renounce as a delusion of Satan but is not he himself in the other extream saying as much of the word without the spirit Pag. 19. that it forceth it self into our dead naturall understandings plants it self there makes us one with it and forms us new c. If he say in the same place he cals it the sword of the spirit I answer then it can do no more of it self to those effects specified then a sword without an arm to wield it which whether it be not a contradiction to what he said afore that men have their understanding only and solely by the Scriptures Pag. 7. and are not taught by the spirit let him at leasure consider 9. And now again pag. 18. he asserts it peremptorily that now in our times we have no preacher of the Gospel but the Scripture the infallible word of God c. This is another piece of non-sense Is the Gospel and the preacher of the Gospel one and the same When Christ seat his Apostles and Paul and they sent others to preach the Gospel did they send the Gospel or the Scriptures to preach themselves Are not the Scriptureâ— and the preachers of the Gospel subordinate helps of understanding to the people Doth not the Apostle clearly distinguish the Gospel from the preachers of it Rom. 10.14 c. How shall they hear the Gospel of peace vers 15. without a preacher And how shall they preach except they be sent How beautifull are the flee of them mark that the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 twice Evangelizing bringing glad tidings of good things Hath the Gospel any feet to be sent to preach it self and do the preachers make people firsake those living fountains c. when as they call them to them and open those Wels of salvation for them and draw Waters thence for them which they cannot some at least draw forth for themselves Suppose the people be such as cannot reade must they not have some to reade the the Scriptures for them to expound them to them These are preachers in this mans opinion reading is preaching with him If they have no Scripture but in Hebrew Greek or Latine though they can reade how shall they understand them unlesse there be some learned to interpret them But is not that with the iniquity of learning so he cals it pag. 19. to make a gain of godlinesse â—â—g 19. c. And though he seem to magnifie the word the precious word translated into English yet what certainty will there be in such translations especially if the Interpreters shall as the Church of Rome hath done make use of the iniquity not of learning but of their own sedueing hearts and designs to cheat and abuse the people And who I pray are the men arrived at so much impudence as to make a gain of godlinesse c. and to become rich by pretended not preaching but reading the Scripture and saying of Masle in Latine telling men they had the spirit at Rome and that the Scriptures were a dead letter a nose of wax c. These blasphemous aspersions some disguised Jesuites have cast upon the Scriptures again and now cry out of the same 10. But that there are both Churches and Preachers now according to the Scripture rules might easily be manifested from the Scripture it self and by his own confessions First The Scripture is most clear 1 Cor. 12.28 God hath set in his Church not only Apostles and Prophets extraordinary Ministers but Pastors and Teachers Where there are implied both Churches and Preachers and lest he should say those were in the Apostles times Churches planted by Apostolicall men and the Preachers extraordinarily inspired but we have none such now let him then consider another Scripture Ephes 4 1â— 22. He gave to his Church some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry c. How long to continue Tell we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God unto a perfect man c. That is till the day of Christ to the worlds end Now hence it follows either that these Preachers and Churches were ordinary or if extraordinary that the Church of Christ hath failed ever since the Apostles decease for we have had no such extraordinary infallible Preachers for many ages which is contrary to Christs promise and the intoution of this Scripture Again if there be Preachers continued that there may be Churches either they must only reade the word written by the Prophets and Apostles which is needlesse seeing every man and woman may yea must by his way reade it themselves and by reading only understand it as he after speaks Or else they must interpret the word expound and apply it according to the rules of Scripture and that is nothing else but preaching and so we have found other preachers beside the Scripture I might adde many texts more I name but one Act. 20.28 where he shall finde both a Church yea severall Churches and Preachers many Elders set over those Churches by the holy Ghost to feed them not surely by extraordinary Revelations besides the Scripture None such were found at that or in after times and himself disclaims the immediate tanching of the spirit in people or Preachers Nor yet by bare reading of the word the infallible word of God there need no officers for such a work only the people could do that themselves Therefore there was an office of Preachers to continue to the worlds end according to Scripture Secondly His own acknowledgements import as much hear him speak Pag. 34. We reade of Apostles Evangelists Prophets Pastors and Teachers and of the order and regulating of Churches and of gifts given to all these from on high c. Where say I do we reade of these but in those and the like places to those before named And the reasons before are constringent to prove them to continue still extraordinary we finde none Therefore it must be meant of ordinary both Churches and Preachers All he excepts to this is either That these are not so plainly exprest as to leave the consciencious without dispute c. or that these Churches and Pastors are short of and not to be compared with those we reade of To which we answer first That there are Churches and Preachere to be continued is clearly exprest in the word their order and qualifications plainly delivered 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. 1 Cor. 14. c. where note that there is not one word for such a qualification of a Preacher that he must have an infallible spirit 2. That they are not to be compared with the Apostles and Prophers we easily grant but that they are not to be compared with the Pastors and Teachers is miserably begged It 's evinced then that there are both Churches and Preachers now and all he saies against it is lesse then vanitie 11. But he
to be most palpably evident that they of the Independent Congregationall or of any Church-way whatsoever have not that true essentiall mark of a true Church to be found amongst them c. viz. A true Church in the Scripture sense being such only as wherein the Scripture the very word of God is purely and infallibly preached that 's the mark But let it be observed first This man destroies his own discourse by a contradiction For he is labouring to shew the vanity of all and any Church way whatsoever which is to deny that there is any Church at all but mock churches as pag. 27. and yet here he gives us the definition of a true Church which yet is not to be found in this world He would prove also the vanity of Preachers and yet here he speaks of the word of God purely preached as a mark of a true Church If there be no Preachers then no preaching if preaching then Preachers How shall they hear without a Preacher How preach except they be sent How sent if no body no Church to send them to to preach unto Secondly If any shall say he means it of the present Churches as his Title imports that none of them are true but that there may be a true Church according to his definition I answer His scope is to perswade every man and woman privately to reade the Scriptures and to be the sole judge of the sense thereof for themselves deeding neither Preacher to instruct nor officer to order them and where is then his true Church unlesse every particular man and woman make his new Church which is a Bull and another contradiction for a Church is caetus a company called out and met together for the publick and common service of God Thirdly If he mean that in a true Church there is not one word preached praying or Sacraments it seems are no mark of his Church no part of his new Church-service but purely and infallibly the very Word of God that is no interpretation used besides the very words of Scripture to what purpose is that meeting of his Church for debate and conserence of the Saints spoken of afterwards for they may reade the word at home the pure and infallible word of God and so be their own preachers the sense whereof if they impart in any other words to others at their meeting and conference they make his Church to be false and none because the very word of God is not purely and infallibly preached there Fourthly But Readers what will you say if the design be besides other desperate consequences of which anon to set up reading instead of preaching as the Prelaticall party of late cryed it up for preaching They do justifie their dumb idoll ministers that could not for ignorance or would not for negligenceâ— preach the word He perhaps wholly to level it seems there are Church-levellers as well as State the Ministry in the Church and to make all the people Preachers Or what if the design be in crying down all Churches and Preachers amongst us to cry up the boly marker Church of Rome where they will tell you there is the only preaching of the very word of God purely and infallibly read where little or no preaching to be found I leave you to consider it 4. He hath quickly done with the Churches his next and greatest work is to declaim against preaching and the Preachert Pag. 6 c. Who saith he usually pray to God that their word may be heard as the word of the everliving God This he cals a grosse imposture impiety belying and despiting the Spirit of God to pray that their erroneous doubtfull uncertain conceptions the word of man may be heard as the word of God c. 1. Here let it be observed that he doth not directly deny that there are such officers as Preachers in the Scriptures he acknowledges such creatures found in the word pag. 34. but only questions the infallibility of our preaching which none of us ever arrogated to our selves further then we preach that pure infallible word in Scripture sense ever though not alwaies in the very words 2. Who ever of ours said his Sermons were the very word of God for words and syllables But having praied that God would clear up their understandings and judgements in the scope and sense of the holy Ghost then they pray that people may hear it as the word of the living God And his reproach of such Sermonk that they are erroneous doubtfull uncertain conceptions for what other are your Sermons saith he is little lesse then blasphemy imposture and impiety Whereas while they expound and apply the Scripture in its own native sense according to the analogy of faith it is interpremtively the word of God Every true proper consequence from the word is by all godly learned and judicious men counted as the word of God and of divine authority though not so immediatly as the Scripture it self 5. But his meaning is that as there are no true Churches so no true Preachers in these times so he saith expressely pag. 18. That now in our times we have no Preachers of the Gospel but the Scriptures which how absurd an assertion it is we shall shew hereafter At present we hold to the point in hand to vindicate our preaching which he examines by the word we preach â—ag 7. You shall finde saith he that neither they nor your selves have any understanding at all of such divine or heavenly things as bring peace of conscience c. but only and solely by the Scriptures and that neither they nor your selves are taught by the spirit c. What 's this I hear Taught only and solely by the Scriptures without the spirit What understanding is that that is gotten by the Scripture only and solely more then historicall more or better then that which reprobates and devils have thereof This he speaks again pag. 49. They must acknowledge that they have no other infallible teacher of divine things but the Scriptures and that they partake no more of the spirit then what that blessed word of the spirit planteth in them How comes this opposition between things sweetly subordinated the spirit and the Scriptures the Scriptures outwardly the spirit inwardly saith not the Scripture They shall be all taught of God and that the spirit reveals the mysteries of the Gospel to his people writing the law in their mindes and hearts c. I had thought be had meant there needed no other preachers to teach us but the spirit it self speaking in the Scriptures so some fanatick spirits say and some are gotten above the Scripture to the immediate teaching of the spirit But it seems this Wildman is run as wilde to the other extream the Socinions recta ratiâ— that the spirit is needlesse and that the Scriptures only and solely are sufficient to teach us Oh the wiles of Satan How subtle is this old serpent One while the spirit without
the Scriptures that snare is discovered as a meer delusion another while the Scripture only and solely without the spirit and this is the last and newest device of Satan Any thing either vilifying or over magnifying the Scripture to stupifie men into confusions that so he may both waies prey upon them And I pray Sir if your private persons may have this infallible teaching by the Scriptures and partake of the spirit by the word of the spirit as you seem to yield pag. 49. why may not our preachers in reading and studying the Scriptures have the like priviledge and be as able to hold it out at the publick meetings as your private men and women and so we shall finde preachers infallible either some in office or all in common 6. But let us hear his reason why our preachers have not the spirit Had they the spirit of God as they pretend would the need Pag. 7. as they do to go sit in their studies three or four daies together turning over their Authors to finde out the meaning c. no certainly the spirit could in an instant inform them the meaning of his own writings c. 1. May not this be as well applied to his disciples in their readings debates and conferences to which he advises and exhorts so often Had they the spirit at once reading what need they study the Scripture debate or confer about it to get or increase knowledge The spirit could in an instant inform them in the meaning of it Nay what need they the spirit to that end if the Scriptures only and solely and so easily and speedily can give them the understanding of them so that either he must as indeed he doth deny the spirit to be needfull for his disciples to understand the Scriptures but then it 's hoped our preachers having learning and tongues besides may understand them as well as they or if the spirit be needfull for them why may not the blessed spirit be pleased to give understanding to preachers as well as to them 2. There is which he conceals or confounds a two fold administration of the spirit the one immediate without the Scripture thus it was imparted to the Prophets and Apostles The other mediate by the Scriptures or by illumination of the Scriptures upon the heart and this is common to all Gods people Again there is a double understanding of the Scripture one of the letter or history common to reprobates another spirituall of the mystery and power of the Gospel and this is peculiar to Gods elect To you it is given to know the mysteries c. Paul bids Timothy a preacher give attendance to reading for to save himself and them that hear him But Paul himself had his without reading by immediate revelation but the same spirit 7. â—â—…g 8. Observe saies he that when they have for some years preacht up a doctrine they are many times forced to preach it down again as most of them have done and that in very materiall points c. We say to this reproachfull aspersion first either it is not in materiall points especially not in necessary points for they he saith are clear and plain not at all hard to be understood nor require long time to learn them pag. 21. and that to his unlearned ones then much more to preachers or else if in materiall things any are thus inconstant they are not our preachers which do so but his own giddy sectaries and some perhaps Independents They indeed preach one while baptisme of all infants of infants of Beleevers only another while and at last of no infants or of any others of years for want of a true Ministry And hither I beleeve himself is fallen through all these opinions for if there be no true Church nor true preachers there is no Minister of Baptisme to be found and so no Baptisme Again the sectaries have their Pastors and Churches divided in election and reprobation in universall redemption free-will c. up and down down and up But so do not the Presbyterian Preachers Befides Who hath brought these planets to this uncertain motion but only those Camâ—lian-like Jesuites who insinuate these delusions and false doctrines into the unstable Pastors and Churches and then make these outcries of divisions and inconstancy as he now doth Oh the damnable subtilties of Jesuiticall seducers They unsettle people and Pastors and set them on building of Churches on these uncertain doctrines and then cry out How can they affirm their word to be the word of God Is not a Church founded on such uncertainties 〈◊〉 9. founded on the sands 8. And now he lets fly at all The Pope and his Clergy bely themselves and blaspheme God in saying they have the true spirit of God whilst by their lying miracles 〈◊〉 10. art and sophistry they lead the poor deluded people into greatest errors c. The Bishops discover their faults The Presbyters they come and cry out of studied Sermons and common prayer as stinters and suppressors of the Spirit of God Then comes the Independent and pretends to erect a pure holy and undefiled worship c. and a great deal more of such stuff For our parts we say Let Baal plead for himself Only if we mistake not the man we think he is too saucy with his father the Pope but any thing is tolerated for the Catholick cause As for the Presbyters we must tell him plainly he flanders them They never cryed out of studied Sermons or set prayers as stinters and suppressors of the spirit nor do they differ at all in materials or minde their own honour and profit and least of all are they possessed with a persecuting spirit The Lord rebuke thee thou false tongue prosecution of or preaching against damnable heresies is no persecution That is only for truth and the Gospels sake But I pray Sir tell us Is not the world full of Atheists Antiscripturists your self complain of such in this book Antinomists Seekers Antispiritists 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were called of old and may not we call a spade a spade are not you your self an Antispiritist in part denying the necessity of the spirit in the understanding of the Scriptures and will you complain of us for calling you so These these are they that have brought those infinite evils into the world which you cry out of Pag. 13. doubtings and sadnes in some in others wrangling envy malice wilde notions and opinions not examining their opinions by the text but interpreting the text by their opinions and experiences and the rest of that rabble mentioned of heresies blasphemies c. none of which blessed be God are found among the Presbyterians but all preached against by them so far that they are called persecuter without a cause And who are they that say the letter killeth and call the Scripture a dead letter but his sectaries who plead the immediate teaching of the spirit which the Presbyterians
many mindes as men through many more worse uncertain doubtfull erroneous conceptions and mistakes at one meeting upon one text of Scripture then are to be found in many Sermons Those that have gone to some such meetings have told us what non-sense what confusion wranglings blasphemies they have heard amongst them and some that have been members of such meetings Churches we must not call them have told us That they meet and wrangle and quarell and rail and revile one another about a sense of Scripture very shamefully and then a gossips meeting is appointed to make them friends and so they commonly do Sabbath after Sabbath And this I fear is that which this Authour would have in all their meetings that so when they have wearied themselves with wrangling then a subtle Jesuite may start up and say You see good people how dangerous a thing it is for every one of you unlearned ones to take upon you to expound the Scriptures The way to make you all of one minde is for you all to return into the bosome of that unerring mother Church of Rome which hath the Spirit infallibly tied to the man in Peters chair pag. 48. c. That this is his designe appears by that we have dropped out in pag. 33. Notwithstanding his commending the Scripture as not hard for common people to understand yet mark his words When we have all doâ—â— we must acknowledge that very many things exceed our understandings not so plainly exprest as to leave the conscentious without dispute and difference thereupon pag. 34. Whereupon it will be fairly consequent that we must look out for some infallible Judge to â—â—pire all our differntes or else we shall wrangle eternally who is that So Pag. â—… No others â—â—fallible Teacher but the Scriptures The Scripture he said before the only Preacher of the Gospel as being the infallible word of God pag. 18. True saith our Jesuite but they you see cannot be understood alike by all but severall men take them severall waies even those plainest necessary doctrince are controverted That Jesus Christ is God That he is the propitiation for our sins c. therefore you see how expedient yea necessary it is for preservation of love and unity in all your meetings that there be one infallible spirit inspired Judge who may determine the sense of Scripture and that 's the man in Peters chair Such Agitators as these are abroad at every of these meetings Pag. 36. and these I am confident are the men that pretend as our Authour saies To expound Scripture ever raising and starting new questions and new opinions and darken the Scriptures whereby men are ever learning but never at rest in knowledge tost too and fro with every winde of doctrine till at last one winde carry them all to Rome Pag. 37. Nor need any man henceforth wonder whence so many severall and strange opinions should arise by which our English world becomes even rent and torn in pieces It is from this Jesuiticall preaching and false exposition of the holy Scriptures on purpose to put all into confusion to prepare the way for Romish union And he saies most truly pag. 38. Pag. 39. In the absence of those faithfull forsaken Preachers are crept in swarms of locusts false teachers men of corrupt mindes c. by which the innocent Dove is become the game of these birds of prey these Ravens Vultures and Harpies This witnesse is true therefore reprove them sharply 14. After all this he draws to a conclusion thus Pag. 42. It were much better for the Common-wealth that all mens mindes were set at liberty from these entanglements from this Church-bondage for then men would by reading the Scriptures c. soon come to be able to understand the intent and substantiall scope thereof and become substantiall Christians c. But I pray Sir if there were not this Church-bondage as you call it but that all men were set at liberty from the publick Ordinances the word read and preached how many do you think would reade the Scripture at all or hear it read whenas we finde that most common people make bold to take this liberty you grant them never come into Church-bondage never reade them from one end of the year to another This is the way to bring in liberty of conscience one main * thing intended in this discourse and liberty of errour Pag. 48. â—hat all men â—â—…ing in their â—â—…verall waies â—â—…serving God â—hether pubâ—â—ck or private c. heresie profanesse And if this be your design in all your undertakings I shall say no more but The Lord rebuke thee even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee Is not this a brand pluckt out of the fire of hell If otherwise you are misled and seduced by cheating Jesuites my praier shall be The Lord would discover your errout to your self first and then to all such as by that your discourse or otherwise you have seduced FINIS