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 eighth is a Bulwark.

1 Cor. 14. 1, 31. where the Apostle exhorts them to desire spiritual gifts▪ but rather that they might prophesie; and tels them, vers. 31. they may all Prophesie, &c. Hence our Brethren conclude, that all that have Gifts may Prophesie in publike.

Our gifted Brethren build very much upon this Text; and being pur∣sued, they run hither for shelter; but in vain, being meerly deluded with the word All, as if the Apostle had commanded all the Godly promiscuously to preach, when he speaks onely to Prophets, as the con∣text clearly shews.

The Question then will be, who are meant by this word, All v. 31. Ye may all Prophesie.

A. 1. I answer Negatively, It cannot be meant of all the Saints col∣lectively; for then women, who have gifts, should preach, who yet are forbidden. Secondly, private Professors are nowhere commanded to leave their Callings, and go study Arts and Sciences, that so they may be Preachers; but are commanded to abide in their Callings 1 Cor. 7. 20. Thirdly, then all should Baptize; (for Christ hath joyned Preaching and Baptizing) and then what need Christ give Pastors and Teachers? Are all Prophets? 1 Cor. 12. 29.

2. I answer positively, By all is meant, all such as are Prophets: the Text is clear, v. 29. Let the Prophets speak two or three, &c. v. 30. If any thing be revealed, &c. They were extraordinary Prophets, and spake by immediate revelation, without study: then follows, v. 31. For ye may all Prophesie, i. e. all you that are gifted and called to be Pro∣phets; for so it follows, v. 32. The spirits of the Prophets, i. e. the Doctrine of every Prophet, must be subject to the examination adn censure of the other Prophets; and therefore (saith the Apostle) every Prophet may speak in publike, to the end that he may be discerned and approved by the rest. General words must be confined to the particu∣lar Argument of the speech: So that the word all must be confined to the Prophets; Prophets▪ Prophets, all ye that are Prophets may preach, but these were Prophets by Gift and Office; therefore they might and did preach publikely in Christs Name in the Assembly: So that the A∣postle speaks not of all Beleevers in common, nor of any in the Congre∣gation promiscuously but of the Prophets lawfully called to instruct the ••hurch of God. And 'tis worth observing▪ that the word Prophet is never given to any in the Old Testament, or the New, but onely to Mi∣nisters

and men in Office; and therefore our Saviour expresly distingui∣sheth a Prophet from a righteous man, Mat. 10. 41.

q. d. All you that are Prophets, and have the gift of Prophecie, and extraordinary revelations, so that you can dextrously open hard Prophecies ex tempore, without any study, and interpret Prophetick Scripture to edification, &c. whilst these miraculous and extraot∣dinary Gifts endure▪ ye may, all that have them use them.

2. It appears they were Prophets, because the duties of Prophets are ascribed to them, v. 3▪ 4, 5, 12, 24, 25. they must interpret, convince, confute edifie▪ &c. all which are the duties of a Prophet.

Thus its clear, that the••e were Prophets; and if so▪ this place cannot help our Brethren; for thus they must argue hence: Because Prophets who were men in Office, yea, extraordinary Prophets, did preach: Therefore, we gifted Brethren, who are no Prophets, nor men in Office, may preach. Hoc est dialectica Independentica.

Obj. T. P. Objected, that these were ordinary, not extraordinary Prophets.

A. Habemus confitentem reum; you have betray'd your cause: for if these were Prophets, as you confess they were, and I have proved from the Text; then unless you can prove your selves to be Pro∣phets, and men in Office, this place will no whit availe you.

But secondly, I shall easily prove them to be extraordinary Prophets ••rom the Text, v. 30. If any thing be revealed▪ &c. They preached ••xtemporary Revelations; they were able by the singular revelation of the Spirit to give the sence of Prophetick Scripture, without study or pains Gal. 1. 12. and sometimes they would foretell things to come, as Agabus, Act. 11. 27. and the four daughters of Philip. In the be∣ginning of the Gospel and first planting of it, the Lord was pleased to confirm it by extraordinary gifts of miracles, Healing, Tongues, Inter∣pretation, Prophesying, and foretelling things to come. These were temporary, and to endure onely in those primitive times; they are now ceased; so that he's a miracle that should desire now such miracles. Fully to this purpose is that of a learned man: The grace of Prophesying under the New Testament was of immediate revelation and inspiration of the Holy Ghost to all purposes, as under the Old. V. 30, If revelation be made to another that ••i••teth by, let the first hold his peace to shew us that some were in••pired upon the very point of time with the truth of matters in debate at their Assemblies, as 2 Chron. 20. 14. Act. 13. 2. Thus he.

These Prophets are set amongst extraordinary Offic••rs, Eph. 4. 11.

Three things T. P. objected against this Answer.

1. That these could not be Extraordinary Prophets, because (v. 29.) their Doctrine was to be tried.

Answ. This trying and judging did not consi••t in calling them to ac∣count, as for the truth of that which the holy Ghost inditeth; but to con∣sist in the judging the meaning and consequence of things inspired, which even the persons from whom they came though not ignorant thorowout, yet were not able of themselves to sound to the bottom.

2. An Extraordinary Prophet (though in penning Scripture infalli∣ble, yet) in other points might erre. Aaron erred, Exod. 32. 4. Peter erred about the calling of the Gentiles, Acts 10. 15. and Gal. 2. 14, The Apostles were ignorant of Christ's Resurrection, and his Suffer∣ings▪ &c. and therefore they were commanded to try the spirits; and Luke commends the Bereans for trying the doctrine of a Paul and Silas▪ Acts 17. 11. for although these Prophecies were infused by the holy Ghost that cannot erre, yet all things are not revealed to one; and that which is not revealed to one, is oftentimes revealed to more, and sometimes in a clearer manner. There might be also something mingled with that which the Prophets received: and it might so fall out, that that which they added of their own, by way of confirmation, illustra∣tion, or application, might be justly▪ subject to censure: withal, it must be tried and judged by others, whether the Prophecies proceed from the inspiration of the holy Spirit, and according to the Rule of Faith, Isa. 8. 20.

2. 'Twas objected, that these could not be Extraordinary Pro∣phets, because (v. 3.) they spake to edification, exhortation, and com∣fort, as Ordinary Prophets did.

A. The Answer is easie: The Extraordinary Prophets, as Amos, Isaiah, Ezekiel, &c. did preach to edification, exhortation, and com∣fort▪ as well as the Ordinary.

3. 'Twas objected, that the Apostle forbidding women, did give liberty to men to preach.

A. I see you will play at lowe game before you will ••it out. I answer therefore by way of concession, and grant that the Apostle forbids wo∣men and enjoyns men to preach: but what men? Not all gifted men in general, but all men gifted, and called to be Prophets, as I have clearly proved▪ p. 57.

2. If you will argue fitly from this place▪ it must be thus: The Apostle forbids all women▪ gifted or ungifted, to preach; There fore all men, gifted or ungifted, are allowed by the Apostle to preach. No doubt but then we should have good Preaching!

3. No woman may administer the Sacrament; therefore, any man may.

I shall conclude this Point in the words of a Reverend Divine. It's granted (saith he) that all Orders Officers, or Members of the Church above Ministers, may preach as well as they, whether ordained, or un∣o••dained; as Apostles▪ Evangelist▪ and Prophets. For Prophets▪ such as are under the New Testament, they are always placed next unto the Apostles and before Pastors & Teachers 1 Cor. 12. 28, 29. Eph. 4. 11. In the Primitive times there were many such; yea▪ many in one Church, as at Antioch and Corinth: whether these were ordinary or extraordi∣nary, it is easie to judge, by the continuance or discontinuance of them in the Church in after-ages▪ an at present. If there be any so gifted by the holy Ghost, above ordained persons, that they are worthy to take place of them, and of Evangelists; let them by all means have the liberty of their Gifts, and their proper denomination: I think ordinary Ministers should give them the right hand of fellowship, and place. As for any kinde of Prophets or Prophesying in the publike Congregation belowe Ministers and their Ministery, there is none to be found in any enumera∣tion of Scripture, either in Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. or Eph. 4. where we were most like to finde it: and therefore it is still with me resolved, that the Prophets and Prophesying which we read of, 1 Cor. 14. was extra∣ordinary. He that believes three kindes of Prophets under the new Te∣stament let him distinguish them. Thus he.

I shall gather up all into a Parallel▪ because Logick doth not please you.

1. T••ose were Prophets.	But our gifted brethren are no Prophets.
2. T••ose were Extraordinary Prophets.	These no•• Ord••nary.
3. T••ose had a spirit of Revelation.	Th••se of D••lusion.
4. Those could dext••rously expound Pro∣phetick Scripture.	Th••s•• are dextrous in dark••••••ng t••em, and some in d••ny••ng them.

Notes

• Vide Ruther••. Pl•••• for Pres••. p. 250, &c.
• Vide Large Annot.
• Hoc aliquid nihil est nuci cass•••• similli∣mum, quod si cultro veritatis ape••iat••r, nihil intus inveni••tur nis•• vani••as & inanitas.
• Hoc 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• He that desires fuller satisfacti∣on on this Text' let him peruse reverend M. Ru∣therf. Due Right of Presb. p. 297 and Workman ag. Lay-preach. p. 14, &c.
• Thorndike on Rel. Assem. c. 5.
• Contraria ju∣xta se ••osi••a magis elu∣cescunt.