarged. The Apostle saith to the Hebrewes,n Euery high Priest taken from among men, is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sinnes; who can haue compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way, for that he himselfe also is compassed with infirmity: And by reason hereof he ought as for the people, so also for himselfe, to offer for sinnes. And no

man taketh this honour vnto himselfe, but he that is cal∣led of God, as was Aaron.

The ground of Christs Ministery is signified in Saint Peters deliuery out of Amos, by whom the Lord said,o After this I will returne, and will build againe the tabernacle of Dauid, which is fallen downe; and I will build againe the ruines thereof, and I will set it vp, that the residue of men might seeke after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, vpon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doth all these things. Paul and Barnabas said vnto the Iewes,p It was necessary that the word of God should first haue beene spoken vnto you; but seeing yee put it from you, and iudge your selues vnworthy of euerlasting life, loe, wee turne to the Gentiles: For so hath the Lord commanded vs, saying; I haue set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for saluation vnto the ends of the earth. Also it is signified thereof to the Hebrewes, where it is said, If perfection were by the Leuiticall Priesthood (for vnder it the people receiued the Law) what further neede was there, that another Priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron: For the Priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the Law.

Notes

• m

  Eph. 4.11.12
• n

  Hebr. 5.1.••.4.5.
• o

  Acts 15.16.17
• p

  Act. 13.46.47
• Cur ergo bap∣tizas. si tu ••on es Christus ille, neque Elias, neque Propheta ill••? Ioh. 1.25. Hinc doceri potest Iudaeos ipsos non ignorasse mutationem aliquam fore in reli∣gione sub Mes••ia: inquit quidam in annot. ad Ioh. 1.25. in bibl. Iun.