Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	father_n	scripture_n	word_n	5,665	5	4.3306	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A79512	Preaching vvithout ordination or, A treatise proving the lawfulnesse of all persons, of what degree, ranke, or trade soever, being inabled with sufficient guifts 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. By Edmond Chillinden.	Chillenden, Edmund, fl. 1656.	1647 (1647)	Wing C3879; Thomason E405_10; ESTC R201879	25,344	34

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 th●● 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 extraordina●y gift or endowment but ordinary such as God promised to pour upon all flesh Ioel 2.28 Acts 2.17 Isa 44.3 ● 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 who●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 h●●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 sain● 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 ●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 sel● 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 migh● bring glory to him and good to his Church and people is not this his main aime and intent

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 Al●●●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

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 ord●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 h●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 ●nd that of the Lords own making by the free guift of his spirit seeing it bloweth where it lifteth assoone upon a Cobl●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