408 The Birth-Prìviletige and Covenant-holine Gh.q his Anathema (but now pronounced) fhould affe d him 4 fome- what. It were to be wifhed he would have anfwered their reafons in a better temper then he hath done other mens , or have given in fomewhat of his own farther then his bare conceit. I confeffe, he fpeaks fomewhat by way ofcaution. Neverrhele fe I am againft the courfes ofmany Souldiers and others who againfl the denìall of able Teachers , to rrhom the teaching of the people is committed, love to get into the Pulpits of the ablefl men, to vent their peculiar conceits, and often- times their pernicious Errors not ree.trding to preach to the ignorant the clear truths of Faith, and a holy life in places Where they have no Preacher, but to new Converts ; to pervert tbem , and Pith -draw them from their able Teachers , and to difgrsiet them and their Congregations by frivolous exceptions. If they have.but their liberty to become Pulpit-men , and may confecrate themfelves without laying on of hands (which Matter Tombes yields to be of divine inftitution) they will foon be their own carvers for the choife of Pulpits, they will be the judges of the ability or infuñici. ency of Minifters gifts where, they quarter. All (hall be clear truths that they vent; break down the Apoftles fence, that by appoint- ment from Jefus Chrift he hath fet up, Let them be prat ed, and then do the office , and then Mailer Tombes his Segges and Bul- rufhes will foon be troden down. The God of order hath taken more care ; The difpenfation of the Sacraments is with him every mans work, as well as preaching the word , which he notably proves againft Mailer Baxter. Doth (faith he) the Embaffageof Chrifl, defpenfing of his myfieries, befseching in his (lead, &v. confifi in break ing bread, delivering it,,bidting, take, eat, c c? If it do, then a non - preaching tiuuinifier who doth thefe things, may yet be an Embaffadour of Chrift, and Steward of his my flertes; then the breaking bread, &c, is a converting Ordinance, as Mr. Pryn held, which Air. Gillefpy and Mr. Rutherford deny. Here he refolves to make .triall not of his Readers parts, but his patience; either this is the whole of a Minifters work , or elfe it is no part of it ; either they need to do nothing elfe, or elfe they need not todo this, If it be an edifying Ordinance (which neither Mailer Gillefpr nor Matter Rutherford will deny) it is a part of their iurtc`tion. He addes, For my part, I think to be an Emba f fadour ofChrifl, and to befeech in his head, 2 Cor. S. 20. to be a Steward of themyfieries of God, I Cor. 4. t. are all one, as to preach
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