intend by Learning Humane and Divine whether you minde a perfection of Learning for you set no bounds upon your terms if so it s to be doubted that your selves are but Ignoramus's in both in your best and most experienced Art of humanity you come short of many Heathens and Philosophers and I am very confident that many in this Nation who never knew what an Art or Science meant in its form or method in way of School Study have more natural Philosophy Logick Retorick in their heads then your selves who so much pride your selves in your shame But whether am I wandring into the bottomless Pit of mans wisdom take your honour in this blackness and darkness and go on spoiling souls by your Philosophy Col. 2. 8. till the Lord prevent you You say in the Minor of your first Argument That every gifted Trades-man nailer tailor c. is not able to divide the word aright c. And is every Priest of your Calling in the Nation able to divide the Word aright in your own judgement or is one in ten nay in twenty be the judge your self if not be ashamed to bring such Arguments any more because every gifted Trades-man is not able therefore none are able c. because every Priest is not able therefore none are able Artificers in their art of preaching And in your second Argument you say most of them want learning c. And may not your selves say most of your own Calling want learning humane and divine I am sure you want divine learning else you would not make such humane Arguments against the divine truth but we confess your Argument we want learning not humane but divine and we wait on the Lord for his teachings acknowledging with the Apostle Who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2. 16. You say Nor to convince a learned Adversary Truly now adays your selves are the learned Adversaries the Church of Christ hath to deal withall And this I must tell you and you 'l finde it by experience that the gifted brethren will in the light and strength of truth overturn all the wisdom of the flesh as it s exercised against the truth in you or any others God will make all fleshes wisdom and pride and glory vale it self and fall down at the presence of his truth in his Saints as Dagon before the Ark you are mistaken Sir to think its your humanity that makes you able to divide the Word aright and that makes you an able Disputant it s the power of the Spirit of Christ in his people that makes them able to divide the Word and to convince gain-sayers Therefore your Argument is weak and hath nothing in it if any thing it reacheth your selves as well as others nay more then others because you live in that sphear and yet want but the gifted brethren see their wants and acknowledge it not boast of their fulness like your selves and they see they may want learning both humane and divine and yet divide the Word aright be solid Disputants for the truth so far as they have received not walking without or beyond their line knowing the Lord is their light and strength who never fails those that trust in him and only one thing I desire to Query of you If ever the like was read or heard of in Scripture so much ado about humane Learning to beat down truth and prevent the free operations of the Spirit in Saints Did any seek to hinder Gods workings in this way Oh Sir you want learning humane Arts and parts Therefore prophesy not preach not unto us If Old or New Testament Law or Gospel Moses or Christ hath done the like pray produce it If not be ashamed for ever to account your self a Minister of the Gospel and to mak use of such an engine against truth and its Owners as never any in the world made use of but Babylon and Egypt You grant That Translations are excellent helps yet there is such an emphasis and fulness in the Original that the Translation is nothing to the glory of it Answ It s like that is the reason you are so filled and puffed up with this outward fulness as that the Original of all fulness the fulness of the Spirit is scarce ever spoken of by you as if the Spirit of the Lord was not sufficient for these things You complain What miserable wrakings and rentings of Texts have come into the world for want of this Learning Come Sir Let us now a little consider who are the greatest wrackers renters and tearers of Scriptures The learned Humanists or the preaching Brethren The preaching brethren they hold and say that salvation is through Grace and that without any relation to any qualification or good in the creature according to Isay 55. 1. Rom. 4. 5. The Humanists say no but there must be some creature qualification some good in the creature before the soul must presume to come to Christ The preaching brethren hold and say that none but believers are to be baptized because there is neither precept nor president for it The Humanists say Infants must though no Scripture for it and this is their practice The preaching brethren say That the Saints are the Church of Christ and that they dare not own any else to be members if they manifest the contrary 1 Cor. 1. 12. because they are the body of Christ chap. 12. 27. and compact together Ephes 4. 16. with carnal ones they can have no spiritual fellowship 2 Cor. 6. 15. 16. But the Humanists say nay to this They will turn the world into Church and make all Christians thus deluding them thus forming up a monstrous body for Christ if he would accept of it But you might with better acceptation present your Church at the feet of the Pope then at the feet of Christ Thus owning a communion with them rather in their Estates tythe Pigs Geese and Eggs then with their souls for some of you will confess they are no Christians but deluded ones for self-ends and would not own them nor have any fellowship with them were it not for their bellies their God is their belly and their glory will be their shame The preaching brethren they own none for Christians but those who are convinced and converted by the preaching of the Gospel The Humanists want the power of the Civil Magistrate to convert souls for them The preaching brethren they say That Christ is King of Saints and that its his work alone to accept or reject in matters of conscience relating to the knowledge or worship of him and that who so gets into his room is the Antichrist But the Humanists Pope-like and Queen Mary-like cry out imprison hang burn banish the Sectaries that will not do as we say c. The preaching brethren say That preaching is a Gift and that its the work of the Saints according to their measure to communicate having received freely freely to give But the Humanists say nay
to this It is an Art and a Trade and by this we have our gain it cost us much the attaining therefore we must sell c. The preaching brethren say That where the love of Christ is enjoyed it s a law sufficient to keep from sin and to conform to Christ But the Humanists say nay it s a Doctrine of liberty and that its the Law of Moses fear and wrath that must keep from sin c. Thus have I given some few brief hints amongst many that so it may appear who are the renters of Scripture the gifted brethren or the Linguists You Query How a man should expound and reconcile Scripture without learning To that end you produce many Scriptures you say hard to be interpreted I answer That the Spirit of Christ which is the original of all truth and dwelleth in the Saints is sufficient and doth teach them those things of which the Humanists are ignorant Joh. 15. 13. 1 Cor. 2. from the 12th to the end You conclude there is need of Retorick and Arts to understand the Scripture 1 Thes 5. 19. quench not the Spirit that is the Gifts and yet notwithstanding all your Retorick Arts Learning c. you are the men that understand not the Scripture you are the men who quench the Spirit in your brethren and despise Prophesying if it comes not out of your forge for that is it which is there intended quench not the Spirit that is the Spirits workings in the Saints which many will do out of a low and base esteem of their brethren in despising of Prophesy which is but an interpretation of the former How do men quench the Spirit Answ In despising of Prophesy c. Hence the holy Ghost you say commends learning By the way holy Ghost and for all your learning is there any such word in all the Scripture as Ghost But you instance in Moses Act. 7. 22. Who was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians And no wonder being naturalized unto it bred up in it Daniel and his companions had skill in all learning and wisdom Dan. 1. 4. 17. For what was it these children were to be looked forth that in it they might preach or to teach the tongues and learning of the Caldeans to those amongst whom they were Captives vers 17. God gave them understanding in all learning and wisdom and to Daniel the knowledge of visions This was the gift of God immediate not acquired by Arts that they might set forth the glory of their Creator not themselves and their own pride Apollo was eloquent and mighty in Scripture So are your gifted brethren able in the might and strength of the grace of Christ to hold forth truth and to convince gain-sayers though not mighty in humane Arts c. Paul could speak languages more then they all but what languages acquired gotten by industry or of the Spirit its the gifts of the Spirit the Apostle speaks of not humane this is but a trick and shift of the Devil and Antichrist now they have lost those gifts of the Spirit to set up humane in the room a mystery of iniquity You say The Apostle cites Heathen Poets to convince the Grecians c. So may the gifted brethren produce Turks and Heathens to reprove you and your Christians He useth Syriack and Hebrew phrases No wonder when it was his own native Language Hence we read say you of Schools of the Prophets and Colledges erected c. Answ This is but your own Learned Retorical Exposition there is never a word of School or Colledge in the Text but the sons of the Prophets that is every one who had received the same spirit of the Prophets if there were Schools and Colledges as you imagine it s like the Lord dealt with them as he doth with you now adays he never that we read of took a Prophet from that School but from their Callings that the work might appear to be of himself and and not man but the truth is there were no such Schools of Idleness and wantonness as you have erected for your selves Well say you But how shall a man be able to preserve the truth how shall a man be able to Analyse and open Scripture without Logick Retorick Tongues c. And do you not know in good earnest how to do it Is your Philosophy the mother of your Theologie Your gifted brethren can tell you how to do it it s the light of the Spirit of truth in which they preserve truth and it s in the light of the same Spirit in which they understand and open obscure and dark phrases And indeed as you say Great is the pride and wantonness of the Priests to tread all that learning of the Spirit under foot without which the knowledge of Scriptures is not to be had laying all upon humane endeavors undervaluing the Gifts of the Spirit c. But you conclude your self That Arts and Sciences are necessary not of absolute necessity Well Sir To say no more about this Argument your gifted brethren they stick to that which is of absolute necessity the Spirit of Christ You bless your selves with that you confess is not of absolute necessity a man may be a Minister without it make you much of it little good wil it do you and little will it avail you in the evil day The seventh Argument from the sinfulness of it Whatsoever is not of faith is sin Heb. 11. 6. But whatsoever we do if we do it not by vertue of some Command or Call is not of Faith Ergo 'T is sin But the gifted brethren have a word of Faith and a Call as I have already proved therefore it s no sin You refer the proof of this Argument to the Examination of their Objections I shall do the like in my Answer purposing there to meet you c. The eighth Argument If none may preach but such as be Ordained then every gifted person may not preach but none may preach but such as be Ordained Tit. 1. 5. I will that thou Ordain Elders c. Answ This is but the substance of what you have said already and I have given a full Answer unto it therefore shall say but a word or two to the nonsence of your Argument Because Titus was left in Crete to Ordain and because they ordained Elders in every Church c. therefore none else must preach but such as be Ordained Whereas first As I have already said and proved Paul and divers others did preach before they were Ordained And secondly That unless men did preach before Ordination there was no ground for which they should be Ordained if their Gifts be not manifest Thirdly Ordination was not upon any such account as that by it they might preach the more lawfully but that the Gift might first be increased upon them 1 Tim. 4. 14. Secondly that they might attend upon the work of watching feeding reproving ruling c. The ninth Argument If no man
not but who are blind as my Messenger Thou False Prophet that pretendest thy self to be my Messenger and Minister yet most blind of all Who blind as thee pretending to open the eye and seest not thy self opening the ear but hearest not thy self vers 19. 20. Therefore first that thou mayst yet know there is mercy with me for the worst of sinners that I may be feared I advertise thee to kiss the Son least he angry if his wrath be kindled but a little Oh blessed are they then that trust in him Psal 2. Be not obstinate against my truth and servants any longer resolve not to break my bonds and cords of love and grace any longer If thou hear and obey there is yet the kiss of love for thee but if thou be still rebellious and persist in thine obstinacy my Sentence is that thou with that Beast before whom thou hast wrought miracles and deceived them that dwell on the Earth shall be taken both alive and cast into the Lake of fire burning with brimstone Rev. 19. 20. Now you say You proceed to Answer all the Cavils Scruples and Arguments which are brought in defence of Lay Preachers in which I shall trace you and finde you too light The first Objection Gen. 18. 19. The Lord commends Abraham for teaching his Family Ergo private persons may be preachers You say This was a long Cutlers Argument and that its like their Logick c. But believe it it s an Argument that hath more weight and perpetuity in it then your long Gownes although this is not an Argument much made use on for this purpose therefore I shall say the less to it in this place only give a hint or two that the weakness of your conclusions may appear 1. You say That was his Family and its one thing for a man to instruct and teach his Family and another thing to preach But stay a little Sir is it lawfull for a man to teach his Family and is it unlawfull for him to teach others May he not teach the same to others as he teacheth his Family Is it unlawfull for him to teach the way of God to others Was there ever the like heard of in this world It s lawfull for a preaching brother to preach and teach the way of God to his Family but not to others for preaching is but a speech or speaking of words and this I must do to my Family or nothing at all and this I may do it seems but not to others the reason rendred is because God commanded it but it seems if God had not commanded it then it had been unlawfull for a man to teach his Family too as if the law of Grace did not teach to do good to all Soul as well as Body others as well as Family but its evident there is a time when every man shall teach not only his Family but his brother and his neighbour too saying Know the Lord that is teach the knowledge of the Lord Jer. 31. 34 which was or is a condition preceding a glory that was to be revealed Now Sir if you and your Churches do all know the Lord from the least to the greatest and have no need of teaching let us know it when you come forth next in publike but if not be ashamed and silent for ever thus to mince and wrest Scripture to your own ends For till then they shall teach every man his brother in the constituted Churches for believers are all brethren and every man his neighbour so much is clearly implyed in the Scripture And thou shalt not suffer thy brother to sin but shalt reprove him and tell him his fault c. And comfort one another with the same comforts with which you your selves have been comforted 2 Cor. 1. 5. 2. You say If it be granted that Abraham did preach publikely yet it will not be any advantage because he was a Patriarch and a Prophet Gen. 2. 7. which Title is never given to any one in all the Scripture but only to one in office You are mistaken much in this likewise For first I say Prophesie is not an office but a gift so it was in the old so in the new Testament They prophesied according to the measure of the gift received and no further and I say that the Name or Title of office or officer is not given to a Prophet in all the Scripture because it is a gift and not an office Hence I conclude contrary to yours that as prophesie is a gift and Abraham and the rest of the Prophets did prophesie according to the measure of the gift received both in the old and new Testament So may every Nayler Taylor Artificer having received the same Spirit according to their measure prophesie and preach forth the truths of God for the good of others If it be objected That prophesying was an extraordinary gift and that spirit given but to few I answer In the time of the Law it was so but in the Gospel dayes it is not so prophesying in the Gospel it is to speak to edification exhortation and comfort 1 Cor. 14. 3. which is proper to all the brethren as in the same Chapter none exempted but women ver 34. and they may prophesie too though not in the Church or at least by permission of the Church 1 Cor. 11. 5. all men that have the gift may teach in the Church 1 Tim. 2. 12. its implyed by the womans prohibition the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophesie and this is given to the brethren Rev. 19. 10. and he that can speak experimentally of the work of Christ for him in him and testifie his worth and work to others is a Prophet and may nay ought to declare this Jesus to others every spirituall man is a Prophet but the Saints are all spiritual therefore all Prophets 1 Cor. 14. 37. If any be ignorant of this let him be ignorant Wherefore my brethren covet to prophesie c. ver 38 39. The second Objection From Numb 11. 25. to 30. Eldad and Medad prophesied and Moses wisheth that all the Lords people were Prophets Ergo All that have gifts may prophesie and preach In answer to this first you say That this was an extraordinary spirit of prophesie Grant it to be so yet the spirit of prophesie in the Gospel is ordinary and proper to all the Saints it s poured out upon them all and accordingly they may prophesie 2. The spirit of prophesie here spoken of was a spirit of Government as appears by the Context ver 16 17. you had done very well to have produced one Scripture in the Bible if you could that saith the spirit of government is a spirit of prophesie Blindness with a witness Do you not know that Moses was a prophet as well as a prince and Leader of the People and that spirit of prophesie that was upon Moses was given likewise to the Seventy I make no question but that they
Who told you they were three persons have you it in Scripture or by tradition from Rome if in Scripture produce it when you come forth in publick next for mine own part I know no such Scripture And this I shall with confidence affirm that neither Father Son or Spirit are at all called Person or Persons as God but it s a Title proper only to man in Scripture given to none else and therefore come from Rome Be instructed now therefore ye wise men of the Earth and do not judge so harshly of honest men because they cannot believe that which is not written in Scripture and be content to be fools that you may be wise and let these Traditions return to their first center 23. That Christ hath removed the Law and now the pure Gospel is the only Rule What yet more ignorance and malice Is this one of the wrinkles and deformities one of the delusions of that deluded Sect I wonder you have left out one this comes very near it that they expect salvation by the Free grace of God in Jesus Christ Is this such a strange wrinkle and delusion with you that Christ hath removed the Law I pray what was the end of his coming if not to remove the Law as a dispensation held forth in the hands of Moses The Law came by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ Joh 1. 17. First he came to fulfil the Law every jot and title of it Mat. 5. 17 18. He fulfilled all the righteousness of it for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness Mat 3. 15. and so is the end of the Law for righteousness to all those who believe Rom. 10. 4. Secondly He hath removed the Curse and condemnation of it Gal. 3. 13. Rom. 8. 1. Thirdly He hath removed the Rule of it as in the hands of Moses for there it was the Rule that produced the Curse it was a ministration of death and now the pure Gospel is the only Rule of Saints And is this such a mystery and deformity to you a Minister of the Gospel and ignorant of this Truth Sir I must tell you that if you were a Christian in good earnest you should not you could not be ignorant that the Gospel the Law of Christ is the Rule of the Saints Mat. 28. 20. Act. 3. 22. They are marryed to him and subject to him Rom. 74. Christ takes all that old dispensation both Moral and Ceremonial into his own hands and is the substance of the Ceremonies and righteousnes of the Moral Law and now gives forth the substance of the Moral again to them in them not as a Rule of righteousness but as a law of love a law of Grace and pure Gospel if you will have it though you think the word pure Gospel is reproach enough although you cannot be litterally ignorant that the Gospel signifieth glad tydings and is not this glad tydings think you and pure Gospel when a soul comes to see all the wrath and enmity that was against him contained in Ordinances taken away Ephes 2. 13 14. and fulfilled and now there is no ministration of death against him the Law of God is in his heart within him without him a law of love and grace no death no wrath nothing but love and grace and the love of Christ constrains such souls to yield obedience to him and to follow him where ever he goes But to conclude the Thirtieth Tenent They give a Supream and Independent power in all Ecclesiasticall causes and censures to their single Congregations And can you produce any other rule in the Gospel then this must you needs have one Church to rule over another or rather your selves to rule over the whole will nothing content you unless you may be Lords over Gods heritage Sir we allow no Synodian nor Classical power but advice and counsell we own c. it s not an Independent power neither only independent as to man and creatures but depending upon Jesus Christ and if you can produce any other rule in the Gospel let us know it that we may be informed If you mention Acts 15. I say first they sent to Jerusalem for advice and counsell and secondly those to whom they sent were able infallibly to determine the case ver 28. They could say It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay upon you no greater burthens then these necessary things c. And truly were there such Apostles and Elders amongst us we should gladly acknowledge them and receive from them but as for your Classicall power we own it not we submit not to it c. Thus have I briefly run through your Looking-glass and truly it may be a Looking glass for your self if the Lord open your eyes to see into it wherein you may first see your ignorance and blindness in calling so many precious truths of Christ wrinkles and deformities and delusions of the deluded Sect. And secondly you may see your malice and envy in charging so many falshoods upon them when it s your selves that are guilty of those crimes you endeavour to fasten upon them Thus you say You have given a taste out of a full sea whereby it appears that the Anabaptists are no such harmless creatures as some imagine A full sea it is indeed of lyes and scandals on the one part and truth ignorantly or wilfully abused by you on the other part No such harmless creatures c. if you could by your lyes and scandals perswade people to it thus dealt the Scribes Pharisees and the hypocrites your brethren in iniquity with Christ and the Saints of old Mat. 12 24. Joh. 8. 48. 10. 36. Act. 14. 2. You commend those who desire to see more of their Errors to Mr. Edwards Gangraena and the rest of your brethren in the same iniquity with you but you do well to commend them to the Gangraena the vilest viper that ever appeared in the world against Christ and his truth and Saints herein justifying your brethren in their iniquity and so drawing upon your self all the righteous blood shed from Abel until now you build the Tombs of the Prophets Christ and his Apostles pretend high estimation of them Pharisee like Mat. 23. from the 29. to the end Well you draw your conclusion How needfull is it both for Church and Common-wealth to joyn the labour of the Vniversities for confutation of the Anabaptists Indeed Sir you had need joyn all your forces Church Common-wealth that is the Magistrate Universities and all for the suppression of truth I wonder you had not conjured the Prince of darkness to your assistance in this great work and undertaking it seems their errors are so great so dangerous in your eye as that you fear miserably some great disaster or change you cry out lamentably upon their doctrine as that it will bring destruction to Church State Souls all But what are their principles that are so full of danger Answ
Bishop Priest or Presbyter that so they might monopolize Preaching to themselves so making that a trade cum Privilegio which is proper and in common to the Saints according as God shall reveal unto them where the Lord speaks the word there will be Preachers And truly Sir you endeavour what you can to make the Saints to come short of other Creatures the whole Creation in their spheres and places all set forth the praise of their Maker and shall not the Saints sutably to their sphears capacities and understandings do the like Thy works shall praise thee O God and thy Saints shall not be behind the whole Creation they shall bless thee they shall talk of thee they shall declare thee to the sons of men c. But 3. I answer that all the Saints are a spiritual and a holy Priesthood 1 Pet. 2. 5. and their Priestly Office under the Law had no relation at all to yours under the Gospel or any other officiating ministry for that Priesthood was 1. A Type of Christ and 2. Of the Church of Christ c. 4. I answer and conclude That Gifted Brethren do not preach without a Call as none might sacrifice without a Call c. And whereas you say and give it as your reason That Preaching is a greater work then offering sacrifice I say it s not the greatness of the work but the will of the Lord commanding the work that makes the thing either lawful or unlawful whereas you make so many reiterations of a Call and that many creep in at the window c. I have said enough to this already and proved it so that your selves are the men though you see it not and not the Gifted Brethren You say That a true Minister preacheth in Gods Name by vertue of a Call c. And to this purpose you mention Paul who often speaks of his Call I say first That he never mentions his Call to such a base and ungodly end as you so often mention yours viz. that you might stop and silence the workings and the gifts of the Spirit in all except in you selves where it is not neither but University Gifts instead of the Spirit a Mystery of Iniquity 2. If his Call had been no better then yours he might and would have been ashamed of it rather then to have boasted as you do but believe me your glorying is not good your glory will be your shame in the end But to your Reasons to convince men of the necessity of a Call to this Sacred Function yours is a sacred one in deed as sacred as the holy Chair of Rome 1. Reason Without it all Ordinances are null c. Answ I grant it for truth that is the reason that all your Ordinances are null your Preaching null for you preach people into an outward formality without power Hence it is that the work of the Sent-preaching Brethren is to undo what you have done And this I can assure you that it would be much easier in an ordinary way to convert Souls to Christ amongst Indians and Heathens then in England you their teachers have so rivited them in the ways of ignorance and formality the leaders of the people have caused them to Erre Your Baptism null because ye were not called nor sent of God but run before you were sent you have sprinkled Babes instead of baptizing Believers Your Supper and Communion null because you have prepared a Table for the Troop and furnished a drink offering for that number Isai 65. 11 12. Therefore shall you be numbred to the sword and shall all bow down to the slaughter 2 Reas He can expect no success c. Answ That is the reason you do not profit the People at all 3. Reas People cannot hear such with comfort c. Answ That is the reason so many honest Souls depart from you they are driven forth they cannot hear because they know the voice of Christ and must follow it 4. Reas God will have all things done according to that order and rule he himself hath prescribed Answ True that is that his Saints should Preach the Word of his Kingdom that office should not put out Gifts c. but all things should be done in order that is the reason the knowing and godly part leave you because Gods Order is not amongst you You prescribe two notes of those who have not the Spirit 1. Separatists dividing and separating from the true Church of Christ c. Answ I grant it but we separate not from the true but from the false Church of Babel and confusion both in Ministry and in Members in Doctrine and in Manners in Government and in Ordinances and from such we are commanded to separate and have no fellowship with them Your Church and Ministry are such as have a form of godliness but without denying the power therefore from such we are to turn away to separate as the Geneva reads it 2 Tim. 3. 5. And that is the reason why Souls when they are once informed in it they run from you as from an unclean and monstrous Babel and Antichrist obeying the Call of the Lord Rev. 18. 4. Come out of her my People partake not of her sins lest ye partake of her plagues And your selves it is who have separated from the true Church Ordinances Order and all that have forgotten Sion and forsaken the Lord in preparing a Table for the Troop c. 2. Sensualists following the Dictates of corrupt reason forsaking their Callings c. You are mistaken and that upon a double account 1. They do not follow the dictates of nature but of the Spirit of Truth in the written Word of God they do not leave their Callings and live idle they can work and preach too But 2. Your are the men who lie under this gilt you it is who are Sensualists following the dictates of corrupt reason Hence it is that you must live by sense and reason fetch in your maintenance by the force of civil power from the People whether they will or no cannot trust God with your maintenance no this is enough for the poor believing Anabaptists as you call them who are the Sensualists now your selves it is who I do not say forsake your Callings but live altogether idle without a Calling scorning to live in that lawful way God hath appointed men to live in Idlers you are and yet cry out against idleness out of your own mouths shall you be condemned Thus you make it appear that you have indeed the spirit of delusion The fifth Argument From the Absurdities that would follow c. Before I come to your first Absurdity I cannot but note your Story in your large Swallows of the man you say your read of that swallowed an Ox all except the Tail But Sir I pray you does your Story lye or do your self lye If it be your Story it argues Idleness Ignorance Vanity and Malice in you to read and repeat such a
most of the people of the Nation c. The eighth a bulwark all your wisdom is not able to undermine it 1 Cor. 14. 1. 31. Where the Apostle exhorts them to desire spiritual gifts but rather that they might prophesy and tels them vers 31. They may all Prophesy one by one hence our brethren conclude that all that have gifts may Prophesy c. In your answer to this you pretend a great deal of confidence and assurance that your gifted brethren are deluded with the word All when the truth is that your self it is who is under the delusion The Question you say will be who are meant by this word All vers 31. ye may all Prophesy c. You answer first Negatively It cannot be meant of all the Saints for then women should preach who are forbidden I answer 1. The Scripture it self is clear women are excepted ver 34. All may c. There is no limitation no prohibition of any except women and women are not altogether forbidden neither compare this with cha 11. 5. Joel 2. 28. women may Prophesy by permission and in subjection to the man c. 2. You say Private Professors are nowhere commanded to leave their Callings and go study Arts Sciences c. Oh blindness with a witness Is not the Spirit of Christ sufficient to help men to preach prophesy unless they study Arts and Sciences the Scripture saith ye may All Prophesy Private men is a title you have learnt from Rome its true it doth not say you must all leave your Callings and study Arts and Sciences this is not commanded to any nor practised by any and truly Sir I think there are none but Asses in the things of God who study Arts and Sciences to help them to preach and prophesie your Scriptures produced 1 Cor. 7. 20. ch 12. 29. I have answered already therefore I pass it in this place 2. You answer positively by All is meant all such as are Prophets the Text is clear ver 29. Let the Prophets speak c. Thus far you say truth by All is meant the Prophets that is those who have the spirit of Prophesie you proceed and say They were extraordinary your reason is because they spake by Revelation without study ver 31. I say they were not extraordinary but ordinary such as could speak to edification exhortation and comfort ver 3. and this many of the brethren could do then and can do now it s your selves that are no Prophets for you cannot speak by revelation without study but in the strength of the Lord the preaching brethren can And here it is you are lost you measure other mens condition by your own because you cannot preach without study therefore you think none else can c. I conclude with you That the word All is to be confined to the Prophets All ye that are Prophets may preach All ye that have the Spirit and so the Gift of prophesy may preach and prophesy for prophesy was no Office but a Gift as I have already shewed So then notwithstanding all your sophistications and wrenchings All that have the Gift may prophesie the preaching brethren that have the Gift may prophesy You say It s worth the observing that the word Prophet is never given to any but Ministers men in Office I have already answered that Prophet or Prophesy is never called an Office in the Scripture but a Gift and the distinguishment of Christ between a Prophet and a righteous man Mat. 10. 41. its not the Office but the Gift every righteous man hath not a Prophets gift there are various operations still the same spirit You say That all that are Prophets and can open hard Prophesies without study interpret Scripture to edification c. Who so hath these Gifts may use them But Sir where and when do you mean 1000 years ago but not now Why this is all we plead for man you have granted our desire let the Hearers be judges let the Saints be judges let the Prophets be judges God hath given that Spirit of Prophesy to interpret Scripture speak to edification and comfort of the Saints c. You say They are Prophets because the duties of Prophets are ascribed to them No need of so much of one thing being so clear and granted of all But you must needs have them extraordinary Prophets and here you harp or else you were gone But you say You will easily prove them to be extraordinary Prophets but stay Sir not so easily done as said But you say You prove it vers 30. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by c. They preached extemporary Revelations they were by the singular Revelation of the Spirit to give the sense of Scripture Answ 1. I wonder from whence you had this distinction of ordinary and extraordinary Prophets Doth the Scripture teach you any such thing I suppose you minde by extraordinary such as foretold things to come as in the Old Testament c. But why you call them extraordinary I know not and for ordinary such as by the same spirit can speak for the edifying of the Saints the difference is onely in the operation of the same spirit in some one way in some another in some more in some less but it s given to every one to profit withal 2. That upon your own account and in your language these Prophets were ordinary extraordinary were such as could foretel things to come as Elijah Elisha Esay c. In the New Testament Agabus Act. 11. 27. chap. 21. 10. 11. such these Prophets were not For the work of the one was to foretell of the other to build up and edifie the Church You say These Prophets are set amongst extraordinary Gifts or Officers Ephes 4. 11. I wonder how you dare thus to abuse the Scripture and truth who or where are those Gifts or as you call them Officers called extraordinary but it s your own ignorance if not baseness to delude the people under these terms you call Apostles and Prophets Evangelists extraordinary and pick out from amongst the same Pastors Teachers for ordinary What Scripture teacheth you this to call one ordinary the other extraordinary If I can shew you no Prophets c. you shall shew me no Pastors nor Teachers in the World Well you say There were three things objected 1. They could not be extraordinary because their doctrine was to be tryed c. You answer first That this trying and judging did not consist in calling them to an account c. But I say It consisted in judging the truth of what was spoken to try the spirits whether they were of God for there were and are false Prophets for this was the Church of Ephesus commended Rev. 2. 2. For trying those who said they were Apostles and were not and found them lyars 2. You say An extraordinary Prophet though in penning Scripture infallible yet in other things he might err you instance in Aaron Exod. 32.
THE Pulpit-Guard Routed IN ITS Twenty Strong-Holds OR A brief ANSWER To a large and lawless Discourse Written by one Tho. Hall of Kings-Norton Intituled The Pulpit-Guarded with Twenty Arguments Pretending to prove the unlawfulness and sinfulness of Private mens Preaching Wherein the Arguments being weighed in the Balance of the Sanctuary are found too light and the lawfulness of Private mens Preaching as Tho. Hall calls them viz. Gifted Brethren is cleared and confirmed in opposition to all Gain-sayers My work in this Treatise hath been and is 1. To Rout him in all his Guards 2. To discover the weakness and invalidity of all his Answers to those Objections and Allegations by him there produced for the Preaching of the Gifted Brethren His six Arguments to prove their Ministry free from Antichristianism rased and six more asserted proving them to be Antichristian Written by Tho. Collier Isai 28. 20. For the Bed is shorter then that a man can stretch himself on it and the Covering narrower then that he can wrap himself in it Verse 21. For the Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perasim and be wroth as in the vally of Gibeon that he may do his work his strange work and bring to pass his act his strange act strange because so to the dark minds of men Chap 29. 14. Therefore behold I proceed to do a marvellous work and a wonder for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish and the understanding of the prudent men shall be hid Chap. 28. 22. Now therefore be ye not moâ—kers lest your bands be made strong London Printed for the Author and are to be sold by Giles Calvert at the Black-Spred Eagle at the West end of Pauls near Ludgate 1651. The Epistle to the Readers DEar Country-men and Friends it s not my desire as I am a man to be medling with things of this nature but as I am a Christian and made partaker in a measure of the Heavenly Gift taking notice of this Pulpit-Guard it being so directly against the will of the Lord in the Gospel dispensation and the free operation of his Spirit in the hearts of his people for the good and comfort of the Church his Body 1 Cor. 14. 31. For Sions sake I could not hold my peace and for Jerusalems sake I could not rest without giving a check in the plain evidence and demonstration of the spirit and power unto this unrighteous Guard it is a very sad and dangerous thing when men under the pretence of Religion for self-ends and interests shall make use of their Wisdom Arts Parts against the Lord and his Truth What opinion or practice is there this day in the world that pretends for Christ but that men may and do put fair glosses and pretences of Scripture for the upholding of it though never so contrary unto it I have in that light God hath given me examined the particulars of that discourse and the Scripture grounds and found them too light not holding weight in the Ballance of the Scripture and have commended to thy view who art the Reader The substance of my apprehensions concerning them possibly thou mayst imagine that I have been too rugged in my expressions or sometimes too light or vain in my Answers I answer 1. Meeting with such a Spirit in that Book of Pride Reproach and Self conceitedness I was at some stand as to the manner of my Answer But when I considered the words of Solomon Prov. 26. 5. Answer a fool according to his folly lest he be wise in his own conceit And Chap. 15. 28. The heart of the righteous studyeth to answer but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things I was satisfied in giving an Answer sutable to the Spirit I found working in it 2. Being deeply sensible of the dangerousness of the way that thousands of souls are lead in by these kind of men and finding by experience their height and perversness in their way that they are without a miracle of mercy without the reach or bands of love I have therefore dealt the more plain and downright yet still in truth and love and it s no other then Christ and his Servants have done in the like case before me Mat. 23. throughout John 8 44. Act. 13. 10 1 King 18. 27. But you may say you look upon many of them to be honest and pretious men c. Answ The more need have they to be sharply reproved for their sins and miscarriages men may be honest the people of God and yet in Babylon I am not despairing in the truth of what you say yet their Office and Babylonish actions are never the honester for that Rev. 18. 4. And this I must minde you that God hath not left himself without witness of the truth by me declared and that by men of the same calling with them but when once inlightned they reject their callings administrations and all as Antichristian with shame to themselves for their ignorance I could instance in divers if it might add to the truth but I judge it needless at present What thou findest written contrary to thy mind try it by the Scripture waite upon the Lord to teach thee what weakness in expressions as to thy judgement thou meetest with let not the truth suffer rather impute it to him whose it is If thou finde any light shining forth in it through it to thy dark understanding give him the glory who is the Author of it so have I my desire Finally reade and judge and the Lord give you understanding in all things T. C. THE Pulpit-Guard Routed In his twenty strong Holds SIR I Meeting with your Book subscribed with this Title The Pulpit Guarded c. and perceiving the drift and end of the matter with the manner of it could not but judge my self bound as I tendred the honour of the Lord Jesus his Truth and Gospel his Saints and Servants especially seeing none else undertaking the work to rebuke this unclean spirit and to cast out this devil to enter the lists with and to rout this unrighteous Guard It possibly may seem strange that I should undertake this task especially because this Guard was occasioned as you say by a dispute at Henly in Warwick-shire But Sir finding your Discourse tending not only to reproach the Creature but the Creator likewise his Truth and powerfull free operation in his Saints all which I finde my self bound in conscience for to vindicate as far as light and truth in its power appeareth in me As for the manner of my proceeding 1. I shall not turn aside after every vain and unworthy passage and miscarriage in your Guard neither shall I meddle with your particular Epistles but I shall first give you some hints concerning the Title of your Book Secondly I shall discover your ignorance falshood and folly in your Looking-glass for Anabaptists as you call them Thirdly I shall encounter with you in all your twenty Guards and in the strength of the
by one what all the Presbyters Nay all the Prophets but who are they All the gifted brethren See ver 34. none are prohibited but women Let your women keep silence for they are not permitted to speak but men are permitted Obj. The Lord intends Prophets only and it s said in another place 1 Cor. 12 29. Are all Apostles Are all Prophets c The interrogation implies a negation all are not Prophets Answ 1. All are not Prophets Secondly All that have the gift of Prophesie are Prophets and may speak and ought to speak for the edifying of the Church as in its place I shall let you see more at large Now if all that have the gift of Prophecy that is to speak to the edifying of the Church may Prophecy ver 3. then this may occasion confusion some may say and you say so too Nay saith the Apostle the spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets For God is not the author of confusion but of peace c. That is when one Prophet or gifted Brother hath spoken and another hath any thing revealed let the first hold his peace but how can he hold his peace the spirit of Prophecy is strong and violent and men cannot contain themselves its like fire within them Numb 11. 25. 1 Sam. 19 20. to the end But saith the Apostle there is no such thing in this prophesying For the spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets that is they are able to contain themselves and be silent while another speaks c. else it would occasion confusion But God is not the author of confusion but of peace So that the sum of all is That he that is a Gospel-Prophet can contain himself and be content to hear another speak as well as himself c. By all which it appears that a man may be sent and may Preach or Prophesie without such an approbation or examination as you speak of else those Acts 8. acted unlawfully in preaching without any such Probation But to return to your selves you come short of any such probation by the Presbytery its true there was a Presbytery in the primitive times but what is that to you who know no true Church nor Ministry but are enemies unto it you have only Popish forms amongst you without the power the name of Church Ordinances Ministers but are indeed and in truth enemies to Church Ordinances Ministers reproach them persecute them and are for the most part a pack of cheaters and deluders of the people for your own advantages I own probation by such a Presbytery the Scripture speaks of before admission to office although still I say men may Preach as gifted Brethren without any relation to office but as for your Presbytery it was conceived in Hell brought forth in Rome and yet lives and pants for breath in England but its end is to be burned See Esai 65. from 11. to 16. Your Third in your mission is Separation by ordination of the Presbytery which thing I own as relating to persons in Office by a lawful Presbytery yet still I have two exceptions 1. Not that Ordination to office ever did or shall where its right prevent the gifts of the Brethren No Sir it was not the end for which it was appointed 2. You have no such Presbytery therefore no such ordination you have yours by succession from the Pope only you have of late altered the name from Bishop Priest and Jesuite to Presbyter but the nature is not changed as deeply ingaged and inraged against the truth as any Jesuite in Rome and I assure you I should as freely accept of the Prayers and the hands of a pack of Jesuits as of yours as relating to this of Ordination But to return to the word Sent where it seems the force of your Argument lieth wherein you are so much mistaken you judge it to be the outward mission consisting of Election Probation Ordination whereas indeed and truth it hath the least relation to it if any at all my grounds are these 1. From the nature of the word and work the word Sent in those high things of God relates to God and his sending immediate So Christ was the Sent of the Father to do the Fathers work thus was Paul an Apostle one sent not of men neither by man but by Jesus Christ Gal. 1. 1. and he was sent not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel 1 Cor. 1. 17. so the word and work joyned together it being a heavenly work preaching of the Gospel it s a heavenly sending that is here intended 2. The manner of expression the interrogation which as you say and it s granted implies a strong negation how can he preach except he be sent He cannot preach c. that is he cannot preach in the Spirit and power of the Lord to the conversion and building up of souls except sent by Jesus Christ in the power of the spirit and if so sent he can preach and doth preach though all the world say him nay and you being so much mistaken in the truth no wonder you have such a company of Divines as you are pleased to call them all the Ministry of the Nation are sent by your account for you have all one manner of call and sending according to the outward form if one be sent then all are sent and think you did the Lord ever send forth such a company to preach his Gospel of idle drunken whoring proud covetous envious ignorant profane persons as the most part of them are nay and some too such dunces sots that all their wit cannot make a Sermon in your way of Sermon making yet these have the same sending with you And this I must tell you that if God inlighten any of your profession in the Truth they renounce this kind of sending trample it under feet return it from whence it came But to return men can preach by your mission but they cannot preach unless sent of God to convert Souls in the power of the internal sending But to proceed to the third Argument If this be such an outward mission or sending as you imagine then it makes all other preaching unlawful for its such a sending as that there is no preaching without it how can he preach then What the Apostle writ to the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 14. You may all prophesie one by one was unlawful and the preaching of scattered brethren Acts 8. was unlawful the preaching of Paul Acts 9. 20. immediately after his conversion before he was separated to the work of Ministry Chap. 13. 2. was unlawful and he had cause to repent it if what you affirm were truth but he rejoices in it Gal. 1. 15 16 17. No sooner was Christ revealed in him but he preaches him he went not up to Jerusalem to them that were Apostles before him c. But to the great objection that lieth in the way against you That gifting is sending and all gifted persons are sent
or building that they might inform others in the same truth they themselves are informed or comfort others with the same comfort they themselves are comforted But you who boast so much of your sending you come indeed and are not sent for first you come not in at the door but in at the window the door is Christ and his Spirit and there is no other door that admits to preaching see 1 Cor. 12. there are many Gifts and Works and operations but still the same spirit who worketh all in all But you have found out another way your Popish Ordination and none must preach but such just as the Pope and the Prelates so your selves walk in the same steps you are the Theives and Robbers that climb in at the window or some other way a hole you have made for your selves to creep in at and secondly the end of your coming in is to steal rob and to carry away to enrich your selves with the worldly gain the fat Tythes of the peoples labors and encrease but those who come in by the door Christ they dare not do it nay they dare not but like honest and true men disery and discover the thief and the robber that so he may be known and avoided And as for Wolves who are they but such a devour the sheep I send you forth saith Christ as Lambs among Wolves it s the property of Wolves to devour the Lambs how have the Popish Wolves devoured let Queen Maries daies witness Episcopall Wolves let the Prelates daies witness Presbyterian Wolves let latter times if they could have prevailed they would have suckt the blood of almost all the Lambs of Jesus Christ in this Nation ere this Possibly you may account us Wolves because in word and writing we discover your baseness and unrighteous waies be not mistaken Sir Light cannot but discover Darkness but there is no spirit or principle of persecution in us we desire not the Magistrate to meddle with you or to hinder you from preaching if you turn not Traytors to the State the Wolves it is that bite and devour that make the Lambs their prey but the Lambs are meek patient suffering not biting and devouring c. But stay awhile go not off triumphing If what you say be truth That the gifted brother was silent at this Argument yet believe it it was not the light that shined in it that overcame him but your cunning sophistry in reasoning but believe it your own Argument will burn up all your sending in conclusion and then you shall consess that gifted brethren may preach the Gospel You say Goliah fled but you are mistaken I suppose rather it was little David and at present great Goliah gets the victory Goliah with his Armor of proof University stuff c. but Goliah must be routed in the end Now to your third Argument If all that have gifts may preach then all that have gifts may baptize but all that have gifts say you may preach ergo all that have gifts may baptize In my answer to this Argument I shall pass by what the gifted brethren answered as you make mention with so much reproach and scorn as if you had sate a long time in Scorners chair for mine own particular I grant the truth of your Argument That gifted brethren may preach and may baptize and give the Supper too and that I have to do is to make good this principle which I doubt not but I shall with much light and evidence of Truth and then this Argument is routed and blown away with the wind of truth as the morning dew before the Sun My Arguments are these First John the first preacher of Repentance and baptizer in the water to the washing away of sin by the blood of Christ yet had no speciall mission nor did any miracle John 10. 41. but by divine inspiration according to the measure he had received so he preached and so he baptized its true he was prophesied of before and sent in a speciall manner to prepare the way of the Lord c. yet he did his work in an ordinary way as a gifted brother if you will have it so not extraordinarily gifted and sent See John 1. 31. he preached Christ and baptized into his name and knew him not like many an honest soul that are speaking of Christ and preach of him too when they have but shattered and shallow apprehensions of him there being such a worth in him that a soul that hath had but a sight of him and an interest in him cannot but declare him as the woman of Samaria John 4. The second ground is from John 4. 1 2. The Disciples of Christ then were the ordinary Christians the alone Church of the Gospel Christ the Head Pastor and Shepherd yet it is said that Christ baptized not but his Disciples compare this Scripture with Act. 10. to the latter end Peter commanded them to be baptized not that he did it himself but commanded them and it s very probable that there were some gifted preaching brethren with him who did the work and the like assistance might he expect when the 3000 were converted and added to the Church Acts 2. and Acts 8. The scattered brethren went preaching the Gospel and Chap. 11. The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned to the Lord and the same who converted them baptized them if they were at all baptized for they gathered them into Church-fellowship But the Apostles hearing of it sent Barnabas to confirm and strengthen them which he did ver 23. not baptize them Thus it appears that preaching Disciples may baptize not that they must Paul was sent not to baptize but to preach yet seeing he was sent to do the greater he might do the lesser and did it too Object This is that will breed confusion in the Church no need of Officers if any gifted brother may administer Ordinances Answ Which shall be my third Argument too That Officers Pastors and Teachers are not for the being of the Church and Ordinances they are both before them and without them but they are rather for the wel-being of the Church there is nothing to be done in the Church no Ordinance to be administred but a gifted brother may do it with the approbation of the Church but because of conveniency and order therefore some men are chosen forth to act in behalf of the whole for the good of the whole not that such men thus chosen should usurp such power and authority to themselves as to set up themselves above all and stifle the grace and workings of the Spirit in others its time then to dethrone them again and the work of a Pastor or Teacher doth not consist all in preaching and baptizing as Priests now adaies think but in knowing the state of the flock in watching in reproving in admonishing in rebuking with authority in the Spirit and power of the Lord There is no one thing
lye 1. Idleness in that you could spare so much time and leisure to read such a lye Saints work is to redeem the time 2. Ignorance in relating as well as reading not knowing that the relating of lyes and falshoods is no work for Saints but dishonourable to Truth 3. Vanity vain minds to delight in reading and relating such abominations 4. Malice in making use of a lying Story to dishonour Saints and Truth But if it be a son of your own begetting as me thinks it looks exceeding like your self remember that all lyars must have their portion in the Lake that burneth in the fire that is not to be quenched and this lye do you apply in scorn to the Baptists But give me leave to tell you that its your selves that are indeed the great swallowers you tell of an Ox but you can swallow the tenth of the whole Nation if you had it not only Corn and Hay but the Lambs Calves Pigs and Geese Eggs and leggs if not tails and all and yet not content was there ever such swallowers in the world beside think you be judge your self in time 1. Absurdity This is that will confound all Callings and Societies c. then every Souldier that hath a Commanders gift may be a Commander and a General without a Call c. then farwell all Answ You make use of Comparisons not consistent with the thing in hand those varieties of stations amongst men must have variety of distinct Callings to it but this of Preaching and Prophesying is that which all the brethren that have gifts are called to as I have often proved that in the Church all may Prophesy that have the gift and yet no confusion but peace and order and indeed it s nothing else but your ignorance and your pride in being afraid of such an equality with your Brethren as the Scripture presents you with 2. Then every gifted boy and woman should preach c. To this I have answered you already 3. Then all may preach and deliver the Supper c. To this I have likewise answered already 4. This would open a flood gate to all Errors Heresies c. I wonder what people in the world more full of Errors Heresies and Blasphemies then the Pope and your selves who have confined all preaching to your selves no way like this to nourish ignorance and nuzzle up people in blindness and abominable Worships 5. Then all vain glorious Hypocrites c. would turn Preachers c. the emptiest barrels make the loudest sound c. And is it otherwise now amongst your selves Who hold their heads highest who makes the greatest sound who thinks they have Gifts beyond all others Is is not your selves and would you not exclude all beside your selves had you so much power empty barrels making great sounds but being try'd there is nothing but vanity and pride And whereas you say All vain glorious Hypocrites would turn Preachers I would have you to know that the Saints have a Spirit of discerning and if they finde such persons they exclude them therefore this is no way to set up vain-glorious Hypocrites it is that Spirit of discerning God hath given to them that makes them discover so much Hypocrisie amongst you 6. Then the Church of Christ which is his Body would be monstrous all eye all ear all head c. contrary to that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 12 14 15 28 29. Answ No truth in your conclusion For 1. I say not that all have Gifts but all that have Gifts may Preach there are some in the Body that have not those Gifts or do not exercise them 2. I say that to those who do exercise them the Gift is different Diversities of Gifts yet the same Spirit and diversities of operations yet the same Lord c. As there are diversities of Members yet the same Body And so 3. Diversities of Callings some Apostles that is sent for the gathering of Churches some Prophets gifted brethren in the Church exercising for the edifying of the Body of Christ Pastors and Teachers for to feed and watch yet not to hinder but rather to further and incourage the Prophets Deacons to see to the necessities of the poor c. Thus you see or may see that this order is so far from making a Monster that it sets every member to do his office in his place every one to exercise his Gift in the Body according to the measure he hath received But you it is who make a monster in all its parts a filthy corrupt leprous body without or at best with rotten false painted artificial members leggs arms c. without a head Jesus Christ never was never will be Head to such a Body and your are the men the Ministers that form up and present him with such a body and then cry it up boasting of this Body dance about this ill-favoured Calf and cry out against the true Churches to be monstrous Bodies when your selves are the Monsters all the while 7. If this be tolerated it will make both Ministry and Ministers contemptible c. Answ I thought where I should take you at last Oh you love Honour as well as your Profit to have the cap and knee and to be called of men Rabbi then it goes gallant and pleaseth the heart of a proud Pharisee but you are mistaken this is not the way to make Ministers vile but the alone way for them to be esteemed of as the Ministers of Christ when they walk according to the Truth and endeavour not the dethroning of any to exalt themselves and this is that hath made you dishonourable in the eyes of Christians your pride and vileness in this particular You say The toleration of such irregularities is not so small an error as some imagine c. Alas Sir do you want the power of the Civil Magistrate to exalt you into the throne it seems it matters not what becomes of Souls let them be ignorant let them sink let them perish so your Honour may be upheld you care not c. You 'l make it a matter of consideration and concernment to the Civil Magistrate to oppose the way and Truth of Christ for your own self ends and interests The sixth Argument Every Preacher must be able in some good measure above ordinary Christians not only to divide the Word aright 2 Tim. 2. 15. Soundly to interpret and give the true sence and meaning applying the same to edification but he must be able also to convince gain-sayers Tit. 1 9. But every Gifted Trades-man Nailer Taylor c. is not able to divide the Word aright nor to convince a learned adversary and gainsayer Ergo. The Major you say is clear of it self the Minor you pretend to prove which I deny your proof is this Those who want learning both Humane and Divine cannot be sound Interpreters nor solid Disputants but most of our Gifted artificers want learning both Humane and Divine Ergo. Sir I question what you
the same Principle with your Church I wonder you left out your Mother Church of Rome she could have spoken as much in the case as both you and they all have done You produce Ordinances Scots Covenant c. and why not the Spanish Inquisition too Seeing you are upon this account you might have raked to the bottom and have brought in all the forces of the King of Darkness to this great day of Tryal But Sir your Judge Jurates Evidence and all are too low and weak to amaze or amuse your preaching Brethren It seems you have considered and wisely brought in the Councel of Trent for one in your third Edition and that though last in name yet I suppose first in being and father to all the rest of your Jurates witnesses And here before I pass because you begin to Judge I shall let you see not mine but the Scriptures judgment upon the false Prophets of the Nations who prophesie lyes in the name of the Lord smiting others in the face saying Which way went the Spirit of God from me to thee The Judge is Christ himself who is not only both Lord Judge and King of Saints Isai 33. 22. but of the world too Isa 99. 1. The false Prophets of the Nation that set themselves against the Lord and his Anointed is the Prisoner to be tryed The Witnesses are 1. The Scriptures the Old and New Testament 2. Reformed Churches who walk suitable unto the Scripture 3. Deluded Souls 4. Publike peace and weal of Nations Judge Cryer Call the Prisoner to the Bar. Cryer False Prophet come forth hold up thy hand heart thy Indictment Thou art here Indicted by the name of False Prophet or Ministry that hast a long time stood up and prophesied lyes unto the Nations in my name under what title or term soever thou hast been distinguished whether Cardinal Prelate Jesuit Presbyter or Priest thy name is False Prophet in deed and truth thou art here accused for high Crimes against the Lord and his People against the peace of Nations c. Judge Art thou guilty or not Answ Not guilty Judg. Call the Evidence 1. Scriptures come in what say you against the Prisoner at the Bar He is here Indicted by the name of False Prophet and thou art called to speak thy knowledge of him Dost know him by that name Scripture Yea my Lord I know him by that name long since Rev. 16. 13. 19. 20. who hath deceived them who dwell on earth and my Lord I have many things to say against this Prophet although he hath sate a long time as queen thinking that he shall see no sorrow and hath made use of me to confirm him in his wayes and to establish the men of the Earth so much the more firm in these delusions therefore I can speak the more experimentally of him First although it s written in me that thy people are a selected severed people from the World to worship thee in Spirit and Truth and that the wicked have nothing to do to take thy name in their mouth while they hate to be reformed yet this false and lying Prophet hath deluded souls all along many hundred of years forming them up with the out-side of a profession without the truth and power made them Christians though deluded ones before they knew thee or ever heard of thee I ruth and plain-dealing in this kinde he hath ever been inveterate against And I have done my part my Lord to inform him of his error but he would not believe me but give me the lye wrest my words at his pleasure for his own ends he hath likewise been an enemy to the peace of thy people of thy family because they could not joyn with him in his Babylonish Worships and say Amen to his deceits He hath alwayes ill requited thy Servants and hath abused my Sayings for that end and notwithstanding I have informed him that its only by thy Spirit men come to the knowledge of the mystery of thy will yet he hath always opposed this truth looking after it in the bottomless Pit of his own inventions In a word my Lord he hath been a Traytor to thy Crown and Dignity pretending a desire that thou shouldest Reign but that which he looked after was to reign himself abusing me and my Sayings Isa 9. 6 7. to exalt himself So sitting in thy seat exalting himself above thee over the conscience of thy people And so in deed and truth what ever his pretence is He is the false Prophet the Antichrist that was to come into the world This shall suffice at present my Lord though I could say much more if time would permit but I shall give way to the other Witnesses Judge Call in another Witness Christian Churches and Saints come in give your Evidence against the Prisoner at the Bar who is arraigned by the name of False Prophet Churches My Lord We have much to say against him for we know him by woful experience It s true my Lord he hath past under the name of thy Ministry in Office but he hath been far from the nature of thy Ministry which is meek peaceable and loving longing to convert souls unto thee and whatever his pretence hath been or is he hath been is a deadly Enemy to us thy Disciples and Followers and hath been swoln with the enmity against the Seed of the Woman no sooner could we receive any of thy truth but he fell a quarrelling with us and inventing reproachful nick names for us that so he might make us appear odious before the world his deluded Church if we come to see into the freeness and fulness of thy grace in justifying sinners and saving of souls without any relation to any thing done by us he immediately endeavors to reproach us with the odious name of Libertine if we come to see into the Law of the Gospel which is a Law of love and that Christ is the Judge King and Law-giver to the Saints that we have all the Law in him from him for righteousness and for Rule he then called us Antimonians if we separated from the world in their Babylonish wayes and worships according to thy-will and command he then branded us for Separatists if we practised Baptism according to thy written Word he then called us Anabaptists if we held forth that the power of thy law of love shed abroad in the hearts of thy people and written in thy Scripture was sufficient to keep them from sin and to carry them on in a way of holy walking with thee and that thou acceptest of no obedience but that which flows from this principle of love then he called us the Family of Love as if that had been reproach enough to be of that Family And divers other false Titles and Terms hath he reproached us withall He hath been a man of as beastly language against thy Truth and Saints as ever breathed on the Earth Besides we could no sooner come
out from the worlds ways and Worships congregating our selves together according to thy will edifying each other in love desiring to relie on none but thy self but he casts out floods of reproach and persecution after us calling us Independents c. And further he hath been an Enemy to the free operation of thy Spirit in thy Saints thinking to limit thee to himself whereas in truth he knew thee not and such hath been his boldness that he hath adventured to arraign all my gifted Members that so he might silence them for ever and so continue me the reproach and scorn of himself and the World In a word my Lord to conclude he it is that hath been the cause of persecution unto us in all Ages stirring up the Civil Magistrate to imprison burn banish hang us c. all for thy truth and sake In him and amongst them thou shalt finde the blood of Saints and Martyrs be headed for thy Testimony and to thee it is they address themselves crying How long Lord how long will it be ere thou avenge our blood on them that dwell on the Earth Judge Call in another Witness Deluded Souls come in give your Evidence against the Prisoner at the Barr what say you do you know the man his name is False Prophet Del. Souls Yea my Lord We know him by wofull experience but his name then was True Ministry sometime Papal sometime Prelatical sometime Presbyterian but We have found by wofull experience that he nicknamed himself and was not the man he professed himself to be for my Lord he it is that instrumentally hath deluded us with forms and customes and traditions bearing us in hand that we were Christians when there was no such thing Sometimes he would tell us that those who were Christians must do thus and thus yet would still make us a Church give us Ordinances when alass for the most part we knew not what a Church was nor the use and end of Ordinances And my Lord such was our ignorance that this pleased us The Prophets prophesied lyes and we delighted in it But miserable is the end And my Lord such was the falsness and deceit of this Prophet that if any of the servants of truth came amongst us and indeavored to fright us by the power of truth out of our delusions and formalities this lying Prophet would presently cry out against them bid us beware of them They were Wolves in sheeps cloathing c. and have prevented us often from hearkning after and imbracing truth when our consciences oft-times hath convinced us they by their lying against the truth have prevented us and we have now found it by sad experience that he is indeed the false Prophet the Woolf that comes in sheeps cloathing And therefore my Lord that which we desire is Justice against him as the grand ring-leader of souls in a way of falshood delusion and confusion c. Judge Is there yet another Witness if so call him in Publick Peace and weale of Nations come in give Evidence against the Prisoner at the Bar he is here arraigned by the name of False Prophet Dost thou know him hast thou any thing to say against him Peace Yea my Lord I know him very well likewise by sad experience he hath pretended himself to be the Minister of the Gospel and upon that account hath prevailed the more in doing mischif He hath prevailed not only upon the consciences of the vulgar sort of people but of the Civil Magistrate getting in his power for to accomplish his own ends and designs Under Papacy sending forth his Emissaries Jesuites c. to work upon the consciences of his deluded Followers perswading that it was a meritorious work to murder Magistrates or any that differed from him and that they might lawfully understake any practice blow up Parliaments ruin Nations foment Wars c. and all for furthering of his own wicked design and since his name hath been changed to Episcopal Presbyterian and Reformed Church and Clergy yet my Lord he is still the same man as formerly as proud covetous and contentious as ever stirring up and fomenting divisions War and blood not willingly permitting thy peaceable people to have a being their Pulpits being their Cock-pits for that end sowing strife and divisions amongst the people stirring up and enraging the vulgar sort to the breach of peace and trouble of thy Saints They it were who preacht the Nation into a War at first for their own ends and interests and when but an appearance that they might fail of their expectation they turn round again to another Interest and foment another War kindling a fire in Scotland and other parts that so they might burn up England and all under the pretence of holiness fastings prayings contributions pretended for the poor that so they might have supply of money to usher in an Enemy in my bowels to destroy me denying obedience to the Civil Magistrate and faithfulness to the Commonweath and the truth is my Lord I am at a stand and know not what to do I am never like to give that to the people that they so earnestly long for viz. peace and quiet so long as this Generatiō of men reign thus in the world and in the consciences of men and therefore my Lord that which I desire is Justice Justice against this perfidious trayterous and troublesome creature Judge Here hath been enough said Prisoner what sayst thou for thy self thou hast been here arraigned by the name of False Prophet and thou hast heard thy witness what plea hast thou for thy self that sentence should not be given against thee Prisoner My Lord they have much wronged me and mistaken my name my name is not False Prophet as they pretend but reformed Ministry teaching the way of God c. And as for their accusations they are mistaken Sir it s the Anabaptists Independents Sectaries c. that are the disturbers of the peace and enemies to thy truth c. Judge If this be all thou hast to say for thy self I must proceed to Judgement therefore prepare to hear thy Sentence for the truth is that although I have with patience heard these Witnesses and thy plea likewise yet I am a Witness my self as well as thy Judge and I know their witness is truth for I judge not after the hearing of the ear nor the seeing of the eye but with righteousness will I judge that I may save the meek of the Earth I say 11. 3 4 I will come near in judgement and will be a swift witness against the Sorcerers and against the adulterers c. Mal. 3. 5. And although I have a long time been silent and refrained my self and let thee alone in thine evil and pernicious wayes yet now will I cry like a travelling woman I will destroy and devour at once I say 42. 14. I will make wast mountaines and Hills and dry up all their herbs and bring the blind by a way they know
4. Peter Act. 10. 15. about the calling of the Gentiles c. You will make the Scripture it self to be of small Authority if what you say were truth for all extraordinary Prophesies are written and if they might and did miscarry in Prophesying as you say then you derogate from the truth of Scripture for all extraordinary Prophesies are written And you say Extraordinary Prophets may err But Sir You have produced no Example of such erring in matter of Prophesy Paul and Peter and Aaron c. did not err in matter of Prophesie if they had they had been false Prophets like your self the point in hand at present is about Prophets in time of their Prophesy ye may all Prophesy c. And you say They were extraordinary and yet might err oh full of all subtilty What Are all the Prophesies in the Old Testament then if extraordinary Prophets might err in their Prophesyings Yet at last you come to say That all things are not revealed to one and that which is not revealed to one may be to another That is truth and that is the reason why all may Prophesy You say There might be something mingled with that which the Prophets received and they might adde something of their own c. therefore it was to be judged and tryed And is this truth which you lay down and yet are they extraordinary Note 1. Were there any in the Old Testament to judge of the Prophesies whether they were truth when spoken 2. Might the Prophets extraordinary as you call them in their Prophesies add of self unto it and err in it let all men judge of the truth of this Doctrine but it s like your self c. 3. Did those extraordinary Prophets prophesie according to the Rule of Scripture and look what others had said before them or by an immediate Inspiration As you confess these Prophets were to prophesie according to the rule of faith Isa 8. 20. to the Law and to the Testimony Was their prophesie subject to error had need to be judged might be something of self in it tryed if according to Scripture c. Yet extraordinary strange and unheard of confusion out of your own mouth shall you be judged c. 2. You say 'T is objected That those could not be extraordinary because it s said vers 3. They spake to edification exhortation and comfort as ordinary Prophets did You answer it easily The extraordinary Prophets as Amos Esay Ezekiel c. did preach to edification exhortation and consolation c. Answ 1. That it s more then the Scripture affirms if they did teach in this way of prophesying 2. If they did yet they took not their denomination of prophets from this kind of prophesying but those 1 Cor. 14. are called Prophets upon this account their speaking to edification c. And this was the end and work of Prophets to edifie the Church Eph. 4 12. not to foretel of things to come therefore the Apostle renders the reason of their prophesy that All may be instructed and All may be comforted vers 31. And again these Prophets were such as needed directions from the Apostle as to the manner and order in prophesying which if extraordinary they could rather have directed the Apostle as Agabus Act. 21. 10 11. 3. You say 'T was objected that the Apostle forbidding women did give liberty to men to preach you grant by way of concession The Apostle forbids women and enjoyns men to preach But what men not all Gifted but all gifted and Called I say All that are gifted are Called to exercise Gift and may prophesy 2. You draw the Argument thus The Apostle forbids women gifted or ungifted to preach therefore all men gifted or ungifted may preach c. This is the good your University doth you make you wise to do evil and pervert truth to draw scurrilous conclusions to dishonor truth and its servants All women gifted or ungifted are in this Scripture prohibited but all men that have gifts are authorized And truly I shall say thus much too that I should look upon that member to be very weak and useless that hath not some gift or other for good in the Church in the body But Sir your ridiculous conclusions will not establish you You conclude That all Orders Officers Members in the Church above Ministers may preach c. I thought you had owned none above you but that you had sate in Peters chair been supream Lords to binde and loose at your pleasure children to the holy Father at Rome but you 'l be sure to own such to be above you which are not in your account and then as good as none at all absolute Lords for all that You mention Apostles Prophets Evangelists but you think there is neither of these in being therefore you are the chief Lords over all but you are mistaken for Apostles Prophets Evangelists are no more extraordinary in the Church then Pastors Teachers c. for they are all reckoned together Ephes 11. And if you will say there are no Apostles Prophets c. I will say and make it good there are no Pastors Teachers Presbyters or others nay no Church of Christ without Apostles Prophets there may be a Church without Pastors c. but none without Apostles Prophets c. He hath set in his Church first Apostles then Prophets c. and after this Pastors and Teachers 1. Apostles men sent for the gathering of the Saints 2. Prophets next because when gathered the Prophets viz gifted brethren they exercise their gifts for the edifying of the body untill there be Pastors and Teachers and then the gifts of the Prophets are not to be quenched or slighted for they are Prophets still and out of the Prophets in process of time may be chosen men for Office Teachers by Office as well as Gift and these are elected by the Prophets viz. the Church for they are all Prophets though they have not Gifts alike So that first then in the Churches of Christ there are Apostles men sent to gather Apostles signifying as much and Prophets when gathered before the Ministry you so much cry up 2. Your selves are neither Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors nor Teachers according to the-Scripture account for first you gather no Churches but rather endeavor to scatter those that are gathered 2. You build up no Churches but ignorant carnal prophane creatures in a way of formality to their eternal ruine you administer no Ordinances according to the Rule of Christ but of Antichrist and your own inventions I shall conclude this with your Parallel The Parallel 1. These were Prophets 1. So are the gifted brethren 1. Your selves none nor know not what they are 2. Those no extraordinary but ordinary Prophets 2. So are the gifted brethren 2. Your selves not ordinary but Enemies to it 3. Those had a spirit of Revelation 3. So have the brethren else none of his 3. You are ignorant of it have a philosophical spirit of
man taketh this honour to himself without a Call c. It s spoken of the Priests under the Law who were a type of Christ and not of your bastard Tribe of Levites c. Your answer to the objection I have already sufficiently cleared that they were gifted persons not officers c. The twelfth Objection Heb. 5. 11 12. When for the time ye ought to have been teachers c. here say they the Apostle blames them because they were not all Teachers The substance of your answer is that there are two sorts of teachers publike teachers and private teachers the one by men in office the other by men out of office But who gave this distinction of publike and private Christians of publike and private teachers I know not they are terms the Scripture is not acquainted withall therefore away with them to Rome from whence they came and call not that or them private whom God hath made publike say no more for shame that its lawfull for them to teach in private and unlawfull in publike doth the place and manner make so much difference If it be lawfull to teach the way of God to one or two in private is it not lawfull to teach the same to them in publike and if to one or two why not to ten if to ten why not to an hundred to a thousand if in private why not in publike doth the Scripture know any such distinction or approve one more then another If not be silent for ever and ashamed of your folly and make no more such distinctions where the Lord hath made none The thirteenth Objection 1 Pet. 2. 9 Ye are a royal Priesthood c. Rev. 3. 10. 1. 6. and hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests c. Exod. 19. 6. All Priests must teach but all Believers are Priests Ergo all Believers may teach You answer The fallacie lies in the word Priest you read of two sorts of Priests 1. Some by Office c. 2. Others a royal Priesthood proper to all Believers c. who as the former come near to God 1. Have boldness and access c. 2. Offer sacrifice of prayer and praise 3. Slay their sins and mortifie the old man c. 4. In respect of common annoynting so all Believers have an unction of the Spirit of God which leads them into all truth 1 Joh. 2. 20. and being thus taught they may and must teach others These are your own words And now Sir where is the Fallacie in your self or in the preaching brethren your own confession shall be your judge one day But you pretend to mend all again with the word privately the way of the Lord how often have you confest the truth and then think to lick your self whole again with that one word that the Scripture ownes not upon your account but breathes forth light and truth to the contrary as clear as the Sun when it shines at the noon-day yet when you have confest the truth you pretend to over-turn it again with that word private with shame acknowledge your ignorance if not your malice 2. You answer You 'l shew the weakness of this Argument you say per idem thus The office of a King is to rule but every Believer is a King Ergo. And if so why do ye not get into the Throne c. I answer Your Argument looks like your self Because Believers are Kings Ergo they do and shall reign with Christ over Sin Satan Flesh and World with him in glory this is the truth in the mystery but you draw scurrilous and reproachful conclusions to make the Saints and truth contemptible be advised of your folly in time and repent least you walking in John a Leydens wayes cry up Office Office thinking to carry away all the crown and glory from the Saints when indeed and truth you have no more part nor portion in the business then Simon the Sorcerer c. I say be warned of crying up your selves above the Magistrate Parliament and Councel of State c. resolving to ruine all if you may not reign least you come to John a Leydens end c. The fourteenth Objection 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. As every one hath received the gift even so minister the same one to another c. every man must use the talent God hath given him c. Mat. 25. Hence you say they argue All that have gifts must use them but many private men have gifts Ergo they must use them Your answer 's true But where not publikely for then many women who have excellent Gifts should be Preachers but privately c. You have no other shift to put off truth but this silly distinction of publike private c. you have worn it thred-bare being so often put to it in the very plain express terms of Scripture that you know not where to shift your self but put off your load upon this word private to which I have said so much in answer unto it that I suppose the most weak and simple may see into your Fallacie but Sir you leave your case desperate at last but no wonder when it is so bad that it seems you are glad to steal away from it for you confess that which you have so long opposed You say He comes ver 11 to the gift of Prophesie and ministring according to our Abilities Is it the Gift of Prophesie indeed it s well you confess it It seems you had not audaciousness enough in you to contradict this truth shining so clear in your conscience You say Its the gift of Prophesie Surely these are not Prophets in Office you dare not say so it seems but as every man hath received this Gift so let him minister if any man speak c. Here you are blank and glad to be gone with speed to the next you saying so little and to so little purpose the Scripture it self being so undeniably clear that daunts all gain sayers as appears in your answer I shall say no more unto it but pursue you to that which follows The fifteenth Objection Rev. 11. 3. The two Witnesses Prophesie not only the Clergy but all the Faithful You answer 1. That borrowed Speeches make no grounded Arguments I answer That the truth of those speeches shall stand and hold firm when your Logick and Rhetorick shall have an end 2. You say The Witnesses consisted of Pastors and People the one Preaching the other Professing against Antichrist c. Be sure then it s not you nor your People who walk in Antichristian wayes but you it is must be witnessed against and if you have not already wil kill the witnesses And why not the people witness by Preaching as well as Prophesying if every one may administer according to the gift received as in the former Argument c. The last Objection is a Sceleton A penny worth of their small Reasons a parcel of bare bones the very naming of them is confutation sufficient as 1 Cor.