The Wise Gospel Preacher, Sermon · Part 11

The Wise Gospel Preacher · Sermon · Part 11

p. 39The ſecond Ʋſe is for Exhortation.

But a ſecond Uſe, and the all that I ſhall make of this Doctrine, is, That if Propheſying or Preaching of Brethren, or ſuch as have not received any Office or Miniſtry from Chriſt, be an Ordinance of Chriſt, and the duty of ſuch as have received Gifts for Preaching to Preach. Then two things from hence I may add,

Firſt, A word of Exhortation to all the Churches of the Saints, to allow, admit, and incourage the Gifted-Brethren in this Work and Buſineſs of Preaching. Oh! be not ſo like to Antichriſt and his Synagogue, as to forbid this liberty of the p. 40Saints, which Chriſt hath ſo dearly purchaſed with his moſt precious Blood. Conſider what the Lor… ſaith to thoſe Diſciples of his, who told him, That they ſaw one caſting out Devils in his Name, which followed him not, and they forbad him; but Mar… the Anſwer of Chriſt, Forbid him not, Mark 9.38, 39. Will not Chriſt have ſuch forbad that follow not him, or his Diſciples, and will you my Brethren forbid ſuch as follow the Lamb, (yea, and follow you too) becauſe not Miniſters as you are, or competent or equal in Gifts with you? My Brethren, I beſeech you do not this wickedneſs, it ſmells of Rome, of an Antichriſtian ſpirit; but think what the Lord ſaith, He that is not with me, is againſt me; and he that gathereth not with me, ſcattereth abroad, Mat. 12.30. You that will not joyn iſſue with Chriſt in furthering and permitting ſuch to Preach whom Chriſt allows to Preach, you, even all you, who ever you be, how Wiſe, and Learned, and Pious ſoever, yet are you againſt Chriſt, and for Antichriſt; Enemies to Preaching, though never ſo great Preachers; and it were well you would pleaſe to ſuffer me to commend two Scriptures to your ſerious conſideration. The firſt is that of the Apoſtle, Be of the ſame mind one towards another; mind not high things, but condeſcend to men of low degree, or eſtate: Be not wiſe in your own conceits, Rom. 12.16. The ſecond Scripture is that of Peter, Feed the Flock of God which is among you, taking the overſight thereof; not by conſtraint, but willingly; not for filthy Lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being Lords over God's Heritage, but being Enſamples to the Flock, 1 Pet. 5.2, 3.

p. 41But ſecondly, Let this be a ſecond Branch of this Uſe to exhort all ſuch, even ſuch, or ſo many as have received but one Talent, or the leaſt dogree of real competency or fitneſs, though neither Prophets or Prophets Sons, but of the meaneſt or moſt contemptible condition or Calling amongſt men to Preach, and that in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon. O remember it is your duty, your Priviledge, you may preach all one by one; you are not only made Kings, but Prieſts; and this Prieſtly Act you, yea, any Gifted Believer may perform, Rev. 1.6. Beloved, Preaching is God's Ordinance, his Peoples Bleſſing, and your Duty. O therefore! Preach as well as Pray continually, & forget not that exhortation, As every Man hath received the Gift, even ſo miniſter the ſame one to another, as good ſtewards of the manifold Grace of God, 1 Pet. 4.10. Brethren, let not your fellow Spies diſcourage you, by telling you of the Sacredneſs, Excellency, and difficulty of Preaching; But as every man hath received, ſo miniſter the ſame, as of the ability God giveth, that in all things God may be glorified, 1 Pet. 4.11. Remembring, for your encouragement, two Scriptures, 2 Cor. 8.12. For if there be firſt a willing mind, it is accepted, according to that a man hath, and not according to that a man hath not. Secondly, Think on theſe words of Chriſt, For unto every one that hath, ſhall be given, and he ſhall have abundance; but from him that hath not, ſhall be taken away even that which he hath, Mat. 25.29. Therefore quench not the Spirit, 1 Theſſ. 5.19. But what the Diſciple ſaid, I may ſay to you, The Lord hath need of it, Luke 19.34. The Souls of Sinners call for your Labours; yea, the wants of p. 42your dear Brethren call for your words of Exhortation, Edification, and Comfort; therefore, be not wanting in the practice of this Ordinance, even this great Ordinance of Preaching the Goſpel. Therefore, my Brethren, be ſtedfaſt, unmoveable, alwayes abounding in the Work of the Lord; for a… much as you know your Labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Thirdly, Let this Doctrine exhort and quicken you that have ears to hear what the Spirit ſaith to the Churches. Take heed that you deſpiſe not propheſying, 1 Theſſ. 5.20. Chriſtians, deſpiſe not Chriſt's day of ſmall things, Since out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings, he will ordain ſtrength, becauſe of the enemy and avenger, Pſalm. 8.2. compared with Matth. 21. Say not in your hearts as once Nathaniel did; Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? John 1.46. But take heed you deſpiſe not him that ſpeaketh on Earth, leſt that ſad word be your word, For with ſtammering lips, and another tongue, will he ſpeak to this People. Read that Chapter at your leaſure, and you ſhall ſee how dreadful God ſpeaks to deſpiſers of this Ordinance of Preaching, though by mean and outwardly contemptible Inſtruments: My Beloved, know God oft-times hangs great Bleſſings at the end of ſmall Wyers. How great a victory did God give Iſrael by that Barley Cake, as Gideon is called, Judg. 7.13, 14, 15, 16. As alſo how great a Bleſſing did Naaman the Syrian receive, by hearing the Voice of his Servants, 2 Kings 5. Yea, how great advantage did this very Ordinance bring to the Jews and Greeks, when the ſcattered Saints and Brethren went up and down, Preaching p. 43and Propheſying, Acts 11.19, 20, 21. Therefore deſpiſe not Propheſying, I mean Preaching, by Brethren that are gifted thereunto, although not Miniſters or Officers in the Churches. So much for this ſecond Doctrine.

I ſhould now come to ſpeak to the third Point, or Doctrine, which is,

Doct. 3. That if Preaching be God's Ordinance, and Propheſying and Preaching by Men of Grace and Gifts, though no Miniſters, or Ordained Perſons, may lawfully Preach; then ſuch as are Prophets, though no Miniſters or Officers of the Church, not only may, but ought to Preach.

But becauſe I have ſpoke ſomething to this in the cloſe of the ſecond Doctrine, I ſhall ſay no more to this, but proceed to the fourth and laſt Doctrine upon this Head, which is drawn from the Deſcription of the qualification of this Prophetical Preacher Solomon; to wit, That he was Wiſe, as you have it in the Text, Moreover, becauſe the Preacher was Wiſe. Whence take this Obſervation, to wit,

Doct. 4. That every Goſpel preacher ought to be truly wiſe, or that Grace and Spiritual Wiſdom are the true and onelyonly, and ſufficient Requiſites or ſufficiency for Goſpel-preaching.

Let me, in the carrying on this Work, firſt clear this Point, and ſhew what this Wiſdom, which every Preacher ought to have, is.

2ly, Give the Reaſons why what is affirmed to be the Wiſdom required, is that which is affirmed.

And 3ly, Reſolve ſome Objections.

And laſtly, Make Application of the Point.

p. 44Firſt, Take ſome Witneſſes that Goſpel-Preachers ought to be Wiſe. This the Lord tells us … that qualification, that all ſuch ought to have a… draw near him in any peculiar or eſpecial way o… ſervice or miniſtration, as you have it laid dow… by Moſes, in that ſaying, Take you wiſe men, ye underſtanding and known men among your Tribes, an… I will make them Rulers over you. And ma… what is further ſaid; And ye anſwered me, an… ſaid, The thing which thou haſt ſpoken, is good fo… us to do; So I took wiſe men, and known, eve… the chief of your Tribes, and made them Heads ov… you; this is God's and Moſes way for the ſerving of Iſrael, Deut. 1.13, 14, 15. Again, tak… that place, Prov. 15.2. where you have this expreſſion, The Tongue of the Wiſe uſeth knowledge a right; but the mouth of Fools poureth out fooliſhneſs. Oh mark! it is the wiſe tongue that wil… Preach or uſe Knowledge aright; compare thi… with what we have Verſ. 7. The lips of the Wiſ… diſperſe Knowledge, but the heart of the Fooliſh doth not ſo; It is wiſe lips either can or ought to Preach, or diſpenſe Divine Knowledge. Again, take that Paſſage of our Lord Jeſus, where he tell us what every Scribe or Teacher in Iſrael ſhould be, one inſtructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, like unto a man that is a Houſholder, that bringeth ou… of his Treaſury things both new and old. Oh! this is the good Scribe or Preacher, Mat. 13.52. the like you have Matth. 10.16. with Prov. 1.5, 6. further you have this confirmed, That a Preacher or Director of others ſhould be wiſe; Eccl. 1.10. for he that ſendeth a Meſſage by the hand of a Fool, cutteth off the feet, and drinketh dammage: The legs of the p. 45Iame are not equal; even ſo is a Parable in the mouth of fools, Prov. 26.6, 7. By all which, with many Teſtimonies more that might have been offered, you have this Truth confirmed, That every Goſpel-Preacher ought to be wiſe.

Now I come to open the Point, and ſhew you what it is to be Wiſe, or what that Wiſdom is that every Goſpel-Preacher ought to have. I told you in the opening of the words, by way of Negation, that the Wiſdom ſpoken of in the Text, was neither natural, moral, or acquired Wiſdom, as Languages, Tongues, Arts, or Sciences; but a more ſublime and tranſcendent Wiſdom. I told you, God had not ſet this Ax or Hammer apart to do his or this Work with; theſe Tools are ſtrangers to any Divine deſignment for ſuch an end, being neither appointed or required in Scripture. I told you ſecondly, This Wiſdom is but a carnal or natural Weapon, and is only meet for carnal, natural, weak, and worldly work; and for ſuch purpoſes this Learning or Wiſdom is very fit and uſeful, but no more apt or neceſſary eſſentially for Preachers, or Preaching, than a Sword is to cut ones Beard with, or a Plough to ride a Journey on: But the Wiſdom abſolutely neceſſary for Preaching, or a Preacher, is Divine Wiſdom, as I told you, which deſcends from Above more immediately, and comes from the Father of Lights; and this is that true Wiſdom which is put in oppoſition to the Wiſdom before mentioned, 1 Cor. 1.17. where the Apoſtle ſaith, Chriſt ſent him not to Baptize, but to Preach the Goſpel; not with wiſdom of words, leſt the Croſs of Chriſt ſhould be of none effect: Mark, it's worldly Wiſdom, or the wiſdom of p. 46words, maketh Chriſt's Croſs to be made ineffectual; this is the likelyeſt good worldly Wiſdom wil… do in Preaching. The ſame thoughts was th… Apoſtle Peter of, cenſuring humane Wiſdom, tha… it might, and did furniſh men to pervert, but no… Preach the Goſpel, where he ſaith, As alſo in a his Epiſtles, ſpeaking in them of theſe things, i… which are ſome things hard to be underſtood, which they that are unlearned and unſtable, wreſt, as the… do alſo the other Scriptures, unto their own deſtruction: Ye therefore, Beloved, ſeeing you know theſ… things before, beware leſt you alſo being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your ow… ſtedfaſtneſs, 2 Pet. 3.16, 17. Now if you would know who theſe unlearned and unſtable wreſte… and perverters of Paul, and of all Scriptures are Peter tells us not men wanting Arts and Languages ſuch knew theſe things, as you have it, ſeeing y… know theſe things; but they he deſcribes and call unlearned, are thoſe he mentions in the ſecond Chapter of this Epiſtle, whom he calls falſe Prophets, and falſe Teachers. Note, It is not the unlearned Hearers, but the learned Preachers that are the perverters and deceivers of the People, through miſtaking Paul's Writings, and other Scriptures.

Theſe are the Men the Church and the World are only beholden to, for privily bringing in damnable Hereſies, and cauſing the Truth of God to be evil ſpoken of, Verſ. 1, 2. Theſe are the Brute beaſts, made to be taken and deſtroyed, ſpeaking evil of the things they underſtand not, even the Saints and the Scripture, and the waies of God, Verſ. 12. Theſe learned Prophets are the Wel… p. 47without water, and the Clouds carried with a Tempeſt, verſ. 17. Theſe are the men that Speak great ſwelling words of vanity, and allure through the luſts of the fleſh, through much wantonneſs, thoſe that were clean eſcaped from them who live in Error. So that we may boldly conclude, That Humane Learning and Wiſdome, is neither Prophets nor Preachers wiſdome, or fit furniture for ſuch work. But becauſe I foreſee that Demetrius, and his learned Crafts-men will make no ſmall ſtir about this Doctrine concerning Humane Learning, I ſhall lay down ſome Arguments to back and confirm what hath been ſaid.

Arg. 1. If Humane Wiſdome or Learning be eſſential to qualifie a Preacher for preaching, then the Scripture Rule concerning a Preachers-qualification is imperfect and obſcure, which is ſinful to imagine; becauſe it neither requireth, or provideth for ſuch low, earthly-membring Qualifications, as Tongues and Sciences, which teaches Preachers not to preach without it: What the Scripture requires as a Preachers Qualification, you may read 1 Acts 4.5. It is the promiſe of the Father, expounded verſ. 5. to be the Baptiſm of the Holy Ghoſt; So 1 Timoth. 2.2, to the 7.2 Tim. 2.2. and 15. with Chap. 3.14, 15, 16, 17.

Arg. 2. If Humane Learning, or Wiſdome be the Preachers Wiſdome, then the beſt of Preachers have ſlighted and neglected the main, or grand Qualification, 1 Corin. 2.1. And I, Brethren, when I came unto you, I came not unto you with excellency of Speech, or of Wiſdome declaring unto you the teſtimonies of God: And Paul gives the reaſon p. 48of his ſo doing: For I determine not to know any thing among you, ſave Jeſus Chriſt, Verſ. 2. and again ſaith he, My Speech, and my Preaching was not with enticing words of mans wiſdome, but in demonſtration of the Spirit, and of power, verſ. 4. yet Paul would have the Rabbies, and Sticklers for enticing words, and mans wiſdome know, That his illiterate Preaching, was perfectly accompliſht Preaching; Howbeit we ſpeak wiſdome among thoſe that be perfect, yet not the wiſdome of this world, nor of the Princes of this world, that come … nought, verſ. 6. Take but one place more, Act. 4.13. Now when they ſaw the boldneſs of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned, and ignorant men, they marvelled: mark, theſe marvelous Preachers had preached moſt publickly, and reſolved ſtill to preach as publickly, yet neither had this Wiſdome or Learning, but were ignorant and unlearned, and reſolved ſo to remain. Therefore clear it is, this wiſdome is not Preachers wiſdome, elſe theſe great Preachers could not have wanted it; or which is all one, if they had it, … improving it about this great work, which ſome ſay doth ſo fit men for it; Therefore this Wiſdome in Controverſie cannot be Preachers wiſdome.

Thirdly, Take this Argument to prove that Humane Learning is not the Preachers Wiſdome, becauſe then many both allowed, and enjoined to Preach, would be found unable to preach, through want of this furniture or wiſdome: as many o… the Prophets, or propheſying Members of th… Church, who though they have the gifts of the Spirit, and have paſſed through the New-birth… p. 49yet have never attained this Wiſdome, or ſat at Gamaliel's Feet; But ſuch may be allowed of as competent Preachers, as I have largely proved in the Second Doctrine.

Arg. 4. The conſideration of who is the Spring of Goſpel-preaching, will make it neceſſarily appear that humane Wiſdom is not the Preachers Wiſdom, but the Lord Jeſus, and not man's how learned ſoever, Epheſ. 4.7, to 15. Ʋnto every one of us is given Grace, according to the meaſure of the Gift of Chriſt, and ſo forward, compared with Rev. 19.10. which ſaith, The Teſtimony of Jeſus is the Spirit of Propheſie.

Arg. 5. Take this Argument, why I affirm that the Wiſdom that the Goſpel-Preacher ought to have, is not humane Learning or Wiſdom, becauſe the Goſpel is that which is to be Preached, not humane Wiſdom or Excellency, nor the Goſpel in a way of humane Wiſdom or Excellency: Nay, the Goſpel is in the very nature thereof contrary to humane Excellency, being plain and ſimple, though moſt holy and pure in the Nature and Adminiſtrations thereof, therefore needs not Arts or Sciences to comprehend or reveal it: Nay, the Apoſtle ſeems to imply, that Learning mixed with, or uſed in the Preaching of the Goſpel, doth but corrupt, or ſophiſticate, and adulterate it, as the Fly doth the Apothecaries Box of Oyntment, Eccl. 10.1. 2 Cor. 2.17. But to proceed,

Arg. 6. Take this Argument; The Subjects or Perſons to whom the Goſpel is to be preached or predicated, are not the Orators, Wiſe, and Excellent of Wit; but the Simple, the Vulgar, the Mean and Contemptible, according to that word, p. 50Mat. 11.5. The poor have the Goſpel preached … them, 1 Cor. 1.26, 27, 28. And Chriſt ſaid That he was anointed to Preach the Goſpel to … poor: Therefore they need not learned, that … humanely learned Preachers, but ſpiritual w… Phyſitians: What need French-men to ſpeak them that only underſtand Engliſh? Or need Man Geometry or Mathematick, Logick or R… torick, to Preach to Men and Women of no h… mane Underſtanding? Only God hath promiſ… to teach them ſo much ſpirituality as conce… their Souls: But as to this glorious literature, … but as the gilded Trappings upon an Aſs to ma… him to be reſpected.

Arg. 7. To require or injoyn humane Lear… ing or Wiſdom, as neceſſary or eſſential to eve… Goſpel-Preacher, is to require that for a requi… which is directly contrary to the main end of G… ſpel-Preaching; which is to Preach Chriſt, and Knowledge unto the People, and not to Preach … Preacher or his Knowledge into the People; … great end of Goſpel-Preaching, is not to Prea… forth, or declare man's breeding or learning in the People; or to ſhew the Preachers excellency … humane things, or excellencies, or breeding up m… in worldly or humane Knowledge; but to t… men from Darkneſs to Light, and from the P… of Satan into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of G… and to edifie and build up ſuch as are converted the Knowledge and Grace of our Lord Je… Chriſt.

Arg. 8. If the Church, even every unlearne… Church in humane Learning muſt judge and … the Prophets, then certainly this muſt not be … p. 51Preaching excellency and qualification, of which they have no ſhare, nor can paſs any competent judgment but they muſt try them, as you have it, 1 Theſſ. 5.21. Prove all things, hold faſt that which is good; compared with 1 Joh. 4.1. Beloved, believe not every Spirit, but try the Spirits whether they are of God; becauſe many falſe prophets are gone out into the World; Therefore this Learning cannot be the Preaching qualification.

Arg. 9. And laſtly: What need of theſe Arts, Logick, Grammar, or Rhetorick, for opening of Moſes and the Prophets, or proving that Jeſus Chriſt is come in the fleſh? Oh! bring better proof for Univerſities and Colledges, or elſe never plead for theſe impure puddles, and ſtreams of impure waters for Preaching the Goſpel.

But ſince this Truth and Argument lies ſo croſs to ſome mens Intereſt, and other mens Underſtanding, I ſhall willingly conſider of ſuch Objections as I have met with, and indeavour to try their ſtrength, and try whether their ſtrength, or the power of this Doctrine will prevail; and be pleaſed to excuſe me if I enlarge upon this Head, ſince this Doctrine is ſo hotly, yea, ſo ſeemingly Scripturally oppoſed. Therefore I ſhall take the more pains to clear to your Underſtandings and Conſciences, that the Learning and Wiſdom which a Goſpel-preacher needs for Goſpel-preaching is not acquired humane Learning, or Wiſdom, but is Spiritual and Divine; for a man without Spiritual Wiſdom, though a Scholar, and furniſhed with all Arts and Sciences, is but like a Crow made outwardly gay with other Birds Feathers, yet underneath he is a Crow ſtill for all his outward bravery. p. 52Therefore be pleaſed to conſider of a few Scriptures, and weigh the ſcope and tendency of them as that firſt, when the Lord promiſeth to do grea… things for the converſion of ſinners, and lifting … of the Kingdom, where he tells us who ſhall b… the Ambaſſadors and Preachers in that Work Not the Wiſe, with this beggarly wiſdom of th… fleſh, but a quite contrary Generation, to wit, the fooliſh and the ſimple, even Babes and Suckling Iſa. 29.9, to 21. where we have theſe things offered; firſt, That in the dayes of the Goſpel-e… altation, when Lebanon the true Church ſhall be come a real fruitful Field, and the falſe Church … Lebanon of fooliſh Virgins or Profeſſors, ſhall … turned into a Forreſt; then ſhall this be fulfilled God's Book ſhall not be read to the People by the… learned Ones, for they ſhall ſay and confeſs, … well as the unlearned, I cannot read no more th… the unconverted People or Multitude, and th… ſhall not be the care of idle Ones, or by accident but by the great deſign of God to glorifie himſelf another way, as he ſaith, I will do a marvellou… work, and a wonder, for I will turn the wiſdom … your prudent men backwards, and the meek in the Earth ſhall increaſe their joy, or divine knowledge and have my Viſion opened to them, and by them verſ. 18, 19. therefore humane Wiſdom an… Knowledge is not a Tool fit for this Work.

Object. 1. But it is Objected, This was ſpoken of the Jews and Prieſts of that time, and concer… not us.

To which I Anſwer, Grant that it were ſpoken of that Age firſt, yet not of them only; for it appears to the Spiritual, Wiſe, and truly Learned, p. 53to be ſpoken of the way of God's dealing under the Man of Sin in the end of his dayes, as appears verſ. 20, 21. when the Lord ſaith, The terrible one is brought to nought, and the ſcorner is conſumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off &c. That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a ſnare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aſide the juſt for a thing of nought.

How truly theſe things are accompliſhed by the Man of Sin, is moſt evident; therefore you may ſee, how clearly the former words concern his learned Clergy, will e're long be manifeſt; and it is moſt clear, theſe Words or Propheſies are to be accompliſhed in that day when the Church ſhall be moſt fruitful; but that is not in the day of the Jews apoſtacy or defection: but this Glory is a reſerved Glory for that day, when the Kingdoms of this World ſhall become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and he ſhall reign for ever-more, even that good Day which is coming upon us.

But again, let any one ſhew me that the way of the Lord here ſpoken of is changed, and that now our Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath ſanctified Wiſdom and Learning for Preaching-work, and is become reconciled to it, then they will ſay ſomething to the Point that they contend for: But the Scriptures of the New Teſtament know no ſuch reconciliation, as appears Matth. 11.25. I thank thee, O Father, thou haſt hid theſe things from the wiſe and prudent, and haſt revealed them to Babes, Luk. 10.21. compared with 1 Cor. 1.20, 21. Where is the Wiſe? where is the Scribe? where is the Diſputer of this World? Hath not God made fooliſh the wiſdom of this World? For after that, in the p. 54wiſdom of God, the World by wiſdom knew not Go… it pleaſed God, by the fooliſhneſs of Preaching, … ſave them that believe; and verſ. 19. it is written I will deſtroy the wiſdom of the Wiſe, and will bri… to nothing the underſtanding of the prudent; wi… chap. 2.1. And I Brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of ſpeech, or of wiſdom declaring unto you the Teſtimony of God. Whe… we have Paul anſwerably practiſing and vindication his ſo doing; wherefore if by any other groun… more helpful to them, than what they have offered, they be able to prove that the Lord Chriſt ha… taken their blunt Tools into favour, I deſire the to declare it.

But again, conſider that paſſage of Zachari… 13. concerning this learned Generation of th… Man of Sin's Clergy-men, it is ſaid, In that … they ſhall voluntarily be aſhamed, every one of … Viſion; I hope not of Chriſt's, or the Goſpe… Viſion, but of the learned Viſion, Education, and Trade of Preaching; which is moſt clear, both with reference to the riſe of this way of Preaching, and alſo the matter of this Preaching; and laſtly, the end of it. All that is there ſaid, relate to the Preaching or Propheſying of our Times, and not of the Jews Time, they having no ſuch Trade in faſhion as an Artificial-Clergy, they having only the Tribe of Levi Prophets, and Nazarites: Neither would Tongues, Languages, Arts, or Sciences, help to Preach in that day, when onelyonly or primarily Propheſie and Ceremony were to be Preached. Therefore this Propheſie relates principally to our Time, as a Propheſie of the Prophets or Clergy-men of the Man of Sin, and I ſhall p. 55pray, Come Lord Jeſus, and make haſte to ſhame theſe Prophets.

But again, I pray conſider, when Paul directs to the choice of Miniſters, I mean, Preaching-Miniſters, he doth not once name or remember this great Diana, I mean, humane Learning, but layes down Rules for choice without this expedient, 1 Tim. 3.

Object. 2. But poſſibly ſome may ſay, Is it not there ſaid, Let not him that is choſen be a Novice? and is not that as much as to ſay, unlearned, or unskilful in learning?

To which I Anſwre, … but our learned Tribe Novices? God forbid they ſhould think ſo, or the Lord's Peoples Portion be no better, for then none beſides the Learned ſhould have been capable of choice; but Paul acknowledgeth that the Corinths were wiſe, not only their Miniſters, but they, 1 Cor. 1.4, 5. with Epiſt. 2.11.19. But to Anſwer this more fully; Paul intends onelyonly a young, unskilful, unexperienced Chriſtian, and not a young Grammarian or Logician; for he may be as proud as any that hath moſt skill in Arts; as many Inſtances ſhew: and this is the reaſon laid down by the Apoſtle, why he muſt not be a Novice, leſt he be puſſed up with pride; and ſurely if the learning here meant be Oxford & Cambridge, I mean of the Schools; Paul it ſeems knew men were very quick to know what learning he meant, ſince Scripture and himſelf knew another Learning better, which the Scriptures ſhew as I have offered; or elſe he foreſaw men would, as at this day, idolize and dote upon theſe painted Feathers; wherefore he ſaith, if any thing, but very little for this p. 56Univerſity-breeding, cryed up as ſo abſolutely neceſſary for Preaching, although the Scriptures know nothing of it.

Object. 3. But ſome may ſay, Are not the Schools of the Prophets mentioned in Scripture, as in the place 2 Kings 22.14? Is it not ſaid, that Huldah the Propheteſs dwelt in a Colledge? and had not the Prophets peculiar places of reſidence and habitation; wherein, as in Ʋniverſities or Nurſeries of Learning, they ſtudied and improved themſelves in order to Preaching or Propheſying, as we real 2 Kings 2.3, 5. … Acts 19.9. If there were any more of theſe …, I ſhould have conſidered them alſo, but ſo many have onelyonly come to my knowledge.

To all thoſe Scriptures I Anſwer, they do not in the leaſt oppoſe the Truth I have aſſerted, that not Humane but Spiritual Wiſdom fits for Preaching the Goſpel of Chriſt. For grant that theſe places intended Colledges and Univerſities, and ſuch like places, yet it follows not that theſe were places imployed or improved for Trayning, or preparing Perſons for Goſpel-preaching; for it doth not appear that any Goſpel-preachers iſſued forth from thence.

And ſecondly, The Prophets and Propheteſſes we read of, were extraordinary Prophets, and not ſuch Preachers or Prophets as the Doctrine intends and ſpeaks of; but if Schools and Univerſities will fit us to be ſuch Prophets as can declare things to come from the Lord, then let us all, that fear the Lord, go to theſe Schools that we may learn thus to Propheſie. But this is not a mediate, but an immediate Gift, either by Dreams, Viſions, or Oracles.

p. 57And thirdly, For Tyrannus his School, mentioned in the forecited Acts 19. nothing is there declared concerning what he taught, nor whom he taught, but moſt probable it was not Goſpel-knowledge; and infallible it is, it was not how men might be qualified for Preaching; for this was not permitted or allowed any open Schools in that place at that day, as appears by the contradiction Paul there met withal; and how needleſs had it been to a learned Hebrew or Greek, ſince that was their Mother-Tongue, many of them being Jews and Greeks, as verſ. 10. declares; but Tyrannus was allowed to teach in his School, wherefore it is probable he taught nothing of this ſort of Knowledge.

Object. 4. Some do Object and ſay, How can a Preacher know that the Scripture is rightly tranſlated, that knows not the Original?

I Anſwer, By the ſame way and means that the unlearned People of the Lord come to know it; and it concerns them, and is neceſſary for them to know, though I ſay not of the ſame neceſſity. For if they be not aſſured that the Scriptures, as tranſlated, are rightly tranſlated; what ſhall they build their Faith on, except on their learned Leaders, and Tranſlators honeſty and ability? and this is to pin their Faith in a buſineſs of moſt weight and concernment, on the Prieſts ſleeve; and this is but to believe as the Church believes, and ſo the blind leading the blind, they may both fall into the Ditch.

Secondly, I Anſwer, It is not by knowing Arts and Sciences, or Languages, Preachers or People, can come to be aſſured that the Scriptures are the p. 58Word of God, and rightly tranſlated; but by the humble, ſanctified, and diligent ſearching into, and ſtudying of the Scriptures; 'tis by comparing things ſpiritually together, as the Apoſtle tells us, ſaying, Which things alſo we ſpeak, not in the words which Man's wiſdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghoſt teacheth, comparing ſpiritual things with ſpiritual, 1 Cor. 2.13. I ſay, by the Spirit of the Lord Jeſus muſt we, nay, may we know the Power and Spirit, Truth and Purity of the Scriptures; and it is the Godly judicious, Spiritual Chriſtian, beſt knows how aptly or corruptly they are tranſlated.

And thirdly, I Anſwer, Grant this were ſo, which I do not grant, yet this Learning and Excellency is more requiſite and eſſential to a Tranſlator, Examiner or Corrector of tranſlated Copies, than to a Goſpel-preacher.

But laſtly, Since ſo many thouſand Learned, as well as Godly, have ſealed the Truth of the Scriptures Purity, and Divine Authority, notwithſtanding all its humane Imperfections in Tranſlation; therefore we need not now, or continually Univerſity-Learning to do that Work which is already ſufficiently done to our hands.

Object. 5. Some do Object and ſay, How can the Scripture be interpreted in dark paſſages without this help?

I Anſwer, As a Lanthorn without a Candle will no way help to ſhew a man his way, though a Candle without a Lanthorn may, no more can this dark Lanthorn of humane Learning and Languages, without the Candle of the Lord, as too abundant experience hath witneſſed; but that p. 59Candle ſingly can and doth. Miſerable Experience ſheweth what Interpreters the School-men and Fathers have been; and yet are even the Fathers of well-nigh all the Individual Errors in Judgment and Practice in the European World. The Devil and the Learned may be admired for them, if for any thing; but take ſome Scriptures for proof of ſo weighty a Point, when our Lord comes to ſhew how Miniſters and Interpreters of Scripture ſhall be furniſhed for this Work, he ſaith, When the Spirit of Truth is come, he will guide you into all Truth; for he ſhall not ſpeak of himſelf, but whatſoever he ſhall hear, that ſhall he ſpeak, and he ſhall ſhew you things to come, John 16.13. The like Teſtimony gives Paul, But we ſpeak the wiſdom of God in a Myſtery, even the hidden wiſdom which God ordained before the World unto our Glory, which none of the Princes of this World knew; for had they known it, they would not have Crucified the Lord of Glory, 1 Cor. 2.7, 8. But ſome may ſay, How came the Preachers of the Goſpel in that day to this Wiſdom? Not from Univerſities or humane Learning, but from the Grace and Spirit of God, as you have it; But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; for the Spirit ſearcheth all things, mark it, yea, the deep things of God, verſ. 10. And this Paul proves, verſ. 11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, ſave the ſpirit of a man which is in him? Even ſo the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God; this is further witneſſed unto verſ. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.

Object. 6. May ſome ſay, How ſhall a Preacher be able to withſtand or confute gain-ſayers without p. 60learning? For every one that is a Scholar, and ſubtil, will ſophiſticate, and uſe fallacies, and wreſt the Scriptures and his Arguments from him, if he be not a Scholar.

Now Beloved, I pray you do but conſider what is ſaid in this Objection, and you have here diſcovered the learned Man's Excellency, it is to ſophiſticate and deal fallaciouſly with the Simple and the Truth. Beloved, take heed of them as ſuch who have learned the skill to deceive the ſimple. But yet a little further to Anſwer this ſeemingly ſo weighty an Objection. Know God's way, or the right way for a Preacher to anſwer Gain-ſayers, is to have the Word of God dwell richly in him in all wiſdom, that out of that Library or good Treaſure, he may be able to convince them of the contrary part. Thus Paul taught, injoyning Preachers to hold faſt the faithful Word, as he hath been taught, that he may be able, by ſound Doctrine, both to exhort and convince the Gain-ſayers, Tit. 1.9, 10. the like you have in 2 Tim. 3.13, 14, 15, 16, 17.

Object. 7. Some may ſay, This is to ſubject Preachers, and Preaching to contempt and ſcorn: For if Preachers need not be learned, who will not be a Preacher? Who more bold than the ignorant, or men of ignorance? And who will reverence Preaching or Preachers, if it be ſo eaſie and common a work for any man that is unlearned? Will it not be very ſimple, and mean Preaching, if Preachers want Breeding, Arts, Languages, and Sciences, to garniſh and dreſs out their Preaching, with Lively and Apt Similes, Rhetorical and Elegant Words?

p. 61To all which I thus Anſwer, in the fear of the Lord.

Firſt, It is never the more eaſie, but much more the harder for any to Preach, whilſt we affirm no humane Acquirements, but ſupernatural Attainments, that fits or qualifies Perſons for Preaching.

Secondly, If all, or any ſeek, or undertake to Preach, it follows not that all ſhall or can Preach: No, there are many Learned, yea, and unlearned Intruders upon Preaching, which do not, nor can Preach; for all they ruſh or run upon the work; for it is written, A man can receive nothing, that is no ſuch Gift, except it be given him from Above, John 3.27. And ſaith Paul, How can one Preach except he be ſent?

And thirdly, Though this unneceſſary Tool be laid aſide, yet are there many other helps, which every Preacher muſt have, both Natural and Divine, which every man hath not, no not every Godly Man, nor can attain to; therefore to be an Accompliſhed-Preacher is not ſo eaſie, though it matters not how eaſie.

But fourthly, If it be ſaid, Who then will reverence Preaching or Preachers?

I Anſwer, Though an undue reverence is not to be ſought or deſired, and every able Preacher is truly and moſt eminently worthy of reverence; yet when the Love of God, and the Work of God lies warm upon the Preachers heart; then the main buſineſs of a Goſpel-Preacher will be to get Chriſt, not himſelf, reverenced: For we Preach not our ſelves, but the Lord Jeſus, and our ſelves your Servants for Chriſt's ſake, 2 Cor. 4.5. And p. 62let me tell you, as David ſaid to Michael, 2 Sam. 6. Even of the Hand-maids ſhall ſuch be had into honour, whilſt the proud Locuſts of the bottomleſs Pit deſpiſe them. I ſay, Every ſuch Soul that is Preached to, will reverence that lip which hath ſpoken Chriſt to his heart, as hereafter may more appear; but if the blind cannot, yet the ſeeing eye will reverence ſuch Preaching, and that the more, becauſe it is plain and ſimple.

But laſtly, Whereas they tell us that Preaching will be very mean and ſimple if the Preachers be unlearned, and want Arts, Sciences, Rhetorick, and Logick, to help them to apt Expreſſions, Similies, to ſet forth Heavenly things by. I Anſwer, No, if men be wiſe that Preach, it will not be ſimple Preaching. If Preachers be dayes-men, or men of experience in Chriſt's Goſpel, and Satan's Wiles; for if the Spirit of God can help the unlearned to words ſufficient to ſpeak to God in Prayer; ſurely he is much more able to help the unlearned Preacher to ſufficiency of words, to ſpeak to the Satisfaction and Advantage of unlearned, ſimple, ſinful, earthly, ignorant Men and Women, yea, Babes and Sucklings; therefore no need to ſerve an Apprentiſhip for Words at the Schools. Thus I have Anſwered this Objection.

Object. 8. Some may ſay, If Preachers be not Scholars and Artiſts, there are many things in the Scripture which they cannot reſolve or explain, at the weights of the Sanctuary of old, and Places and Countries, as where they lie, and in what Continent, Scituation, Latitude and Diſtance one from another, &c.

p. 63To which I Anſwer, This is but ſuperfluous or unneceſſary Knowledge, which every Goſpel-Preacher may honourably be without. And if a Preacher cannot attain it without humane Learning, he may Preach as truly and as profitably Chriſt's Myſterie and Man's Duty from ſuch Scriptures, as if he could reſolve ſuch Riddles, or unneceſſary Queſtions. For could not Ezckiel, Amos, and the Prophets propheſie againſt Egypt, Tyrus, Moab, Babylon, and the reſt of the Heathen-Countries, as well as if they knew their Longitude or Latitude? Yes doubtleſs, as clearly as other-ways, for that did not concern them, but only to denounce the Judgments of God againſt them; other knowledge of Places is onelyonly or moſtly neceſſary for ſuch as are Travellers or Hiſtoriographers, who elſe may miſs their way, or mar their Work; but 'tis not ſo with a Preacher, 'tis enough for ſuch to Preach that Babylon ſhall fall, becauſe ſhe hath ſinned, and that Nineveh repented, and therefore was ſpared; whereſoever the one or the other Country is, and that whatſoever Countrey or People ſoever they be that ſin againſt the moſt High, and do not repent, ſhall alſo periſh firſt or laſt; yea, even England, though we know where it lies, without repentance, muſt doubtleſs periſh.

Object. 9. May not ſome ſay to me, Doth not Solomon the Wiſe, even the Preacher in my Text ſay, Prov. 1.22. It is fools only that hate or ſlight Knowledge; ſo it is only unlearned, ignorant, mechanicks, that ſpeak thus ſlightly and contemptibly of Learning and Knowledge? Is not every thing beautiful in its ſeaſon.

p. 64I Anſwer, It is not to hate Knowledge, to cry up the Spirit's Teaching, and the Scriptures Wiſdom, the beſt of Learning; and to cry down this empty, dangerous, ſmoaky, humane Learning; I ſay, 'tis not ſlighting or deſpiſing Learning, to diſtinguiſh and difference it from Spiritual and Heavenly Knowledge; to teach, that humane Learning, ſuch as the difference is about, is not neceſſary or helpful for Preaching, doth neither deny or imply that Learning is uſeful or leſs than a Gift of God, and uſeful as other natural Gifts and Excellencies are. Is that Plant good for nothing which is not good for food, or delightful to ſmell on? Oh no, for it may be good and profitable for Phyſick: Even ſo is Learning, even this Learning in Controverſie, to teach men Civil and Political Government, or fit men for Magiſtracy, but dangerous for Goſpel-Preachers; good for Phyſitians, Lawyers, Hiſtorians, Navigators, Surveyors of Land, and the like, but needleſs for Preaching; good for Travellers, Merchants, Souldiers, and the like, but not for Home-dwellers or Churchmen; doubtleſs there are many lawful and laudable uſes for humane Learning, though this be ſpared; therefore I hope none will ſay I deſpiſe it, though I affirm it ought not to be injoyned or impoſed as eſſentially neceſſary for Goſpel-Preaching.

And thus I have endeavoured to Anſwer all ſuch Objections as I have met with, that are brought againſt that which hath been offered; to wit, that humane, natural, or artificial Wiſdom or Learning is not the Goſpel-Preachers Wiſdom mentioned in the Text, or that which will fit a man to be a p. 65Goſpel-Preacher, or qualifie unto Wiſe and Goſpel-preaching in the Negative.

Let me in the Affirmative now declare what this Wiſdom is which every Goſpel-Preacher ought to have, and cannot be competently qualified unto Preaching without it; it is the ſaving, ſanctifying Grace of God, and Spiritual Gifts, and aſſiſtance of the Spirit of God: This Divine Wiſdom is Eſſential Wiſdom for a Preacher; and having this Wiſdom, though without other Wiſdom, a Preacher may be ſufficiently accompliſhed unto Preaching.

For the better clearing of this, I ſhall more particularly open, wherein Preaching-Wiſdom lies in three things.

Firſt, That the Preacher be enriched with the Wiſdom of Grace, or the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of Wiſdom, and a good underſtanding have all they that do thereafter, Prov. 1.7. Pſal. 119.10. To be ſpiritually Wiſe, is to be ſeaſoned with Salt of Grace, to be inſtated in Covenant with the Lord Jeſus, who of God is made unto us Wiſdom as well as Righteouſneſs, 1 Cor. 1.30, 31. Though every gracious Perſon is not a Preacher, yet he, who-ever he be, that undertakes to Preach, cannot be wiſe enough to be Chriſt's Preacher, that is not Holy, and Sanctified in Jeſus Chriſt; this the Lord ſeems to prove to Jeremiah 1.5. Before I formed thee in the Belly, I knew thee, and before thou cameſt out of the Womb, I ſanctified thee, and ordained thee a Prophet unto the Nations. Mark, God layes the Foundation of Prophecy or Preaching, in electing Love, and ſanctifying of the Heart; not education of Learning, p. 66or excellency in Brain. Thus the Lord Jeſu… dealt with Paul to qualifie him for Preaching, Gal. 1.15, 16. It pleaſed God, who ſeparated … from my Mothers Womb, and called me by h… Grace to reveal his Son in me, that I might Preac… him among the Heathen; immediately I conferr… not with fleſh or blood: neither went I up to Jeruſ… lem, to them which were Apoſtles before me, &… So 2 Tim. 1.5, 6. with chap. 3.14, 15.

But ſecondly, Preaching-Wiſdom, or the Goſpel-preaching-Wiſdom, conſiſts in having muc… and plentiful experience of the way of God's dealing with poor Souls, when he delivers them out … ſin, and brings them into a ſtate of Grace. Ever… wiſe Preacher, or skilful Work-man, that neede… not be aſhamed, ought to have clear and plentiful acquaintance with Satans Wiles, Temptations, an… Deluſions, and with all the Concernments of a po… ſinning, ſinking, ſorrowing Soul, and therefore ought not to be a Novice in the dealings or out goings of God with poor Creatures. He is … Preach from Experience, not for Experience, a Merchants that travel to the Indies, or the Antichriſtian Prieſts of the World do. A Goſpel-Preacher, ſhould be able to ſay, as John ſaith i… his firſt Epiſtle, Chap. 1. verſ. 1. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have ſeen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the Word … Life, that declare we unto you, v. 3. So ſaith Paul, … are not ignorant of his wiles and devices, 2 Cor. 2.11. He that Preacheth …ithout or beyond Experience, is like a man that tells one his way to a Place or Countrey he never ſaw, he muſt do it very p. 67rawly and uncertainly: Even ſo it is in this caſe; He that is to guide others in their way to Heaven, ought to have gone it before himſelf, or elſe he will prove an uncertain Guide to others.

Thirdly, and laſtly, Every Goſpel-Preacher's Wiſdom, ſhould lie in having rich and plentiful acquaintance with the Scripture; not only, or ſo much in the Letter, as in the Sence, Scope, Doctrine, and real Interpretation of the Word: And if theſe things be in a Preacher, and abound with continual Prayer, and uninterrupted fellowſhip of the Spirit of Grace, he ſhall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jeſus, 2 Pet. 1.8.

And thus having proved and opened this Doctrine, to wit, That every Goſpel-Preacher ought to be wiſe, that is, ſpiritually Wiſe; I ſhall proceed to make ſome Application of the Point.