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 fifth Allegation.

Act. 8. 4. They that were scater'd abroad went everywhere Preach∣ing the Word. Hence they gather that all that can may Preach.

These were not the Apostles (say they:) for ver. 1. They stayed at Hierusalem, Ergo, They were private Christians that did Preach. Hence the Socinians gather that Vocation and Ordination are needless; because they do not read that these were sent or ordained.

This is that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, their Argumentum decumanum, nodus de∣cumanus, their Achilles invincibilis, their strong hold; which being pulled down they are left naked.

A. This is a non sequitur: Because they that were dispersed preached, Ergo, All that can may Preach.

For, 1. It cannot be proved that all these dispersed were private m••n out of Office: Philip was one of these scattered and dispersed ones, who was an Evangelist, v. 5. &c. therefore they were not all private men: there were besides the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, and the seventy Disciples; they might be some of these, and not private professors.

2. The Apostles might give them a Commission to Preach when they went thence, Act. 15. 22, 23.

Obj. The Text doth not say so.

A. Ab authoritate negativè, nihil concluditur. Arguments drawn from silent authority, conclude nothing. We do not read of A∣dams Faith or Repentance; it doth not therefore follow that he had no Faith and Repentance. We do not read of his Sacrificing, observing the Sabbath, or performing any pious exercise; yet we cannot in the judge∣ment

of Charity conclude that he omitted these things. We read of no Parents that Melchizedek had; it doth not therefore follow he had none, &c.

3. Did not the Lord give them Commission by immediate revelation, giving them the spirit of Prophecie, and so calling them extraordinarily (as he did many in those Primitive times?) This I think I can prove from the Text: and if so, you are gone: for extraordinary examples make no ordinary Rules. Though God permit the Israelites to rob the Egy∣ptians, yet I may not steal.

1. I prove their extraordinary Call, by the extraordinary Effects of their Preaching, Acts 11. 21. And the Hand of the Lord was with them▪ and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. 1. The Hand of the Lord was with them, as it was wont to be with extraor∣dinary gifted Prophets. Thus the Scripture usually speaks of the Pro∣phets. 2 King. 3. 15, Thus, the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha; i. e. the Spirit of Prophecie. So Ezek. 3. 14. The hand of the Lord was strong with me. Luke 1. 66. & 5. 17, by the hand of the Lord is meant the mighty power and assistance of God in miracles, and in∣ward working in the hearers accompanying their Ministery. So Deod. large Annot. Chrysost. Oecum. & à Lap. Deus suâ potenti manu aderat eis ad faciendum miracula in confirmationem fidei, ad prae∣dicandum tant â sapientiâ & efficacia, ut multos Gentiles converte∣rent ad Christum.

2. The extraordinary number of converts, their great and quick har∣vest, shews more then ordinary assistance. To this assents Reverend Per∣kins. Some (saith he) the Lord calls by special instinct▪ and extraordi∣nary inspiration of the Spirit. The dispersed preached without any out∣ward Call, no doubt by the instinct of the holy Ghost as appears, in that the Hand of God was with them. And whereas false Prophets oft plead an extraordinary Call, he sets down marks, by which we may discern their Illusions from Gods Call. I. Extraordinary Calling never takes place, but when Ordinary calling fails; and that is at two times especially: 1. In the founding and planting of a Church. So Apostles and Evange∣lists were called extraordinarily. 2. In times of universal Apostacie, when the Church is ruined and defaced. II. You may know them by their Doctrine. III. By their lives. IV. By their Gifts: whom God calls extraordinarily, he endows with extraordinary knowledge, cou∣rage, &c.

Lastly, I answer by way of Concession, giving, though not granting your desires. Say these were private Christians, yet I shall clear all by asking you two questions.

1. Q When did these dispersed Disciples of the Apostles, though not Apostles, Preach?

A. Not in times of Peace and settlement, but in times of sore pesecu∣tion▪ when Steven was stoned, and the Church was scattered about, and forced to flee up and down, Act. 8. 1, 2, 3. 4. Very Emphatical is the word Therefore, ver. 4. Speaking before of the persecution of the Church, and of the stoning of Steven, the Holy Ghost infers, There∣fore those that were scattered, Preached; implying, that had not that persecution been, and the Apostles constrained to abide at Ierusalem, with their converts, those men might not have done what they did. Are our times such? are our Stevens stoned, our flocks scattered and dis∣persed our Ministers all banished and gone? &c. If so▪ then you that have gifts may supply their room, &c.

2. Q. Where did they Preach?

A. Not at Hierusalem, a planted, setled, constitured Church, v. 1. but at Phenice, Cyprus, Antioch, &c. amongst heathens, infidels and Idolators, where no Church was planted, as appears, Act. 11. 19, 20. they Preach at Antioch to the Grecians, who were Gentiles and Hea∣thens without Christ, and without God in the world, as appears Rom. 1.

That may be lawful in Ecclesia constituenda in an unplanted Church, in the begining of a Reformation, when no rule is set, no Ministers, no Ma∣gistrates, no Teaching, no knowledge, no Ordination can be had, none to ordain &c. which is utterly unlawful in Ecclesia constituta, in a planted, constituted Church, where there is a setled Ministery, setled Or∣dinances setled Worship, according to the Rule, &c. Here must be Ele∣ction, Probation Ordination. Full to this purpose is that quotation of that ingenuous and studious Gentleman: Lay-men may Preach upon occasion to Churches disordered, and to persons not yet gathered to any Church. Those which were dispersed upon the pesecution of Steven, did publish the Gospel where there was no Church. But how eminent soever mens abilities are, how well soever known to themselves or the world, to undertake the instruction of the people without publike Order, in pub∣like Assemblies, is a thing that no Scripture, no time, no custom of the Primitive Church will allow. Thornedike Service of God at Relig. Assemb. cap. 11.

Now let us gather up all, and put it into a Parallel, that our gifted brethren may the better see how neer they come to their pattern.

The Parallel.

1. Those dispersed had extra∣ordinary gifts.	But our gifted Brethren have not ordinary.
2. These had an immediate Call.	But ours have not a mediate.
3. Those Converted many souls.	These Pervert many.
4. The Hand of the Lord was with those.	The Hand of the Lord is against these.
5. Those preached the Word if God, Act. 11. 19, 20.	These deny the Law, and preach New-lights.
6. Those preached in times of Persecution.	These in times of Peace.
7. Those preached in un∣planted Churches, amongst Hea∣thens.	These in planted Churches amongst Christians.

By this time I hope I have levelled your strong Hold, and laid him in the dust. I now march on to the rest.

Notes

• Robinson, p. 46, &c.
• See more fully on ••••is, T. Wor∣kman against Lay-preach. p. 9, 10. •• Antidote, p. 38, &c.
• Seaman Dia∣trib. Preface. Argumentum ab autho∣ritate negante, sed non ab authoritate negativâ, valet in Theo∣logicis. Ut, non meminit hujus rei Scriptura, ergo non est admittenda. Prid.
• Ex••raordina∣r••am vocatio∣nem non te∣merè damnant Apostoli, sed ex effectis ju∣dicant. Beza Piscat.
• Rutherf. Due Right, p. 293, &c.
• Manus est Symbolum energiae, index rei, & instru∣mentum ope∣rationis. Vide Greenhil in loc.
• Perk. 1 Vol. p. 761.
• Singulari Dei impulsa hoc factum. Cal.
• Bucan. loci, p▪ 540, &c.
• Privilegium non tollit le∣gem.
• P••tet hoscum ••yprios Evange∣list •• Evangeli, Zas••e Gent••li∣bus. A Lap. Quum Antio∣chena Eccl••sia per Ministr••s extraordinem vocatos plan∣tata sit; non est in quod in plantandis Ec∣clesii, semper ordinariam vocationem requiramus.
• Piscat. in Act. 11. 20.
• Leigh Com. on N. Test.
• Acts 11. 20.
• The 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and thing in question is n••t whether a gifted man may preach in an untlanted, but in a planted Church.