of and if the Lord shall give yee understanding in the knowledge of the truth herein contended for feare not to Practise it notwithstanding the threats and menaces of men though their words be stout against the Lord make the righteous offenders for a word yet let those that fear the Lord speake oft to exort teach admonish one another in setting forth the Lord Jesus Christ a Saviour for sinners Now all you that have tasted how good the Lord is and hath seene the goeings out of his Arme before you be not cast downe nor discouraged but with Nehemiah resolve not to flie though Tobiases Sambalats enemies of Gods truth and people be never so greate and mightie and stirr themselves never somuch shall such 〈◊〉 as we flie shall we flinch shall the voice of a damosell now make us afraid and tremble that have had the experience of a Gratious God preserving of us and making us to stand and oppose the fury of our enemies in the field in the midst of flashing flames and showers of fiery bullets did he make us to have stout hearts to stare death in the face and contemn the terrour thereof shall we now distrust him â—oe farr be it from us for God is faithfull and will never leave us nor forsake us but shall and will stand by us to deliver us out of all our troubles I have only one word more to say I know you with my self had thoughts that though in the Bishops dayes we snut our doers for feare of those Iewes eat the bread of affliction drank the waters of adversity yet now they being taken away the armies of the alians being put to flight we had hope our eyes should never have seen our teachers thrust into corners againe but should have inioyed the sweet fruit of outward peace and liberty in the free worshiping of God but you see God ordering of it otherwise Therefore his hand being in it we must conclud it is for his glory and for our good Let us with patience possesse our soules letting our moderation be known to all men the Lord is at hand give our cheekes to the nippers and our backes to the smiters and not to resist authority but patiently to beare and suffer what penalty shall be put upon us for this is the will of God that by well doing we should put to silence the ignorance of foolish slanderous men that so report of us that yee may soe doe it shall be the prayer of him that is your brother and fellow souldier and companion in tribulation and in the Kingdome and patience of Iesus Christ Edmund Chillenden Liuetenant PREACHING WITHOUT ORDINATION THE great controversie Act. 20.28 Ephes 5.25 Esa 8.20 Act. 20.26.27 Mat. 28.18 to the end Mat. 18.17 to 20. Rev. 22.18.19 Gal. 6.16 Ephes 4.8 to 12. 1 Tim. 3. tota Tit. 1.6 to 10. 1 Cor. 12.28 Rom. 12.6 to 9. Act. 1.13.14.15.21 to end Act. 6.1 to 7. Act. 14.25 or thing in this juncture of time is Whether men though by God furnished with giftâ— and graces and every way made able to dispense the Gospel may preach the same either private or publike except they be ordained Therefore to make it appeare that it is lawfull for men so furnished and enabled by God to preach publish and declare the Gospel though they be not by any Church or men ordained thereunto I shall premise these things to consideration 1. That Christ hath purchased unto himselfe a Church 2. That to this Church he hath given Lawes and ordinances in his written word by which they are to walke and by none other 3. That in them he hath declared and set forth to his Church what and how many Offices there are with Officers to be supplyed with their qualifications 4. How the severall Officers are to be invested ordained or put into their severall Offices 1 Co. 12.13 14. chap. 1. Pet. 4.10.11 Heb. 10.23.24.25 Act. 6.3.1 Tim. 3. tota Titus 1.6 to 10. Psal 132.11 Act 2.3 10.38 Act. 2.36 Esa 9.6.7 Rev. 15.3 17.14.19.20 Act. 20 28. Psal 87.3.1 Pet. 2.5 9. Psal 48.2 Mat. 18 to 20.28 18 to end Psal 147 19.2â— Heb 3 2.6 Ephes 1.22.23 2.20 1 Pet. 1.19 20 21. Rev. 22.18.10 Deut. 4.2 Pro. 30.6 Pet. 1.3 1 Cor. 11. 1 Gal 1 7 8 9. v. 1.2.3 chap. Ephes 1.2 Col. 23.10 Eph. 5 3.24 1 Cor 5. 16.1 Act. 14.23 1 Cor. 1.1 Mat. 13 19 20 2 Cor. 1.1 Ro. 1.7 Mat. 28 18â— compared vvith Mat. 18.19 20. compare that with Psalme 149.8.9 and all them with 1 Cor. 5 16. 1 Col. 3.10 Rev. 1 2 3. chap. Act. 1.21 to 26. and 6.2 to 6. and 14. to 23. Gal. 1. 1 Tim. 3.1 to 12. Tit. 5.7 Act. 2.37 to 47. compared with Act. 6.2 to 6.14 to 23. Mat. 18.16 to 27. 1 Cor. 49. Rev. 2. Rom. 10.17 1 Tim. 3.1 to 12. Tit. 1.5.7 Act. 1.15 16 26. 6.6.3.7.14.22.23 to end 1 Tim. 4.12 Ephes 4.21 1 Cor. 1.5 Col. 4 3. 5. The manner how they are to manifest their guifts parâ—â— and qualifications to declare their fitnesse that the Church may know and judge of them before they be ordained that they may not be mistaken in their choyce 1. The Lord Jesus Christ being the annointed of his father set on the Throwne of David King of Saints King of Kings hath purchased to himselfe by his blood a Church which is a City or body politick whence it is called the City of God of the great King the body of Christ his Temple Orchard Vineyard nichosed Garden a royall Priesthood a holy Nation a peculiar people to offer up spirituall sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ the Lord. 2. This Church or spirituall City he as their King and head hath given lawes and ordinances in his written word as rules by which she is to be guided and in them is layd downe to his people all things needefull for life and godlinesse to make the man of God perfect in the performance of the visible worship of God so that there is no neede for man or any sort Company or assembly of men to devise or make lawes or institute Ordinances for his people to observe in acting any thing concerning the worship and service of God or in the choyce or ordination of Officers in his house 3. This Church is set forth in the Scriptures to be particular congregated visible Saints depending on none but Christ in things concerning his spirituall Kingdome it is not a house of lime and stone nor a Congregation of visible wicked men no nationall provinticall diosian Church those the Scriptures do not allow nor in no wise declare that God hath promised his blessing and presence to dwell amongst since the assention of Christ and whence such Churches came and of whose devising they were you may see in the Scripture cited Rev. 16.19 13.1 to 11. to end Rev. 18 2.3 4. Those have power given them and
PREACHING VVITHOVT ORDJNATJON OR A Treatise proving the lawfulnesse of all Persons of what Degree Ranke or Trade soever being inabled with sufficient guilts and qualifications from God by his Spirit to preach and set forth the Gospel though no Minister nor any other Officer in the Church of God 1. Peter 4.10 As every man hath received the guift even so let him minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold graces of God 1. Corinth 14.31 For you may all prophesie one by one Psalme 149.9 This honour have all his Saints prayse ye the Lord. By Edmond Chillinden Imprinted at London for George Whittington and are to be sold at his Shop at the signe of the Blew Anchor in Cornehill neere the Royall Exchange 1647. To the Nationall Synod or Assembly SIRS I Have a few words to speake to you and they are to tell you that I here present to your view this Treatise following viz. concerning Preaching without Ordination and my desire is Esa 8.20 1 Thes 4 21. that you would reade and seriously consider it trying all things therein by the word of God and if in the tryall it shall be found to corrispond to truth then quench not the spirit nor dispise the preaching therein contended for But let me intreate you to take the Councel of Gamaliel which he spake to another Assembly Acts 5.34.35.38 ye men of Israel take heede to your selves what you intend to do as touching these men so I say to you take heede to your selves what ye intend as touching the suppressing of preaching the Gospel by the breathing of the Spirit of God in the hearts of his people though not ordained by your humane Ordination Refrayne least you be found fighters against God for if this Councel and worke be of God as by the Scriptures to mee it appeares to be of his right hands planting then it shall stand and prosper It is very strange that you who would be counted the onely advancers and inlargers of the Kingdome of Christ should rise up in Armes against him and with might and maine labour to suppresse the power that he hath ordâ—ine to conquer and bring under all Nations and Kingdomes to his subjection the preaching and declaring the Lord Jesus Christ in the spirit by the word of truth whereon God in Christ rides forth gloriously conquering and to conquer bringing in all thoughts and hearts to subject unto him Did you but see the miserable desolations that the Divell hath made in most parts of this Kingdom upon poore soules and all for want of the powerfull preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ so that I may say as the Prophet saith my people perish and are destroyed for want of knowledge so that thick darknesse covereth the whole face of this Kingdome Psa 11.12 and the truth of God in the professors and practisers are the onely Butt that wicked men ruled by the Prince of darknesse Hosea 4.6 bend their bowes and make ready their arrowes upon the string that they may privily shoote at the upright in heart You cannot be ignorant but this is the mayne designe of the Divell to hinder the propagation of the Gospel by preaching because he knowes by the power thereof Christs Kingdome is advanced and inlarged and I am very confident that the maine reason that hath impeded and obstructed the Parliaments just proceedings and that the people in many parts of this Kingdome are so ill-affected is because they have not had the Lord Jesus Christ held forth to them in the preaching of the Gospel for I have observed in my travills since God called me into this Army that in many of the Counties of England there is not one Parish of tenn that hath one of your ordained men that is able to preach Christ these things generally I have taken notice of that where any of them are they are either Drunkards uncleane persons dumb Idoles or at the best cruel Malignants that have ever been opposite to the glory of God the Parliaments just proceedings so that the Proverbe in the Prophet is made true like Priest like people Therefore these things considered I hope you will all of you to the utmost of your powers indeavour that Christ may be preached in every part and corner of this Kingdome Esa 11 that it may be full of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the Seas What if some which are called Sectaries and that of the Army have preached Christ out of envy and contention and not sincerely howsoever I know and many thousand soules besides me can testifie that Christ hath been preached Phil. 1.15 16 17. yea and that effectually and powerfully to the prayse and glory of God and the comfort of many hearts and I bid defiance to the Divell and all his blackmouthed Instruments to produce that ever those that they call Sectaries in preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ did by that open a gap to prophanesse or disaffect the people from their loyall obedience to the Parliament or their proceedings but have gained them to yeeld subjection in bringing forth the peaceable fruits of godlinesse and righteousnesse towards God and men therefore my thinks you and all people should rejoyce that Christ is preached and God made knowne Therefore refraine ye from that envious spirit in causing the Magestrate to forbid us knowing that your selves are men of like passions with us though you be the people and wisdome shall die with you Iob. 12.2.3 1 Cor 14.36 Iohn 3.8 but there are those that have understanding as well as you and are not inferiour to you yea who knoweth not such things as these the word of God came not from you neither came it to you onely but as well to the rest of the Saints besides you seeing the wind bloweth where it listeth hould not back neither hinder the blowings or breathings of it least God come and fight against you with the Sword of his mouth Revel 2.16 Heb. 6.9 and slay you before him because you will not let him reigne over you nor his people but I hope better things of you and things that accompany the propogation and setting forth the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ by preaching as the way of Salvation so I rest Yours to serve Christ in the Gospel Edmond Chillenden Lieutenant of Horse in Colonel Whalies Regiment From my Quarters at Kingston upon Theames August the 20. 1647 To the Reader especially my fellow Brethren and Saints Commanders and Souldiers with mee in the Army under his Excellency Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX THese are the dayes of Iacobs troubles wherein the affliction of Ioseph begins to be multiplyed iniquitie geting the upper hand doth with Iron sinnewes and the brow of brasse out-face and beare down the word of exortation so that now no man may strive or reprove one another the consideration of which hath occasioned mee to present you these following lines to consider
God in them and not because they were now Officers for that they were before this time as is playne by the text and Gods words to Moses in the 16. verse The next Scripture I come now to handle is the 2. Chron. 17.7 verse and to the 8.9 verse where it is said that Iehosaphat sent to his Princes to teach in the Cities of Judah and they taught in Judah and had the Booke of the Law of the Lord with them and went about throughout all the Cities of Judah and taught the people whence it is evident that the Princes of Judah that were no ordained Ministers preached the Law of the Lord to the people with the Levites a practise that those who in our dayes call themselves the Tribe of Levit I could desire that they would press it upon the Princes of our times those who are furnished with the spirit of God to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people Amo 8.11.12 in our severall Cities that so there might not be that famine of the word that is in the many parts of this Kingdome you see Jehosaphat did not question their Ordination neither did the Levites forbid any such thing so my thinks it would evidence a good heart in the Levites of our times to presse Princes and people all that have guifts to preach Jesus Christ to the people that the earth might be full of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord Habak 2.14 as the waters cover the Sea and not to be of the envious spirit with Josuah to perswade the Magistrates to forbid them Esa 11.9 because they are not ordained by their humane Ordination there was never any such thing heard of nor declared in the Scriptures for it is evident in the writings of Moses and the Prophets Luke 2.46 that any of their wise men as they are called in the Scriptures might and ought to teach in their Synagogues without any regard or respect had to any Office or Ordination in the Church we finde Jehosaphat himselfe Mat. 9.35 Luke 4.16.17 Numb 11.29 Mat 23.34 1 Cor. 1.20 Ier. 18.18 Phil. 3.5 2. Chron. 19.6 7 8 9.10 11. verses confirming this to us how he preached to the Judges and to the Levites and also his divine and excellent prayer to God in the publike congregation of Ezekiah his Sermon in the very Temple of God and so of Nehemiah and others who taught the people the Law of the Lord a good patterne for our Princes now and do we not reade freequently in the Scriptures every where that the Scribes Pharises and Lawyers in any of which were no ordained Ministers neither Priests nor Levites Mat. 13.54 to end Marke 6.2 to 5. Luke 4.16 to 22. Luke 2.46 Act. 15.16 and 17.2 yet taught publikely amongst the Jewes as appeares by the Scriptures and if it were not so practised how comes it to passe that Jesus the Sonne of Joseph who was no ordained person that is no Priest nor Levite in their Church that they permitted him to dispute in the Temple with the great Doctors and to teach and preach frequently in the Synagogues as he did and the like may be seene of Paul and Barnabas that were no ordained Ministers that the people of the Jewes tooke notice of yet they preached frequently and publikely and so it appeares to be the constant practice hitherto set out in the Scriptures to preach without Ordination Obj. But some may say that Jesus Christ was extraordinarily indued with guists and the like of Paul and Barnabas and taught by their extraordinary guifts and were so permitted by the Jewes to preach Esa 9.6 and 61.1.2.3 Answ He that so sayeth that they were extraordinarily indued with guifts speakes the truth though to little or no purpose to the matter in hand for what was that to wit their extraordinary guifts to the received order and practise in the Temple Synagogues amongst the Jewes that did not believe in Christ nor acknowledge him nor his Apostles in any such way Object Some may further say that Iesus was the Sonne of God sent of God to preach and Paul and Barnabas were Apostles and so might preach because they had an Office that did bind them to it Answ I answer againe that this is true but besides the matter did the Iewes look on Christ as he was the Sonne of God did they looke on Paul and Barnabas as Desciples of Christ Mat. 13.34 to end Marke 6.1 to 5. Iohn 7.46 to end Mat. 13.34 to end Marke 6.1 to 5. Acts 4.13 to 18. compared with 5.28 Acts 13.16 I am sure no man will dare to affirme it because the Scripture is against it Wee find declared in the Scriptures that the Iews looked on Christ with scorne and contempt in relation to his being the Sonne of God and say of him Is not this Iesus the Son of Mary the Carpenters Son even of Ioseph Nay is not this Jesus the Carpenter did they not hate and despise both him and his Apostles and in the consideration of his being a minister of the Church of God or his Apostles any Officers they did not beleeve at all but onely according to the common custome amongst them they permited Jesus to preach and dispute and so was it that Ruler of the Synagogue sent to Paul and Barnabas that if they had a word of exortation to the people to say on and not because they were Officers or had any ordination in the Rulers understanding and so much shall suffice for this particular I now come to the next Scripture Acts the 18.24 to the end where it is thus said A certain Iew named Appolloes borne at Alâ—â—â—ndria an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures came to Ephesus this man was instructed in the way of the Lord and being fervent in the Spirit he spake and taught dilligently the things of the Lord knowing onely the baptisme of Iohn and he began to speak boldly in the Synagogue whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard they took him unto them and expounded unto him the way of God were perfectly And in the 28 ver it is thus said For he mightily convinced the Iews that publickly shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ Reader thou seest what is recorded in the Scriptures of this man Appollos how he preached Jesus Christ diligently and that publickly in the Synagogues and yet thou seest there is no office nor Ordination which is at this time once hinted as that he had and yet he preached the Gospel by reason of his fervency in the Spirit so that was the cause of his so boldly speaking and teaching in the Synagogue and that he had no Office nor Ordination at this time I shall give thee these reasons 1. Because the Scripture is altogether silent in it and doth not once hint any such thing 2. Because we onely finde this mentioned of him in the Scripture that he was instructed in the
way of the Lord being fervent in the Spirit spake and taught boldly mightily convincing the Jews Acts 18 2â— and that publikely shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ 3. He knew the Baptisme of John he was so far taught in the way of the Lord to imbrace Christ as that he went beyond the Jewes and so could be no officer in the Church of the Jewes 4. He could not be any officer in the Christian Church because he knew onely the Baptism of John he was not yet come far enough in the knowledge of the Gospel for that These reasons I conceive are sufficient to evidence to all men that are not guided by a partiall Spirit that Apollos here preached not by vertue of any office or ordination but by the vertue and power of the Spirit of Gods operation in him But some may say this man was extraordinarily guifted by God and so by his extraordinary gift preached Object I answer that some things especially above other man is recorded of him as that namely he was a very eloquent man Answ Acts 18.24 and that he was mighty in the Scriptures and that he boldly taught and that by his teaching he mightily convinced the Jewes but that this did prove that he was extraordinarily indued with guifts from God I cannot see but do beleeve the contrary and for that I shall offer the Reader these reasons first because if God had extraordinarily inspired him he could not have been ignorant of the revealed will way and Councell of God declared in the Gospel and onely to have knowne the Baptisme of Iohn Acts 20.26.27 for none that God did so inspire but did know the whole Councel of God revealed as witnesse Paul and all the oiher Apostles Iohn 14.28 and 16.13 to 16. 2. Because if he had been so inspired then he would had no neede of Aquillaes and Priscillaes teaching or more perfect learning him the way of God for then he might better have taught them but we finde that when they had heard him they tooke him unto them and expounded or shewed him the way of God more perfectly and therefore for these reasons is it that I beleeve he was not extraordinariâ—y guifted of God and so much may serve to evidence the truth from those false glosses and misinterpretations that some have indeavoured to put upon this Scripture to hinder the Saints from following the rule and example of Christ and his faithfull Servants set forth to us in the Scriptures in preaching and declaring the Gospel without Office or Ordination 1 Cor. 11.1 I come now to Acts 8 1 4. compared with Acts 11.19 20 24. Where it is thus written And at that time there was a great persecution against the Church that was at Jerusalem and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except the Apostles and in the 4. ver it is said thus therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word and in Acts 11.19 20 ver Thus now they that were scattered abroad upon the persecution that rose about Stephen travailed as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch preaching the word to none but the Jewes onely some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyreene which when they were come to Antioch spake unto the Grecian preaching the Lord Jesus and the hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned to the Lord here Reader consider seriously what God by his Spirit hath recorded in these places of Scripture for our learning if it be well minded God doth as it were point out to us his foreseeing the errour and evill that men in this point would run into and therefore saith that all the Church except the Apostles were scattered so that I conceive that God doth point out here that the officers staid behinde and those that were scattered and went preaching the Gospel were no ordained men to that end And I conceive it cannot be thought nor gathered from what is in the Scripture related that these that were scattered this whole Church were ministers ordained men namely Pastours teachers or Elders it seems somewhat strange to me that the whole body of a Church should be ordained Ministers for that were to make the body monstrous and disorderly because as the Apostle saith 1. Corinth 12 17 ver If the whole body were an eye where were the hearing if the whole were hearing where were the smelling but now hath God set the members every one of of them in the body as it hath pleased him so that it is cleare that if God be the God of Order and doth all things orderly it cannot be thought that the whole body of this Church being at Jerusalem with the Apostles were all ordained Ministers Acts 8.1.3 they consisting at least of three thousand persons such a thing was never heard of nor yet never any Scripture produced holding forth or hinting any such thing for in these Scriptures here is onely thus much said the whole Church at Jerusalem except the Apostles were scattered and they being scattered went preaching every where Jesus Christ and this is all that is in the Scripture mentioned of them and no office nor ordination at this time minded But though they had no office all of them yet some of them had Object and the rest were extraordinarily by God inspired and guifted by his Spirit I confesse there is mention of Philip who was an ordâ—ined officer as you may see in Acts the 6. and the 5. ver Answ But what office is it that he had not an office binding him to preach his being ordained into that office was to no such and as you may see in Acts 6.1 2. There it is declared that Philipe office was to serve tables to look to the daily administration for the poor to wit a Deacon and not to preach the Gospel for that was besides his office and no and of being ordained this I leave by the wise to be judged That they were extraordinarily inspired to meÌ„ seems unreasonable and that for these reasons First Because there is not the least tittle in the text than giveth any hint that way Secondly Because the onely titles given them are all the Church that was at Jerusalem except the Apostles were scattered and they were some of them men of Cyprus and Cyrene and nothing minded in the least of extraordinary gift or endowment Thirdly Onely their preaching here and there is noted and spoken of â—and that by reason of their persecution they became so scattered and not by reason of any extraordinary gift bestowed on them Acts 8.3 and 11 19 20. 4. Because that if so be they had had any Apostolicall function or ordination or extraordinary gift of the Spirit then in my understanding there had not been any need of so suddain nay not at all of a sending of Barnabas from Jerusalem to Antioch Acts 11.22 23.29 though
to affirme is very absurd and tha for these reasons because it was never heard of nor in all the written word of God hinted at especially concerning this Church of the Corinths that the whole body of them were extraordinarily guifted 2. because the Apostle doth restrayne woemen from preaching or others speaking in the Church from whence it is playne Luke 2.36 Exod. 15 20. Iudg. 4.24 that this prophesying is ordinary and lies in common to all the Servants of Jesus Christ for woemen that were extraordinarily guifted I affirme and the Scripture cited with me might preach and did without restraint so that from hence I thus argue that the Apostle forbidding and prohibiting woemen from preaching gives liberty to all men guifted for to preach and againe I argue from this ground that they were not Officers ordained nor extraordinarily guifted because the Apostle opposeth women to men Sex to Sex and not woemen Officers or extraordinary guifted men for then I conceive the Apostle would nor have aid let your woemen keep silence in the Churches for it is not permitted for them to speake but the Apostle would have aid let your woemen keep silence in the Churches because they are no Officers nor have any Ordination not any extraordinary guift therefore they are to be silent in the Churches but he saith it is not permitted for them to speake not out of any such consideration as before minded but because of the Command of God they are to be under obedience and to learne in silence for it is a shame for woemen to speake in the Church 3. because the Apostle exhorts that the Church should judge of the Doctrine that these Prophets or Preachers should teach as appeares by verse 29. let the Prophets speake two or three and let the rest judge for the spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets now if they were extraordinary Prophets and infallibly guided they could not err and so the Apostle might have spared his labour of pressing them to judging of their Doctrine delivered Ephes 2.20.35 2 Pet. 1.19 2 Tim. 16.17 Psal 19.7.8 for such Prophets or Preachers as were extraordinarily guifted I affirme could not err and so were not subject to any such Judgement as the Apostle calleâ— for at the hands of the Church of Corinth and for any to say that Prophets extraordinary could or might err is to weaken and shake greatly the ground and piller of our faith and if they might err then the Apostles and if in Doctrine taught why not in writing and if this were true we were of all men most miserable but we know we have a more sure word of propâ—ecie whereunto we do well to take heede and diligently to marke and study and upon this sure word we know is our faith built even of the Prophets and Apostles 2 Pet. 1.19 that we are guided by the unering spirit of God need not their Doctrine should be called in question or so judged by any of the Sonnes of men therefore these Prophets here spoken of were not extraordinary but ordinary by reason the Apostle commands the rest of the Church to judge and try their Doctrine Agayne the Apostle saith in the 37 and 38 verses that if any man think himselfe a Prophet or spirituall let him acknowledge the things that I write are the Commandements of God but if any man be ignorant let him he ignorant still by all which it appeares plainly that they were but ordinary Prophets or Preachers and had no other then ordinary guifts and indowments for could they be thiâ—s infallibly guided by the spirit and yet must Paul call on them to acknowledge the things he writ were the Commandements of the Lord Jesus in my understanding he might have saved this labour for he could not but know that such that had the same measure and manner of the infallible spirit with him could not be ignorant of the Doctrine and Commands of Christ therefore it is most apparant and playne that they were but ordinary Preachers and preached by an ordinary guift such as is common by the promise of God to be powred forth upon all flesh and hence is it that the Apostle in the close of all exhorts them to the use and study of this preaching and declaring of Jesus Christ as appeares in the 39. verse in these words wherefore brethren covet to prophesie or preach where is to be noted he puts them on to the use and study of meanes even the word and Gospell of God which is able to make the man of God perfect to all good workes 2 Tim. 3.16.17 thereby furnished so that in my understanding it cleerely appeares they were not extraordinary Preachers but ordinary for extraordinary Prophets or Preachers were at no time exhorted to any such thing that ever I read of to the use and study of meanes immediately to be fitted or furnished 1 Cor. 2.12 Act. 2.1 to 5. but immediately without any meanes freely given to them of God without any study or labour as may be seene plentifully in the Scriptures cited so that from all that which hath been said it is most apparant and cleare and that from the further exhortation which the Apostles uses to the Churches and Saints of God it is lawfull yea necessary for them to preach to declare to make knowne and set forth yea and that publikely the Gospel of Jesus Christ for our Saviour saith that which I have told you in your eares do you preach upon the house tops and the Apostle in Rom. 12. at the 6. saith having then guifts differing according to the grace that is given unto us not Ordination whether prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of what not Ordination but of Faith and the Apostle exhorts the Collosians the 3. and 16. to have the word of Christ dwell in them richly in all wisdome whereby they should be inabled with grace in their hearts not Ordination to teach and admonish one another and build them up in their most holy faith the same Apostle in Hebrews the 10.23 to the 25. verse provokes that Church to hold fast the profession of Faith without wavering to consider one another to provoke one another to love and to good workes to exhort one another and blames them in the 5. Chapter and the 12. verse for not being frequent in the exercise of the guifts of the spirit in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ by which they might for the time have been teachers of others and for the neglect they had neede to be taught themselves againe the first principles of Religion there be some Scriptures more which is cast in the way as opposing this truth in Romanes the 10 and 15. how shall they preach except they be sent and so they argue that ordination is the sending here intended but that there is any such thing here minded peruse the Scripture I understand the sending here is the being furnished with gifts
from God inabling them to make known God through the preaching the Gospel that those that heare it may beleive and so much my thinks the Apostle argues from the 13 to ver the 18. and minds nothing of any office or ordination but only the gifts and manistations of the Spirit bring the Gospel of peace and glad tidings of good things another Scripture which is alledged the 1 of Corin. the 7. Chap. ver 20. let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called whence it is alledged that a man being by Gods providence called to this or that trade he ought therein to abide and so from thence that preaching of the Gospel is a trade for some men to abide in now to clear and set forth the Apostles meaning here consider the scope of the Apostle which he hath here in hand and that is this that in whatsoever perticular calling or trade and in what particular relation and ingagements men were in whether bond or free Circumcision or uncircumcision Jew or Gentile whether master or servant whether married if by the Gospel of Jesus Christ they were called to beleive they in the same relations condition bond or tie were therein notwithstanding their now being beleivers to abide with God for the Apostle saith in the 21 ver and 22. Art thou called being a servant care not for it now I hope none will say that Calling iâ— here ordination to the Ministery the Apostle exhorts here he should not care for it and none will say that men being called to the office of the ministery ought not to take care but diligently to wait upon the Ministery it is evident the Apostles meaning by calling here is the bringing of men by the power of the Gospel out of a state of unbelief and infidelity to be believers in Jesus Christ and so being husbands or wives masters or servants they were therein to abide with God and to know that their now being believers did not break their civill ties or relations and this is that which the Apostle here intends from verse the 12. to verse the 25. and doth not at all minde any calling to any office or ordination to the ministery neither doth make it here or in any other place of Scripture a trade to preach the Gospel but generally through the whole Scripture layes it down as the generall calling which belongs to all the Saints by vertue of their being interested into Christ by the power of the Spirit in the preaching of the Gospel and so much for the present I offer by the wise to be considered and tryed by the Scriptures in the Spirit of love and meeknesse Now for conclusion I shall onely adde thus much from all that which hath been said that it doth appear to me very cleare that God hath laid it upon all men believers in Jesus Christ so as they have received gifts whereby they are inabled with knowledge and utterrance to set forth teach and declare Jesus Christ in the Gospel that they ought to doe it as good and faithfull stewards of the gifts and graces of God 1 Peter 4.10.11 1 Corin. 4.1 God requires it of them and they may not neglect it nor no man may forbid them without manifest breach of Gods holy will and commandement Acts 5.29 and 4.19 and therefore let us consider whether to obey God that saith unto us what I have spoken to you in secret that preach declare and make knowne on the house top and as you have received gifts for the work of the ministery so let us labour in the word doctrine to build up and perfect the Saints in our most holy faith and not feare man whose breath is in his nostrils Iude 20. or the son of man who is lighter then vanity but let us feare God and obey his Commandement for that is good and acceptable in his fight without which doing none of the Saints can discharge faithfully that trust committed and given to them for we must imploy his talents labouring in his vineyard which is his Church that he may have the praise and glory of all his works and graces in them and therein we shall greatly manifest our faithfulnesse to God our justnesse in discharge of the trust committed to us and in that consideration we are bound and wo be to us if we preach not the Gospel how can those that believe doe but speak how can those that have heard and seen and received the word and Gospel of Jesus Christ 1 Iohn 1.1 to 3. but must say with the Apostle how can we but speake and declare those heavenly glorious excellent things which we have both seen heard and received Therefore Reader if God shall perswade thy heart to the acknowledgement of this truth fear not to practise it though men and divils set themselves against thee 1 Cor. 10.13 yet know that God is faithfull that promiseth and will suffer no temptation to overtake thee but what he will enable thee to bear and though thou mayest by men be opposed and brought into great afflictions and tribulations Acts 14.22 it is written that through such we must enter into the kingdome of heaven It is the Legacy that Christ hath left to his people that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus and follow him Mat. 16.24.25 Heb. 13.5 must take up his Crosse and suffer persecution yet know he will never leave us nor forsake us but stand by us and his spirit of glory shall rest upon us for our strength-making bringing about all the thrests and terrours of imprisonments Rom. 8.28 afflictions penalties that shall be layd upon us for his sake turne to our good and benefit Therefore gird up the Loynes of your mindes be sober and hope to the end 1 Pet. 1.13 for the grace that is to be brought to you at the Revelation of Jesus Christ feare not neither be dismayed 1 Cor. 7.23 and 16.13 Ephes. 6.10.11.16 you are bought with a price be not the Servants of men watch stand fast in the Faith quit you like men be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might 〈◊〉 on the whole Armour of God above all taking the Sheilâ— of faith whereby ye shall be able to stand against the wiles of the Divell and quench all the fiery darts of the wicked 2 Thes 1.1 12. wherefore all my prayer allwayes shall be that our God will count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodnesse and the worke of faith with power that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and ye in him according to the grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 1.11.12 to comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and worke Amen Psalme 68. and 11. The Lord gave the word great 〈◊〉 the company of those that preached it Iob. 32. and 7. to 10 I said dayes shall speake and moltitudes of yeares shall teach wisdome But there is a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding great men are not alwayes wise neither do theâ—ged understand Judgement Therefore I said heathen to me I also will shew mine opinion FJNJS