WHEREAS Illiterate men or such as can but read the English Bible, in contempt of a learned and setled Ministry, according to the variety of Sects, undertake publikely to preach the word of God, and exercise other Ministeriall Acts amongstus, and pretend to receive coun­tenance, or at least connivance, from the higher Powers for so doing; It is to be considered that (what licence soever they may assume unto themselves) they want both Power and Authori­ty so much as to preach the word.

For Power or Ability, I. 1 The word of God not being to be known by it selfe, such men are not able without other Principles to discern and distinguish it from other writings. 2. God ha­ving declared himselfe in Hebrew and Greek, but not in English that wee know of; nor no Translation of holy Scripture by men subject to errour (however it render the sence) being the word of God; nor the Truth of a Translation being to be known but by recourse to original Tongues and Copies, our Translation especially being the work of men otherwise condemned as Antichristian; without skill in languages they cannot so much as understand his word. 3. Though they were expert in the languages, As we distinguish betwixt Principal and Accessory parts in the holy Scriptures the main of the Gospel belonging unto all men taking up little room, and the grea­test part even of the New Testament bearing reference to Particulars, as Romanes, Corinthians, &c. unto whom we are nothing a­kinne, and not importing lawes but Judgements or reports of Judgements and practise in particular Cases (legally binding us Englishmen no more then Judiciall or Ceremoniall lawes given to the Israelites) they cannot conceive or explicate the sence thereof as it was intended, without skill in the Histories and Antiquities of those Nations. 4. Nor lastly could they understand thus much of Scripture, can they Apply and bring home these Presidents to rule our collaterall Cases (which is the proper use we are to make thereof) without Logick and Discourse to make the Parallel, which Explication and Application wee call Preaching. So that for want of Arts and Tongues and o­ther humane Learning, the People cannot approach the mount of Divinity as it stands exposed unto all men in the prime Revelations, the holy Scriptures; nor much lesse bring us mysteries from thence, but borrow the light which they have thereof more remotely from the Learned. And for private Spirits, or new revelations of the will God not having his Probat by miracles, or any other Gospel then is derived from these writings (which some well spoken under the name of gifted men to salve the matter by an extraordinary manner without learning boast of) we passe not.

And how then can wee conceive these are the men entrusted with the ministry of the Gospel? II. where choyce is to be had, men (while they are Reasonable) delegate not uncapable subjects; especially to a work whereto all the reverence that can be used (in chusing and raising Persons, in regard of his Majesty with, or for, whom they are to deal) is too little: And certainly God sees such as he im­ployes qualified. Yet personall sufficiency is not enough without a Politicall ordination; supposing these men had Ability, for Autho­rity or commission either from God or men to put that Faculty in office (which even in handicrafts for freedome in Trade is stood up­on) they are still to seek, and have no more to shew for Preaching then for further Judging or Ruling their Brethren, when (upon insi­nuation with the multitude) they shall dare to declare themselves. Corah's sinne Numb. 16. being the bottome of it. Wherefore such lay Ideots must keep their distance, and leave the dispensation of these sacred ordinances unto their Spirituall Guides (men of nearer accesse and intimacy with the minde of Christ separated to that work) unto whom they properly belong. And however these men carry the matter, wee cannot suspect that the higher Powers are our Adversaries herein; who though they have seen cause to reject the corrupt order that was established in the Church, have reason to be jealous of the Peoples motions; and though they have been willing to trie the spirits, in­tend not surely upon that score (without all regard either of learning or modesty) to let loose such incoherent tongues to advance confusion, and trie the mastery amongst themselves; or to believe any Spirit but according to its qualifications, and the evidence men shall make thereof.

If it bee objected, Object. I. That the holy Scriptures were written to Persons of ordinary Capacity and Literature. Wee must consider. 1. That these men unto whom they were directed understood the Divinity, the Language, and all the Circumstances of these Writings, which made that easie unto them, which without study we cannot attain to. Secondly, They that were directly concern'd needed no such help of Logick and Discourse to Apply them, and make collaterall Inferences and Deductions as we do.

If it bee objected that the Holy Apostles, II. the primitive Paterns of our Ministry, were Illiterate men. It is to bee considered. 1. That all Illiterate men in those dayes, were not Apostles; And though the twelve Apostles were such Illiterate men, Saint Paul was not, nor Barnabas, nor Timothy, and Titus, whom Paul Instituted: which shews that unlearnednesse is no proper qualification for an Apostle or Preacher of the Gospel. Secondly, Witnesses and Publishers of things which they had seen and heard (such as the Apostles in a manner wholly were) needed no such learning as Expounders and Appliers of Antient and forreigne Writings. And lastly, though our Saviour took such Ignorant men, hee left them not such; hee took Fisher-men, whom he made Fishers of Men (that his Power and the Grace of God might bee seen in their weaknesse.) Yet hee took time for it; Hee called Disciples, Matth. 4. but made them not Apostles till Matth. 10. As wee take Servants or Apprentices, whom wee afterwards make free of our Trades. These Teachers of the Times (wee deny not) may bee gifted men too, and gifted in some sort for Preaching or Declaming roundly to the Peo­ple: But we see they are not gifted like Apostles for Preaching of the Word of God as now it stands (which is the onely thing which should bestead them.) 1. The Apostles understood that they taught the Word of God, and that they had Commission from God to teach it. Secondly, As they were sent to Preach, they were supplied with Arts and Tongues, where they were requisite: And lastly, they had a further power of working Miracles, to witnesse such their Mission and Authority unto others. In all which these men remain as defective as other mortalls.

Wee do well indeed to be imitating the Apostles, but it must be in these things wherein they are imitable; not so much in their ex­traordinary Office, or Supernaturall workings, (which are not in our power) as their Christian purity and holinesse, their diligence and humility, not judgings of our selves above that which is meet. Yet i [...] nothing but their Spirit will serve the turn (considering that God now adayes works not ordinarily, but by means) one would think that Divines (such as with some reasonable qualification upon their Industry, by publike Ordination, orderly succeed the Apostles in their Charge of regulating and teaching others) might as well pretend to the Spirit the Apostles wrought by, as those men that see but with their eyes, and beleeve upon such grounds as they afford them, and have nothing Apostolicall but their own Presumption and noyse to shew for it.

The Wife man gives good Advise, Prov. 26. 4, 5. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also bee like unto him. And again, Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. And thus (I conceive) we may observe the latter part thereof; In shewing these men the weaknesse of their groundes in generall, and remonstrating what blinde Guides they are like to make, to take down their conceits of themselves, and keep them to their Lasts. To descend with them to their particular Debates, upon these grounds, (they being no better Disputants then Preachers) were the way (I am sure) to transgresse the former part, to enter a Brawl, and make our selves like unto them. Whatsoever therefore their Provocations of Divines to Conference and Disputations therein bee (till they rectifie their Principles, and improve their Learning) they are to be esteemed but as the extravagant workings of their Distempers; and Indignities, as if a Carter should challenge an Officer of the Army at Cudgels, or dare our renowned Generall to Cuffes. Such weapons being fitter (with their noyse and dust) to offend even Spectators, then decide differences; And such Challengers rather to bee kickt then encountred.