Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	authority_n	church_n	office_n	1,059	5	7.1206	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33945	The pulpit-guard routed, in its twenty strong-holds, or, A brief answer to a large and lawless discourse, written by one Tho. Hall ... intituled, The pulpit-guarded, with twenty arguments, pretending to prove the unlawfulness and sinfulness of private mens preaching ... his six arguments to prove their ministry free from anti-Christianism, rased, and six more asserted, proving them to be anti-Christian / written by Tho. Collier.	Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691.	1651 (1651)	Wing C5295; ESTC R9709	89,279	114

that I know belongs to a Pastor but a gifted brother may do it it is his duty when time opportunity and liberty cals for it only the brother doth it according to his gift as a member the other waiting on his office as one entrusted by the Church more then ordinary for that end It is with the Church in this case as with a body Politique that needs Magistrates and Officers not for its being but for its wel-being it s not Magistracy that gives a being to a People but a People gives a being to the Magistracy and the Magistracie is or should be for the Peoples good So it is in this case with the Church it s not the Pastor that gives being to the Church but the Church gives being to the Pastor the Church and Ordinances are before Pastors Object But there must be some one or other to preach for the gathering of the Church and such a one is before the Church and may be said to give being to the Church Answ True but we are not now speaking about preaching out of but in a constituted Church And secondly out of a constituted Church gifted brethren may preach for the gathering of a Church or Churches and if God give a blessing to them and manifest his presence with them as those Acts 8. with Acts 11. they may baptize them and gather them into fellowship as they did You pretend absurdities that will follow If men may preach without a call they may baptize deliver the Supper exercise Church censures without a Call I say it is not without a cal the Churches freedom or desire is cal enough for either if the party be gifted to it all lawful Cals to preach either wthin or without are sutable to the gift If no gift the cal is unlawfull and that Church which hath power to call an Officer hath power to call forth any gifted brother to do service for the Church if he have a freedom within himself to do it But you say then gifted boyes and gifted women and gifted Midwives may preach if all gifted persons may preach But by the way pray Sir what is the difference between women and midwives you might have done well to distinguish for I thought midwives had been women all this while but I have told you already that there is difference between gifted brethren and gifted women that is your own nonsensicall conclusion because gifted men may preach therefore gifted women Secondly Should I give by way of concession though not grant That it s not lawfull for men out of office to baptize yet they may preach and that 1. From the command for it s not the reasoning from the greater to the less will serve you but it s the command that makes things lawfull or unlawfull there is a command of preaching if not of baptizing Rom. 12. 3 6. 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. Examples Acts 8. 4. and 9. 20. and 18. 26. 2. Preaching and Baptism were not so united together as never to be separated as you pretend See 1 Cor. 1. 17. But to your fourth Argument If no Priest or Prophet might offer Sacrifice under the Law without a Call then none may preach the Word or deliver the Sacraments under the Gospel without a Call but no man might offer Sacrifice under the Law without a Call Ergo c. This Argument is one in substance with your first I thought your University Divinity had delivered you from such Tautologies and although I suppose there is enough said in mine Answer to the first for satisfaction to both yet I shall follow you in this likewise that so I may not leave one stone unturned nor any part of your warlike frame uncharged that so your Pulpit-Guard may be wholly and totally routed And to your Argument I give you a treble Answer First that there is no comparison to be made between the Jewish Priests and the Ministers of the Gospel although indeed your selves in many things run parallel with them but this I have answered to your first Therefore Secondly I answer that it s not the parity of Jewish Priests and Ministers of the Gospel that will hold in your Argument that is nonsensicall like most of the rest because the Jewish Priest or Prophet in time of the Law only might offer Sacrifice therefore none may preach or minister Ordinances under the Gospel without a Call you may as well make this Argument Because none were circumcised under the Law but men children therefore none under the Gospel but men children must be baptized But Sir the limiting of the Legal Sacrifice to the Legal Priesthood is no ground why none but Ministers in office should preach it was sufficient to them that none but them should offer Sacrifice So under the Gospel the command of Christ is the rule of Saints and that is it that makes things lawfull or unlawfull the Lord will have his servants not to hide their talents but that which they hear in secret they shall proclaim upon the house top that is publiquely not to hide as by stealth his goodness within them and this which you for base and self-ends so much cry out against was never forbidden but ever approved both in the old and new Testament any servant of the Lord might and did prophesie and preach forth the goodness of the Lord to others Moses wisheth that all the Lords people were Prophets And the Propet David Psal 145. 10 11 12. speaks once for all both for Law and Gospel All thy works shall praise thee O Lord and thy Saints shall bless thee they shall speak of the glory of thy Kingdom and talk of thy power to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts and the glorious majesty of his Kingdom Note man it s the Saints work and priviledge to declare the glorious majesty of the Kingdom of Christ And why Because they have been in the Kingdom and have seen it and can speak of it by experience 2 Pet. 1. 10 11. You are mistaken man it s not your University nor your Call that teacheth you knowledge in the Kingdom of the Lord and that is the reason of your so deep ignorance of and hatred against the Truth but it s the Saints work to preach the glad tydings of the Kingdom The Gospel is called The word of the Kingdom Mat. 13. 19. And who shall preach the word of the Kingdom Why the Saints shall declare the glorious word of thy Kingdom and talk of thy power and hence it is that the same Prophet David Psal 68. 11. saith The Lord gave the word and great was the company of those that published it or the army as the Margin notes it In the Hebrew A great Army of Saints publishing the Truth believe it Sir you are mistaken to imagine that God hath given a Patent to any Society or Generation of men under the Sun of what name or title soever they dignifie or distinguish themselves whether Pope Cardinal Jesuite

loosness and prophaness lay not the blame upon the practice of the Truth but let it light where it is So that it s not the preaching of Gifted Brethren that brings in Errour but the preaching of uncalled and ungifted ones such as your selves are that brings in Errour and it s the preaching of Gifted ones that will be a means of its discovery and bringing out The sixteenth Argument If the Church be Gods House and Family then no man may presume to exercise any Function there without a Call from God but the Church is Gods House and that God should appoint Officers and Order in his own House is but reason Granted but this is the order of Gods House That all his Children should communicate each to other according to the Gift as I have already proved and it s the order of the Devils house to destroy this order of the Lords Jer. 11. 21. The seventeeneth Argument from the Rise of it That which springs from pride and self conceitedness cannot be good but this kind of Preaching springs from pride and self conceitedness Ergo It cannot be good The Major is granted that the Minor is true You say you judge by their actions you judge of springs by their streams and trees by their fruit But are you so ignorant bold and impudent as to judge of Saints for doing their Duty its their duty to Preach and Prophesie and in Humility and Obedience they act in it not taking the Office but exercising the Gift as they have received having freely received they freely give But it s your own preaching that flows from pride and self conceitedness you that would preach and none else we hinder none from preaching that hath the Gift your selves it is who usurp the Office by reason of your imaginary gifts being never called to it by God or man according to the Truth You it is who thrust your selves in by violence whether the people will or no the dry keck and bramble it is indeed who desire to rule that is the reason so many of the honest Party have left you because of your driness and emptiness and that is the reason you are so much troubled for want of the ruling scratching persecuting power but your preaching Brethren desire not to rule unless over their corruptions nor to scratch unless they could by the power of Truth scratch away your Ignorance Envy and Pride against the Lord and his Truth c. it s the irregular using of Gifts which is when men would by that means stifle all except their own this flows from Pride The eighteenth Argument If Christ at his Ascension gave only some to be Pastors and Teachers then all Gifted men may not Teach but Christ at his Ascension gave only some to be Pastors and Teachers Ephes 4. 11. 1 Cor. 12. 28 29. Ans If a gifted Brother should have brought forth such a gross and palpable untruth you would have thought it had been for want of learning the very Scriptures you produce to prove it being so evident against you● your falshood lieth in the words only Pastors and Teachers see the Scriptures God hath set some in his Church 1. Apostles 2. Prophets 3. Teachers c. how dare you be so bold as to say only Pastors c 1. Apostles That is men sent for the gathering of the Saints 2. Prophets That is Gifted brethren Prophesying according to the measure of Faith And 3. Out of these Prophets are taken Pastors and Teachers no Prophet no Pastor nor Teacher c. Thus briefly the falacy of your Argument is made manifest the gift is for all I will pour out my spirit upon all c. The nineteenth Argument That which hath neither precept nor president is neither commanded nor commended in the Word of God may not be tolerated in the Church of God But this kinde of Preaching by Gifted Brethren hath neither precept nor president in all the Word of God Ergo it may not be tolerated in the Church of God You conclude This new found Officer a gifted Preacher out of office is not to be found in the Bible I have already proved this truth that it is commanded and commended there is both Precept and President 1. Precept They shall declare the glorious majesty of thy Kingdom to the sons of men Psal 145. 11 12. As every one hath received so let them administer Commended 1 Cor. 14. 5 6. 2. President All the Prophets in the Old Testament acted sutable to the gift it was no Office viz. Prophesie but a gift 1. In the New Testament the scattered brethren Act 8. and Paul Acts 9. 20. straight way he Preached he never looked for an office as you dream and the truth is I can scarce imagine that you are so ignorant of this truth as you seem to be but that others might rest themselves quiet and satisfied in what you say Let your ignorance in presenting such gross untrue conclusions that this Preacher is not to be found in the Bible be recanted and repented of for shame The twentieth Argument From the practice of all Reformed Churches That which is condemned in all the Churches of God and is contrary to their practice ought not to be tolerated in our Church but this practice of private mens Preaching without a Call is condemned by all the Churches of God and is contrary to their practice Ergo. As for the Major and the Minor your Churches and your old Divines are no rule for me to walk by nor to any others who have their eyes in their heads no further then they follow Christ the Spirit and the Scripture The Spirit in the Scripture is the rule of Saints and this I am sure the custom of the Churches in the Scripture is contrary to your customs their custom was That Preaching brethren should both Preach and Prophesie 1 Cor. 14. 31. And for those who will be contentious against this truth there was nor is no such custom in the Churches of the Lord therefore keep the example of your Churches and Divines to your self who walk not according to the rule if any man walk not according to this rule it is because there is no light in him Isai 8. 20. Thus have I briefly run through your Pulpit-Guard and doubt not but that I have Routed you in all your Twenty Strong Holds that now the way being opened again the Gifted brethren may come in to your Pulpit without sin or shame As for your Indictment against the Lay-Prophet as you call him it is so ridiculous so poor and low not being accompanyed with common reason the Jury you pretend to call are your Witnesses the evidence you call it You have lost your self in the very form no wonder if you are lost in the matter you forsake the Scripture and flie to Apostatized Churches or rather to those who call themselves Churches Jews and are not but we have examined them and found them lyars you calling old Divines men of

delusion 4. These could expound Prophetick Scripture 4. So can the Preaching brethren to your terror and amazement 4. You wrest them and darken them for your own ends 5. These subjected their prophesy to the judgement of the rest 5. So do the preaching brethren 5. You are puft with pride none may question what you say be it never so false 6. The Spirit of those was subject to them 6. So it is in the preaching brethren 6. But you are subject to your spirit of pride none may speak but your selves yet know not what prophesy is 7. These spake by two or three the others judged 7. So do the preaching brethren 7. But you speak all your selves but permit none to judge The ninth Objection Rom. 12. 6 7 8. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether prophesy let us prophesy c. Hence they gather that all that have gifts of prophesy may prophesy c. Your answer 'T is granted that they who have the gifts of prophesy may prophesy c. But who are they that have this gift they that are Prophets by Office and not those who who have abilities only c. I have answered this already That there is no Office of Prophesy but Gift only and they that have abilities may prophesy the Gift is given them for that end You say It will appear more fully in the context and scope of the Chapter having exhorted to duties of Piety in general ver 1 2. he comes ver 3. to 9. to particular duties of Ecclesiastical persons and Officers viz. that they should not be proud of their Gifts c. Sir it were well if you who so account your selves c. could learn that lesson but Sir you very much fail in your interpretation for the Apostle speaks to the whole Church throughout the whole Chap. and in these verses mentioned ver 3. he speaks to the whole Church Let no man think of himself c. He doth not say let no Ministers in office think c. but no man Let no man be proud or lifted up with his gift to think more highly then he ought of himself but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of Faith Mark as God hath dealt to every man you say every Minister in Office the Scripture saith every man c. ver 4 5. the Apostle relates to the whole Church We being many are one body c. What Sir do you suppose that none are the body of Christ the Church but the Priests or do you not see your ignorance that its the whole body the Apostle here speaks of 2. You say He sets down a distinct and perfect enumeration of all the standing officers in the Church c. To which I answer 1. That all your wisdom and Logick have not cannot distinguish these Officers 2. He enumerates the various gifts in the whole Church though officers are not excluded yet there is no office but depends upon gift else no Office And 1. He mentions Prophets Whether prophesie let us Prophesie c. that is let those who have that Gift make use of it for the good of the Church That this is the intention of the Scripture note first that the Apostle is speaking to the whole as you have heard Verse 5. 2. The terms under which it s express'd that is 1. Prophesie according to the proportion of faith answering ver 3. according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith Hence note that its every mans liberty nay duty to prophesie according to the proportion of Faith c. 3. See Verse 7. There if anywhere you have the Office or Ministry Let us wait on our Ministring c. The first is a Gift without Office according to the proportion of Faith the other is an office to be waited on though office depends upon Gift likewise You confess That this is not the extraordinary but ordinary Prophesying And why this ordinary more then that 1 Cor. 14. 31. But Sir it is not your understanding of the Scripture that makes you give the right Interpretation of it but because it suits best with what you drive at for that I perceive is your great work to make the Scripture speak to your own purpose be it what it will You conclude Now let us see what they can gather hence because Pastors and Teachers who were Prophets c. men in Office are commanded to Prophesie and Expound the Word therefore private persons may c. this is kneading trough Logick I answer Where did you read your Logick in Scripture that Prophets were called Pastors or Pastors and Teachers called Prophets but that you can say any thing make the Scripture to say any thing for your own ends And this is Logick learnt from your father the devil Read and apply Joh. 8. 44. The tenth Objection 1 Cor. 11. 5. Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head covered c. Hence say they were women that did prophesy If gifted women did prophesy much more may gifted men thus Miriam Anna and Hilda prophesied 2 King 22. 14 c. This I suppose is a Scripture of your own invention in this place there are enough more to the purpose then this for I should be unwilling to do as your self turn the Scripture every way for your own ends yet Sir I shall a little trace you in this that so your pride and folly may appear You say Here is chalk for cheese we speak of ordinary gifted men and they flee to women that were called extraordinarily c. And how prove you that Sir Is there ever such a word in the Text 1 Cor. 11. 5. he saith pray or prophesy was it extraordinary praying too I wonder you left out that As for Phebe Rom. 16. 13. You say She was a Diaconess to minister to the sick and not to preach or have Peters Keyes jingling at her girdle I thought Sir you were very loth to lose the Keys having been Peters successors so long but I wonder how you got them from your father the Pope who sayth he keeps the chair still Aquila and Priscilla were helpers to Paul Rom. 16. 3. that is say you by their private instructions But who told you so that it was by their private instructions and why not publike as well as private So you say Not only men but women should teach their children servants neighbours the way of the Lord. Prov. 1. 8. 6. 20. Act. 18. 26. Tit. 2. 3. Confess the truth sometimes that out of your own mouth you may be condemned this is all we plead for that its the duty of the Saints according to the measure of their gift and proportion of faith to teach the way of the Lord to children neighbours any as opportunity is offered but I suppose you have a secret reservation or relation to that word private c. and why private Sir Is it lawfull in private

or building that they might inform others in the same truth they themselves are informed or comfort others with the same comfort they themselves are comforted But you who boast so much of your sending you come indeed and are not sent for first you come not in at the door but in at the window the door is Christ and his Spirit and there is no other door that admits to preaching see 1 Cor. 12. there are many Gifts and Works and operations but still the same spirit who worketh all in all But you have found out another way your Popish Ordination and none must preach but such just as the Pope and the Prelates so your selves walk in the same steps you are the Theives and Robbers that climb in at the window or some other way a hole you have made for your selves to creep in at and secondly the end of your coming in is to steal rob and to carry away to enrich your selves with the worldly gain the fat Tythes of the peoples labors and encrease but those who come in by the door Christ they dare not do it nay they dare not but like honest and true men disery and discover the thief and the robber that so he may be known and avoided And as for Wolves who are they but such a devour the sheep I send you forth saith Christ as Lambs among Wolves it s the property of Wolves to devour the Lambs how have the Popish Wolves devoured let Queen Maries daies witness Episcopall Wolves let the Prelates daies witness Presbyterian Wolves let latter times if they could have prevailed they would have suckt the blood of almost all the Lambs of Jesus Christ in this Nation ere this Possibly you may account us Wolves because in word and writing we discover your baseness and unrighteous waies be not mistaken Sir Light cannot but discover Darkness but there is no spirit or principle of persecution in us we desire not the Magistrate to meddle with you or to hinder you from preaching if you turn not Traytors to the State the Wolves it is that bite and devour that make the Lambs their prey but the Lambs are meek patient suffering not biting and devouring c. But stay awhile go not off triumphing If what you say be truth That the gifted brother was silent at this Argument yet believe it it was not the light that shined in it that overcame him but your cunning sophistry in reasoning but believe it your own Argument will burn up all your sending in conclusion and then you shall consess that gifted brethren may preach the Gospel You say Goliah fled but you are mistaken I suppose rather it was little David and at present great Goliah gets the victory Goliah with his Armor of proof University stuff c. but Goliah must be routed in the end Now to your third Argument If all that have gifts may preach then all that have gifts may baptize but all that have gifts say you may preach ergo all that have gifts may baptize In my answer to this Argument I shall pass by what the gifted brethren answered as you make mention with so much reproach and scorn as if you had sate a long time in Scorners chair for mine own particular I grant the truth of your Argument That gifted brethren may preach and may baptize and give the Supper too and that I have to do is to make good this principle which I doubt not but I shall with much light and evidence of Truth and then this Argument is routed and blown away with the wind of truth as the morning dew before the Sun My Arguments are these First John the first preacher of Repentance and baptizer in the water to the washing away of sin by the blood of Christ yet had no speciall mission nor did any miracle John 10. 41. but by divine inspiration according to the measure he had received so he preached and so he baptized its true he was prophesied of before and sent in a speciall manner to prepare the way of the Lord c. yet he did his work in an ordinary way as a gifted brother if you will have it so not extraordinarily gifted and sent See John 1. 31. he preached Christ and baptized into his name and knew him not like many an honest soul that are speaking of Christ and preach of him too when they have but shattered and shallow apprehensions of him there being such a worth in him that a soul that hath had but a sight of him and an interest in him cannot but declare him as the woman of Samaria John 4. The second ground is from John 4. 1 2. The Disciples of Christ then were the ordinary Christians the alone Church of the Gospel Christ the Head Pastor and Shepherd yet it is said that Christ baptized not but his Disciples compare this Scripture with Act. 10. to the latter end Peter commanded them to be baptized not that he did it himself but commanded them and it s very probable that there were some gifted preaching brethren with him who did the work and the like assistance might he expect when the 3000 were converted and added to the Church Acts 2. and Acts 8. The scattered brethren went preaching the Gospel and Chap. 11. The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned to the Lord and the same who converted them baptized them if they were at all baptized for they gathered them into Church-fellowship But the Apostles hearing of it sent Barnabas to confirm and strengthen them which he did ver 23. not baptize them Thus it appears that preaching Disciples may baptize not that they must Paul was sent not to baptize but to preach yet seeing he was sent to do the greater he might do the lesser and did it too Object This is that will breed confusion in the Church no need of Officers if any gifted brother may administer Ordinances Answ Which shall be my third Argument too That Officers Pastors and Teachers are not for the being of the Church and Ordinances they are both before them and without them but they are rather for the wel-being of the Church there is nothing to be done in the Church no Ordinance to be administred but a gifted brother may do it with the approbation of the Church but because of conveniency and order therefore some men are chosen forth to act in behalf of the whole for the good of the whole not that such men thus chosen should usurp such power and authority to themselves as to set up themselves above all and stifle the grace and workings of the Spirit in others its time then to dethrone them again and the work of a Pastor or Teacher doth not consist all in preaching and baptizing as Priests now adaies think but in knowing the state of the flock in watching in reproving in admonishing in rebuking with authority in the Spirit and power of the Lord There is no one thing