The first Objection.
GEN. 18. 19. The Lord commends Abraham for teaching his Familie: Ergo, Private persons may be Preachers: (This was a long Cutlers Argument; and 'tis like their Logick.)
Answ. The Answer is easy: 'tis one thing to instruct ones Family, and another thing to Preach: a private Person that hath Gifts, may use them in the teaching of his Family the way of the Lord, (as Abraham did) because he is commanded so to doe; but he hath no command for Preaching. This is all that can be gathered out of this place, as appears by our large Annotations on the place. That which is here said of Abraham, should bee done by every father of a Family, who is so Religiously to order his houshould, as to make it like unto a Church, &c.
2 Should wee grant that Abraham did teach publickly,* 1.1 yet it will not be any advantage to you; for Abraham was one of the Patriarchs, and so was called by God immediately; for the Patriarchs were the Prophets and Teachers of their age, and the Lord for that end prolonged their lives, that they might be lights of the World. Besides, Abraham is expresly called a Prophet, Gen. 20. 7. Which title is never given to a