God to David to deliver him from the hands of Saul his messengers the opportunitie being so that notwithstanding Saul sent time after time yet God so ordered the matter that these messengers being sent from Saul who was enraged against him vers 10. could not have accesse much lesse to doe him any wrong so gracious is the Lord that to vindicate his peoples innocency or else his owne in them that the strongest assaults of wicked men though attended with never so much policie shall challenge no successe but by his over-ruling power not that God had a speciall ayme that these men should be Preachers much lesse to be example therein to posteritie but onely that God might deliver David from the hands of Saul nay Saul himself who like Herod after he had sent forth the wise men to discover Christ but came not againe was now as much in his bedlam moods as Saul was at this time who went himselfe to Ramah and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he prophesied and rent his cloathes as an infallible testimony of a convicted conscience for pursuing so innocent a man as David was an excellent example wee have to this purpose in the 7. of John 46. of the Pharisees who sent their messengers to fetch Christ before them but contrary to their expectation that in stead of these mens intended fact of taking Christ Christ tooke them and as they came to apprehend Christ as Sauls messengers did David they were so wrought upon by his powerfull speeches that in the 46. verse they cry out That never man spake like this man and you may better conclude that these servants of the Pharisees were Preachers then Sauls messengers and the reason is stronger in them then in the other for Sauls messengers prophesied among the Prophets when there was not such neede but onely here that the workes of God might be made manifest turning that into good which these men intended for evill and never returned againe to give Saul account of his message But here these men that came to Christ had their eyes opened and had some smatterings of illumination that he was Christ and did also returne to the Pharisees againe declaring Christs saying Never man spake like this man these men had beene better presidents for you to have proved the point all the marrow of the businesse I see lies in this one word Prophesie which if you were at a dead lift as here you are can never helpe you considering its divers acceptations As for that you say afterwards that these men were no way extraordinary for so your words imply they had no extraordinary spirit Ergo were not extraordinary Here you shew your selfe either very ignorant in the Scriptures or else your writing at this time was very rash and inconsiderate and because I have here just occasion to speake of that I mentioned before let me aske you this question If nothing were extraordinary but the penning of Scripture and the workes of Miracles Qyest how shall we dispute against the Hierarchie to prove that Timothy and Titus were extraordinary Officers by those offices and acts which they did if nothing were extraordinary but what you say for you affirme when it was objected that these men had extraordinary spirits that none had extraordinary spirits but they that pen'd the Scriptures or wrought Miracles implying that because they had not extraordinary spirits in penning Scriptures or working Miracles therefore they were not extraordinary and so you have with one puffe taken away all the strength of the Antiepiscopall partie and given occasion to them to triumph in the discord which they maliciously attribute to our Divines for my part I leave you either to cleare your selfe or else to acknowledge your errour for it is manifest abroad in the world that by reason of the ill unadvised rash inconsiderate impertinent Pamphlets that are now extant setting some aside the adversaries of a through reformation do not sticke to say in their Bedlam fits that all dissentions about the Church are set on foot by the occasion of our best and sincerest Divines To the next you say that such a spirit as this was promised to all Gods people It is most true that God hath promised to his people a spirit of Prophesie but now all the question is what this kinde of Prophesying is because it serves much for the illustration of this point and the opening of this Text there are then divers acceptations of the word Prophesie in Scripture 1. It is taken in the strictest sence for foretelling things to come thus the Prophets as Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel were Prophets 2. For publike preaching the Word by Sermons to the Church so it is taken and attributed to the Shepherds of Israel men in a publike office in the Church Ezek. 34.2 Isa 56.10 3. For private interpretation yet not being contrariant to publike doctrines that are true for the use and benefit of the Church so it is taken in 1 Cor. 14. now although these men here of Corinth did according to their gifts given them Wee doe not read in all these two Epistles to the Corinthians that there were any setled Pastors and therefore these mens prophesying in the publike meetings was without all doubt extraordinary exercise publikely yet they did not doe it as publike Church Officers but as men private not in what they did but as they were for there were now as is thought no publike Church Officers and the Apostles with their fellow Labourers did continually visit them both by personall presence and Epistles 4. For sounding forth Gods praises by musicall instruments as Harps Pipes c. so it is taken in 1 Sam. 10.5 1 Chron. 25.3 5. For professing and celebrating God so all Gods people doe prophesie and are likewise Prophets Gen. 20.7 Matth. 10.32 Now in what sence you take this speech in the 2. Acts 18. is presently proved for you take it to be meant of a Spirit of prophesie to consist not only to interpret Scriptures privately but publikely too and it so appeares because you bring this Text to prove a promise made to some nay to all Gods people to enable them publikely to dispence the heavenly Misteries of Salvation but now what reason can you bring to prove this Text is to be so expounded I see not if you can produce none but your own fancy then you will give me leave to dissent from you for this reason you know the Scriptures call Gods people Prophets as before was instanced and if they are Prophets then they have a propheticall office which consists according to your description in publike Preaching of the Word of God as well as professing it only you are deficient in your proving it unlesse your bare affirmations bee proofes but Sir one word with you let me tell you as a friend you have done wonderfull wrong to the sacred Scriptures thus to abuse them by such wretched and extorted Expositions the true meaning
I leave all men to judge Furthermore if the uttermost that you can gather from this place be granted you that this man did preach yet you cannot hence prove your calling to wit that a Lay man may publikely preach being not called by the Church when there is the meanes that may be afforded for that end because Christ sent this man out by his voyce and command and so must needs be extraordinary and that not because he wanted an extraordinary spirit but because he being no Church officer nor was mediatly called or sent but immediatly for as was said before some things were extraordinary besides penning of Scripture and the workes of Miracles as those actions performed by Timothy and Titus they were extraordinary persons c did and performed acts and offices that were extraordinary for their manner and their performances made them extraordiry men whence they are called Ewangelists and although they were mediatly called by the Church yet the execution of that to which they were called made them extraordinary but here this man was not onely extraordinary in what he did but also was extraordinarily sent from Christs owne vocall commission now if Timothy and Titus were extraordinary because they did actions extraordinary for their manner why is not this man extraordinary when he was not onely extraordinarily sent but did execute that also in an extraordinary manner to which purpose he was sent neither was a Church officer likewise it behoves you to prove that these actions performed by the scattered Christians and the woman and this man were perpetually so done by them and not once or twice which you cannot prove for there was good reason for them now to doe that but not as Church officers and so left imitable to posteritie but as the Christians for the necessitie that then was the woman and the man for the great joy that did then possesse them when Christ did those things for them To that other allegation of yours from that speech of Moses Numb 11.29 where he wishes that all the Lords people were Prophets is very impertinent to this purpose do you not know to what end this speech of Moses was or is your skill in comparing spirituall things with spirituall so weake that you know not how to apply them when they are compared or else in comparing them not right you apply them to a wrong end for according to your manner of reasoning the argument runs thus Moses wished that all the Lords people were Prophets therefore a Lay man or he that is no Church officer may out of extraordinary times preach the word publikely which is as farre from true reasoning as Jerusalem from Amsterdaâ—â— but you cannot bee so ignorant as you make your selfe that the meaning may be this that they were Prophets that is that they had a spirit of prophecie to sound forth the praises of God and to expresse the same by Timbrels and other Musicall Instruments as Elisha did in the same manner 2 King 3.15 but to put you out of all doubts because we will not use conjectures in so plaine a matter the true sence is this which doth best agree with the order of the story in this Numb 11.39 and in a plaine Narration you may be pleased to understand that these Israelites mentioned in the Chapter did murmure and complaine verse 1. Moses he being not able to beare this burthen desires the Lord in a possionate expression that be might die vers 14.15 But God moved with the complaint and griefe of his servant yeeldeth him helpers to beare his burden with him that so he might have the more comfort vers 16. these 70. men will he have furnished with his Spirit never placing any to doe a dutie to whem he gives not a measure of abilitie to doe the same and God did here extraordinarily call them to be assistant to Moses in this worke of government and to confirme this calling he did as he promised Moses tooke off the spirit that was on him and gave it to these Eldres vers 25. now so soone as this was done the Text saith they prophesied and did not cease which prophesie did consist in sounding forth Gods praises and also in ministring assistance to Moses in this worke of government now what Moses meant by wishing that all the Lords people were Prophets is easie to finde for his wish was spoken in relation to Eldad and Medads phophesying in the Campe peruse the Chapter well and you cannot but see in what sence Moses words are to be taken that had it not beene that those two Elders were in the Campe who were spoken against by Joshua Moses servant that expression had never beene uttered by him towards the people the two Elders being in the Campe a young man ran and told Moses and said Elad and Medad doe prophesie in the Campe and Joshua the servant of Moses said My Lord Moses forbad them Moses he answers him with a reproofe Enviest thou them for my sake saith he would God that the all Lords people were Prophets whereby it appeares that Moses his speech must needs carry a dependance and reference to those two Elders in the Camp or else it were very incongruous Now shall I aske you this question Had not Moses some ground for his wish and is not this wish spoken with reference to those two Elders I know you cannot deny it doth it not follow then by necessary consequence that as the Spirit that God took from Moses and put it upon these Elders and which Spirit Moses wished were in the Lords people was a spirit of Government which those Elders were to share in with Moses and which would have produced a happy effect in the people if they had had the same Will you see an example to illustrate this point Let the example of Saul then bee here brought forth and which comes next to be answered That as he was extraordinarily called by God to his Kingly office so was this his calling confirmed to him by the pouring of his Spirit on him 1 Sam. 10.6 Such an example we have likewise in Gideon in the 6. Judges 34. Who by this signe of prophecie and other things joyning with it had his place confirmed to him the Spirit it selfe was a Spirit of government and of courage and magnanimity to support them and to fill them with sufficiency for the performance of those places that God had designed them to The prophecying it selfe consisted in sounding out Gods praises by the instinct of that Spirit they now had with Psiltery Tabret and Pipe and in this very sence are those places to bee understood of Gideon 1 Sam. 10.5 and Saul and Elisha as also a pregnant place to his purpose of Joduthun in 1 Chron. 25.3 who is said to prophesie with a Hurpe and to give thankes and praise to the Lord by all which it may appeare what is the true revealed intent of the holy Ghost in Moses speech to wit That
of the place is this as if Saint Peter had said or the Lord by Saint Peter I will poure out my Spirit in those dayes and on your Sons Daughters I will poure out my Spirit and they shall prophesie That is * So Vrsinus expounds the place Professe my Name Truth walk according to those dictates of my Spirit celebrating and praising me so that it appeares that this your mistake issues from an universall Exposition of a Word which you see admits of divers acceptations Prophesie is the onely beame that hides the truth from approaching your judgement it is true that all Preaching is Prophesying but all Prophesie is not Preaching and I wonder a man should be so miserably mistaken as to expose himselfe to the publike censures of learned Divines who cry out in their Pulpits against such impertinent allegations certainly if wee had but the Presbyteriall discipline established in the Church (o) O Lord who can patiently heare this horrible disorder ascribed to the Apostles Church which here you attribute unto it that every one hand overhead Preached Baptized and expounded the Scriptures what a window nay what a gate is here opened to Anabaptists to confirme their fantasticall opinion wherein they hold that every man whom the Spirit moves may come even from the Plough-taile to to the Pulpit to Preach the Word of God Cart. 1. Rep. to Whitg p â— 38. you would goe neare to come under the sconrge of Ecclesiasticall censure for broâ—â—hing such detestable opinions although you never practised them because herein you open wide the mouthes of the Anabaptists and in the meane time if you repent not of this your sinne you shall certainly answer to that God before whom there is no respect of persons in the dispensations of his justice and chastisements and if a Spirit of Prophecy be admitted in your sence then it will follow that all Gods people must bee publike Preachers for what other sence or interpretation can the words admit or your allegations from this Text for the holy Chost saith they shall Prophesie and you say this Prophesie is publike Preaching which is a pretty exposition and serves excellent well to trouble the Church As for that you say that some object and say that this promise was made good in the Apostles times are you able to disprove them that so say or doe you know what you doe in taking upon to answer such an objection All that you can say is If in the Apostles times they were called the last times much more now all this is true in it self but it behooved you to shew that the last times there mentioned are our last times in which we live for it is not to be denied but the Apostles times were the last times and the last times are also our times and therefore the Apostles as Peter and Paul when they speake of the last times do give us evident light that when such or such things come to passe that then we may assure our selves that those last times are the last times they meane and so when the Apostle saith in the last dayes or towards them shall come perillous times wherein men shall be lovers of themselves covetous proud boastors cursed speakers c. and this signe saith Mr. Perkins hath beene in former ages and is no doubt at this day in the world So you see that some times are sayd to bee the last times not because they are so in themselves but with reference to certaine speciall things which then happen now the last times here in Joels prophesie and in Saint Peters allegatition is as (p) That the Jewes might know the Church could not be repaired which was now lmost ruined but by the Messies that is the sence â—â— Calâ—in on the see and of Acts. Calvin excellently notes spoken in reference to the going out of the Jewish Church for so his words import which was some foure or five hundred yeares after Joels prophesie and therefore they that sayd this Prophesie was fulfilled in the Apostles time say more then you shall ever bee able to disprove yet you must take some limitation this promise was not so universally fulfilled in the Apostles time (q) It comprehends a larger knowledge of him which was to bee given to the faithfull in the Kingdome of Christ Cal. inst pag. 706. as that the people of God in after ages reape no benefit from it but the speciall thing in Ioels Prophesie as visions telling things to come was fulfilled in the Apostles time as appeares by Saint Peters allegation and therefore Protestant Divines doe affirme against the Jesuites that this promise was fulfilled in the Apostles daies so saith (r) In his Synop â—ap St. Peter shewed how these propheâ—es were fulfilled when the holy Ghost was sent like fiery cloven tongues and he ciâ—eth the very words of Joel to confirme the same Saying Dr. Williams true Church pag. 547. Dr. Willet Ruffinus an ancient writer saith they are impudent that thinke otherwise onely Cornelius a Lapide a learned Jesuite with Bellarmine and deny it because forsooth they alledge this place of Acts to prove their Church are never without Prophets that can foretell things to come But the other part of this Prophesie in Acts 2. verse 18. doth belong to Gods people to the end of the World and doth conteine a spirit of conformitie and of professing the name truth of God so Calvin and Vrsinus expound the place Calvin saith it is referred to the worshippers of God those that are in Covenant with him c. Vrsinus of professing and celebrating God so that from hence it is evident you can have small comfort from these Texts And I must further admonish you to take heede ere you bee aware lest you slide into the Tents of the Papists while you thus plead for a Text and the exposition thereof To the next contained in six Answers None is fit for the work of the Ministry unlesse he be skilled in Arts Tongues for if he be not so qualified how shall he be able to answer the learned Adversary Neither is it your answer that hath or ever will prove the contrary if you had said The true understanding of the Scripture comes not only by humane learning then your speech might have been admitted and the Texts of Scripture that you have alleadged prove nothing to this purpose or if they did yet they doe not exclude humane Learning the scope of the Apostles meaning in that place of 1 Cor. 2.13 and yours is 2 Cor. 2.13 is to shew that we cannot understand or know that Eternall Love that superabounding mercy that incomprehensible sweetnesse that is to be found in the powerfull wayes of Jesus Christ but by the Spirit this is evidently proved from the foregoing Chapter the Apostle speaking that Christ was made unto us Wisdome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption proceeds all along telling us that we cannot know these things but by the Spirit for as