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

§. XVII.

Answ.But this Objection is built upon a false Hypothesis, purely denied by us; and we have in the former Proposition concerning Perseverance already refuted it.

Obj. 2.Secondly, It may be objected to us, That since we affirm that every Man hath a Measure of true and saving Grace, there needs no singular Qualification either to a Christian or Minister; for seeing every Man hath this Grace, then no Man needs forbear to be a Minister for want of Grace.

Answ.I answer, We have above shewn that there is necessary to the making a Minister a special and particular Call from the Spirit of God, which is something besides the universal Dispensation of Grace to all, according to that of the Apostle,[88] No Man taketh this Honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. Moreover, we understand by Grace as a Qualification to a Minister, not the mere Measure of Light, as it is given to reprove and call him to Righteousness; All have God’s Grace, which calls to Righteousness, but all are not so leavened into its Nature as to bring forth Fruits, of a blameless holy Life.but we understand Grace as it hath converted the Soul, and operateth powerfully in it, as hereafter, concerning the Work of Ministers, will further appear. So we understand not Men simply as having Grace in them as a Seed, which we indeed affirm all have in a Measure; but we understand Men that are gracious, leavened by it into the Nature thereof, so as thereby to bring forth those good Fruits of a blameless Conversation, and of Justice, Holiness, Patience, and Temperance, which the Apostle requires as necessary in a true Christian Bishop and Minister.

[88] Heb. 5. 4.

Obj. 3.Thirdly, They[89] object the Example of the false Prophets, of the Pharisees, and of Judas.

[89] So Nic. Arnoldus Sect. 32. upon Thesis 4.

Answ.But First, As to the false Prophets, there can nothing be more foolish and ridiculous; as if because there were false Prophets, really false, without the Grace of God, therefore Grace is not necessary to a true Christian Minister. The false not the true Prophets want the Grace of God.Indeed if they had proved that true Prophets wanted this Grace, they had said something; but what have false Prophets common with true Ministers, but that they pretend falsely that which they have not? And because false Prophets want true Grace, will it therefore follow, that true Prophets ought not to have it, that they may be true and not false? The Example of the Pharisees and Priests under the Law will not answer to the Gospel Times, because God set apart a particular Tribe for that Service, and particular Families, to whom it belonged by a lineal Succession; The Service under the Law was not purely Spiritual, but Figurative; for the Performance of which, as they behoved to be purified from their outward Pollutions: So the Ministers of the Gospel must be inwardly without Blemish.and also their Service and Work was not purely spiritual, but only the Performance of some outward and carnal Observations and Ceremonies, which were but a Shadow of the Substance that was to come; and therefore their Work made not the Comers thereunto perfect, as appertaining to the Conscience, seeing they were appointed only according to the Law of carnal Commandment, and not according to the Power of an endless Life. Notwithstanding as in the Figure they were to be without Blemish as to their outward Man, and in the Performance of their Work they were to be washed and purified from their outward Pollutions, so now, under the Gospel Times, the Ministers in the Anti-type must be inwardly without Blemish in their Souls and Spirits, being, as the Apostle requires, blameless, and in their Work and Service must be pure and undefiled from their inward Pollutions, and so clean and holy, that they may offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ, 1 Pet. ii. 5. As to Judas, the Season of his Ministry was not wholly Evangelical, as being before the Work was finished, and while Christ himself and his Disciples were yet subject to the Jewish Observances and Constitutions, and therefore his Commission, as well as that which the rest received with him at that Time, was only to the House of Israel, Matt. x. 5, 6. by Virtue of that Commission, The Ministry of the Disciples of Christ before the Work was finished, was more Legal than Evangelical.therefore the rest of the Apostles were not impowered to go forth and preach after the Resurrection, until they had waited at Jerusalem for the pouring forth of the Spirit: So that it appears Judas’s Ministry was more legal than Evangelical. Judas was immediately called of Christ, and preached freely, which our Adversaries will not do; although they make him a Pattern of their graceless Ministry, saying, he had not the least Measure of God’s Grace at that Time.Secondly, Judas’s Case, as all will acknowledge, was singular and extraordinary, he being immediately called by Christ himself, and accordingly furnished and impowered by him to preach, and do Miracles; which immediate Commission our Adversaries do not so much as pretend to, and so fall short of Judas, who trusted in Christ’s Words, and therefore went forth and preached, without Gold or Silver, or Scrip for his Journey; giving freely as he had freely received; which our Adversaries will not do, as hereafter shall be observed: Also that Judas at that Time had not the least Measure of God’s Grace, I have not as yet heard proved. But is it not sad, that even Protestants should lay aside the eleven good and faithful Apostles, and all the rest of the holy Disciples and Ministers of Christ, and betake them to that one, of whom it was testified that he was a Devil, for a Pattern and Example to their Ministry? Alas! it is to be regretted, that too many of them resemble this Pattern over-much.

Obj.Another Objection is usually made against the Necessity of Grace, [90]That in Case it were necessary, then such as wanted it could not truly administer the Sacraments; and consequently the People would be left in Doubts and infinite Scruples, or not knowing certainly whether they had truly received them, because not knowing infallibly whether the Administrators were truly gracious Men.

[90] Ibid. Nic. Arnoldus.

Answ.But this Objection hitteth not us at all, because the Nature of that Spiritual and Christian Worship, which we according to the Truth plead for, is such as is not necessarily attended with these carnal and outward Institutions, from the administering of which the Objection ariseth; and so hath not any such Absurdity following upon it, as will afterwards more clearly appear.