and to give just occasion by dealing immodestly with the Truth of God to the disgrace and disparagement and dishonor of God in respect of whom and for maintenance of whose Truth we must not know either father or mother son or daughter Minister or Master brother or friend but to undervalue disgrace dishonor disparage yea and even hate them in comparison thereof and rather then baulk the Truth that concerns the good of immortal souls especially in case when it may endanger the loss of souls so precious is the Redemption of souls and their continuance for ever and of so high esteem ought the glory of God to be valued of us He that valueth himself or his own honor or grace and glory yea or his own life better then the Truth and the Glory of God deserveth no better but shame and dishonor for his self-ish ends and pride c. And he that doth truth and cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God He will be desirous to be tryed by the touchstone even the Truth it self and will love him better that lets him see his error in such a case then him that flattereth with his lips or holdeth his tongue and lets him run on in erroneous paths either in life or doctrine And it is a sign that such men do evil that hate the light and that will not abide the tryal by the touchstone in as open and publique a place as they have held forth doctrine provided always that it be done with meekness in a loving way as it ought to be for so saith the Apostle Let all your things be done in love And that there be also a free acknowledgment by them that do it of their own weaknesses and subjection of themselves to all or any Error and to be likewise tempted and drawn aside and that they onely stand and are upheld by the Grace of God of his free accord and with a clear manifestation of such material and weighty causes and considerations moving them thereunto as are of greater value and consequence then the credit and reputation and honor due unto such a Minister for it ought not to be done upon slight occasion but matters of weight and such as will over-ballance all the shame and disgrace that may possibly fall upon such a Minister And it is a signe that men come of themselves and are not sent of God if they seek their own glory or if their own glory be so near and dear unto them that they cannot be content to undervalue it to the glory of God or to his sacred truth if they cannot be content to let God be true and every man a lyar but will rather oppose the truth of God then acknowledg themselves to have erred from the truth Jam. 5. 19 20. It is a shrewd sign that there is in such men a spice of that pride that exalteth the Pope above all that is called God or that is worshipped Who arrogateth power and dominion to himself as if he could not erre for all men must beleeve what he asserteth and punctually obey his commands and decrees though never so untrue or unjust c. Yea though quite contrary to the word of God and to the light of reason Or else they must be Excommucate out of their Churches oh horrible pride and yet a spice thereof is doubtlesse to be found in all men by nature And in the natures of many that yet notwithstanding have the grace of God for they are partly flesh and partly Spirit and it is rare to finde out such a man as can deny himself and take up his crosse and follow Christ fully That can endure the cross and despise the shame for men can very hardly endure to be crost yea though they cross and oppose even the truth of God how much lesse then would they endure the cross and the shame and spitting And they cannot endure to be despised and dishonoured when they doe despise and dishonour God How much less then can they despise the shame in respect of the honour and glory of God But it will be objected that if this were suffered any man that would might implead the Minister if he think he erre even when he hath preached the truth of God And so many raise controversies of disputation when ever they please to disturbe and trouble the Congregations amongst which there are some that are weake that ought to be received but not unto controversies of disputation I answer as before that it ought not to be done but in matters of weight that may be clearly evinced from the Word of God And if any oppose or contradict the truth either through malice or ignorance It may minister occasion to such a Minister to convince gain-sayers and then the shame and dishonour will light on them and the truth of God be the more splendorous in that respect and if it be done of malice his malice that doth it will be discovered and if it be through ignorance he may be convinced and better informed and will have cause of thankfulness both to God and the Minister that hath converted him and resolved his doubts But if it were the custom that Judicious men might not onely in case of erronious Doctrine but of things dark and mysterious that are not fully cleared in their ministration put them on by way of question or desire them to illustrate or clear such a point or inlarge themselves in profitable points and confirm them better It might be very profitable to the Church of God For the people will more regard and consider better of such particular points as have been the subject of such discourse and are as it were vindicated and concluded upon and so confirmed against all objections or obscurities whatsoever even in the publike Congregation and by the most Judicious in reputation amongst them then of other particulars And this also would be a meanes to debar all such from usurping the Ministry that are not able for it and to convince gainsayers and stop their mouths and to maintain also and vindicate the truth Yea it would be a means to seclude all such as are not men of self-denying spirits such as the Lord Jesus requires that such should be if they would attaine to be his Disciples especially his Ministers 4. The Independent principles are likewise stricter in standing fast to such Christian Liberties in other respects wherewith Jesus Christ hath made us free Then the ways and principles or at least the practises of Presbyterians will suffer 1. As first concerning their Independency in respect of other Churches whiles they do well as Rom. 13. 3 4. 1 Pet. 3. to 23. Chap. 4. 1 2. 12 c. For as it is granted by All That in case of necessitie as when a Church liveth where it cannot govern in a Presbyterial way in a Classical and Synodical manner because there is no Churches to combine with within
AN Husbandmans Harrow to pull down the Ridges of the PRESBYTERIALL GOVERNMENT and to smooth a little the INDEPENDENT That they and others may walk together upon plain Scripture Grounds without stumbling on the ridgedness of either or both Containing divers new and unanswerable Arguments properly deduced from Sacred Scriptures to this purpose that have never yet been proposed by any on either partee Which induceth the Husbandman to make thus bold whether welcome or no. And having prooved also the said Scripturall Arguments that like teeth of steel they will pull down the Ridges before they break or bend having been forced to try them upon ridged lands because he could not walk upon either of their grounds without stumbling on the Ridges Written by ELLIS BRADSHAVV of the Parish of Bolton in the County of Lancaster Husbandman LONDON Printed for the Author and are to be sold at the black spread Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1649. To the Reader BEloved Brethren Who ever you be that shall read or hear and understand those things that are here exprest I desire briefly in the name of God and the Lord Jesus Christ to admonish and exhort yea to kindle and incourage you in the ways of truth of meekness and of righteousnesse as Psal 45. Hebr. 1. But to danke and daunt and discourage the adversaries in every respect wherein they doe oppose or exalt themselves against the Lord Jesus or against his Scepter yea against his Kingdom against his truth and meekness and righteousnesse as Hebr. 1. 8 9 c. For the time is come that he hath taken to himself even his great power and hath in measure raigned as Revel 11. 17. Nay there is heard already even a loud voyce saying in heaven to wit in the Church Now is salvation and strength and the Kingdome of our God and the power of his Christ for the Accuser of our brethren to wit Sathan is already cast down which accused them before our God day and night as Revel 12. 10 11 12. And they have in measure alredy overcom by the bloud of the Lamb and by the word of their Testimony And if you aske who that have thus overcome They are plainly noted what stamp they are of For they are of such as have not loved their lives unto the very death This is their stamp and let it be their Motto for there is none more proper neither any more precious or truly honourable amongst the Sons of men And therefore rejoyce ye heavens to wit yee Churches and ye that dwel in them But wo be to the inhabitants of the earth and of the Sea for the Devil himself is come down unto you and that having great wrath knowing that he hath but a short time till he must be inclosed and chained up in the bottomless pit for a thousand years as Chap. 20. 1 2 3. for he must be shut up and a seale set upon him that he shall deceive the Nations no more till the thousand years shall be fulfilled though after that he must be loosed for a little season And therefore to dank and dant and discourage the Adversaries and for terror and amazement even to the people of God yea such as fear his Name whether they be small or great Lest they should be ingaged on the adversaries part against Michael and against his Angels as Revel 12. 7. Even against him I meane That is the first and the last that liveth and was dead but that is now alive for evermore Amen who hath the keys of hell and of death Chap. 1. 17 18. Yea for terror unto such as shall ingage against him I might write a Book not only within but on the backside like that spoken of in Ezekiel And all full even of bitter lamentations and mournings and woes Though it is doubtful it should but be in vain to the most part For even the people of God that are his Elect and precious are many of them grown even secure and careless yea dull and uncapable of any deep impressions either of fears or hopes And they are too apt either not to hear or when they have heard to let the wordsslip as Heb. 2. 1 2 3. and so incur to themselves so much greater judgements unless they repent And therefore woe woe and alass for ever to all that do but neglect much more that despise so great salvation Hebr. 2. 3 4 to 9. Yea woe woe and alass for ever to the inhabitants of the earth that forget God And above all unto them that in measure know God and yet in no measure will glorifie him as God neither are thankful but become vaine in their imaginations c. as Rom. 1. 21. Yea who have changed the truth of God into a lye and worshipped and served the creature yea any creature more then the Creator who is God indeed blessed for ever Amen Yea Woe woe and alass for ever unto those who not likeing to retaine God in their knowledge nor in their minds and thoughts he shall give them over to a reprobate minde to doe those things which are not convenient being filled with all unrighteousness c. as the particulars are enumerated Rom. 1. 28 29 30 31 32. Yea Woe unto the world because of offences And though it must needs be that offences shall come yet woe unto such by whom they come It were better for them that a Mill stone were hanged about their necks and they were cast into the Sea then that they should offend but one of the least of those little ones ' that beleeve in Christ as Matth. 18. 3. to 14. And what ever men thinke yea though they care not to despise or offend and reproach yea even murther and destroy and seek to root out even the very names and posterities of any such little ones that beleeve in Christ making no more account of the killing of such then of so many Fleas Yet It is not the will of their heavenly Father that so much as one of these little ones should perish as vers 14. And therefore it is that he doth admonish us how to deale with such if they trespass against us vers 15 c. For precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints And he will doubtless preserve their souls though cruel Cains shall destroy their bodies yea he will doubtless preserve the faithful and plenteously reward every proud doer But let it admonish such who are faithful and that obey his voyce to take heed unto themselves and if their brethren sin against them tell them of their faults and if they repent forgive them c. yea though seven times over in one day as Mat. 18. For we are not allowed to hate our brethren in our hearts but to tel them of their faults plainly Neither is it lawful to judg and censure them as Rom. 15. 4. 7 10 12 13 19 22. Chap. 15. 1 2 3 5 6 7. according to appearance but
hearing of the eare or barely Theorettical without an eye of Faith Consiq Therefore it follows that he that speaketh understandingly and apprehensively of these secret Mysteries doth evidently demonstrate that he speaketh by the Spirit through the power and grace of the Spirit of God who onely revealeth and giveth understanding of the things of God as hath been said so that it is manifest that it is not they that speak but the Spirit of their Father that speaketh in them And by how much more they shall lighten things that are hid in darkness and make the councels of the hearts manifest as 1 Cor. 4. 5. by the cleare unfolding or interpretation of sacred Scripture and of the secrets thereof especially such as are dark and mystical and hid from others or that have not formerly been explained and opened or not convincingly as a cleer result producing an infallible assent By so much the more evident and demonstrable it is that it is not they that speak but the Spirit of their Father that speaketh in them Matth. 10. 19. 20. Yea that they are sent to speak or to declare those things being thrust forth even by the Spirit of Christ who dwelleth in them and being Lord of the harvest thrusteth forth Labourers into his Hanvest For how is it is possible that things that are hid from the wise and learned should be revealed even unto babes and to the foolish c. in respect with this world if they were not inspired and revealed unto them by the Spirit of God seeing they have not learned them by humane documents but from God onely Object But it will be objected That it were immodesty yea presumption and a tokâ—n of spiritual pride in men if they should so much as acknowledg much less affirm that they are taught of God and that immediatly by the inspiration of his blessed Spirit and that it is not they that speak but the Spirit of their Father that speaketh in them But especially for unlearned men that are but as babes compared with the wise and learned it were a shameful thing in them to do it above all compare Answ I answer If they understand and know such things as have been said even the secrets and mysteries of the Kingdom of God which they have not learned not bin taught of men To whom then should they ascribe the glory Ought they to ascribe it to their own wisdom Dare the learned ascribe their spiritual understanding and knowledge of God and of the things of God either to their own wisdom or their learnedness in the Tongues which a carnal man may attain unto that can know nothing of the things of God as hath been said Were this to give God the glory and to do it as of the ability that God administreth that in all things God might be glorified Were this to speak as the Oracle of God and in his name 1 Pet. 4. 11. Might not such justly expect the judgment of Herod to be struck with an Angel of the Lord and to be eaten up of worms because they give not the glory unto God of what they do or speak in his sacred name that is good or excellent and true c. And it is doubtful at least that such who utterly exclude all that are not learned in the tongues I mean from speaking unto men to edification and exhortation and comfort or from any ministration in the name of God in publique especially that they thereby intimate that their abilities for spiritual ministration are onely attained through learnedness in the Tongues for how else durst they be so bold as to limit the holy one of Israel that he shall not speak but by the learned onely Object But it will be objected That speaking unto men to edification and exhortation and comfort is not properly to prophecy for prophecying is properly foreshewing of things to come though such who prophecy do ordinarily also speak unto men to edification c. as well as prophecy of things to come Ans 1. I answer first That they that edifie the Church build them up in Faith and Faith is of things invisible and chiefly of things to come For Faith is the ground of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. And therfore edifying or building men up further in the true faith and giving them better evidences and grounds of things hoped for from sacred testimonies is of all other the chiefest prophecying and most useful powerful and comfortable for giving life to the souls of men both in this life and in the life to come spiritual life I mean even joy and comfort unspeakable and full of glory See Joh. 10. 10. 28. and 1 Joh. 5. 11 12 13. Yea for perfecting of the Saints as Eph. 4. 11. to 16. 2. And as for the other as of foreshewing new things to come as Agabus prophecyed of the dearth and famine over all the world Though it be a part of prophecying not so ordinarily attainable and more difficult in these days yet it is not so needful nor useful as the other And though it be a more certain and evident demonstration of the sacred Spirit inspired into such when the thing is accomplished and come to pass yet that part of prophecying which the Apostle commends as the chief of all to wit speaking unto men to edification c. is both far more profitable and a clearer evidence for the time present of the Spirit of God then the other is And Therefore I say first it is the most present evidence and most immediate demonstration of the spirit and of power because foreshewing of things to come is no present and immediate evidence of it self till the things be come to pass that are in truth foreshewed though it is true that foreshewing of things to come is the very complement and perfection of prophecying and the most visible demonstration of the Spirit of God as Deut. 18. 22. and Joh. 16. 13. when the things are accomplished 2. But secondly yet this prophecying intended by the Apostle is the most useful and the most profitable of all other gifts for the edifying of the Church And therefore saith the Apostle Follow after Charity and desire spiritual gifts but chiefly that ye may prophecy 1 Cor 14. 1. And the reason is rendered Vers 3. because He that prophecyeth speaketh unto men to edification and exhortation and comfort which is the chief end of all gifts For all that are zealous of spiritual gifts should seek that they might excel to the edifying of the Church as Vers 12. Although the gift of tongues and so also foreshewing of things to come is a more evident demonstration to convince them that beleeve not as Vers 22. yet look the end of all gifts as 1 Cor. 14. 12. Ephes 4. 12. 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. Rom. 12. 6 7 8. for that should be our end But prophecying saith the Apostle serveth not for them that beleeve not but for