The Peoples Plea for the Exercise of Prophecy, Part 5 – Part 6
Mr. Yates. ARG. 5.
FRom compariſon of propheſie & ſtrange tongues which are laid together through all the 1. Cor. 14. Verſ. 1. propheſie is preferred before all other ſpirituall gifts, which cannot be ordinary: for no ordinary and common gift is to be preferred before all extraordinary and ſpirituall gifts. But you will ſay, though it be not more excellent, yet it is more profitable: I anſwer, it is both more excellent and more profitable: for the Apoſtle intends both, extolling it for the end, which ſhewes how good and excellent it is, as likewiſe for the uſe, making known the profit and benefit of it. That which is the beſt obiect of our deſire, muſt needs be the beſt: but of ſpirituall gifts, propheſie is the beſt obiect of our deſire, 1. Cor. 12.31. Deſire the beſt gifts, chap. 14.1. Covet ſpirituall gifts, but rather that yee may propheſie. Secondly, as it is the beſt to our ſelues, ſo is it the beſt to others, as may appeare by the whole chapter. Thirdly, all other gifts are given for the good of propheſie, and not propheſie for them. As it is the beſt gift, ſo it is the moſt profitable, as being eſpecially for edification, exhortation, and comfort. But it may be you will obiect; Is not an ordinary gift of propheſie better then the extraordinary gift of tongues, or at leaſt more profitable? I anſwer, No: for the tongues, Actes 2.3.4. were more profitable to the Church then ever was the ordinary gift of any man: but compare ordinary with ordinary, and extraordinary with extraordinary, and wee grant propheſie the priviledge.
I. Rob. ANSWER.
TO this Argument he himſelf giues a ſufficient anſwer in our name; onelyonly he ſets it down ſomething lamely; where if it came in the full ſtrength, it would eaſily with ſtand the force of his Argument. For where hee ſhould ſay for us, if he ſpake out, that ordinary propheſy is more excellent then tongues, becauſe more profitable; hee makes us to ſtammer thus, though it be not more excellent, yet it is more profitable: it being moſt plaine, that the Apoſtle prefers propheſy before tongues, becauſe it tends more to edification of the Church according to vvhichwhich reſpect alone vve are to meaſure the excellency of Church: ordinances, and ſo to frame the obiect of our deſire unto them. But vvhat ſpeake I of more excellent, and more to edification? ſince the ſtrange tongues as there uſed, vvithout an interpreter, were ſo far from being comparable to ordinary propheſie for any good end or uſe, as they were on the contrary moſt vaine and ridiculous, as appeares, v. 11.22.23. That then which hee brings for the commendation of tongues from Actes: 2. is nothing for tongues as uſed in Corinth. The former were, as of ſimple neceſsity in themſelues unto the Apoſtles, for the ſpreading of the Goſpell unto all nations, ſo then, and there profitably vſed: but in Corinth ambitiouſly and pr-ofanely abuſed, which M. Ya. ſhould hauehave obſerved, but hath not in his compariſon. Laſtly I add as a iuſt anſwer to whatſoeuer he hath obiected, That tongues confidered in themſelues, how rightly ſoeuer vſed, are not comparable for vſe and ſo for excellency, vntounto ordinary propheſying or preaching conſidered in it ſelf: ſeing that by it as well as by extraordinary ſaving fayth is wrought Rom. 10. which none can ſay of ſtrange Tongues in themſelues, without a ſtrange Tongue both from truth and ſence: no nor of any other ſpirituall gift.
And as it doth not appear by the Apoſtles preferring of propheſy before tongues, that therefore the propheſy was extraordinary; ſo it appeares unto mee by the Corinthians preferring of tongues before it, that it was but ordinary: & therefore diſregarded by them in compariſon of the extraordinary, and miraculous gift of tongues: whereas, had it alſo been extraordinary, immediate and miraculous, moſt like it would hauehave carried with it the like with the other, or greater regard, in their eyes.
M. Yates. ARGVM. 6.
FROM exemplification verſ. 6. if I come unto you &c. I hope you will grant that the Apoſtle Paul had all thoſe ſpirituall gifts, and therefore ſpeaking of ſuch propheſy as he had himſelfe, hee muſt needs ſpeak of extraordinary: likewiſe he had the knowledge of tongues and yet prefers propheſy before all his languages, though hee ſpake more then they all. Now the example in his own perſon muſt needs ſet forth the generall; and therefore if in the generall hee ſhould ſpeak of ordinary prophecying, & in the particular of extraordinary, it would prove idle; for an example is of the ſame kind with the generall. Againe in bringing four particulars he puts revelation firſt, as the cauſe of all the reſt; which ſhewes plainely he ſpeaks of ſuch propheſy, as came by revelation for revelation brings a man to knowledge, and knowledge teacheth wholeſome doctrine, and propheſy ſerveth to utter it.
I. Rob. ANSVVER.
I doe plainely deny the ground upon which he builds the whole weight of his Argument which is, that the example, and the thing exemplified muſt be of the ſame kind. How oft doth Chriſt exemplify the ſufferings of his diſciples by his own ſufferings, and the ſending of his Apoſtles by his fathers ſending of him? were they therfore of the ſame kind; their ſufferings meritorious, and their ſending mediatorious, becauſe his was ſuch? But amongſt other evidences againſt him (wherewith all writings divine, and humane are ſtored) ſee one, fitly paring with this in hand. The Apoſtle prouoking the Galathians c. 1:6 unto iuſt deteſtation of ſuch as preached another Goſpell amongst them, takes an example from his own preaching, verſ. 8. But though wee or an Angell, from heaven preach, another Goſpell unto you, then that which wee hauehave preached unto you, let him be accurſed. As if he ſhould ſay, I hauehave preached unto you formerly iuſtification by faith without the works of the Law of Moſes: they now preach unto you iuſtification by the works of the law ioyned with Chriſt, &c. He exemplifieth their preaching by his: were they therfore of one kind both Apoſtolical, becauſe Pauls was ſuch? It is ſufficient for an example if it agree with the thing, which it is brought to exemplifie in that for which it is brought. And ſo the cōming of Chriſt, to iudgement, is by the Apoſtle exemplified by the comming of a thiefe in the night. 1. Theſſ. 5.2Are therfore their commings of the ſame kind? or is it not ſufficient that being moſt contrary in their kinds, they do yet agree in the adiunct of ſuddeneſſe? So is it ſufficient, if Pauls extraordinary Propheſying, and the Corinthians ordinary, agree in the adiunct or effect of profitableneſſe, or edification, which thing alone the Apoſtle in his exemplification hath reſpect unto. His obſervation about Revelation ſeems true, and good in it ſelfe: but ſhewes not plainely that for which he brings it, no nor hath ſo much as a plaine ſhew for it. For what ſhew hath it of profe that he ſpeaks of extraordinary propheſie, becauſe it comes from revelation, except he takes it for granted, that there is in the Church no revelation of the ſpirit for teaching but extraordinary, or miraculous: which how can I grant, or hee affirme? Of this more Argum. 8.