smother one truth under another For albeit the women of Corinâ—th were become so mannish as that they would prophesiâ— uncovered and withovt their veile the ensigne oâ— their subiection yet doth not the Apostle meddle at all with that malady in this place but in the 11. cha. of the Epistle as himselfe noteth Here and in Tim. he simply forbids the thing there the manner of doing it Likewise for their being as forward to speake as their husbands and in their preâ—ence it may be true in part and in some But what then Doth the Apostle in these places onely forbid their speaking uncouered and permit them to teach so it be veiled or forbids he onely their being as forward as their husbands but gives them leaue to speake in the Church so it be with good manners after their husboÌ„ds which his answer insinuates Or is it not evideÌ„t to all that will not shut their eyes that he simply that severely inhibits them all speaking whatsoever in this exercise Are not the words plain enough Let the women keep silence in the Church for it is not permitted to them to speake but to be under obedience as the Law sayth And againe It is a shame for them to speak in the Church And in 1. Tim Let the women learne in silence with all subiection And I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurpe authority ouer the man but to be in subjection For Adam was first formed c. Do not and every one of the Reasons binde women to all â—eace and deepe silence in the Church yea to such â—d so absolute as that they may not so much as aske question for learning any thing themselues ver. 35. â—uch lesse teach others any thing I therefore conâ—ude this as a most certain and undeniable truth â—â—at the Apostle speakes here of such a gift and exâ—rcise as women are simply forbidden to use in the â—hurch and therefore not of an extraordinary gift â—r exercise which they might use lawfully and did â—oth before and a long time after the writing of this â—pistle His last answer now comes in consideration which â—s that the consiquence is ill women are forbidden and â—herefore men are permitted to prophesie in the Church by â—n ordinary gift If the consiquence seem not good why doth he so strugle as before otherwise to make an escape froÌ„â—he Argument let us coÌ„sider of the force of it which appeareth to me irresistable in these 3. things First the Apostle in and for this worke opposeth the men to the women sex to sex and so in prohibiting women he permits men When the H. Ghost opposing faith and works in the cause of iustification denies that we are iustified by works is not then the consequence good that therefore we are iustified by faith where he opposeth beleevers and vnbeleevers in the â—â—se of Saluation and teacheth that beleevers shall be saued doth he not teach consequently that vnbeleevers shall perish if consequences be not goodâ—â— must confesse my selfe farre to seeke both in Logiâ—â— and Divinity Secondly the reasons of the prohibition of womâ—â— proue the consiquence which are all such as prefeâ—â— the men before the women and subiect the women to the men in the Church and in this very work of prophesie of which he treateth But now if in prohibiting women he gaue not liberty unto men where were the prerogatiue of men aboue women which is the onely ground upon which he buildeth his prohibition Thirdly where verse 34. 35. It is not permitted for women to speak but if they will learn any thing to ask then husbands at home if their husbands might not speake neither nor any more then they what reason can be rendred of the Apostle so speaking Lastly M. Yates in denying this consequence sheweth that so he might deny something he tooke no great heed what it were The Apostle in this whole Chap takes order for some to prophesie and debarring women therefrom either admits men to the use of that liberty or els we must haue some third kinde of persons thought of which are neither male nor female My fourth Argument is from verse 29 and 32. Lâ—â— the prophets speake â—wo or three and let the rest iudgâ— â—nd the spirit of the prophets are subiect to the prophets â—hence I affirm that the Apostle speaks not of exâ—raordinary prophets or prophesying since they in â—heir Doctrine could not erre and so were not subâ—ect to any such iudgment or censure of others He â—nswereth roundly though briefly in this place that â—hese prophets were not infallibly assisted and more largâ—y in another place that such prophets as haue an inâ—allible assistance are noâ— subiect to this Rule but others â—hat had but as the Apostle sayd Rom. 12. 6. meaner â—ifts were to be examined according to the pâ—oportion of â—aith so that extraordinary prophets might mix some of â—heir own with the extraordinary gifts of Gods spirit â—hich was to be censured by such as had a greater meaâ—ure for none are to thinke that all that haâ— thâ—se extraordinary gifts were free from errour in their veâ—y doctrine We see the strange gift of tongues was abused and so â—ight the rest be That one extraordinary Prophet had a greater meaâ—ure and proportion of gifts then another I acknowâ—edge but that any one of them could erre in doctrin or was not infallibly assisted therein by the spirit â— deny as a most pernicious errour weaking the foundation of faith and truth of the word of God neither hath Master Yates so much as enterprised an answer unto the Scriptures brought by me to proue the contrary which were Ephesians 2. 20. where the Ephesians as the houshold or Church of God are said to be built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets c. chap. 3. 5. where he speaks of â—mistery of Christ which in other ages was not mâ— known unto the sonnes of men as it is now revealed uâ— his holy Apostles and Prophets by the spirit When it apeares that the Church is as well built upon tâ—â— foundation of the prophets to wit extraordinarâ— which then were for of them he speaketh as upâ—â— the doctrine of the Apostles and they as infalliblâ— euen for the very foundation inspired by the Holâ— Ghost as the other So that if the Prophets coâ—â— erre in doctrine then the Apostles if in doctrinâ— taught why not written and if one alone why nâ— more or all and if they might erre how know â—â— that they did not erre If he say the meaner in gift might erre but not the greater first the same folloâ—eth also touching the Apostles how much more touching the Prophets before Christ not comparible tâ— those after him why then may there not be errors in the writings especially of those meaner gifts as without doubt some were in comparison of the rest what whether this wind will bring who seeth not Moreover whereas wee propound such interpretations and doctrines as we
more excellent yet â—â— is more profitable it being most plaine that the Apostle prefer prophesie before tongues because it tends more tâ— edification of the Church according to which respect alone wee are to measure the excellency oâ— Church ordinances and so to frame the obiect oâ— our desire unto them But what speake I of more excellent and more to edification since the strange tongues as there used without an interpreter were so far from being comparible to ordinary prophesie for any good end or used as they were on the contrary most vaine and rediculous as appeares ver. 11 22. 23. That then which he brings for the commendation of tongues from Actes 2. is nothing for tongues as used in Corenth The former were as of simple necessity in themselues unto the Apostles for spreading of the Gospell unto all nations so then â— there profitably used but in Corinth ambitiâ—ly and profanely abused which M. Yates should â—e observed but hath not in his comparison Lastâ—â— add as aiust answer to whatsoever he hath obâ—ted That tongues considered in themselves how â—htly soever used are not comparible for use and â—or excellency vnto ordinary prophesying or preaâ—ng considered in it self seing that by it as well by extraordinary saying faith is wrought Rom. 10 â—â—ich none can say of strange Tongues in themâ—ves without a strange Tongue both from truth â—d sence no nor of any other spirituall gift And as it doth not appeare by the Apostles preâ—ring of prophesie before tongâ—es that therefore â—â— prophesie was extraordinary so it appeare unâ— mee by the Corinthians preferring of tongues â—forâ— it that it was but ordinary therefore disâ—arded by them in comparison of the extraordinaâ— and miraculous gift of tongues whereas had it â—o been extraordinary immediate and miraculous â—ost like it would have caried with it the like with â—â— other or greater regard in their eyes M. Yates ARGVM 6. â—ROM exemplification ver. 6. if I come unto â—ouâ— â— I hope you will grant that the Apostle Paul had all those spirituall gifts and therefore speaking of sâ— prophesie as he had himselfe he must needs speak of â—traordinary likewise he had the knowledge of tongâ— and yet prefers prophesie before all his languages thouâ— hee speake more then they â—â—â— Now the example in â— own person must needs seâ— forâ—â— he generall and therfore if in the generall â—â— sâ—â—â—lâ— speak of ordinary prophâ—sying and in the particulâ—r of extraordinary it woâ— prove idle for an example is of the sâ—me kinde wâ— the generall Again in bringing foure particulers he pâ— revelation first as the causâ— of all the rest which showâ— plainly he speaks of such prophesâ—e â—â— câ—me by revelatiâ— for revelation brings â—â—â—n to knowledge and knowledâ— teacheth wholsome 〈…〉 and prophesie serveth to â—ter it I. ROB. ANSWER I Do plainely deny the ground upon which â— builds the whole weight of his argument which â— that the example and the thing exemplified must â— of the same kind How oft doth Christ exemplifâ— the sufferings of his disciples by his owne suffâ—rings and the sending of his Apostles by his fatheâ— sending of him were they therfore of the same kinâ— their sufferings meritorious and their sendinâ— mediatorious because his was such But amongst other evidences against him wherewith all writingâ— divine and humane are stored see one fitly paringâ— with this in hand The Apostle provoking the Galâ—thians â— 1 unto iust detestation of such as preached aâ—ther Gospel amongst them takes an example from â—s owne preaching ves 8. But though wee or an â—ngell from heaven preach another Gospell unto yov â—n that which we have preached vnto yov let him be acâ—rsed As if he should say I have preached vnto you â—rmerly iustification by faith without the works of â—e Law of Moses they now preach vnto you iustifiâ—ation by the works of the law ioyned with Christ â—c He exemplifieth their preaching by his were â—ey therefore of one kind both Apostolicaâ— becavse â—auls was such It is sufficient for an example if it â—gree with the thing which it is brought to exemâ—lifie in that for which it is brought And so the â—omming of Christ to iudgement is by the Apostle â—xemplified by the comming of a thief in the night â— Thess. 5. Are therefore their commings of the â—me kind or is it not sufficient that being most â—ontrary in their kinds they do yet agree in the adâ—nct of suddenesse So is it sufficient if Pauls exâ—â—aordinary Prophesying and the Corinthians orâ—inary agree in the adiunct or effect of profitableâ—esse or edification which thing alone the Apostle â— his exemplification hath respect unto His obserâ—ation about Revelation seems true and good in it â—elfe but shews not plainely that for which he brings â— no nor hath so much as a plaine shew for it For â—hat shew hath it of proof that he speaks of extraordinary prophesie because it comes from revelation except he takes it for granted that there is in the Church no revelation of the spirit for teaching buâ— extraordinary or miraculous which how can I graâ— or he assirme Of this more Argum. 8. M. Yates ARG. 7. FROM the fruition of spirituall gifts 1 Cor. 14 2. 6. hath a Psalme that is some admirable praise oâ— God or doctrine that is some worthy point of instruction or a tongue that is can speak misteries with admiration or revelations of some secrets either for doctriâ—â— or prediction lastly or interpretation whether of tonâ—uesâ— doctrines or Scripture all these must needs bee had either by the ordinary païnes of the Church or by the extraordinary gift of the spirit you say by the one and â— by the other and that I agree more with the scriptuâ—â— then your selfe consider but the distinction â— the gifts and their admirable matter A Psalme must needs consist of meeter which required art to compose â—â— Secondly it could not for the matter of it but sound forth some worthy praise of God Do you think the corinthianâ— did study the art of musick or likewise read some admirable divine books to find out sweete matter to make their songs of Alas brother give God the glory it was no doubt some sudden motion of the spirit that did inflame the hearts of beleevers with some worthy matter of praising God Doctrine that is laid downe by our ordinary paines is that we usualy give vnto Doctors which after long study and reading the Scriptures is drawne unto some profitable heads pithily proved and contrary errours refuted by it I thinke in Corinth there were none of these Doctors and yet I doubt not but they were as excellent for such Doctors as delivered these Doctrines had them after â— more easie manner even the immediate worke of the spirit I hope with out any further dispute you will yeeld â—hat the having of a strange tongue was extraordinary aâ—â—ikewise the revelation and interpretation I. Rob. ANSW NOt to meddle with his description of a Psalm Doctrine
called to minister And that M. Yates may haue for the calâ—ng of our prophets whereon to insist thus we praâ—se After the exercise of the publick ministery ended â— Rulers in the Church do publickly exhort and reâ—ire that such of their own or other Church as haue gift to speak to the edification of the hearers should â—â— the same and this according to that which is writâ—â— Act. 13. 14. c. where Paul and Barnabas coming into the Sinagogue the Rulers after the work of the â—â—dinary ministery was ended considering them not â— Apostles which they acknowledged not but oneâ— as men hauing gifts sent unto them that if they had aâ— word of exhortation to the People they should say M. Yates ARG. 3. â—Rom the true causes of prophesy in the new testament â— which are two either immediate revelation or imposition â—ands the first is Act. 2. 17. 10. 44. the second Act â—7 19. 6. A third cause of publick prophecy connot be â—n therefore ordinary prophecy in publick out of office being â—her by immediat revelation or imposition of handes is â—â—wfull You may say the contrary But it will be without â—arrant of the word ANSWER â—â— this Arg. are sundry errors Logicall and Theoâ—ogicall And first why doth he not make Christs a thing upon the Apostles Iohn 20. and the descending and sitting of the cloven â—iery tonguâ— vpon them Act. 1. causes of prophesy as well as imposition of hands Secondly imposition of hands is â—â— cause at all of prophesy to speake properly as M Yates should doe affecting the name of a Logitian It is no naturall cause for to imagine that men took the holy Ghost in their hands and reached it to â—thers were ridiculous neyther is it a morall cause â— in which there are propounded no Arguments aâ— motiues of perswasion It is indeed no more then signe denoting the person not a cause effecting tâ— thing Thirdly if it were a cause yet should it nâ— be made the member of a diuision opposed to revâ—lation but a cause or meanes subordinate unto it â— vnto the end since it serued to the conveing of tâ— spirit by which spirit all reuelation is and by reueâ—tion all prophesy extraordinary by immediat reueâ—tion ordinary by mediate both which they were â— the Church as is the latter now euen in men out â— office by meanes of their study and Gods blessâ— upon the same else could there neuer be lawfull â—fice Pastor or Teacher chosen in the Church to â— worlds end The gift of prophesy comes not by â— office But being found in persons before maâ— them capable of the office by due meanes ARG. 4. M. Yates FROM distinction of spirituall gifts 1. Cor. 1â— 4. â— verse gifts administrations and operations All these be referred to that general vers. 1. Gifts therefore in this â—ce must be but one kinde of spirituall gifts and be distinâ—ished from the other two The first then are meerly gifts â— second gifts and offices together the third rather the â—ect of a gift then the gift it selfe and therefore the Holy â—ost knowing how to speake aptly giues more to the effect â—en the cause the worke then the worker for in truth miâ—ulous workes exceede all the vertue that possibly can be â—agined to be in a mere creature and therefore it is only a â—â—â—e beliefe or faith whereby man is rather a patient â—n an agent in the worke These 3. generall heads are deâ—ed againe or rather exemplified by many perticulars first â—se 8. 9. 10. all lay downe a kinde of spirituall gifts first a â—rd of wisdom 2. a word of knowledge 3. of miraculous â—â—th 4. of healing 5. operations of great workes 6. proâ—â—ying 7. descerning of spirits 8. of tongues 9. of interâ—tation That some of these gifts are extraordinary no wise â—n will deny yet that I may proue them all extraordinary â—sider 3 things First the cause secondly the effect thirdly â— subject The cause without all doubt is the spirit yet queâ—n may be of the maner and measure For maner whether â— spirit alone or the spirit assisting our industry and pains I â— alone because all these effects depend equally vpon the same â—se and I haue no reason to say that prophesy should be â—re by my paines and industery then strange tongues or any â—er gift for then I should magnifie the Holy Ghost in one â— more then an other That which is giuen by the sole opâ—â—ion of the spirit is more then that which is come by through â—â—nary paines I blesse God â—or his ordinary providence â—ere my hand goes with the Lord in my ordinary affayres â—t wherein I finde the Lord doe for me where I had no hand â—re I ought to magnifie him much more so in these gifts if some were ordinary some extraordinary then the spirit shoâ— not haue equal praise in them all The orator prouing Câ— to deserue more prayse for his clemency towards Marcellus tâ— all his famous victories vseth the maner of the cause to shew â— In thy warrs O Emperour thou hadst Captains and soâ—diers vertue and valour weapons and munition c But sâ—ring Marcellus thou alone didst it to thee alone it belongs â— all the glory of it so if prophesy in this place aboue all the â— must come in for an ordinary gift then may I say O blesâ— spirit Prophesy is thy gift yet doe I acknowledge thy ordiâ— blessing upon my labours in this but as for strange tonguâ— and the rest I acknowledge they are thy meere gift with all paine and labor of mine therefore the greater praise I gâ— thee Were not this to deminish prophesy in regard of the â— which the H. Ghost prefers before them all and therefore â— shew as great power in that gift as in any other The manâ— then being all one in giuing the second question is whitâ— they were giuen in the same measure I answer No Roâ— 12. 6. and hereupon the Apostle commanded that one pâ—phet should be subject to an other and willingly yeeld place â— him that had the greater measure I leaue the cause â— come to the effects which learned men cannot distinguisâ— will shew you my judgment and follow it as you please To â— two first gifts is giuen a word by words wee expresse our mâ—nings therefore the spirit must not onely giue a gift but aâ—bility and power â—o vtter that gift for the greatest good of â— hearers Brother it is the part of a divine to study for â— and fit words and indeed when God hath giuen us learnâ— by exceeding great paines yet wee finde great imperfection â—ant of words Now here I learn that the spirit of God did â—traordinarily supply this want by giuing unto men excellent â—terance of heauenly things The first two gifts are wisdome â— knowledge wisdom is a holy understanding of heauenly thâ—â—ith aprudent application of them to their seuerall vses Knowledge or science is an insight into divers heauenly truthâ—â—t wanting
that prudent application these two gifts with a â—uitfull vtterance of them could be no ordinary gifts studied â—t by their own pains but such as the H. Ghost doth immeâ—iately inspire into them I shovld â—e very glad to heare that â—ur Congregations were full of these wise and understanding â—en then I doubt not but you would the sooner recall your â—lâ—es The three next gifts of faith healing and great â—orkes are undoubtedly extraordinary and were never to bee â—â—tained by any study of ours For the foure last I doubt not â—â—t you will grant three of them extraordinary Discerning of â—â—irits was not by ordinary meanes but extraordinary as you â—ay see in Ananias and Saphira Simon Magus and others â—hich were seene by an extraordinary Spirit For strange â—ngues I hope you will not stand in granting it if you consiâ—â—r but the first originall of them Act. 2. and for interpretaâ—â—on of these tongues that was as difficult as the other why â—ould you now stick at prophesy which I will plainely shew â—as more difficult then both the rest For how should either â—â— or I come to be able to prophesy except there were somâ—â—ilfull in the originall tongues as likewise the helps of comâ—entaries and interpretations You see God appointed these â— meanes to helpe us to prophesie and where they are wanâ—ng it is simply impossible for any man to become an ordinary â—rophet Indeed the H. Ghost can supply the want of both â—ese therefore will you â—â—ll you it must be granted that â—is prophesy was extraordinarie For take away the ordinary â—eanes of prophesie and then the thing it selfe will cease now â—â— may plainly understand that the Primitiue Church had â—t these means of prophesie that you see wee haue they had â—t the originall tongues translated and therefore God gaue â—en extraordinary gifts in speaking and interpreting them see then I entreate you how these two meanes beeing extraordinary inforce you to yeeld the other of the same nature Were iâ— possible for you to become a Prophet wanting the translation oâ— the new and old Testament as likewise all interpretation â— with which now through Gods blessing the whole world is râ—plâ—mshed I know you will answer and say no then Prophesie in the Prunitive Church was extraordinary because the Gentiles had not ordinary translations and interpretations of them ANSWER IF I should follow M. Yates in his course I should rather write one Sermon against another then bring an Answer to an Argument briefly then as I can omitting other things to that which concerns directly our present purpose His affirmation that the gifts mentioned 1 Cor. 12. are onely extraordinary I doâ— deny and answer his reasons as followeth And first that contrary to his unreasonable reason we both may ought to magnifie the H. Ghost more in one gift then another since the same Holy Ghost worketh more excellently and for our good in one gift then in another And secondly as a further truth and more contrary to his strange assertion that in some workes of the Spirit though not here expressed in which the Lord useth our industry and care he is infinitly more to â—e magnified then in any whatsoever the immediate and miraculouâ— worke of the same spirit wherein â—e useth it not For example in â—â—â—â—ng saith and repentance for the working of which by his spirit God useth our careful hearing and meditation of his word the Law and Gospell Thirdly compare wee even extraordinary gifts with extraordinary wee see that God used the industry and pains of the extraordiry Prophets for the reading and meditating in and of the Law Dan. 9. â—3 v. 2. and of the latter Prophets of the former Prophets writings As also of the Apostles in the reading knowledge and memory of them both Rom. 4. 10. 4. 3. c. â—ea even of the very heathen authors whose sayings they somtime quote in their propheâ—â—es or sermons Act. 17. 28. 1 Cor 15. 33. Tâ— 1. â—2 2. â—â—m 4. 13. the like industry or care not being required for the â—ift or use of strange tongues and yet did the Holy Ghost much more excellently utter it self in their Prophesies and sermons then in ther tongues aâ— M. Yates oft and truly assumeth Vpon verse 8 be rightly describeth wisdom a holy â—nderstanding of heavenly things with a prudent appliâ—ation of them to their severall vses and knowledge 〈…〉 â—sight into divers heavenly things yet wanting that pruâ—â—ent applycation with the fruitfull utterance of them â—ut that these could be no ordinary gifts studyed out by â—eir owne paines but such â—â— the Holy Ghost did immediately conspire into them he barely affirmeth and thinke singularly but am sure vntruly I marveiled â—hat he would say to these two gifts of wisdom and knowledge to proue that they could not be ordâ—nary and did expect some speciall reasons for his â— singular interpretation but behold a bare bone â—â—ffirmation brought by him with out marrow flesâ— skin or coulour of proofe Wherein he is also tâ—â— more blame-worthy considering that be cannot bâ— ignorant how the most iudicious both at home anâ— abroad doe vnderstand thâ—se two gifts as meant â— the two speaciall qualifications of the Pastor anâ— Teachers ordinary gifts of ordinary offices of whiâ—ministeries amongst the râ—st ordained by Christ tâ—â—one Lord of his Church the Apostle speaketh verâ— 5. as verse 4. of their gifts by that one spiriâ— Which ordinary gifts all lawfull pastors and Teachers ordinary offices then had and beside them many others not in office and by the graâ— of God some amongst vs and that by the help â— nature study and prayer and the blessing of Godâ— spirit therevpon Which blessing of God I wil nâ— deny to haue then been for degree extraordinaâ— upon mens weaker indevours for their furnishiâ—â— with these ordinary gifts which makes nothing against our purpose That the gife of faith is undoubteâ— extraordinary is said by him but Doctors haue doubâ—ed of it See for one Beza in his great Annotatiâ— upon the words both affirming and proueing the by faith is meant an assent vnto the doctrine propouâ—â—d which is an ordinary gift of the spirit Where he makes no doubt but we will grant that â—hree of the four last were extraordinary he but threaps â—indnesse vpon us as we use to say That Peters gifâ—â—f discerning was extraordinary in the cause of Annaâ—ias Act. 5. we confesse but not so in the case of Simon Magus Acts. 8. of whome he iudgeth by his wordes as of the tree by the fruit in which he did â—otoriously bewray himselfe to be in the gall of bitâ—ernesse to the discerning of any ordinary Christian The gift of discerning both of doctrine and manners â—s in a measure required of every Christian Phil. â— 9. 10. 1. Ioh. 4. 1. Heh. 5. 14. but is bestowed by the giver thereof upon some more liberally someâ—imes extraordinarily as then upon some in some â—ases sometimes ordinarily as both then and
conceived that a second oâ— third especially seeming provided to speake by seating themselues in the same place with him migâ—â— have something revealed further or otherwise theâ— he had Which Revelation the Apostle doth not oppoâ—â— to fore-going study as M. Yates thinketh but unto emulation and study of contradiction teaching thaâ— the spirit alone must be heard in the Church speaking by whose mouth soever And that there is iâ— the Church an ordinary spirit of revelation besideâ— comfortable experience these places amongst many other do clearly prove Mat. 11. 28. 16. 17 Eph. 1. 17. Pâ—il 3. 17. M. Yates ARG. 9. FRom vocation ver. 29. 32. 37. these spirituall men are called Prophets and to imagine a Prophet without a calling that which the Scripture will not endure therefore all these â—rophets either had immediate calling from God or mediate â—om men or else they took it up themselves the two first weâ—â—ant lawfull callings but this intollerable Numb 11. 28. the servant of Moses sayâ—s Forbid Eldad and Medad to prâ—â—esie his reason was because he thought they had no calling â—hich had bin true if they had taken it up without immediate â—â—piration But Moses knowing that it was from God wishâ— that the like gift might be upon all Gods people so that â—ose were true Prophets for the instant by an immediate call â—m God and the text sayes They added no further â—â—â—wing â—at as the gift ceased so did they I. Rob. ASWER â—T is true that spirituall men are called Prophets â— or rather Prophets Spirituall men what is it theâ—â— that makes a spirituall man but the gift of the â—â—irit and what a prophet ordinary or extraordinaâ—â— but the gift of prophesie ordinary or extraordiâ—â—ry Whereupon it followeth undeniable that so â—any with us or elsewhere as haue the ordinary gift â— ability to prophesie are Prophets though out of â—â—fice In this Argument he hath made a snare wherwith himselfe iâ— taken unavoidably Secondly â—â— affirme that our Prophets haue a calling which haâ—e declared formerly not to make them Prophâ— by condition or estate for that they are by the gifts but for the use or exercise of the same gift bâ—fore bestowed upon them by the Lord through the labour and industry Of Eldads and Medads prâ—phesying we shall speak hereafter onely note wâ— in the meane While how M Yates and rightly proportioneth their prophesying to their gift as wâ— doe also ours according to that of the Apostle Haâ—ing then gifts differing according to the grace that is â—â—ven to us whether prophesie let us prophesie according â— the proportion of faith or a ministery let us waite on â—â— ministery Rom. 12. 6. 7. They then that haue a gifâ— must prophesie according to their proportion M. Yates ARG. 10. FRom distinction v. 37. the Apostle from the whole Châ—â—turnes himself to their Prophets and spirituall men sheâ—ing plainely that these had some particular place aboâ— the rest and he gives them speciall charge to obserue the thing he writes to the Church therefore those were in some callâ—â— aboue others and to imagine the contrary is to run wide of tâ— current of the whole Scripture to set men in publick place wiâ—out calling is the same with confusion and disorder I. Rob. ANSW THis Argument is founded upon the groundlesse presumption with the former viz. that there is in the Church no lawfull calling for men able to â—rophesie but by officing them And for Pauls turâ—ing his speach to the Prophets ver 37. it shewes inâ—eed that they were aboue the rest after a sort and so â—hey are with us rightly preferred before others which want that endowment of the spirit by which â—hey are enabled to speake to the edification of the Church The Confirmation of the Scriptvres and reasons brought in my booke to proue publick prophesying out of office by an ordinary gift AND before wee come to examine M. Yates his Answers to the Scriptures by me produced I â—esire the Reader to obserue with mee these two â—hinges first that I doe not affirme in my book â—hat al the there alledged Scriptures are meant of orâ—inary but prophesie that the same is proued by them Neither will he I persume deny but that many â—hinges are sufficiently proued from a scripture by â—ecessary consiquence and iust proportion besides the particular properly intended in it 2. That M. â—ates so puts the questian as that it is hard to say say whether he doe mee or himsefe the moâ— iniury namely whether the places prove an ordâ—nary gift of prophesie out of office For as I do not saâ— that they proue the gift but the vse and excerciâ— of the gift bestowed by God whether ordinary â— extraordinary so neither would he haue dinied haâ— he not leaped before he had lookt but that otheâ— besides ministers haue an ordinary gift of prophesyâ— Where the Apostle requires of him that desires an office of a Bishop that he be apt to teach 1. Tim. 3. 1. 2â—and able to exhort with sound doctrine Tit. 1. 9. dotâ— he not therein most evidently teach that the gift and ability to teach preach and prophesie not onely may but must both be and appeare to be in the person to be called to the office of ministery Heâ— that is not a prophet or hath not the gift of prophesying or preaching for by his gift he is a prophet and by the use of it he occupies the place of a prophet before he be apointed a Pastor is an Idol shepherd set up in the temple of God neither doth the office giue on â—o much indeed as encrease the gift but onely giues solemn commission and charge to use it The first Scripture by me brought is Numb. 11â— 29. Where Moses the man of God wisheth that the whole people of the Lord were Prophets the Lord putting his spirit upon them This place saith M. Yates in his Answer speakes of the powring of the Spirit in an extraordinary manner may appeare by the occasion of the speach verse â—4 c. Where he also in a tedious manner as his â—â—nner is he proueth the gift of prophesying giâ—n to the 70. Elders to haue been extraordinary â—hich as I deny not so neither needed he to haue â—oved But this I affirme that hence is proued the â—wfullnesse of ordinary prophesying out of office â— men inabled thereunto And first as Moyses wiâ—ed that all the Lords people were Prophets the Lord â—ving his spirit unto them so the minister may and â—ght to wish that the Lord would so blesse the orâ—â—nary endeauours of his people now by his spirit as â—at they all might be Prophets that is able for gifts â— speak to edification The minister which desireth â—t this enuieth for his owne and the Clergies sake â—hich Moses would not that Ioshua should doe for â—s Secondly Moses makes it all one to bee a â—rophet and to have the Lord putting his spirit vpâ—â— a man Now if the Lord so giving his spirit unâ—â— a
that to preach the Gospel is nothing else â—t to carry or bring glad tydings of Christ before â—omised then come into the world It is also my â—pliciâ—y to thinke since by the tydings which this â—man brought many of the Samaritans beleeued on â—â—ist in a measure ver. 39 and that without preaching â— word of God none can beleeve Rom. 10. 14. 17. that â—refore she preached unto the Samaritans the same â—rd of God in a measure also and that as truely â—ectually as euer M. Yates did to his parishionners â—ugh she went not up into a pulpit as he doth And â—t he may iudge aright of this matter let him call minde that those Samaritans receiued the bookes Moses as did the Iewes and as they looked for the â—essias or Christ promised to and of Abraham â—â—ing themselues for the children of the Patriarks â— true worshippers of God as they had been ver. â— 28. and being so prepared were easily made as â—ions or corne feilds white unto the Haruest ver. 35. â—d so this woman by declaring unto them that by which this Iesus the sonne of Mary proued himselâ— to be the Christ or Messias promised preached faiâ— unto them most properly and effectually euen tâ—â—aine point of â—aith then in controuersie both in â—dea and Samaria and Galilâ—â— and the countries the unto adâ—oyning which was that Jesus was the Châ—â—â— I suppose M. â—â—tes hath not suffuciently thought these things and do hope that in godly modesâ—y â— will suffer himselfe to be better informed And for coâ—â—radictâ—oâ— between these 2. proposition A womaâ— may not teach in the Church and A womâ— may teach out of the Church or where no Church as it was in Samaria it must be by other Logiâ— then I haue learned But he will then demand as â— doth how this Womans preaching can serue â—y â—â—â— I answer uery well by good consiquence of reasâ— thus If a woman may lawfully teach out of â— Church to the begetting of faith as this women dâ— but not in the Church because she is a woman â— sex then a man against whom that reason of restrâ— of Sex lieth not may lawfully teach both without within the Church Of which consiquence mâ— hereafter Another Scripture is Act. 8. 1. 4. with cha. 11. â— 20 21. where it is recorded how all the Church at â—rusalem was scattered abroad except the Apostles â— that they which were scattered abroad went euery wâ— preaching the word c. M. Yates answereth that besides the Apostles which â—ere in office there were seventy disciples which Christ â—efore his death had made laborers in his haruest therâ—re these might preach or any other that had an extraordiâ—ary gift of prophesie the one by vertue of his office gift â—gether the other by commission from the Holy Ghost to â—xercise that gift which they had receaued in the day of â—â—ticost or any other But sayes your authur compare this â—ace with Acts 11. 19. 20. 21. and the truth will fulâ— appeare I answer â—â— will fully appeare against yov for â—hrist charged both his Apostles and likewise the 70. â—isciples that they should preach to none but the Jewes â—nd therefore it is sufficient that they had so many preaâ—ers in office already by the commission of Christ to goâ—â—orow all those places neither wâ—lâ— I dâ—ny that â—ere might be others whom the Holy Ghost immediately â—ised up to manifest the excellent gifts that were to be â—wred downe upon the Church in the primatiue times His answer is uery darke and ambiguous but in which are contained sundry errors evident enough â— He makes those of the dispersioâ—which went about â—eaching the word to be of the 70 disciples Luk. 10. â—d others the like furnished with an â—xâ—râ—ordinary gift â— prophesie but seemes to allow them for no officers â— the beginning of his answer when he thus speaâ—eth Besides the Apostles which were in office there were â—0 Disciples c. yet afterwards in these words and â—â—refore it is sufficient that they had so many preachers â— office already by the commission of Christ to go thorow all thesâ— places c â—e besâ—â— wâ—s some office or othâ— upon them Secondry â—e misseth in two Scripture which in his answere â—e pointeth at the former â—Act 2 where he gathereth that others besides the twelve receâ—ued the gift of prophesie extraordinaâ— at the day of pentâ—cost the â—ecâ—nd â—if I mistake noâ— is Math. 10. 5. 6. where he â—aks the edict or prohâ—bâ—tâ—on of Christ â—aid upon the Apostles and as hâ— saâ—th upon the 70. Disciples of preaching to â—ny â— Jeâ—s â—â—rr aboue the reach thereof euen unto this tiâ— of the dispertion whereas it reached only to the deaâ— of Christ when the wall of partition between Ieâ— and Gentiles was broken downe â—fter which the were by the expresse wâ—rds of their Commission â— preach to all people beginning indeed at Ierusalem â—â—arrying there till they were indued with power from â— high and so proceeding to all nations Luk. 24. 47. 4â— as it is also recorded Act. 11. 20. that some of the dispersion preached the Lord Iesus to the Grecians â— Aâ—tioch 3ly it is plaine by that which I haue foâ—merly said that neither these 70 disciples no nor tâ—â—2 were by Christ possessed of any office before hâ— death no nor yet furnished with any extraordinaâ— gifts of prophesie the Euangelist who knew weâ— and is worthy to be beleeued bearing also witnesâ— with mee that the Holy Ghost was not yet giuen becaâ— that Iesus was not yet glorified John 7. 39. Lastly it is altogether unreasonable to imagine the they who were scatered and preached abroad being the body of the Church at Ierusalem excepting the Apostles were all officers and little more reasonable to thinke that they were all extraordinarily â—ndâ—ed with the spirit of prophesy For first there is no circumstance in the text â—eading that way and to imagine extraordinary and miâ—â—culous things without good euidence is extraordinary 〈…〉 and pâ—esumption 2. the onely 〈…〉 giuen unto them aâ—â— â—ll he Church which 〈…〉 ey that were scatâ—eâ—ed abâ—oâ—â— aâ—d againe â—â—â—â— 1â— â—ey which were scâ—ttered abroâ—◠〈…〉 th 〈…〉 Cypruâ— Cyrene c. nothing 〈…〉 any â—â—â—â—ce of ministry 3. Their preaching heâ—â— and â—â—eâ—e is 〈…〉 noted to be by reason of their catering hither and â—â— ther through persecution and not of any eâ—tâ—â—â—rdinary gift and dispensation committed unto theâ— Fourthly if they had been extraordinary Prophetâ— immediately and extraordinarily inspired there had been no need of so speedy sending of Barâ—abas from Ierusalem to Antioch with supply though he were a man full of the Holy Ghost for so were such Prophets as well as he Ephe. 2. 20. 3. 5. I conclude therefore as before that these mens preaching was by a gift â—nd liberty common unto them and us The next Scripture is 1. Pet. 4 10. 11. As euery man hath receiued the gift so minister the same one to another as