- all application of the good things which God communicates
unto us by them. For it proceeds not only from a pious affection, but from their singular office and duty.
Vse. This may serve to admonish us, not to neglect or contemne such blessings, whether they be publick or private. Doct. 3. It is an honourable title, if a man be rightly and deservedly called a servant of God or Christ.
Reason. Because the chiefest men in the Church of God alwayes gloried in this title; not only the Apostles and Prophets, but also Kings and Princes, as we see in David. Vse. This may serve to comfort poore Christians that have no titles whereof to boast. For if they be the servants of God and Christ, they have no cause to envie others, or to complain of their owne condition. Now that it may be knowne who are the servants of God, we must know that there are two things, as it were essentiall to a servant, 1. To depend upon his Masters will and pleasure, for direction in his worke. 2. To referre all that he hath to the use and profit of his Master, not to his owne. So also every faithfull servant of God, 1 depends wholly upon God for the direction of his life, not upon himselfe and his owne counsell, nor upon the examples and customes of the world, much lesse upon the suggestions of the flesh and the devill. 2. He referres himselfe and all that he hath to advance and set forth the glory of God. Doct. 4. Those servants of Christ which are called Apostles, have the chiefest authority in the Church of God.
For that is the reason why Peter saith that he is an Apostle of Jesus Christ. All the faithfull are Christs servants, but they are not Apostles: even the ordinary Ministers themselves, although in a large sense they may be called Apostles and Embassadours of Christ, yet not in that sense as Peter, Paul, and the like are called. For the word Apostle, in this and the like places, signifies not only an Embassage, but a singular priviledge or prerogative in that embassage. Now the priviledge of the Apostles above other Ministers consists in these foure things: First, In the manner of the embassage, viz. that they were called neither of men, nor by men but immediately of Christ. Secondly, in the office imposed upon them by vertue of this embassage, viz. that they were chiefly sent to plant
