An Apology for the True Christian Divinity / Being an explanation and vindication of the principles and doctrines of the people called Quakers

by Robert Barclay

§. XV.

The two first they reckon necessary to the Being of a Minister, so as a Man cannot be one without them; the Third they say goeth to the Well-being of one, but not to the Being; so that a Man may truly be a lawful Minister without it, and ought to be heard and received as such. But we, supposing a natural Capacity, that one be not an Ideot, judge the Grace of God indispensibly necessary to the very Being of a Minister, as that without which any can neither be a true, nor lawful, nor good Minister. As for Letter-learning, we judge it not so much necessary to the Well-being of one, though accidentally sometimes in certain Respects it may concur, but more frequently it is hurtful than helpful,A poor Laick instructed the learned Taulerus. as appeared in the Example of Taulerus, who being a learned Man, and who could make an eloquent Preaching, needed nevertheless to be instructed in the Way of the Lord by a poor Laick. I shall first speak of the Necessity of Grace, and then proceed to say something of that Literature which they judge so needful.

Proof 1.First then, as we said in the Call, so may we much more here, if the Grace of God be a necessary Qualification to make one a true Christian, it must be a Qualification much more necessary to constitute a true Minister of Christianity. That Grace is necessary to make one a true Christian I think will not be questioned, since it is by Grace we are saved, Ephes. ii. 8. God’s Grace alone doth constitute a true and lawful Teacher.It is the Grace of God that teacheth us to deny Ungodliness, and the Lusts of this World, and to live godly and righteously, Tit. ii. 11. Yea, Christ saith expresly, That without him we can do nothing, John xv. 5. and the Way whereby Christ helpeth, assisteth, and worketh with us, is by his Grace: Hence he saith to Paul, My Grace is sufficient for thee. A Christian without Grace is indeed no Christian, but an Hypocrite, and a false Pretender. Then I say, If Grace be necessary to a private Christian, far more to a Teacher among Christians, who must be as a Father and Instructor of others, seeing this Dignity is bestowed upon such as have attained a greater Measure than their Brethren. Even Nature itself may teach as that there is more required in a Teacher than in those that are taught, and that the Master must be above and before the Scholar in that Art or Science which he teacheth others. Since then Christianity cannot be truly enjoyed, neither any Man denominated a Christian without the true Grace of God, therefore neither can any Man be a true and lawful Teacher of Christianity without it.

Proof 2.Secondly, No Man can be a Minister of the Church of Christ, which is his Body, unless he be a Member of the Body, and receive of the Virtue and Life of the Head:

Arg.Who first must be a Member of the Body, and then Life is received, and Virtue from the Head. But he that hath not true Grace can neither be a Member of the Body, neither receive of that Life and Nourishment which comes from the Head:

Therefore far less can he be a Minister to edify the Body.

That he cannot be a Minister, who is not a Member, is evident; because he who is not a Member is shut out and cut off, and hath no Place in the Body; whereas the Ministers are counted among the most eminent Members of the Body. But no Man can be a Member unless he receive of the Virtue, Life, and Nourishment of the Head; for the Members that receive not this Life and Nourishment decay and wither, and then are cut off. And that every true Member doth thus receive Nourishment and Life from the Head, the Apostle expresly affirmeth, Ephes. iv. 16. From whom the whole Body being fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every Joint supplieth, according to the effectual Working in the Measure of every Part, makes Increase of the Body unto the Edifying of itself in Love. Now this that thus is communicated, and which thus uniteth the Whole, is no other than the Grace of God; and therefore the Apostle in the same Chapter, Ver. 7. saith, But unto every one of us is given Grace according to the Measure of the Gift of Christ; and Ver. 11. he sheweth how that by this Grace and Gift both Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers are given for the Work of the Ministry, and edifying of the Body of Christ. And certainly then no Man destitute of Grace is fit for this Work, seeing that all that Christ gives are so qualified; and these that are not so qualified, are not given nor sent of Christ, are not to be heard, nor received, nor acknowledged as Ministers of the Gospel, because his Sheep neither ought nor will hear the Voice of a Stranger. The Sheep of Christ, neither ought, nor will hear the Stranger’s Voice.This is also clear from 1 Cor. xii. throughout; for the Apostle in that Chapter, treating of the Diversity of Gifts and Members of the Body, sheweth how by the Workings of the same Spirit in different Manifestations or Measures in the several Members of the Body the whole Body is edified, saying, Ver. 13. That we are all baptized by the one Spirit into one Body; and then, Ver. 28. he numbers up the several Dispensations thereof, which by God are set in the Church through the various Workings of his Spirit for the Edification of the Whole. Then if there be no true Member of the Body which is not thus baptized by the Spirit, neither any Thing that worketh to the Edifying of it, but according to a Measure of Grace received from the Spirit, surely without Grace none ought to be admitted to work or labour in the Body, because their Labour and Work, without this Grace and Spirit, would be but ineffectual.