provinces of teaching and of exhortation are no where separated, but are both alike assigned to the pastor, no less than to the teacher so called; the functions are twofold, but the office and the agent are one; although individuals may possess peculiar powers either of teaching or of exhortation, and may be distinguished as such, Rom. xii. 7, 8.

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Extraordinary ministers are persons inspired and sent on a special mission by God, for the purpose of planting the church where it did not before exist, or of reforming its corruptions, either through the medium of preaching or of writing. To this class belong the prophets, apostles, evangelists, and the like. 1 Cor. iv. 1. let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ; and stewards of the mysteries of God.' Gal. i. 1. Paul, an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.' v. 17. ' neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me.' ii. 6. of those who seemed to be somewhat, whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me; God accepteth no man's person: for they who seemed to be somewhat, in conference added nothing unto me.' Acts xiii. 2. the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.' 2 Tim. iv. 5, do the work of an evangelist.'

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Any believer is competent to act as an ordinary minister,* according as convenience may require, pro

* It is evident from many passages in the printed works of Milton, that even the presbyterian institutions did not accord with his notions of Christian liberty. He often attacks the presbyters, during the time when episcopacy was abolished, with as much severity as the bishops during their ascendency. Warton observes, that he contended for that sort of indiVOL. II.

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vided only he be endowed with the necessary gifts; these gifts constituting his mission. Such were, before the law, the fathers or eldest sons of families,† as Abel, Noah, Abraham, &c. Jethro, Exod. xviii. 12. xix. 22. let the priests also, which come near to Jehovah, sanctify themselves'—. xxiv. 5. he 'sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt-offerings, and sacrificed peace-offerings of oxen unto Jehovah.' Such were, under the law, Aaron and his posterity, the whole tribe of Levi, and lastly the prophets. In like manner, any one, who appeared to be in other respects qualified, was allowed to teach openly in the synagogue, though he were neither priest. nor Levite; a permission which was granted to Christ, and subsequently to Paul at Antioch. Acts xiii. 15. 'after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye vidual or personal religion, by which every man is to be his own priest, See his edition of Milton's smaller Poems, p. 326. Edit. 1785. 'The third priesthood only remaining, is common to all the faithful. Considerations, &c. Prose Works, III. 383. If all the faithful be now a holy and a royal priesthood, 1 Pet. ii. 5, 9. not excluded from the dispensation of things holiest, after free election of the church, and imposition of hands.... for the gospel makes no difference from the magistrate himself to the meanest artificer, if God evidently favour him with spiritual gifts, as he can easily, and oft hath done.' Ibid. 390. So is he by the same appointment (of God) ordained, and by the church's call admitted, to such offices of discipline in the church, to which his own spiritual gifts......have authorized him.' Reason of Church Government, &c. I. 138. See also p. 139. The functions of church government commend him.'

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*Heretofore in the first evangelic times (and it were happy for Christendom if it were so again) ministers of the gospel were by nothing else distinguished from other Christians but by their spiritual knowledge and sanctity of life.' Considerations, &c. III. 390.

+ 'In the beginning this authority seems to have been placed, as all both civil and religious rites once were, only in each father of a family.' Reason of Church Government, &c. Prose Works, I. 134. • In those days was no priest, but the father, or the first-born of each family.' Considerations, &c. III. 359.

men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.' How much more then must every believer endowed with similar gifts enjoy the same liberty under the gospel? Accordingly, this liberty is expressly conceded: Mark ix. 38, 39. 'we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us; and we forbad him, because he followeth not us: but Jesus said, Forbid him not.' Acts viii. 4. they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.' xi. 19, &c. they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch.....which spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus; and the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.....they sent forth Barnabas......who when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.' If our modern clergy, as they are called by way of distinction, who claim to themselves the exclusive right of preaching the gospel, had seen this grace imparted to those whom they are pleased to denominate the laity, it would have been to them a subject, not of rejoicing, but of censure and obloquy. xviii. 24, 25. 'a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus: this man was instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.' 2 Tim. ii. 2. the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.'

Exod. xix. 6. compared with Isai. lxi. 6. ' ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God.' 1 Pet. ii. 9. ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.' Rev. i. 6. 'who hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father.' Again, 1 Pet. v. 3. neither as being lords over God's heritage.' If in this passage the word heritage, (clerus, Lat. whence the term clergy, appropriated by the ecclesiastics to themselves) has any meaning at all, it must designate the whole body of the church.* Nor is the name of prophet applied exclusively to such as foretel future events, but to any one endowed with extraordinary piety and wisdom for the purposes of teaching. Thus it was said of Abraham, Gen. xx. 7. he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live.' So also Miriam is called a prophetess, Exod. xv. 20. and Deborah, Judges iv. 4. and the same title is applied to believers in general, Psal. cv. 15. 'touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.' Hence under the gospel likewise, the simple gift of teaching, especially of public teaching, is called prophecy. 1 Cor. xiv. 1. desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.' v. 3. he that prophesieth, speaketh

* This all Christians ought to know, that the title of clergy St. Peter gave to all God's people, till Pope Hyginus and the succeeding prelates took it from them, appropriating that name to themselves and their priests only, and condemning the rest of God's inheritance to an injurious and alienate condition of laity.' Reasons of Church Government urged against Prelaty. Prose Works, I. 135. Ecclesiasticorum duntaxat bona fuere, qui hoc maxime sensu clerici, vel etiam holoclerici, ut qui sortem totam invasissent, rectius nominari poterant.' Defensio Secunda pro Populo Anglicano, V. 247.

unto men to edification;' and so through the remainder of the chapter. 1 Cor. iii. 8, &c. 'he that planteth and he that watereth are one; and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour: for we are labourers together with God.' Pastors and teachers, therefore, are the gift of the same God who gave apostles and prophets, and not of any human institution whatever.* 1 Pet. iv. 10, 11. as every man hath received the gift, even so let him minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God: if any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God.'

If therefore it be competent to any believer whatever to preach the gospel, provided he be furnished with the requisite gifts, it is also competent to him to administer the rite of baptism; inasmuch as the latter office is inferior to the former. John iv. 2. Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples.' 1 Cor. i. 17. 'Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.' Hence Ananias, who was only a disciple, baptized Paul. Acts ix. 10, 18. x. 48. he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord;' which command was given to the companions of Peter, who are only called brethren, v. 23. and they

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'It is a foul error, though too much believed among us, to think that the university makes a minister of the gospel; what it may conduce to other arts and sciences, I dispute not now; but that which makes fit a minister, the Scripture can best inform us to be only from above, whence also we are bid to seek them. Matt. ix. 33. Acts xx, 28. Rom. x. 15. how shall they preach, unless they be sent ? By whom sent? By the university, or the magistrate, or their belly? No surely, but sent from God only, and that God who is not their belly.' Considerations, &c. Prose Works, III. 386. 'Doubtless, if God only be he who gives ministers to his church till the world's end, and through the whole gospel never sent us for ministers to the schools of philosophy- - Ibid. 390.