The Shepherds Wanderings Discovered, Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. In which Mr. Sheppards fifth Argument is brought to the Touch-ſtone of truth, and found Braſſe, not concluding what he would have.
I Am come to your fifth maine argument:
And that is drawne from an induction of particular examples.
That it hath been uſually ſo done, and never diſallowed, but rather approved by God and good men.
To this purpoſe you bring us the inſtance of the Elders, Num. 11.23, 24, 25. Saul, 1 Sam. 5.10. Noah 2 Pet. 2.5. Jehoſaphat: 2 Chron. 19.6, 7. Stephen: Acts 7. the 70. Luke 10.1. Simeon, Lu. 2.25, 26. Iob and his friends. Anna, Lu. 2.36, 38. Apollos, Acts 24.25. the primitive Chriſtians, 1 Cor. 14.26. Paul: Acts 29.20, 22. Scribes, Phariſes, and Lawyers: Thoſe Paul ſpeakes of, Phil. 1.18. the cuſtome of the Jewes: Acts 13.6. Chriſt himſelfe, Lu. 2.42.
Dr. Seaman in his anſwer to Chillenden, prefixt to his foreign. Pulpit guarded, p. 46, 47, 48, &c.To this argument and every piece of it, is already enough ſaid by learned Doctor Seaman, the Author of Lay preaching unmarked, p. 11.12, 13, 14, 15, 16, &c. Mr. Hall in his Pulpit guarded, Mr. Ferriby in his lawfull preacher, p. 33, 34, 36, 37. &c. The Author of Church members ſet in joynt, p. 14.15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, &c. Mr. Rutherford in his due right,Lay-preaching unmaskt, p. 11. 12, 13, 14. Mr. Ferriby, in his lawfull preacher, 33. &c. p. 281. 282, 283. and in his peaceable plea, 255. Mr. Gilleſpy in his Miſcell queſtions p. 66. 67 &c.
One would thinke here have beene replies enough to ſtop the ſcolding tongue of this Argument But to be ſhort your argument lies thus:
What hath been uſually done, and never diſallowed but approved by God and good men, may be lawfully done. Granted.
But gifted men meerely gifted, have uſually preach'… and expounded Scripture being in no office, and that in a conſtituted Goſpell Church publikely and ordinarily.—Ergo.
1. This propoſition is falſe enough, 1. You muſt prove that theſe men were meerly gifted, as Chriſtians are now gifted, and not in office, nor extraordinarily inſpired.
Your inſtances of the Elders Num 11.23, 24, 25. of Saul 1 Sam. 5.10. of Stephen, of Anna, of Apollos, of Paul, of the Scribes and Phariſees, of Chriſt, come ſhort here.
The Elders had the extraordinary gift of prophecy, Num 11.23. ſo had Saul, and never after ſo 1 Sam. 5.10. Stephen was ordained and full of the holy Ghoſt. Anna was a propheteſſe, Apollos a Miniſter. Paul had received the holy Ghoſt, Acts 9. The Scribes and Phariſes ſate in Moſes chaire ſaith our Saviour, and ſurely Chriſt himſelfe was ſome thing more then a gifted Brother.
2. Secondly you muſt prove they expounded and applied Scripture, prove this concerning Eldad and Medad, or Saul, or Noah, or Iobs friends, or Anna.
3. Thirdly, You muſt prove they did it in a conſtituted ſettled Church, in which were publike officers; prove this of Noah, of Saul, of the primitive Chriſtians that were ſcattered, Acts 8.
4. Fourthly, you muſt prove they did it ordinarily and conſtantly, prove this of Saul, of Eldad and Medad, of thoſe ſcattered Chriſtians, Acts 8.
Thus you ſee Sir what your argument comes to, not one inſtance holds to your caſe, you may ſee fuller anſwers to them in the Bookes which I before cited, when you have diſproved them you may expect an anſwer from them or me.
For Mr. Simons or Mr. Marſton, whoſe Letters you inſert, their words are no Oracles, and they have neither anſwered what hath been ſaid againſt it, nor yet favoured us with any arguments for it. Magiſteriall placets or friendly Commendams are worth little to prove a truth, unleſſe you can aſſure us that they are in them guided by an infallible Spirit, which I believe they will hardly ſay they are, they are Gentlemen I know not, they may be learned and holy, but as I take it there be ten for one as learned and holy are of another mind, you are beholden to them for their Letters, but I thinke the truth of God and the Goſpell of Chriſt is not much.
Page 35.In the cloſe of this argument you would know,
What is the difference betweene Preaching and Orations and common placings, ſpeeches, Sermons, and exhortations.
O Sir, take heed of paralelling the great ordinance of God to an Oration or a Speech, this is a very unſavoury paralell to come from one who ſeemes to have ſo much of the feare of God dwelling in him, as you have given the world cauſe to hope you have (from ſome ſober paſſages in your Booke) why doe you not as well ſay what is the difference betweene the word of the living God and a good Sermon-book? Betweene Reading the Scriptures, and reading a godly booke; yet Luther was wont to ſay he would burne his bookes if he thought any one would make that uſe of them. Suppoſe there be not a materiall difference, but both be good, yet is there not a great formall difference, is not one the Ordinance of God to ſalvation, and are the other publike Ordinances under the like divine appointment: (Deare Sir) take heed of ſuch termes to vilifie this great Goſpell Ordinance.