Thetimebetweentheascensionandthegeneralresurrectioniscalled，notareigning，butaregeneration；thatis，apreparationofmenforthesecondandgloriouscomingofChristatthedayofjudgement，asappearethbythewordsofourSaviour，“Youthathavefollowedmeintheregeneration，whentheSonofmanshallsitinthethroneofhisglory，youshallalsositupontwelvethrones“；*andofSt。Paul，“Havingyourfeetshodwiththepreparationofthegospelofpeace“；*2andiscomparedbyourSaviourtofishing；thatis，towinningmentoobedience，notbycoercionandpunishing，butbypersuasion。AndthereforehesaidnottohisApostleshewouldmakethemsomanyNimrods，huntersofmen；butfishersofmen。Itiscomparedalsotoleaven，tosowingofseed，andtothemultiplicationofagrainofmustard-seed；byallwhichcompulsionisexcluded；andconsequentlytherecaninthattimebenoactualreigning。TheworkofChrist’sministersisevangelization；thatis，aproclamationofChrist，andapreparationforhissecondcoming；astheevangelizationofJohntheBaptistwasapreparationtohisfirstcoming。
Again，theofficeofChrist’sministersinthisworldistomakemenbelieveandhavefaithinChrist：butfaithhathnorelationto，nordependenceatallupon，compulsionorcommandment；butonlyuponcertainty，orprobabilityofargumentsdrawnfromreason，orfromsomethingmenbelievealready。ThereforetheministersofChristinthisworldhavenopowerbythattitletopunishanymanfornotbelievingorforcontradictingwhattheysay：theyhave，Isay，nopowerbythattitleofChrist’sministerstopunishsuch；butiftheyhavesovereigncivilpower，bypoliticinstitution，thentheymayindeedlawfullypunishanycontradictiontotheirlawswhatsoever：andSt。Paul，ofhimselfandotherthethenpreachersoftheGospel，saithinexpresswords，“Wehavenodominionoveryourfaith，butarehelpersofyourjoy。“*
Anotherargument，thattheministersofChristinthispresentworldhavenorightofcommanding，maybedrawnfromthelawfulauthoritywhichChristhathlefttoallprinces，aswellChristiansasinfidels。
St。Paulsaith，“Children，obeyyourparentsinallthings；forthisiswellpleasingtotheLord。“*And，“Servants，obeyinallthingsyourmastersaccordingtotheflesh，notwitheye-service，asmen-pleasers，butinsinglenessofheart，asfearingtheLord“：*2
thisisspokentothemwhosemasterswereinfidels；andyettheyarebiddentoobeytheminallthings。Andagain，concerningobediencetoprinces，exhorting“tobesubjecttothehigherpowers，“hesaith，“thatallpowerisordainedofGod“；and“thatweoughttosubjecttothemnotonlyfor“fearofincurringtheir“wrath，butalsoforconsciencesake。“*3AndSt。Peter，“Submityourselvestoeveryordinanceofman，fortheLord’ssake，whetheritbetotheking，assupreme，oruntogovernors，astothemthatbesentbyhimforthepunishmentofevildoers，andforthepraiseofthemthatdowell；
forsoisthewillofGod。“*4AndagainSt。Paul，“Putmeninmindtobesubjecttoprincipalities，andpowers，andtoobeymagistrates。“*5TheseprincesandpowerswhereofSt。PeterandSt。
Paulherespeakwereallinfidels：muchmorethereforewearetoobeythoseChristianswhomGodhathordainedtohavesovereignpoweroverus。HowthencanwebeobligedtoobeyanyministerofChristifheshouldcommandustodoanythingcontrarytothecommandofthekingorothersovereignrepresentantoftheCommonwealthwhereofwearemembers，andbywhomwelooktobeprotected？ItisthereforemanifestthatChristhathnotlefttohisministersinthisworld，unlesstheybealsoenduedwithcivilauthority，anyauthoritytocommandothermen。
Butwhat，maysomeobject，ifaking，orasenate，orothersovereignpersonforbidustobelieveinChrist？TothisIanswerthatsuchforbiddingisofnoeffect；becausebeliefandunbeliefneverfollowmen’scommands。FaithisagiftofGodwhichmancanneithergivenortakeawaybypromiseofrewardsormenacesoftorture。And，ifitbefurtherasked，whatifwebecommandedbyourlawfulprincetosaywithourtonguewebelievenot；mustweobeysuchcommand？
Professionwiththetongueisbutanexternalthing，andnomorethananyothergesturewherebywesignifyourobedience；andwhereinaChristian，holdingfirmlyinhisheartthefaithofChrist，haththesamelibertywhichtheprophetElishaallowedtoNaamantheSyrian。
NaamanwasconvertedinhishearttotheGodofIsrael，forhesaith，“Thyservantwillhenceforthofferneitherburntofferingnorsacrificeuntoothergods，butuntotheLord。InthisthingtheLordpardonthyservant，thatwhenmymastergoethintothehouseofRimmontoworshipthere，andheleanethonmyhand，andIbowmyselfinthehouseofRimmon；whenIbowmyselfinthehouseofRimmon，theLordpardonthyservantinthisthing。“*ThistheProphetapproved，andbidhim“Goinpeace。“HereNaamanbelievedinhisheart；butbybowingbeforetheidolRimmon，hedeniedthetrueGodineffectasmuchasifhehaddoneitwithhislips。ButthenwhatshallweanswertoourSaviour’ssaying，“Whosoeverdeniethmebeforemen，IwilldenyhimbeforemyFatherwhichisinheaven？“*2Thiswemaysay，thatwhatsoeverasubject，asNaamanwas，iscompelledtoinobediencetohissovereign，anddothitnotinordertohisownmind，butinordertothelawsofhiscountry，thatactionisnothis，buthissovereign’s；norisithethatinthiscasedeniethChristbeforemen，buthisgovernor，andthelawofhiscountry。IfanymanshallaccusethisdoctrineasrepugnanttotrueandunfeignedChristianity，Iaskhim，incasethereshouldbeasubjectinanyChristianCommonwealththatshouldbeinwardlyinhisheartoftheMahomedanreligion，whetherifhissovereigncommandhimtobepresentatthedivineserviceoftheChristianchurch，andthatonpainofdeath，hethinkthatMahomedanobligedinconsciencetosufferdeathforthatcause，ratherthantoobeythatcommandofhislawfulprince。
Ifhesayheoughtrathertosufferdeath，thenheauthorizethallprivatementodisobeytheirprincesinmaintenanceoftheirreligion，trueorfalse：ifhesayheoughttobeobedient，thenheallowethtohimselfthatwhichhedeniethtoanother，contrarytothewordsofourSaviour，“Whatsoeveryouwouldthatmenshoulddountoyou，thatdoyeuntothem“；*3andcontrarytothelawofnaturewhichistheindubitableeverlastinglawofGod，“Donottoanotherthatwhichthouwouldestnotheshoulddountothee。“
ButwhatthenshallwesayofallthosemartyrswereadofinthehistoryoftheChurch，thattheyhaveneedlesslycastawaytheirlives？Foranswerhereunto，wearetodistinguishthepersonsthathavebeenforthatcauseputtodeath；whereofsomehavereceivedacallingtopreachandprofesstheprofessthekingdomofChristopenly；othershavehadnosuchcalling，normorehasbeenrequiredofthemthantheirownfaith。Theformersort，iftheyhavebeenputtodeathforbearingwitnesstothispoint，thatJesusChristisrisenfromthedead，weretruemartyrs；foramartyris，togivethetruedefinitionoftheword，awitnessoftheresurrectionofJesustheMessiah；whichnonecanbebutthosethatthosethatconversedwithhimonearth，andsawhimafterhewasrisen：forawitnessmusthaveseenwhathetestifieth，orelsehistestimonyisnotgood。AndthatnonebutsuchcanproperlybecalledmartyrsofChristismanifestoutofthewordsofSt。Peter，“WhereforeofthesemenwhichhavecompaniedwithusallthetimethattheLordJesuswentinandoutamongstus，beginningfromthebaptismofJohnuntothatsamedayhewastakenupfromus，mustonebeordainedtobeamartyr“
thatis，awitness“withusofhisresurrection“：*wherewemayobservethathewhichistobeawitnessoftruthoftheresurrectionofChrist，thatistosay，ofthetruthofthisfundamentalarticleofChristianreligion，thatJesuswastheChrist，mustbesomeDisciplethatconversedwithhim，andsawhimbeforeandafterhisresurrection；andconsequentlymustbeoneofhisoriginalDisciples：whereastheywhichwerenotsocanwitnessnomore，butthattheirantecessorssaidit，andarethereforebutwitnessesofothermen’stestimony，andarebutsecondmartyrs，ormartyrsofChrist’switnesses。
*Acts，1。21，22
HethattomaintaineverydoctrinewhichhehimselfdrawethoutofthehistoryofourSaviour’slife，andoftheActsorEpistlesoftheApostles，orwhichhebelieveth，upontheauthorityofaprivateman，willopposethelawsandauthorityofthecivilstate，isveryfarfrombeingamartyrofChrist，oramartyrofhismartyrs。Itisonearticleonly，whichtodieformeritethsohonourableaname，andthatarticleisthis，thatJesusistheChrist；thatistosay，hethathathredeemedus，andshallcomeagaintogiveussalvation，andeternallifeinhisgloriouskingdom。Todieforeverytenetthatserveththeambitionorprofitoftheclergyisnotrequired；norisitthedeathofthewitness，butthetestimonyitselfthatmakesthemartyr：forthewordsignifiethnothingelsebutthemanthatbearethwitness，whetherhebeputtodeathforhistestimony，ornot。
Alsohethatisnotsenttopreachthisfundamentalarticle，buttakethituponhimofhisprivateauthority，thoughhebeawitness，andconsequentlyamartyr，eitherprimaryofChrist，orsecondaryofhisApostles，Disciples，ortheirsuccessors；yetishenotobligedtosufferdeathforthatcause，becausebeingnotcalledthereto，itisnotrequiredathishands；noroughthetocomplainifheloseththerewardheexpectethfromthosethatneversethimonwork。Nonethereforecanbeamartyr，neitherofthefirstnorseconddegree，thathavenotawarranttopreachChristcomeintheflesh；thatistosay，nonebutsuchasaresenttotheconversionofinfidels。Fornomanisawitnesstohimthatalreadybelieveth，andthereforeneedsnowitness；buttothemthatdeny，ordoubt，orhavenotheardit。ChristsenthisApostlesandhisseventyDiscipleswithauthoritytopreach；hesentnotallthatbelieved。Andhesentthemtounbelievers；“Isendyou，“saithhe，“assheepamongstwolves“；*notassheeptoothersheep。
*Matthew，10。16
Lastly，thepointsoftheircommission，astheyareexpresslysetdowninthegospel，containnoneofthemanyauthorityoverthecongregation。
WehavefirstthatthetwelveApostlesweresent“tothelostsheepofthehouseofIsrael，“andcommandedtopreach“thatthekingdomofGodwasathand。“*Nowpreaching，intheoriginal，isthatactwhichacrier，herald，orotherofficerusethtodopubliclyinproclaimingofaking。Butacrierhathnotrighttocommandanyman。AndtheseventyDisciplesaresentoutas“Labourers，notaslordsoftheharvest“；*2andarebiddentosay，“ThekingdomofGodiscomenighuntoyou“；*3andbykingdomhereismeant，notthekingdomofgrace，butthekingdomofglory；fortheyarebiddentodenounceittothosecitieswhichshallnotreceivethem，asathreatening，thatitshallbemoretolerableinthatdayforSodomthanforsuchacity。*4AndourSaviourtellethhisDisciples，thatsoughtpriorityofplace，theirofficewastominister，evenastheSonofMancame，nottobeministeredunto，buttominister。*5Preachersthereforehavenotmagisterial，butministerialpower：“Benotcalledmasters，“saithourSaviour，“foroneisyourmaster，evenChrist。“*6