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 fourth Argument.* 1.1

If no Priest or Prophet might offer Sacrifice under the Law without a Call, then (à foriori) none may preach the Word, or deliver the Sacrament under the Gospel without a Call.

But no man might offer Sacrifice under the Law without a Call: Ergo.

That no man might offer Sacrifice under the Law but a Priest, and one in Office,* 1.2 is cleare, Exod. 28 1. Numb. 18. 22, 23. the Levites, not the Children of Israel, must doe the service of the Tabernacle. And 2 Chron. 23. 13. for a man not in office to have offered Sacrifice, had been death. God is the same stil, and hates presumption now, as much as ever: and though he punish not with such visible external judgements as he did under the Law, as stoning &c. yet he punisheth with spiritual judgements, which are sorer; as Pride, Self-confidence, Apostacie, strong delusions, the stone in the heart, &c.

2. Preaching is as great a work, if not a greater, then Sacrificing; and the Sacraments of the New Testament, more excellent then the Sacri∣fices of the Old: hence (y 1.3 Matth. 11. 11. Christ prefers the least Mini∣ster of the Gospel before Iohn, because he preach'd Christ more fully, more clearly then he did. And if neither Christ nor Aaron,* 1.4 (who were so richly gifted) would take upon them the Priesthood without a Call, Heb. 5. 4, 5. No man taketh this honour to himselfe, but he that is called of God, as Aaron was: so Christ glorified not himselfe to be made an High-Priest, but his Father cals him; he did not call himselfe: How great then is the rashnesse and presumption of those who fraud ulently and violently assume this Office to themselves, without an ordinary Call! It's a note of a False Prophet, and a Wolfe, he comes without a Call, Acts 20. 29. Many creep into the Ministery at some window or back-doore, like a thief; as Iude (vers. 4.) complaines of some that were (z 1.5) crept in amongst them: and 2 Tim. 3. 6. Of this sort are they that CREEP into houses, and lead captive silly women, &c. We have many Sects now abroad, Ranters, Seekers, Shakers, Quakers, and now Creepers, such as creep into Pulpits, and creep to Conventicles, deceiving others, and being deceived themselves. From such turne away.a 1.6 A true Minister preacheth in God's Name, by vertue of a Call from God: he dares not teach without it. Hence Paul, to shew the truth of his Apo∣stleship,

and that he was no Impostor, oft mentioneth his Call, Gal. 1. 1. Col. 1. 23, 25.

There are many Reasons to convince men of the necessity of a Call to this sacred Function.

1. Reas. Without it, all their Preaching and Baptizing is a meere Nullity:* 1.7 As a man that usurpes the office of an Ambassadour without the Princes Commission, (though haply he may deliver his minde better then a reall Ambassadour, yet) he declares but his owne fancies, and not the Princes minde; and so not only loseth his labour, but also endangereth his neck for his presumption. He cannot speake as from God, because he hath no Call or Authority from him so to doe.

2. He can expect no Successe, because he is not in Gods way: God wil be found of us onely in his owne way, and there he wil protect us, Psal. 91.* 1.8 Such as have a Call from God, may expect his blessing, as∣s••stance, and deliverance: and this sweetens all our sufferings.* 1.9 That we are in Gods way. The knowledge of a Call to a worke, wil help a man thorow the difficulties of the work, (as ab 1.10 sweet Divine observes:) to such that text is ful of encouragement, Isa. 42. 6. I the Lord have cal∣led thee in righteousnesse. What followes? I will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, &c.

3 People cannot heare such a one with comfort and profit if they be not perswaded that God hath sent him, Rom. 10. 14. Such as chuse and call themselves, labour in vaine, because they have no promise of a bles∣sang from God: He may justly say to them, Let him that sent you, pro∣tect you; let him that called you, blesse your labours. To this agrees that of the learned Bucan.* 1.11 A Call (saith he) to the Ministery is very necessa∣ry, 1. In respect of Gods glory; 2. The honour of the Ministery: 3. for the peace and comfort of the conscience of the Ministers them∣selves: 4. That the people may know they have lawful Ministers, and so may obey their Ministery, &c.

4 God wil have all things done according to that Rule and Order which himselfe hath prescribed. Now Gods Method and Order is this: 1. To call and separate men for the Ministery. 2. And then Preach. The principal Call is from God; the manifestation and declaration of it is from the Church: and such are said to be made by the Holy Ghost, though men ordaine them, Acts 20. 28. and if upon trial they approve of thee, and bid thee Go, tis as effectual a Call, as if God from heaven should call thee.* 1.12 As one of your owne sayes of the Ministery, He that pretends to be taught without the Word, is not taught of God, but of the Devil: So he that pretends he is called of God, without and against

the Rule of the Word, is not called of God, but of the Devil. True, many in our dayes boast of the Spirit; it moves them, it cals them, Iude 19. You have two notes of such as have not the Spirit: They are, 1. Separa∣tists,* 1.13 dividing and separating themselves from the true Church of Christ, renouncing their Communion, forsaking their Assemblies like Apostates, and so cast off publick Ordinances.

2 Sensualists, following the dictates of corrupt nature and carnal reason, forsaking their Callings, and giving themselves up to idlenesse, ease, and carnal delights, &c. These have not the Spirit, unlesse it be the spirit of delusion.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A pari.
• * 1.2

  Vide Willet in Levit. 8. Doct. 3. p. 142. Lev. 8. 31, 33. V. Prid. Orat. 8. totaliter. Synopsis Puri∣oris Theo. p. 563.
• y 1.3

  A Rule. Mi∣nimum maxi∣mi, majus est maximo mi∣nimi.
• * 1.4

  Aaron was not only gisted in∣wardly, but sepa∣rated and called outwardly.
• z 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. subrepo, fur∣tim intro.
• a 1.6

  The dignity of a Minister stands in three things: 1. that he's G••ds Ambassadour: 2. that by his commission he is sent to Gods people, who are the only worthies of the world: 3. that a great part of the efffi••acie of the Word rests by Gods appointment upon him and his Office. Byfield, in Col. 1.
• * 1.7

  Ames C. C. l4. c. 25. Q. 7. S. 4. m••hi p. 215. To preach is the duty of a publike Offic••r, not of a g••fted Brother, 'Tis meer usur∣pation to take up a publ••ck O••fice, not being an Of∣ficer.
• * 1.8

  Ut qui se abs{que} vocatione gerit pro legato ad princip••m, pro impossore hi∣betur: Ita qui se absque voc∣tione in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 erit impo∣stor est, imo fur & latro.
• * 1.9

  Joh. 10. 8. Par.
• b 1.10

  Bur H s. 1. 1. p. 9. 10.
• * 1.11

  Magna semper fec••runt, qui Deo vocante docuerunt. Lut. Buea••. loci 42. Q 33. P. 535. &c.
• * 1.12

  Bell Serm. Isa. 54.
• * 1.13

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 segregantes se∣ipsos ab eccle∣s•••• & coetu si∣delium. A L••p.