I will a little clear The Disciples of Christ desired him that they might command fire from heaven to consume those that received not their Master and the reason they urged was from the example of Elijah he did so upon the like occasion in his daies and therefore they would do the same thing in theirs Luk. 9. 54. but Christs answer is v. 55. Ye know not what spirit ye are of it might be lawfull for the Prophet to do what might not be fit for them I say it might be lawfull for the Apostles and Prophets in the Primitive times for others at other times when extraordinary things are must be acted which is not lawful at other times when ordinary Calls may be expected and had 2. I would not have you confounded in terms there is a preaching the Scripture mentions which is not that Ministeriall preaching we are handling and then an Argument drawn from that will nothing weaken the doctrine delivered about this There is a preaching which is nothing else but a declaration of the power and goodnesse of God Thus David is said to preach Gods righteousnesse Psa. 40. 9. although if this should be further urged we know that David was a Prophet the word signifies to declare a good thing It is spoken of Animaaz his running to carry the King good tidings of Absaloms death 2 Sam. 18 19. It is the same word used for the earth's declaring or shewing forth the salvation of God Psal. 96. 2. which is not that preaching by way of Office which Paul speaks of where he saith they cannot preach except they be sent Rom. 10. Indeed Solomon is called a Preacher Eccl. 1. 1. as it is translated but the word comes from that which signifies collected or gathered together and is no more then the Book of Solomon in which are collected or gathered together many wisdoms and so it concerns not our businesse at all There is a Teaching also the Scripture speaks of which is not that Teaching that is part of the Office of a Minister a Teaching which is nothing but a generall instruction or brotherly admonition either of superiours or inferiours or of one Christian to another and may be performed either by word or practice Thus amidst other things might be named Abraham taught his family yet he was a Prophet Gen. 20. 7. If it should be further objected Thus Kings and Rulers and Judges may be said to teach 2 Chron. 17. 7. which was different from the teaching of the Levites who had the Law of the Lord ver. 8. Thus in the New Testament women might teach for it is required that aged women should teach the younger to be sober Titus 2. 4. it was both by their admonition and behaviour which yet is not that teaching which Christ gave in Commission to his Disciples Matth. 28. 19. Again There is Prophesying in Scripture which is sometime a foretelling things to come as Agabus prophesied Act. 11. 27. and the four daughters of Philip Act. 21. 9. which is not a ministeriall Preaching It is Diodates glosse upon that place that they had the gift of foretelling future things by divine inspiration Sometimes an extraordinary Office in the Primitive times whereby they did not only foretell things to come but explain the writings of the Prophets and other difficult places by immediate revelation as would be easily proved and shall be spoken more of anon from 1 Cor. 14. 30 and 1 Cor 12. 28. which is not that ordinary Preaching which is the work of called Ministers which is also called prophesying as I conceive in the 1 Thes. 5. 10. although some do interpret that too of the extraordinary gift of prophesying Under the name of Prophet is every Minister and Teacher comprehended Luk. 4. 24. By this will many things be answered without naming of them which to have handled particularly would have spent much time made a great noise when they had had but little strength and so scarcely worth our labour But now to proceed to those Arguments that are most confidently urged and by which so certain a victory is promised against us SECT. VIII 1. IT is objected from Numb. 11. 25. c. That Eldad and Medad prophesied in the Camp that Moses wished all the Lords people were Prophets and therefore others who are not otherwise Called may preach For answer Either the force of the Argument lies in Eldads and Medads practice or in Moses his wish if in their practice that they prophesied the answer is easie if in his desire that all Gods people were Prophets it is not hard I 'le give it you in some few particulars 1. The Office unto which the 70. were here called was not to serve at the Altar to perform the Priests work but to assist Moses in his Government to bear part of his burthen v. 16. 17. they shall bear the burthen of the people with thee that thou shalt not bear it alone So then to argue from this a liberty of every gifted mans preaching is scarce rationall Suppose they had undertaken this service without a Call which you see they did not for they were set apart by God for it yet thence to have argued a liberty of preaching without a Call would not be ad idem 2 Eldad and Medad were of the number of the 70. were not of the common people and they were all Elders and Officers over the people before they were thus set apart to this extraordinary imployment It is true they were in the Camp but it is clear they were of the number of them that were written v. 26. although they went not with the rest to the Tabernacle they were written as Diodate they were written by Moses in the number of those Seventy which he chose help bear his burthen and that they staid in the Camp was upon some lawfull occasion as is conceived through some Ceremoniall pollution Calvin is of the same minde that they were of the 70. but gives another reason that they came not to the Tabernacle viz. that the miracle God wrought in setting them apart for that work should be the more observed for all the people came not to the Tabernacle so that whatsoever is here meant by prophesying of which I 'le speak presently it is enough for our purpose that they were set apart for the service they had not only gifts and called to Office before for they were those whom Moses knew to be Elders of the people verse 16. but they were extraordinarily separated to this employment nay to make their calling the more eminent and visible they had an extraordinary gift to ascertain the people of it which is conceived to be the reason why they had this extraordinary gift bestowed upon them that the people might see they were called by God to it So then this can prove nothing for the preaching of only gifted uncalled Preachers for these were eminently called and set apart for the service
own making and to put out their own eyes by the dust they themselves have raised they that flie so high in their affected although confused notions frequently leave the Truth behind when through the coldness of the second region they are so frozen in their affections that if ever they return they seldom pursue Truth with much love after This is to lay up a mans Religion in a Castle built in the Air when every winde of Doctrine may tosse it to and fro It is an unhappy thing that some men are guilty of to delight in expressions they understand not and to be lost in the pursuit of those cloudy notions they cannot reach when they are alwaies pointing at what they have but small ken of themselves although they cannot discover them to others By this the growth of true Religion is much hindered in them and the profit of Christian conference much prevented in their meetings when much is proposed a great deal talked of but little gotten nothing agreed on There is more advantage to be gotten in one hours conference with him who understands and will speak of a Fundamentall in Religion then in many dayes with those for although there lesse may be talked of there is more discovered I would have you much in the study of faith repentance Justification c. To that end reade much of the Scripture and of those other good Books written by godly men which God hath holpen this age withall I could wish besides others you would be all well versed in that little Carechisme I use among the younger people which although small in bulk is as full stuffed with sound Truths as ever I saw any so closely comprized Enquire after the good old way and walk in it The most of our new lights are but old darknesses which are caused rather by the privation then the encrease of true Light most of our new truths are but old errours rising afresh out of the bottomless pit the hand of liberty having rouled away that stone which the arm of Government had before laid to stop the mouth of it Beware of controversies that are either above your reach or lesse necessary to Religion the former may puzzle and perplex you the later but disturb and unquiet you the former often ends in defection from the Truth the later only in difference and contention among seeming brethren By both men are frequently so forced or perswaded from the Truth that if they are not hurried into one they are cheated into another errour When Peter would prevent peoples falling from their stedfastness he presses them to grow in Grace 1 Pet. 3. 18. A low house setled upon a good foundation will stand longer then an high tottering edifice upon a weak basis Not that I would have you contented with small measures low statures in Grace build as high as you will as you can only let the foundation be firm and proportionable 3. I would beg you to measure all the Doctrines you hear by the line of Gods word seeing there are false spirits gone forth into the world it is good to try the spirits whether they are of God or not 1 John 4. 1 2. It is an evil thing in this to have mens persons in admiration If the best of men on earth if an Angel from Heaven should bring any other Doctrine then what is left by Christ for your direction let him be Anathema Gal. 1. 18. Charron in his book of wisdom tels us that every humane proposition is of equal Authority unless reason make the difference No Religious doctrine is of any reputation further then the Scripture speaks it true When mens words are only taken it 's no hard thing to be deceived when men beleeve only with a probable Faith they are easily mislead The Apostle bids the Thessalonians try all things because they should {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} hold fast as by violence what was good 1 Thes. 5. 18. What weapon or beast a man hath well proved he will carefully preserve when what may be as good if he know it not may be more easily parted withall It is a great advantage the Devil hath given him when men hold Truth upon too slender grounds Gold and silver is not valued if not known to be such Children may have gold in their hands when if children whom you may perswade it is brasse it is no hard matter to cheat them out of it They were Children that were tossed to and fro Ephes. 4. If a stone be loose although upon a good foundation it is no difficult thing to remove it that will most probably continue which is well fastened When men pin their faith upon others sleeves whithersoever those sleeves are stretched out their Faith must follow when doctrines are judged of by the men that bring them be it what it will it can only be so prevalent as the man that vents it is of Authority with them that hear it The Corinth vvere accused as carnal that they pretend some to Paul others to Apollo 1 Cor. 3. 4. when yet they were both Ministers v. 5. Good God! vvhat are they who are some for this others for that gifted brother who are no Ministers only intrude into that Office intrusted unto others Thus men best like and most cry up those Preachers who are of that party they most affect and then the Doctrine they bring whether true or false This is to judge of things by the men that do them a false rule and not of men by the things they do Hence the Prevailing party hath alwaies most followers such Powerfull Preachers can command Audience It is the practice of our late Astrologers to gaze only on those Stars which are ascendant and still speak best of those Constellations which have the strongest influence especially if they have but a favourable aspect towards them whose Prognosticks are calculated for the Meridians of strength and weakness of power and impotency I vvish it vvere not too much the fault of our new-fashioned hearers vvho love not the light of the brightest Star if not of their party But I shall hope and ask better things of you let truth and falsehood be the cause of your esteem or disrespect of what you hear let that have best reception with you which hath most Authority from Scripture although least of the power of men vvith it When false coyn is abroad all men will look to the money they receive Seeing it hath been foretold that in the last daies vvhich are these there should come seducers and our experience tels us it is fulfilled let us try before vve trust and examine the Doctrine vve hear before vve believe it 4. I vvould have you suspect and be shy of whatsoever doctrines please the flesh of vvhatsoever it is that indulgeth corrupt nature Flesh and bloud are no more apt to love then they are able to enter into the Kingdom of God the flesh lusteth against the spirit
be true or false There are many things worth marking in that of Ier. 23. would I stand upon them They cause the people to erre Verse 13. If the Leader command without a Warrant the people may wander besides their path Nor doe I know in all the ages of the Church that error ever marched more victoriously into the world then under the conduct of uncommissioned Leaders The Barrell never runs more profusely to the intoxicating of the Drinkers then when the Tap is in the hand of no true Butler but an intruding Stranger They strengthen the hands of evill doers ver. 14. 17. Never were the hands of men more strengthned in their wickednesse then by the peacefull deceitfull preaching of unsent Teachers They speak the vision of their own hearts verse 16. who pretend more to strange Revelations make more use of their own fancies and lesse of Gods Word then those that make use onely of their own power to call themselves to that Office They steal my Word everyone from his neighbour vers. 30. Either they take some parts and pieces of true Prophecies that they might the better vent their false ones men put off ill commodities best under the mixture of some good with them The Devill deceives with lesse suspicion when his false mouth is filled with mixtures of some of Gods truths Children are most easily cousened into the taking of bitter Seeds under the covert of sweet Plummes Or else they steal as Diodate glosseth it they fraudulently take upon them to preach the Word and steal from the called Prophets all Authority and credit Never was the Authority and credit of faithfull Ministers more weakned then by the pretended Authority of unsent Teachers Paul was never put more to justifie his Ministery then when the false Apostles laboured to steal away his repute among the people They shall not profit this people verse 32. Here is the cause that people hear so many uncommissioned Preachers with so little profit The Lord will not blesse their labour he hath hang'd a curse upon it as once upon the fruitless Fig-tree Never fruit grow more on it There 's but one thing more the evil effect of it The people shall say The burthen of the Lord verse 33. i. the prophane people encouraged through their lies leaning on the Pillows sowed by them under their elbows were apt to accuse the true Prophets for preaching the burthen of the Lord against them they would scoff at and despight the faithfull servants of God as speaking of curses and threatnings as if that had been none of their Message or they not the persons to whom they belonged Was ever this Text made good and is it not this day fullfilled in our ears But to return 2 Tim. 3. 6. The Apostle complains of those that creep into hanses They go in by stealth and they work by subtilty The lawful Shepherd enters in at the door they are but sneaking Pastors who come without a key who run without a commission that creep into houses Of what sort these were ye may see vers. 9 13. He calleth them Seducers ver. 8. He compares them to Jannes and Jambres who were some of those Magicians that opposed Moses in his working of Miracles in which these are not unlike them for they resist the truth Look over the whole Book of God and then tell me whether you can finde the example of any that thrust themselves into this Office either of Priesthood under the Law or of Ministery under the Gospel without sharp reproof from God Will the example of Vzzah prevail who out of an honest intention but attempted what belonged to the Priests Office only yet was severely punished Or will the fierce wrath of God upon Corah Dathan and Abiram affect you who upon a fair pretence that all the Congregation was holy would have thrust themselves into the Offices they were not called to on whom the earth opened and swallowed them up They who exalt themselves above their measure were cast down below their expectation Think you that Aaron might make himself a Priest if you view him you would judge him a fit man yet he would not adventure without a Call Noman taketh this honour unto himself Heb. 5. 4. Or suppose you that Christ might put himself into the Office of the Priesthood and surely I know not who should attempt it if he might not yet he would not glorifie himself to be made an high Priest Hebr. 5. 5. He as he was man did not put himself into the Office but was called to it by the Everlasting Father who said Thou art my Son yea he was made a Priest after the Order of Melchisedech The Apostle there answers an Objection that might be made against Christs Priesthood because he was not of the Tribe of Levi therefore he tells you what Call he had he was of the Order of Melchisedech For no man taketh this honour it is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which is often used to used take by violence as Iob. 19. 1. and as a Critick referring it to this place it is spoken of Callings and Offices Such must not be taken by violence but received by a Call Much more might be spoken of this but that will refer properly to the next thing I hope it is manifest that there must be a Call Whence else is it that they are said to be made Over-seers over the Flock of God by the holy Ghost Acts 20. 28 Saith Apostle concerning Christ To which of the Angels said he at any time This is my Son this day have I begotten thee I may say Unto what unsent Minister or or self-made Prophet did God at any time say Take care of the Flock feed the Church of God over which the holy Ghost hath made you over-seets Besides which I wonder at Those who think men may run without a Call into this Office or rather employment for it scarcely now acknowledged an Office will pleade for a Call a Commission for any other undertaking Strange I that this which is the most excellent imployment should be adventured on with the least warrant as if God had only neglected his own service or rather that men were resolved to be carefull of himself when Gods work shall be carelesly undertaken He must not sit in the place of a Judge that hath no Commission but is guilty of murther that puts a man to death be the cause what it will without just Authority The common Souldier will not receive the Commands of his fellow onely of a Commissioned Officer nor will one Officer take the Word of Command from another unlesse by Order he be impowred to give it Nay in your Cities men are not suffered to manage a trade but after serving an Apprentiship and being made free of the Company Such are generally conceived to have least skill and to sell the worst wares and then pernicious to Societies And is the Ministery the only Office to be run
not preach What he speaks of sending pag. ead. prox I 'le speak somewhat to and because upon that and two things more hangs all his discourse the full answer of which shakes the whole book I le stand a little on them yet not neither because they have been so fully answered already ut suprà 1. Gifting is sending it relates to the internall power of the Spirit in the Saints c. ibid. Indeed there must be a sending from God where men are faithfull Ministers but there must be besides an outward designation to the Office where any be lawfull Preachers But besides what hath been spoken already in the Sermons That only gifting is not the sending the Apostle mentions I 'le shew you in Scripture that sending is only spoken of the outward setting those apart for the service who are sent Not to name what is so much and so often spoken of Christs being sent by his Father Where Isaiah was to go about Gods service the Lord asked Whem shall I send and Isaiah said Send me Isa 6. 8 9. it was not spoken of gifting him that was done before but of his outward mission and thus it is explained by all I meet withall who had as much of the Spirit to interpret Scripture by as this pretender The Disciples were sent when after they were gifted they were bid to go Mat. 10. 1 5. yea he seems himself to distinguish where p. 24. it is said The gifting and sending of the gifted brethren is when the Lord inableth them in a measure to it and saith to them Go. Are not gifting and saying go two distinct acts which is manifest in Paul Act. 22. 14 15 10 22 whom he instanceth in although he would falsly infer the contrary from another Scripture yea would delude people by telling them that he preached before he was separated Acts 13. 2. but I say he did not preach before he was by a speciall command sent by Christ To this purpose were the Apostles said when by fasting praier and imposition of hands they separated Paul and Barnabas to send them Acts 13. 4. 2. He is very unhappy in confounding ordinary with extraordinary cases which is so much answered already that I scarce know what to say more I there shewed that those who were sent most extraordinarily were besides gifting of them set apart for the service and what setting apart ordinarily was afterward practised Although the Ministers were not immediatly sent by God which was extraordinary yet they had praier and laying on of hands the ordinary designation the Scripture mentions This he pretends not to if he hath an extraordinary mission let him discover it Extraordinary gifts we finde none if God hath any time said to him as to the Disciples go or as to Paul Acts 22. 22. I 'le send thee to the Gentiles whose examples chiefly he useth to prove his Calling let him manifest it If he shall any more adventure upon such a businesse as this let him no more pleade extraordinary Cals but in extraordinary cases let him not urge Act. 8. Disciples practice unless he can parallell the cases to It will else be to as little purpose as this 3. He often distinguisheth between the gift and the Office A gifted member may exercise his gift although not execute the Office I say their gifts may be exercised but it must be within the bounds of their calling not in the place of Officers A file-leader if he be able may exercise his file or two files c. but he must not carry them much lesse the whole company into the field nor engage them against the enemy till he hath Commission In the exercise of a private Christians gift there is but a charitative admonition which hath no other obligation but as the matter may be good he speaks in the execution of an Office there is an Obligation to obedience virtute offlcij ut suprà Yet notwithstanding his former distinction he saith page 27 28. That a gifted brother may baptize and administer the Supper too Strange may they do all the service of an Officer yet not execute the Office It is time for me to cry down such Logick too In the administring of Baptisin there is but little exercise of gifts I should have though this had been part of a Ministers Office When he so confidently asserted this I expected proportionable proof I thought I should have heard of some extraordinary things at extraordinary times and cases which I should have answered quod fieri non debet factum valet but all the prof I finde is of Johns baptizing ib. And was not John commissioned for the service And the disciples who were then the ordinary Christians baptized p. eâ—d Did they baptize when they were but ordinary Christians before they were sent forth by Christ But if when they baptized there were not other Christians whom did they baptiz And Peter commanded people to be baptized Act 10. ib. and he saith it is probable there were gifted preaching brethren who aid the work Away with such probabilities I see it is lawfull when it may serve some mens turns to draw inferences from Scripture nor will Act. 8. again urged prove any thing But to delude the people he saith Preaching disciples may baptize What then They who had or have a Commission to preach might or may baptize the same Commission including both may those therefore either preach or baptize who have no Commission at all p. 30. he saith Preaching and baptism are not so united together as never to be separated But whatsoever he pretends we finde them put into the same Commission nor for all the smoak he raiseth do I think he can produce one example in the whole Scripture of any that ever baptized who was not Commissioned to preach The command makes things lawfull or unlawfull saith he ibid. An excellent position one of the clearest truths in his whole Book and I could wish that as it holds so it were beleeved and practised in all things I shall inferre That till he proveth there is some command or what is equivalent for the preaching of only gifted men he must give me leave to call it unlawfull I shall speak nothing to his bitter inveighing against Presbytery in great part of his Book only let you see his black mouth and self-contradictions You have altered the name from Bishop Priest and Jesuite to Presbyter pag. 22. And were not Presbyters long before Jesuite Priest or Bishop either in his sense Pag. 22. he saith There was a Presbytery in the primitive times Yet Pag. 25. It was a strange name till lately Will people never be sensible of such mens abuses Had he but some few of these gifts that many of the godly Ministers of Christ have he would finde Presbyters often enough in Scripture See how he foams Pag. 27. Presbyterian wolves c. if they could have prevailed they would have sucked the bloud of the lambs of Christ A charitable