there he says All. Also to the Romans having then gifts that is as soon as God hath bestowed gifts upon any differing according to the Grace that is given to us whether Prophesie let us Prophesie according to the proportion of faith Rom. 12.6 Whatsoever the gift be it ought not to be concealed but Imployed there 's the End of it if it pleaseth God to give the gift of Prophesie presently to the work Preach in season and out of season 1 Tim. 4.2 3. And yet the Apostle doth not tye this Preaching to any one particular calling sect or person but to All that be in Rome beloved of God Rom. 1.7 and by consequence why may not All in London as well as All in Rome if gifted with Prophesie Preach the word of God and yet this done by Apostolical exhortation Away then with all such Sophisticated Presbyterian Maximes that would fain tye up the Dispensation of Christs Ordinances to their libits and as they did for gains pull the Bishops out of their chairs so for Envy and Lucre they would have none excercise the preaching of God Word but who should pass the censure of their Approbation as if Gods word was to be No where nor by any persons taught but where and by whom their ignorant zeal shall think fit Oh stupid ignorance Thirdly 'T is lawfull for any that is gifted to Preach from the Approbation consent and good liking of the best and holiest men that ever were We 'l begin with that story recorded by Moses's pen Num. 11.28 29 30. Moses found the stubbornness of the Children of Israel and he complained unto God that he was not able to bear the burthen of them any longer and God bids him gather seventy of the Elders of Israel together and he would take of the Spirit from Moses and put it upon the Elders Observe how God gives the Spirit to whom and when he pleaseth 't is not tyed more to a Presbyterian Elder or Rabbi than 't is to a Porter or a Carman But when these seventy Elders did come up there were two that staid behind Eldad and Medad by name and whereas it might be thought a sin that they came not up and might have been suspected not fitting for to receive the Spirit yet God gave it not onely to the Elders who came up For they all prophesied ver 25. and ceased not but also to those two who came not up for they also did Prophesie in the Camp among the Soldiers and indeed their Practice was thought strange for there ran a yong man and told Moses that these two did Preach among the Soldiers and Jofhua out of his zeal presently did as out Presbyters would have done now fobid them by all means my Lord Moses says Joshua forbid them never suffer such a thing as this is they came not up at your summons and what this may come to if suffered cannot be imagined it cannot be good for sure they preach without the Spirit of God the other Elders we know have it but how these should have it I know not and to let such as they are prophesie and Preach in the Camp it may be very dangerous for they may perswade men to neglect coming up to the Publike Ordinances and so the Priests will be slighted and the Sacrifices not regarded and men will do as they please forbid them Oh my Lord as you tender the glory of the Priesthood and the Sacrisices and Oblations should be upheld for the maintenance of the Priests and Levites I pray forbid them forthwith and as Joshua so our Priests and others cry out against such as Preach in the Armies or without their Ordination and Imposition of hands Oh! would our Magistrates forbid them 't is a dishonor to Religion and in short time will make men not regard to come to Churches or to the Sacrament and Tythes hereupon will be denyed and we the Ministers The true Orthodox Godly able and onely Ministers shall be of no worth or esteem 't is not fitting they should Prophesie they have no such power from us Oh! Good Parliament of England forbid them or else our calling goes down Well but as Moses did answer Joshua so will I do our men enviest thou for this says Moses Num. 1.29 Would to God that al the Lords people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them To gather from hence Moses we see was so far from hindering that good work though be had power and Authority to have done it and though he was deeply and earnestly sollicited by Joshua to to put it in execution and though it had not been used before or practised in the Camp that he seems rather to check Joshua for his desiring to hinder them than any ways to molest them himself Enviest thou for this ver 28.29 What is this to you you should rather uphold and encourage the Preaching of Gods words than be against such as are willing to take pains to instruct others you or thou I had not thought you would ever have envied against a good work It doth not become thee to Envy at other mens good labours It is so far from being evil or nought as I wish heartily that all the people had the like gift I would to God that they all could Prophesie assure your self as you are my Servant you ought not to grudge or envy at them but rather to Countenance and encourage them for they do the Lords work and therefore let them alone Envy not at it Let them alone 't is Gods pleasure and his will and therefore let them alone and thus may it be said to all our Rigid Presbyters why do ye Envy that others as well as your selves preach is it fit for such as you profess to be should be envious angry men and for this that great are the company of of the Preachers Psal 68.5 Shake off such envy you should rather praise God for it there will be the less work for you to undergo are you stronger than Moses he was weary and not able to bear the burthen of all that people alone are not many too many of your Congregations too great for you though you think not the means too much nor yet enough yet 't is to be feard the people are too great and many for you to provide spiritual food for how contrary are you to the mind of Christ pray says he to my father that he would send forth Labourers into his Harvest the Harvest is great and the Labourers but few Mat. 9.37.38 Many hands make like work and therefore be thank full for it that God is pleased in the latter dayes to poure out his spirit upon all flesh and that the Spirit rests with others though mean and base in your opinion Shall Moses wish that all the Lords people were Prophets and Preachers and will you speak against it To the Confirmation of this yet a step or two further 'T is recorded in the Gospel written by
The Freedom of PREACHING OR Spiritual Gifts defended PROVING That all men endowed with Gifts and Abilities may Teach and Preach the Word of God Numb 11. 29. Enviest thou for this Would God all the Lords People were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them Mar. 9. 38 39 40. We saw one casting out Devils in thy Name and we forbad him because be followeth not us But Jesus said forbid him not for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name can lightly speak cvil of me for he that is not against us is on our side 1 Cor. 14. 5. I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye Prophesied By D. Lupton Servant of Jesus Christ in the work of the GOSPEL London Printed by R.W. for R. Harford at the Bible and States Arms in Little-Brittain 1652. The Freedom of Preaching or Spirituall Gifts defended 1 Cor. 14.1 Covet Spiritual Gifts but rather that ye may Prophesie or Preach SOme occasions of business forcing my stay in London for awhile I did as opportunity would give leave hear some teachers of Gods Word at present reputed and adjuged famous Divines but certain it is that fame and common report overvalues them for even in their pulpits they could not forbear to set forth their spleen and envy even against such persons as deserve a better esteem if it be but for their rare and excellent gifts and spiritual abilities with which it hath pleased God to entrust and enrich them and what is more In a great Congregation viz. Sepulchers upon a Lords day in the Afternoon it was publickly preached that gifts were not to be regarded that they puffed men up that it was a sure sign of an Hypocrite and of a withering professor to shew his gifts and to stand upon his ability of gifts and yet himself was then exercising his gifts and as 't is known well he did strive to set forth his able gift of preaching to the full and would be very angry if any should tell him that he wants gifts and parts and yet to undervalue men of gifts he made an opposition betwixt Graces and gifts which though they may sometime in some persons be separated yet usually they go together and may very well be both in one and the same person at once as he conceivs they are in himself but thinks not possible to be in others Upon hearing this I enquired of a friend upon what occasion the Presbyterian Rabbies did so violently express their spleen and indignation and against whom it was He told me that there were divers Tradesmen and Artists in and about London who Preach'd and Teached the word and yet never were in any Vniversity nor were ever made Ministers by the Assembly of Divines and such men they could not abide nor endure that they should have liberty to preach and that of late they were more countenanced by some great Personages to the great scandal as they say of the publike Ministery and to the ruine and destruction of many that hear them and their Pernicious Doctrines and to the venting of sects and damnable Heresies and as they would make men believe to the destruction and Confusion of the Church and Common-Wealth Being thus informed by a friend I did resolve with my self to set forth my own judgment and satisfie others in this particular hereupon set pen to paper to cleer and vindicate such gifted men in their actions of Preaching Gods Word from these too virulent and violent Spirits of the Presbyterian Classis who vainly think that none have any Talents but themselves or that none having any Talents may imploy them publikely to the Exchangers without leave and Authority from their Elderships first had and obtained though the texts sayes plainly Thou oughtest to have put my mony to the Exchangers Mat. 25.27 Thou 't is not onely thou O Presbyterian alone but I and others too and ought to have done it urget singulos ab officio from every mans duty to put out his or their talent to the greatest augmentation of Gods glory and to the generall benefit and edification of mens souls To uphold this truth therefore which is so violently opposed but not possible to be everthrown no not by all the Company of those learned Rabbies whose Anger would not be so extream against spiritual gifted men but that they fear if these be followed or set up that they themselves and their places of profit will in short time be slighted and dissallowed off thinking as those wicked Priests did of our Saviour Christ if we let him alone all men will follow him To confirm this point therefore and to make it good to the world I lay down these following Arguments which I desire all that read them seriously to consider with themselves concerning them and let the Presbyterian benefic'd Rabbies as soon as they can answer them or else if their proud Spirits will permit it to embrace them and submit to them First That the publike preaching or teaching of Gods word is not restrained or confin'd nor committed to any one sort or condition of men onely but that any one of any calling if a Member of the Church of Christ though of the meanest sort if he or they be endowed with gifts proportionable by the Spirit of God to execute and undergoe the work may Preach or teach publickly as well as our great Schollers who stand so much upon their corrupted Ordination Thus proved First From the manner of Gods bestowing and giving his spiritual gifts Jam. 1.5 He doth not bestow all upon one servant and nothing upon another but he distributes to all as he pleaseth So that if any man the holy Apostle doth not say this man onely or that as the Presbyterian or Dr. in the Schools but if any man poor or rich learned or unlearned lack Wisdom Let him ask it of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbr aideth not as to say you are not in holy Orders the Bishops nor Presbyters have laid no hands upon you you are not fit or worthy or the like No be upbraideth not and said the text It i.e. Wisdom shall be given to him to any James 1.5 Now to summ up what is for our purpose we see that if any man Tradesman Artificer though never so mean if he or they pray to God in faith for wisdom which is the onely Ornament and necessary gift for a Preacher and it is not expressed what wisdom it may be Wisdom not onely to search but to expound and interpret the Scriptures why that shall be given and liberally too and to any one Here 's no confining or limiting or excepting or preferring of persons For God is no respecter of persons Nay further he many times fills the poor and hungry with good things with graces and gifts of his holy Spirit to enable them to confound the wise in their own conceit and learned too but sends the rich in
incourage these spiritual Artificers The work must be compleated and 't is high time to set to it We hope none will grudge at it for 't is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes Shame and disgrace will cover their faces who do any ways retard it Now why onely the Scribe Doctor of the Law and the wise men of this world imployed here Nay why not rather they debar'd For Christs Temple is spiritual and so they not able builders and God says the Apostle Paul hath chosen the poor and the weak and the despised in the world to confound the great and the mighty and we know the work is difficult they that are put into this must have patience to bear great burthens and heat and cold which many of our Presbyters are too nice to undergo and they must work in the quarries of stone upon men whose Consciences are as hard as stone they must temper Lime and morter be in the dirt behold here I pray can we imagine that our neat and smooth Divines so called will submit to such Offices and Services accounted so sordid and mean and yet by such must the Spiritual Temple of Christ be accomplished and built they must be such as will be content to live hard and lie hard and have small or no wages here perhaps except ill reports and to be accounted the of scouring of the world and yet these hath God in his infinite wisdom designed for the work and therefore I will pray as Moses Prosper thou the work of our hands upon us oh prosper thou our handy work Psal 90. v ult To conclude the Church of Christ is by Solomon compared unto an Army Now t is known that the Captains and Leaders of an Army were in the Jews wars not onely of the Tribe of Levi of Aarons loyns but of all the other Tribes and yet they instructed the Army guided the Army and made the Army compleat and why not so now in our Spiritual war shall there be none to Lead Instruct Guide and Manage it but our Presbyters onely And in the height of harvest any wise man wil be glad to see others willing to come to help him to reap and gather in his Corn into his Barn and their work is the more commendable because 't is freely offered and undergone and prevents the danger of stormy weather glad and thankfull husband men will be to see their Corn safe at home surely 't would be an Act of ingratitude to rail at or revile those who help'd in the heat of the day And is it not so in this spiritual harvest Our Presbyters should rather rejoyce to see others so willing to help on the reaping and gathering of the Saints especially seeing now the harvest of the earth is ripe as 't is Revel 14. If others to help forward the work do put in their Sicles and help to bring home for fear of the raging storm of persecution surely they deserve thanks and commendation for their willing labours offered and undertaken in this kind To help forward a good work in a time of need is worth double thanks and the more when 't is performed with willingness of minde and however if men should prove ingratefull to such for their voluntary labors yet their reward is reserved for them by Christ himself I know says the Apostle whom I have trusted and 2 Tim. 4.8 He says resolutely Henceforth there is a Crown of righteousness laid up for me c. And for all such as do the Lords work willingly The Application is easie Know O Presbyterians that God hath Curious wise workmen even Tradesmen in these days whom he daily does enable with gifts to help on the gathering of the Saints and to finish up the Spiritual Temple of Christ the Lord of life to whose labors is wished all good succeess and happiness and for whose encouragement this defence is set out to the worlds veiw and censure hopeing that none will be angry at it for as much as it is intentively written to uphold truth and to propagate the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ Psalm 51.18 Do good in thy good pleasure to Sion build thou the walls of Jerusalem Mathew 9.37 38. Then saith he to his Disciples the Harvest truly is plenteous but the Labourers are few Pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest that he would send forth Labourers into his Harvest FINIS