§. XIX.
2. The Words Man’s Wisdom brings beget not Faith.Secondly, This Manner of Preaching as used by them (considering that they also affirm, That it may be and often is performed by Men who are wicked, or void of true Grace) cannot only not edify the Church, beget or nourish true Faith, but is destructive to it, being directly contrary to the Nature of the Christian and Apostolick Ministry mentioned in the Scriptures: For the Apostle preached the Gospel not in the Wisdom of Words, lest the Cross of Christ should be of none Effect, 1 Cor. i. 17. But this Preaching, not being done by the Actings and Moving of God’s Spirit, but by Man’s Invention and Eloquence, in his own Will, and through his natural and acquired Parts and Learning, is in the Wisdom of Words, and therefore the Cross of Christ is thereby made of none Effect. The Apostles Speech and Preaching was not with enticing Words of Man’s Wisdom, but in Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power, that the Faith of their Hearers should not stand in the Wisdom of Men, but in the Power of God, 1 Cor. ii. 3, 4, 5. But this Preaching having nothing of the Spirit and Power in it, both the Preachers and Hearers confessing they wait for no such Thing, nor yet are oftentimes sensible of it, must needs stand in the enticing Words of Man’s Wisdom, since it is by the mere Wisdom of Man it is sought after, and the mere Strength of Man’s Eloquence and enticing Words it is uttered; and therefore no Wonder if the Faith of such as hear and depend upon such Preachers and Preachings stand in the Wisdom of Men, and not in the Power of God. The Apostles declared, That they spake not in the Words which Man’s Wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, 1 Cor. ii. 13. But these Preachers confess that they are Strangers to the Holy Ghost, his Motions and Operations, neither do they wait to feel them, and therefore they speak in the Words which their own natural Wisdom and Learning teach them, mixing them in, and adding them to, such Words as they steal out of the Scripture and other Books, and therefore speak not what the Holy Ghost teacheth.
3. The Church’s Method was to speak by Revelation.Thirdly, This is contrary to the Method and Order of the Primitive Church mentioned by the Apostle, 1 Cor. xiv. 30, &c. where in Preaching every one is to wait for his Revelation, and to give Place one unto another, according as Things are revealed; but here there is no waiting for a Revelation, but the Preacher must speak, and not that which is revealed unto him, but what he hath prepared and premeditated beforehand.
4. The Spirit is shut out by Priests from being the Teacher.Lastly, By this Kind of Preaching the Spirit of God, which should be the chief Instructor and Teacher of God’s People, and whose Influence is that only which makes all Preaching effectual and beneficial for the edifying of Souls, is shut out, and Man’s natural Wisdom, Learning, and Parts set up and exalted; which no Doubt is a great and chief Reason why the Preaching among the Generality of Christians is so unfruitful and unsuccessful. Yea, according to this Doctrine, the Devil may preach, and ought to be heard also, seeing he both knows the Truth, and hath as much Eloquence as any. But what avails Excellency of Speech, if the Demonstration and Power of the Spirit be wanting, which toucheth the Conscience? We see that when the Devil confessed to the Truth, yet Christ would have none of his Testimony. And as these pregnant Testimonies of the Scripture do prove this Part of Preaching to be contrary to the Doctrine of Christ, so do they also prove that of ours before affirmed to be conformable thereunto.