admittance thereunto Answ The Word of God looseth the converting power thereof when used against the word of God I mean when applyed contrarie to those directions which the Scripture commendeth unto us For every Communicant is commanded to examin himself and to discern the Lords bodie and to eat the same worthily Duties which meer unconverted persons in the state of nature are utterly unable to perform These things are not to be wrought there but brought thither Indeed the Sacrament will multiplie but not make increase but not create grace in the hearts of Receivers Such therefore who come not qualified for Communicants cannot expect converting from the sacrament because they break the Word of God in appearing there As for those excellent passages of Scripture used by Ministers officiating in the sacrament it is to be feared they will rather turn the savour of death unto death and give Satan a larger power over those unconverted persons which press to those mysteries Use 2. It confutes those who are too rigid in administering the Sacrament denying it to all those who will not submit themselves to their examination though formerly they have been examined and admitted and since stand charged with no fault proved or suspected save onely they call it stubbornness or resolution recusancie to be re-examined Here let none think that out of the spirit of frowardness I will fully oppose their Opinions or that out of anger or discontent I may favour some modern licencious extravagancies I * remember a storie of the Ladie Katharine Brandon Dutchess of Suffolk which may be applied to my occasions When every Ladie at an entertainment was to choose whom she loved best and so place themselves the Dutches because not allowed to choose her own Husband as against the laws of the feast took Steven Gardiner by the hand whom she perfectly hated with these words If I may not sit down with him whom I love best I have chosen him whom I love worst Not to dissemble in the sight of God and man I do ingenuously protest that I affect the Episcopal Government as it was constituted in its self abating some corruptions which time hath contracted best of any other as conceiving it most consonant to the word of God and practice of the Primitive Church But seeing it hath pleased God to set by Episcopacie for the present whether or no animo resumendi to him alone is known Far be it from me to close with such whom I confess I love the worse those Practicers of so much libertie in the Church that it tendeth directly to confusion and whose disorderly Order deserves not the name of any Discipline But I know that Religion and learning hath flourished under the Presbyterian Government in France Germanie the Low-countreys I know many worthy Champions of the Truth bred and brought up under the same I know the most Learned and moderate English Divines though Episcopal in their callings and judgements have allowed the Reformed Churches under the discipline for found and perfect in all essentials necessarie to salvation If therefore denied my first desire to live under that Church-Government I best affected I will contentedly conform to the Presbyterian Government and endeavour to deport my self quietly and comfortably under the same This premised to prevent personal exceptions against my judgement I am bold to say That the excluding persons from the sacrament on this score alone for Recusancies in point of re-examination hath been the mother of much mischief in the Church First it hath brought an undervaluing opinion on the sacrament it self as if it were not so necessarie for the growth of grace as heretofore was generally preached and believed Lay-people which phrase I use not for any fondness I have thereunto but because generally used and understood seeing Conscientious Ministers debar their people those holy Mysteries meerly for a ceremonious matter begin to thin that receiving is but a matter of indifferencie which may or may not be used without great gain or loss to the soul Secondly it hath made sacraments to be long disused in some places to the great grief of many godly perons I could never read that passage Acts 27. 33. but with admiration This day saith Paul is the fourteenth day which ye have tarried and continued fasting having taken nothing Strange that life could consist with so long abstinencie I confess men in the Southern parts have not so active stomachs as extended extenuated with heat I confess also that having as one may say a surfet of sorrow they had no mind to meat as little joying to feed themselves as to feed fishes expecting dayly to be drowned Yet all things put together we cannot understand their fourteen days fasting otherwise but that in such a term they made no set and standing meals They did not comfortably enjoy themselves at any just refection but fed privately and cursorily as their occasions would give them leave without any delight meerly for the maintenance of nature But behold a greater wonder for ten years I dare bodly say some Parishes in this Citie have fasted from the Sacrament I will not excuse the peevishness of such people who on the punctilio of reexamination deprive themselves of so great a benefit But that the guilt may fall the lighter on either let it even be parted betwixt both Pastor and People as faultie herein I know not what hard shift such people have made perchance privately in their houses ro else in other Parishes to be clandestine comunicants as I may term them what runing-meals they have made I know not sure I am they have not sat down at Gods board in their own Parish for many years a wonder indeed if well cōsidered However this is most injurious if the Drones will not feed that the Bees should be famished That be far from you my Brethren to do after this manner to starve the righteous with the wicked and that the righteous should be as the wicked that be far from you What if such the fault worthy stubbornness of some as not to submit themselves to re-examination must Communions be wholy neglected and humble people who on any terms are willing to receive the Sacrament be debarred the benefit thereof Object Should sacraments be administred and any profane person press in thereunto there presence would infect all the rest how good soever contracting guilt to themselves from the companie of those unworthy persons with whom they communicate Better therefore is a total absence in such a case than a sinfull receiving Answ. The Position is most false that mixt Communions do infect For when first our aforesaid cautions have been observed if in defiance of the Ministers care and other Officers of the Church an unworthy person shall chance either cunningly to insinuate or violently to intrude himself his guilt is on his own head and he alone answerable for the same Surely the man at the Marriage-feast Matth. 22. 12. wanting the Wedding-garment had
and reduced tendency of the soul to that calling Especially when such persons if consulting sinister respects might have provided more plentifully both for themselves and their posterity yet passing by more gainfull professions whereof they were equally capable with others their restless souls cannot be centred with satisfaction on any profession save that of the ministery Thus Tim. 3. 1. If a man desire the Office of a Bishop he desireth a good thing not the honour but the Office not the profit but the pain whence {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} mans natural appetite if he have as great a desire thereunto as to his natural food Secondly in having some competent ability to discharge that Office I say competent For for these things who are sufficient It is a Burthen too heavy for the back of an Angel Some skill in Greek and Hebrew that he may competently recover the Scripture in the Original Some skill in Logick to analize the Scripture aright For although the words of the Apostle 2 Tim. 2. 15. Rightly dividing the word of truth be principally intended Theological divisions giving comfort to whom comfort terrour to whom terrour belongs yet even Logicall dividing is necessary for the clear parcelling and expounding the word Some skill not in vain but full Philosophy to understand the Metaphors of Scripture Know here great the difference of abilities in several ages In time of general ignorance a lesser degree of knowledge must be admitted Sad the times in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth when by her Majesties injunctions the Clergy were commanded to read the Chapters over once or twice by themselves that so they might be the better enabled to read them distinctly in the Congregation Blessed be God we have an alteration to the better and lately there hath been plenty of able men were their parts but sufficiently sanctified which hath brought me to the third part of the Internal Call viz. Inward Holiness This is mainly material as rendred for a reason of the extraordinary success of the ministery of Barnabas Acts 11. Why much people were added to the Lord by his preaching For he was a good man and full of the Holy Christ and of faith c. I deny not but it may be possible even for a wicked minister virtute officij by virtue of his office to convert others to God But far betterit is when done officio virtutis by the office and efficacy of his virtues as the Instrumental cause thereof True it is Daniel 12. 3. They that turn many to righteousness shall be as the stars for ever and ever but what went before in the same verse and they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament And what saith Solomon Prov. 9. 22. If thou be wise thou shalt be wise for thy self chiefly labouring to make his own calling and election sure The External call consists first in the approbation of such in the Church which have power and place to examine them For know all men by nature have Laodicean humour in their souls ready to say I am rich and have need of nothing when indeed they are poor and have need of all things I have gifts I have graces fit to make a minister will swelling emptiness say when modest abilility is often silent Now let another praise thee and not thy own mouth Let guilty dross decline the Touch-stone good gold rejoyceth when brought thereunto But let these also first be proved A great Emphasis is couched in also how good soever they may be reported let their honesty and ability both of them be first examined wherein eminent holiness may make the less knowledge to pass currant but no knowledge how great soever can qualifie profaness for the Office But all these will not do the deed to make a Lawfull minister still one thing and but one thing is wanting and that is ordination Acts 14. B. Titus 1. 5. the solemnity whereof with the Ceremony used thereat are set forth in scripture This done after the Internal and External call compleated by Approbation and Ordination let one so qualified preach the word be instant in season out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and Doctrine The Lord prosper the work of his hands yea the Lord prosper his handy work we have wished him good success in the name of the Lord Come we now to resume our main Doctrine which is this None may ordinarily execute the Office of a Preacher except lawfully called thereunto This first appears by the Legall Priesthood appropriated to the Sons of Levi and two eminent judgements one to Forraigners usurping the same Vzzah a private man Vzziah a King to shew that neither high nor low may be excused therein Uzzah to the Tabernacle Uzziah to the Temple To shew that whether the Church be in motion in afluctuating and tottering condition or Temple-like in a standing and setled estate none can be defended Uzzah out of charity mistaking meaning well Uzziah out of mere pride of heart lifting up himself to shew that God will not hold them guiltless be their intentions good or bad Uzzah favoured at leastwise not opposed by the beholders and pitied by David himself Uzziah resisted by the Priests to shew that whether men do or do not mislike such intrusion it is unlawfull in it self Uzzah instanly smitten with death Uzziah with a long and lingering sickness parted from publick society to shew that divine justice goeth not always the same path and the same place in punishing offenders And here it is not unworthy our notice that though Jeroboam made Priests of the meanest of the people without any respect to the Tribe of Levi 1 Kings 12. 31. never giving his negative voice for any mans worthiness but whosoever would might be a Priest Yet even those Priests did not officiate till the Ceremony of a mock-consecration was passed upon them 2 Chron. 23. 9. With the sacrifice of a Bullock and seven Rams Well did that wicked Politician know that except some solemnity was used to separate his Priests as mean as they were from common people his prophane Religion would quickly be contemned and confounded Secondly This may be proved by the solemn calling and Commission of Christs Apostles Their Calling consisted in Come hither Their Commission consisted in Go therefore Their Calling Mark 3. 13. And he goeth up into a mountain and calleth unto him whom he would and they came unto him {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} whence our English Call it was not who would come but whom he called Christ invites all to salvation Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden onely some to the ministerial Function Object It was Moses his wish Num. 11. 27. Would God that all the Lords people were Prophets what he desired is now done what then wished is now wrought then prayed for now performed The Pulpit or Prophecying according to Moses his wish is now open to all and such discover
the envious spirit of Joshua who repine thereat Ans. It followeth not that those things either should be or which every good man in holy zeal doth desire I will not instance in the wish of Daniel O King live for ever least any say that was but a Court-complement St. Paul saith Romans 10. Brethren my hearts desire for Israel is that they may be saved Israel indefinitely that is Israel universally though it neither could nor would be so as contrary to the will and pleasure of God in that particular Thus The Expressions of Moses was the commendable extravagancie of his pious affection but not the exact Standard by adaequation whereunto the lawfullness of all mens Prophesying should be proportioned The second part of their Commission consists in Go therefore I confess the Apostles when first sent to preach Matth. 10. 5. Had but a limited or confined Go ago which began with go not go not in the way of the Gentiles but go rather to the lost sheep of Israel But after Christ his resurrection their Commission was general go ye therefore and teach all nations and lo I am with you always even to the end of the world Men and Brethren let me freely speak unto you af the Apostles that they are both dead and buried and their sepulchers though uuknown are amongst us unto this day Christ therefore promising to be with them to the end of the world therein also intendeth their posterity and lawfull successours And this is the Chartar from whence we ministers lawfully ordained justly derive our Commission A Third argument might be fetched from the practice of the primitive Church wherein preaching was onely practised by such as were lawfully ordained thereunto which may be cleared by authority out of the Fathers But I purposely decline this reason remembring how Samson served the Philistines when fastened Judges 16. 14. by his locks with a pin For he went away with the pin of the beam Thus when we think to have our Adversaries in this point safe and fast when by an argument fetcht from Church-practise we stake them down to the Primitive times away they carry pin and all by slighting and contemning such ancient practises as no ways concluding them to conform thereunto Fourthly this appeareth by several places of Scripture as Rom. 10. 15. How shall they preach except they be sent Now shall they preach That is profitably to others comfortably to themselves with an assurance of Divine Direction Protection Benediction It is said in the fore-going words how shall they hear without a preacher to shew that it is equally impossible for men to hear without a preacher as to preach lawfully without sending Let such who pretend to preach without a call try if they can hear without a preacher This they will never presume to do as knowing that they shall quickly be confuted by the rest in the room which can hear nothing where nothing is spoken though they have as quick ears as any others Secondly 2 Cor. 12. 17. If the whole body were an eye where were the hearing Prophets we know are termed Seers 2 Sam. 9. 9. Now where all the body is sight that may be truly termed not a body mistical but monstrous And here I lay this down for a position of undoubted truth that although some not called to be ministers are often said in Scripture to teach and instruct yet none are said to preach but such who have a publick calling thereunto take it in the verbe {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to preach or in the participle {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} preaching or in the verbe denoting the Act {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} preaching or in the noune {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} expressing the Agent a preacher in all these the word is onely predicated of such who had a solemne vocation and were entered into the ministery I say again the aforesaid word preaching with its derivatives being used more than seventie times in the new Testament is constantly confined either to Christ or to his Apostles or to his Disciples or to the Deacons or to some publick persons making the same their proper functions Abate me onely two places one Mark 1. 45. Whereof the man cleansed of the Leprosie it is said {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} The other Mark 7. 36. of the dumb and deaf man who {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} But here the distinction of our Translatours is commendable who no doubt observing the constant tenour of Scripture the best way to expound words therein and finding the word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} restrained generally to men of the ministerial profession have rendered the word here not to preach but to publish Mark 1. 45. But he went out and began to publish it much Mark 7. 36. So much the more a great deal they publish it So that without any exception at all the rule notes universally true in our translation through the New Testament that preaching is onely attributed to publick persons appointed for the same Use To confute such who maintain that men gifted though not called may preach But let us examine what manner of gifts they pretend First some gifts are such as may be said eminently to contain a calling in them namely such which presently and perfectly are bestowed upon men If a mean man utterly unlettered shall in an instant be furnished with Arts and Languages as the Apostles were not gaining them by degrees with study and industry such a one would startle us if challenging ipso facto to be a minister because miraculously enabled for the same And yet we may observe that God to keep order and regulariry in his Church solemnly sent such who were thus immediately qualified to the Churches approbation Witness Paul and Barnabas who notwithstanding their rich endowments were in this Chapter solemnly separated verse 3 with the fasting and prayer of the Church with their hands layed on them Wherefore I say again should such a person appear commencing per saltum compleate in all sciences and languages so that all the tongues which departed from Babel in a confusion should meet in his mouth in a method it would give assurance to others that these his gifts came down from the Father of lights if willingly submitting himself to the examination and ordination of such to whom it properly doth belong Otherwise if amongst all other gifts the essential grace of humility be wanting it will render the rest suspected from what fountain they do proceed But let us survey what gifts those are which generally are most boasted of by opposers in this point God is my witness I speak it without bitterness or any Satyricall reflection Are they not for the most part such as may be reduced to boldness confidence memory and volubility of tongue Might they not truely say of many of their Sermons what the Son of the Prophets said of