The Reviler Rebuked, Treatise · Part 1 · Head 19
(19. Head of their Scripture-contradiction) Concerning Immediate Teaching.
Section 47.
IHad noted how they pretended to be immediately taught. The teaching of God (ſaith one) is immediate in the leaſt degree: contrary to Dan. 9. 1. 1 Tim 4. 14. R. F. anſwereth *Page 22.We do not pretend ſo to be, but we witneſs that we are ſo taught, and according to the promiſe of the Lord.
Rep. 1. But who will believe him, and his fellows, when the witneſs is of themſelves, from themſelves, and without proof? They that flee to an experience, and a promiſe for proof, muſt firſt ſhew the promiſe, and then the performance of it to themſelves. I am yet to learn the promiſe of the Immediate Teachings of God, to be given to all that are to teach others, of which is the queſtion. The promiſe, John 6. 45. They ſhall all be taught of God, concerneth allJohn 6. 45. vindicated. All Believers not immediately taught. that have truly believed, do, or ſhall ſo believe; all the children of Gods election, all the children of the Church-Catholique, and of the new Jeruſalem, Iſa. 54. 13. which teaching, if God had intended to be given immediately, i. e. without any medium, means, or inſtrument, then would he not have ſent Preachers abroad for them to hear, thereby to be taught and drawn to believing.
2. Had all that the Lord ſent forth as Goſpel-diſpenſers, immediate teaching? we grant Paul had it more immediately,Apoſtles immediately taught. more fully, and more at once, then the reſt of the Apoſtles, Gal. 1. 12. and 2. 6. will R. F. and his Brethren witneſs the ſame immediate teaching, with Paul, and the utmoſt height of his revelation, that nothing can be added to them? We grant the reſt of the Apoſtles had the immediate teaching, and ducture of the Spirit in their preaching and writing: But are all Apoſtles? 1 Cor. 12. 28. compared with Epheſ. 4. 11. There was a ſecond ſort of the Miniſters of Chriſt, who were called Evangeliſts, (aſſiſtants to the Apoſtles) theſe had their light and knowledge by mediateEvangeliſts taught mediately. ways: Timothy is inſtructed of Paul, 2 Tim. 2. 2. and 3. 10, 14. (as taught out of the Scriptures, by his mother and grandmother, from his childehood, 2 Tim. 1. 5. with Chap. 3. 13.) Apollos was inſtructed*foreign in the way of the Lord, by the Scriptures, Acts 18. 24, 25. and had the way of God more perfectly expounded to him by Aquila and Priſcilla, ver. 26. Theſe Evangeliſts were of too low a form for R. F. and men and women too of his way. There was a thirdSome prophets immediately inſpired. ſort called Prophets; ſome of which were immediately taught, and inſpired with knowledge of things to come; ſome of theſe, men, as Agabus, Acts 11. 28. and 21. 10. ſome, women, as Philips four daughters, which did propheſie, Acts 21. 9. I do not finde that Quaking men and women pretend to this kinde of immediate teaching, received about things to come. Other Prophets there were,Some prophets mediately taught. who were mediately taught; as they at Corinth, and elſewhere, who did, out of the old Teſtament, expound, give the ſenſe of the Prophets writings, and raiſe Doctrines, confirming them by edifying teſtimonies, and reaſons out of Scripture, to edifying uſe and benefit of Believers principally and Churches; 1 Cor. 14. 3. compared with ver. 22. latter part. Theſe I cannot call men quite out of office (as the word Office is largely taken, Rom. 12. 4.) Every member hath an office, that is, work and employment in the body myſtical, as natural; but as the word is taken ſtrictly, they were, and may be perſons out of office, i. e neither Apoſtles, nor Evangeliſts, nor Prophets, foretelling things future, nor Paſtors and teaching Elders. As they were not Apoſtles,Diſtinguiſht 1. from extraordinary officers. nor Evangeliſts, (that is plain enough) ſo,
Firſt, you will finde them diſtinguiſht from the Prophets, immediately inſpired two ways.
1. Theſe might be taken off by one that had a revelation: They might have a Doctrine, ver. 26. who had not a Revelation;1 Cor. 14. 26. & 29. opened. which coming immediately for time and maner, when the other was ſpeaking, was to take place and be heard, while the Prophet, who onelyonly hath a Doctrine, or truth collected from Scripture, is to give place and hold his peace. This onelyonly for order ſake; not but that the doctrine from Scripture was as infallible as the Revelation; and the immediate Revelation was to paſs the trial, as the doctrine, verſe 29. and 32.
2. In ſo much as women are excluded from this kinde of propheſie, by two or three at a time, verſe 29. with ver. 34. But if it had been extraordinary predictions of things to come, they, i. e. women, might have delivered their meſſage.
Secondly, you will finde theſe gifted brethren (endued2. From ordinary. onelyonly with a gift of scripture-expoſition, and application) diſtinguiſht from Paſtors and Teachers in peculiar office, As two or three might exerciſe at a time, for which a liberty is granted, ver. 29. Now if they had been Paſtors and Teachers in office ſtrictly, there was no queſtion but they might have preached at all ſeaſons, when the Church met together, and a neceſſity is laid upon them, in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon; a liberty onelyonly is granted to theſe Prophets, and that liberry is limited alſo, as before. Would R. F. or his Fellowes be content with this low Form among gifted brethren in a Church, who have received their gift, by reading, and ſtudy of the Scriptures, together with conference, and obſervation of their own and others experiences (which being ſanctified and bleſſed by the Spirit of God helps men forth to teach others, till they be called to office, or whether ever they be choſen to office, or not) it would ſomething ſavor of an humble ſpirit: But as ſome deem this exerciſe of the gift of Propheſie too high for a believing brother, ſo he, and thoſe of his Spirit (not in this guided by the Spirit of God) think it too low for themſelves, and all other Teachers: and therefore whoſoever are not taught as immediately as the Apoſtles of the higheſt Form, are no Teachers with them. Hence he addes,*Page 22. And thou that art not taught of him, ſhews that thou ſpeaks a viſion of thy own heart, and not from the mouth of the Lord. This is his judgement, but erroneous enough, and contradictious to the whole Scripture, as not being the mouth of the Lord. And if I affirm (as I did) the true Prophets ſtudied the Scripture,True prophets ſtudied the Scripture. that is my imagination.
Rep. The true Prophets were either under the Old, or New Teſtament, before or ſince Chriſt.
1. Before; ſome of them ſtudied the word, who were at other times immediately inſpired, as I inſtanced in Dan. 9. 1.Dan 9. 1. vindicated. If Daniel underſtood by books; he read, and conſidered what he read in thoſe books; what was propheſied of the captivity, when it began, when it ſhould end: and the writings of Jeremy were the Books, as Daniel himſelf tells us, by which he underſtood the number of the years &c. Others were trained up in a ordinary way, in the ſchools of the Prophets, under Samuel at Ramah, 1 Sam. 19 under Elijah at Bethel and Jericho (although the Lord added impulſes and inſpirations, more then ordinary, and more immediately, to ſome of theſe afterwards) this is none of my imagination; If R. F. goes on to charge it, I ſhall ſtill lay his Scripture-contradiction before him, and at his dore it will lye, till he repents of it, for he chargeth not falſhood upon me but upon the word of God, whence I demonſtrate what I affirm.
2. Since Chriſt; the true Prophets ſtudied the word: The Scriptures ſtudied (Gods Spirit going along therewith) made them Prophets in ordinary, of whom Paul ſpeaks, 1 Cor. 14. (as it fitted A pollos and Timothy for Evangeliſts) what hath R. F. to ſay againſt it? no propheſie of the Seripture came in old time by the will of man (then not ſtudied) but holy men of God ſpoke as they were moved by the holy Ghoſt, and the Scripture is of no private interpretation.
Rep. 1. By prophecy of Scripture, 2 Pet. 1. 20, 21. is2 Pet. 1. 20. 21 vindicated. meant the word and minde of God declared in writing. God leſt it not to mans will, what, and when, and how he ſhould write his Canon; But he did immediately inſpire, and dictate to the Pen-men of Scripture, matter, maner, and time. It followsScripture is to be ſtudied, becauſe inſpired of God not becauſe the Secretaries of the holy Ghoſt wrote by his immediate inſpiration, therefore the Prophets, and Teachers are not to teach others, but as they are immediately inſpired: But it will follow from hence, and make againſt R. F. as it did in the firſt Section, and the ſixth; that if there is nothing of the will of man, or private-ſelfiſh meaning and ſenſe, in the Scripture, then is it a rule for Teachers, as Scholars; and they that will teach ſound doctrine, muſt teach from, and according to the Scripture; and therefore had need ſtudy, and meditate on the Scripture, that he may be a right man of God (the title of a true Prophet) throughly2 Tim 3. 17. furniſhed to all the work of a Miniſter as of a Chriſtian.
2. This truth is not onelyonly given forth by ſound conſequence, but directly, and expreſly the will of God is laid down, 1 Tim. 4. 15. Meditate upon theſe things. Timothy an Evangeliſt muſt ſtudy that Epiſtle which Paul wrote toforeign him, and be wholly in them, he muſt be taken up altogether therewith, referre all his ſtudies, bend all his thoughts to the knowledge of the Scriptures: And 2 Tim. 3. 17. with 16. All Scripture is given by inſpiration of God &c. that the man of God, the miniſter of the Goſpel, may be perfect: i. e. have a ſacred library to converſe with in all ages, and be made a compleat Scholar, able to teach, reprove, inſtruct and comfort out of Scripture ſtore and furniture. Hence weBonus Textuarius, bonus Theologus. uſe to ſay, A good Text-man, a good Divine, or an able man of God: and he is likely to be a light and treacherous Prophet, who ſlights the meditation of Scripture-Text, and ſpeaks onelyonly quicquid in buccam venerit, what comes next to his tongues end. A fourth ſort of miniſters are Paſtors andPaſtors and Teachers, mediately taught. Teachers, who having the grace of God, and gift of prophecy, are called out from among the Brethren to office, and overſight of the flock, as Biſhops of the Lords inſtitution. Theſe were not ſo immediately taught, that I can finde, in the Apoſtles times; but rather by means and ways of the Lords appointment, they were trained up and fitted for the office; as by the exerciſe of their gift of Prophecy, beforehand, 1 Cor. 14. (each Church being as a School of the Prophets, and that of Corinth eminently) ſo by their ſubmiſſion to tryal, at election, 1 Tim. 3. 10. And beſides, none but diſciples, of ſome years in nature, and ſtanding in grace and profeſſion, were called to the office of Paſtor, or teaching Elder: now ſuch diſciples were firſt taught of others, of catechized, inſtructed in an outward way; hence the *foreign.Greek word for diſciple, comes of another that ſignifieth to learn by outward teaching. Thoſe that heard John Baptiſt were firſt called diſciples (whereof Andrew was one, Simon Peters brother, John 1. 40.) They that heard and followed Chriſts Sermons were alſo called diſciples, and ſo we are all believers and members of the Churches, till at Antioch they were alſo called Chriſtians; diſciples, as taught outwardly; Chrians, as anointed with the Spirit, and partakers of Chriſts grace and gifts: And ſuch being choſen, who were outwardly as inwardly trained up, I conclude, immediate teachings did not onelyonly furniſh men for a Teachers, or Miniſters function, but mediate ways alſo: which is both a warrant for them that deſire the office of a Biſhop firſt to ſtudy the Scriptures, and an encouragement alſo for Churches to covet gifts, and chiefly that they may propheſie; and for Univerſity Scholars to give up themſelves to preſent catechizings, and exerciſes after Sermons (as they have begun in the Colledges) for the better ſtoring of them with grounds of knowledge, and diſcovery of ſuch diſciples as the Lord hath begun to teach inwardly., by and with outward teaching, that they may be iſſued forth for ſervice in the miniſtery; after grounds laid in their underſtandings, and ſome experimental work of grace, approved of (if it might be) in ſome of the Churches of Jeſus Chriſt. And oh that, to this end, all the larger Schools of the Prophets might become little Churches, and all the Churches of the Saints, might become little Schools of the Prophets! that Univerſities might emulate the Churches for their holineſs; and Churches might emulate the Univerſities for their knowledge in the Scriptures!
If yet R. F. be not convinced, nor contented, but will proceed to ſay as he doth; *Page 22.thou that denies immediate teachings and ſaith the Spirit is in the Letter and given by it, thou may well accuſe us falſly, that ſo lyes againſt God, and his Spirit.
I Reply; 1. He ſpeaks he knows not what, for the aſſerting of ordinary mediate teachings of them that are to teach others, doth not exclude the other, where God is pleaſed to give them; but ſo to cry up what is immediate as to ſhut out mediate, by miniſterial inſtruments, and by the Scriptures, is contradictory to the minde of God therein, and to the conſtant ſeries and courſe of his diſpenſation from the Primitive times downwards. Little doth he or others (that de-cry ſtudy, and induſtry, and mediate ways of preparation for the work of the Miniſtery) either conſider what is written, 2 Tim. 2. 2. The things that thou haſt heard of me, the ſame commit thou to faithful men, who ſhall be able to teach others alſo: or know, what dependencies we have upon the Lord, both in our ſtudies, and after all our travels; having learnt, a little, both to prepare, as if no aſſiſtance ſhould be given, and ſo depend (upon him that called us, and uſeth us) in our delivery, as if we had not ſtudied nor prepared. Little doth he know how far we can truſt the Lord when we have no time for ſtudy, or what more immediate aſſiſtance we have, after the leſs or greater uſe of the means, upon occaſion.
2. Leſs doth he know of the immediate teachings of God (whatever are his janglings about it) who thinks it a lye againſt God, and his Spirit, to ſay, the Spirit is in the Letter of the Scripture, and is given by it. Never did any that were moſt immediately taught, call off, not people onelyonly, but teachers alſo from the Scriptures, which carry Spirit, Light, and Life with them, for their own interpretation. Never did any but God-ſlayers, and Spirit-wounders, go about to ſeparate the Words of God, and his Breath, one from the other; but of that paſſage and ſtring which he harps ſo oft upon, ſome account hath been given Sect. 1. and more ſhall follow in its due place *Part 2. Sect 8..
3. Leaſt of all doth he underſtand of our Goſpel-wideeffectual doors opened, both for ſending and going about our work, when he clamors, thou ran, as the falſe prophets did; or how far the Lord hath taught us to profit the people, and what ſeals he hath ſet to our miniſterial labors, when he judgeth, and concludeth, and ſo doth not profit the people at all. Men blinded with malice let fly at all adventures; let R. F. look to his heart, for out of that in his heart, doth he write, be it good, be it evil.