8. “But what was the practice of the apostolic age?” You may easily see in the _Acts of the apostles_. In the 8th chapter we read, _There was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem: and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles_, ver. 1. _Therefore they that were scattered abroad, went every-where preaching the word_, ver. 4. Now were all these outwardly called to preach? No man in his senses can think so. Here then is an undeniable proof, what was the practice of the apostolic age. Here you see not one, but a multitude of _Lay-preachers_, men that were only sent of God.
9. Indeed so far is the practice of the apostolic age, from inclining us to think it was _unlawful_ for a man to preach before he was ordained, that we have reason to think, it was then accounted _necessary_. Certainly the practice and the direction of the apostle _Paul_ was, to _prove_ a man before he was ordained at all. _Let these_, (the deacons) says he, _first be proved: then let them use the office of a deacon_――1 Tim. iii. 10. Proved? How? By setting them to construe a sentence of _Greek_? And asking them a few common-place questions? O amazing proof of a minister of Christ! Nay: but by making a clear, open trial (as is still done by most of the Protestant churches in _Europe_) not only whether their lives be holy and unblameable, but whether they have such gifts as are absolutely and indispensably necessary, in order to edify the church of Christ.
10. *“But what if a man has these? And has brought sinners to repentance? And yet the bishop will not ordain him?” Then the bishop does _forbid him to cast out devils_. But I dare not forbid him. I have published my reasons to all the world. Yet ’tis still insisted, I ought to do it. You who insist upon it, answer those reasons. I know not that any have done this yet, or even made an attempt of doing it. Only some have spoken of them as very weak and trifling. And this was prudent enough. For ’tis far easier to despise, at least, seem to despise an argument than to answer it. Yet till this is done I must say, when I have reasonable proof that any man does cast out devils, Whatever others do, I dare not forbid him, lest I be found even to fight against God.
11. And whosoever thou art that fearest God, _forbid him not_, either directly or indirectly. There are many ways of doing this. You indirectly forbid him, if you either wholly deny, or despise and make little account of the work which God has wrought by his hands. You indirectly forbid him, when you discourage him in his work, by drawing him into disputes concerning it, by raising objections against it, or frighting him with consequences, which very possibly will never be. You forbid him, when you shew any unkindness toward him, either in language or behaviour: and much more, when you speak of him to others, either in an unkind or a contemptuous manner: when you endeavour to represent him to any, either in an odious or a despicable light. You are forbidding him all the time you are speaking evil of him, or making no account of his labours. O forbid him not in any of these ways: nor by forbidding others to hear him, by discouraging sinners from hearing that word, which is able to save their souls.
12. Yea, if you would observe our Lord’s direction in its full meaning and extent, then remember his word, _He that is not for us, is against us; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth_. He that gathereth not men into the kingdom of God, assuredly scatters them from it. For there can be no neuter in this war. Every one is either on God’s side or on Satan’s. Are you on God’s side? Then you will not only not forbid any man that _casts out devils_, but you will labour to the uttermost of your power, to forward him in the work. You will readily acknowledge the work of God, and confess the greatness of it. You will remove all difficulties and objections, as far as may be, out of his way. You will strengthen his hands by speaking honourably of him before all men, and avowing the things which you have seen and heard. You will encourage others to attend upon his word, to hear him whom God hath sent. And you will omit no actual proof of tender love, which God gives you an opportunity of shewing him.
IV. 1. If we willingly fail in any of these points, if we either directly or indirectly forbid him, _because he followeth not us_, then we are _Bigots_. This is the inference I draw from what has been said. But the term _bigotry_, I fear, as frequently as it is used, is almost as little understood as _Enthusiasm_. It is, too strong an attachment to, or fondness for, our own party, opinion, church and religion. Therefore he is a _bigot_, who is so fond of any of these, so strongly attached to them, as to forbid any who cast out devils, because he differs from himself, in any or all these particulars.