The Pulpits Patronage Against Unordained Usurpation, Part 1 · Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV. Containing the third Objection, and Anſwer.
BRinging men home to God, (which is the work Obj. 3 of Goſpel-adminiſtrations) is from the Spirit, (q)Joh. 3. 5.for except a man be born again of water, and of the holy Ghoſt, he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God; and by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit (r)1 Cor. 12, 13.: this adminiſtration under which we live, is in a more peculiar manner the Spirits work, then either Creation or Redemption were, which are more frequently aſcribed to the Father and the Sonne; and ſome think, one reaſon why the ſin againſt the holy Ghoſt is not forgiven, is, becauſe no other perſon works after him (s)1 Mat. 12. 31, 32.; but the Spirit may be poured in as great a meaſure on the houſe of David, and Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, as the Prophet ſpeaks (t)Zach. 12: 10, as on the houſe of Levi, and the Sonnes of Aaron; for it is not learning, wit, or eloquence, that makes one able for this work, but the endowments of the Spirit; for what man knoweth the things of a man, ſave the ſpirit of man that is in him? even ſo the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God (u)1 Cor. 2. 11.
Sol. 1. Its granted, that the holy Ghoſt is mainly active in Goſpel adminiſtrations, but not excluding the Father and the Sonne; (w)Joh. 5. 17for my Father worketh hitherto (ſayes Chriſt) and I work, and converſion is in a ſpecial manner aſcribed to the Father (x)Joh. 6. 45; and though the Sonne in perſon be now gone into Heaven, yet is he preſent where two or three are met together in his name (y)Mat. 18 20, yea with his Miniſters, unto the worlds end (z)Mat. 28. 20: nay, even acteth, and ſpeaketh in them (a)2 Cor. 13. 3, and by them unto others (b)2 Cor. 5. 20; and ſo we may ſay, who hath moſt of the Father and the Sonne, is fitteſt for this work, and Miniſters have more of them, (c)2 Cor. 5. 19, 20.hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation, of whom I travel in birth again, till Chriſt be formed in you (d)Gal. 4. 19.; as many as have been baptized into Jeſus Chriſt, have put on Chriſt (e)Gal. 3. 27.: where we finde the Miniſter intruſted with communicating Chriſt to others, more then other men.
2. None of the perſons act Goſpel-Adminiſtrations immediatly, and without Inſtruments, as we have ſhewed before; but eſpecially the Spirit: for though it be true, that the holy Ghoſt hath been apparent, and viſible in Goſpel-Adminiſtrations, as unto Chriſt, at his admiſſion unto his publick Office and imployment (f)Mat. 3. 16., and unto the Apoſtles, when they were about to enter into the work (g)Act. 2. 3, 4.: yet hath it been but very ſparingly, and with ample evidence, that it was he, becauſe it was eaſier for that lying Spirit, as he is called (h)1 King. 22. 22., to imitate and counterfeit the holy Ghoſt, then any other perſon; the holy Ghoſt ſpeaketh very frequently, but it is in the Scriptures, which are nothing but the dictates, & breathings of the Spirit (i)2 Tim. 3. 16 2 Pet. 1. 21., wherein he ſpeaketh, foreign, or expreſly, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks. (k)1 Tim. 4. 1.Paul ſaith, that the holy Ghoſt did witneſſe in every City, that bonds and troubles did abide him (l)Act. 20. 23.; but how did the Spirit do it? but by he Prophets that he met with in the Cities through which he paſſed; for what Agabus affirmed in Caeſarea (m)Act. 21. 10, 11. Heb. 2. 4., others had done in other places (it is like,) & where moſt of the apparent operations of the Spirit are, there doubtleſſe are the beſt endowments for the Miniſtry: now ſuch endowments are more evident in Miniſters and their labours, then in others.
3. It will not follow, one hath the Spirits work upon his ſoul, in a ſenſible and ſaving manner, therefore he is a Miniſter and publick Preacher, and may adminiſter the Sacraments; for then all Gods people ſhould be Preachers, and Moſes needed not have made that prayer (u)Numb. 11. 29.; it will follow, then one is the Child of God; for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God (o)Rom. 8. 14.; God hath many Children that are not preachers, or elſe that queſtion had been improper (p)1 Cor. 12. 29, 30.; if there were no ſheep, there would be no ſhepheards; yea then it would follow, that women might be preachers, for their names, ſome of them, are in the Book of life (q)Phil. 4. 3.; which would contradict the rule of the Apoſtle, as we have ſhewed before.
4. Therefore, beſides the ſpirit of grace and ſupplication, whereby men are regenerate and born anew, there muſt be the Spirit of gifts and revelation, in the ſeveral endowments of the ſoul, either in an extraordinary way, as in the primitive times, or ordinary, as now (r)1 Cor. 12. 8, 9, 10, 11.; for thoſe men Paul found at Epheſus, had the Spirit of grace, or elſe they had not been Diſciples, yet the Spirit of gifts and qualifications for the Miniſtry they had not ſo much as heard of, until Paul had laid his hands upon them (s)Act. 19. 6.; and when Paul inabled Timothy for to make Miniſters, he orders them to look for other qualifications then converſion and the Spirit of grace (t)1 Tim. 3. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.; ſo unto Titus, it was not ſufficient that they were good men, but muſt be alſo gifted men; neither do our Brethren ſay, that every Brother may preach, but every gifted Brother.