exhortation and comfort as hath been said 1 Cor. 14 1 2 3. Secondly I answer That the same Spirit worketh also now in them that beleeve and is as full of power and as willing also to edifie the Church for it is not changeable And what know we but some now adays are full of matter the spirit within them constraining them to speak Job 32 18 to 22. So it was with Elihu who had not another but even the self-same spirit who divideth to every man severally as he will And so it was with David and Paul and Jeremiah and others as a fire within them But it is to be feared as least if not a thing obvious and manifest that there is some even now adays as in the days of old that shut the doors of the Kingdom of God and neither enter in themselves nor suffer them that would as Christ himself told them Yea Light is wanting and Vision faileth them and they walk in darkness and yet despise the help of any new lights though many old lights that are publique and clear and manifest unto others and that of old likewise would be new lights unto them if they could discover them 1 Joh. 2. 10 11. But they are in darkness and walk in darkness and know not whither they go nor what they speak nor whereof they affirm But even speak evil of the things they know not 2 Pet. 2. 12. And yet for all that would be accounted and expect to be followed and obeyed of all as if they were omniscient like God himself and could not possibly err Vers 10. But all have not the knowledg of God this may be spoken to all our shame Else they would know that he that thinketh he knoweth any thing knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know Object But there is ordinarily Scriptural examples alledged against this which hath been said concerning preaching of unlearned men that are not learned in the Tongues nor graduates in the Schools to deter men from presumption in such respects to wit the examples of Vzza and Vzziah and of Korah and his company But they are mis-applyed for the most part as I shall make it manifest from sacred Scripture 1. For first Whereas they are applyed against all unlearned men that take upon them the Priests office they apply them also against Peter and John as Acts 4. 13. 8 1 4. 2. And secondly It is manifest in Scripture That in some sence all the Elect are truly and properly called Priests and both do and ought to offer sacrifice and to take upon them so far forth even a Priest-like office Reas For the Apostle Peter writing to the strangers scattered through Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia that were Elect c. 1 Pet. 1. 1 2. calleth them a chosen generation a royal Priesthood c. Chap. 2. 9. And a holy Priesthood vers 5. And that also to offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God by Jesus Christ And that they might shew forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light And Rev. 1. 6. It is said of Christ That he hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father I hope therefore that none will deny but all the Elect may offer these sacrifices to wit these spiritual sacrifices of prayers praises and virtuous living to shew forth the virtues and praises of him that hath called us c. And that also without danger of being struck with leprosie or death or being swallowed up of the earth like Korah and his Company or being destroyed with fire or any such judgment if they do it in sincerity and offer not strange fire like Nadab and Abihu And if they charge not others with taking too much upon them that are called of God and precious c. like Korab and his company Object But it will be objected But what is there no difference then but all that are elect may take upon them to preach I answer Yes There is diversities of gifts and diversities of operations c. And there is degrees and measures given out of the same Spirit It is onely true of the Lord Jesus Christ That to him was not given the Spirit by measure And as all members of the body are not fit for neither have the same office so it is also in the body spiritual That one and the self-same Spirit giveth out to every one severally and variously as it pleaseth him There is and ought to be feet and hands as well as eyes and mouth which are most properly placed in the head And though it be true That if any man have not the Spirit of Christ the same is none of his Yet it therefore follows not That all that are his have the manifestations of the Spirit It is one thing to have the Spirit and another thing to have the manifestations of the Spirit But where ever the manifestation of the Spirit is given to any man it is given saith the Apostle to prosit withal in their several places and degrees according to the measure or nature or property of their gifts and calling and qualifications For To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom to another the word of knowledg by the same Spirit And to another faith by the same Spirit to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit To another the working of miracles to another prophecy to another discerning of spirits to another divers kindes of tongues to another the interpretation of tongues As 1 Cor. 12. 8 9 10 11 12 c. I shall therefore compare such who in any of these particulars mentioned by the Apostle have the manifestation of the Spirit to the sons of Aaron to whom belonged the Priesthood in a peculiar manner above the rest of the sons of Levi for such who have in any of these particulars the manifestations of the Spirit they have as it were a visible unction from the holy One 1 joh 2. 20 27 According as Aaron was anointed and his sons also with him and sprinkled with holy oyl Levit. 8. 30 31. And so were consecrated and appointed to their charge at the Lords appointment as Vers 33 34 c. And as Aaron was above his sons and wore the brest-plate and other ornaments that were peculiar unto him as Vers 7 8 9. and to him onely as the chief Priest so the Ministers of the Word are chief and ought to be so accounted and esteemed in the Church and all other officers as Elders and Deacons who are resembleable to the sons of Aaron if such as they ought ought to be chosen and consecrated likewise as well as the Ministers And they should be known approved as men full of the holy Ghost and wisdom and of honest report likewise or else they are not suitable to be joyned with the Ministers nor consecrated by them unto any office in the Church of God as appeares Act. 6. 3. But all that are such
That we are made partakers of the godly nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. and have in some measure even the mind of Christ and the spirit of Christ though yet but in measure because of our finite capacities whereas in Christ even the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily or rather essentially Therefore it follows That what ever Arguments or Laws or Doctrines make against Faith or that but tend to the weakning thereof or that would hinder our edifying and being built up in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus should utterly be rejected as ungodly unjust untrue opposite and contradictory to the Law of God and to his Sacred Word which is one and cannot be broken nor alleged properly for such an end And therefore these foure Rules may stand as cautions that we admit not any thing contrary hereunto though it should be urged and presented to us or proposed or commanded in the name of God or as being grounded on his sacred Word For it it crosse or oppose or would deprive us or make void to us this end of the Commandement to wit Love out of a pure heart and good conscience and faith unfained it is false and wicked and that which will not stand with the Law it self and therefore ought to be rejected of all good men And therefore with full purpose to keep to these Rules as the end also of what I do intend I shall further propose these ensuing Grounds and Arguments both as intending and tending to a Reconciliation and full Agreement of the Church of God in respect of Government and the Discipline thereof as hereafter follows 1 Ground is That it is lawful yea and the bounden duty of some men and of some women to be more abstenious from things lawful in themselves and to bind themselves to a stricter Discipline then others need to engage themselves or be bound unto or be absteniâ—us from Reas For it is the duty of some men and of some women to make themselves chaste for the Kingdom of Heavens sake Mat. 19 â—â— 1 Cor. 7. For the Kingdom of heavens sake that is to say That they might be more free both from the cares of this life and from all carnal engagements or disturbances or distractions and inducements whatsoever that might either trouble or molest them or engage their mindes or withdraw their affections or hinder their devotions both of bodies and spirits in respect of God But that they might fully consecrate and devote themselves both soules and bodies to the sacred government of his grace and spirit that the Kingdom of God by his grace and spirit might have full scope and dominion in them both of their soules and bodies and that they might more freely attend and waite on the Lord without separation or without disturbance or cumber or distraction by any meanes But might glorifie God both in their bodies and spirits And that with all their hearts with all their souls with all their minds and with all their strength as so the Law of God requires they should For this is the measure of our love to God that the Law requires and that Christ exemplified and commanded likewise that he that can receive this should receive it And it is also the Apostle Pauls advice by the spirit of God as better for such who can abstain that they should not marry if they had power over their own wills that is to say had they gift of continency as Matth. 19. 10 11. 1 Cor. 7. 37 38 39. 40. and this also the Apostle exemplified and wished that all men were even as he himself in that particular And thus therefore I hope that no man will deny but that it were better for some both men and women such especially who have the gift of continencie to abstain from Marriage and make themselves chaste for the Kingdom of Heavens sake but that they may thus doe It is good for such not to touch a Woman as 1 Cor. 7. 1. And yet for all this Marriage is honourable amongst all men and is ordained of God And some are called of God to that estate and do in that estate live a holy and a blameless life Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years and begat sons and daughters Gen. 22. 24. Of whom it was witnessed That he had pleased God and that he was therefore translated that he should not see death Hebr. 11. 5. And it was lawfull for Peter to lead about a wife a sister and so for the brethren of the Lord and Cephas And Zachary and Elizabeth were both righteous before the God walking in the Commandements and Ordinances of the Lord blameless as Luke 1. 5 6. And David was a man after Gods own heart save in the matter of Vriah and yet had many Wives and Concubines And Adam in Innocency before he sinned had his wife and was commanded to be fruitfull and multiply and replenish the earth c. And how else should men be multiplied and succeed c. but by means of procreation as God hath ordained and appointed and called men as doubtless he hath some after this manner and some after that For it were a wicked Antichristian Doctrine to forbid to marry or to command to abstaine from meats which God hath commanded to be received with thanks-giving 1 Tim. 4. 3 4 5. But such who are so called and inclin'd for marriage are not very suitable for consociation with such-as make themselves chaste nor they for them in these respects 2. And secondly It is lawful for some to give all their goods unto the poor and to give their bodies to be burned 1 Cor. 13. 3. And in case when called of God and required so to do it is their duty For the young man in the Gospel ought to have done so as Christ advised him that he might be perfect And it had been good for him so to have done for in consideration thereof he might have had treasure in heaven and have followed Christ Math. 19. 21. And also Whosoever will save his life when Christ calleth him to part with it shall lose it but whosoever shall lose it for his sake shall finde it Math. 16. 24 25 26. and Math. 10. 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39. And it is lawfull for such who are of one heart and of one soul to have all things common and not to title or claime any thing that any of such possesseth as his own Acts 4. 32. But such amongst such as are possessors of Lands may lawfully sell them and bring the price thereof and lay it down at the Ministers feet that distribution may be made unto every man amongst them according as he hath need as vers 34. 35. 37. but this community is only proper amongst such as are of one heart And yet for all this He that provideth not for his own especially them of his houshold he is worse then an Infidel And riches are given to some as great blessings
having the manifestation of the Spirit both lawfully may and ought to desire the office of Bishop as a worthy work or any such office or liberty in the Church whereby they might be useful or profitable to the same any kind of way For as the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall so to profit the Church ought likewise to be their end and the desire and endeavour of all that have such gifts and they may and ought even to seek occasions that they might doe good and desire of God that they might be sent as the good Prophet Isaia when his lips had been touched with a coal from the Altar and that his iniquity was taken away and his sin purged he readily answered the Lord even before he had his message Here am I send me Isai 6. 6 7 8 9. And they that are zealous of spiritual gifts ought to seek that they might excel to the edifying of the Church And such whose end is only the Edifying of the Church ought not to be restrained but rather put on and encouraged and called forth by such who can and do discerne their proper gifts and abilities for the same to such employments and ministrations as they are fittest for and might be most useful in for the good of all or any part thereof 1. I say therefore we may justly compare all such who have the manifestations of the Spirit to Aaron and his sons and they are all fitted and qualified on purpose for spiritual ministration or profit to the Church in one kinde or other as their gifts and abilities are fittest for and ought to be called and consecrated thereunto and suffered to administer as occasion serves and as need requires He that hath prophesie ought to prophesie according to the proportion of Faith or ministry should wait on his ministry or he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation he that giveth should do it with simplicity he that ruleth with diligence and he that sheweth mercy with cheerfulnesse Rom. 12. 6 7 8. One way or other such who have the gifts though differing one from another ought to use them for the edifying and good and benefit of the Church and ought not to hide their talents in napkins but to occupy with them for their masters profit And he whomsoever that despiseth these things despiseth not man but God who hath given unto some that are unlearned in the tongues even his holy Spirit 1 Thess 4. 8. 2. And secondly We may justly compare all the rest of beleevers that as yet for the present have no such gifts or manifestations of the Spirit to all the rest of the Tribe of Levie Who thought they did not beare the iniquity of the Sanctuary and the iniquity of their Priesthood nor minister before the Tabernacle of witness nor might not come nigh the vessels of the Sanctuary and the Altar lest they should die Yet Aaron was appointed to bring them with him that they might be joyned unto him and minister unto him And keep his charge and the charge of all the Tabernacle of the Congregation for all the service of the Tabernacle Whereas a stranger might not come neer unto them But Aaron and his Sons must keep the charge of the Sanctuarie and the charge of the Altar that there might be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel As there had formerly been occasioned by the rebellion of Corah and in part of all the Congregation Numb 18. 2 3 4 5 and Chap. 16. 45. For as the Lord told Aaron that behold he had taken their brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel to them they were given as a gift for the Lord to doe the service of the Congregation But he and his Sons with him should keep the Priests office for every thing of the Altar and within the vaile and that they should serve for he had given their Priests office unto them as a service or gift And the stranger that came nigh should be put to death as Chap. 18. 6 7. Even so we may justly say behold the Lord hath taken all true beleevers from amongst their neighbours and give them as a gift of the Lord to be joyned with the Ministers and other Officers in the Church of God to do the services of the Congregation and to keep all the charge of the Church in all outward respects as for receiving in or shutting out from the publike assembly joyntly with them But the Ministers and Officers are to keep the charge of all within the vaile as of the Word and Sacraments which they are to administer in the name of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ and to take care that none be admitted but such who are outwardly or at least professedly clean having their hearts purified through faith and repentance c. Though yet this always provided that as the Levites Levit. 8. 14 15 16 18 19. Thought they all were given as a gift unto Aaron and his Sons to do the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation Yet they were not admitted to administer and wait on the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation but from 25 years old and upwards and from the age of 50 years they should cease waiting on the service thereof and should serve no more but should minister with their brethren in the Tabernacle of the Congregation to keep the charge as Numb 8. 24 25 26. Even so also Though all beleevers are given as a gift to the Ministers and Officers of the Church to be joyned with them in opening and shutting in binding and loosing in all such respects as concern the whole Church for the good of all as when all must receive or all reject all approve or dis-allow all elect or eject c. because that all are accessary or joyntly ingaged in such generall business as members of the body 1 Cor. 3. 16 17. Yet they are not admittable in this respect neither till they come to ripeness and maturity of judgement in Christianity and be established in the faith and in the trade and practise of Christianity in all duties belonging thereunto for there is a childhood and minority as well in grace as nature 1 Cor. 3. 1 2. And therefore saith the Apostle Receive the weak but not unto doubtful disputations Rom. 14. Even so say I the weake ought to be received but not to intermeddle in doubtful Elections or Ejections c. in which they have no skill nor judgement and experience in For so the wisdom of God accounted fit to appoint the Levites in such like service and respects that belonged to their charge Lest by any means their service and office should be despised through male-administration or childish ignorance or defection and therefore they must not administer till they came to the age of 25. Years c. And therefore to conclude an abrevate from all these comparisons It is thus much in effect Abrev. To
wit All the Elect that are built upon Christ by a lively Faith are lively stones built up a spiritual house yea an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. and Chap. 1. 2. So that all Beleevers are accounted as Priests even from their first ingrafting into Christ by faith in some respects as is before specified But as there was Priests of divers orders so also ought the true Beleevers to be distinguished I compare therefore the newly converted to the Levites in their minority till they came to years and all the grown Christians that are approved and experienced in the trade and practise of Christianity to the Levites when they came to years of discretion And all the Elders and Officers elected by the Church or that are full of the holy Ghost and of wisdom I compare to the Priests the sons of Aaron yea though they be of such as are not learned in Tongues if they have such gifts and qualifications as are manifestations of the Spirit of God And so the Ministers of God I compare to Aaron who in many things was above his sons as hath been said And who knoweth but the Lord Jesus Christ upon whose shoulder the Government lieth will govern his Church after these examples seeing the Apostle Peter doth thus compare them as resembling the Priesthood and not as resembling the Jewish Nation both Priests and People for that he doth not see also Mal. 4. 4. And then the danger lieth not against men unlearned that have the manifestation of the Spirit and of power least they should perish in the gainsaying of Korah because they take upon them being called by the Church to preach and administer in the name of God But the danger lies against such who are sensual having not the spirit and yet will take upon them ministerial functions in the name of God because they are learned in the Tongues and Graduates in the Schools Jude 11 18 19 20. See Zech. 12 13. Chap. These are strangers that may not come nigh c. as Numb 18. 4 22. But it will be objected That if unlearned men be suffered to preach they that are unlearned and unstable may wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction as 2 Pet. 3. 16 17. and may lead others into errors and schisms and cannot be hindered nor supprest neither can it otherwise be avoyded but men that know not the originall should ordinarily mis-understand dark places of Scripture and so like blinde guides lead men into the ditch Answ I answer that it is true That men that are both unle arned and unstable do and will wrest some places of Scripture and it cannot be avoyded but there will be false Teachers even amongst us in these days as well as there was false Prophets in the days of old as 2 Pet. 2. 1. And such also it may be as shall privily bring in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and shall bring upon themselves swift destruction And there is no security given out in Scripture That none that is learned in the Tongues should be of the number of these false teachers for men that are learned in the Tongues may be unstable and wrest the Scriptures and by how much the more they that are unstable are learned in the Tongues they are even so much the more dangerous if they should be suffered And therefore unstableness is a greater fault and more dangerous then unlearnedness in the Tongues And men may he learned in the Scriptures or unlearned either and yet learned in the Tongues Men ought not therefore to be inhibited to preach lest they should be unstable and wrest the Scriptures for then the learned as well as the unlearned should both be inhibited But such who being proved are found unstable and that they do wrest the Scriptures no man will deny but such may and ought to be inhibited when they are found out and convicted of error or of schism c. yea though they be of the learned But to inhibit men before were to censure and condemn men before they be heard And see Ezek 18. 20. The righteousness of the righteous ought to be upon him as a badg of honor but the wickedness of the wicked should but be upon himself But the best and surest way to prevent the sowing and spreading of Errors or Schisms is to give liberty that any whomsoever that preacheth in publique may in publique also be reprehended be they learned or unlearned if they preach erroneously in any Congregation that so the same Auditory that hears them preach any Error or Schism or false Doctrine may by just reprehension from clear Scripture-evidence be satisfied to the contrary and have such evil seed purged out quickly before it grow up or be spread any further for so it ought to be And those Churches are not rightly constituted where this liberty is either wanting or not in use when the Truth of God is wronged and wrested and turned into a lye and when his sacred Word is handled deceitfully and mis-applyed as it often is even by the learned in the Tongues that are unstable c. And yet no man allowed to reprehend them for it nor convince them of it at least not in publique And how then shall the same Auditory be purged from it if their reprehension be not as publique as the doctrine is preached For who knows that all the Congregation shall every one of them be assembled again and the doctrine may be such as may lead them to perdition and destruction both of their souls and bodies And this liberty being in use will doubtless make both the learned and unlearned a great deal more careful to keep unto sound doctrine that cannot be reproved And they that plead so much against liberty of preaching of men unlearned in the Tongues for fear of the spreading of errors and schisms and yet will not allow this publique liberty of reprehension as hath been said to prevent and avoyd and purge the same I can hardly beleeve that the spreading of Errors and Schisms is the chief cause that makes them zealous therein but some other by or self-respects which they will not own For no man that is zealous against such spreading gangrenes but he will allow and justifie and approve all possibe means to avoyd or stay them else he is not cordial in that respect And what means possibly can be more awful and more suitable and even necessary then publique reprehension of publique Errors The Apostle Paul reprehended Peter before them all Gal. 2. 14. And them that sin saith the Apostle rebuke before all that others also may fear 1 Tim. 5. 20. But it will be objected That it were an immodest part for any man to implead his Minister in the publique Congregation and might disgrace and disparage and dishonor him for ever Ans I answer That it is far greater immodesty in such Ministers to need to it