An explicite declaration of the testimony of Christ: according to the plain sayings of the Gospel: and therein, of the purposes, promises, and covenants of God, as by Gospel declared. With, a consideration of a question stated about faith. By Thomas Moore, Senior.

CHAP. 11.

Of those whom God hath appointed and chosen to this busi∣ness, for declaring his Name, and shewing forth his praises to this end, for Convincement, Conversion, and Edifica∣tion.

WE do finde in the Scripture, that these are in some re∣spect of two sorts; though in respect of Faith, and that ministred,* 1.1 one; and so he chose first and primely those that were brought in by his own personal Ministration, and the first Trusters in him after his Resurrection, to be the Beginners and Layers of the Foundation, and Recorders of the Go∣spel thus revealed; and likewise together with them, and to be after them, all those that should through his Word mi∣nistred by these first Witnesses be brought in to believe on him, to carry this business an end, to the same end, till his coming again. And this appears cleer in the Scripture: for,

1. He chose for this business those that were brought in by his own immediate and personal Ministration, and receiv∣ed the Gospel immediately from himself,* 1.2 having seen and heard him personally; and so were to be the Trusters in him after his Resurrection: he chose them not as they were the Sons of Adam, and born of such natural Parents, and had of them such Names, though they were such, and had such Names; but as they were his Called, and believed on him, even so, and as such he chose them: and so it is said of them

he chose to be Apostles, they were first his called Disciples, and then he after called and chose them to be Apostles; and one of these, notwithstanding all this Grace extended,* 1.3 was false-hearted, and became of the Devil, and lost himself, and so never came to trust in him after his Resurrection; but ano∣ther of his Disciples, that so trusted in him, had that place and office of his: for those in and with him in this business approved of him, are called, and chosen, and faithful: and of these, of his first Witnesses, he saith, You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, that you should go,* 1.4 and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. And again, Ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, &c. And as such, he prayed for them, that they might be fitted, pre∣selved and blessed in their Ministration. And so likewise he appointed seventy others to go before his Face, to evange∣lize. And thus also Paul was chosen to be one of these first Witnesses, and an Apostle; and proves his Apostleship by this, That he received the Gospel immediately from the Lord, and that he had seen the Lord. And this the Apostle affirms of all the first Witnesses, that saw and heard Christ af∣ter his Resurrection, That they were witnesses chosen before of God, and precious, and commanded by him to preach unto the people, and testifie, &c. so that of this first sort there is no question.

2. He also in this choice, did also chuse for carrying an end this business till his coming again, those, and all those (ap∣proving onely those) that in believing his Word, as delivered and left upon record by his Apostles, are by his grace brought in believing on him, to be united, and built on him, and so to have his Word in their Heart. And this is express,* 1.5 That these are the spiritual house, and holy Priesthood, the chosen Gene∣ration, and peculiar people, called out of darkness into his mar∣vellous light, to offer up his acceptable Sacrifices to God by Jesus Christ, and shew forth the praises, according to what was fore-prophesied of such: whence that hope of the Apo∣stle to be enlarged by the Corinthians; and that acknowledge∣ment with thanksgiving of the Word,* 1.6 sounded out to others by the Thessalonians, and their edifying one another,* 1.7 to which he still exhorts them (for Officers in outward Congregations,

I am not yet to speak, but as they are one with the unfeigned Believers thus united to Christ) who as they are admonished in their speaking or Ministration,* 1.8 not to presume beyond the measure of Faith dealt to them; so they are exhorted accord∣ing to the gift they have received,* 1.9 to minister the same one to another, as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God; and if any man speak, to speak as the Oracles of God; yea, and in the midst of a crooked Generation,* 1.10 to shine forth as Lights, and hold forth the Word of Life, as Jesus Christ bade. And so the Manifestation of the Spirit is said to be given to every Man to profit withall. And indeed, the House being of God's building, and not Man's, by a Rule; for so was the old Tabernacle: and Christ being the Minister of this San∣ctuary, the High-Priest, that is, the Prophet and the spiritual. Man, that hath none but spiritual Priests to attend his service, there being a change of the Priesthood, that Law is also changed,* 1.11 and we have from Christ now no Priests by a na∣tural birth or lineal descent, but by a spiritual birth onely; none by worldly Power,* 1.12 and Documents, and Order: but by the Teachings and Calling of Christ by the Spirit of Grace.

But for these two Points, that is, The means of carry∣ing forth the Gospel, and the Instruments approved and chosen thereto by God in Christ, we may yet see much more in the next and last Point, which followeth next to be spoken of, namely, The Furniture wherewith he hath furnished them, and that with fulness of spiritual bles∣sings both in knowledge, grace, wisdom, and understanding; and also with spiritual gifts, of which now.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. 5.1.13, 14, 15, 16. Joh. 15.1, 2, 4, 8. & 17.20, 21, 22, 23.
• * 1.2

  Mar. 3.9, 13, 14, 15, 16, &c. Luk. 6.13, 14, &c.
• * 1.3

  Joh. 6.70. & 17.12. Act. 1.15, 26. Rev. 17.14. Ioh. 15.16, 19.
• * 1.4

  Joh. 17.13, 14, 20. Luk. 10.1, 2, 17. Gal. 3.11, 12, 17. 1 Cor. 9.1. & 15.8, 9. Act. 10.41, 42.
• * 1.5

  1 Pet. 2.3, 4, 5, 9. Isa. 59.21. & 61.1, 2, 3, 4.
• * 1.6

  2 Cor. 10.
• * 1.7

  1 Thes. 1.8. & 5.11, 14.
• * 1.8

  Rom. 12.3.
• * 1.9

  1 Pet. 4.10, 11.
• * 1.10

  Phil. 2.15, 16. Mat. 5.13, 16. 1 Cor. 12.7.
• * 1.11

  Heb. 7.12.
• * 1.12

  Psa. 68.11. Pro. 9.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.