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
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
indeavour to cleare them from those false glosses which have been put on them which have hindred the appearing of this truth I shall also answer such objections as seemingly may lye in the way 1. The first Scripture to prove the thing in hand is written in Numbers 11 26 to the 30 the words are these at the 26 verse but there remained two of the men in the camp the name of the one was Eldad the name of the other was Medad and the spirit rested one them and they were of them that were written but went not out unto the Tabernacle and they Profied in the Camp and in the 29 verse Mosen said would God that all the Lords people were Prophets the Lord will put his spirit on them Reader take notice Moses here wishes that all the Lords people were Prophets the Lord putting his spirit on them I hâ—pe none will say that he wished that all the Lords people were Priests or Levits I meane ordained officiall men but they were all Prophets 1 Cor. 14.3.21 Rom. 12.6 to 9. Teachers or Preachers of Gods will and minde one to another for their good and edification that which Moses wisheth here is that all the Lords people were such as Eldad and Medad were and they were no Officers neither Priests nor Levites and yet we finde they prophesied in the Campe by reason of the Spirit of God resting on them and not because they were ordained Officers for then I conceive Iosuah would not have complayned of them as may appeare in the 27.28 verse but Moses maketh it all one to be a Prophet and the Lord putting his spirit on a man Mat. 25.14 to 29. Luke 19.12 to 24. Mat. 5.15.16 Marke 4.21 Luke 8.16.17 Ephes 4.7 to 17. 1 Tim. 5.17 Act. 10.34.35 Iam. 2.1 to 10. 1 Cor. 1.19.20.27.28 Iohn 3.5 to 9. Mat. 13.11.16.17 and Mat. 11.25.26 then why should not men now to whom God hath given of his spirit with guifts of utterance and knowledge be a Prophet and Preacher and that of the Lords owne making for Moses doth wish the use or exercise of Gods spirit and graces in men as the having and possessing of them for the guifts of God are not given to be hidden under a Bushell or to be kept in a napkin but to be made use of to the prayse and glory of God that is the giver of them who hath given guifts unto men for the workes of the Ministery for the perfecting of the Saints for the edifying of his body which is his Church and people so then I thus argue if any man now that is a Member of the Church of Christ though not ordained unto whom God hath given sufficient guifts and qualifications by his Spirit whereby he is made able to preach he is not onely to possesse it but to imploy it for the perfecting of the Saints labouring in the word and doctrine of Jesus Christ 2. And seeing God is no respecter of persons but gives his guifts by his spirit to whom he pleaseth where by all men that partake of those guifts are inabled to prophesie or preach though not ordained what should hinder them from being Prophets and Preachers â—nd that of the Lords own making by the free guift of his spirit seeing it bloweth where it lifteth assoone upon a Coblâ—r Tinker Chimneysweeper Plowman or any other Tradseman as to the greatest learnedst Doctors in the world Then I here demand the reason why he namely the Cobler Tincker c. may not be permitted to manifest the gifts and graces of God in him by Preaching and declaring the Gospel as the other to wit the Learned man I confesse my self ignorant of any reason against it in the whole word of God but greatly for it and layes it on all men that have received the gift so to administer 1 Pet. 4.10 11. so to use it as good Stewards of the manifold graces of God Obj. But some object and say that this spirit here that those to wit Eldad and Medad had was not the spirit of prophesie but of Government Answ I answer I shall not deny but they had the spirit of Government but that they had not besides it the spirit of prophesie I leave by the wise to be judged for looke into the text the 26 verse of Numb 11. and if we will not be willfully blind we cannot but see and know they had also the spirit of prophesie For saith the text Eldad and Medad propesied or preached in the Campe Now if they had done nothing but concerning Government without question Ioshuah would not haue desired Moses to forbid them in regard that God had made known that he would take off the spirit that was on Moses and give it unto the seaventy and this Joshuah could not but know For the Lord saith to Moses in the 16 ver Gather unto me seaventy men of the Elders of Israel whom thou knowest to be the Elders of people and Officers over them Now from hence it is plaine that Ioshuah knew they were Officers that is Magistrates and if in point of Government it was that which they did then I conceive Ioshuah would not have said Moses forbid them Secondly The Lord saies I will come down and talke with thee and I will take of the Spirit that is one thee and will put it on them Now it is cleere in the Scriptures that Moses had not onely a spirit of Government but a spirit of Prophecy or preaching of prayer and supplication Exod. 14.15 Deut. 18.15 Act. 7.37 Therefore if God tooke of that spirit that was upon Moses and gave it to the seauenty whereof Eldad Medad were then it cannot be restrained only to Government but it must extend to all the rest of operations and workes of it as to prophecie or preach the great matters of Gods law to his people Obj. But some may further object and say these were Officers and such as Moses knew to be so therefore it will not follow from hence that all may preach though guifted except they be Officers as these were Answ I grant they were Officers in the Common-wealth of Israel to wit Magistrates but what is this to the thing in hand to wit Preaching without Ordination for there is no mention that they were either Priests or Levites or any Officers of the Church neither did their Office bind them to prophesie I leave it to be judged whether it was any principall end in their Office binding them to preach neither can it be gathered from the Scriptures because they were Officers therefore they preached no but because God had powred on them Iob. 32.18.19.20 Ioel. 2.28 Esa 44.3 Act. 2.17 end filled them with the spirit as Elihu like new bottles and as wine that hath no vent therefore they must speake and open their lips that they might be refreshed and this was the cause of their prophesying or Preaching because of the powerfull worke and operation of the spirit of
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
he were a good man and full of the Holy Ghost to settle and confirm the disciples which they by their preaching had begot to the faith For I conceive that any extraordinary gifted man or men amongst them was well able to have done that work as Barnabas Eph. 2.20 and 3.5 2 Peter 19 20.21 and let any shew out of the Scriptures that where the Apostles did preach and beget to the faith that there went out or was sent any to confirm it better after they had begun is but such was the sending here of Barnabas therefore for these and the like reasons I conclude that these men thâ—â— Church that was thus scattered and went preaching the Gospel begetting men to the faith and obedience of the Gospell were not officers neither ordinary nor extraordinary 〈◊〉 nor any ordination to any such thing neither any extraordinaâ—y gift or endowment but ordinary such as God promised to pour upon all flesh Ioel 2.28 Acts 2.17 Isa 44.3 â— which these having received some tallents of the Spirit of God such was the power of the grace of Love shed abroad in their hearts that they could not but speak and declare those they had seen and heard making use of that saying when thou art converted thy self strengthen thy brethren Object But some may further object and say they did not preach they did but discoursively declare Christ in the Gospel which no man is against I understand by preaching of the Gospel Answ is no more then to cary to publish to bring to make known declare glad tidings as by the Scripture cited may appear Luke 2.10 11. and 8.39 Mark 5.19 Acts 13.32 1 Ioh. 1 1. to 4. Psal 16.10 2 Cor. 4.13 it is not to go up into a pulpet to be apparelled in black to make a long and tedious oration of far fetcht tales out of the old and ancient fathers both popish and heathen but to declare Gods will and minde to his servants that he hath revealed to them by his Spirit agreeable to the word and this I finde to be the substance of preaching the Gospel was it not the same that the Angels did in the second of Luke And the blinde man in Luke the 8. And the woman of Samaria John the 4. Two of these preached so effectually that they begat faith in the hearers and how faith can be wrought in persons in an ordinary way without preaching you may consider the Scriptures cited Rom. 10.14 to 17. 2. Again it is more then can be gathered from the text that they did but discourse for the text saith they Preached Acts 4.2 and 5 42 and 8.25 and 9.20 27 and 10 36 37 and 17 1 2.3 Acts 18.4.20 7 act 8 30 compa 35.37 and if we look into other places of Scripture that speaks of preaching we shall finde the same expressions that is here used and therefore strong reason there is to beleeve that this preaching was such as the Apostles used as may be seen in the Scriptures cited 3. That they did discoursively preach Christ I will not nor dare not deny but that they did that onely is more then can in my understanding be concluded from the Scriptures For I finde that Philip when he joyned to the Eunuches Charriot did use intercourse of speech ver the 30. and 31. but ver the 35. we finde Philip to have begun at that place of Scripture and preached Christ to the Eunuch so long without any intercourse of speech till he had by the powerfull work of Gods Spirit wrought faith in the Eunuch to beleeve in Jesus Christ and to submit to him in his ordinance of Baptisme as may appear by ver 36. Therefore I think it is clear that he preached in that way of preaching that is so much contended for The next Scripture that offers it self to be looked on in this particular of preaching without ordination is in the 1. Peter the 4.10 11 ver where it is thus written as every man hath received the guift even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold graces of God if any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God if any man minister let him doe it as of the ability that Godgiveth that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever Amen For the understanding of the understanding of the intent of the Holy Ghost here we are to consider the words as they lye and the Apostle saith as every man hath received the gift all persons in generall of the whoâ—e Church not to the Officres or Ministers onely but to all without any respect to office or ordination that have received the gift they all as they have received so they ought and they are bound to Minister that is preach and declare it one to another that they may be good faithfull in discharging of the trust and stewardship committed to them 1 Cor. 4.2 as every man hath received the gift that is as every one hath received this and another that and every one hath received he ought to offer the same as a free and willing offering towards the building up of the spirituall house and Church of God as the Israelites of old did every one that was willing whose Spirit within stirred him up Exod 35.5 comp Re. 20. to 29. did come and bring according as they had received towards the building of the Tabernacle and it is to be taken notice of that hâ—â—e here towards the building of the Tabernacle there was one admitted only the Priest and the Levite they that were consecrated and in holy Ordination but every one whose hand was willing brought as he had received Eph. 4.7 to 15. Collo 2.19 and God excepted of it as a sacrifice well pleasing in 〈◊〉 sight so now towards the building of the Spirituall house of God God hath given gifts unto men for the work of the same and doth require our freenesse and willingnesse to offer the same as he hath commanded for the perfecting of the sainâ— that they may increase with the increasing of God and thus much is clearly held forth in these words Object as every man hath received â—he gift so let him him administer the same But some may say the Apostle hath not to do here with preaching Answ but with hospitality To which I say that the Apostle hath from the 8. and 9 verses to the 12. nothing else in hand but to exhort this Church and by them all the servants of God to the exercise of the grace of love which is shed abroad in their hearts and doth not love extend it selâ— and is it not the Apostles minde and intent here to instruct the servants of God how they should improve his grace of love in all manner of wayes that they mighâ— bring glory to him and good to his Church and people is not this his main aime and intent
doth not he end and conclude with this saying that God in all things may be glorified then as God is honoured and glorified when his people are full of Charity Isai 61.10 Rev. 2.17 and do extend the bowels of mercy and compassion to them that stand it need to feed the hungry to cloâ—he he the naked to harbour the stranger thiâ— I hope the great adversaries against preaching without Ordination will not denie but it is the duty of all persons that to doe or else I am afraid they would not have so many good gifts of their good Masters and Dâ—â—â—e as they have had so is it not the duty lying upon all as they have received the gift should by the grace of love extend and hold forth the bowels of mercy and compassion and riches that is in Jesus Christ to clothe the naked and distressed sinner with the robe of Christs righteousnesse to refresh their thirsting souls with streames that may glad the City of God Psal 78.25 and 46.4 fill their hungry souls with Angels food even the hidden Manâ—â— I conceive here is a most reall manifestation of the grace of love when we extend it liberally with both hands and not sparingly therefore I conceive it is very clear that the Apostles words are not to be restrained onely to outward hospitality and charity for the body â—hey that shall so doâ— cannot but doe violence to the text and wrong the meaning of the Spirit in my apprehension 2. Again consider the Apostles exhortation â—s to the administration of a manifold grace not of one us of hospitality ver 9. buâ— to all and generall the gifts and graces of God for the which end the Apostle in the 11 and 12. verses brings two things First the gift of preaching in speaking if any man speak let him speak as the Oracle of God Secondly if any man minister let him doe it as of the ability that God gives so that by this it is cleare the Apostle hath some thing else in hand besides hospitality to wâ—â— preaching and declaring the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that by vertue as they have received the gifts of the Spirit therefore how any can make such a construction as that the intent and scope of the Apostle and meaning of the Holy Ghost is to be restrained onely to ver 9. I leave by the wise to be judged how it hath the least sutablenesse to the analogy of faith but as the Apostle saith as every man hath received the gift this I conceive is his intent that even such men mutually together in the bond of love communicate this their gifts as good and faithfull stewards of the manifold grace of God Collo 3.14 and a manifold grace is not one grace but hospitality is but one grace but to the exercise of a manifold grace is it here that the Apostle doth exhort the people of God to the administring of them not onely to be barbarous for that were the ministring of but one grace and one is not divers or manifold and so I come to the next Scripture which is the 1. of Corinth the 12. verse 7 8 9 10 11. But the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit withall At the 1. Corinth 14. verse 1. follow after Charity and desire spirituall guifts but rather that yee may prophecie compare with the verses 3. the 23 24 25 26 28 29 30 31 32 39. the Apostle in this Epistle and in the places cited treates very largely of the exercise of the guifts and graces of God in prophesying or preaching the Gospel by all men that are inabled thereunto with sufficient guifts from God and this the Apostle presses on them by the exercise of the grace of love as is ployn if we look into the 12.13 and 14. Chapter before cited and in the beginning of the fourteenth Chapter he saith follow after Charity and desire spirituall guifts but rather that ye may prophesie now we are to take notice who it is that the Apostle exhorts to the exercises of the graces of love and that is as may be seene in the comparing what the Apostle saith in the first verse in these words but rather that ye may prophesie the ye that he meanes here in the 23. verse appeares to be the whole Church excluding none that have guifts so that I hope none can have any ground to think that this his exhrtation was minded or intended onely to the Ministers Officers or ordained men in the Church of Corinth he writes and exhorts the whole Church to covet after the best guifts but rather that they might prophesie and this he perswades them to by an argument drawne from the excellent benefit that came to them by the having and exercising of it as may be seene in the 3. verse he that preaches speaketh to men for their edification exhortation and comfort it is the excellent way that God hath ordained to beget men to the faith to discover the secrets of their hearts to convince men of the truth of God and the way of his worship as may be seene in verse the 23. to the 26. and this the Apostle presses upon the whole Church and that this whole Church should be all of them ordained men to men it seemes somwhat strange I think it be so miraculous a thing as it is beyond all imagination never read of in the Scriptures nor heard of in any age of the world so that then it wil appeare must be granted that the Apostles exhortation extends generally to all men Members of the Church of Corinth without respect had to Officer or Ordination to covet earnestly to preach and declare the Gospel as he saith in verse 31. ye may all prophecie yea all the whole Church of Corinth that have guifts one by one that all may learne and all may be comforted wherein is to be noted that the Apostle speakes of all preaching as largely and universally as all learning from whence I still affirme and thus argue that all those now that are the Servants of God 1 Cor. 9.16 1 Cor. 11.1 Col. 3.16 Heb. 10.23 to 26. Jude 20. Rom 12.6 to 9. and 15. and 14. Object that have received guifts from him whereby they are inabled to preach and declare Jesus Christ in the Gospel though no Officer neither having any Ordination may ought nay they are bound and woe be to them if they preach not the Gospel a necessity is layd upon them to do it and to exhort others to the practice of it as our Appostle here doth seeing we are to follow them as they followed Christ and we finde that in all their Epistles they still multiply exhortations to the Churches in this nature as may be seene in the Scriptures cited But some may object and say that though they were not Officers nor had any Ordination yet they were extraordinarily guifted Answ To which I make this answer that this to think much more
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