Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

In the next place I shall instance in the Preaching of the Word. This (however slighted ⟨p. 376⟩of late, some Papists calling the Protestant Ministers in a scoff, Praedicantici; and some Protestants, such as they are, calling Preaching Prating,) is yet a great Ordinance of God such as hath had a standing in the Church in all Ages. God himself was the first Preacher, first promulgating to Man his solemn Command touching the forbidden fruit; and after the Fall, that Protevangelium in the Promise of the seed of the woman, that is, the Messiah. Adam (as Franzius probably conjectures) was wont at his Sacrifices for nine hundred years to preach of the Messiah promised. Enoch as early as he was in the World preached of the last day, Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints, Jude v. 14. Noah was a preacher of righteousness, 2 Pet. 2.5. and without doubt told them of the approaching Deluge. Abraham had his [Greek or Hebrew] his Incipients or initiated Ones, whom he taught in the Divine Law as well as in arms. Afterwards in Moses's time there were Priests and Levites to expound the Law to the people. In Samuel's time there were Colleges of Prophets, and there the Word was preached to the people: In these Colleges was the first rise of Synagogues, and that of Naioth in Ramah, 1 Sam. 19.18, 20. is translated by the Chaldee Paraphrast, Domus Doctrinae, the House of Learning, because there the Word of God was taught. The Great Solomon was a Coheleth or Preacher; his Ecclesiastes is a Penitential Sermon of the Vanity of all things. The ⟨p. 377⟩Prophets were Preachers of the Word, and so were the Scribes, who were therefore called Text-Men or Masters of the Text; and said to sit in Moses's Chair, because they expounded the Law. Also in the Jewish Church they did by the Imposition of hands called Semiea, ordain Presbyters; some of whom were for Judicature, and others for Teaching the Law: Thus Preaching came down successively to the Times of the Gospel, in which we have a solemn Command To Preach to every Creature; To be instant in season out of season, To labour in the Word and Doctrine; nay, To travail in birth till Christ be formed in men. The Apostles, after their Master Jesus Christ who was the greatest of all Preachers, dispersed themselves up and down the world to propagate the Gospel.