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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80158	Responsoria ad erratica pastoris, sive, vindiciæ vindiciarum. Id est, the Shepherds wandrings discovered, in a revindication of the great ordinance of god: Gospel-preachers, and preaching. By way of reply and answer to a late booke, called, The peoples priviledges, and duty guarded against the pulpit and preachers encroachment. And their sober justification and defence of their free and open exposition of scriptures. Published by William Sheppard, Esq. Wherein Mr Sheppards pretended guard, consisting of ten propositions and ten arguments, is examined, and found to wear nothing by wooden swords. And all his replyes to Mr Tho. Halls arguments, and Mr Collinges arguments in his Vindiciæ ministerii, brought against not ordained persons ordinary preaching, are found but cavils and too light. And the truth still maintained, ... in that, preaching and expounding scripture publiquely, are proper acts to gospel officers; not common to all. Wherein also the great question, how far the spirit of God ... dothïnable them to understand scripture is opened, ... / By John Collings, M.A. and preacher of the Gospel in Norwich.	Collinges, John, 1623-1690.	1652 (1652)	Wing C5331; Thomason E672_1; ESTC R207127	122,201	185

Responsoria ad Erratica Pastoris SIVE VINDICIAE VINDICIARUM ID EST The Shepherds Wandrings discovered in a Revindication of the great Ordinance of GOD Gospel-Preachers and Preaching By way of Reply and Answer to a late Booke called The Peoples priviledges and duty guarded against the Pulpit and Preachers encroachment And their sober justification and defence of their free and open exposition of Scriptures Published by William Sheppard Esq Wherein Mr Sheppards pretended guard consisting of ten Propositions and ten Arguments is examined and found to weare nothing but wooden Swords And all his Replyes to Mr Tho. Halls Arguments and Mr Collinges Arguments in his Vindiciae Ministerii brought against Not ordained persons ordinary preaching are found but cavils and too light And the Truth still maintained That those that dig in the Lords Vineyard must be sent in that Preaching and expounding Scripture publiquely are proper acts to Gospel-Officers not common to all Wherein also the great question How far the Spirit of God that dwels in all the Saints doth or doth not inable them to understand Scripture is opened And in it is plainly discovered by Mr Sheppards wrestings and mis-applications of Scripture that himself hath not such a spirit of Scripture interpretation as is fitting for them that publickly open the Scriptures and in the Preface is shewed how much the holy Spirit of God is abused in these evill times By John Gollings M.A. and Preacher of the Gospel in Norwich Is 28.20 For the bed is shorter then that a man can stretch himself on it and the covering narrower then that he can wrap up himselfe in it Quis enim mediocriter sanus non facile intelligat Scripturarum expositionem ab iis petendam esse qui earum doctores se esse profitentur Fierique posse inermo id semper accidere ut multa indoctis videantur absurda quae cum à doctoribus exponuntur eò laudanda videantur elatius quo abjectius aspernanda videbantur eo accipiantur aperta dulcius quo clausa difficilius aperiebantur D. Aug. de moribus Eccl. Cathol Manichaeorum t. 1. operum impr Col. Agrip. p. 286. col B. I. London Printed for R. Tomlins at the Sun and Bible neer Pie-corner 1652. A PREFATORY DISCOURSE CONTAINING The Authors reasons of his undertaking this work and severall things of moment are discovered in it concerning the motions and impulsions and workings of the Spirit tending to the trying of the Spirits And humbly directed To all such in England as feare the Lord and desire to make his Word a Light unto their feet Deare Friends IT is now Twelve moneths since I presented you with my Vindieation of the Gospel-Ministry Some discouragements I had in that worke for when my notes were finished that very week came out Mr Halls Book of the same subject Pulpit guarded and I heard of more Elaborate labours then ready for the Presse upon the same Subject The nature of my Subject spake for me that I sought not in it to please Men but to shew my selfe a Servant of the Lord Jesus Christs The Jezebel of Libertinisme looked out at the window and I apprehended the Lord Jesus Christ calling who is on my side who since which time I have met with none that have opposed the truths I endeavoured to maintaine except one Collier who encountred the Pulpit-guard Pulpit guard routed by I. Collier Two things silenced my Pen as to him 1. He onely mentioned me in the last lines of his Book but bent his force against a stronger adversary who I knew was able to encounter him 2. But my chiefe Reason was my sight of his blasphemous Discourse at Axbridge which satisfied me concerning him that as his Tongue was little Slander to our cause so it was little credit to that which he pretended to Manage this made me resolve to let him alone lest I should be like unto him or make him wise in his own conceit In which resolution I was after confirmed meeting with Mr. Jerribies reserve Pulpit-guard relieved by Mr. Jerriby which I saw was enough to deale with his beggerly reason Some twelve dayes since there came to my hands Mr. Sheppards Book called The peoples priviledge and duty guarded Though I have little time to attend Reading or answering Pamphlets and am the meanest servant of the Lord Jesus Christ in that work yet several things prevail'd with me to the present undertaking of which I will give thee a briefe account The first was the Credit of the Gentleman that wrote it William Sheppard Esqu Sounds more them Tom Collier A second was the Sobriety of the Gentlemans spirit Had he been one that had so farre got the mastery of his conscience as to have railed on Ministers and Ministry I should onely have spread his railing paper before the Lord Is 37.14 Jude 9. and have said The Lord rebuke thee But I perceived him of another spirit and as much contending for some truth as disputing against others A Third was that he had done me the honour now and then to name me and my Booke and so engaged me in the quarrell as one of those Preachers which he is pleased to reflect upon as encroaching upon the peoples duty A Fourth was the present juncture of time There is the great designe of God under the Gospell to lead his Saints into all Truth now the father of lies is such a gainer by the darkenesse of Errour and Ignorance that he is loth Truth should prevaile too fast And for the continuall exercise of his Saints in all Ages the Lord Jesus hath beene content to dispute his ground by inches with the Devill as the Devill hath raised up some in all ages to oppose truth one truth more then other in every Age so the Lord hath raised up some Servants of his in all Ages to appeare in the defence of the Lord Jesus Christ and his Gospell Mr. Hooke● in his Preface to Survey of Church-discipline Herbert Temple sacred Poems 188. It was holy and learned Mr. Hookers notion that the Devill had beene undermining the Lord Jesus Christ in his three Offices and it was that divine Poets to it though in a little different way before him As Sinne in Greece a Prophet was before And in old Rome a mighty Emperour So now being Priest he plainly did professe Church militant To make a jest of Christs three Offices God had an Arke under the Law in which was lockt up the Golden pot that had Manna and Aarons rod that budded and the Tables of the Covenant Heb. 9 4. Exod. 16.21.4.20 Num. 17.10 Exod. 16.33 And over this were the Cherubims of Glory The Lord hath his Ark under the Gospell over which the Cherubims of glory stand and three things are laid up in it 1. The testimonie of the Gospell Covenant the pure doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ 2. The Manna of divine worship Gospell worship and Ordinances 3. And the second

method in his Answer is laid down AS this sober Gentleman hath in his first Chapter set down his method so I shall doe mine that the Reader may not be tyred with an indistinct discourse 1. I shall examine his second Chapter and shew how far we have or have not granted and how we have granted what he there mentions 2. I shall examine his third Chapter in severall Chapters because it is very long there I shall examine whether he hath sufficiently proved his ten Propositions he layes as a foundation or the eleventh which is his main work I shall examine the last more strictly and reply to his severall pretended arguments for the preaching of such as are not in office 3. I shall examine his fourth Chapter where he answers our arguments and try whether he hath done it sufficiently and reply upon his pretended answers 4. Possibly I may adde some short notes to his last Chapter which is not argumentative but onely practicall and therefore I shall not speak much to it CHAP. II. In which part of the Authors Second chapter is examined and the Preachers grants are opened how far and in what sense they have granted the things mentioned THe Author is pleased in the first Chapter to tell us that he grants these things 1. That that there are or ought to be in all the Churches of Christ regularly constituted certain Officers call'd Preachers Pastors Teachers or Elders c. Eph. 4.11 12. 1 Cor. 12.29 c. 2. That no man may take this office upon him but he that is called and set apart to it according to the Gospel way and rule 1 Tim. 5 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man Acts 13.3 When they had fasted and prayed and layd their hands on them they sent them away So that he grants the Gospel rule for Gospel Preachers to be that those that take the Office upon them should be solemnly set a part by fasting and prayer and imposition of hands 3. That these officers are to be heard acknowledged submitted to honoured maintained countenanced and furthered in their office by the people 1 Thes 5 12. Eph. 5.21 c. 4. The opinion denying the Ministery is as bad as that denying Magistracy and both of them hereticall dangerous and damnable 5. He grants that the publique and common preaching the word by such officers in the Church of Christ is the speciall and great standing Ordinance of Christ now under the Gospel for the gathering to and perfecting Saints in the Church there to continue to the worlds end Eph. 4.11 Matth. 28.20 Rom. 10.17 In the close of that Chapter he saies We utterly dislike therefore all opinions and practises that tend to the derogation or prejudice of this Office Ordinance and Ministry which must be kept safe and untouched and we may not endure it to be spoken against Thus much we grant to the Preachers Sir Although we believe that Gods word doth oblige you to believe and grant this and all this yet we have cause to thank you that in this erronious and backsliding age wherein so many have lost their first love you will thus far bear witnesse to the truth of God This is much more then those that usually handle your subject will grant and I suppose enough if well improved to bring you to close with that other piece of truth against which you contend viz. That Publique preaching the Gospel amongst professors is a proper and distinct act of these Officers In this second Chapter you come to tell us what we have granted you and there you confesse we grant you twelve things 1. That such as have not been brought up in the Vniversity or want School-learning may being duely called become publique preachers This indeed I have granted in my Vindiciae p. 14. but in these terms onely that School-learning is not absolutely necessary So that doubtlesse in cases of necessity when the Church of God cannot be supplied enough with men of learning this may be done and I conceive this is our case and part now for truly I judge a godly gifted man duely ordained and set a part to the work though unlearned in part farre fitter for the Ministry then a prophane wretch though the greatest Scholler in Christendom Quoniam non omnibus forte etiam nullis ea donorum ubertas obtingit a spiritu quae Apostolis Nulla fuerit impietas quod donis illius diminutum est supplere disciplinarum adminiculis Erasmus in Ecclesiast edit Froben An. 1554. Hodie quum plusquam necessaria fit linguarum cognitio Deus hoc tempore mirabile beneficio eas ex tenebris in lucem eruerit sunt nunc magni theologi qui fuoiosè adversas eas declamitent quum certum sit spiritum sanctum eterno elogio hic ornasse linguas colligere promptum est quonum spiritu agantur isti censores Calu. in c. 4. 1. ep ad Corin. Thus far now this is granted Yet withall I cannot think that God would have supplied miraculously the first preachers of the Gospel with an extraordinary gift of tongues and an infallible spirit in expounding Scripture if he had not in his wisdome thought that it was most fitting for one that were learned in the Originall Tongues to interpret Scripture publiquely A second thing you say we grant is That the Ceremony of imposition of hands is not necessary to the making of a Minister But who hath granted this I know not I have not for p. 76. I say that I cannot think it can be omitted without sin in an ordinary orderly ordination and I give reasons for it Nor can I finde any place where my reverend brother Mr. Hall hath been so free in granting away Scripture precepts Nor is it much considerable who hath granted it for who ever they are they have granted away a truth was not theirs to dispose of The word of God hath not granted it and we cannot grant you away any piece of that unlesse you can bring us a ticket under Christs hand Nay you your selfe will not grant it for p. 2. you say they must be set apart Non est minimum iota legis à quo non màgni montes pendent according to the Gospel rule Now what that is you tell us 1 Tim. 5.22 Lay hands suddenly on no man And Acts 13.3 To the Law and to the Testimony Sir Is 8.20 Except we could finde some ordinations there without this we cannot make so slight a businesse of it especially when the holy Ghost layeth so much weight upon it as to expresse the whole ordinance of ordination by it 3. A third thing you say was granted is That such as intend the ministry and are to be set apart for it may as probationers preach publikely and that Batchelours of Art may common-place in a Chappell to the end that their Abilities may be tried and judged This indeed is granted you by Mr. Hall Pulpit guarded p. 4. Vindiciae minist 17. V. Mr.

are led on by Jerrard Winstanly and severall others of that stampe these are no great Number yet a Regiment or two may be found of these marked with the greatest markes of Blasphemy and leudnesse 2. In the next place come on his Regiments whose Motto is no Magistracy these are the Levellers and of these there is no small number men of desperate spirits and principles 3. In the third place come in some Regiments as will acknowledge a Magistracy Their Motto is Christiano Magistratui nihil cum sacris but with clipt wings such as should have nothing to doe with the glory of God and the interest of Christ and his Gospell but must have their hands tyed up from medling with Idolaters or Blasphemers or any though never so dangerous hereticks These pretend themselves friends to Magistracy P. Mart. loc com clas 2. c. 4. Melancton in loc com de Magistratu civili Pareum in Rom. 13. Gualther in ep ad Gal. c. 4. but would destroy the end for which God hath ordained them and that is that his Elect might live under them Godly and quiet and peaceable lives that they might be a terrour to evill works these are to be the Guardians of his Church in this wildernesse Can any Christian Magistracy thinke that the great God who made all things for himself and for his own Glory should ordaine Magistrates one of his highest Ordinances for so low an end as onely to keepe men from quarrelling one with another as if the office of a Christian Magistrate were no more then the office of a Keeper of Beares No no God forbid it should enter into their thoughts he hath said they are Gods and their designe should be higher then meerely to keepe civill peace even to advance Christ to cut them off and cast them out from the Lords heritage who spit in the face of his glory 4. A Fourth Regiment he hath whose Motto is no Gospell Ministry Scim●● contemptum ministerii esse nocentissimam pestem Luther in cap. 12. Gen. Erastus and Socinus first commanded these and these are as dangerous as the first for it must follow then no Ordinances he hath severall ringleaders of this faction in England this day It were infinite to muster up all his Regiments he is the Prince 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Apostle he hath great powers in the ayre Now there are many that are not sworn servants of Satan in this designe but are under high temptations this day and though they think and meane not so yet they serve him very farre in this designe of rooting out the Ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ 1. Such as are for generall admissions to the supper of the Lord. 2. Such as are against Baptizing of Children 3. Such as cry downe the ministry of England as Antichristian 4. Such as cry out so loud against Elders in Churches 5. Such as plead against Ordination Many of these may be holy and gratious but Doubtlesse the Lord Jesus Christ is little beholden to them in point of defending his Ordinances and the purity and power of them If all should be admitted to the Sacrament of the Supper surely Christ would not onely have admitted his Disciples and baulk'd them in the same house sure he would have bid his Disciples go and give my supper to all Nations surely the Apostle would not have bidden men examine themselves c. If children should not be baptized surely they should not have beene circumcised the promise should not belong to them Acts 2.37 38. surely the Covenant of grace is not straightned under the Gospel If the Ministry of Christ in England be Antichristian what are all those that are converted and baptized by that ministry where are our Fathers that died under that ministry how come we to be Churches being not baptized persons If I saith Christ by Beelzebub cast out Devils by whom doe your children cast them out If Elders be no Officers in the Church of Christ who are they we read of 12 Rom. 7.8 1 Tim. 5.17 If Ordination be not Jesus Christs Ordinance for ordaining Gospell preachers and Officers why did the Apostles use it Acts 6.6 why did God call for it Acts 13.1 2 3. why is Titus left in Crete for that purpose Titus 1.3 why was Timothy ordained 1 Tim. 4.14 and commanded not to lay on hands suddenly 1 Tim. 5 22. There are some others who acknowledge a Ministry to be the Ordinance of the Lord Jesus Christ and that Preaching is their worke but thinke that any others though not Ministers may Preach publikely and constantly Many there are of these whom I desire to honour for their grace and sobriety conspicuous in many things but if I mistake not as by this opinion they are more then ordinarily serviceable to Satan in his present designe to destroy all Gospell Ordinances so they are in a great errour in this very thing 1. First I say I take them to be too serviceable to Satans designe in these dayes which I apprehend to be The bringing of this great Ordinance of God into contempt and making it uselesse and the destruction of all the Ordinances of Christ Primum summum opus praedicatoris docere fidem Lutherus loc com c. 4. p. 30. what made Moses and Aaron contemned but Corah Dathan and Abirams apprehension they had as much right to draw nigh to God as they had Num. 16 And I cannot see by what reason we can say that any may Preach but it will hold à pari yea à fortiori they may administer the Sacraments too and then farewell Ministry yea farewell at once all the Ordinances of Christ to the essence of which belongs an Officer of his to administer them or they are no longer his Institutions but meere humane ordinary acts worth little or nothing In this errour Christian Reader I have found this sober Gentleman with whom I am dealing I call him sober because I finde him very sober in many things yea Soberly managing this point not in opposition to a Ministry but pleading for it as a Co-ordinance of God and in Partnership with the Ministers Now this being a truth of the Times as I conceive opposed I was the more willing to Engage in the Quarrell 5. A Fifth and great reason was my consideration of the Foundation upon which he built his opinion which I humbly conceive is rotten it seemes to be this That all the Saints of God having the spirit of God which is the spirit of interpretation dwelling in them they are forthwith enabled in some degree or other to understand the true meaning of Scripture so farre as to be able to deliver it and Preach and apply it to others This made me more willing to undertake it that I might speake something in the Vindication of the holy Spirit of God so much this day abused It is one of the most dangerous things the Scripture tels us of either to deny the true and

this act of his proceeds from the immediate vertue of an unerring Spirit Thus should nonsensicall and ridiculous interpretations of Scripture which he that runs may read to be false be father'd upon the spirit of God And herein Christians I cannot but observe how God hath made Mr. Sheppard to confute himselfe for you shal any of ye be Judges whether an unerring Spirit guided him when he interpreted James 4.5 to be the holy Spirit dwelling in us and applied it to that purpose And the like I might say of forty Scriptures he hath brought and applyed in his Booke that have no kind of relation to the thing he brings them to prove take his Booke examine the Scriptures he quotes well observing for what he quotes them and thou wilt finde it very true Now I thinke it were no lesse then blasphemy for me to bring James 4.5 The Spirit that dwells in us lusteth to envy to prove that the holy Spirit dwells in the Saints if I should say The spirit guided me to that interpretation Besides 3. Of necessity A Saint if this Doctrine be true can never alter his opinion in any one Scriptures interpretation for surely the Spirit cannot guide a man contrary to its owne former guidance 4. If this guift comes from the spirit as the spirit that dwells in us Every one in whom the spirit dwells must be able to expound Scripture to others In short Christians so many grosse absurdities would follow this position as would easily evidence it to be as farre from truth as hell is from heaven And yet if our brethren cannot say this they can say nothing at all to justifie their abilities to expound Scriptures and so consequently their practice in it Now that I might vindicate the holy Spirit from being the author of those lamentable wrestings of Scripture nonsensicall interpretations and absurd senses which many put upon it I have undertaken this discourse one thing more especially moving me 6. The dangerous consequences which I apprehend would be of this opinion and practice and especially at this time I shall mention but a few 1. A dangerous puffing up of Christians with the opinion of their own parts and abilities no Schollers are so proud as those that have least Scholership Hoc tantum scio me nihil scire Non est calamitosior homo in terris quam superbus Doctor Rex Princeps Lutherus men of knowledge see such a vast knowledge before them that it makes them cry out they know nothing nor any Christian so ready to be puft up with a conceit of their own knowledge as those that know least those that have rare abilities to expound Scripture see so many difficulties and meet with so many considerable questions and objections that it makes them judge themselves very insufficient to this great work who is sufficient for such things observe Christians where there are such preachers whether thou doest not ordinarily see them men puft up with selfe conceit and opinions of themselves thinking no texts too hard for them to open no difficulties too hard to unty 2. We live in an age when the worst of men are much prejudiced against the wayes of God and his Gospell Ordinances and in which many such men there are that are very learned and criticall Now whether this be a probable way to ingratiate the Ordinances of God to people to send out Preachers that through want of abilities shall make the Ordinances of God nauseous to carnall hearts let any prudent Christians Judge Surely in such times those should be sent out who are of most eminent Abilities and furnished even with humane Art to perswade in the most moving way and to insinuate themselves into the hearts of their hearers otherwise the Ordinances of God shall yet be made more contemptible And for ordinary people how much they are prejudiced against the wayes of God all know and whether it be a way to propagate the Gospell of Christ amongst them to send out such whom they have formerly known to be of their own ranke or below them let experience witnesse when Jesus Christ himselfe who surely had better guifts then our brethren have preached where the people could say Is not this the Carpenters son the son of Mary the brother of James and Joses and of Judas and Simon and are not his sisters here with us Mar. 6.3 It is said v. 5. Jesus Christ could do there no mighty workes save that he laid his hands upon a few sick persons and healed them whereupon he went downe into the Villages and preach't and shall we thinke they are likely to be great Instruments in doing good When the people shall say Is not this the Cobler that mended our boots the other day or rather will it not be a way to harden people in their contempt of the Lords Ordinances 3. Thirdly doe we not live in a time when Christians are growne to a very high degree of knowledge that ordinary notions will not serve their curious palats They must have good sause as well as meat and all that Ministers can doe by their most elaborate judicious Sermons is scarce enough to keep alive in Christians a good opinion of Ordinances and will it not be a ready meanes to make them wholly to slight them to have their eares continually tyred with raw and indigested Notions and vaine tautologies with discourses in which shall be nothing to win the affections Doctores non solum aedificare sed etiam desendere debent Tempore pacis docendum est Belli autem tempore pugnandum resistendum Satanae ac haereticis Lutheri loc com cl 4. p. 34. and entice the hearers eare 4. Doe we not live in times in which the Socinian and Arminian heresies are spread over the Nation that there is scarce any body of professors but some or other of them are poysoned with this leaven And is this a time to send out such woodden instruments to deale with them will a guifted brother that hath no learning nor any way improved his reason be able to graple w th a subtil headed Socinian or rather shall he not probably be seduced by him into his Blasphemies 5. Will not this practice make way to render the office of the Ministry uselesse and the Ordinance of Ordination uselesse For to what purpose should these continue if it be every ones duty to Preach as well as they nay in time thus shall all the Ordinances of God be made uselesse for they that bring arguments to prove this may if they will bring better from this concession to prove they may baptize and give the Lords Supper and then what need of officers for any I might instance in many more but in short my apprehensions are such that I believe if the Devill were to aske a Courtesie of a State he should aske no more then 1. An universall toleration and 2. an uncontrouled liberty for every one to Preach and expound Scriptures By an universall

Rutherford Due Right p. 281. 305. and by my selfe upon that ground of Scripture 1 Tim. 5.22 yet not without due limitation 1. As Probationers 2. Before the Elders or the Church in which he is constantly to preach So Mr. Hall limits it I have added 3. Not without the approbation of the Presbytery that is to ordain him 4. Not to make a work of it but to doe it some few times And Sir these are Scripture bounds For the text onely sayes A minori ad majus affirmandi Lay hands suddenly on none and Let him be first proved which is spoken of Deacons but holds a fortiori to preachers So that all his preaching must be in order to a proof and a securing of Timothy from laying on hands suddenly Now Sir the means must be proportionate to the end Reason tels you with these limitations it is granted sir 4. You say we grant that ordaining is not the onely thing necessary We grant it indeed for there must be before this ministeriall gifts 1 Tim. 2.2 and an inclination to the work 1 Tim. 3.1 5. We doe grant you That in extraordinary cases as when no regular ordination can be had nor any possibility of obtaining it as in case of persecution or the like or when people are dispersed into Countries where no Minister can be had or where a Church is to be planted amongst Infidels and so in the infancy of the Church Also in the corrupted collapsed estate generall disorder of a Church So when the Church is in any danger as in case of lack of a Pilat or Captain when the ship is in danger or the Souldiers assaulted the Marriners or Souldiers may appoint a Captaine or Master of the ship so may the people in these and such like cases set apart and appoint one of themselves to this office and here as they say God doth call immediately and extraordinarily Si itaque hic factum est in us qui immediate sunt vocati c. V Chemnit l. com p. 3. p. 137. Edit fol. V. Calv. Instit l. 4. sect 14. Necessitas non habet legem That same word such like comes in unhandsomely after your large enumeration of all the necessary cases I know or ever heard of Yea you reckon one too many For suppose a Church be to be planted amongst Infidels I thinke Gods way is the best way to doe it in So it was Acts 13.3 4 5 he did not send meerly gifted persons to doe it but calls from Heaven to his Church to set a part Paul and Barnabas before they went which they did by fasting and prayer and laying on of hands yet both of them were extraordinarily gifted Indeed if such ordination cannot be had we grant it 6. You say we grant That every private man may in his own family read and apply to his own family something from the letter of Scripture Expounding is not a proper terme for their ablities Otherwise we grant it 7. You say truely we grant That any private Christian may privately and occasionally exhort teach admonish reprove or comfort his brother 8. You say we grant That any private Christian may write upon any Scripture and teach another by pen. No Sir we onely say able orthodox private Christians may 9. We freely yield That private Christians occasionally meeting together may repeat Sermons relate experiences and confer one with another 10. We grant that private persons may make an open confession of their faith if called to it or forced to it 11. That Magistrates may give publique charges and make speeches and exhortations to the people we yield it 12. That any man may make a publique apologie or defence to cleare himselfe from unjust accusations we grant if he be called to it in seasonable time and convenient place he may doe it but not to justle out an Ordinance of God You say We will make further use of this afterwards We will wait upon you for that Sir In the mean time let me make a little And now conscientious Reader if thou beest of an humble learning spirit judge betwixt us the ministers of the Gospell and Mr. Sheppard Is there not room enough in these grants for a Christian in his own private family or in a private meeting if he be of an humble and sober spirit to exercise all the gifts he hath but the Pulpit must needs be made big enough for him to sit in even with the Ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ and to preach in their place Judge I pray thee Reader whether the Preachers of the Gospell of Christ in England be so guilty of smothering the brethrens gifts as Mr. Sheppard would make them to be p. 12 p. 74 75. of his book and see how those pages and these agree CHAP. III. Animadversions and an Answer to the fourth and fifth page of the booke stating the businesse in difference together with an account of the ten propositions he brings in order to the guard THis Gentleman comes now to his third Chapter and in that having already shewed wherein we agree both he comes to state the businesse in difference And in his first lines he sayes right that the Preachers doe affirm yea and must stand to that affirmation too till better arguments be brought us then this book will afford us That private persons though gifted and called Question stat i. e. d●sidered by the people may not ordinarily open and apply Scriptures in the publick assemblies of a constituted Church without a solemn setting apart to that office My brother Hall puts in a Call I balk't that word purposely because I knew what our brethren call a Call and I meant something more This point saith this Gentleman The people deny and oppose That 's no great matter if they cannot disprove it But in order to the mannaging of their opposition he brings us ten positions which he calls truths which well proved he thinks will guard this priviledge I hope he intends them not for a Life-guard to the pretended truth if they were they should stand neerer to it For for the first foure I will undertake for him that shall oppose the intended truth which chiefely lies in the fifth sixth and seventh He shall cut the throat of them if he will and neither a one of the first foure shall check him So the Van-guard stands for little but to make a shew Yet it will not be amisse to examine these for fear they should have a dagger more then any one sees and be more in the Authors meaning then they are in common view and apprehension The Vanguard then consists of these foure notions 1. That the Scripture doe as well belong to the people as the Preachers Quid inde what then or who denies it 2. That the people as well as the Preachers are to read and study the Scriptures God forbid but they should read and study them but what of that 3. That the Exposition of the