Part 30

[91] _An _Heathen Philosopher_ disputing with the _Bishops_ in the Council of _Nice_, was converted to the _Christian Faith_ by an ignorant old Man, when they could not._

[92] Lucæ Osiandri _Epit. Hist. Eccles. Lib._ 2. _Cap._ 5. Cent. 4.

§. XXI. [Sidenote: III. _The learned _School Divinity_ obnoxious; A _Monster_; A Letter-Knowledge _Heathenized.] The third and main Part of their Literature is _School Divinity_, a _Monster_, made up of some _Scriptural Notions_ of _Truth_, and the _Heathenish Terms_ and _Maxims_; being, as it were, the _Heathenish Philosophy Christianized_, or rather, the _literal external Knowledge of Christ Heathenized_. It is Man in his first, fallen, natural State, with his devilish Wisdom, pleasing himself with some Notions of Truth, and adorning them with his own sensual and carnal Wisdom, because he thinks the Simplicity of the Truth too low and mean a Thing for him; and so despiseth that Simplicity, wheresoever it is found, that he may set up and exalt himself, puffed up with this his monstrous Birth. It is the Devil, darkening, obscuring, and veiling the Knowledge of God, with his serpentine and worldly Wisdom; that so he may the more securely deceive the Hearts of the Simple, and make the Truth, as it is in itself, despicable and hard to be known and understood, by multiplying a thousand difficult and needless Questions, and endless Contentions and Debates. All which, he who perfectly knoweth, is not a Whit less the Servant of Sin than he was; but ten Times more so, in that he is exalted, and proud of Iniquity, and so much the farther from receiving, understanding, or learning the Truth, as it is in its own naked Simplicity; because he is full, learned, rich, and wise in his own Conceit: And so those that are most skilled in it, wear out their Day, and spend their precious Time about the infinite and innumerable Questions they have feigned and invented concerning it. A certain learned Man called it, _A twofold Discipline, like the Race of the Centaurs, partly proceeding from divine Sayings, partly from philosophical Reasons_. [Sidenote: _Its needless Questions and endless Janglings._] A thousand of their Questions they confess themselves to be no-ways necessary to Salvation; and yet many more of them they could never agree upon, but are, and still will be, in endless Janglings about them. The Volumes that have been written about it, a Man in his whole Age could scarce read, though he lived to be very old; and when he has read them all, he has but wrought himself a great deal more Vexation and Trouble of Spirit than he had before. These certainly are the _Words multiplied without Knowledge; by which Counsel hath been darkened_, Job xxxviii. 2. They make the Scripture the Text of all this Mass; and it is concerning the Sense of it that their voluminous Debates arise. But a Man of a good upright Heart may learn more in half an Hour, and be more certain of it, by waiting upon _God_, and his _Spirit in the Heart_, than by reading a thousand of their Volumes; which by filling his Head with many needless Imaginations, may well stagger his Faith, but never confirm it: And indeed those that give themselves most to it, are most capable to fall into Error, as appeareth by the Example of _Origen_, who, by his Learning, was one of the first, that falling into this Way of interpreting the Scriptures, wrote so many Volumes, and in them so many Errors, as very much troubled the Church. [Sidenote: _Whereby _Arius_ fell into Error and Schism._] Also _Arius_, led by this Curiosity and human Scrutiny, despising the Simplicity of the Gospel, fell into his _Error_, which was the Cause of that horrible Heresy which so much troubled the Church. Methinks the Simplicity, Plainness, and Brevity of the Scriptures themselves, should be a sufficient Reproof for such a Science; and the Apostles, being honest, plain, illiterate Men, may be better understood by such Kind of Men now, than with all that Mass of scholastick Stuff, which neither _Peter_, nor _Paul_, nor _John_, ever thought of.

§. XXII. [Sidenote: _The _Apostasy_, and its dangerous _Consequence.] But this Invention of Satan, wherewith he began the _Apostasy_, hath been of dangerous Consequence; for thereby he at first spoiled the Simplicity of Truth, by keeping up the _Heathenish Learning_, which occasioned such Uncertainty, even among those called _Fathers_, and such Debate, that there are few of them to be found, who, by Reason of this Mixture, do not only frequently contradict one another, but themselves also. [Sidenote: _Many of the _Fathers_ do not only contradict each other, but themselves also, and why?_] And therefore when the _Apostasy_ grew greater, he, as it were, buried the Truth with this Veil of Darkness, wholly shutting out People from true Knowledge, and making the Learned (so accounted) busy themselves with idle and needless Questions; while the weighty Truths of God were neglected, and went, as it were, into Disuse.

Now, though the grossest of these Abuses be swept away by _Protestants_; yet the evil Root still remains, and is nourished and upheld; and the Science kept up, as being deemed necessary for a Minister: For, while the pure Learning of the _Spirit_ of _Truth_ is despised and neglected, and made ineffectual, Man’s fallen earthly Wisdom is upheld; and so in that he labours and works with the _Scriptures_, being out of the _Life_ and _Spirit_ which those that wrote them were in, by which only they are rightly understood, and made Use of. [Sidenote: _Merchandizing with the Scriptures: What it is. See also_ 2 Pet. 2. 3.] And so he that is to be a Minister, must learn this _Art_ or _Trade_ of _Merchandizing_ with the _Scriptures_, and be that which the Apostle would not be, to wit, a _Trader with them_, 2 Cor. ii. 17. That he may acquire a Knack from a Verse of Scripture, by adding his own barren Notions and Conceptions to it, and his uncertain Conjectures, and what he hath stolen out of Books; for which End he must have of Necessity a good many by him, and may each _Sabbath-day_, as they call it, or oftener, make a Discourse for an Hour long; [Sidenote: _And this they call the _Preaching_ of the _Word.] and this is called the _Preaching of the Word_: Whereas the Gift, Grace, and Spirit of God, to teach, open, and instruct, and to preach a Word in Season, is neglected, and so Man’s Arts and _Parts_, and _Knowledge_, and _Wisdom_, which is _from below_, are set up and established in the Temple of God, yea, and above the little _Seed_; which in Effect is _Antichrist_, working in the Mystery. [Sidenote: _Thus _Antichrist_ is established above the Seed of the Kingdom._] And so the Devil may be as good and able a Minister as the best of them; [Sidenote: _How the Devil may be a _Minister_ of the Priests Gospel._] for he has better Skill in _Languages_, and more _Logick_, _Philosophy_ and _School Divinity_, than any of them; and knows the Truth in the Notion better than they all, and can talk more eloquently than all those Preachers. But what availeth all this; Is it not all but as Death, as a painted Sepulchre, and dead Carcase, without the Power, Life and Spirit of Christianity, which is the Marrow and Substance of a _Christian Ministry_? And he that hath this, and can speak from it, though he be a poor Shepherd, or a Fisherman, and ignorant of all that Learning, and of all those Questions and Notions; yet speaking from the Spirit, his Ministry will have more Influence towards the converting a Sinner unto God, than all of them who are learned after the Flesh; as in that Example of the old Man at the _Council_ of _Nice_ did appear.

§. XXIII. [Sidenote: _The _Power_ of _God_ by weak Instruments restoring the _Simplicity_ of _Truth.] And if in any Age, since the Apostles Days, God hath purposed to shew his Power by _weak Instruments_, for the battering down of that _Carnal_ and _Heathenish Wisdom_, and restoring again the _ancient Simplicity_ of _Truth_, this is it. For in our Day, God hath raised up Witnesses for himself, as he did Fishermen of old; many, yea, most of whom, are labouring and mechanick Men, who, altogether without that Learning, have, by the Power and Spirit of God, struck at the very Root and Ground of _Babylon_; and in the Strength and Might of this Power, have gathered Thousands, by reaching their Consciences, into the same Power and Life, who, as to the outward Part, have been far more knowing than they, yet not able to resist the Virtue that proceeded from them. Of which I myself am a true Witness; [Sidenote: _The Powerful Ministry of illiterate Men._] and can declare from certain Experience, because my Heart hath been often greatly broken and tendered by that virtuous Life that proceeded from the powerful Ministry of those illiterate Men: So that by their very Countenance, as well as Words, I have felt the Evil in me often chained down, and the Good reached to and raised. What shall I then say to you, who are Lovers of Learning, and Admirers of Knowledge? Was not I also a Lover and Admirer of it, who also sought after it, according to my Age and Capacity? But it pleased God, in his unutterable Love, early to withstand my vain Endeavours, while I was yet but eighteen Years of Age; [Sidenote: _The _Time_ of the _Author_’s first Convincement._] and made me seriously to consider (which I wish also may befall others,) [93]That without _Holiness and Regeneration, no Man can see God_; and that _the Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom, and to depart from Iniquity, a good Understanding_; and how much _Knowledge puffeth up_, and leadeth away from that _inward Quietness_, _Stillness_, and _Humility of Mind_, where the Lord appears, and his Heavenly Wisdom is revealed. If ye consider these Things, then will ye say with me, That all this Learning, Wisdom and Knowledge, gathered in this fallen Nature, is but as _Dross_ and _Dung_, in _Comparison of the Cross of Christ_; especially being destitute of that Power, Life and Virtue, which I perceived these excellent (though despised, because illiterate) Witnesses of God to be filled with: And therefore seeing, that in and among them, I, with many others, have found the _Heavenly Food_ that gives _Contentment_, let my Soul seek after this _Learning_, and wait for it for ever.

[93] Job. 28. 28.

§. XXIV. [Sidenote: Quest. 3.] [Sidenote: _The Work of a Minister._] Having thus spoken of the _Call_ and _Qualifications_ of a _Gospel-Minister_, that which comes next to be considered, is, _What his proper Work is, how, and by what Rule, he is to be ordered_? Our Adversaries do all along go upon _Externals_, and therefore have certain prescribed Rules and Methods, contrived according to their human and earthly Wisdom: We, on the Contrary, walk still upon the same _Foundation_, and lean always upon the immediate Assistance and Influence of that _Holy Spirit_, which God hath given his _Children_, to teach them all Things, and lead them in all Things: [Sidenote: _The Holy Spirit, a Spirit of Order, and not of Confusion._] Which _Spirit_, being the _Spirit of Order_, and not of _Confusion_, leads us, and as many as follow it, into such a _comely_ and _decent Order_ as becometh the Church of God. But our Adversaries, having shut themselves out from this immediate Counsel and Influence of the Spirit, have run themselves into many Confusions and Disorders, seeking to establish an Order in this Matter. [Sidenote: _Popish Orders and Offices_, &c.] For some will have _First_ a _chief Bishop_, or _Pope_, to rule and be a Prince over all; and under him, by Degrees, _Cardinals_, _Patriarchs_, _Archbishops_, _Priests_, _Deacons_, _Sub-deacons_; and besides these, _Acoluthi_, _Tonsorati_, _Ostiarii_, &c. And in their _Theology_ (as they call it) _Professors_, _Bachelors_, _Doctors_, &c. And others would have every Nation _independent_ of another, having its own _Metropolitan_ or _Patriarch_; and the rest in Order subject to him, as before. Others again are against all _Precedency_ among _Pastors_, and constitute their _Subordination_ not of Persons, but of Powers: As first the _Consistory_, or _Session_; then the _Class_, or _Presbytery_; then the _Provincial_; and then the _National Synod_ or _Assembly_. Thus they _tear one another_, and contend among themselves concerning the Ordering, Distinguishing, and making their several Orders and Offices; [Sidenote: _Wars and Bloodshed about _Church Government.] concerning which there hath been no less Contest, not only by Way of verbal Dispute, but even by Fighting, Tumults, Wars, Devastations, and Bloodshed, than about the Conquering, Overturning, and Establishing of Kingdoms. And the _Histories_ of late Times are as full of the various _Tragedies_, acted on Account of this _Spiritual_ and _Ecclesiastical Monarchy_ and _Commonwealth_, as the _Histories_ of old Times are of the Wars and Contests that fell out both in the _Assyrian_, _Persian_, _Greek_ and _Roman_ Empires: These last upon this Account, though among those that are called _Christians_, have been no less bloody and cruel than the former among _Heathens_, concerning their outward Empires and Governments. [Sidenote: _The Ground and Cause thereof_.] Now all this, both among _Papists_ and _Protestants_, proceedeth, in that they seek in Imitation to uphold a Form and Shadow of Things, though they want the Power, Virtue and Substance; while for many of their Orders and Forms they have not so much as the Name in the Scripture. But in Opposition to all this Mass of Formality, and Heap of Orders, Rules and Governments, we say, _The Substance is chiefly to be sought after, and the Power, Virtue and Spirit, is to be known and waited for, which is one_ in all the different Names and Offices the Scripture makes Use of; as appears by 1 _Cor._ xii. 4. (often before-mentioned) _There are Diversities of Gifts, but the same Spirit_. And after the Apostle, throughout the whole Chapter, hath shewn how one and the self-same Spirit worketh in and quickeneth each Member; then in _Ver._ 28. he sheweth how thereby God hath set in the Church, First _Apostles_, Secondly _Prophets_, _Teachers_, &c. And likewise to the same Purpose, _Ephes._ iv. 11; he sheweth, how by these Gifts _he hath given some Apostles_, _some Prophets_, _some Evangelists_, _some Pastors_, _some Teachers_, &c. Now it never was Christ’s Purpose, nor the Apostles, that _Christians_ should, without this Spirit and Heavenly Gift, set up a Shadow and Form of these Orders, and so make several Ranks and Degrees, to establish a _carnal Ministry_ of Men’s making, without the Life, Power and Spirit of Christ: [Sidenote: _The Work of Antichrist and Mystery of Iniquity._] This is that _Work_ of _Antichrist_, and _Mystery_ of _Iniquity_, that hath got up in the dark Night of Apostasy. But in a true _Church of Christ_, gathered together by God, not only into the Belief of the _Principles of Truth_, but also into the Power, Life and Spirit of _Christ_, the Spirit of God is the Orderer, Ruler and Governor; as in each Particular, so in the General. [Sidenote: _Such as the Spirit sets apart to the _Ministry_, their Brethren hear them._] And when they assemble together to wait upon God, and to worship and adore him; then such as the Spirit sets apart for the _Ministry_, by its divine Power and Influence opening their Mouths, and giving them to exhort, reprove, and instruct with Virtue and Power; these are thus ordained of God and admitted into the _Ministry_, and their Brethren cannot but hear them, receive them, and also _honour them for their Work’s Sake_. [Sidenote: _The Clergy and Laicks._] And so this is not _monopolized_ by a certain Kind of Men, as the _Clergy_ (who are to that Purpose educated and brought up as other carnal _Artists_) and the rest to be despised as _Laicks_; but it is left to the _free Gift of God_ to choose any whom he seeth meet thereunto, whether Rich or Poor, Servant or Master, Young or Old, yea, Male or Female. [Sidenote: _Women may preach._] And such as have this Call, verify the Gospel, by _preaching not in Speech only, but also in Power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much Fulness_, 1 Thess. i. 5. and cannot but be received and heard by the _Sheep of Christ_.

§. XXV. [Sidenote: Object.] But if it be objected here, _That I seem hereby to make no Distinction at all betwixt Ministers and others; which is contrary to the Apostle’s Saying_, 1 Cor. xii. 29. _Are all Apostles? Are all Prophets? Are all Teachers?_ &c. From thence they insinuate, _That I also contradict his Comparison in that Chapter, of the Church of Christ with a human Body_; as where he saith, Ver. 17. _If the whole Body were an Eye, where were the Hearing? If the Whole were Hearing, where were the Smelling?_ &c. _Also the Apostle not only distinguisheth the Ministers of the Church in general from the rest of the Members, but also from themselves; as naming them distinctly and separately, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers_, &c.

[Sidenote: _Answ. 1. Diversity of Names makes no distinct Offices; but which may coincide, or be together in one Person._] As to the last Part of this Objection, to which I shall first answer; it is apparent, that this Diversity of Names is not to distinguish separate Offices, but to denote the different and various Operations of the Spirit; a Manner of Speech frequent with the Apostle _Paul_, wherein he sometimes expatiates to the Illustrating of the Glory and Praise of God’s Grace: As in Particular, _Rom._ xii. 6. _Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given us, whether Prophecy, let us prophesy according to the Proportion of Faith; or Ministry, let us wait on our Ministring; or he that teacheth, on Teaching; or he that exhorteth, on Exhortation._ Now none will say from all this, that these are _distinct Offices_, or do not, or may not coincide in one Person, as may all those other Things mentioned by him in the subsequent Verses, viz. _Of Loving_, _being kindly Affectionated_, _Fervency of Spirit_, _Hospitality_, _Diligence_, _Blessing_, _Rejoicing_, &c. which he yet numbers forth as different Gifts of the Spirit, and according to this Objection might be placed as distinct and separate Offices, which were most absurd.

_Secondly_, In these very Places mentioned it is clear that it is no real Distinction of separate Offices; because all acknowledge, that _Pastors_ and _Teachers_, (which the Apostle there no less separateth and distinguisheth, than _Pastors_ and _Prophets_, or _Apostles_) are one and the same, and coincide in the same _Office_ and _Person_; and therefore may be said so of the rest. [Sidenote: Prophecy _and_ Prophesying_, its twofold Signification._] For [_Prophecy_] as it signifies the _Foretelling of Things to come_, is indeed a distinct Gift, but no distinct Office; and therefore our Adversaries do not place it among their several Orders: Neither will they deny, but that it both may be and hath been given of God to some, that not only have been _Pastors_ and _Teachers_, and that there it hath coincided in one Person with these other Offices, but also to some of the _Laicks_: And so it hath been found, according to their own Confession, without the Limits of their _Clergy_. [Sidenote: _To_ prophesy, _a Privilege of_ Teachers, _and of all the_ Saints.] _Prophecy_ in the other Sense, to wit, as it signifies a _Speaking from the Spirit of Truth_, is not only peculiar to _Pastors_ and _Teachers_, who ought so to _prophesy_; but even a common Privilege to the _Saints_. For though to instruct, teach and exhort, be proper to such as are more particularly called to the Work of the _Ministry_; yet it is not so proper to them, as not to be (when the Saints are met together, as any of them are moved by the Spirit) common to others: For some Acts belong to all in such a Relation; but not only to those within that Relation: _Competunt omni, sed non soli_. Thus to _see_ and _hear_ are proper Acts of a Man; seeing it may be properly predicated of him, that he _heareth_ and _seeth_: Yet are they common to other Creatures also. So to _prophesy_ in this Sense, is indeed proper to _Ministers_ and _Teachers_; yet not so, but that it is common and lawful to other _Saints_, when moved thereunto, though it be not proper to them by Way of Relation: Because, notwithstanding that Motion, they are not particularly called to the Work of the _Ministry_, as appears by 1 _Cor._ xiv. where the Apostle at large declaring the Order and ordinary Method of the Church, saith, Ver. 30, 31. _But if_ any Thing _be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his Peace; for ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all be comforted_: Which sheweth that none is here excluded. But yet that there is a _Subordination_, according to the various Measures of the Gift received, the next Verse sheweth: _And the Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets: For God is not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace_. Now that _Prophesying_, in this Sense, may be _common to all Saints_, appears by Ver. 39. of the same Chapter, where speaking to [_all_] in general, he saith, _Wherefore, Brethren, covet to prophesy_; and Ver. 1. he exhorts them, saying, _Desire spiritual Gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy_.

[Sidenote: _Who are _Evangelists_, and whether any may term themselves so now-a-day._] _Secondly_, As to _Evangelists_ the same may be said; for whoever preacheth the _Gospel_ is really an _Evangelist_, and so consequently every true _Minister_ of the _Gospel_ is one; else what proper Office can they assign to it, unless they should be so foolish as to affirm that none were _Evangelists_ but _Matthew_, _Mark_, _Luke_, and _John_, who wrote the Account of Christ’s Life and Sufferings? And then it were neither a particular Office, seeing _John_ and _Matthew_ were Apostles, _Mark_ and _Luke_ Pastors and Teachers, so that there they coincided in one. And indeed it is absurd to think, that upon that particular Account the Apostle used the Word [_Evangelist_.] _Calvin_ acknowledgeth, that _such as preach the Gospel in Purity, after some Time of Apostasy, may be truly called_ Evangelists, and therefore saith, that _There were Apostles in his Time_; and hence the _Protestants_, at their first coming forth, termed themselves _Evangelici_, or _Evangelicks_.