due consideration of his fitness for that work that one Ceremonie Imposition of hands being by a Synecdoche put for the whole action of Ordination And so it hath been continued generally through the Churches of Christ unto this day Now then would we try a false teacher make trial of the calling which he pretends unto whether Extraordinarie or ordinarie Extraordinary Calling attended with Extraordinary Gifts 1. Extraordinarie Such a calling many since the Apostles times have layed claim to pretending an immediate call from God the like to that which the Apostles had of which kind there are not a few creeping abroad in the world at this day Now how shall they be tried why by their Gifts An Extraordinarie calling is attended with extraordinarie gifts So was the Apostles calling it was attended with the gift of tongues Illiterate men speaking the most learned Languages And with the gift of working miracles Thus Paul asserts vindicates the truth of his Apostleship 2 Cor. 12.12 Truely saith he speaking to his Corinthians among whom happily there were some that questioned his calling the signes of an Apostle were wrought among you in all patience in signes and wonders and mighty deeds miraculous works by which he might be certainly known to be no less an Apostle then any of the twelve So then shall any pretend to such a call an immediate and extraordinary calling make enquirie for their Gifts their Works This was the Jews enquirie concerning Christ when they saw him take upon him that authoritie which he did to alter customs of long continuance to reform and rectifie what the Sanhedrim the great Counsel and the rest of the Priests tolerated What signe shewest thou unto us say they seeing thou doest these things John 2.18 Hence they conclude surely he held himself to be a Prophet and thereupon they require him to give some signe of it to evidence that his extraordinary calling by some extraordinary works Thus were the Prophets of God ordinarily wont to evidence the truth of their calling The case of John Baptist ex traordinary Ordinarily I say though not alwayes For we read of John the Baptist to whom our Saviour giveth Testimonie that he was a Prophet yea more then a prophet Mat. 11.9 that is an excellent and extraordinary Prophet being the Herald of Christ as the next verse setteth him forth yet he wrought no miracles So saith that Text John 10.41 John did no miracle But thus ordinarily it was That John being a Prophet should not work miracles the Jewes looked upon it as an unwonted thing This the other prophets before him usually had done Yea and John himself however hee wrought no such miraculous works as casting out of devils raising the dead restoring sight to the blinde Yet he did that which was equivalent he foretold many things all which accordingly came to passe So the Jewes there take notice of it in the words following All things that John spake of this man of Christ were true the event verified all his predictions Now let those who pretend to the like vocation to an extraordinary calling to be the Messengers of God of Christ sent by him in an immediate way let them shew some such evidences extraordinary gifts Otherwise without any breach of charitie they may bee suspected nay concluded to be what these pretended Apostles here were found to be no other but Lyars This for the extraordinary calling 2. 2. Ordinary calling tryal For the Ordinary such as pretend to it let them be examined and tried by their qualification and separation 1 By due qualification 1. For their qualification whether they be indued with Ministerial abilities and gifts Thus it is those whom God calleth to an Office he furnisheth them with sutable abilities for the discharge of it Thus calling Saul to be King it is said He gave him another heart 1 Sam. 10.9 endowing him with heroical gifts and parts fit for the Government of his Kingdom And thus sending Moses to Pharaoh he promiseth to be with his mouth and to teach him what he should say to make him fluent and eloquent who naturally was slow and stammering as he there saith of himself Exod. 4.10 11. And Isay being called to be a Prophet hath his lips touched with a living coal from the Altar a figure of the gift of the Holy Ghost fitting him for that service Isay 6.7 And thus the Apostles though before as I said illiterate fishermen yet being called to that Office they were endued with gifts sutable thereunto And so is it with all ordinary Ministers and Teachers If called of God they are also gifted by him Though not all alike There being diversities of gifts as the Apostle tels us 1 Cor. 12.4 Diversities both for kinde and measure and that of Ministerial Gifts To one is given by the spirit the word of wisdom to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit as the eighth verse there hath it so as one excelleth in Doctrine another in Application the former more properly the Doctors the latter the Pastors work as Diodate there expounds it Yet so as every one hath a ministerial gift fitting him for the work to which he is called The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall saith the verse there foregoing verse 7. To every one that is called to any publick service in the Church there is some gift given whereby the Holy-Ghost sheweth it self in him rendring him in some kind useful and serviceble for the good and benefit of the comunity where there is no such gift to be found let not such a one be looked upon as a Minister of Christ sent by him Here is the first thing to be enquired for in a Teacher a Ministerial Qualification 2. 2 A warrantable separation The 2d is a warrantable separation a seting a part to the work Thus was Paul separated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as he saith of himself Rom. 1.1 Paul a servant of Jesus Christ called to be an Apostle separated unto the gospel of God So he was Intentionally in Gods destination and appointment from his mothers womb as he tells his Galatians chap. 1.15 yea from Eternity in Godseverlasting Predestination designing him for the service but actually set a part thereunto by the command of the Holy-Ghost at what time he was sent to preach the gospel unto the Gentiles of which we read Act. 13.2 As they ministered unto the Lord and fasted the Holy Ghost said separate mee Barnabas and Saul unto the work whereunto I have called them Which in what way it was done the next verse declareth And when they had fasted and prayed Ordinarily done by Imposition of hands and layd their hands on them they sent them away Such was the manner of Primitive Ordination which the Church of God in after ages hath observed by fasting and prayer and Imposition of hands to set a part the Ministers of Christ unto the service of
Not but that the Church also might concur herein but he was the leader having as the first so the chief hand in it And therefore is it that it is here attributed to him to the angel of the Church of Ephesus write I know thy works thou hast tryed them c. And the like did the faithful ministers of Christ in after ages The Ancient fathers Zealous in this way many of which are famous for their zeal and activity in this way As Justine Martyr Irenaeus Tertullian Cyprian Augustine all tryers of false Apostles strenuously zealously opposing themselves against the false Teachers of their times And the like work is incumbent upon all the Ministers of Christ A work incumbent upon all true ministers who who being by their Office shepherds they are to take and give notice of such wolves as come in sheeps cloathing plucking off their disguises unmasking and discovering them to the sheep making them known to the people that so they may not be deceived by them Should be tryers of false Teachers Being ministers their place requires that they should bee tryers 1. 1 Able to do it Such as are in measure able to do this to try Teachers and their doctrines Men endued with knowledge and that in a more then ordinary manner so as they may be able not onely to exhort but to convince So the Apostle expressely requires it in a Bishop a Gospel Minister a Presbyter who in scripture language is ever meant by that name a Bishop saith he must be one that is able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gain-sayers Tit. 1.9 both to hold forth true doctrine himself and to discover errours in others to try them Such ones the Ministers of Christ should be which where in measure they are not as it is the lot of too many places in this Nation at this day their flocks the people committed to their charge must needs bee exposed to the greater hazzard 2. And as they are to be pares operi in measure able to do this Active in it so they are to do it laying forth their abilities in making this trial as occasion is offered looking out as the watchman doth discover the enemie from what quarter or under what disguise soever he cometh so giving due and seasonable notice thereof to the people This most probably did this angel here in the Text and for so doing he is commended And herein let him be a patern to all the apostles of the Churches the Ministers of Christ whom he hath set as watchmen over his Church for this end Son of man I have made thee a watchman to the house of Israel saith the Lord to the Prophet Ezekiel Ezech. 3.17 Now the watchman as he is to take notice of those which come into the Citie so if suspicious persons he is to examine them And so are the Ministers of Christ to take notice in a special manner what teachers they are that thrust themselves in upon the people committed to their charge and being suspicious which all they are who as the Apostle saith of the seducers of his time 2 Tim. 3.6 creep into houses making it their first design to work upon the weaker sex to lead captive silly women 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mulierculas simple women which are apt to be misled instilling their new doctrines first into them as the old Serpent did his first into the woman hoping afterwards to have the like success that he had to draw their husbands after them they are to try them to trie their Calling and doctrine that so they may be known to the people Thus have you the former of these queries resolved who they are that are to make this tryal All Christians in general the Ministers of Christ in special The second followeth Question 1 How is this Tryal to be made A point of large discourse How false Teachers are to be Tryed opening a wide field to him that would follow it But this task I find happily taken off of my hands this work being already largely and fully done in a Sermon Preached not long since The false Apostle tryed and discovered by Wid. Bridge though not in this very place yet not far from it even under the same roof and upon this very Text by a Reverend Brother who hath also given an account of it to the world So as I might wholly spare that labour But it being a point of concernment and which needeth inculcating in regard of the times whereinto we are fallen and I wish I might not say the place wherein we live I shall for this once in a good sense actum agere spend a little time in putting of you in remembrance of what happily you may be too apt to forget Answer For answer then to tread in those obvious steps wherein he went before me By their Calling Doctrine Life The Tryal of false Teachers is to be made principally in and by three things their Calling Doctrine Life By these three the true ministers of Christ are known when their Calling is warrantable their Doctrine Orthodox their lives approveable Now rectum est index sui obliqui that which declares a true Minister discovers a false And so do these three where they are not to be found Tryal 1 1. Try them by their Calling Their Calling If that be false they cannot be true This is the Character which is given of false Prophets Jer. 23.21 I have not sent these prophets yet they ran True Prophets and so true Ministers have a mission and commission from God being sent and authorized by him which they who are not cannot perform what too many pretend to do Preach the word How shall they preach except they be sent Rom. 10.15 Q. Question How Tryed But how shall it be known whether they be rightly called or no A question of great concernment specially in these times wherein the calling of the true Ministers of Christ is so much scrupled and questioned A. Answer Calling of Teachery Ex. traordinary Ordinarie For answer hereunto take we notice of a twofold calling Extraornarie and Ordinary Extraordinarie and Immediate ordinary and Mediate In the former way the prophets and Apostles were so called So Paul describes and asserts his Apostolical calling Gal. 1.1 Paul an Apostle not of men neither by men not by any humane anthoritie or suffrage not having any man for either Author or Instrument in that his calling but he received it immediatly from Christ as the twelve Apostles did In the latter way the ordinarie Ministers of Christ are called Being though not of yet by men receiving their Authotie from Christ but conveyed to them through the hands of men ordinarily imposed and layed upon them So it was in the Apostles time as that charge given by Paul to Timothie doth clearly evidence it 1 Tim. 5.22 Lay hands suddainly on no man that is admit no man into the ministerie without
the Church the work of the Gospel which office being thus conferred upon on them they were thenceforth to attend to it Setting them apart to the work of the Ministery to make it their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their work Having a ministery they were to wait on their ministring Rom. 12.7 thus it hath been and thus it should bee Not but that extraordinary cases admit of extraordinary courses In some cases how dispensed with Where there want fitting I mean Ministerial hands to be imposed that Ceremony may be omitted And necesitie requiring it some other service may be joyned with this Thus Paul saith that he upon such an account sometime laboured with his own hands exercised a Handicraft as he tells his Corinthians 1 Cor. 4.12 But in an ordinary course thus it should not bee The Ministers of Christ are to be set a part to the work of their Ministerie in a solemn manner And being thus set apart they are as I said to make it their worke which who so are not or doe not they give too just occasion for others to scruple and question the truth of their calling Services pro. to Ministers not to be undertaken by others Specially when any being not so called shall take upon them in an ordinary to way to intermeddle with such services as are properly and peculiarly Ministeral to dispence such Ordinances as are committed onely to them as viz. not onely to preach the Word but to administer the Sacraments which it seemeth some too many in these desolate times that I say not in this place adventure upon this too plainly sheweth and declareth them to be what they are such as say they are Apostles but are not pretenders to a calling which they have not And thus I have done with the first of these three heads wherein the Probation and Tryal of false teachers consisteth the first thing wherein and whereby they may and are to be tried their calling pass we to the second Tryal 2 The second thing is their Doctrine Their Doctrine This is the way which Saint John propoundeth for the trial of those false Teachers of his time 1 John 4.1 2. Trye the spirits saith he whether they be of God for many false prophets are gone out into the world But how should they try them why by their Doctrine So it followeth Hereby know ye the spirit of God every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God If their Doctrine be false they cannot be true False as to fundamentals the principles of Christian Religion denying perverting them This is that which St. Peter saith of those false teachers which he fortelleth should come into the Church 2 Pet. 2.1 There shall be false teachers among you who privilie shall bring in damnable Heresies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heresies of destruction wicked opinions and Doctrines destructive to the souls of men Such Teachers who broach or hold forth such opinions are most properly called false-teachers who are to be tried by their Doctrine Quest. Q. How tried But the Question here runs on How shall their doctrine be tryed Answ A. By the scriptures the Churches touch-stone To this the Answer is obvious it is so among Protestants Only by the word the written word the Scriptures This is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lydius Papis the Churches touch-stone whereby she is to try Doctrines and consequently teachers for this expresse is that known Text of the Prophet Isai Chap. 8. vers 20. to the law and to the testimony that is to Gods word the Scriptures which is his testimony testifying of him declaring his mind and will Hereunto must they repair who would not be deceived by false teachers bringing their Doctrines to this tonch-stone trying them by this If they speak not according to this word so it followeth it is because there is no light in them If they if any be they who they will never such pretenders to Illumination yet shall they speak otherwise then according to the word holding forth any doctrine that is not consonant and agreeable thereunto they are no other but Impostors this is an evident signe that their pretended light is no other but darkness This is that which Christians are to give heed to above what enter pretended Inspirations or Revelation When Dives in the parable begged it of father Abraham that he would send Lazarus to his fathers house that he might testifie unto his breethren what the state of the damned was what the torments of Hell were which were prepared for such as they were what saith he to him you have it Luk. 16.29 Abraham saith unto him they have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them intimating that the testimony of the word is to be preferred before all other testimonies They may be false but this is undoubtedly true Thy word is truth Joh. 17.17 And therefore to this let Christians repair bringing the Doctrines of their teachers to this test This was the Touchstone which those Noble Bereans made use of in trying of Pauls doctrine How ever looking upon him as a man sent of God they received the word from his mouth with readiness of minde yet they searched the Scriptures dayly whether those things were so Act. 17.11 whether consonant and agreeable to the written word Like course are Christians to take specially when they meet with new doctrines new to them they are now to lay them to this rule Thus doe tradesmen in trying of weights and measures they bring them to the standard If they finde them either more or lesse then that they look upon them as not warrantable And so is it with doctrines if not exactly consonant and agreeable to the written word which God hath left as a standard for his Church to try them by if either more or lesse if any addition to the word or substraction from it if contrary to it or diverse from it they are to bee looked upon as false and he that teacheth them as a false teacher Objection Object But it may be said Scriptures obscure to pri vate and unlearned Christians How shall private Christians thus try them It may be they are unlearned weak and simple and not so able to judge the scriptures about the sense whereof it is not alwayes agreed among learned men the greatest Clerks sometimes differing in the exposition of them And how then shall they bee able to judge of them so as to try doctrines by them Answ 1 Answ 1. To this it is answered 1. Fundamentals clearly held forth That as for fundamental truths necessary to be known and believed they are plainly held forth written as with a sun-beam So plainly set forth as that a weak eye may see them Obj. Object 1 How is it that all doe not see them But if so how then is it