The Pulpits Patronage Against Unordained Usurpation, Part 1 · Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII. The ſixth Objection, and Anſwer.
BUt there was allowance in the Jewiſh adminiſtration, Obj. 6 not only for Magiſtrates and Judges, (who were to act according to the Law of God) to ſpeak in publick meetings of Gods people, as hath been ſhewed; but for any other man that had abilities, that is, that were accounted wiſe men, as they are called (p)Jer. 18. 18.; and thoſe are reckoned by our Saviour, among ſuch as were ſent upon this great errand to the Jews (q)Mat. 23. 34.; and upon this account, Chriſt, when he was but twelve years old, was allowed to exerciſe his gifts in the Temple (r)Luk. 2. 46, 47., and the twelve, before they were Apoſtles (s)Mat 10. 5. Luk. 10. 1., and ſeventy after them; and upon this ground it was, that Paul and Barnabas were permitted for to exerciſe their gifts at Antioch (t)Act. 13. 14, 15., and what was granted them in that adminiſtration, ſhould not be now denied unto any ſuch; ſeeing gifts of that kind, are now more plentifully beſtowed, as the Apoſtle from the Prophet ſhews (t)Heb. 8. 10, 11..
Sol. 1. Wiſe men are never forward to expreſs themſelves, they know, qui benè latuit, benè vixit, and qui benè tacuit, benè dixit, and when they muſt ſpeak, uſe as few words as may be; for vir ſapit qui pauca loquitur (u)Prov. 29. 1. 1., a fool uttereth all his minde, but a wiſe man keepeth it in till afterwards, and therefore Solomon ſayes, (w)Eccleſ. 5. 3a fools voice is known by multitude of words; ſtultitia loquitur, is Eraſmus introduction, to his Encomium moriae: we therefore think theſe wiſe men, did not offer and obtrude themſelves, till they were really and plainly called to it. Moſes (we think) was a wiſe man, (x)Act. 7. 12.for he was learned in all the wiſdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in word and in deed, yet was not eaſily prevailed with, to be a ſpeaker, nor would not undertake the ſervice he was called to, till Aaron was joyned in Commiſſion with him (y)Exod. 4. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.; and therefore our Saviour ſayes, in the place before recited, behold, I ſend unto you Prophets, and wiſe men; for he knew, men that were wiſe, would not go on ſuch an errand, till they were ſent; and though our Saviour Chriſt began betimes, yet not till he knew it was his Fathers buſineſſe (z)Luk. 2. 29..
2. Theſe wiſe men, mentioned in Scripture, had ſomething in them extraordinary; for the Prophet placeth them between the Prieſt and the Prophet, *Jer. 18. 18▪and our Saviour between the Prophet and the Scribe (a)Mat. 23. 34. King Solomon was one of theſe wiſe men, and well might have a place among the extraordinary and rareſt Preachers (b)Eccleſ. 12. 9, 10, 11., and is therefore ſaid by o…r Saviour, to have allured auditors from far (c)Mat. 11. 42. If our oppoſing Brethren were ſuch, we would acknowledge and approve them. Our Saviours extraordinary abilities, in anſwering and asking queſtions, made way among the Doctors, for his allowance (d)Luk. 2. 47.; and did the like appear in any now, we ſhould acknowledge God in them, as we have ſaid before.
3. For theſe that are acknowledged upon this ground to be received Preachers, we think the twelve were actual Apoſtles, before Chriſts Reſurrection, becauſe they are ſo called by the Spirit of God (d)Mat. 10. … Luk. 22. 14., and had extraordinary gifts beſtowed on them then; for they were to heal the ſick, cleanſe the Leapers, raiſe the dead, caſt out Devils (e)v. 8.: let our opponents do theſe things, we ſhall expect no other power nor authority, though we acknowledge their Commiſſion was afterwards inlarged and corroborated, as it might be; for though we finde not, that ever they were called Apoſtles Elect, yet we think, they were but young Apoſtles, and were by our Saviours Company and care, much mended and improved afterward, as Paul was doubtleſs an Apoſtle at the firſt appearing of our Saviour to him, as he ſhewes (f)1 Cor. 9. 1., yet had he not his furniture and full inſtruction at the firſt; for ſo Chriſt ſpeaks unto him (g)Act. 26. 16, to make thee a Miniſter and Witneſſe of thoſe things which thou haſt ſeen, and of the things wherein I will appear unto thee.
And for the ſeventy, beſides their wiſdom, which Mr. Robinſon thinks to be enough, they had abilities to caſt out Devils, to tread on Serpents, and Scorpions (h)Luk. 10. 17, 18, 19.; and when our Brethren do ſuch things, we ſhall acknowledge them; and for Paul and Barnabas, though we acknowledge they were wiſe men, yet they were ſent out by the holy Ghoſt (i)Act. 13. 1., and had abilities proportionable unto ſuch a call and ſervice, as appeared in the cenſure of that Jewiſh Conjurer (k)Act. 13. 9, 10, 11., and curing a man that was a Cripple from his Mothers wombe (l)Act. 14. 8, 9, 10.: now when theſe evidences of the holy Ghoſt appear in men deſirous of our Pulpits, we ſhall ſurrender them.
4. What priviledge ſoever wiſe men then had, it was ſubjected to examination and approbation; for Paul and Barnabas, though, (as Mr. Robinſon obſerves) they went into the ſeat or Pew, where ſuch uſed to ſit, who were provided to ſpeak unto the people, as it is (m)Act. 13. 14, 15.: yet they opened not their mouths, until the Rulers of the Synagogue were pleaſed to ſend unto them, and requeſt them for to ſpeak unto the people; and if our Brethren would not ſpeak, till the Governours and Rulers of our Aſſemblies ſent unto them, we ſhould be quiet.