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 Argument.

From the Absurdities which would follow, if this were once granted; though I should be loath to dispute with these men from such a Topick: for they are men of large swallows, and surpasse the man I have read of, Qui toto devorato Bove defecit; in cauda; who having swallowed an Ox: could not get down the tail: but these men wil swallow head, horns, and tail, skin and bones, and yet make no bones on't. Arminianism, Socinia∣nism, Anabaptism, &c. all goes down be it never so rotten. Yet I shal take a little pains (if it may be) to convince them.

1 Absurdity. If bare gifts be a sufficient Call to an Office, this would confound all Callings and Societies. For then Samuel, who had a Physical and natural power to kil Agag, had a sufficient call to au∣thorize him to kil him. Then an ability to discharge the Office of the high Priest in a man of the Tribe of Iudah, were a good Call for one so gifted to thrust himselfe into Aarons chair, which God tyed only to Levies Tribe.

Then every Souldier that hath a Commanders gift, may be a Com∣mander, and a General without a Call. Then he that hath gifts for Magistracy, may be a Magistrate, and execute justice on malefactors with∣out a Call. Then a Lawyer having a Judges gift, may step up into the Judges feat, and sentence men without a Call. And he that hath gifts to be a Parliament-man, may be a Parliament-man without a Call, &c. Et sic in infinitum. Then farewel Magistrates, Ministers, Judges, Parliaments, &c. If every man may execute these Offices without a Call, what need we any of them? Austin writing upon Iohn, tels a story of a certaine man that was of an opinion, that the Devil did make the Fly, and not God; saith one to him, If the Devil made Flyes, then the Devil made Worms, and God did not make them; for they are living creatures as wel as Worms. True, said he, the Devil did make Worms.

But, said the other, If the Devil did make Worms, then he made Birds, Beasts, Man. He granted all. Thus, saith Austin, by denying God in the Fly, he came to deny God in Man, and to deny the whole Creation.

2 Then every Gifted Boy, and every Gifted Woman, should be Preachers.

3 Then all that have Gifts to Baptize, and deliver the Lords Supper, may Baptize and deliver the Lords Supper.

4 This would open a flood-gate to all Errors, Heresies, and Blasphe∣mies: For in the Scriptures are many things ••ard to be understood, which many wrest (for want of judgement) to their owne destruction. We have had woful experience of this, since Artificers, Souldiers, Wo∣men, &c. have turned Preachers. I never heard but one of this New Tribe of Gad, and that was a Souldier, Lieutenant Phelps (as I re∣member he call'd himselfe) a Dipper, &c. (for I never yet knew the man that had but one Error.) His Sermon was as ful of errors, as a Dogge is ful of Fleas: Universal Redemption, Free-wil, Dipping, against Baptizing, &c.

5 Then all vain-glorious Hypocrites (who think they have gifts be∣yond all others) would turne Preachers: the emptiest barrels make the lowdest sound, the worst metal the greatest noise, and the lightest ears of Corn hold their heads highest.

6 Then the Church, which is Christs mystical Body, would be mon∣struous, all Eye, all Ear, all Head: contrary to that of the Apostle, who tels us the Church is not one member but many, 1 Cor. 12. 14. 15. &c. And v. 28, 29. Christ hath set some (not all) in the Church Apostles. And then asketh the Question, Are all Apostles? Are all Prephets? &c. The Interrogation is a strong Negation.

7 If this be tolerated, it wil make both Ministers and Ministery contemptible, both the Preaching and the Preachers vile. 'Twas Ierobo∣ams sin▪ 1 King. 13. 33. He made of the lowest of the people Priests of the High-places: whosoever would, be consecrated him, and ••e became a Priest. But marke what followes, v. 34. This thing became sinne to the house of Jeroboam, even to destroy it, and cut it off from the face of the earth.

The toleration of such Irregularities, is not so smal an Errour as some imagine.

Notes

• Ab absurdo.
• Vide Ruther••. Due Right of Presbyt. p. 275.
• Concesso uno ab••urdo, conse∣quentur mille. Errour is proli∣fical: grant one, and the Dev••l will lead you to a thousand; open but one gap in the hedge, and way is made for all the wilde heasts to enter, &c.