Andfirst,wearetorememberthattherightofjudgingwhatdoctrinesarefitforpeace,andtobetaughtthesubjects,isinallCommonwealthsinseparablyannexedashathbeenalreadyproved,Chaptereighteentothesovereignpowercivil,whetheritbeinonemanorinoneassemblyofmen。Foritisevidenttothemeanestcapacitythatmen’sactionsarederivedfromtheopinionstheyhaveofthegoodorevilwhichfromthoseactionsredounduntothemselves;andconsequently,menthatareoncepossessedofanopinionthattheirobediencetothesovereignpowerwillbemorehurtfultothemthantheirdisobediencewilldisobeythelaws,andtherebyoverthrowtheCommonwealth,andintroduceconfusionandcivilwar;fortheavoidingwhereof,allcivilgovernmentwasordained。AndthereforeinallCommonwealthsoftheheathen,thesovereignshavehadthenameofpastorsofthepeople,becausetherewasnosubjectthatcouldlawfullyteachthepeople,butbytheirpermissionandauthority。
ThisrightoftheheathenkingscannotbethoughttakenfromthembytheirconversiontothefaithofChrist,whoneverordainedthatkings,forbelievinginhim,shouldbedeposed,thatis,subjectedtoanybuthimself,or,whichisallone,bedeprivedofthepowernecessaryfortheconservationofpeaceamongsttheirsubjectsandfortheirdefenceagainstforeignenemies。AndthereforeChristiankingsarestillthesupremepastorsoftheirpeople,andhavepowertoordainwhatpastorstheyplease,toteachtheChurch,thatis,toteachthepeoplecommittedtotheircharge。
Again,lettherightofchoosingthembe,asbeforetheconversionofkings,intheChurch,forsoitwasinthetimeoftheApostlesthemselvesashathbeenshownalreadyinthischapter;evensoalsotherightwillbeinthecivilsovereign,Christian。ForinthatheisaChristian,heallowstheteaching;andinthatheisthesovereignwhichisasmuchastosay,theChurchbyrepresentation,theteachersheelectsareelectedbytheChurch。AndwhenanassemblyofChristianschoosetheirpastorinaChristianCommonwealth,itisthesovereignthatelectethhim,becauseitisdonebyhisauthority;inthesamemanneraswhenatownchoosetheirmayor,itistheactofhimthathaththesovereignpower:foreveryactdoneistheactofhimwithoutwhoseconsentitisinvalid。Andthereforewhatsoeverexamplesmaybedrawnoutofhistoryconcerningtheelectionofpastorsbythepeopleorbytheclergy,theyarenoargumentsagainsttherightofanycivilsovereign,becausetheythatelectedthemdiditbyhisauthority。
SeeingthenineveryChristianCommonwealththecivilsovereignisthesupremepastor,towhosechargethewholeflockofhissubjectsiscommitted,andconsequentlythatitisbyhisauthoritythatallotherpastorsaremade,andhavepowertoteachandperformallotherpastoraloffices,itfollowethalsothatitisfromthecivilsovereignthatallotherpastorsderivetheirrightofteaching,preaching,andotherfunctionspertainingtothatoffice,andthattheyarebuthisministers;inthesamemannerasmagistratesoftowns,judgesincourtsofjustice,andcommandersofarmiesareallbutministersofhimthatisthemagistrateofthewholeCommonwealth,judgeofallcauses,andcommanderofthewholemilitia,whichisalwaysthecivilsovereign。Andthereasonhereofisnotbecausetheythatteach,butbecausetheythataretolearn,arehissubjects。
ForletitbesupposedthataChristiankingcommittheauthorityofordainingpastorsinhisdominionstoanotherkingasdiverseChristiankingsallowthatpowertothePope,hedothnottherebyconstituteapastoroverhimself,norasovereignpastoroverhispeople;forthatweretodeprivehimselfofthecivilpower;which,dependingontheopinionmenhaveoftheirdutytohim,andthefeartheyhaveofpunishmentinanotherworld,woulddependalsoontheskillandloyaltyofdoctorswhoarenolesssubject,notonlytoambition,butalsotoignorance,thananyothersortofmen。Sothatwhereastrangerhathauthoritytoappointteachers,itisgivenhimbythesovereigninwhosedominionsheteacheth。ChristiandoctorsareourschoolmasterstoChristianity;butkingsarefathersoffamilies,andmayreceiveschoolmastersfortheirsubjectsfromtherecommendationofastranger,butnotfromthecommand;especiallywhentheillteachingthemshallredoundtothegreatandmanifestprofitofhimthatrecommendsthem:norcantheybeobligedtoretainthemlongerthanitisforthepublicgood,thecareofwhichtheystandsolongchargedwithalastheyretainanyotheressentialrightofthesovereignty。
Ifamanthereforeshouldaskapastor,intheexecutionofhisoffice,asthechiefpriestsandeldersofthepeopleaskedourSaviour,“Bywhatauthoritydoestthouthesethings,andwhogavetheethisauthority?“:*hecanmakenootherjustanswerbutthathedothitbytheauthorityoftheCommonwealth,givenhimbythekingorassemblythatrepresentethit。Allpastors,exceptthesupreme,executetheirchargesintheright,thatis,bytheauthorityofthecivilsovereign,thatis,jurecivili。Buttheking,andeveryothersovereign,executethhisofficeofsupremepastorbyimmediateauthorityfromGod,thatistosay,inGod’sright,orjuredivino。
Andthereforenonebutkingscanputintotheirtitles,amarkoftheirsubmissiontoGodonly,DeigratiaRex,etc。Bishopsoughttosayinthebeginningoftheirmandates,“BythefavouroftheKing’sMajesty,Bishopofsuchadiocese“;orascivilministers,“InHisMajesty’sname。“Forinsaying,Divinaprovidentia,whichisthesamewithDeigratia,thoughdisguised,theydenytohavereceivedtheirauthorityfromthecivilstate,andslylyslipoffthecollaroftheircivilsubjection,contrarytotheunityanddefenceoftheCommonwealth。
*Matthew,21。23
ButifeveryChristiansovereignbethesupremepastorofhisownsubjects,itseemeththathehathalsotheauthority,notonlytopreach,whichperhapsnomanwilldeny,butalsotobaptize,andtoadministersacramentofadministerthesacramentoftheLord’sSupperandtoconsecratebothtemplesandpastorstoGod’sservice;
whichmostmendeny,partlybecausetheyusenottodoit,andpartlybecausetheadministrationofsacraments,andconsecrationofpersonsandplacestoholyuses,requireththeimpositionofsuchmen’shandsasbythelikeimpositionsuccessivelyfromthetimeoftheApostleshavebeenordainedtothelikeministry。ForproofthereforethatChristiankingshavepowertobaptizeandtoconsecrate,Iamtorenderareasonbothwhytheyusenottodoit,andhow,withouttheordinaryceremonyofimpositionofhands,theyaremadecapableofdoingitwhentheywill。
Thereisnodoubtbutanyking,incasehewereskilfulinthesciences,mightbythesamerightofhisofficereadlecturesofthemhimselfbywhichheauthorizethotherstoreadthemintheuniversities。Nevertheless,becausethecareofthesumofthebusinessoftheCommonwealthtakethuphiswholetime,itwerenotconvenientforhimtoapplyhimselfinpersontothatparticular。A
kingmayalso,ifheplease,sitinjudgementtohearanddetermineallmannerofcauses,aswellasgiveothersauthoritytodoitinhisname;butthatthechargethatliethuponhimofcommandandgovernmentconstrainhimtobecontinuallyatthehelm,andtocommittheministerialofficestoothersunderhim。InthelikemannerourSaviour,whosurelyhadpowertobaptize,baptizednonehimself,butsenthisApostlesandDisciplestobaptize。*SoalsoSt。Paul,bythenecessityofpreachingindiverseandfardistantplaces,baptizedfew:amongstalltheCorinthianshebaptizedonlyCrispus,Gaius,andStephanas;*2andthereasonwasbecausehisprincipalchargewastopreach。*3Wherebyitismanifestthatthegreatercharge,suchasisthegovernmentoftheChurch,isadispensationfortheless。ThereasonthereforewhyChristiankingsusenottobaptizeisevident,andthesameforwhichatthisdaytherearefewbaptizedbybishops,andbythePopefewer。
Andasconcerningimpositionofhands,whetheritbeneedfulfortheauthorizingofakingtobaptizeandconsecrate,wemayconsiderthus。
ImpositionofhandswasamostancientpublicceremonyamongsttheJews,bywhichwasdesigned,andmadecertain,thepersonorotherthingintendedinaman’sprayer,blessing,sacrifice,consecration,condemnation,orotherspeech。SoJacob,inblessingthechildrenofJoseph,“LaidhisrighthandonEphraimtheyounger,andhislefthandonManassehthefirstborn“;*andthishedidwittinglythoughtheyweresopresentedtohimbyJosephashewasforcedindoingittostretchouthisarmsacrosstodesigntowhomhewhomheintendedthegreaterblessing。Soalsointhesacrificingoftheburntoffering,Aaroniscommanded“tolayhishandsontheheadofthebullock“;*2and“tolayhishandontheheadoftheram。“*3Thesameisalsosaidagain,Leviticus,1。4,and8。14。LikewiseMoseswhenheordainedJoshuatobecaptainoftheIsraelites,thatis,consecratedhimtoGod’sservice,“laidhishandsuponhim,andgavehimhischarge,“*4designingandrenderingcertainwhoitwastheyweretoobeyinwar。AndintheconsecrationoftheLevitesGodcommandedthat“thechildrenofIsraelshouldputtheirhandstheLevites。“*5AndinthecondemnationofhimthathadblasphemedtheLord,Godcommandedthat“allthatheardhimshouldlaytheirhandsonhishead,andthatallthecongregationshouldstonehim。“*6Andwhyshouldtheyonlythatheardhimlaytheirhandsuponhim,andnotratherapriest,Levite,orotherministerofjustice,butthatnoneelsewereabletodesignanddemonstratetotheeyesofthecongregationwhoitwasthathadblasphemedandoughttodie?Andtodesignaman,oranyotherthing,bythehandtotheeyeislesssubjecttomistakethanwhenitisdonetotheearbyaname。
Andsomuchwasthisceremonyobservedthatinblessingthewholecongregationatonce,whichcannotbedonebylayingonofhands,yetAaron“didliftuphishandtowardsthepeoplewhenheblessedthem。“*Andwereadalsoofthelikeceremonyofconsecrationoftemplesamongsttheheathen,asthatthepriestlaidhishandsonsomepostofthetemple,allthewhilehewasutteringthewordsofconsecration。Sonaturalitistodesignanyindividualthingratherbythehand,toassuretheeyes,thanbywordstoinformtheear,inmattersofGod’spublicservice。
ThisceremonywasnotthereforenewinourSaviour’stime。ForJairus,whosedaughterwassick,besoughtourSaviournottohealher,but“tolayhishandsuponher,thatshemightbehealed。“*And“theybroughtuntohimlittlechildren,thatheshouldputhishandsonthem,andpray。“*2
Accordingtothisancientrite,theApostlesandpresbytersandthepresbyteryitselflaidhandsonthemwhomtheyordainedpastors,andwithalprayedforthemthattheymightreceivetheHolyGhost;andthatnotonlyonce,butsometimesoftener,whenanewoccasionwaspresented:buttheendwasstillthesame,namelyapunctualandreligiousdesignationofthepersonordainedeithertothepastoralchargeingeneralortoaparticularmission。So“TheApostlesprayed,andlaidtheirhands“*onthesevendeacons;whichwasdone,nottogivethemtheHolyGhostfortheywerefulloftheHolyGhostbeforetheywerechosen,asappearethimmediatelybefore*2,buttodesignthemtothatoffice。AndafterPhiliptheDeaconhadconvertedcertainpersonsinSamaria,PeterandJohnwentdown“andlaidtheirhandsonthem,andtheyreceivedtheHolyGhost。“*3AndnotonlyanApostle,butapresbyterhadthispower:forSt。PauladvisethTimothy,“Layhandssuddenlyonnoman“;*4thatis,designnomanrashlytotheofficeofapastor。ThewholepresbyterylaidtheirhandsonTimothy,asweread,ITimothy,4。14,butthisistobeunderstoodasthatsomediditbytheappointmentofthepresbytery,andmostlikelytheirproestos,orprolocutor,whichitmaybewasSt。Paulhimself。ForinhissecondEpistletoTimothy,verse6,hesaithtohim,“StirupthegiftofGodwhichisinthee,bythelayingonofmyhands“:wherenote,bytheway,thatbytheHolyGhostisnotmeantthethirdpersonintheTrinity,butthegiftsnecessarytothepastoraloffice。WereadalsothatSt。Paulhadimpositionofhandstwice;oncefromAnaniasatDamascusatthetimeofhisbaptism;*5andagainatAntioch,whenhewasfirstsentouttopreach。*6Theusethenofthisceremonyconsideredintheordinationofpastorswastodesignthepersontowhomtheygavesuchpower。ButiftherehadbeenthenanyChristianthathadhadthepowerofteachingbefore,thebaptizingofhim,thatis,themakinghimaChristian,hadgivenhimnonewpower,buthadonlycausedhimtopreachtruedoctrine,thatis,tousehispoweraright;andthereforetheimpositionofhandshadbeenunnecessary;
baptismitselfhadbeensufficient。Buteverysovereign,beforeChristianity,hadthepowerofteachingandordainingteachers;andthereforeChristianitygavethemnonewright,butonlydirectedtheminthewayofteachingtruth;andconsequentlytheyneedednoimpositionofhandsbesidesthatwhichisdoneinbaptismtoauthorizethemtoexerciseanypartofthepastoralfunction,asnamely,tobaptizeandconsecrate。AndintheOldTestament,thoughthepriestonlyhadrighttoconsecrate,duringthetimethatthesovereigntywasinthehighpriest,yetitwasnotsowhenthesovereigntywasintheking:forwereadthatSolomonblessedthepeople,consecratedtheTemple,andpronouncedthatpublicprayer,*7
whichisthepatternnowforconsecrationofallChristianchurchesandchapels:wherebyitappearshehadnotonlytherightofecclesiasticalgovernment,butalsoofexercisingecclesiasticalfunctions。