Who are Evangelists, and whether any may term themselves so now-a-day.Secondly, As to Evangelists the same may be said; for whoever preacheth the Gospel is really an Evangelist, and so consequently every true Minister of the Gospel is one; else what proper Office can they assign to it, unless they should be so foolish as to affirm that none were Evangelists but Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, who wrote the Account of Christ’s Life and Sufferings? And then it were neither a particular Office, seeing John and Matthew were Apostles, Mark and Luke Pastors and Teachers, so that there they coincided in one. And indeed it is absurd to think, that upon that particular Account the Apostle used the Word [Evangelist.] Calvin acknowledgeth, that such as preach the Gospel in Purity, after some Time of Apostasy, may be truly called Evangelists, and therefore saith, that There were Apostles in his Time; and hence the Protestants, at their first coming forth, termed themselves Evangelici, or Evangelicks.
Who is an Apostle.Lastly, An Apostle, if we look to the Etymology of the Word, signifies one that is sent; and in Respect every true Minister is sent of God, in so far he is an Apostle; though the Twelve, because of their being specially sent of Christ, were therefore called Apostles [Greek: kat' exochên: κατ εξοχην], or per eminentiam, i. e. by Way of Excellency. They were not limited to such a Number.And yet that there was no Limitation to such a Number, as some foolishly imagine, appears, because after that Number was filled up, the Apostle Paul was afterwards so called; therefore we judge that these are no distinct separate Offices, but only Names used upon Occasion to express the more eminent Arising and Shining forth of God’s Grace. As if any Minister of Christ should now proselyte and turn a whole Nation to the Christian Faith, though he had no distinct Office, yet I doubt not but both Papists and Protestants would judge it tolerable to call such an one an Apostle, or an Evangelist; Whether any Man be called an Apostle at this Day.for on this Account the Jesuits call some of their Sect Apostles of India and of Japan; and Calvin testifies that there were Apostles and Evangelists in his Time, in respect to the Reformation; Upon what Account John Knox was called the Apostle of Scotland.upon which Account also we have known John Knox often called the Apostle of Scotland. So that we conclude that Ministers, Pastors, or Teachers do comprehend all, and that the Office is but one, and therefore in that Respect we judge there ought to be no Precedency among them: To prove which I shall not here insist, seeing it is shewn largely, and treated of by such as have denied the Diocesan Episcopacy, as they call it.
§. XXVI.
The Distinction of Clergy and Laity not to be found in Scripture.That which we oppose, is the Distinction of Laity and Clergy, which in the Scripture is not to be found, whereby none are admitted unto the Work of the Ministry but such as are educated at Schools on Purpose, and instructed in Logick and Philosophy, &c. and so are at their Apprenticeship to learn the Art and Trade of Preaching, even as a Man learns any other Art, whereby all other honest mechanick Men, who have not got this Heathenish Art, are excluded from having this Privilege. And so he that is a Scholar thus bred up must not have any honest Trade whereby to get him a Livelihood, if he once intend for the Ministry, but he must see to get him a Place, and then he hath his set Hire for a Livelihood to him. Their Garb.He must also be distinguished from the rest by the Colour of his Clothes; for he must only wear Black, and must be a Master of Arts: But more of this hereafter.
§. XXVII.
By this it may appear, that as in Calling and Qualifying, so in Preaching and Praying, and the other particular Steps of the Ministry, every true Minister is to know the Spirit of God by its Virtue and Life to accompany and assist him; but because this relates to Worship, I shall speak of it more largely in the next Proposition, which is concerning Worship.
The last Thing to be considered and inquired into is, concerning the Maintenance of a Gospel Minister; but before I proceed, I judge it fit to speak something briefly concerning the Preaching of Women, and to declare what we hold in that Matter.
Women’s publick Preaching and Praying asserted.Seeing Male and Female are one in Christ Jesus, and that he gives his Spirit no less to one than to the other, when God moveth by his Spirit in a Woman, we judge it no Ways unlawful for her to preach in the Assemblies of God’s People. Neither think we that of Paul, 1 Cor. xiv. 34. to reprove the inconsiderate and talkative Women among the Corinthians, who troubled the Church of Christ with their unprofitable Questions, or that, 1 Tim. ii. 11, 12. that Women ought to learn in Silence, not usurping Authority over the Man, any Ways repugnant to this Doctrine; because it is clear that Women have prophesied and preached in the Church, else had that Saying of Joel been ill applied by Peter, Acts ii. 17. And seeing Paul himself, in the same Epistle to the Corinthians, giveth Rules how Women should behave themselves in their publick Preaching and Praying, it would be a manifest Contradiction if that other Place were taken in a larger Sense. And the same Paul speaks of a Woman that laboured with him in the Work of the Gospel: And it is written that [94]Philip had four Daughters that prophesied. And Lastly, It hath been observed, that God hath effectually in this Day converted many Souls by the Ministry of Women; and by them also frequently comforted the Souls of his Children; which manifest Experience puts the Thing beyond all Controversy. Quest. 4. Ministers Maintenance. But now I shall proceed to speak of the Maintenance of Ministers.
[94] Acts 21. 9.