The Pulpit Guarded, Part 1
The Thesis discussed was this▪
That Private persons (though they be gifted, yet) may not Preach in a constituted Church without a Call.
The*Vide Socin. Tract. de Ecclesia. Arminians, Socinians, Anabaptists, Libertines, Separatists, &c. Affirm.
We, with all the Reformed Churches in Christendome,Catech. Racoviens. c. 21. &c. Deny.Thcop. Nicolaid. in defens. Socin. cap. 7.
IN the handling of this Controversie, I shal observe this Method.
1 I will briefly explain the Terms, as they lye in Order: I shall have occasion to enlarge upon them in the Answers.Vide Ruth…f. Du… R…ght of Presbyt. p. 271 the 2. part.
2 I shal confirme the Thesis with divers Reasons and A…guments drawne from the Word of God.Anabaptistae omnes sumunt sibi praedicandi offi ium. Gajtius, p. 20.
3 I shal answer all those Objections which (in my little reading) I have met withall.
First, By Private persons, I meane such as the Apostle cals the Flock, the people of God, Hearers, such as must obey their Teachers in the Lord, &c.
The Scripture is cleare, that some in the Church are Superiours, some Inferiours; some are as Eyes, some Ears, Some Feet; and as in the body Natural, some members are for more honourable employment, some less honourable, but all useful in their proper places. This is fully set forth, 1 C…r. 12. from v. 4 to 30.
These private persons we call (only for distinction sake) Lay-men, Vide Hom. Disput p. 111. Mr. Fry, though he approve not of this distinction, yet he useth it for distinction sake. Fry ag. Clerg. p. 52.as being contra-distinct to Ministers and Preachers, who are men in office: and if we thus use the term, not as opposed to Clergie, (for all the godly are called Gods Clergie, 1 Pet. 5. 3. Not lording it over Gods heritage, aforeign.or Clergy) God is their Lot and Portion, and the Church is his) but to Ministery, and to a man that is a Preacher in Office; so it cannot be offensive: for Laicus is only one foreign of the people. Hence abPrid. fascicul. controvers. p. 217. & Iunius contra Bell. de Cler. l. 2. c. 7. Paul was a man of strong parts, great learning, and rare abilities, yet pleads his Call, Gal. 1. 1 Col. 1. 23. 25. Apolloni. p. 76. learned man distinguisheth thus: 1. There is Clerus Ecclesia, & Clerus Ecclesiae. Clerus Ecclesia est sors Domini, quae omnes includit fideles, 1 Pet. 5. 3. Rev. 2. 6. 2. Clerus Ecclesiae sunt certae inter fideles personae segregatae & legitimè vocatae ad munus ministerii; ut Act. 13. 2. Titus 1. 5.
Secondly, though gifted, (though excellently gifted, so that they excel many Ministers in Praying, Elocution, Learning, &c and other abilities) yet without a Call they may not Preach, as wil appeare by the ensuing Discourse: for if bare gifts were sufficient to make a Minister, how many women in this Kingdom (who are forbidden preaching, yet) would be Preachers!
Two things are required in every Minister. 1.cforeign. Gifts, abilities and endowments both of Life and Learning, fit for so high and so holy a Calling. 2.foreign. Power and authority from the Church to exercise those Gifts. Gifts qualifie; but the Churches Ordination gives authority for execution. Dona dant aptitudinem, Ecclesia verò executionem.
But though gifted persons may not preach without a Call,Vide Owen, Duty of Pastors and People, p. 49. &c. yet they may and must use their gifts in their private Families, and for the good of their Brethren. I shall shew them how farre they may goe without offence.
1. They may and must read the Word to their families, because 'tis expresly commanded, Deut. 6. 6, 7, 8. 9. Gen. 18. 19. Col. 3. 16.
2. Privately and occasionally they may reprove an offending brother. This likewise is commanded, Levit. 19. 17. They must exhort, admonish, and comfort one another, Heb. 3. 13. 2 Thes. 3. 14, 15. Mal. 3. 16. Thus the righteous feed many, Prov. 20. 22. They must in all gentlenesse and meeknesse support the weake, and set him in joynt again that falls through infirmity, Gal. 6. 2. Iob 2. 11. and instruct others, Acts 18. 26.
3. They must pray one for another, Jam. 5. 16. and may, as occasion requires, adde private fasting in their families, Esth. 4. 16. Nehem. 1. 4. Acts 12. 12.
4 They may meet together to confer one with another, Luke 24. 14, 15.
5 They may examine anddA Synod is Judex judicandus; and Congregations are to examine with a judgement of discretion what is sent from them Unusquisque in domo suâ est Episcopus. Aug. try the Doctrine which they heare, provided it be done soberly in humility, and orderly. The Bereans are commended for this, Act. 17. 11.
6 Private persons must encourage each other to the publike worship of God, Isa. 2. 3.
7 They may catechize their families. David and Bathsheba instruct young Solomon, Prov. 4. 4. and 31. 1. Lois and Eunice teach Timothy betimes, 2 Tim. 1. 5, and 3. 15.
8 They must set up discipline in their family. So did David, Psal. 101. 2. I…b 1. 5. Deut. 21. 18. to 22.
9 They may sing Psalmes in their houses, Col. 3. 16.
10. Not only men, but women also may instruct their families, catechize Children and Servants, yea, and performe other Family-duties, in case the Husband be absent, or not able, or not willing to discharge them, &c. And thus a Priscilla, in a private way, may communicate her knowledge to a learned Apollos; and as a veryeM. Brinsley in his Looking-glasse for good women, p. 32. Reverend Divine hath excellently set forth.
11. A private godly man, endowed with the knowledge of the Languages, Arts, &c. may, for the benefit of his family, give the sence of a Text, and interpret Scripture; yet may not take upon him the Function of Preaching without a Call.D Hall, C. C. Dec. 3. Cas. 10. See this Case fully debated by that judicious Casuist.
Object. If private men may exhort, admonish, &c. then they may preach likewise.
Answ. Anon sequitur; it doth not follow: for private exhortation is commanded to private persons, but Preaching is forbidden them.
2 There's a great difference between private Exhortation and Preaching, though materially they may be the same. e. g. The Pastor rebuketh Drunkennesse as an Officer and publike Watch-man, ex officio specialis delegationis, authoritatively, by the power of the Keyes: but the private Christian rebuketh Drunkennesse ex communi officit charitatis, privately and occasionally, without any Pastoral charge; not authoritatively, as one in Office. Thus the Watch-man giveth warning, the Common souldier doth the same; the School-master teacheth one lesson, the School fellow teacheth the same: the one, by vertue of his Office; the other, of common Charity. But the Pastor doth rebuke sinne, duplicate page duplicate page not only out of common Charity, but by vertue of his Office; not only privately, but publikely, by a Pastoral obligation. Thus we see both use their Gifts, but 'tis in their own Sphere: the Pastor publikely, as an Officer; the private Christian in a private way of edification.
Others object,Object. That many young Schollars, and some private men of singular abilities, Yates Plea for Prophesying. pag. 71. 72.that intend the Ministery, doe preach before Ordination. So did the Sons of the Prophets, say they, 1 Sam. 19. 20. They likewise urge, 1 King. 20. 35. & 2 King. 2. 7. & 4. 1.
This block must be removed before I can proceed.
I answer,Answ. that your Argument is not ad idem: because the sons of the Prophets, and such as are trained up for the Ministery, do preach, ergo, every gifted brother may preach; it will not follow.
For, 1. These young men and sons of the Prophets are educated, fitted, and set apart for the Ministery, and so are in the way to the Ministery, and not altogether out of Office; but may be said to be Ministers vertualiter▪ inchoativè & dispositivè, licèt non actualiter & realiter; as the kernel is said to be a tree potentia, licèt non actu.
But it is not thus with Artificers, Naylors, Taylors, &c. they never were educated, fitted, or set apart for the Ministery, as these are; therefore they may not doe what these may doc.
2 Their Preaching is for Preparation and Trial, per modum probationis, as Probationers and Expectants; and that before Pastors and Elders,Vide Rutherf. who can judge of their gifts, and must try before they trust▪ laying hands upon no man suddenly,Dae Right of Presbyt. p. 281. and 305. but as the Apostle commands, I Tim. 3. 10. Let them first be proved, and then Minister: though we cannot expect perfection, yet there must be some fit proportion for so great work, which co…sists in three things. I. In Sanitate Doctrinae. 2. In Sanctitate vitae. 3. In Facultate docendi. His Doctrine must be sound, his life holy, besides a natural dexterity for Teaching. How can these be seen and known, but by Preaching?
But the Preaching of Artificers, &c. is not for Trial; for then they should goe preach before Ministers who can judge of their abilities; but as Gifted Brethren they preach without a Call to giftlesse persons.
Thus I have shewed how far private persons may goe, and have not willingly or wittingly concealed one tittle of their right: it will be their wisdome▪ so to use private duties, as that the publike be not hindered or neglected, and the Ministery in no wise sleighted, as the Apostle excellently commands both, I Thes. 5. 11, 12, 13. They must edifie one another▪ and prize their Ministers.
Thirdly, The third terme to be explained, is, Preaching. And here we must distinguish, before we can define. Preaching may be taken,Prius distinguendum, antequam definiendum: Qui bene distinguir, bene docet. 1. Largely, for any declaration of Gods Wisdome, Power, Goodnesse; and thus every creature may be called a Preacher: thus the Heavens Preach. Psa 19. 1. Coeli praedicant gloriam Dei. Thus reading the Word may be called Preaching. But the question is not (as afMr. Ant. Burges on Mar. 1. 2, 3. Reverend Divine wel observes, in that remarkable Sermon) whether reading in some sence may not be called preaching (taking preaching for any declaration of Gods truth:) but whether it be Ministerial preaching; whether when the Apostle saith, He must divide Gods word aright, he meaneth no more then to read:Dr. Pocklington (that Popish …riest) would fain prove Reading to be …re…ching Sunday no Sab. p. 30, 31, 32 Whether when he saith, Who is sufficient for these things! he meaneth, who is able to read? When he saith, Give thy selfe to study, that thy profiting may appear to all men, he meaneth that all men may see thou readest better then thou didst. Thus hee.
But take it strictly and properly, and then Preaching is thus defined. 'Tis an action of a Minister, soundly interpreting and opening the sence of Scripture by Scripture, in an authoritative way, applying it to the use of the hearers, by doctrine, Exhortation, Rebuke and Comfort. This is the duty and formal act of the Ministery; 'tis a Pastoral act, and is not common to every gifted Brother of the flock.
Fourthly, In a constituted Church. The Church must be considered under a double Notion.
1 There is Ecclesia constituta, a constituted, reformed, setled, planted Church:Cum versemur in constitutis Ecclesis in quibus auditur vera doctrina, ordinem set vare debemus, ut omnia …iant foreign. nam immediatae vocatio Deus tum …titur, cum vel Ecclesia nulla est constitutave olim constituta, degeneravit. Aretius Prob. par. 3. p. 25 Vide Wi…t in Levit. 8. Q. 15. p 132. Pet. Mart. in 1 Cor. 16. p. 452. b. ☜ and here none may preach but such as are proved and authorized by the Presbytery, 1 Tim. 3. 10. and 4. 14. and 5, 22. and 2. 2, 3. Where the Rule is set (as in our Church) there men must not flee to extraordinaries, but walke according to the ordinary Rule which God hath appointed.
2 There is Ecclesia constituenda, a Church to be planted, settled, constituted; as amongst Heathens, Turkes, Infidells: and here, where no Ordination can be had, gifted persons (in such extraordinary cases) may preach: That may be done in the infancy of a Church, which may not be suffered when the Church is growne to maturity: That may be suffered in the Planting of a Church, which may not be suffered when a Church is Planted, and the Rule set. A positive Law may yeeld in a case of Necessity, Matth. 12. 3, 4. g Laicus tractet spiritualia ex charitate & necessitate, deficiente Clerico, non ratione officii Prid. fa…cicul. p. 217.Where no Ministers can be had, there gifted men may preach: but in a setled Church, we must follow the ordinary way.
2 In a collapsed and corrupted state of the Church, when the ordinary Pastors are persecuted, banished, or slain, then God calls such as have gifts to supply that defect: but when the Church is setled and restored, then they must to the Rule. When there was no King in Israel every man did what seemed good in his own eyes;Apollon. considerat. c. 6. Q 2. S. 4. it doth not follow that therefore they might do so when they had a King.
In a general disorder men respect not alwaies the formalities of Order hMornay Du Plessis of the Church, ch. 12. p. 362, 363. &c.saith the Noble Mornay.
Fifthly, Without a Call. No man may take this Office upon him without a Call, either ordinary or Extraordinary,iA third way is not to be found in Scripture. Mediate or Immediate.
… Some were called Extraordinarily and Immediately by God himself; as the Prophets, Apostles, and Evangelists: Elisha is called from the Plough, Amos from the Stals, the Apostles from their Nets. And of these under the New-Testament, there are three sorts.
I. Apostles: These were called by Christ immediately and extraordinarily,Vide Leigh on Rom 12. 6, and they shewed it by their extraordinary gifts and abilities with which Christ endowed them. They were universal Ministers, appointed by Christ to preach the Word thorow the world: they were twelve especially: their Office was Temporary, being ordained for the propagation of the Gospel. These are now ceased.
II. Prophets: These had a gift of fore-telling things to come; as Agabus fore-tels a famine, Act. 11. 28. and the four daughters of Philip, Act 21. 9.
2 In those times they had a singular gift and faculty in expounding▪ and interpreting prophetical Scripture, in opening hard places, and fitly applying to their hearers for their edification.
3 They were endowed with Languages, because the Church was to be gathered out of all Nations. These were temporary and to indure only for that time.
III. Evangelists, who were Coadjutors and Helpers of the Apostles in preaching the Gospel, and for the most part did attend on them, and watered what they had planted; they were of two sorts. 1. Some were called immediately, as Philip, who was called by the instinct of the Spirit, Act. 8. 39, 40. 2 Others were called by the Apostles; as Timothy, Titus, Marke, Tychicus, Sylvanus. These latter were most frequent, yet were but Temporary.
Those Ministers which are ordinary and perpetual, are of two sorts; Pastors and Teachers. 1. Pastors, to see to the manners of the Flock, to preach the Gospel, deliver the Sacraments, direct them in their practice. See their duty, Act. 20. 1 Tim. 3. 2 Pet. 5. 2, 3. 2. Teachers and Doctors, whose Office is plainly and soundly to expound the Scriptures, that the people might have the right sence and understanding of them: and being indued with Tongues, Arts, and Sciences, they are to clear the Truth from corruptions of Heretickes. That these are two distinct Officers, is cleare from Roman… 12. 4, 8. He that reacheth, let him waite on teaching; and he that …xhorteth, on exhortation; Vide Cottons way of the Churches, p. 11, 12. he speakes fully to this point. And Zanchy on Eph. 4. 11.which argueth a difference of their functions, by the distinctions of their proper actions.
These Officers are called by ordinary means, and endowed with ordinary gifts, and must indure in the Church to thekTh… Mr. Fry is deceived, who judges by many probable fig…s, that our Kingdom is even …t an end. Fry, on the Clergy, p. 50 and our interest is dying, p. 60, end of the world, Mat. 28. 20. Ephes. 4. 13. Til the house be built and finished, the workmen are not dismissed; til all the Saints be gathered, the Ministery cannot ceafe. Many are affraid the Ministery will bee rooted up: let Pastors and People do their duty,lIsa. 29. 15, 16. 17. out of which the Lord will frame a vessel of honor to himself. and then their turning of things up side downe shal be but as the Potters clay.
Now if our Gifted Brethren are called, then 'tis either Ordinarily or Extraordinarily. If extraordinarily, then they are either Apostles, Prophets, or Evangelists: but these were temporary and are ceased. If Ordinarily, then they are either Pastors or Teachers: if so, then they are men in Office; but that themselves deny: for they say they preach not as Officers, but as Gifted Brethren, &c. This is such a Preacher as we never read of in al the Book of God, as I shal (God willing) make clear by the ensuing Arguments,
The summe of them all is thus much: That a man out of Office, though endowed with Gifts, yet cannot authoritatively expound the Scripture, and apply it to the people, in a setled, constituted Church, without an external Cal of the Church, authorizing and enabling him therunto.