The pulpit guarded with XVII arguments proving the unlawfulness, sinfulness and danger of suffering private persons to take upon them publike preaching, and expounding the Scriptures without a call ... : occasioned by a dispute at Henly in Arden in Warwick-shire, Aug. 20, 1650 ... : in the close are added six arguments, to prove our ministers free from antichristianism / composed and compiled by a friend to truth and peace.

The second Objection.

From Numb: 11. 25. to 30. Eldad and Medad Prophesied; and Moses wisheth that all the Lords people were Prophets: Ergo, All that have Gifts may Prophesie and Preach.

Answ: 1 If the prophesying of the seventy Elders were extraordinary, then it will not any way help you, who are to walk in an ordinary way; but that their prophesying (what ever it were) was extraordinary, is confest on all sides; even Mr. Robinson grants it; and M. Ainsworth acknowledgeth it to have been a temporary Gift and Miracle, for confirmation of their Office, and continued but for that day, as Sauls did, 1 Sam: 10. 6, 11. So then they Prophesied by an extraordinary instinct and impulsion of the Spirit, who both Gifted them and Called them.

Now let our gifted-Artificers shew us how they are endowed (as these were) with an extraordinary Spirit of Prophesie, and wee shall bee so far from envying them, that we shall gladly heare them. But alas, we find that instead of an extraordinary Spirit of Prophesie, they are led by an ordina∣ry Spirit of delusion, &c.

2 The Spirit of Prophesie here spoken of, was a Spirit of Government, as appeares by the context, vers 16. 17. Moses being not able to beare the burthen of government alone, the Lord sen••s him helpers, seventy El∣ders, men furnished with his Spirit; these the Lord Calls extraordinarily to assist Moses in the work of government: hence the Lord takes of the Spirit of Moses, and gives to these seventy Judges; i. e. the Lord gave the same of wisdome and judgement to them, as he did to Moses: This done they Prophesie vers: 25, id est, they publish Gods prayses, and have a Spi∣rit of government put upon them, whereby they utter prudential things concerning the government of the people: for, as an acute Commenta∣tor observes, they Prophesied, nec praedicendo, nec praedicando; but by utte∣ring grave and wise sentences, Apothegms or couns••ls (as Moses did) con∣cerning the publike affaires of Israel; by political and prudential speak∣ing of things ap e••tay••ing to Government: So that this is not meant of salvifical teaching others, but a political discoursing unto others: Thus he.

This Spirit of Prophecie did include five things, as à Lapide observes: 1 Prudentiam regendi. 2 Doctrinam & cons••••ium ad dubia tam ju∣ris & justitiae, quam ceremoniarum & religionis, aliaque quael••••et resolvenda. 3 Occultorum cognitionem ad decidendas lices & cau∣sas occultas. 4 Propriae fu••urorum praenotionem, ad ea vel accer∣senda, vel praecavenda & arcenda à populo. 5 Dei laudes & hymnos, u•• Saul dici••ur Prophetâsse, cùm quasi Enthusiasmo actus Dei laudes cecinit, 1 Sam. 10.

3 Moses his wish is not that all might Preach; but that God would give his People his Spirit, that they might bee able to rule: q. d. Oh that the Lords People had a Spirit of Government put upon them, that so they might know how to behave themselves towards their God, and towards those seventy Elders which the Lord had extraordinarily de∣signed for that purpose! Neither doth hee simply desire that all might Prophesie, but that all were Prophets, i. e. gifted and called for such imployment: so that his wish implies that none might Prophesie till they are Prophets and men in Office; so that this place, take it which way you pl••ase, makes against Lay••mens Preaching. As first, because those that were called extraordinarily, did Prophesie, Ergo, Such as are not called ordinarily may Preach. Secondly, Because the Lord gave a Spi∣rit of Government to these seventy, that they might be able to utter Pru∣dentiall sayings, Ergo, Artificers may Preach. Thirdly, Because Mo∣ses wisheth that all the Lords People were Prophets, i. e. men in Office, and so might Prophesie, Ergo, Lay-men who never were called to bee Prophets, might Prophesie, &c. These things hang together tanquam arena sine calce, like ropes of sand; and come as neer together as St. Germans Lips, which were nine miles asunder.

Notes

• Vide Robinson against Yates, p. 34 &c.
• Ainsworth on Numb. 11 25. Subter••ugere conantes illud ••nus, in lucom protracti f••e∣runt per sig∣num, miraculosum, atque i∣ta ad illud mu∣nus vocat i at{que} constituti sun••. piscat. fuit do num tempora∣le. V. caiv in loco.
• Non idem numero, sed specie, i. e. a∣liquid spirhul ••uo simile pr∣••••ucam. A Lap. Trapp in lo∣cum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pro∣phetasse, ali∣quid de eo q••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ebat ad gub••••nati 〈◊〉〈◊〉 p••li & ex in∣stincta dei laudes Dei 〈…〉〈…〉. Lap.