OF THE MINISTERIE. The chiefe Questions

1 What the Ministerie is.
2 What are the degrees of Ministers.
3 For what end and purpose the Ministerie was instituted.
4 Vnto whom the Ministerie is committed.
5 What are the duties and functions of Ministers.

1 WHAT THE MINISTERY IS

The Ministerie is a function by God ordained, of teaching Gods word and administring his Sacraments according to his diuine ordinaunce. The partes then of the Ministerie of the Church are two. 1 To preach Gods woord. 2 Rightlie to administer the Sacraments.

2 What are the degrees of Ministers

Of Ministers some are immediatelie called of God, some mediatelie by the Church. Jmmediatelie were called the Prophets and Apostles. The Prophets were Ministers immediatelie called of God to teach and open the doctrine of Moses and of the promise the Messias to come, as also to correct their maners in the Church and common-wealth of Moses, and to vtter prophecies of euentes in and without the Church, hauing a testimonie and warraunt that they could not erre in doctrine. The Apostles were Ministers immediatelie called by Christ to preach the doctrine concerning the Messias nowe exhibited, and to spreade it throughout the whole world, hauing a testimonie & warrant that they could not erre in doctrine. Mediatelie were called, 1. The Euangelists, who were helpers of the Apostles in their labour, and were sent of the Apostles to teach diuerse Churches. 2. Bishops or Pastours, which are ministers called by the Church to teach the woorde of God, and to administer the Sacraments in some one certaine Church. 3. Doctors, who are ministers called by the church to teach in some certaine church. 4. Gouernors, who are ministers chosen by the iudgement of the church to administer discipline, and to ordaine thinges necessarie. 5. Deacons, who are ministers chosen by the church to take care for the poore, and to distribute Almes.

3 For what end and purpose the ministerie was instituted

GOD would that in all ages of the world there should be publike assemblies of the church, in which the true doctrine concerning God and his will might bee heard, chieflie for these causes. 1. That God maie bee magnified and inuocated in this life by mankinde not onelie priuatelie, but also by the publique voice of the church. Psal. 68. Giue thankes vnto God in the congregations. 2. That the publique and ordinarie preaching of the doctrine, the pouring out of praiers, and giuing of thankes, and the vse of the sacramentes maie bee an exercise to stirre vp and cherish faith and godlines, as which without exercises doth easilie through our infirmitie waxe colde. Ephes. 4. He gaue some Apostles, some Prophets, and some Euangelists, and some Pastors, and Doctors for the gathering together of the Saints, for the worke of the ministerie, and for the edification of the bodie of Christ. 3. That men maie prouoke one another by their example vnto godlines and to the magnifieng and praise of God. Psalm. 22.22. I wil declare thy name vnto my brethren: in the middest of the congregation will J praise thee. 4. That there maie bee preserued and maintained a consent and agreement in the church in the doctrine and worship of God. Eph. 4. He gaue Pastors and Doctors for the gathering together of the Saints, till we all meete together in the vnitie of faith. 5. That the church maie be seene and heard among men, and maie be discerned from the other blasphemous & Idolatrous multitude of men. And he wil haue the church to be seen & beheld, that the elect may be gathered vnto it, & that the reprobate may be made more excuseles while they contemne, and endeuor to represse the voice and calling of God which they haue heard. Rom. 10.18. But, haue they not heard? No doubt their sound went out through all the earth, and their woordes into the ends of the world. 2. Cor. 2.14. Now thankes bee vnto God, which alwaies maketh vs to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the fauour of his knowledge by vs in euerie place: for we are vnto God the sweete sauour of Christ, in them that are saued, and in them that perish: to the one we are the sauour of death vnto death, and to the other the sauour of life vnto life. 6. That God maie applie himselfe vnto our infirmitie, in teaching men by men. 7. That hee maie shewe his loue towards man, in that he will haue men to be ministers of that great worke, which also the sonne of God did administer. Nowe these causes belong not to any one certaine time, but to all times and ages of the Church and world. Wherefore god wil alwaies haue the ministerie of his Church preserued, and the vse thereof frequented, and therefore the generall & ground of this commaundement, or the morall part thereof doth bind all men euen from the beginning of the woorld vnto the end: namely, that some Sabboth be kept by them, that is, that some time be allotted vnto publique sermons, and praiers, and to the administration of the sacraments.

4 Vnto whom the ministerie is to be committed

Vnto whom the ministery of the Church ought to be committed, Saint Paul plainly deliuereth in his Epistles to Timothy, and to Titus. And, briefly to comprise them; The ministerie of the Church is to bee committed, 1. Vnto men, 2. hauing a good testimonie in and without the church, 3. able to teach, that is, Rightly vnderstanding the doctrine, and hauing giftes in some measure rightly to propound the same.

5 What are the duties and functions of Ministers

The duties and functions of Ministers are. 1. Faithfullie to propound and deliuer the true and sound doctrine of God, that the church maie know & vnderstand it. 2. Rightlie to administer the sacraments. 3. To go before and shine vnto the church by their example of Christian life and conuersation. 4. To giue diligent attendaunce vnto their flock. 5. To yeelde their seruice in such iudgementes as are exercised by the church. 6. To take care that regard and respect be had of the poore.