A TREATISE Relating to the Call Work VVages Of the Ministers of CHRIST As also to the Call VVork VVages Of the Ministers of ANTICHRIST Wherein a Testimony is born to that Call and precious Effects and Wages which the Ministers of Christ Witnessed Owned and Contended for As also against that Call Work Wages brought forth in the Apostacy in the Degeneration from the Primitive Purity of Doctrine and Worship wherein Christendom became as the Sea Unsetled Restless Ungrounded Herein also several other things are touched as in the Contents of the Treatise appear Thomas Lawson LONDON Printed for Benjamin Clark in George-Yard in Lumbard-street 1680. The Contents of the ensuing Treatise OF the Divine Call into the Ministry Cap. 1. Of a Humane Call into the Ministry Cap. 2. Of the Original of Bishops in Gospel Dayes and of the Identity of Bishops and Elders in the Primitive Age Cap. 3. Of the Work of the Ministry of Christ and of Antichrist Cap. 4. Of the Wages of the Ministers of Christ being Free and Voluntary and of the Coercive Compulsive Maintenance of the Ministers of Antichrist Cap. 5. Of the Rise of First Fruits in Christian-Churches Cap. 6. Of the Rise of Mortuaries Cap. 7. Of the Statute against Mortmain Cap. 8. Of Exemptions from the Payment of Tythes Cap. 9 Of Franke Almoigne Cap. 10. Of Peter-Pence Reek-Penny c. Cap. 11. Of Tythe in Lay-mens Hands Impropriators Cap. 12. The Clergies Patriarchal Claim to Tythes Cap. 13. The Clergies Mosaical Claim to Tythes Cap. 14. The Clergies Evangelical Claim to Tythes Cap. 15. Tythes a Mosaical Shadow Cap. 16. The Clergies Human Claim to Tythes considered as also the Testimonies of several eminent in the Church in their respective Ages against the Exaction thereof in Gospel Dayes Cap. 17. A TREATISE Relating to the Call Work Wages Of the Ministers of CHRIST As also to the Call VVork VVages Of the Ministers of ANTICHRIST CHAPTER I. Of the Divine Call into the Ministry ADAM consider'd as the Workmanship of the Lord that unsearchable Architect Master Builder Former of all things was truly Righteous truly Holy and was put into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it Paradise that was his Store-house was his Work-house also blessed was he while under the Teaching of his Maker but being brought thorow the Insinuations of the Serpent to attend to his Teaching he fell into the Region of the Shadow of Death Death entred his Windows as the Lord had said and a World of Wickedness as a heady Current streamed in Now as a signal Testimony of the Riches of Divine and Never-failing Love the Everlasting Gospel was proclaimed and sounded in Adam's Ears That the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpent's Head crush his Power bring him under After that in every Age and Generation the Lord called true and faithful Witnesses and by the Influence and Virtue of the Anointing qualified them to bear testimony to his constant immutable Loving-kindness and against the Wickedness of the World introduced by the Serpent and to stir up men to look after and wait for the Revelation and Manifestation of the blessed Seed in whom the Families of the Earth should be blessed Peter an Apostle of the Lamb bare record saying Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 So that the Testimonies of the Lord's Witnesses and Worthies in all Ages were derived from the Sourse or Spring of Heavenly Abilities the Spirit 's In-dwellings not from the strength of Acquired Natural Tongues Arts Sciences and Spoiling Philosophy herein are excluded all Testimonies and all Ministers made and brought forth by the Will of Man For the Confirmation of this a Cloud of Living Witnesses in the Scriptures of Truth is recorded Abel a Keeper of Sheep thorow the Word of Faith he became Righteous a Witness for the Lord in the Morning of the World he and his Offering found Acceptance with the Lord Gen. 4.2 4. Hebr. 11.4 Enech called of God by the Spirit the Word of Prophecy without which no true Prophet nor Prophecy Gen. 5.24 Hebr. 11.5 Jude 14 15. Joel 2.28 29. Noah a Husbandman Just Perfect and Righteous he walked with God he was called of God to be a Preacher of Righteousness made so without recourse to Heathen Arts and Sciences Gen. 9.20 Gen. 6.9 Gen. 7.1 Hebr. 11.7 2 Pet. 2.5 Lot was a Just and a Righteous Man called of the Lord to bear a Testimony against the World 2 Pet. 2.7 8. Abraham the Friend of God Isa 41 8. was a Prophet replenished with the Word of Prophecy Gen. 20.7 he knew the immediate Call of God Gen. 12.1 15.1 17.1 he was a Teacher in the Spirit Gen. 18.17 19. blessed thorough Obedience Gen. 22.18 Moses was a Keeper of Sheep Exod. 3.1 called of the Lord to the Work whereunto he was appointed Exod. 4.12 Numb 12.6 7 8. a Man of God Jos 14.6 thorow the living Word he was made a Minister and a Prophet Joshua was called of God Jos 1.5 37. the Lord's Power and Presence with him and in him was the Rule he walked by Gad David's Seer was called of the Lord he heard the Voice of the Lord and obeyed the same 1 Chron. 21.9 10. 2 Sam. 24.11 12. Aaron though excellently qualified admirably indued with Gifts yet he entered not upon the Priests Office without the Call of God thereunto Heb. 5.4 Exod. 28.1 when he and that Priesthood was instituted not a word was mentioned of School Sciences Natural Languages he was no Intruder into the High-Priest's Office but answered the Command of the Lord. Priests in the Latin Tongue are called Sacerdotes because their Office was Deo sacra dare to Sacrifice to God or because they were sacra dos consecrated and as it were severed from the rest of the People and given up to God as saith Ridley in his View of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Law Bezaleel and Aholiab were filled with the Spirit of God in Wisdom and in Understanding and in Knowledge and in all manner of Workmanship for the building of the Tabernacle Exod. 31. implying that such as in the Evangelical Dispensation are appointed for the building of the Spiritual Tabernacle be they Sons or Daughters their Preparation and Qualification for that Work is of the Lord and not of Man Nathan the Prophet was called of God the Word of the Lord came unto him 2 Sam. 7.4 5. 12.5 and David humbled himself before him David a Keeper of Sheep 2 Sam. 16.11 12. a Man after God's own Heart Acts 13.22 he was called of God 2 Sam. 23.1 2 c. the Spirit of the Lord the Word of Righteousness was the Spring of his Ministry Saul the Spirit of God came upon him and he prophesied 1 Sam. 10. but turning from it he went to the Dead to a Witch 1 Sam. 28. so became a Persecutor of David 1 Sam. 19.1 losing his Head it was sent into
from executing the Priests Office This implies that the Lord's Witnesses under the Evangelical Dispensation should be enabled to beget others into the healing Power of the Living God Paul told the Corinthians saying In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel 1 Cor. 4.15 Phil. 10. Now Man made Ministers beget others into dry partched sandy Forms without Power and persecute others for Non-Compliance thereunto Peter the Apostle gave a pregnant and lively Testimony for a Divine and Immediate Call saying As every man hath received the Gift even so minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God 1 Pet. 4.10 So Gospel Ministers minister out of the Treasure of God's Gift not from a stock acquired by Natural Languages Arts and Sciences Further saith Peter If any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God If any man minister let him do it as of the Ability which God giveth vers 11. So that the true Ministry proceeds from the Spring of divine Ability not from the muddy Lake of acquired Pagan Arts Parts and Endowments Nothing conduces more saith Aug. Marl. on this place to correct Murmurings then in considering that we minister not of our own but what the Lord hath given us Further 't is said I will give Power unto my two Witnesses and they shall Prophesie a Thousand Two Hundred and Threescore Dayes clothed in Sackcloth Rev. 11.3 Gospel Ministers saith Pareus on this place who are the Lords Witnesses are impowered and qualified by the Lord for the Performance and Discharge of their Work After three dayes and a half the Time of the Beasts Reign that ascended out of the Bottomless Pit and Locusts coming out of the Smoke Anti-christian Teachers bred and qualified in the Smoke of humane Wisdom Spoiling Philosophy Unsavory School Divinity whereby Kindreds Tongues and People are made Drunk I say after the Reign of the Beast and of the Locusts Antichrist and his Man made Ministry John fore-tells the Restoration of Witnesses and of their Call to the Ministry saying The Spirit of Life from God entred into them Rev. 11.11 So that the Succession of true Witnesses of the true Ministry after the Apostacy shall be through the Operation of the Spirit not through the Smoke of the Pit Spoiling Philosophy School Divinity and through the Operation of the Finger of the Antient of Dayes The Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall Reign forever and ever Rev. 11.15 So that the Spirit of Life entring into men after the Beast and his Locusts Anti-christ and his Ministers have had their Day is to be the only Qualifier for the Evangelical Dispensation Most of the Ministers among the Waldenses were Trades-men as Merchants Fisher-men Taylors Shoe-makers Husband-men and these Waldenses antient Pratestants Witnesses against the apostatised Roman Church bare Testimony That it were lawful for any to Preach who were called of God Though Strangers to Natural Tongues Arts Sciences Philosophy such the living God is raising up to stand on their Feet and they must bear their Testimony in order to Season and rectifie the Nations though by the Sons of Belial under the Delusion of Anti-christ they be branded as Anti-magistratical and Anti-ministerial and Persecuted CAP. II. Of a Humane Call into the Ministry WHile the Primitive Faith was kept the Ministers of the Gospel were Stars in Heaven shining as Stars through purity of Doctrine and heavenly Spotless Coversation while Stars in Heaven fixt in heavenly Places in Christ Jesus they had the heavenly Key letting them into the royal Court of the Lords Presence they entertained no Wisdom in Church or School but what was Heavenly no Call into the Ministry but what was Divine Immediate contrary to the Will of Man Holy men of God as Peter said spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost Yea and these in the Life of Righteousness Power of Godliness saw such as got the Letter without the Spirit the Scriptures without the Power and bare Testimony against them to be false Teachers Antichrists Preaching for filthy Lucre Gifts and Rewards Yea Paul spake of the Rise of Self-lovers Covetous c. who should have the Form of Godliness without the Power thereof Scriptures without the Spirit such said he are to be turned from 2 Tim. 3. John foresaw a great Star fall from Heaven to Earth then being in the Earth an earthly Key was thrust into the hand of his Mind even the Key of the Bottomless Pit out of the Pit arose a Smoke darkning Sun and Air Spoiling Corrupting and Depraving the Glory and Purity of the Primitive Church What was this Smoke Earthly Wisdom gushing as a heady Torrent into Church and School Traditions Errors Lyes strange Doctrines Superstition Idolatry Lacivious Poems Wanton Comedies Vain Tragedies Frivolous Fables Spoiling Philosophy Heathen Logicks Ethicks Metaphysicks As this Smoke steamed into Church and School the Pearl of heavenly Wisdom and the Pure Divine Immediate Call into the Ministry was lost in the Smoke Yea and John foresaw Locusts come out of the Smoke What 's that Swarms of Man-made Ministers bred and qualified in the Smoke of earthly Wisdom be they Garduates or Under-graduates if they have nothing but from Man so that since the steaming in of that Smoke the Call hath been of Man through Natural Languages Heathen Arts Parts Endowments Qualifications at Schools and Colledges yea and the Locusts have been so senseless and benummed as to plead against any other Call or Manner of Qualification The true Ministry was and is peculiar to the New man 2 Pet. 1.21 John 20.21 But the heavenly Capacitating Ability being lost through the Smoke of the Pit a Qualification without was set up in the place of it gained by Schools Universities Languages Spoiling Philosophy so Preaching is made an Art of the old Man by Antichrist Let none apprehend that I deny Schools of Learning for Schools teaching the knowledge of the Creation and of useful and necessary Things and Languages useful in their place I own but 't is the Lord of the Harvest that must send forth Labourers into the Harvest Universities cannot do that I might produce a Cloud of Witnesses shewing that after the Beast was risen out of the Sea and Earth Apostatised Christendom was become as Waters Kindreds Tongues People and Nations professing Christianity yet were made drunk with the Cup of Fornication Spiritual Idolatry no other Call into the Ministry was admitted but what was gained at Schools and Universities by Acquired Tongues Heathen Arts and Sciences though in all or most of Ages as by the Waldenses Albigenses c. the Lord had his Witnesses bearing Testimony to the Virtue and Power of a divine Call and that without it all Natural Tongues Heathen Arts and Sciences were insignificant and insufficient In the dayes of King Henry the 4th the King Lords and Bishops agreed That no man within his Dominions should preach privily
Believers may not be thought to be gotten by the Power of man but by the Teaching of God Christ sent his Apostles saith Chrysostom as the Sun sends out his Rayes as the Rose sends out its sweet Odour as the Fire disperses its Sparks If you do not firmly believe saith Zuinglius that you may be taught of God without the teachings of men you are without true Faith De veritate verbi Christ said unto his Disciples Pray the Lord of the Harvest that he will send forth Labourers into his Harvest Mat. 9.38 He bad them not have recourse unto Schools and Colledges to natural Languages Arts and Sciences but to the Lord of the Harvest no other Fountain nor Well-spring he commended them to but to the Lord of the Harvest So the qualifying and sending of Gospel Ministers is the Lords Prerogative Royal. Fulke Augustin Marlorat Poole Bishop Jewel and many more which might be mentioned say on this Scripture That Ministers of the Gospel are sent of the Lord and are furnished and qualified by him for that Work and that all others are Intruders as Christ sent the Twelve so he sent the Seventy Luke 10. He said to his Disciples As my Father hath sent me even so send I you John 20.21 Bishop Vsher in Vindication of the Waldenses by way of Apology said God did chuse Fishermen that so he might not give his Glory to another the little Ones that asked Bread received the same but the Learned being busied about vain Contentions and Disputations were sent empty away Further Christ after his Resurrection bad his Disciples Wait for the Promise of the Father saying Ye shall receive Power after that the holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be Witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the outermost part of the Earth Acts 1.4 8. So that their Witness-bearing was an Effect of the Lords heavenly Appearance in them and among them And who run without this relying on their stock of Natural Tongues Heathen Arts and Sciences they will be found false Witnesses Without the concurrence of Spiritual Aid saith Spark the King 's Chapline the rarest Orators are but as sounding Brass and tinkling Cimbals Christ's Disciples were unlearned men but he gifted them and made them learned in Spiritual Learning before he sent them abroad insomuch that the Rulers Elders Scribes High Priest c. marvelled at the boldness of Peter and John perceiving that they were unlearned and ignorant men and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus Acts 4.13 As Bishop Jewel said of Councils God is able not only without Councils but also against Councils both to defend and to enlarge his Kingdom in Apol. So I say Christ the same yesterday to day and forever is able to qualifie and accomplish and doth qualifie and accomplish for the Ministry such as are his Ministers without sending them to the bitter Waters of Heathen Wisdom Heathen Learning 'T is Heathen not Christian Education I speak against Further the Apostles chusing seven Deacons we read not that they enquired for men profound in Heathen Arts and Sciences but for men of Honest Report full of the holy Ghost and Wisdom Acts 6.3 So that the holy Spirit only qualified for that Work Paul was called of the Lord for the Gospel Ministry While untouched with the Finger of Heaven his Recourse was unto the High Priest to receive Commission from him but after the heavenly Touch his Cry was Lord what wilt thou have me to do Acts 9. While he had nothing but what he received at the Feet of Gamaliel he ran a fierce Carreer saith one to the zenith of Persecution at length a heavenly Siste gradum Saule caused him to run Retrograde and in his Apology before King Agrippa he ascribes his Call not to Gamaliel but to the Lord Acts 26. Acts 20. Gal. 1. 2 Cor. 3.5 6. A Call saith Aug. Marl. cannot be lawfull except it be of God As for Bishops Gospel-Bishops they are called of the Lord therefore Paul said Take heed to your selves and to all the Flock over the which the holy Spirit hath made you Over-seers that is Bishops Acts 20.28 They are made such truly such by the holy Spirit Aug. Marl. testifies the very same Now if any bear that Name or pretend that Office without the Spirit such are Aposcopi saith Espeusaus rather than Episcopi By-seers rather than Over-seers Further Paul called of the Lord bare this Testimony saying How shall they preach except they be sent Rom. 10.15 Aug. Marl. said on this place This is spoken against them who go to the Ministry without a Call who run not being sent hereupon they do no good what they do 't is for their Belleys sake not for the Glory of God Poole on the same place speaks to the same purpose Further Paul in his Epistle to the Ephesians said When he ascended up on High he led Captivity Captive and gave Gifts unto men and he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the Perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry Ephes 4. So that Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers Bishops Elders Deacons as truly such are qualified by the Gift of the Lord not by Natural Tongues Heathen Arts Sciences Endowments Accomplishments though Tongues may be and are useful in their place Gave Gifts to men saith the Apostle the Hebrew Psalmist hath it Psal 68.18 Thou received Gifts for men Christ received them that he might give them Gave Gifts to men the Psalmist adds Even to the Rebellious The Rebellious have a Gift to lead them out of the state of Rebellion or to leave them inexcusable if they continue therein Paul to Timothy and Titus setting down the required Qualifications of Bishops and Deacons mentions no Mathematicks Logicks Spoiling Philosophy but Gravity Blamelesness Sobriety Justice Holiness Temperance c. 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. Were such men taken into holy Orders saith the Author of the Book called The Naked Truth and constituted Pastors the Church of Christ would be better edified though Plato Aristotle Euclid Scotus Aquinas were never known to them the holy Sciptures are able to make wise unto Salvation through Faith in Christ Jesus If so why are Heathen Philosophers so much doted upon And all Scripture is given by the Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the man of God may be Perfect throughly furnished unto every good Work 2 Tim. 3. Mark throughly furnished without Logick Spoiling Philosophy Pagan Ethicks Physicks Metaphysicks School-Divinity If throughly furnished without these what need of these The Ministerial Office may be better performed saith the Author by Grave and Conscientious men though they never saw University nor know any Language but their Mother-Tongue than by any Aristotelist Scotist Aquinatist with their knacks of Quiddities Qualities Syllogisms Enthimems Distinctions
stuffed with the Opinions of Sciences these leave no room for the holy Spirit saith Cornel. Agrip. Of the Vanity of Sciences Obj. 1 Tim. 4.14 Answ This is nothing to prove a Humane Mediate Call but the contrary Paul writing to Timothy said Neglect not the Gift that is in thee There was a Divine Gift in him which he was not to neglect but to improve for the Edification of others Timothy was a holy man and he was to minister and did minister from the virtue and influence of a heavenly Gift in him hereby he came to the Ministry not through Natural Tongues Heathen Arts Sciences Metaphysicks Spoiling Philosophy From the dignity of the Calling saith Aug. Marl. on this place Paul exhorted Timothy That for the Edification of the Church he would improve that Grace wherewith he was endued To the same purpose he wrote to him a second Epistle saying Wherefore I put thee in remembrance That thou stir up the Gift of God that is in thee chap. 1.6 There was a heavenly Gift in him out of which as a faithful Steward he was to minister for the good of others Timothy saith Aug. Marl. on this place wanted not this Gift before but then it shewed it self more evidently when the Charge or Care of Teaching others was imposed upon him I put thee in remembrance saith Paul that thou stir up the Gift of God that is in thee rather that thou clear up the heavenly Spark that is in thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Spark buried in Ashes lies as it were dead useless and unprofitable but through the Breath of the Bellows it is quickned cleared puts forth its virtue and influence kindling combustible matter giving light and heat to others Paul would not have Timothy to bury in Ashes the heavenly Spark of divine Grace in him but that through Faith and Vigilancy it might be stirred up cleared and he by it be kindled into Fervency to minister Light spiritual Heat Benefit and Advantage to others An Allusion saith one to the Fire of the Altar that came from Heaven which should always be burning and never go out Lev. 6.13 To the Candle of the Virtuous Woman that went not out by Night Prov. 31.18 To the wise Virgins Lamps Mat. 25.8 To the Lights of the Disciples which Christ commanded to be burning Luke 12.35 Obj. 2 Tim. 2.2 Answ This proves not a mediate humane Call into the Ministry by acquired Natural Languages Heathen Arts and Sciences but expresly the contrary The things that thou hast heard of me saith Paul in this place to Timothy the same commit thou to Faithful men who shall be able to teach others also Faithful men men full of Faith are any full of Faith but through the indwellings of Christ the Author and Finisher of Faith And are any able to teach others but who are taught of Christ Who witness these things in a great measure they witness Flesh Crucified So who are able to teach others or truly desire to be serviceable to others they are Spiritually called thereto Is it not said that It is God that worketh in man to will and to do of his own good pleasure This I say that the Call of faithful men of men able to teach others is of God and not of man No Talent saith Trap on this place is given for private and proper use but for the transmitting it to others for their benefit and advantage Obj. We learn Natural Tongues Arts and Sciences to enable us to understand Scriptures and the Scripture and Spirit are inseperable so though we be ordained of men yet we exclude not the Spirit for the Spirit and Scripture are inseparable Answ This Doctrine if truly understood and weighed in the Ballance of the Sanctuary savours of Simony Simon offered Money for the Spirit but could not have it Now if the Letter and Spirit had been inseparable as many have taught and affirmed he might have had it for Money for the Bible may be had for Money Further Simon had this acknowledgement that the holy Spirit was the Power of God and that mans having the Scripture without the Power signified little but many teach and affirm now that he that hath the Scripture he hath the Spirit also for they are inseparable and that the Scripture is the Power of God herein coming short of Simon Further Simon bewitched the People so man made Ministers who have nothing but from man who keep people in their corrupt Interpretation of the Letter out of that which gave out the Letter the Spirit and bring them not to Shiloh to whom the true gathering is such are in spiritual Witchcraft drawing People from the Life of Righteousness the Seed in which the Families of the Earth are blessed into the Dungeon of dead dry empty sapless Forms Again Simon gave out himself to be some great one so man made Ministers who know no Call but from man be they Graduates or Under-graduates they are puft up with Heathen Education that knowledge puffs up but Love Edifies If the Lord of the Harvest raise any to be his living Witnesses wanting Natural Tongues Heathen Arts and Sciences such are branded as Illiterate ignorant Mechanicks and Persecuted as if the Gospel Ministry were entailed upon Natural Languages Heathen Arts and Sciences yet the knowledge of Languages is useful in its place but the Gospel Ministry stands in that which was before Natural Languages Though it be clear by History that the Mahometans descended from Hagar the Bond-woman which thing they cannot deny yet for Name and Kindreds sake they had rather be called Saracens as if they descended from Sarah the Free-woman the Wife of Abraham So man made Ministers though they plead against any Call but of man and brand them as Hereticks Schismaticks Fanaticks Enthusiasts who plead for the Call of the Lord of the Harvest or for seeing the Lord or for the hearing of his Voice yet these man made Ministers would be called Ministers of Christ not of man Furthermore Natural Tongues Arts and Sciences are but such qualifications as a Natural man may have and the Natural man knows not the things of the Spirit of God they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 So 't is the Spirit the heavenly Key that opens Scriptures not Natural Tongues Arts and Sciences 'T is said of Christ that he opened their Understandings that they might understand the Scriptures Luke 24.45 He told them not that they must have recourse to Natural Tongues Arts and Sciences for to accomplish them to understand Scriptures No Scriptures being things of God they are not truly understood but by the Spirit of God Obj. Vniversities as Cambridge and Oxford are Well-springs of Divinity the Fountains of Gospel Ministers Answ Israel being Apostatized from the living God the Lord by his Prophet complained saying My People have committed two Evils they have forsaken me the Fountain of Living Waters and have hewed them out Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no Water Jer. 2.13
Thus Israel was guilty of forsaking the Fountain of Life of Living Mercies and of having recourse to broken Cisterns The labour of the Apostles and their living concern was to bring People to Shilo the Store-house of heavenly Wisdom Knowledge and sound Understanding the Fountain of Life the Well-spring of pure Wisdom spiritual Treasures Virtue Peace Joy Consolation and Spiritual Refreshments in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwells Bodily of whose plenitude that is fulness his receive Grace for Grace Now after the Apostles dayes the Star being fallen Smoke arisen Sun and Air darkned the Purity of the Primitive Church spoiled in a word upon the encroachment of the Apostacy the golden Cup of Abomination and Fornication was received by Christendom which became as Waters in this smoke evaporating out of the bottomless Pit the pure Fountain of Life was lost the truly impowering Call of the Lord of the Harvest was lost then in the Apostatized Roman Church Schools and Colledges were erected into which were received Heathen Poems Comedies Tragedies Fables spoiling Philosophy Heathen Metaphysicks and in and through learning of these Youth was qualified for the Gospel Ministry as they say and these Universities were called by the Apostatized Roman Church Well-springs of Divinity Fountains of the Gospel Ministry Thus the Fountain of Life being turned from broken Cisterns were entertained Luther on 2 Pet. 2.1 spake freely of Apostatized Popish Universities The whole World saith he is of this Opinion that these are Fountains or Well springs from which proceed such as ought to teach the People This is a horrible Error saith he forasmuch as nothing so detestable proceeds from any thing or place as from Universities c. The Roman Popish Religion being brought into this Nation by Austin the Monk and others in process of time Cambridge and Oxford came to be founded and made Universities and were called Well-springs of Divinity c. And though Protestantism and a great share of Reformation be pretended and professed yet the divine Call into the Ministry is denyed and altogether or in a high measure ascribed to Schools of Humane Learning yea and Cambridge and Oxford are still termed Well-springs of Divinity the two Fountains and the two Eyes of the Nation The Almighty is opening an Eye to see the Living Fountain the Well-spring of Life and to press after the same and to deny the Idolatrous use and abuses of Man made Well-springs and Fountains though Schools teaching the knowledge of the Creation of useful and necessary Accomplishments are to be contended for but out of their place Idolatrous as in setting them in the room of the Lord of the Harvest William Tindall in his Parable of the wicked Mammon saith Many are not ashamed to rail and blaspheme saying How should he understand the Scripture seeing he is no Philosopher hath never seen his Metaphysicks and how can he be a Divine who knows not what is Subjectum in Theologia Nevertheless as a man without the Spirit of Aristotle or Philosophy may by the Spirit of God understand Scriptures even so by the Spirit of God understands he that God is to be sought c. and yet knows not what meaneth Subjectum in Theologia that is the Subject in Divinity because it is a term of their own making Drawing to a Conclusion let me say that to confine the Ministry to Natural Tongues Arts and Sciences is contrary to the Lords Call in the Patriarchal Mosaical and in the Morning of the Evangelical Dispensation yea and contrary to the Call promised after the Apostacy after the three dayes and an half wherein the Beast and the Locusts Anti-christ and his apostatized Ministry should be bred fitted and qualified in the Smoke of the Pit earthly and fallen Wisdom Rev. 11.11 Besides this my Testimony take the Testimony of our Country-man Gell who said I do not here confine the Gifts of God unto mans Approbation or Ordination Surely saith he the Lord may fill whose Hand he will speak by whom he will In all Ages saith this Gell God raised up Priests and Prophets without the Authority yea against the Authority of Men Amos 3.8 Acts 4.18 19 20. 'T is unreasonable saith he to confine the Spirit of God unto certain Theses Articles Confessions and Opinions of mens making they seem to dare and provoke the wise God in that they cannot say that their Dictates proceed from an infallable Spirit yet would they limit and bound the infallable Spirit of the God of Truth by their presumtuous humane Spirit which as themselves confess is Fallable and subject to Error We stay so long saith Bishop Hall upon the Shell of Tongues that we can hardly have time to chew the sweet Kernel of Knowledge So may I say Natural Tongues Arts Sciences and Endowments are so doted upon and concluded to be the enabling qualification for the Gospel Ministry as that the heavenly Anointing the real ability for the Gospel Ministry is not waited for but by most of the Worldly wise Linguists and Sophisters derided CAP. III. Of the Original of Bishops in Gospel dayes and of the Identity that is Oneness and Sameness of Bishops and Elders in the Primitive Age. THe Apostles in the Power of the Lord laboured and were livingly concerned to turn the Jew from Judaism and the Gentile from Gentilism to Christ in whom Oneness and the new Creature is witnessed After visiting the Churches before gathered and in the Spirit of discerning observing a Care begot in some particular Members for the good prosperity growth and decent order of their fellow Members the oversight care and charge of particular Assemblies were commended to such and they were called Elders because chosen for the most part of the elder sort of People and the same were also called Bishops that is Overseers or Superintendents because of their Office of overseeing and taking care of the rest They were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Presbyters or Elders for that they were so in Age the Law having so provided that no man should be promoted to that Dignity till he was thirty five Years old or else because they ought to be such in Manners and circumspect Carriage saith Sr. Thomas Ridley in his view of the Civil and Eccleslastical Law Pope Boniface the First thought good that not any under thirty Years of Age should be ordained a Presbyter that is an Elder Afterward it was decreed by the Authority of the Lateran Council that one might be made an Elder at twenty five Years old Polydor. de Invent. lib. 4. But this limiting to a certain Year savours of the Will of Man not of the Spirit Now 't is my Judgment that the same Individuals particular Persons that in the Purity of the Primitive Age were sometimes called Elders they were also called Bishops that is Overseers as the same Person may be sometime called a Minister sometime a Teacher this Doctrine in the Beauty of the Primitive Church was not called Heretical but