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
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
the Land of the Philistins 1 Sam. 3.9 When it was scornfully demanded Is Saul also among the Prophets one answered But who is their Father As who should say Prophecy comes not so much by Man's Teaching as by God's therefore wonder not that Saul prophesies though not bred a Schollar 1 Sam. 10. Trap. on the Acts. The Seventy Elders were called of God without recourse to Heathen Education Prophane Arts and Sciences the Spirit the Word of Prophecy came upon them Numb 11. Eldad and Medad were called of the Lord the Spirit of Prophecy came upon them Numb 11.26 c. Joshua the Servant of Moses said My Lord Moses forbid them He said not Stock Stone Imprison Persecute Beat them with Staves Bibles as the Language of many in our dayes have been who would be accounted Ministers of the Gospel Moses answered Enviest thou for my sake Would God that all the Lord's People were Prophets and that he would put his Spirit upon them Here was a precious Frame of Spirit Fervency for the Propagation of the Truth Samuel a Prophet was called of God contrary to the Will of Man 1 Sam. 3. Oded a Prophet was called of the Lord 2 Chron. 28. his Testimony from the Mouth of the Lord was effectual Ahâ—jah the Prophet was called of the Lord 1 Kings 11.29 14.26 If thou comest uncalled God will say unto thee Friend how camest thou hither The Calling is Null if it have not the Living God for the Author and Caller Wilson's Christian Dictionary Iddo the Seer was called of God 2 Chron. 9.29 Jehu the Prophet was called of the Lord the Word of the Lord came unto him 1 Kings 16.1 Jahaziel a Prophet was called of the Lord the Spirit of the Lord came upon him 2 Chron. 20.14 15. Elijah was called of the Lord made a Prophet by the Living Word 1 Kings 17.1 2. his Testimony was against Ahab and Jezebel for their Idolatry and worshipping of Images for the which they persecuted him calling him A Troubler of Israel 1 Kings 1.8 Elisha a Plough man was called of God 2 Kings 2.15 he reproved the Idolatry of Priests and People in his Age he cured Naaman of his Leprosie upon which Naaman testified saying I know that there is no God in all the Earth but in Israel Naaman offered him a Gift and urged him to take it but Elisha refused shewing forth another manner of Spirit than is in Man-made Ministers who speak much the Horsleeches Language Give Give 2 Kings 5. Micajah a Prophet called of the Lord concerning whom the King of Israel said I hate this Micajah for he doth not prophesie good concerning me but Evil One advised Micajah To speak well of the King as the Four Hundred Prophets had done Micajah answered As the Lord liveth what the Lord saith unto me that will I speak 1 Kings 22. shewing forth another Spirit than is in Man-made Ministers Men pleasers Huldah a Prophetess was called of the Lord the living Word came to her and she bare Testimony against the Backsliding and Idolatry of that time 2 Kings 22. Shemaiah a Prophet a Man of God called of God the Word of the Lord came to him 1 Kings 12. 2 Chron. 12. Azariah the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he preached true sound and wholsom Doctrine 2 Chron. 15. Hunani the Seer in the Word of Prophecy reproved Asa King of Judah for his Reliance upon the Arm of Flesh and for his Non-reliance upon the living God Asa imprisoned him for his Message 2 Chron. 16. Zechariah a Prophet was called of the Lord the Spirit of the Lord came upon him he reproved the People for that they forsook the Lord saying The Lord had forsaken them for the which they conspired against him and stoned him 2 Chron. 24. Thus they that are in the Flesh they swell against them that are in the Spirit Balaam was called of God he heard his Voice the Spirit of God came upon him he prophesied of the coming of Christ but by looking after Gifts and Rewards he went astray Numb 22 23 24 Chapters Miriam a Prophetess was called of the Lord Exod. 15. for Murmuring against Moses she became Leprous and was shut out of the Camp seven dayes Numb 12. Isaiah the Prophet was called of the Lord Isa 38.1 48.16 he bare Testimony against such Teachers as came by the Will of Man saying His Watchmen are blind they are all ignorant they are all Dumb Dogs they cannot bark sleeping lying down loving to slumber yea they are Greedy Dogs which can never have enough they all look to their own Way every one for his Gain from his Quarter Isa 56.10 11. Who are called of God now they see and comprehend such as come by the Will of Man who have nothing but what they receive from Schools and Colledges Natural Tongues Arts and Sciences School-Divinity to be the blind and ignorant Watchmen seeking yea Extorting Gain from their Quarters from their Parishes watching for the Fleece more than for the Good of the Flock Trap on the Corinthians saith That Luther never found himself once tempted to Covetousness Among Man-Made Ministers herein few are Lutherans Jeremiah was called of the Lord when a Child without recourse to Heathen Education Jer. 1. he said Ah! Lord God behold I cannot speak for I am a Child The Lord said Say not I am a Child thou shalt go to all that I send thee and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak Here he is drawn from Man to the Mouth of the Lord. I will give you Pastors according to mine Heart saith the Lord which shall feed you with Knowledge and Vnderstanding Jer. â— 15 Such Teachers are of the Lord 's giving not of Man's sending He reproved their great Corruption as in the Civil so in the Ecclesiastâ—cal State saying A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the Land the Prophets prophesie falsly and the Priests bear rule by their Means and my People love to have it so Jer. 5.30 31. In the Light of Truth such as these are found out Again He testified against such as ran and were not sent saying They make you Vain they speak a Vision of their own Heart and not out of the Mouth of the Lord I have not sent these Prophets yet they ran I have not spoken to them yet they prophesied but if they had stood in my Counsel and had caused my People to hear my Words then they should have turned them from their Evil Way and from the Evil of their Doings Jer. 23. In the Prophetical Dispensation such as ran for Self-ends not being sent of the Lord the Prophet's Testâ—mony was against them for his Testimony the People stroke him stocked him imprisoned him and sorely persecuted him The same is fulfilled in our dayes Ezekiel was called of the Lord chap. 1. he bare Testimony against such as came by the will of Man without a heavenly Call he prophesied That the Lord would deliver his
Flock from the Mouth of such and set up One Shepherd who should feed them This one Shepherd is known and the Shepherds that mind the Fleece more than the Flock are turned from Ezek. 34. Daniel through the virtue and influence of the living Word was made a Prophet he fore-saw the Messiah and his Kingdom and how the Saints should take his Kingdom and of the â—â—ishing of Transgression and of the putting an End to Sin and of making Reconciliation for Iniquity and of bringing in Everlasting Righteousness Hosea was called of the Lord the Word of the Lord came unto him cap. 1.1 he bare Testimony against prophane Priests saying My People are destroyed for lack of Knowledge because thou hast rejected Knowledge I will also reject thee that thou shalt be no Priest unto me Hos 4. And as Troops of Robbers wait for a man so the Company of Priests Murder in the Way by Consent for they commit Lewdness Hos 6.9 Joel the Prophet was called of the Lord Joel 1.1 he prophesied of the Glory of the Evangelical Dispensation saying It shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh your Sons and your Daughters shall prophesie your old men shall dream Dreams your young men shall see Visions and upon the Servants and Hand-maids in those days I will pour out my Spirit Joel 2.28 29. So 't is the Spirit of the Lord that enables to Pray to Preach to Prophesie to bear a faithful Testimony for the Lord not acquired Heathen Arts Sciences and natural Tongues Amos a Herds-man and a Gatheres of Sicomore Fruit was called of the Lord to be a Prophet Amos 1.1 he rebuked Israel for that they would have had the Lords Prophets silent Amos 2.12 Amaziah said unto Amos O thou Seer flee into the Land of Judah there eat Bread and Prophesie there but Prophesie not any more aâ— Bethel for it is the Kings Chappel and it is the Kings Court Amos 7. Thus he who had the Letter without the Spirit would have limitted him that was in the Spirit the Key which opens and no man can shut And how man-made Ministers now and others in the Will of the Flesh have and do labour to stop the Testimony of Truth because not born by Artists Logicians Philosophers I need say little Obadiah was called of the Lord contrary to the Will of Man cap. 1.1 he prophesied That Saviours should come upon Mount Zion to judge the Mount of Esau and the Kingdom should be the Lords vers 21. Jonah was called of the Lord the Word of the Lord came unto him That he should preach Repentance unto Nineveh but consulting with Flesh and blood he steared his course to Tarshish a great Fish swallowed him up through Repentance he was delivered and sent to preach Repentance to Nineveh Jonah 1 2 3. chap. Micah was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he bare Testimony against such as came by the Will of man saying Thus saith the Lord concerning the Prophets that make my People Err and cry Peace Peace and he that puts not into their Mouthes they prepare War against him In the Living Word that came to Micah such Teachers are now seen preparing War against them that put not into their Mouthes that refuse to give them Tythe Easter-reckonings Midsummer-dues Martin-Mass-Calves Mortuaries Reek-pennies such they Sue recover Tribble Damages Imprison what spoil is made on this account very many Parishes in England affords Examples The Sun was gone down over such Prophets yea Night was upon them and they had no Vision nor Answer of God Micah 3.5 6 7. Now such as deny Revelation and Vision the Sun is gone down unto them Night is upon them Further saith Micah The Heads judge for Rewards and the Priests teach for Hire the Prophets divine for Money yet will they lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord among us Micah 3.11 In the same Spirit now revealed such are now seen Nahum was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he spake of slumbering Shepherds cap. 3.18 In the Soul-quickning Life-restoring Word such Slumberers and Sleepers are now seen who are not kept waking to Righteousness nor vigilant for the good of their Flocks Habakkuk was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he prophesied of a comfortable Dispensation of the scattering of the Exhalations of Darkness and Ignorance saying The Earth shall be filled with the Knowledge of the Glory of the Lord as Waters cover the Sea cap. 2.14 Zaphaniah was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he testified That the Lord would cut off the Names of the Chemarims that is Black coats with the Priests Zeph. 1.4 He said of Jerusalem That her Prophets were Light and Treacherous Persons that her Priests had polluted the Sanctuary and had done Violence to the Law cap. 3.4 Such as have no Call but of man will be found guilty hereof Haggai was called of the Lord he cryed out saying Is it time for you to dwell in your Ceiled Houses and this House lie waste cap. 1. Such are in Transgression who dwell in their own who cover themselves with the black Curtain of Self and natural Endowments and neglect the Dispensation of God where the building of the true Temple is Zechariah was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he bare Testimony against such as ran unsent saying Wo to the Idol Shepherd that leaveth the Flock the Sword shall be upon his Arm and upon his Right Eye his Arm shall be clean dryed up and his right Eye shall be utterly darkned cap. 11.17 Malachi was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he reproved the Priests for neglecting the Covenant cap. 2.1 2. as man made Ministers now are justly reproveable for neglecting the new Covenant the Law written in the Heart the Spirit put in the inward Parts the great blessing of the Evangelical Dispensation John the Baptist was called of the Lord without recourse to Heathen Arts and Sciences spoiling Philosophy Luke 1.15 Luke 3.1 2. Christ Jesus the End of the Law the End of the Prophets in his prepared Body called not the Wise and Prudent Painted Oraters Subtil Sophisters Crafty Logicians and spoiling Philosophers but weak and contemptible Instruments as unlearned Fisher-men to preach the Everlasting Gospel that they might be in him what they were that they might be Work-men solely and wholely thorow his Power Virtue and Influence not thorow acquired Arts Parts and Sciences Mat. 4.18 c. Christ sent not Orators saith Augustin to work upon Fisher-men Andrew and others but by these Fisher-men he reduced Kings and Emperors to the saving Knowledge of the Truth Omnipotency being Agent faith one it matters nothing what like the Instrument be Of Fisher-men he made them Fishers of men they came to the Discipleship to learn of Christ before they came to the Apostleship to be Preachers of Christ they were taught and caught by him before they taught and caught others Unlearned Fishermen saith Jerom are sent to preach that the Faith of
had done and wrote in the defence of Popery whereupon one taunted him with these Words Quod Aeneas damnavit Pius probavit that is What Aencas disallowed of Pius allowed of So what Man-made Ministers rejected as Heterodox is at the pleasure and command of Authority owned as Orthodox but Truth and the out-goings thereof are to be embraced because of themselves whether men fawn or frown Thus who are in their own Wills out of the pure Worship of God which is in Spirit and in Truth where true sence is and assurance of Divine Requirings such for Self-ends and Corporal ease are carried about with every Wind of Doctrine at the Commands and Injunctions of men against the unconstancy of these in such a weighty concern dropped out this following Reflection Away with such whose wily waxen Mind Takes every Seal and sails with every Wind Not out of Conscience but of Carnal Motion Of Fear or Favour Profit or Promotion And those Chamâ—â—leons that consort their Crew In Turky Turks among the Jews a Jew In Spain as Spain as Luther on the Rhine With Calvin here and there with Bellarmine Loose with the Lewd among the Gracious Grave With Saints a Saint among the Knaves a Knave CAP. V. Of the Wage of the Ministers of Christ being Free and Voluntary from their Converts and how it was continued in the Primitive Churches how the Co-ercive Compulsive Maintenance by Tythe and other unwarrantable Wages being the Maintenance of the Ministers of Antichrist was introduced CHrist having called Disciples and influenced them for his Heavenly Saving Work said unto them Freely ye have received freely give Matth. 10.8 What did they receive freely Power to heal the Sick and to Preach the Gospel as if he should have said I have freely learned these things of my Father ye have also freely learned them of me so in like manner teach others freely Whereby saith Poole on this place he did not only forbid detestable Bargains for their Ministry but all manner of Gain from such like things or from their Ministerial Labour which thing was purely and Conscientiously observed of the Apostles and of their Successors while the Primitive Faith and Order was kept among whom as Tertullian saith Nulla res dei pretis constabat that is Divine things were not bought and sold Further our Country-man Poole saith Paul and the Apostles obtained Necessaries for themselves by their own Hands rather then they would be burdensome to the Poor and Indigent or expose themselves to the malicious Slanders of Evil-minded People Further saith he Christ forbad his Disciples and Ministers to raise Gain or hord up Money under pretence of their new and wonderful Doctrine No man saith Aug. Marl. on this place can be a sound Minister of the Word nor a faithful Steward of Grace but he that Preaches freely Further he saith That all Hâ—relings do unworthily Vitiate and Prophane the holy Office of Teaching Naaman being cured of his Leprosie by Elisha the Prophet be offered him Gifts Elisha refused the same shewing forth another frame of Spirit then is in Man-made Ministers now but Gehazi the Servant of Elisha coveted after Silver and changes of Garments and received the same to whom Elisha said Is it time to receive Money Garments Oliveyards Vineyards Sheep and Oxen the Leprosie therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee and to thy Seed forever So he became Leprous 2 Kings 5. Now man-made Ministers who run uncalled of the Lord for Tythe filthy Lucre Earthly ends Advantages and Preferments they are in a Spiritual Leprosie and being strangers to receiving freely and giving freely they make a distinction of Gifts There are say they 1. Dona infusa Gifts of God that are miraculous as to heal c. 2. Dona acquisita acquired Gifts as the knowledge of Preaching not now had without great Study Labour and Cost as this is not gotten freely so neither is it to be used without Recompence Who are of this mind they exclude themselves from the true Ministry which acquired parts cannot bring unto the Natural man notwithstanding his Accomplishments Natural Tongues Heathen Arts and Sciences is a stranger to the true Ministry being the Gift of God and peculiar to the New man Wisdom Knowledge Faith Healing Miracles Prophecy discerning of Spirits c. all came from one and the same Spirit as the true sighted Apostle Paul bare Testimony 1 Cor. 12. And this Distinction hath not his allowance Further as Christ called Disciples and appointed them their Work so he appointed them their Wage also he instructed them how to carry themselves both to them that received them and to them that received them not Into whatsoever House ye enter saith he and they receive you eat and drink such things as they set before you as they give you for the Work-man is worthy of his Meat the Labourer is worthy of his Hire Mat. 10. Luke 10. Here a Wage a Hire a Maintenance was allowed to them they had Christ's Ordinance for it Wherein two things are to be considered 1. That their Maintenance was Free and Voluntary 2. That their Maintenance arose from such as received them and their Doctrine For the Disciples were first to be received before they received any thing as undeniably arises from the Words Who so receive you saith Christ eat and drink with such Now by the phrase of Eating and Drinking the necessary Conveninencies of Life are implied as also by the phrase of Food and Rayment 1 Tim. 6.8 1 Cor. 9.14 It cannot reasonably be thought that Christ intended thereby to tye up his Ministers to Meat and Drink only but under that phrase the necessary Conveniencies of Life are intimated The Disciples the Apostles of the Lamb had his Ordinance for their Maintenance and of whom to receive it and as they were taught 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to divide the Word aright so they were taught 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Foot it aright as to Teach Well so to Live Well and how exactly they were observant of Christ's Ordinance for their Maintenance may hereafter further appear The Disciples were sent out as Sheep in the midst of Wolves without Money or Brass in their Purses upon their return Christ asked them saying Lacked ye any thing They answered No Going in his heavenly Power and Virtue their Ministry was so effectual prevalent and influential as to open the Hearts of People to minister to their Necessities in the Work of the Gospel so he who sent them maintained them in touching influencing and opening Hearts to minister to their Necessities according to Christ's Ordinance upon that account provided they sought no set annual Stipends Salaries Augmentations They desisted not from Preaching for the want of a settled Maintenance as Man-made Ministers do who when their Maintenance ceases desist their Preaching fulfilling the old Proverb No Penny no Pater-noster Again as Christ instructed his Disciples how to carry and demean themselves to them that received them so he informed
not Protestant Writers say That the Beast and his ten Horns is the Pope and Popish Kings And by what hath been spoken it may appear how Tythes came into Churches professing Christianity and a Compulsary Maintenance Now is it honourable for or besseming such as pretend to be Ministers of Christ to have no Command nor Example from Christ for what they act but from the Beast and his Horns the Pope and his Auxilliaries Do they not offer great affront to Christ who establish that which he dissanulled Now if every Ordinance of man of what Nature so ever must be submitted to strange Consequences might follow then if one and the same Individual Person should remove into twenty several Nations of different Religions he is bound to hoist up his Sails to all these Winds to comply with the Worship of every respective Nation if the Supream Authority command it Having touched that no Patriarchal Act nor the Levitical nor Evangelical Dispensations nor Ordinances of man can assure Tythes to Gospel Ministers as truly such I may subjoyn a few Testimonies of men eminent in the Church since the Apostles dayes who in their Respective Ages bare Testimony against the grand Oppression of Tythes and other things The Teachers of the Waldenses saith a certain Inquisitor are Weavers Taylors they encrease not Riches but are content with Necessaries Vsher de Succes Eeclesia These Waldenses were a People of great Sincerity and Godly Simplicity in their day and endured fiery Tryals storms of Persecutions for their Testimony against the Romish Faith Gildas speaking of the Brittish Clergy being Locusts come out of the Smoke said They are Pastors in name but indeed Wolves not called to but seizing on the Ministry as a Trade not as a spiritual Charge seeking after Preferments and Degrees in the Church more than after Heaven and so gain'd make it their whole study to keep them by any Tyranny And what sufferings are in this our day for the Denyal of Tythe what Imprisonments what Havock and Spoil is and hath been made I need say nothing the Statute of Tâ—ible Damage hath been leaned to as if it were from Heaven and not of men The Waldenses saith Bishop Vsher gave Testimony That Ministers ought to be poor content with the free Benevolence of the People The Papists saith this Vsher judged this a pestilent and damnable Opinion And many that would be accounted Reformed Churches approve not of it Primitive Christianity had other thoughts of it their Maintenance being free and voluntary These Waldenses on a certain account testified saying We are not ashamed of our Ministers in that they labour with their hands seeking a Maintenance according to their Ability because the Doctrine and Example of the Apostles allows of this thing Vsher de Succes Ecclesiae Further this Vsher affirms That these Waldenses condemned all the Clergy because of their Idleness saying They ought to labour with their Hands as the Apostles did Robert Abbot of Molisme in Burgundy perswaded his own Disciples To live with their handy Labour and to forsake Tythes and Oblations The Bohemians descended from the Waldenses professed That all Ministers ought to be poor and to be content with the Free Gift of the People Aen. Syl. in his Bohemian History The Dominicans and Franciscans taught That Tythe was not due by Divine Right nor a necessary duty to Gospel Ministers but that they might be detained and disposed of at the Owners pleasure especially if the Pastor did not well perform his Office 'T was generally the judgment of the Wickliffians as of the Waldenses and Bohemians being all Protéstants That Ministers ought to be poor and content with the free Gifts of the People Aen. Syl. his Bohemian History John Wickliff whose works are much esteemed by Protestants in England and Bohemia whose Bones were taken up and burnt by Papists forty one years after his Death gave Testimony in this manner That Tythes were and are a free Gift as among the Christians and only pure Alms and that Parish oners might for the Offence of their Curates detain and keep them back and bestow them upon others at their own Will and Pleasures Fox Acts and Mon. John Hus burnt at Constance for his Testimony said thus The Clergy are not Lords and Possessors of Tythes and other Ecclesiastical Goods which are freely given but only Stewards and after the necessity of the Clergy is once satisfied they ought to be bestowed on the Poor and if the Clergy do abuse the same they are Thieves and Robbers and Sacriledges Persons and except they do Repent by the just judgment of God they are to be condemned Fox Acts and Mon. At the Reformed Church in Geneva they live upon free Gifts and Tythes of all sorts are taken up for the use of the State and said up for the publick Treasury William Thorp Martyr being complained of by the Popish Clergy was brought to Examination in the year 1407. being accused before Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of England as against divers other abuses crept into the Church so also against Tythes he gave faithful Testimony saying In the New Law neither Christ nor his Apostles ever took Tythe of the People neither commanded they the People to pay Tythe And Christ and his Apostles preached the Word of God to the People and lived of pure Alms or free Gifts and after Christ's Assention when the Apostles had received the Holy Spirit they travelled labouring with their Hands not to be Chargeable Further saith he Tythes were given in the old Law to Levites and Priests but our Priests come not of Levi ergo by the Law our Priests cannot challenge Tythes for as the Priesthood is changed so is the Law but since Christ in the time of his Ministry and also his Apostles lived by pure Alms or else by the Labours of their Hands for the Servant is not greater than his Lord. At which words the Bishop said unto him God's Curse have you and mine for thus teaching Further William Thorp said Those Priests that do take Tythes they deny Christ to be come in the Flesh Further bearing Testimony against the Covetousness and Pride of the Priests The Bishop answered By God I deem him more meek that goes every day arrayed in his Scarlet Gewn than thou in thy Thred-bare blew Gown Language not savouring of a primitive Bishop but of an Apostate Lording Bishop Fox Acts and Mon. William Swinderby testified to this purpose If Parishioners pay Tythes to wicked Priests or Curats they are guilty before God of upholding them in their Sins and Evil Deeds Further saith he Christs Law commands to minister freely to the People the Pope with his Law â—ells or Money Christs Law teaches his Priests to be Poor the Pope justifies and maintains Priests to be Lords Fox Acts and Mon. Walter Brute testified as appears by the Articles charged against him 1st That no man is bound to pay Tythes in Gospel times 2dly If any Priest