humane Learning but layes down Rules for choice without this expedient 1 Tim. 3. Object 2. But possibly some may say Is it not there said Let not him that is chosen be a Novice and is not that as much as to say unlearned or unskilful in learning To which I Answre 〈◊〉 but our learned Tribe Novices God forbid they should think so or the Lord's Peoples Portion be no better for then none besides the Learned should have been capable of choice but Paul acknowledgeth that the Corinths were wise not only their Ministers but they 1 Cor. 1.4 5. with Epist 2.11.19 But to Answer this more fully Paul intends onely a young unskilful unexperienced Christian and not a young Grammarian or Logician for he may be as proud as any that hath most skill in Arts as many Instances shew and this is the reason laid down by the Apostle why he must not be a Novice lest he be pussed up with pride and surely if the learning here meant be Oxford Cambridge I mean of the Schools Paul it seems knew men were very quick to know what learning he meant since Scripture and himself knew another Learning better which the Scriptures shew as I have offered or else he foresaw men would as at this day idolize and dote upon these painted Feathers wherefore he saith if any thing but very little for this University-breeding cryed up as so absolutely necessary for Preaching although the Scriptures know nothing of it Object 3. But some may say Are not the Schools of the Prophets mentioned in Scripture as in the place 2 Kings 22.14 Is it not said that Huldah the Prophetess dwelt in a Colledge and had not the Prophets peculiar places of residence and habitation wherein as in Vniversities or Nurseries of Learning they studied and improved themselves in order to Preaching or Prophesying as we real 2 Kings 2.3 5. 〈…〉 Acts 19.9 If there were any more of these 〈◊〉 I should have considered them also but so many have onely come to my knowledge To all those Scriptures I Answer they do not in the least oppose the Truth I have asserted that not Humane but Spiritual Wisdom fits for Preaching the Gospel of Christ For grant that these places intended Colledges and Universities and such like places yet it follows not that these were places imployed or improved for Trayning or preparing Persons for Gospel-preaching for it doth not appear that any Gospel-preachers issued forth from thence And secondly The Prophets and Prophetesses we read of were extraordinary Prophets and not such Preachers or Prophets as the Doctrine intends and speaks of but if Schools and Universities will fit us to be such Prophets as can declare things to come from the Lord then let us all that fear the Lord go to these Schools that we may learn thus to Prophesie But this is not a mediate but an immediate Gift either by Dreams Visions or Oracles And thirdly For Tyrannus his School mentioned in the forecited Acts 19. nothing is there declared concerning what he taught nor whom he taught but most probable it was not Gospel-knowledge and infallible it is it was not how men might be qualified for Preaching for this was not permitted or allowed any open Schools in that place at that day as appears by the contradiction Paul there met withal and how needless had it been to a learned Hebrew or Greek since that was their Mother-Tongue many of them being Jews and Greeks as vers 10. declares but Tyrannus was allowed to teach in his School wherefore it is probable he taught nothing of this sort of Knowledge Object 4. Some do Object and say How can a Preacher know that the Scripture is rightly translated that knows not the Original I Answer By the same way and means that the unlearned People of the Lord come to know it and it concerns them and is necessary for them to know though I say not of the same necessity For if they be not assured that the Scriptures as translated are rightly translated what shall they build their Faith on except on their learned Leaders and Translators honesty and ability and this is to pin their Faith in a business of most weight and concernment on the Priests sleeve and this is but to believe as the Church believes and so the blind leading the blind they may both fall into the Ditch Secondly I Answer It is not by knowing Arts and Sciences or Languages Preachers or People can come to be assured that the Scriptures are the Word of God and rightly translated but by the humble sanctified and diligent searching into and studying of the Scriptures 't is by comparing things spiritually together as the Apostle tells us saying Which things also we speak not in the words which Man's wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual 1 Cor. 2.13 I say by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus must we nay may we know the Power and Spirit Truth and Purity of the Scriptures and it is the Godly judicious Spiritual Christian best knows how aptly or corruptly they are translated And thirdly I Answer Grant this were so which I do not grant yet this Learning and Excellency is more requisite and essential to a Translator Examiner or Corrector of translated Copies than to a Gospel-preacher But lastly Since so many thousand Learned as well as Godly have sealed the Truth of the Scriptures Purity and Divine Authority notwithstanding all its humane Imperfections in Translation therefore we need not now or continually University-Learning to do that Work which is already sufficiently done to our hands Object 5. Some do Object and say How can the Scripture be interpreted in dark passages without this help I Answer As a Lanthorn without a Candle will no way help to shew a man his way though a Candle without a Lanthorn may no more can this dark Lanthorn of humane Learning and Languages without the Candle of the Lord as too abundant experience hath witnessed but that Candle singly can and doth Miserable Experience sheweth what Interpreters the School-men and Fathers have been and yet are even the Fathers of well-nigh all the Individual Errors in Judgment and Practice in the European World The Devil and the Learned may be admired for them if for any thing but take some Scriptures for proof of so weighty a Point when our Lord comes to shew how Ministers and Interpreters of Scripture shall be furnished for this Work he saith When the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak and he shall shew you things to come John 16.13 The like Testimony gives Paul But we speak the wisdom of God in a Mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the World unto our Glory which none of the Princes of this World knew for had they known it they would not have Crucified the Lord of
these things as you have it seeing yâ—â— know these things but they he describes and call unlearned are those he mentions in the second Chapter of this Epistle whom he calls false Prophets and false Teachers Note It is not the unlearned Hearers but the learned Preachers that are the perverters and deceivers of the People through mistaking Paul's Writings and other Scriptures These are the Men the Church and the World are only beholden to for privily bringing in damnable Heresies and causing the Truth of God to be evil spoken of Vers 1 2. These are the Brute beasts made to be taken and destroyed speaking evil of the things they understand not even the Saints and the Scripture and the waies of God Vers 12. These learned Prophets are the Welâ— without water and the Clouds carried with a Tempest vers 17. These are the men that Speak great swelling words of vanity and allure through the lusts of the flesh through much wantonness those that were clean escaped from them who live in Error So that we may boldly conclude That Humane Learning and Wisdome is neither Prophets nor Preachers wisdome or fit furniture for such work But because I foresee that Demetrius and his learned Crafts-men will make no small stir about this Doctrine concerning Humane Learning I shall lay down some Arguments to back and confirm what hath been said Arg. 1. If Humane Wisdome or Learning be essential to qualifie a Preacher for preaching then the Scripture Rule concerning a Preachers-qualification is imperfect and obscure which is sinful to imagine because it neither requireth or provideth for such low earthly-membring Qualifications as Tongues and Sciences which teaches Preachers not to preach without it What the Scripture requires as a Preachers Qualification you may read 1 Acts 4.5 It is the promise of the Father expounded vers 5. to be the Baptism of the Holy Ghost So 1 Timoth. 2.2 to the 7.2 Tim. 2.2 and 15. with Chap. 3.14 15 16 17. Arg. 2. If Humane Learning or Wisdome be the Preachers Wisdome then the best of Preachers have slighted and neglected the main or grand Qualification 1 Corin. 2.1 And I Brethren when I came unto you I came not unto you with excellency of Speech or of Wisdome declaring unto you the testimonies of God And Paul gives the reason of his so doing For I determine not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ Vers 2. and again saith he My Speech and my Preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdome but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power vers 4. yet Paul would have the Rabbies and Sticklers for enticing words and mans wisdome know That his illiterate Preaching was perfectly accomplisht Preaching Howbeit we speak wisdome among those that be perfect yet not the wisdome of this world nor of the Princes of this world that come 〈◊〉 nought vers 6. Take but one place more Act. 4.13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men they marvelled mark these marvelous Preachers had preached most publickly and resolved still to preach as publickly yet neither had this Wisdome or Learning but were ignorant and unlearned and resolved so to remain Therefore clear it is this wisdome is not Preachers wisdome else these great Preachers could not have wanted it or which is all one if they had it 〈◊〉 improving it about this great work which some say doth so fit men for it Therefore this Wisdome in Controversie cannot be Preachers wisdome Thirdly Take this Argument to prove that Humane Learning is not the Preachers Wisdome because then many both allowed and enjoined to Preach would be found unable to preach through want of this furniture or wisdome as many oâ— the Prophets or prophesying Members of thâ— Church who though they have the gifts of the Spirit and have passed through the New-birthâ— yet have never attained this Wisdome or sat at Gamaliel's Feet But such may be allowed of as competent Preachers as I have largely proved in the Second Doctrine Arg. 4. The consideration of who is the Spring of Gospel-preaching will make it necessarily appear that humane Wisdom is not the Preachers Wisdom but the Lord Jesus and not man's how learned soever Ephes 4.7 to 15. Vnto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christ and so forward compared with Rev. 19.10 which saith The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophesie Arg. 5. Take this Argument why I affirm that the Wisdom that the Gospel-Preacher ought to have is not humane Learning or Wisdom because the Gospel is that which is to be Preached not humane Wisdom or Excellency nor the Gospel in a way of humane Wisdom or Excellency Nay the Gospel is in the very nature thereof contrary to humane Excellency being plain and simple though most holy and pure in the Nature and Administrations thereof therefore needs not Arts or Sciences to comprehend or reveal it Nay the Apostle seems to imply that Learning mixed with or used in the Preaching of the Gospel doth but corrupt or sophisticate and adulterate it as the Fly doth the Apothecaries Box of Oyntment Eccl. 10.1 2 Cor. 2.17 But to proceed Arg. 6. Take this Argument The Subjects or Persons to whom the Gospel is to be preached or predicated are not the Orators Wise and Excellent of Wit but the Simple the Vulgar the Mean and Contemptible according to that word Mat. 11.5 The poor have the Gospel preached 〈◊〉 them 1 Cor. 1.26 27 28. And Christ said That he was anointed to Preach the Gospel to 〈◊〉 poor Therefore they need not learned that 〈◊〉 humanely learned Preachers but spiritual wâ—â— Physitians What need French-men to speak them that only understand English Or need Man Geometry or Mathematick Logick or Râ—torick to Preach to Men and Women of no hâ—â— mane Understanding Only God hath promisâ— to teach them so much spirituality as conceâ—â— their Souls But as to this glorious literature 〈◊〉 but as the gilded Trappings upon an Ass to maâ— him to be respected Arg. 7. To require or injoyn humane Learâ—ing or Wisdom as necessary or essential to eveâ— Gospel-Preacher is to require that for a requiâ—â— which is directly contrary to the main end of Gâ—spel-Preaching which is to Preach Christ and Knowledge unto the People and not to Preach 〈◊〉 Preacher or his Knowledge into the People 〈◊〉 great end of Gospel-Preaching is not to Preaâ— forth or declare man's breeding or learning in the People or to shew the Preachers excellency 〈◊〉 humane things or excellencies or breeding up mâ— in worldly or humane Knowledge but to tâ— men from Darkness to Light and from the Pâ—â— of Satan into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of Gâ— and to edifie and build up such as are converted the Knowledge and Grace of our Lord Jeâ—â— Christ Arg. 8. If the Church even every unlearneâ— Church in humane Learning must judge and 〈◊〉 the
Glory 1 Cor. 2.7 8. But some may say How came the Preachers of the Gospel in that day to this Wisdom Not from Universities or humane Learning but from the Grace and Spirit of God as you have it But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things mark it yea the deep things of God vers 10. And this Paul proves vers 11. For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of a man which is in him Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God this is further witnessed unto vers 12 13 14 15 16. Object 6. May some say How shall a Preacher be able to withstand or confute gain-sayers without learning For every one that is a Scholar and subtil will sophisticate and use fallacies and wrest the Scriptures and his Arguments from him if he be not a Scholar Now Beloved I pray you do but consider what is said in this Objection and you have here discovered the learned Man's Excellency it is to sophisticate and deal fallaciously with the Simple and the Truth Beloved take heed of them as such who have learned the skill to deceive the simple But yet a little further to Answer this seemingly so weighty an Objection Know God's way or the right way for a Preacher to answer Gain-sayers is to have the Word of God dwell richly in him in all wisdom that out of that Library or good Treasure he may be able to convince them of the contrary part Thus Paul taught injoyning Preachers to hold fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and convince the Gain-sayers Tit. 1.9 10. the like you have in 2 Tim. 3.13 14 15 16 17. Object 7. Some may say This is to subject Preachers and Preaching to contempt and scorn For if Preachers need not be learned who will not be a Preacher Who more bold than the ignorant or men of ignorance And who will reverence Preaching or Preachers if it be so easie and common a work for any man that is unlearned Will it not be very simple and mean Preaching if Preachers want Breeding Arts Languages and Sciences to garnish and dress out their Preaching with Lively and Apt Similes Rhetorical and Elegant Words To all which I thus Answer in the fear of the Lord. First It is never the more easie but much more the harder for any to Preach whilst we affirm no humane Acquirements but supernatural Attainments that fits or qualifies Persons for Preaching Secondly If all or any seek or undertake to Preach it follows not that all shall or can Preach No there are many Learned yea and unlearned Intruders upon Preaching which do not nor can Preach for all they rush or run upon the work for it is written A man can receive nothing that is no such Gift except it be given him from Above John 3.27 And saith Paul How can one Preach except he be sent And thirdly Though this unnecessary Tool be laid aside yet are there many other helps which every Preacher must have both Natural and Divine which every man hath not no not every Godly Man nor can attain to therefore to be an Accomplished-Preacher is not so easie though it matters not how easie But fourthly If it be said Who then will reverence Preaching or Preachers I Answer Though an undue reverence is not to be sought or desired and every able Preacher is truly and most eminently worthy of reverence yet when the Love of God and the Work of God lies warm upon the Preachers heart then the main business of a Gospel-Preacher will be to get Christ not himself reverenced For we Preach not our selves but the Lord Jesus and our selves your Servants for Christ's sake 2 Cor. 4.5 And let me tell you as David said to Michael 2 Sam. 6. Even of the Hand-maids shall such be had into honour whilst the proud Locusts of the bottomless Pit despise them I say Every such Soul that is Preached to will reverence that lip which hath spoken Christ to his heart as hereafter may more appear but if the blind cannot yet the seeing eye will reverence such Preaching and that the more because it is plain and simple But lastly Whereas they tell us that Preaching will be very mean and simple if the Preachers be unlearned and want Arts Sciences Rhetorick and Logick to help them to apt Expressions Similies to set forth Heavenly things by I Answer No if men be wise that Preach it will not be simple Preaching If Preachers be dayes-men or men of experience in Christ's Gospel and Satan's Wiles for if the Spirit of God can help the unlearned to words sufficient to speak to God in Prayer surely he is much more able to help the unlearned Preacher to sufficiency of words to speak to the Satisfaction and Advantage of unlearned simple sinful earthly ignorant Men and Women yea Babes and Sucklings therefore no need to serve an Apprentiship for Words at the Schools Thus I have Answered this Objection Object 8. Some may say If Preachers be not Scholars and Artists there are many things in the Scripture which they cannot resolve or explain at the weights of the Sanctuary of old and Places and Countries as where they lie and in what Continent Scituation Latitude and Distance one from another c. To which I Answer This is but superfluous or unnecessary Knowledge which every Gospel-Preacher may honourably be without And if a Preacher cannot attain it without humane Learning he may Preach as truly and as profitably Christ's Mysterie and Man's Duty from such Scriptures as if he could resolve such Riddles or unnecessary Questions For could not Ezckiel Amos and the Prophets prophesie against Egypt Tyrus Moab Babylon and the rest of the Heathen-Countries as well as if they knew their Longitude or Latitude Yes doubtless as clearly as other-ways for that did not concern them but only to denounce the Judgments of God against them other knowledge of Places is onely or mostly necessary for such as are Travellers or Historiographers who else may miss their way or mar their Work but 't is not so with a Preacher 't is enough for such to Preach that Babylon shall fall because she hath sinned and that Nineveh repented and therefore was spared wheresoever the one or the other Country is and that whatsoever Countrey or People soever they be that sin against the most High and do not repent shall also perish first or last yea even England though we know where it lies without repentance must doubtless perish Object 9. May not some say to me Doth not Solomon the Wise even the Preacher in my Text say Prov. 1.22 It is fools only that hate or slight Knowledge so it is only unlearned ignorant mechanicks that speak thus slightly and contemptibly of Learning and Knowledge Is not every thing beautiful in its season I Answer It is not to
Peoples loss is great whose Preacher is a Fool even so that Peoples gain is much whose Preacher is wise unless themselves be in fault This our Preacher gives us saying The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them because he knoweth not how to go to the City Woe to thee O Land when thy King is a Child and thy Princes eat in the morning Blessed art thou O Land when thy King is the Son of Nobles and thy Princes eat in due season for strength and not for drunkenness Eccles 10.15 16 17. Secondly They are stiled Masters of Assemblies or Societies which is a title and place of honour Now as it is Preachers honour thus to be accounted so it is the Peoples blessing and advantage have such Master-Workmen to be their Servants that can wisely and profitably serve them That this is Preacher's honour who are wise to be styled Master-Workmen in God's Israel take a Text or two Master we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God in truth Mat. 22.16 with 3 John 10. Therefore to have such Workmen must needs be the Peoples blessing and advantage Objection But some may Object and say Is it not written But the Anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things 1 John 2.27 Answer To which I Answer first The Scripture no where really contradicts it self any where but agrees with it self every where and only so ought to be expounded Therefore this of John must not contradict those of Paul which have been cited which it would if this were admitted to be the sense That sanctified or anointed Persons need not the teachings of any man no though the wisest of men Which what can be more contrary to this How shall they hear without a Preacher But let us take great heed of making Scripture so much as seem to fight with it self But secondly to what hath been Objected I Answer The word need not may be taken comparatively not absolutely or positively not no need at all but not that need ye once had and all have that have not your anointing such as are partakers of the Unction of the Holy Ghost in a work of conversion have not afterward such need of any to teach them as once they had because now under the teachings of that Anointing Nor thirdly have they such a degree of need as such have who are yet without this Unction and are unregenerate They mostly need teaching who are unregenerate how much soever taught with other teaching But fourthly Consult the place and the scope is not to put by the preaching of wise but of seducing Preachers as appears vers 26. These things have I written unto you concerning them which seduce you Now though they had no need of the teachings of such as would seduce them yet it follows not that they had no need of the teachings of such who would not seduce them Fifthly Consider that though those who lived under the Apostles teaching had not such need of teaching as such who wanted that teaching yet that they wanted no teaching doth not follow And lastly Take this for Answer Such as have received the Anointing spoken of though they never enjoy afterwards any humane or instrumental teaching yet shall be taught by the Anointing provided it be God's providence not the improvidence which keeps other means of teaching from them In extraordinary cases God can and will work without means In ordinary cases God will work by means and ties us to attend upon him in the use of means and thus Faith comes by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10.17 And so much for Answer of this Objection But now to return to the confirming of this Doctrine As their Titles so the Acts assigned to them by the Text and which ought to be performed of them or at least designed by them that is to be as Goads and Nails in the sense given upon the place They are Leaders Conductors or Guides of the Flock of Jesus Christ And how unskilful are the choicest Sheep to lead and conduct themselves aright in their way or journey Any Pastor as well as their proper Pastor shall become their Pastor if not conducted and guided by wise and skilful Leaders or Overseers Therefore saith the Psalmist He chose David also his Servant and took him from the Sheep-folds from following the Ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his People and Israel his Inheritance So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands Psal 78.70 71 72. But again Wise Preachers are not onely necessary because Master-Workmen and so Skilful and Guides and Leaders of the Flock and so useful But Thirdly They are resembled to Goads and Nails and how necessary are they the use of Goads are to excite and quicken dull and slothful Cattel to go forward and of such use is the wise Preacher both towards Sinners and Saints And thus practised Holy Peter who saith This second Epistle beloved I now write unto you in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the Holy Prophets and of the Commandments of us the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour 2 Pet. 3.1 2. And the need the Church hath of such Workmen the Prophet Isaiah tells us saying There is none that calleth upon thy Name that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee Isa 64.7 But Lastly To set out the worth and need of wise Preachers and their words they are resembled to Nails alluding as I suppose to the fixing stablishing Nails of the Tabernacle which how glorious a contrivance and workmanship soever in it self yet would have been of little lustre small use and short continuance if it had not injoyed these Stakes Pins or Nails to fix and fasten it as in a sure place Isa 22.23 24 25. In like manner O how mutable unsetled and like unfixed and wandering Meteors would the World and the People of God be were they without these sure hold-fasts these divine Nails and Pins as witnesseth Moses where he saith For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt your selves and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you Deut. 31.29 Which Prophesy was fulfilled Judges 2.10 11. But this may suffice to confirm and clear this Doctrine That wise and Spiritual-Preachers and their words are very useful and necessary for the spiritual benefit and service of God's People as the things mentioned or the choicest things in Nature can be for natural use or service Let me now come to the Application hereof The first Vse is of Information The first Use shall be for Information If wise Preachers and their words be such choice blessings to that People which enjoy them then how mistaken are such as
hate Knowledge to cry up the Spirit 's Teaching and the Scriptures Wisdom the best of Learning and to cry down this empty dangerous smoaky humane Learning I say 't is not slighting or despising Learning to distinguish and difference it from Spiritual and Heavenly Knowledge to teach that humane Learning such as the difference is about is not necessary or helpful for Preaching doth neither deny or imply that Learning is useful or less than a Gift of God and useful as other natural Gifts and Excellencies are Is that Plant good for nothing which is not good for food or delightful to smell on Oh no for it may be good and profitable for Physick Even so is Learning even this Learning in Controversie to teach men Civil and Political Government or fit men for Magistracy but dangerous for Gospel-Preachers good for Physitians Lawyers Historians Navigators Surveyors of Land and the like but needless for Preaching good for Travellers Merchants Souldiers and the like but not for Home-dwellers or Church-men doubtless there are many lawful and laudable uses for humane Learning though this be spared therefore I hope none will say I despise it though I affirm it ought not to be injoyned or imposed as essentially necessary for Gospel-Preaching And thus I have endeavoured to Answer all such Objections as I have met with that are brought against that which hath been offered to wit that humane natural or artificial Wisdom or Learning is not the Gospel-Preachers Wisdom mentioned in the Text or that which will fit a man to be a Gospel-Preacher or qualifie unto Wise and Gospel-preaching in the Negative Let me in the Affirmative now declare what this Wisdom is which every Gospel-Preacher ought to have and cannot be competently qualified unto Preaching without it it is the saving sanctifying Grace of God and Spiritual Gifts and assistance of the Spirit of God This Divine Wisdom is Essential Wisdom for a Preacher and having this Wisdom though without other Wisdom a Preacher may be sufficiently accomplished unto Preaching For the better clearing of this I shall more particularly open wherein Preaching-Wisdom lies in three things First That the Preacher be enriched with the Wisdom of Grace or the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of Wisdom and a good understanding have all they that do thereafter Prov. 1.7 Psal 119.10 To be spiritually Wise is to be seasoned with Salt of Grace to be instated in Covenant with the Lord Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom as well as Righteousness 1 Cor. 1.30 31. Though every gracious Person is not a Preacher yet he who-ever he be that undertakes to Preach cannot be wise enough to be Christ's Preacher that is not Holy and Sanctified in Jesus Christ this the Lord seems to prove to Jeremiah 1.5 Before I formed thee in the Belly I knew thee and before thou camest out of the Womb I sanctified thee and ordained thee a Prophet unto the Nations Mark God layes the Foundation of Prophecy or Preaching in electing Love and sanctifying of the Heart not education of Learning or excellency in Brain Thus the Lord Jesuâ— dealt with Paul to qualifie him for Preaching Gal. 1.15 16. It pleased God who separated 〈◊〉 from my Mothers Womb and called me by hâ— Grace to reveal his Son in me that I might Preacâ— him among the Heathen immediately I conferrâ— not with flesh or blood neither went I up to Jerusâ—lem to them which were Apostles before me â— So 2 Tim. 1.5 6. with chap. 3.14 15. But secondly Preaching-Wisdom or the Gospel-preaching-Wisdom consists in having mucâ— and plentiful experience of the way of God's dealing with poor Souls when he delivers them out 〈◊〉 sin and brings them into a state of Grace Everâ— wise Preacher or skilful Work-man that needeâ— not be ashamed ought to have clear and plentiful acquaintance with Satans Wiles Temptations anâ— Delusions and with all the Concernments of a poâ—â— sinning sinking sorrowing Soul and therefore ought not to be a Novice in the dealings or out goings of God with poor Creatures He is 〈◊〉 Preach from Experience not for Experience a Merchants that travel to the Indies or the Antichristian Priests of the World do A Gospel-Preacher should be able to say as John saith iâ— his first Epistle Chap. 1. vers 1. That which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the Word 〈◊〉 Life that declare we unto you v. 3. So saith Paul 〈◊〉 are not ignorant of his wiles and devices 2 Cor. 2.11 He that Preacheth â—ithout or beyond Experience is like a man that tells one his way to a Place or Countrey he never saw he must do it very rawly and uncertainly Even so it is in this case He that is to guide others in their way to Heaven ought to have gone it before himself or else he will prove an uncertain Guide to others Thirdly and lastly Every Gospel-Preacher's Wisdom should lie in having rich and plentiful acquaintance with the Scripture not only or so much in the Letter as in the Sence Scope Doctrine and real Interpretation of the Word And if these things be in a Preacher and abound with continual Prayer and uninterrupted fellowship of the Spirit of Grace he shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus 2 Pet. 1.8 And thus having proved and opened this Doctrine to wit That every Gospel-Preacher ought to be wise that is spiritually Wise I shall proceed to make some Application of the Point The first Vse is of Information First Let it be a word of Instruction or Information first To shew us how unwise such Preachers are and how unfit to be Preachers unto others who are so unwise as to oppose and deny this Doctrine That Grace and Spiritual Gifts or Wisdom is sufficient and essential to a Preacher Nothing shames and truly cloudes the honour and reputation of persons pretending to worth and judgment more than to be ignorant or deceived in or about their own Callings or Imployments For a Philosopher to mistake in the Nature of Philosophy or a General of an Army to be ignorant of the very Theory or Discipline of War Is it not a great shame It is no less shameful for the Trâ—â—â— of Levi the Princes and Fathers of the Church the Popes and Prelates of our day to be such â—â—staken deceived Doves as to be ignorant and 〈◊〉 madly confident in bewraying their Egyptian blindness concerning their professed Art at Trade Preaching and the right qualifications 〈◊〉 Preachers although they get all their great Wealâ—â— by Preaching or Appendixes thereunto as 〈◊〉 Universities Courts Pulpits and learned Vâ—lumes to assert this blind and Anti-scriptual Coâ—clusion that Humane-Breeding University-Learâ—ing Languages and Sciences are essential Qualiâ—cations such as without which no man can 〈◊〉 ought to meddle with Gospel-Preaching contraâ—â— to what hath largely been proved May I not