Poimēnopurgos. Pastorum propugnaculum. Or, The pulpits patronage against the force of un-ordained usurpation, and invasion. By Thomas Ball, sometimes Fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, now minister of the Gospel in Northampton, at the request, and by the advice, of very many of his neighbour-ministers.

CHAP. XXV. Containing the third Objection, and Answer.

BRinging men home to God, (which is the work [Obj. 3] of Gospel-administrations) is from the Spirit, (q) for except a man be born again of water, and of the holy Ghost, he cannot see the Kingdom of God; and by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit (r): this admi∣nistration under which we live, is in a more pecu∣liar manner the Spirits work, then either Creation or Redemption were, which are more frequently ascribed to the Father and the Sonne; and some think, one reason why the sin against the holy Ghost is not forgiven, is, because no other person works after him (s); but the Spirit may be poured in as great a measure on the house of David, and In∣habitants of Jerusalem, as the Prophet speaks (t), as on the house of Levi, and the Sonnes of Aaron; for it is not learning, wit, or eloquence, that makes one able for this work, but the endowments of the Spirit; for what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man that is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God (u).

Sol. 1. Its granted, that the holy Ghost is mainly active in Gospel administrations, but not exclu∣ding the Father and the Sonne; (w) for my Father worketh hitherto (sayes Christ) and I work, and con∣version

is in a special manner ascribed to the Fa∣ther (x); and though the Sonne in person be now gone into Heaven, yet is he present where two or three are met together in his name (y), yea with his Ministers, unto the worlds end (z): nay, even acteth, and speak∣eth in them (a), and by them unto others (b); and so we may say, who hath most of the Father and the Sonne, is fittest for this work, and Ministers have more of them, (c) hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation, of whom I travel in birth again, till Christ be formed in you (d); as many as have been bap∣tized into Jesus Christ, have put on Christ (e): where we finde the Minister intrusted with communi∣cating Christ to others, more then other men.

2. None of the persons act Gospel-Administra∣tions immediatly, and without Instruments, as we have shewed before; but especially the Spirit: for though it be true, that the holy Ghost hath been apparent, and visible in Gospel-Administrations, as unto Christ, at his admission unto his publick Office and imployment (f), and unto the Apostles, when they were about to enter into the work (g): yet hath it been but very sparingly, and with am∣ple evidence, that it was he, because it was easier for that lying Spirit, as he is called (h), to imitate and counterfeit the holy Ghost, then any other person; the holy Ghost speaketh very frequent∣ly, but it is in the Scriptures, which are nothing but the dictates, & breathings of the Spirit (i), where∣in he speaketh, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or expresly, as the Apostle speaks. (k) Paul saith, that the holy Ghost did wit∣nesse in every City, that bonds and troubles did abide

him (l); but how did the Spirit do it? but by he Prophets that he met with in the Cities through which he passed; for what Agabus affirmed in Cae∣sarea (m), others had done in other places (it is like,) & where most of the apparent operations of the Spirit are, there doubtlesse are the best endow∣ments for the Ministry: now such endowments are more evident in Ministers and their labours, then in others.

3. It will not follow, one hath the Spirits work upon his soul, in a sensible and saving manner, therefore he is a Minister and publick Preacher, and may administer the Sacraments; for then all Gods people should be Preachers, and Moses need∣ed not have made that prayer (u); it will follow, then one is the Child of God; for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God (o); God hath many Children that are not preachers, or else that question had been improper (p); if there were no sheep, there would be no shepheards; yea then it would follow, that women might be preachers, for their names, some of them, are in the Book of life (q); which would contradict the rule of the A∣postle, as we have shewed before.

4. Therefore, besides the spirit of grace and sup∣plication, whereby men are regenerate and born anew, there must be the Spirit of gifts and revelation, in the several endowments of the soul, either in an extraordinary way, as in the primitive times, or ordinary, as now (r); for those men Paul found at Ephesus, had the Spirit of grace, or else they had not

been Disciples, yet the Spirit of gifts and qualifica∣tions for the Ministry they had not so much as heard of, until Paul had laid his hands upon them (s); and when Paul inabled Timothy for to make Mini∣sters, he orders them to look for other qualificati∣ons then conversion and the Spirit of grace (t); so unto Titus, it was not sufficient that they were good men, but must be also gifted men; neither do our Brethren say, that every Brother may preach, but every gifted Brother.

Notes

• (q)

  Joh. 3. 5.
• (r)

  1 Cor. 12, 13.
• (s)

  1 Mat. 12. 31, 32.
• (t)

  Zach. 12: 10
• (u)

  1 Cor. 2. 11
• (w)

  Joh. 5. 17
• (x)

  Joh. 6. 45
• (y)

  Mat. 18 20
• (z)

  Mat. 28. 20
• (a)

  2 Cor. 13. 3
• (b)

  2 Cor. 5. 20
• (c)

  2 Cor. 5. 19, 20.
• (d)

  Gal. 4. 19.
• (e)

  Gal. 3. 27.
• (f)

  Mat. 3. 16.
• (g)

  Act. 2. 3, 4.
• (h)

  1 King. 22. 22.
• (i)

  2 Tim. 3. 16 2 Pet. 1. 21.
• (k)

  1 Tim. 4. 1.
• (l)

  Act. 20. 23.
• (m)

  Act. 21. 10, 11. Heb. 2. 4.
• (u)

  Numb. 11. 29.
• (o)

  Rom. 8. 14.
• (p)

  1 Cor. 12. 29, 30.
• (q)

  Phil. 4. 3.
• (r)

  1 Cor. 12. 8, 9, 10, 11.
• (s)

  Act. 19. 6.
• (t)

  1 Tim. 3. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.