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rective beam in this way, which as the Sun is all mens light, but who walks by it is my part to enquire,the readers to judge. Begin we from his Definition, which is the only fure foun Presbyteri- dation to a well built difcourfe. An Evangelift is

an definitions

of the Evange

lift force into

But hearken! what Stentorean voice pierceth mine. the difcourfe, ear? with what noife and clamour am I told this foundation is already laid? Can the man do any thing but what is already done, who comes after Calvin, Beza, Faius, Zanchius, Aretim, Polanus, Bucanus, Urfinus, Paraus, Wollebius, Spanhemius Maretius, and the Presbyterian Divines of the Province of London ? All which have unanimously, and according to Scripture de fined this officer.

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Sir who ever you are, thear! I hear! and befeech you to forbear your vociferation; your face and name, indeed I know not, but think I apprehend your tribe, by the precise recital of your Genealogy. The numeroufnels of the names I allow, but muft difpute the quality of the Definers; whether they be all of fufficient age, to depofe in this matter or whether they be not all of a party, and packed to give teftimony in prejudice of truth. Certainly the fmooth chin of your Patriarch Calvin, brings him under a fhrewd fufpition of non-age, efpeci ally fince he (the Evangelift) pretendeth to very great Antiquity: And if Calvinists may be credited in their writings against Epifcopacy, hath left his Church ftation for as much above fifteen hundred years, as Calvin is aged, above one hundred. * A very And for the reft, Beza, Faius, Zanchius, &c. Are they not all strange thing, confederates with Calvin? May not Theophrastus and Bombaft,as fure it were well be accounted diftinct persons in Paracelsus his name, or the cipline as you moft tedious Welch Genealogift be metamorphofed into fo many feveral thapes, as he reckons Aps in his pedegree, as the major, if any part of them be dogmatically diverfe from Calvin. For he contrived a new module of Divine Worship, (to whose establishment his opinion of the Evangelift, gave the great eft affiftance) and they as his officious Heralds proclaimed it to be a fecond Dianas image, let down from Jupiter: No wonder then if they all agree, but it were indeed admirable(if or received it, prudent men had not long fince obferved, how God hathi until this pre- mingled a fpirit of perverfnefs, and contradiction among the heads, and leaders of that party) that there fhould be one dif Hookers pre- fenting brother. Our bufinefs is not to difpute their unity Ecclef. Policy (ere we clofe the examination of their Definitions, we fhall

that fuch a dif

speak of, fhould be taught by

Chrift, and his

Apostles in the Word of

God, and no Church have found it cut,

fent age.

face to his

Se&.4.

C.

fhow

fhew how well they hang together) but to examine their feves ral Definitions, which phrafe witneffeth fufficiently agahift their boafted unanimity,for to what purpofe is there any more then one, if they be all agreed in a Definition.

Calvins Definition.

Per Evan

'Tis time to hear themselves fpeak, Calvin begins thus.or By an Evangelift, I understand thafe who being less then the A poftles in dignity, are next unto them in office, and therefore supplied their places, fuch were Luke, Timothy, Titus, and fuch like, per geliftas eos baps alfo the feventy Difciples, whom Chrift chofe in the fecond intelligo, qui place after the Apostles. He preves his whole Definition, and the quum dignitacomprifal of Luke, Timothy and Titus therein, by (a) Eph. 4. DE. te effent Apoftolis:minores, the Evangelizate of the feventy, by (by Luk. 10. 1.7. officio tamen proximi erant, adeoq; vices eorum gerebant, quales fuerunt Lucas, Timotheus,Titus ac reliqui fimiles. Fortaffe etiam, 70 difcipuli quos preter duodecim Chriftus defignavit. (a) Eph. 4. 11. in Margin. (b) Luk. 10. 1. in margin. Caly. Inftit, lib, 4, ca. 3. Sect. 4. Geneve. 1592.

us their definition.

Evangelifta

Beza and Faius thus. They bear the name of Evangelifts, Beza and Faiwhom the Apostles used as companions, and fellow-helpers, because they (Apostles) alone, could not fupply all Churches upon all occaf ons, Juch were Timothy, Titus, Sylvanus, and others: Their of fice was, to perfect what was begun, or do other work committed to rum nomine by the in conftituting intelliguntur? Their charge quibus comite rary. In a more restrained fenfe thofe four are Evangelifts, whom bus & the Lord imployed to write the Gospel, and register the birth of the utebantur AChristian Church.

by Pauls Epiftles to Timothy and Purches as eminently appears

συνέργοις

poftoli, quod

22

ipfi omnibus rebus, & ecclefis, non poffent foli fufficere. Cujufmodi erant Timotheus, Titus, Silvanus, & aliirat autem officium eorum peragere inchoatum, vel aliter ab Apoftolis demandatum opus, in conftituendis ecclefiis, ut præfertim ex epiftolis ad Timotheum, &Titum liquet, quorum etiam munus temporarium fuit. Evangeliftas autem alia anguftiori fignificatione vocamus quatuor illos quorum opera ufus eft dominus, ad evangelicam hiftoriam fcriptis tradendam, do ecclefia chriftiane primordia defcribenda. Thef Theol. in fchol. Geneven, fub Beza & Faio propofit, & difputat. difputat. 72. Genev. 1586.

**This Definition, or description, brancheth forth into many more particulars then Calvins, but hath less root of Scripture proof Indeed it makes a braving flourish of three whole Epiftles, but cites no one, either chapter or verfe, neither is the word Evangelist any more then once used in all thofe Epiftles, where we doubt not to prove, that it fignifies no fuch officer as they here defcribe. Time was, when Rome her felf could not have paffed into the Church with fo much new doctrine, unquestioned by her faithful Centinels; how leafurely did the E

afcend,

38.

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afcend, and climb moft fleep rocks of rugged oppofition, by the fpace of a thousand, and fome hundred years ere fhe reached the eftimation of an infallible chair; whofe arbitrary Traditions (fuch they are, although the call them, till fhe prove them Apoftolical) and the facred Oracles ought to be embraced by all Chriftians, with a like veneration and pious affection: But Geneva, well fare her heart, quietly fets down in it, in less then half a Century. A main argument against the worlds univerfal decay, and clear juftification of the fcandalized Paradox that the prefent is every way fuperior to the precedent age...

Zanchias his definition. Zanchius thus. Evangelists are so denominated from writing, Evangeli fa, qui ab eor preaching the Gofpel; their name is new, and referved to new uangelio vel Teftament times. What they were I shall briefly teach others, as I pradicando, bave learned out of holy Writ. They were in my opinion, either fuch vel confcri- as the Apostles took with them,by the Revelation of Christ,or fent forth bendo, ita no- with Apoftolical Authority to preach the Gospel, now here, now minati fueTants proinde there, where the Apostles had not founded Churches. Or they were etiam novum Gofpel-writers. According to the former fenfe, the Apostle writing eft nomen, novi to Timothy, 2. Tim. 4. Jaith, do the work of an Evangelift, that

1

temporibus re- preach the Gospel, for Timothy was before ordained bishop by St. Paul; In this fenfe all, is Philip the Deacon an Evangelift, A&t. fervatum. Qui antem evan- 21. In the latter fenfe, Mark and Luke were properly Evangelifts; gelifta voca- Matthew, and John, both Apostles and Evangelifts. To speak prorentur brevi perly, this officer doth not now continue in the Church, for although quod fentio, e- many endued with special grace, do preach the Gospel, or defend its dotus e facris doctrine by their writings, yet they do it not by authority immediatlitteris. Illi ly derived from the Apostles, as Mark, Luke, Timothy, Titus and mihi fuifle vi- others, or from Chrift himself, as Mattben, and John, but by andentur, qui ab abority derived from the Magiftrates, or Churches,

ter dicam

Apoftolis ant

fecum affumpti, ex revelatione Chrifti, aut aliquo miffi, cum ipforum authoritate, vel prædicabant evangelium, modo hic, modo illic, nempe ubi jam ecclefie non erant abapoftolis fundata. vel evangelicas hiftorias, fummamq; doctrine evangelica literis commendabant, juxta priorem fenfum Apoftolus fcribens 2. Tim. 4. ait opus fac evangelifta i. c. pradica evangelium, fuerat enim Timotheus, a Paulo creatus epifcopus. Et fic etiam A&. 21. Philippus diaconus vocatur evangelifta, juxta alteram fignificationem intelligo Marcum, Lucam, proprie fuiffe evangeliftas, Mattheum, Johannem,& Apoftolos, & Evangelifas; neq; her species minifterii, fi proprie loqui velimus, lorum jam habet in ecclefia, etfi enim multi funt,qui fingulari gratta donati predicant evangelium, aut etiam evangelicam doctrinam in libris propagant, hoc tamen non faciunt autoritate accepta immeditate ab Apofolis at Marcus, & Lucas, Timotheus, Titus, & alii,aut ab ipfo Chrifto, ut Mattheus, & Zarch. in quart. præcept. NeiJobannes, Jed accepta a magistratibus, aut ecclefiis.

ftadiis Palatinat. 1577.

Aretius

Aretius thus. Evangelifts obtain their name from preaching the Aretius his Gospel, they were next to the Apostles in office. inferiour in dignity, definition. not neceffitated to preach every where, neither did they inftitute new Evangellchurches. but were confervators of the Apoftles doctrine, and taught fte abe vangein certain Churches. Thus Philip at Cæfarea, A&t.8. the last vers. lij pradicuris and Timothy 2 Tim. 4. 5. is bid to preach the Gospel; otherwise one, nomen it fignifieth Gospel writers, in which sense we have onely four Euangelifts.

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babuerunt

Apoftolis proximi of ficio, dignita

te inferiores: non incumbebat iis neceffitas ubique docendi, nec inftituebant novos catus, fed Apoftolorum doctrinam confervabant, & in certis ecclefiis docebant. Ut Philippus in Cala rea. All. 8. ult. Timotheus, 2 Tim. 4. juqhfur docere evangelium. Alias fignificat fcriptores Evangelii, quo fenfu, quatuor tantum habemus Evangeliftas. Aret. problem. loc. 62. Excuf. per Joban. le Breux. 1617.

Polanus thus. Evangelists were next unto the Apostles in office, Polanus his and as their companions, and fellow labourers, did supply their definition. places, their work was in the Apoftes company, or by their command Evangelifte to preach the Gospel any where, juch were Mark, Luke, Timothy, ab Apoftolis fuerunt, qui Titus, and Philip. Act. 21.8.

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officio proximi erant ades una cum ApoАроLucas, Marcus,

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que vices eorum gerebant veluri Apoftolorum comites, & aurigyes qui ftolis, ac juffu illorum evangelium prædicabant apud quafis. Quales fuerunt Timotheus,Titus, Philippus A.21,8 Polan. Partit. Theol. lib. 1. pag. 226. Geneve 1626.

I .. I

comites

Bucanus thus. Evangelifts were the Apostles companions, fel- Bucanus hislow-labourers, and Colleagues,n t ordained by Christ bimself with definiton. out an intervenient humane Ministry, but chosen by the Apostles, Evangelifta taken with them, as a kind of auxiliary, or fecondary apostles, to fup- ourésyon & ply their places in preaching the Gospel, fometime in one place, other oueinegger while in another; and in watering what was planted, and building Apoftolorum, upon the foundation laid by the Apostles, not in one, but in many "Chrifto. i.c. non ab ipfo Churches for the accomplishment of which task they had a right and nullo hominum power (till they were recalled by the Apostles to appoint, and put pa interveniente tors into holy orders in every city. Such were Timothy, Luke, Mark, minifterio, fed Tychicus, Titus,Philip and others, whether of the number of the feab Apoftolis venty defciples, whom cur Lord ordained befides the twelve, or chofen affumpti ut ipfis eledi,aut ent of ctherss In a firicier fignification, the four Gospel-writers were vices eorum Evangelifts,but fo as Mark, and Luke were Apofiles companions and in rigando, Evangelifts, Matthew and John both Apostles and Evangelifts. In fuperftruendo, Froof of all this he cites in his margin. Tit. 1. 5. Act. 16. 3. fufceperant dei quod 2 Tim.4. 5. v. 11. 12. 2 Cor. 8. 23.Act. 21. 8. Luk. 10. 1. tom.16.7 peri perficiendo, & evangelio prædicando, modo in uno, modo in alio loco, quafi fubfidiarii, veluti fecundarii quidam Apoftoli, non in una tantum ecclefia, fed in pluribus ecclefiis gererent, & pafto rum oppidatim conftituendorum ordinis facrorum in ecclefiis ad quas mifi fueruntinftituen di, jus, & proteftatem haberent idq;tanti fper dum ab Apoftolis revocarentur, quales fuerant Timotheus, Lucas, Marcus, Tychicus, Titus. Philippus, & alii. Sive ex illis 70. difcipu lis quos dominus defignaverat, five ex alis asciti. Aneultiore Genificatione, quatuor illà (párk

o

San&i amanuenfes quorum opera ufus eft dominus,ad evangelicam, biftoriam Chriffi fcriptis tradendam, & ecclefia Chriftiana primordia defcribenda, quorum duo Mareus, & Lu-D cas, Apoftolorum comites, evangelifta,duo vero alii, Mattheus, & Johannes, Apoftoli, & ÈEvangelifta fuerunt. Bucan. loc. com. loc. 42. qu. 17. Geneve. 1630.

Urfinus and... ·\Urfinus and Pareus, chus. Minifiers mediatly called, were fir t Pareus their Evangelifts, who were the Apostles helpers, and by bem fent to reach definition. divers Churches. They quote no Scripture for this definition, as neither did Polanus before, nor doth Wollebius, nor Maref

Mediate vo

cati funt pri

mo evangelis, after them.

-21123 20LFOST

sta, qui erant

adjutores Apoftolorum & mittebantur ab Apoftolis da docendum varias ecclefias. Catechif

Urfinc-Pargan. part. 3.quef. 103 Francofurti. 1621.

Wollebius thus. Evangelifts were the Apostles companions, and Supplies; ~\

Wollebius his
definition
Evangenis vict

Je Apoftolorum comics, fuccenturiati. Woll b. compend. Theol. lib. 1. ca. 26. Londimi 1647

Spanhemius Spanhemius thus. Evangelifts were Apoftolical men, who either Ais definitions befides the Apostles laboured by Divine infpiration, and conduct in Evangeli Gospel-writing, or they were vicar-Apofiles in conftituting and gi

fte fuerunt pet-writing, rich were Sylas, Timotheus, Titus and others.

verning

qui vel prater His proofs are Eph. 4. 11. 1 Cor. 12. 9, 10.

Apoftolos et amormona A

vangeliis fcribendis manum divina infpiratione & dulu admoverunt; Vel Apoftolis vicariam operam in conftituendis, five gubernandis etiam ecclefiis præftiterunt, quales fuerunt,Splas, Timotheus, Titus, & alii. Spanhem, difputat. Theol. difput. de minifterii ecclefiaft. 0cat.Geneva 1652,

Marcfius his definition. "Evangeli fa dicuntur

non autem

Marefius thus. The four Gofpel-writers, are by way of eminency, called Evangelifts, and not only they, but thofe also whom the Apcftles elected, and took into fellowship, as their companions, and fellowlabourers to travel hither and thither, to finish the work begun by the Apostles, in watering what the Apafiles, had planted, and raifing the fuperftructure where they had laid the fundation, Juch were TiSpiritus fan&ti matby, Titus, Mark, Luke and chers, whether of the number of the amaruenfes, in hiftoria Seventy two Difciples, commiffionated by Chrifi for a time, or chefen Chrifti defcri- elfewhere.

TEXT, quatuor illi

benda, fed eri

M

am comites, & ouriegos, Apoftolorum, ab illis eletti, allupti, fubinde buc, illuc, emif fi, ad opus quod ipfi ceperant rigardo, fuperuendo, peragendum,quales Timotheus, Titus Marcus, Lucas, & alii, five ex 72. difcipulis, quos Chriftus defignavit ad tempus five aliunde alciti. Maref. Syftem. Theol. for. 15. Sect. 47. Groningen 1656.or

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