Apology of Certain Christians, Chapter 8 – Chapter 9
CHAP. VIII. Of the exercise of Prophecie.
THere are they (whose names I forbear, for their credits sake) who have not spared, and that in their publique writings, to lay to our charge, that we will needs have all, and everie member of the Church a Prophet, and to prophesie publiquely. With what mindes they let loose their tongues to utter these, and manie mo most false and absurde vituperies against us, we leav it to God to judg, who knoweth: with what conscience, and desert of credit therein, unto thee (Christian Reader) into whose hands this our Apologie shall come.
We learn from the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 14, 3. that he who prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, exhortation, & comfort: which to perform conveniently, and as becomes the church-assemblie, we make account comes within the compasse but of a few of the multitude; happily two or three in each of our churches, considering their weak, and depressed estate. Touching prophesie then we think the verie same, that the Synode held at Embden 1571 hath decreed in these words. 1. In all churches, whether but springing up, Harm Synod …. pag. 21 22.or grown to s…me ripenes, let the order of prophesie be observed, according to Pauls institution. 2. Into the fellowship of this work are to be admitted not onelyonly the ministers, but the teachers too, as also of the Elders and Deacons, yea even of the multitude, which are willing to confir their gift receaved of God, to the common utilitie of the Church: but so as they first be allowed by the judgment of the ministers, And as the Apostle somet…mes said,2 Cor. 4. 13. We beleev, and therefore we speak, so because we beleev with the Belgick churches, that this exercise is to be observed in all congregations, therefore we also observ it in ours.Luke 2, 46, 47 & … 4, 15, 16. Ad. 8, 4 n…th 11 19, 20. 21. & ch. 13. 14 15 16 & ch. 18, 24, 25, 26, & … Of this our both faith & practise, we have these amongst other speciall foundations.
The first we fetch from the examples in the Iewish church, where libertie both for teaching and disputing publiquely both in temple and synagogue, was freely given to all gifted accordingly, without respect had to any office.
If any object, that the examples of Christ, and the Apostles in this case are incompetent, seeing that Christ was furnished with his own, and the Apostles with his authoritie; he alledgeth that which is true in it self, but to small purpose; considering we lay not our foundation in this, that Christ and his Apostles so d…d; but in that libertie so to do, was alwaies, and in all places graunted, & sometimes offered them. This libertie they obteyned not by the authoritie of Christ, which the Rulers of the Synagogues & Temple no more acknowledged then they did Christ himself: but by the order then receaved, and still continued to this day amongst the Iewes,In. 18, 18. that they whom with the Scriptures they call wise men, without all regard of publique office, having any word of exhortation to the people, should say on, as we have it written Act. 13, 23.Mat. 23. 34. 1 Cor. 1, 20. Whereunto …ad, that divers of them in whom we instance were furnished with no such authoritie specially from Christ.
The second we take from the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 14▪ where to the full, he informeth the church at Corinth of the order of that exercise, which they had formerly violated.… 1 Cor 14 … P. 1. … on 1 Cor. 14, 31. Which whole order (according to Bezaj is apparently taken, from the receaved custom in the Iewish Synagogues. Which custom saith Peter Martyr) seeing it was of …uld both good and laudable in the synagogues of the Iewes, the Apostle disdeyns not to transfer it to the church of Christ. of which also he tenders this reason, because it was not a legall ceremonie, but servs to the edification of the Church. If this be so, then must they needs take their marks amisse, who imagine that the Apostle in this place speaks of the extraordinarie gift, and exercise of prophesie. And although it be not like, that the Church of Corinth was, in that so plenteous effusion of the gifts of the spirit, altogether destitute of extraordinarie prophets, yet that the Apostle did not in that place aime at them, may be proved by manie mo, and the same (as I think) firm arguments drawn from the self same text. Which that I may do the more commodiously, the prudent reader must call to minde, that upon the foundation of the extraordinarie prophets, …ph. 2, 20.as well as of the verie Apostles, the church is built; and that that mysterie of Christ, ch. 3, 4. 5.by the spirit immediately, and infalliblie inlightining their minde, was in the same manner, though not in all in the same degree, revealed to them, and the other.
This so considered, 1. It seems altogether unprobable, that so manie Prophets of this ranke (although inf…riour in gifts) should have been found in that one small congregation, as the Apostle insinuates ver. 24, 29, 31, that Corinth had.
2. The Apostles in Corinth not onelyonly behaved themselvs inordinately in the church, but withall (as by interpreters from ver. 29, and 32 is generally delivered were subject to errour in the verie doctrine which they propounded; which to affirm of the extraordinarie Prophets, these skilfull m…ister builders, who together with the Apostles la…d the foundation, together participated the same holy spirit, seemeth not a litle to shake the foundation of Christian religion. And if one of these extraordinarie prophets might …, why not they all: And … the Prophets, why not the Apostles. And …f they might …, how should it appear, that they have not cried? And so by consequence, what either then was, o… now is the firmnes and certaintie of the Christian fa…th?
3. Seeing that the Apostle ver. 34, 35, injoyns women deep silence in this church exercise, not permitting them a all to speak; it seems most plain that he hath no…y, nor respect at all, to these extraordinarie gifts and endowments of prophesie authorising even women furnished with them,Fool 15, 21. Iudg. 5, 1. … Kin. 22, 14 … 2, 36. Apoc. 2, 20. to speak publiquely, and in mens presence, as appears in Mirjam, Deborah, Huldah, Anna, as also even in Iezabel her self in regard of order, and others.
Lastly, the Apostle ver. 36, upbraideth those verie Prophets unto whom he directeth his speach, as such, as from whom the word of God came not: but without cause, yea not without notable injurie, if they were extraordinarie Prophets, that is, inspired with the holy Ghost, and his immediate instruments: seeing that from these kinde of Prophets, as well as from Paul the Apostle the word of God came, though in different degree, and measure.
The third foundation of this exercise is laid in the manifould, and the same most excellent ends atteynable onelyonly by this means. 1. That God may be glorified, whilst everie one doth administer to another the gift, 1 Pet. 4, 10, 11.which he hath receaved, as good dispensers of the ma…ssuld grace of God. 2. That the spirit be not extinguished, that is the gift of prophesie,1 This. 5, 9 2…. or teaching; in which it may so come to passe, that some in the church, though no ministers, may excell the verie pastours themselvs. 3. That such as are to be taken into the ministerie of the church,1 Tim. 1, 3. 1 Ioh. 4. 1. Apo. 2, 2, 7. with c. 1, 11. may both become, and appear apt to teach. This seeing the Apostle would have done, he would questionlesse have some order for the doing of it: which, excepting this of prophesie, we have none of Apostolicall institution. 4. That the doctrine of the church may be preserved pure,See …. Acent. …ra…ag. …ath. pag. 168, 169. Iuke 2, 40. & 4, 21, 2…. Act. 17, 2. & 18, 24, 26, 28. 1 Cor 14 35 … l. 6, c. 12, 3… 1 Cor. 14, 4, 24, 25. Act. 20 28. … against Tu…. S…h. pa. 67, 68. … Mart. in 1 …. 14, 29. from the insection of errour: which is far more easilie corrupted, when some one or two alone in the church speak all, and all the rest have deep, and perpetuall silence enjoyned them. 5. That things doubtfull arising in teaching may be cleared, things obscure opened, things … convinced; and lastly, that as by the beating together of two stones … appeareth, so may the light of the truth more clearly …hine by disputations, quest…ons, and answers modestly had, and made, and as becomes the church of Saints, and worke of God. 6. For the edification of the church, and conversion of them that beleiv not: and this the raither because it apperteyneth not properly to the pasteurs, as Pastours, to turn goats or wolves into sheep, but raither to … the flock and sheep of Christ, in which the H. Ghost hath made them overseers. 7. And lastly, lest by excluding the commonaltie and multitude from Church affairs, the people of God be devided, and charitie lestened, and familiaritie, and good will be extinguished between the order of ministers and people.
CHAP. IX. Of Temples.
TO speak nothing of the office of the Christian magistrate in demolishing the monuments, and snares of Idolatrie (which these Temples want not, if themselvs be not such) I account that the consideration is one of a temple,… 2, 15. as a temple, that is, a holy place, as it is counted of the most, consecrated either to God himself, or to some Saint (made therein a false God,Pet. Mart … 2 …. 10, 27. though being a true Saint) whose name it bears; and which for its magnificent building, and superstitious form agrees far better to the … religion pompous, and idolatrous as it is, then to the Reformed,Ioh. Wolph …n 2 King. 17, 19, and 19, 6. and Apostolicall simplicitie. And another, and the same far divers, of a place, although in the house sometimes consecrated for such a temple, partly naturall, which is simplie necessarie to everie … action; partly civill, in which the church may well, and conveniently assemble together. The former use I deem altogether unlawfull; the latter not so, but lawfull, provided alwaies that the opinion of holines be removed, and withall such blemishes of superstition, as wherewith things lawfull in themselvs are usually stayned.