第68章

Buttowhatendisit，maysomemanask，thattheApostlesandotherpastorsoftheChurch，aftertheirtime，shouldmeettogethertoagreeuponwhatdoctrineshouldbetaught，bothforfaithandmanners，ifnomanwereobligedtoobservetheirdecrees？TothismaybeansweredthattheApostlesandeldersofthatcouncilwereobliged，evenbytheirentranceintoit，toteachthedoctrinethereinconcluded，anddecreedtobetaught，sofarforthasnoprecedentlaw，towhichtheywereobligedtoyieldobedience，wastothecontrary；butnotthatallotherChristiansshouldbeobligedtoobservewhattheytaught。Forthoughtheymightdeliberatewhateachofthemshouldteach，yettheycouldnotdeliberatewhatothersshoulddo，unlesstheirassemblyhadhadalegislativepower，whichnonecouldhavebutcivilsovereigns。ForthoughGodbethesovereignofalltheworld，wearenotboundtotakeforHislawwhatsoeverispropoundedbyeverymaninHisname；noranythingcontrarytothecivillaw，whichGodhathexpresslycommandedustoobey。

SeeingthentheactsofcounciloftheApostleswerethennolaws，butcounsels；muchlessarelawstheactsofanyotherdoctorsorcouncilssince，ifassembledwithouttheauthorityofthecivilsovereign。Andconsequently，thebooksoftheNewTestament，thoughmostperfectrulesofChristiandoctrine，couldnotbemadelawsbyanyotherauthoritythanthatofkingsorsovereignassemblies。

ThefirstcouncilthatmadetheScriptureswenowhavecanonisnotextant：forthatcollectionofthecanonsoftheApostles，attributedtoClemens，thefirstbishopofRomeafterSt。Peter，issubjecttoquestion：forthoughthecanonicalbooksbetherereckonedup；yetthesewords，SintvobisomnibusClericis&LaicisLibrivenerandi，etc。，containadistinctionofclergyandlaitythatwasnotinusesonearSt。Peter’stime。ThefirstcouncilforsettlingthecanonicalScripturethatisextantisthatofLaodicea，Can。59，whichforbidsthereadingofotherbooksthanthoseinthechurches；whichisamandatethatisnotaddressedtoeveryChristian，buttothoseonlythathadauthoritytoreadanythingpubliclyintheChurch；thatis，toecclesiasticsonly。

OfecclesiasticalofficersinthetimeoftheApostles，someweremagisterial，someministerial。MagisterialweretheofficesofpreachingofthegospelofthekingdomofGodtoinfidels；ofadministeringthesacramentsanddivineservice；andofteachingtherulesoffaithandmannerstothosethatwereconverted。Ministerialwastheofficeofdeacons，thatis，ofthemthatwereappointedtotheadministrationofthesecularnecessitiesoftheChurch，atsuchtimeastheyliveduponacommonstockofmoney，raisedoutofthevoluntarycontributionsofthefaithful。

AmongsttheofficersAmongsttheofficermagisterial，thefirstandprincipalweretheApostles，whereoftherewereatfirstbuttwelve；andthesewerechosenandconstitutedbyourSaviourhimself；andtheirofficewasnotonlytopreach，teach，andbaptize，butalsotobemartyrs(witnessesofourSaviour’sresurrection)。Thistestimonywasthespecificalandessentialmarkwherebytheapostleshipwasdistinguishedfromothermagistracyecclesiastical；asbeingnecessaryforanApostleeithertohaveseenourSaviourafterhisresurrectionortohaveconversedwithhimbefore，andseenhisworks，andotherargumentsofhisdivinity，wherebytheymightbetakenforsufficientwitnesses。AndthereforeattheelectionofanewApostleintheplaceofJudasIscariot，St。

Petersaith，“Ofthesementhathavecompaniedwithus，allthetimethattheLordJesuswentinandoutamongus，beginningfromthebaptismofJohnuntothatsamedaythathewastakenupfromus，mustonebeordainedtobeawitnesswithusofhisresurrection“：*

wherebythiswordmustisimpliedanecessarypropertyofanApostle，tohavecompaniedwiththefirstandprimeApostlesinthetimethatourSaviourmanifestedhimselfintheflesh。

ThefirstApostleofthosewhichwerenotconstitutedbyChristinthetimehewasupontheearthwasMatthias，choseninthismanner：

therewereassembledtogetherinJer