Truth Held Forth and Maintained, Part 1 · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Concerning the Miniſters of Chriſt, and the Miniſters of Antichriſt. Alſo, of Humane Learning, and the Ʋſ…f it, and how it came in practiſe among them called the Reformed Churches of this latter Age. And concerning Goſpel-Maintenance, and in what manner, and to whom it belongeth.
JEſus Chriſt, the Son of God, and Everlaſting Covenant of Grace, Life and Light, he is Miniſter of all Truth and Righteouſneſs, which hath appeared for Salvation of men, for which end in dayes paſt, he choſe unto himſelf Twelve Diſciples, which were men that believed in him, and not being brought up in that manner as the many Teachers are in this day, who ſerve a time in Schools of Learning, by which they gather outward knowledge in H…brew, Greek and Latine Phraſes, alſo Arts in other things, which the holy men of God did never practiſe; for the twelve Diſciples of Chriſts chuſing, were not fitted after any ſuch manner to preach the Goſpel; for they were illiterate, and Trades-men, &c. and lived not by hire for preaching, but laboured with their hands for their outward ſubſiſtance, ſuch were they whom the Lord did call to preach the Goſpel, which did miniſter the glad Tidings of Peace and Salvation unto the Nations, among whom the Word of God was divided …, and every one their portion, according to their …; for they had not their Wiſdom from below, is the many Teachers now have, notwithſtanding, the Lands Servants wanted not Wiſdom from above, when gave them utterance of words, whereby they were enab…d …o divide the Word aright, in declaring and dem…uſtra…ing the Will and Mind of God, at which time ſome of the learned Jews and wife Rabbies oppoſed them ſetting them at naught, others reſiſted them, notwithſtanding they did not … to be approved in that Wiſdom that Man toucheth, which is never able to prepare and ſit for … work and ſervice of the Goſpel, as is further manifeſted by the ſaying of him who was brought up in great outward Learning at the feet of Gamaltel, Acts 22. in which ſtate he was not capable, by all his outward Learning to know Chriſt, whom he perſecuted in his Servants and Meſſengers of his Truth, thinking that he did good ſervice for God, when he was deſtroying his People, even as hath been in many places, many of the learned Hebrew, Greek and Latine Men have deſtroyed the Lives and Eſtates of many People, becauſe they could not conform to their Anti-Chriſtian Faith, which the Devil would have had ſet up in the Diſciples of Chriſt, who came not to deſtroy mens lives, but to ſave and make alive; which work is of a contrary Nature to that Wiſdom which is from below; for the true Wiſdom of God openeth the Underſtanding in the things of God, which the learned, by all their outward wiſdom can never do; for they remain in the Wiſdom of Darkneſs, as to the things of Gods Kingdom, which Paul in all his outward Learning was a ſtranger unto, but by that Wiſd…m which is from above he came to receive that ſpiritual ſight which gave him the true ſaving knowledge of God by Jeſus Chriſt, whoſe Miniſter he became, being then a Witners unto all men of both what he had ſeen and heard, Act. 22.13, 14, 15. Which doth manifeſt, that his … to the work of the …o…pel, was of God; which Work he attended, according to the Diſpenſation which he had received, for the opening of blind Eyes in others, by which they were turned from Darkneſs to Light, and from the Power of Stran to the Power of God, and received Forgiveneſs of ſins, and an Inheritance among them … are fa…ctified, Acts 26.18. in which ſtate he did not … to ſpeak any thing which Chriſt had not wrought in him; yea, he ſo ſtrove to preach the Goſpel, not where h…ſt was named, leſt that he ſhould build upon another mans Foundation, Rom 1… 18.20. which is as much differing from the call and practice of many called Goſpel Miniſters in this day, as the Eaſt differs from the Weſt, being contrary one againſt the other, and at that diſta…ce by which they can never joyn one to the other, even ſo contrary are they in their own Wiſdom, to the Doctrine, Principle and Pract…ce of the holy Apoſtles, who were called of God by the Power of his own Spirit, in and through the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, which made them able Miniſters not of the Letter, but of the Spirit, which gave forth the Letter that kills them that are not in Obedience to the gift of the Spirit, for the Letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive, 2 Cor. 3.6. for the Ap…ſtles were not made Miniſters by the Will of Man, neither were they upheld by the Power of Man, but were made Miniſters according the gift of Gods Grace, given unto them by the effectual working of his Power, Epheſ. 3.7. neither did they build again the things which they had once deſtroyed; for in ſo doing they become Tranſgreſſors, Gal. 2.18. Now the hited Teachers of this Age preach againſt Sin, which on the other hand they build up, by laying a rotten Foundation, That People can never be free from ſin in this Life which is inconſiſtent with Gods holy Truth by Jeſus Chriſt, who came to deſtroy ſin, and put an end to Tranſgreſſion, that is, in them which believe, as the Apoſtles have done for example; for they were ſo far from hire, that they had, as it were, nothing, and yet, through contentment with the Lords providing, were made poſſeſſors of all things, approving themſelves as the Miniſters of Chriſt, in much …atience in Diſtreſs, by Pureneſs, by Knowledge, by Long-ſuffering by Kindneſs, by the holy Ghoſt, by the Word of Truth, by the Power of God, by the Armour of Righteouſneſs on the right hand and on the left; by Honour and Diſhonour, by evil Report and good Report; as Deceivers, yet true, as ſorrowful, yet always rejoycing, as poor, yet making many rich, as having nothing, yet poſſeſſing all things, 2 Cor. 6.4, to 11. which was the ſtate of the true Miniſters of Chriſt in that day, and is, in meaſure, the ſame with many in this day. Which doth manifeſt the wide difference between the Miniſters of Chriſt, and the Miniſters of Anti-chriſt, the one being in a ſtate of Dark…e…s, through that wiſdom which will neither enter, nor ſuffer others to enter; and the other in a ſtate of Light, through the gift of that Wiſdom which is of God by Jeſus Chriſt, which is willing to give entrance, through Faith in him, to his Reſt, which the wiſe of this World, by all their outward Learning can never find; for as the true Miniſters of Chriſt give no offence, ſo the Miniſters of Anti chriſt offend in all things towards God and his People; and he that offends Chriſts little ones, better were it for him that a Mill ſtone were hanged about his Neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea, Mat. 18.6, 7. for the People of the Lord are even to him as the Apple of his Eye, and bleſſed are they that are not offended in him, for they ſhall receive a double Reward of Gods heavenly R…ches in Jeſus Chriſt; but Wo is unto them that have taken upon them the name of his Miniſters, and are not found in …he … of his Life, by whoſe Spirit of Grace his Servants were made able M…niſters of his Truth, according to the Diſp…niation given th…, for others to fullfil the Word of God, Col. 1.25. which is evident they did not preach …, but J…us Chriſt the Lord, and themſelves the Peoples Servan…s … Jeſus ſake, 2 Cor. 4.5. neither had any mans Perſon in a… miration for advantage ſake of outward gain, neither was their preaching with … words of mans wiſdom, but in the demonſtration o… the Spir…, and of Power, that Peoples Faith might not ſtand in the Wiſdom o… Man, but in the Power of God, 1 Cor 2.4, … that ſo they might continue in the Faith, grounded and ſted…aſt, and not be moved away from the Hope o… the Goſpel, which they …ave heard, and which was preached to every Creature …hat is under the Heavens, whereof the Apoſtles were made the Miniſters of Chriſt, Col 1.23.
Now it is evident, that they who pretend to be Goſpel Miniſters, and are not in D…ctrine, Principle and Pratice, as aforeſaid related of Chriſts Miniſters, they are …e Worlds Teachers, ſet up and upheld by the World, …nd ſo no true Goſpel maintenance belongeth unto them; …r their mouthes are to be ſtopped, becauſe they ſubvert …hole Houſes, teaching things they ought not, for filthy …ucre take; therefore their mouthes are to be …, …hom God hath not ſent to tred out his Corn; for … God taketh care for Oxen, ſo he taketh the greater care … the Miniſters of his Truth, that as they plow in hove, they alſo threſh in hope, and are made partakers of their hope, 1 Cor. 9, 9, 10. in which ſtate the Houſhold of Faith do good unto all men, and more in a ſpecial manner to them of whom they pertake of their ſpiritual things; So in the one Faith, do the People of God miniſter to each other, without any Compulſion by or from the Power of man, Rom. 15.27. 1 Cor. 9 11. So they that wa…t a… the Altar are made to partake with the Altar, 1. Cor. 9 13. Even ſo hath the Lord ordained, that they which prea…h the Goſpel ſhould live of the Goſpel, 1 Cor. 9.14. So the true Miniſters of Chriſt do not uſe any outward Power, leaſt that they ſhould hinder the Goſpel of Chriſt, 1 Cor 9.2. which Example is left for all to follow, even as the true Goſpel Miniſters have followed Chriſt, and alſo to mark them that walk otherways, 1 Cor. 11 1. Phil. 3.17. Then whom ſhould we mark, but them who have taken upon them the Name of Goſpel Miniſters, and by their Doctrine Principle & Practice, are not found of the Nature of Chriſt, and his true Goſpel Miniſters, which teach People the way to Gods Kingdom, without Money by the year for preaching; for the Love of God in Chriſt, by whom his Servants and Meſſengers of Truth are conſtrained to preach the Goſpel, for whoſe ſake they preach the Goſpel without Charge; even ſo was it with the Apoſtles in their Day, who uſed no Compulſion, neither did he write that any ſuch thing ſhould be done unto them, for it were better for him to dye, than that any man ſhould make his glorving void; for though he did preach the Goſpel, he had nothing to glory of for a Neceſſ…y was laid upon him, yea Wo was unto him i… he did not preach the Goſpel. What the… was his Reward, that when he did preach the Goſpel, that he might make the Goſpel of Chriſt without charge, that he might not abuſe his Power in the Goſpel, 1 Cor. 9.15, 16, 18. for though he was free from all men, yet he made himſelf a Servant unto all men, that he might gain the more, 1 Cor. 9.19. which doth condemn the Doctrine, Principle and Practice of them which have the name of Goſpel Miniſters, but not the nature of Goſpel Miniſters in this our day, in which ſome have ſaid, That would to God they could but practiſe all what their Miniſters preach and teach to them; the reaſon is, becauſe the great God of Heaven and Earth, by whoſe Power they are reſtrained, other ways they would do even as their fore-Fathers have done, who have perſecuted many of the Lords People to Death, and not only among Papiſts, but among them called Protestants alſo; but the Lord hath in all Ages permitted the Power of that Spirit for a tryal of us Peoples Faith, who did never eſteem of human Learning as needful for Mans Salvation, but of late (among other things) it hath crept in among the Churches, as by the following Account from Chriſtian Authors.
Gaudeutius da mor. ſec. Juſtinian ſaith, We do not read that ever the Antients did openly in Schools, read or teach Philoſophy, ſince they did rather abhor it. And faith another good Author, I would fain ſee a man that could ſhew, that Chriſtians either before or in the time of Juſtinian, did openly teach Philoſophy. And Hadrian Saricrial informs us, That the primitive Chriſtians had no Accademical Schools, like thoſe now a days. And we do not read of any Univerſity of the Albigenſes, Waldenſes or Bohemians; for moſt of their Teachers were Trades-men and Handy-crafts-men, and did not ſpend their Time in reading Tongues or ſtudying Authors. Herald. Aaimad. in Arnob. The Chriſtians living excluded from all Honours and Magiſtrates, did neglect the Studies, which were for the diſcharge of civil Imployments, becauſe Sopheſters and Philoſophers were the principal Enemies of Chriſtianity; therefore upon this account they condemned all Tragadies and Commodies and all other Poetical Writings being the main part of humane Learning, as Judging they did not conduce to ſollid Knowledge. Tertullian lib. de Idolat pag. 138, 139. Judged, that School-Maſters profeſſing Lea…ning, were guilty of great Idolatry, becauſe they did only expound Names, G…neologies, and fabulous Arts o… Heathen g…dds, and generally in ho…e days Believers harboured a very bad eſteem of Natural Learning, and generally the Chriſtians were provoked thereunto, becauſe the Gentiles did upb…a…d them, that their Teachers were ſal…erate Perſons, as Wool-Combers, Weavers, or the like. Theſe things being objected againſt the Christians, the Chriſtians on the other ſide rejected all humane Learning, as a … thing, and no ways advantagious to Salvation, though their Adverſaries boaſted of it. Origine lib. 3. ſaith The Chriſtians did declare that Men of any Condition might be ſaved, Servants, Idîots, Ruſticks, and ſuch as the World valued as Fools; and that God did confound the wiſe in their own Wiſdom. And Coelſus, as Orig…ne … his Book …, That Chriſtians did proclaim it in their Aſſemblies, Let none that is Wiſe enter, none that is learned, none that is …oudent; for thus it is appointed us in the Goſpel; but if there be any that is unwiſe, unlearned, any fooliſh, let him approach with Confidence, for theſe are fit to be the Servants of God.
Gazentius in his Annimadverſions, pag. …5. ſaith, That the G…ntiles did object againſt the Chriſtians their rude Stile, their harſh Language, and how they wer… deſtitute of all Addreſſes, calling them Ruſticks, Clowns &c. So the Chriſtians did again term the Gentiles th… Eloquent and the Learned.
Clemens Romanus ſaith in his Writings, lib. 2. cap. 6. Abſtain from all the Books of the Gentiles, for what have you to do with ſtrange Diſcourſes, or Laws, or falſe Prophets, which ſeduce weak men from the Truth?
Petrus Belonius ſaith, That in Greece among the Chriſtians, which were very many, there were few learned men▪ becauſe they eſteemed not of it, as of neceſſity to Chriſtianity, though they could ſpeak Greek, and ſome Larine, few could write or read. In their Libraries were found ſeveral Manuſcripts of Divinity, but no H… ſtory, no Philoſophy, for theſe were …, and … Chriſtians not to ſtudy Poetry and Philoſophy. Yet we find that the Greek Church is highly owned for a true Chriſtian Church by the Proteſtants, though neither the Greek Church, the Pikards, Albigenſes nor Waldenſes in Bohemia did value Learning, ſo far were they from eſteeming of it, as the proper true Religion.
Luther de Inst, puer inter. oper Wittingburg, tom. 7 fol. 444. Paul exhorteth to beware of Philoſophy and vain deceit, 2 Col. 2. He had been as A…h…ns, and had acquainted himſelf with that vain glorious humane Wiſdom, and knew the multiplicity of Contradictions which it had procured; what then had Athens to do with Jeruſalem? what hath the Epicures and Stoicks to do with the Church of Chriſt?
Jerom lib. 1. contra. Peleg. What had Ariſtotle to do … with Paul, or Plato with Peter? And a multitude of Teſtimonies may be brought to the ſame effect, how that Chriſtians did in former days reject Philoſophy and Heathen Authors, and all ſuch frivolous ſtories, as of no way lawful … Chriſtians to meddle in, nor good to propagate Chriſti…nity. And Biſhop Ʋſher in Vindication of the Waldenſes, by way of Apology, ſaith, God did chuſe Fiſher-men, that he might not give his Glory to another; foraſmuch as the little Ones had asked Bread, they came to receive it, and the learned being buſied about vain Contentions and Diſputations, were ſent empty away. Biſhop Ʋſher, deſ. Eccleſ. cap 6.28. The Waldenſes ſaid, We are not aſhamed of our Teachers, becauſe they labour with their hands, procuring thereby a livelihood to themſelves, becauſe both the Doctrine and Example of the Apoſtles doth lead us to ſuch Apprehenſions.
But I would not have any to miſ-underſtand me, or to think that I am againſt all outward Learning, for that is not my drift, but that Truth and Righteouſneſs may take place, by which outward Learning may remain for the uſe of that end for which it was intended, the knowledge of Tongues and Languages having their proper Uſes, which are not evil in themſelves; and Schools of Learning I acknowledge there ought to be, for Natural Languages are ſerviceable for Tranſlating the Scriptures, and …the… pious Books into the vulgar Tongues, and for natural uſe… in natural Tranſactions, in civil Affairs betwixt Man and Man, and Nation and Nation; for its good to maintain Learning, and to keep it in its right place, otherways i… can never be of that ſervice for which it was intended that is, for the honour of God and ſervice of mens outward Imployments between Man and Man, and Nation an… Nation, and not to be upheld for this end that non without humane Learning are capable of preaching th… Goſpel; for Paul without that Learning which was … the Wiſdom of God, was not capable of preaching Chri… to the Peoplè, no more are they Goſpel Miniſters, n… Miniſters of the Goſpel which remain in Pauls firſt ſta… of outward Learning; but Learning ſanctified, through Grace, by Faith in Jeſus Chriſt, is of benefit to his People, which without Grace, outward or … Learning cannot be any Honour to God for … profit of his People; which doth prove, that men without Grace cannot be the true Miniſters of Chriſt, but all without Grace are of the Miniſters of Anti-chriſt, unto whom no Goſpel Mainteuance belongeth; for they remain in the outward knowledge of the Letter, and by their Fruits they are manifeſt not to be the Miniſters of Chriſt, but the Miniſters of Anti-chriſt.