Divinely appointed.

MINISTRY.

394. Divine appointment of the ministry.

Is. 62:6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence.

Mal. 2:7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

Mk. 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Lk. 101 After these things, the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city, and place, whither he himself would come. 2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.

Ac. 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Rom. 12:6 Having then gifts, differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching: 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation.

1 Cor. 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother. 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

2 Cor. 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconched us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

Design and Use of.

Col. 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

1 Tim. 1; 12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.

Tit. 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me, according to the commandment of God our Savior. 1 Cor. 12:7-11.

395. Design and use of the ministry.

Jer. 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. 15:19 Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth.

Ezk. 3:17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

Mat. 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

Ac. 26: 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Rom. 10: 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

1 Cor. 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world

Oriental Priesthood-Primitive Preaching-Qualifications.

by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

2 Cor. 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Ep. 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. 1 Tim. 3:1. Heb. 13: 17.

396. Oriental priesthood.

Gen. 47: 22 Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them; wherefore they sold not their lands.

Ex. 3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-inlaw, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the back side of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

397. Primitive mode of preaching.

Ac. 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath-days reasoned with them out of the scriptures. 1 Cor. 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

2 Cor. 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech.

4:1 Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty; not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but, by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

398. Ministerial qualifications.

1 Tim. 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband

Authority and Rights.

of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient; not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rale his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

2 Tim. 2:2 And 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. 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient; 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.

Tit. 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of riot, or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God: not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Mat. 13:52. 1 Cor. 4:2.

28 Take

399. Ministerial authority and rights, and their limitations. Ac. 20:17 And called the elders of the church. heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, [bishops] to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

2 Cor. 10:8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed.

13: 10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

Limits of Authority-Duties-Personal Obligations.

1 Tim. 5:17 Let the elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.

2 Tim. 2:2 And 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.

4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.

Tit. 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Heb. 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Limits of authority, &c.

Mat. 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister: 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mk.

10:42.

23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

1 Pet. 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. [See Church, 91.]

Ministerial Duties.

400. Duties towards themselves.

Ezk. 2:8 But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee