-33 Chapter 33. Of the Extraordinary Ministers of the Church.

1-33 Chapter 33. Of the Extraordinary Ministers of the Church.

1. Thus far of the Subject of the application of Redemption.539 The Manner of application follows.
2. The MANNER of applying redemption consists in those things which are means of the Spirit applying Christ to us for our salvation, with all his benefits.
3. The Spirit itself applies all saving things to us, internally and most nearly, and so his manner is immediately; nor is any external means properly capable of that virtue whereby grace may be really communicated to us. Therefore, although those external means 540 morally concur and operate in the preparation of a man to receive this grace, yet they do not properly confer the grace by themselves; rather, it is the Spirit which works together with them. 1 Corinthians 3:7, Nor is he that plants anything, nor he that waters; but God who gives power to increase.
4. The two principal means of this sort of application are the Ministry and the Holy Signs,541 to which, notwithstanding, there is necessarily to be joined some Ecclesiastical Discipline.542
5. The MINISTRY is an Ecclesiastical function whereby a man being chosen out, dispenses holy things by special right. 2 Corinthians 4:1, We have this Ministry, as we have obtained mercy. 1 Corinthians 1:2, Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ, and dispensers of the Mysteries of God.
6. It is called a Ministry, because that power which is committed to Ecclesiastical men is a power of doing only by the command of Christ, and mere obedience toward him, 1 Corinthians 4:1-2.543
7. A spiritual or regal power of government, whereby one works by his own liberty and will, does not belong to men, but to Christ alone.
8. Hence a Minister of the Church is bound to execute his office by himself, as one who does not have power to appoint any vicar in his place, for this would not be an action of obedience but of command.
9. Therefore, one who is a constant Minister of different churches which are necessarily to be provided for by [individual] vicars,544 is not ministering by God’s Ordaining, but by man’s ambition and presumption.
10. The power is not absolute, but relative. That is, it does not consist in an absolute power to do anything, but in a right whereby one has power to do what he might not rightly and lawfully do before; and therefore it is Potestas jurie, a power of right.
11. But it is of special right, because it respects some special duties which are unlawful for others to do,545 and it undertakes some common duties in a certain special manner.546
12. The right of the Ministry depends upon calling. Hebrews 5:4, Nor does anyone take this honour to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was.
13. A CALLING is an action whereby an office is committed to someone, with the authority to Minister.
14. Therefore, they are ridiculous who ordain the calling of Ministers, but do not give them power to preach the word unless they have some new grant of authority.
15. A necessary adjunct of a calling is fitness for the Ministry.
16. Hence, those who are altogether unfit to fulfill the Ministry, if they are called to it by men, are the Ministers of men, and not of God. Hosea 4:6, Because you have despised knowledge, I will also despise you, that you shall not be a Priest to me.
17. This fitness arises from a fit measure of gifts, and a ready will to undertake and execute the office.
18. From the Ministry there arises a third state of the Church; for as by FAITH it has its essential state, and by a COMBINATION it has its integral state, so also by the MINISTRY it has a certain organic state; because it is now made fit to exercise all those operations which pertain to the good of the whole.
19. The course and direction of these operations is Ecclesiastical polity.547
20. The form of this polity is altogether monarchical in respect to Christ, the head and King; but as touching the visible and vicarious administration, it is of a mixed nature: partly as it were aristocratic, and partly as it were democratic.
21. Hence in the lawful Ministry of the Church, Hierarchy — holy principality — has no place. Rather Hieroduly, or holy Service, has its place.
22. Therefore one Minister is not subjected to the power of another in his dispensation, but all immediately depend on Christ; just as those Angels which are inferiors in office to others, are immediately subject to God, not to other Angels.548
23. This Ministry is either extraordinary, or ordinary [chap. 35].
24. EXTRAORDINARY Ministry is that which has a certain higher and more perfect direction than can be attained by ordinary means.
25. Hence such Ministers always have extraordinary gifts and assistance, so that they Minister without error.
26. The right of an extraordinary Minister is bestowed properly neither from man, nor by man, but from God alone by Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, Galatians 1:1.549
27. Hence the calling to such a Ministry is immediate.550
28. Yet every extraordinary calling is not so immediate that it excludes all Ministry of men, as apparent in the calling of Elisha and Matthias; but it excludes only that Ministry which is destitute of an infallible direction.
29. This extraordinary Ministry was very necessary for the Church, because that will of God which pertains to living well to God, could not be revealed by human industry and ordinary means, as with all other Arts and Science; but it required men stirred up and sent by God, to whom he has manifested his will, that they might be to us in stead of God himself. Exodus 4:15-16, And you be to him in stead of God.551
30. God has revealed his will to these extraordinary Ministers, 1. By a lively voice, Revelation 1:10.552 To this was often added an appearance and the speaking of an Angel, or of Christ himself, as of the Angel of his covenant.553 2. By vision whereby, together with the word, the Species of the things to be declared were represented to their waking eyes. 3. By dreams whereby such things were propounded to the minds of those who were asleep. 4. Sometimes also by a certain special familiarity, as it were, mouth to mouth, without parable. Numbers 12:6-8, If there is a prophet among you, I will make myself Jehovah known to him in a vision, and I will speak to him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so; with him I speak mouth to mouth, plainly and not in dark speeches, and he shall behold the similitude of the Lord.
31. The manner of this revelation was so powerful, that it drew men oftentimes into an ecstasy or trance, whereby they were so caught above themselves, that they perceived nothing beside that which was propounded; nor the whole of that thing itself according to all its circumstances, 2 Corinthians 12:2-4.554
32. Yet it is so certain that the divine truth of it is often confirmed, and in a certain special manner, it is sealed to those to whom it is revealed, so as not to need another confirmation. Galatians 1:17, Nor did I return to those who were Apostles before me. Galatians 2:6, Those who were highly esteemed added nothing to me; although sometimes miracles are also added for more abundant confirmation, Judges 6:36-38.555
33. This extraordinary Ministry is either for the first instituting of a Church; or for the special and extraordinary conservation of a Church; or finally, for the extraordinary restoring of a Church that has fallen.
34. The Ministry of INSTITUTING a Church always has a testimony of miracles joined with it. Hebrews 2:3-4, Which at first began to be spoken, etc. God also bearing them witness, with signs and wonders, and with various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his will.
35. Yet miracles do not give such a testimony to the doctrine of anyone, that it may be readily believed. For that doctrine which does not agree with the known will of God ought not to be admitted, even though it seems to be confirmed with miracles. Deuteronomy 13:1-3, Although that sign or wonder comes to pass which he foretold you saying, ‘Let us go follow other gods,’ do not listen to the word of that Prophet. Galatians 1:8, Though we or an Angel from Heaven preach another Gospel besides what we have preached, let him be accursed.
36. The Ministry of CONSERVING and RESTORING the church, although it is extraordinary, and is always confirmed by miracles, yet it does not always or necessarily require a testimony of miracles; as it appears with many in the Old Testament, and in John the Baptist.
37. Extraordinary Ministers were Prophets, Apostles, and Evangelists.
38. Wycliff, Luther, Zwinglius, and others like them, that were the first restorers of the Gospel, were not extraordinary Ministers, properly speaking.
39. Yet they are not mistakenly called “extraordinary” by some. 1. Because they performed something like those things which were done by extraordinary Ministers of old. 2. Because in respect to degree, they received some singular gifts from God as occasion required, which may also be affirmed about many among the more famous Martyrs. 3. Because order at that time being disturbed and decayed, they were of necessity to attempt some things out of the common course.
40. It is therefore ridiculous to require miracles of those men in order to confirm that doctrine which they propounded, seeing that such an attestation is not necessary in all extraordinary Ministers.