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 ninth Objection.

Rom. 12. 6, 7, 8. Having the•• gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether Prophecie, let us prophesie, &c. Hence they gather, that all that have the gifts of Prophecie, may pr••∣phe••ie, &c.

A. 'Tis granted, that they who have the gift of Prophecie may pro∣phe••ie; and they that have the gift of Ministery (or Deaconship) must do the duty of a Deacon. But who are they that have this gift? They that are Prophets by Office, and not those that have abilities onely, as one very well observes; and this will appear more fully by the context and

scope of the chapter. Having exhorted to duties of piety in general v 1▪ 2. he comes, v. 3 to 9. to particular duties of Ecclesiastical persons and Of∣ficers viz. That they should not be proud of their spi••itual gifts (whi••h in those days abounded) but to think soberly and self-denyingly of them∣selves.

2. He sets down a disti••ct and perfect enumeration of all the standing Off••cers in the Church, and exhorts them to discharge the duties of their sev••ral Functions, v. 6, 7, 8. These Off••ces are reduced to two general heads: 1. Prophecie; (not the extraordinary gift of foretelling future things, &c. but the ordinary, in the right understanding and interpret∣ing of Scripture.) Under this are contained, first, he that Teacheth i.••. the Doctor or Teacher; Secondly, he that exhorteth, i. e. the Pastor. Under Ministery are comprised, 1. He that giveth▪ i. e. the Deacon; 2. He that ruleth, i. e. the ruling Elder. So then, by Prophecie, here, is not meant the extraordinary gift of interpreting Scripture by Revelation without study, (which were it so yet could it not help you) but the ordinary gif•• of Preaching and expounding Scripture by an ordinary Minister and set Church-O••ficer, of which the Apostle is here speaking, who must give himself to exhortation and teaching: and this is that Prophesying which we are comm••nded to prize, 1 Thes. 5. 20. Despise not Prophesying, i. e. Preaching by men in Office, by sent Prophets.

Now let us see what they can gather hence. Because Pastors and Tea∣che••s, who were Prophets and men in O••fice are commanded to Prophe∣••ie and expound the word, &c. Therefore private gifted persons, who are not men in O••fice may Prophesie and expound the Word. This is Knead∣ing-trough-L••gick.

Notes

• M. Wo••km••n ag. Lay preach p. 2, 3, &c.
• P••opheti••m non vid••••u•• in••elligere fa∣cu••••••tem d••vi∣nandi even••us fu••uros qua ē accepe••••a••tve∣t••res Prophet•• & q••id••m n••∣vi post Chri∣stum, ut Aga∣b s, & ••.
• qu•• p••ae i••it de ordinariis & p••rp••••u••s h••ud dubio ch••rismatis: sed r••ctam S••ripturarum Pro••••etica rum i••telligentiam & ••••∣plicandi fac••∣tatem, &c.