Welchman on Article XXIII: Of Ministering in the Congregation

To take upon him, &c.] Since the Ministers of the Word and Sacraments are Ambassaders for Ghrift, and Ministers of God (2 Cor. v. 20. and vi. 4.) they must neceslarily receive their Authority from God, and be sent by him; and must not assume that Authority to themselves, unless they are called to it by God. And since God our Saviour, com the Time when he called the Apostles, has not immediately called any one to the Ministry it follows, that they must be called

by those, whose Business it is to call others. Thus the Apol- .

tles ordained Presbyters and Bishops, and the Bishops ordain- ed by the Apostles did from thenceforth ordain others. See Ads xx. 28. Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the

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NorTEes on the XXXIX Articles

to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own Blood. And Heb. v. 4. No Man taketh this Honour unts himself, but he that was called of God, as was Aaron.

See also Clement of Rome. The High-Priest hath his % proper Ministry allotted him; the Priests have their pro- e per Place afligned them; the Levites likewise have their c proper Services appointed them; And thus the Layman « is to perform such “Things as belong to Laymen. Let every one of you, my Brethren, in his proper Place and Station, give Thanks to God, keeping a good Conscience, and taking care, with due Gravity, not to transgress the « prescribed Rule of his Ministry, or his Duty.”

dee also Hooker’s Eccl. Pol. B. V. Set. 77. Potter of Church-Government, Ch. 4, 5.

By Men who have publick Authority, &c.] We know that this Power was granted to the Bishops only from the Age of the Apostles to the Time of the Reformation, but that from thenceforwards some Churches, who in other Things were rightly reformed, have allowed it also to Pres- byters; whether justly or not, we leave it to themselves to consider. We neither judge, nor despise them. But the Case is widely different with our own Countrymen, who, rebelling against an excellently well constituted Church, have arrogated to themselves this Power of Ordination. These therefore we rightfully and deservedly account guilty of Schism and Irregularity,

Sce Tit. i. 5. For this Cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldst set in Order the Things that are wanting, and ordain Elders in every City, as 1 had appointed thee.

See also Clement of Rome. © Our Apostles knew from c our Lord Jesus Chritt, that there would arise a Conten- tion about the Name of Bishops. For this Reason, having had a perfect Knowledge of them, they chose the afore- % said Persons, and invested them with the Pastoral Care; e that after their Deaths, other Men also, having first been tried and approved, might still succeed them in their O Office.” And Ignatius. Since Charity does not permit me to be filent concerning you, I have therefore written to you first, to exhort you to concur with the Sentence of God. For sesus Christ, who is inseparably the Lite of our Souls, is the Sentence of the Father; as also the Bishops, who are appointed even to the Ends of the Earth, are the Sentence of Jesus Christ.”

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of the Church of ENGLAND.

See also Bilson’s Perpetual Government, C. 12, 13. Halls Episcopacy by Divine Right, Part II. Hooker’s Eccl. Pol. B. VII. Sect. 5. Bishop Llayd’s Historical Ac- count of Church Government, Burscouzh of Schism, Sect. 2, 3. Scott’s Christian Life, Part IT. Ca. 7. Se, 10. Field of the Church, B. III. Ch. 39. and B. V. Ch. 27.

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Of Speaking in the Congregation in such a Tongue as the People under standeth.