in the case of Peter and John therefore it is the duty and practice of the Ministers of the Gospel of Christ in preaching the word to be instant both in season and out of season according to the charge given before the Lord 2 Tim. 1.2 Fourthly The Ministers of Christ ought not to be prohibited from preaching the Word of God because by their preaching they are to be manifested to the Consciences of the people by a Gospel commendation that they may be received by them to whose consciences they are commended in the sight of God by manifesting the truth unto them but the Ministers of Antichrist ought to be rejected though they pretend to be the Ministers of Christ because they would come in by force upon the people to whose consciences they have not commended themselves as the Ministers of God by manifesting the truth of the Gospel unto them in the sight of God as the true Gospel Ministers do and afore-time did Fifthly 2 Cor. 2.21,21 Acts 10.42,43 The Ministers of Christ ought both to preach and be received as the Ministers of God because they are anointed and sealed of God as well as ordained and sent to Minister from him to the people for their salvation consolation and soul-satisfaction but the Ministers of Antichrist are not to be received but rejected though they pretend to be the Ministers of Christ because they are not ordained and sent of God secondly because they are not anointed and sealed of God and thirdly because they are not appointed by the Lord to Minister from him to the people for their salvation consolation and souls-satisfaction Sixthly They who are ordained anointed and sealed of God and sent forth to Minister from him to the soules of the people they ought to preach because they have the earnest of the spirit of God given into their hearts as a testimony that they are in Covenant with God and appointed to preach 2 Cor. 3.21,22,23 Act. 10.42,43 Seventhly they ought to preach the Word of God because they have not Dominion given them over the faith of their Hearers but are helpers of their joy for it is by faith that they stand as you may read 2 Cor. 2.24 8ly They ought to Preach because there is no falshood in their Doctrine but as God is true so is their Doctrine for it is not yea and nay as it is written 2 Cor. 2.18,19,21,22,23 but the Ministers of Antichrist are not ordained anointed and sealed of God or sent forth to minister from him to the Souls of the People for their Salvation consolation or souls satisfattion therefore they are not to be received as the Ministers of Christ but rejected as the Ministers of Antichrist 1. Because they have not the earnest of the Spirit of God given unto them neither are they guided thereby but do daily err and go astray from Gods own ways 2. Because they do not help the joy of Believers but rather fills them with sorrow and sadness by seeking to have dominion over their faith in seeking to force in themselves and their Doctrine and maintenance upon the People contrary to faith and a good Conscience whilest they themselves are miserable siners and daily offend against Gods holy Laws 3. They are subject to error both in matter and manner who have no saving health in them whose word and doctrine is not true but yea and nay according to the times and contrary to the doctrine of the true Gospel Ministers of Christ as aforesaid They who are ordained anointed and sealed of God and sent to Minister from him to the soules of the people Rom. 8.14,15,16,17 they have the spirit of God given unto them to guide them in their ministration Rom. 8.15,16,17 and if any pretend to be a Minister and have not the spirit of Christ he is no Minister of his Rom. 8.9 They who have received a Ministry from God they have also received a spirit suitable to such a Ministry that is to say the spirit of God whereby they know the things that are freely given unto them as it is written 1 Cor. 2.11,12 for what Man knoweth the things of a Man save the spirit of Man that is in him even so the things of God knoweth no Man but the spirit of God Now we have received the spirit of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God said the true Gospel Ministers which things we also speak not in the words which Mans wisedome teacheth but which the holy Ghost teacheth as yon may read the 1 Cor. 2.11,12 The holy Ghost hath a teaching office in and by the true Gospel Ministers therefore they ought to preach and none are sit to be Ministers before they receive the holy Ghost from Heaven for men are ignorant of the things of God untill then First because no man knowes the things of God but by the spirit of God so that the fpirit of God gives men the knowledg of the things of God in order to administration Secondly the spirit of God is given of God and received by them that are to minister from him to the soules of the people before they be sent forth as his Ministers and they that receive not the spirit of God receive not a Ministry from him therefore they who have hot the spirit of Christ are none of his Ministers as it is plain and clear by the Scriptures Rom. 8.9 Rom. 8.9 As it is the love of God to give his spirit so it is the duty of them to whom it is offered to imbrace and kindly receive such a gift for they who receive not the spirit of God without which they cannot know the things of God they are very unfit to be the Ministers of God First because the spirit of God gives men the knowledge of the things of God Secondly because the spirit of God both guides and inables the true Gospel Ministers to preach or speak the things that are given of God And Thirdly the spirit of God guides and inables the true Gospel Ministers to preach according to the mind of God because it teacheth and enableth them to preach the Gospel of Christ in the words which the holy Ghost teacheth and not in the words which mans wisedome teacheth the words which mans wisdome teacheth are not to be used in preaching the Gospel but that which the holy Ghost teacheth for the Gospel cannot be preached by the wisedome of man without the holy Ghost sent down from Heaven therefore no man can be a true Gospel Minister but such as have received and do receive a true Gospel Spirit to Minister withall as by the Scripture is evident and plain 1 Cor. 2.11,12,13 1. Pet. 1.10,11,12 Rom. 8.9 1 Cor. 2.11 â—2 13 1 Pet. 1.10,11,12 Rom. 8.9 The Scripture doth not enable men to be Preachers of Christ and the Gospel without the true Gospel Spirit which is the holy Ghost sent down from Heaven into the hearts of men for if
the Scriptures without the Spirit were sufficient to enable men by their own wisedome to preach the Gospel why should the holy Ghost be sent down from Heaven for men to preach the Gospell by without which it cannot be done as by the Scriptures aforesaid is plain Knowing this first that no prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation therefore the Scriptures are not to be interpreted in the words which mans wisedome teacheth but in the words which the holy Ghost teacheth so that man by his wisedome is no true Interpreter of Scriptures therefore the right of interpreting Scriptures belongs not to men by vertue of their humane learning that speaks and teaches the words of mans wisedome but the true right of interpreting Scriptures belongs to them that have received Gods holy Spirit to give them the knowledge of them and be a guide unto them both in the administration and interpretation of Scriptures for the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man 2 Pet. 1.20,21 therefore man by his will cannot interpret the Scriptures but Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost so that the Holy Ghost in them was the moving cause of their speaking forth Scriptures and without the Holy Ghost Scriptures cannot be rightly known and interpreted by Men for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God and God hath given his Spirit and also revealed deep things to his Ministers by his own Spirit for as no man can know the things of God but by the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.9,10,11,12,13 so the Scriptues being of the things of God no man without the spirit can truly know them according to the mind of God therefore the right of interpreting Scriptures belongs unto men by vertue of the spirit of God from whence Scripture prophecies proceeded 2 Pet. 1.20,21 1 Pet. 1.10,11,12 1 Pet. 4.10,11 1 Pet. 1.10,11,12 No man is to minister from God to the Souls of the People but them to whom the gift of Ministration is given and all men have a true right from God to minister from him to the People unto whom the gift of Ministration is given who are to preach the Gospel with the holy Ghost sent down from Heaven for the Peoples Salvation of which Salvation the Prophets have inquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie when it testified before hand the suffering of Christ and the Glory that should follow unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven as every man hath received the gift even so minister the same one unto another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God 1 Pet. 4.10,11 whereby it is evident that Preaching is not an art but a gift and they have a true right to be Preachers unto whom the gift of Ministration for that end is given by the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven The Ministers of Christ unto whom the gift of Ministratio is given who are to preach the Gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven they ought not to be forbidden by Men nor punished for Preaching the Gospel And what Law doth prohibit the preaching of Gods Word and the Scriptures or what is agreeable to the same if any Law should do so would it not concontradict the Liturgy of the Church and the Lawes and Statutes of England because both the Liturgy of the Church and the Laws and Statutes of England allowes of Preaching the Gospel of Christ the power of God unto Salvation the pure Word of God and the Holy Scriptures and what is either agreeable to the same or evidently grounded thereupon Then to preach the Gospel the pure Word of God and the Holy Scriptures or what is agreeable to the same is no matter of fact because it is not to preach contrary to the Lawes and Statutes of the Kingdom What the Liturgy of the Church of England allowes of that the Lawes and Statutes of the Kingdom allowes of but the Liturgy of the Church of England allowes of Christian Religions Meetings in greater or lesser numbers for the service and Worship of God according to the Scriptures and of Preaching the Gospel to render thanks unto God in Godly Assemblies or Christian Religious Meetings for the great Benefits that we have received at the hands of God to set forth his most worthy praise to hear his most holy Word and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary both for Soul and Body being the chiefe ends of Christian Religious Meetings as the Liturgy alloweth therefore the Scriptures and Lawes of the Kingdom alloweth of the same what the Scriptures doth allow of that the Liturgy of the Church of England alloweth of but the Scripture doth allow of gifted men to preach the Gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven therefore the Liturgy of the Church of England alloweth of the same for it is declared and said in the Liturgy that nothing is ordained to be read or observed but the very pure Word of God the holy Scriptures or that which is either agreeable to the same or evidently grounded thereupon See that called the service of the Church See the Order for Morning Pâ—ayer See St. Peters day Collect. 1. Pet. 4.10,11 To Preach contrary to the Lawes and Statutes of the Kingdom is it seems matter of fact punishable by the late Act but to preach the Gospel of Christ or the very pure Word of God and the holy Scriptures or what is agreeable to the same or evidently grounded thereupon is not it seemes to preach contrary to the Liturgy and Lawes of the Kingdom therefore it is no matter of fact nor punishable by the late Act for godly Ministers who are rightly ordained to preach the Gospel of Christ and the very pure Word of God not being contrary to the Lawes and Statutes of the Kingdom because both the Liturgy of the Church and the Lawes and Statutes of the Kingdom allowes of the same as the right matter of Preaching And as for the manner or places for godly Ministers to pray or preach in the Lord hath not limited or bound them up to Parish Churches and Chappels to assemble together to preach and pray in or else be forbidden and cast out by the great God of Heaven for refusing the same for though Solomon built him an House how be it the most High dwelleth not now in Temples made with hands as saith the Lord the Prophet Acts 7.47,48,49,50 Heaven is my throne and Earth is my footstool what house will you build me saith the Lord or where is the place of my rest hath not mine hands made all these things Acts
7.47,48,49,50 Is it not therefore plain by the Scriptures or may we not learn from hence that the Lord hath not limited or bound up his Preachers and People to Parish Churches and Chappels or any particular house for his Service to be performed in under the Gospel dispensation since Christs death Resurrection and Ascension but rather left them to their freedom concerning that thing who hath owned and justified his Preachers and People in forsaking the outward Temple at Jerusalem Acts 7.48,49 Act. 17.24,25 in sending his Ministers to preach it down Acts 7.48,49 Acts 17.24,25 and hath highly owned his People in Meeting and Preaching in upper Chambers and private Houses wherein they have met and assembled together since Christs Ascension for the Service and Worship of God but he hath not bound them up or limited them to any one place as the appointed place of his Worship under the Gospel dispensation since Christs Ascension that in the Scriptures or Writings of the Apostles we can any where read of since he sent them to preach down the Temple at Jerusalem The Liturgy of the Church of England saith nothing is ordained to be read or observed amongst Christians about the Service of the Church but the very pure word of God the holy Scriptures or that which is either agreeable to the same or evidently grounded thereupon and that Christs Gospell is not a Ceremoniall Law See that concerning the Service of the Church and that of Ceremonies and the Epistle collect for the 2d Sunday in Advent as much of Moses Law was but it is a Religion to serve God not in bondage of the figure or shaddow but in freedome of the spirit and likewise it is said both in the Scriptures and Liturgy of the Church that whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our Learning whereby it is evident that whatsoever is agreeable to the holy Scriptures and pure Word of God is ordained to be read or observed in Christian Assemblies and religious Practices 2ly That Christians are not to be bound up and tyed to the observation of the Figure shadow or ceremonies or brought in bondage of the figure or shadow of things about the service of God 3ly That Christians are to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath set them free and not to be intangled with figures shadowes or ceremonies which may hinder them from the Service of God which stands in the freedom of the Spirit 4ly That the holy Scriptures which were written aforetime are to be observed by Christians because they were written for our instruction or learning as both the Liturgy and Scriptures are evident and plain Now seeing it is so we find it written in the holy Scriptures and left upon record there for our instruction or learning about the true Ordination of Gospel Ministers or their call to the work of the Ministry since Christs Ascension Acts 13. First That the Holy Ghost is of Councel with the true Church and hath a ruling power therein for ordering and governing the same and that the Liturgy agreeth with because it saith the Church is the houshold and family of God and that the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God See Good Friday the Collect. whereby it appears that the true Church is a sanctified body and under a Spiritual order and Government and that Church and Ministry which hath Christs spiritual Presence with them is the true Church and Ministry of Christ Matt. 28.18,19,20 because he hath promised to be alwaies with them even to the end of the world as by the Spirit that is of Councel with the Church and the holy Scriptures we are instructed and have learned of them the knowledg thereof Secondly We are instructed and have learned by the spirit from whence the holy Scriptures proceeded and by the Scriptures which aforetime were written and proceeded therefrom that as the holy Ghost is of councel with the true Church so the true Church doth take councel of the holy Ghost and is obedient and subject to the holy Ghosts order authority and appointment Acts 13.1,2,3,4 now there were in the Church that was at Antioch certain Prophets and Teachers as Barnabas and Simeon that was called Niger and Lucius of Cyrene and Manaen which had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch and Saul as they ministred to the Lord and fasted the holy Ghost said Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the mork whereunto I have called them and when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them they sent them away so they being sent forth by the holy Ghost departed unto Seleucia and from thence they sailed to Cyprus as it is written and left upon record in Scripture Acts 13.1,2,3,4 Whereby we are instructed or from whence we do observe and may learn that in the true Church of Christ which was at Antioch there were certain Prophets and Teachers which were not Parish Priests or bound up and tyed to one particular Parish to stay and continue there preaching for Tithes Easter reckonings and Midsumer dues all the dayes of their lives Secondly That those Prophets and Teachers which were in the true Church of which Christ Jesus is head they attended upon the work of the Lord and both fasted and ministred unto him and did not sue people for Tithes nor cast them into Prison for we do not learn by the Scriptures that true Gospel Preachers were ever found in any such actions Thirdly That as they ministred to the Lord and fasted the holy Ghost manifested his mind to the Church being of counsel with the same requiring obedience of the Church as a manifestation of their subjection to the holy Ghosts Order and Authority who manifested the right that he had in the true and right Ordination of Ministers or calling of them to the work of the Ministry and sending them abroad to preach the Gospel for the holy Ghost said to the Church Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them from whence we are instructed and do observe or learn First That the holy Ghost hath a true Right and Authority to Ordain Ministers of the Gospel of Christ or call them to the work of the Ministry and send them to Preach Secondly That these Ministers who are called by the holy Ghost to the work of the Ministry and sent forth to preach as such were they are rightly and truly ordained and sent forth to preach and ought neither to be forbiden to preach the pure word of God nor punished for so doing because we find in the Scripture which the Liturgie saith was written aforetime for our learning that such as have the word of God to speak ought not to be forbiden to preach it for as much as the Lord commands them to speak it Jer. 23.28,29,30,31,32 is not my word like a Fire saith the Lord and like a Hammer that breaketh the Rock
and preaching in Houses and the true Gospel Ministers said walk as ye have us for examples Phil. 3.17 who did frequently meet and preach in other places then Parish Churches and Chappels therefore to meet and preach in houses is very justifiable by the example and practices of the Apostles of Christ and Primitive Christians and owned by signal Testimonies from Heaven and ought not therefore to be condemned or forbidden by Men. POSTSCRIPT MEetings barely and simply considered as meetings upon the account of Religious exercise without an intent precedent to do some unlawful action or mischief when they are assembled together is no offence it seems against Law or punishable thereby Anno 16. Car 2. fol. 25 26. For first the Title of the Act is to prevent and suppress seditions Conventicles so that Conventicles or meetings for the service of God are not to be prevented and suppressed by the said Act but seditious Conventicles are to be prevented and suppressed thereby 2ly The remedies or penalties provided by the said Act are against the growing and dangerous practices of seditious sectaries and other disloyal persons who under pretence of tender Consciences do at their Meetings contrive Insurrections as late experience hath shewed so that those are seditious sectaries and disloyal persons against whom the penalties of the Act in that case are made and provided who under pretence of tender Consciences do at their meetings contrive Insurrections as aforesaid Whereby it may appear that for persons to meet and assemble together upon the account of Religious exercise to the number of five and above besides them of the houshold in other manner then is allowed by the Liturgy of the Church of England is to meet and assemble together under such a pretence to contrive Insurrections or do some mischievous actions under so fair a pretence as aforesaid For thirdly the tenor or execution of the Act Anno 16. Caâ— 2. fol. â—4 is to prevent the mischiefs which may grow by such seditious and tumultuous meetings under pretence of Religious Worship Whereby it is evident that the meetings punishable by the said Act are to be seditious tumultuous meetings which tends to mischievous actions so that the manner of meeting must be a seditious and tumultuous manner and the matter enacted done or performed at the meeting must be teaching or acting sedition insurrection or mischief or else how is it punishable by the said Act aforementioned And as to the matter of fact against preaching persons prohibited or to be restrained from coming within five miles of Cities and Towns Corporate or within five miles of any Parish Town or place wherein they have been Parsons Vicars Curats Stipendaries Lecturers possessed of any Ecclesiastical or Spiritual Promotions c. is it not to be proved as matter of fact against such preaching persons prohibited and to be restrained as aforesaid First that they take upon them to preach without any right or authority from God 2ly that they preach contrary to the lawes and statutes of this Kingdom 3ly that the meetings wherein they so preach are unlawful Assembles or Conventicles 4ly that such preaching persons have been possessed of some Ecclesiastical or spiritual promotions 5ly that they have been in holy Orders or pretend to be in holy Orders in a National or Parochial way 6. that they are setled persons or have setled themselves sometimes by three or more in Corporations thereby taking an opportunity to distill the poysonous principles of Schisme Rebellion into the hearts of the people to the great danger of the Church and Kingdom 7ly What it is to preach contrary to the Lawes and Statutes of the Kingdom as to the matter of preaching must it not be to preach Schisme and Rebellion or insurrection and sedition that is the matter punishable because preaching the Gospel of Christ and the pure Word of God is not the matter of preaching forbidden Written from a Principle of Truth Righteousness and peace on the behalf of true Christians and godly Preachers and owned by Christian Moderation Something more by way of Addition and Confirmation wherein also is answered some great Objections c. NOw if Christian Religious Meetings and Preaching in other places then Parish Churches and Chappels be accounted seditious Conventicles because of the manner of meeting and preaching when both the matter and manner of meeting and preaching is according to the holy Scriptures and the practice of the Apostles of Christ and Primitive Christians what just ground or reason from the holy Scriptures can be produced for the proof of the same to make persons guilty of punishment either by imprisonment sines or Banishment for so doing Object Perhaps some may object or say its no matter though the holy Scriptures and practice of the Apostles of Christ and Primitive Christians do allow of the manner of Christian Religious Meeting and Preaching in upper Chambers and in private Houses so that there is no just ground or reason to be produced from the holy Scriptures or practice of the Apostles of Christ and Primitive Christians to prove Christian Regions Meetings and preaching in other places then Parish Churches and Chappels to be seditious Conventicles and unlawful assemblies when both the manner and matter of meeting and preaching is according to the holy Scriptures yet there is an Act or Ordinance of Man made against the same and the Scripture saith Be subject to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake and therefore by that Act or Ordinance they are punishable for meeting and preaching in other places then Parish Churches and Chappels according to our apprehensions Ans In answer thereunto we say that forasmuch as every Ordinance of man ought to be submitted unto for the Lords sake how careful ought men in Authority to be who profess themselves Christian Magistrates too to enact and ordain nothing about the Service and Worship of God but what is according to the mind spirit and word of God seeing that the motive to subjection to such Ordinances of men is for the Lords sake and how can they be submitted unto for the Lords sake if they be contrary to the mind spirit and word of God because the Apostle Peter â— Pet. 2.13 â—…,15,16 who exhorts to subjection to the Ordinances of Men upon that consideration 1 Pet. 2.13,14,15,16 was one of the first that denyed subjection to that Ordinance made against preaching or was chiefly concerned in refusing subjection to the command or ordinance of Men when they commanded Peter for one to preach no more in the Name of Jesus for the Apostle Peter â—ct 4.17,18 â—…,20 could not submit himself to such a command or ordinance of men for the Lords sake when he knew it to be contrary to the mind and spirit of God in forbidding them to preach as aforesaid therefore may it not be concluded upon just grounds from the Scriptures and practice of the Apostles of Christ that they did not intend a subjection to the