The wells of salvation opened, or, Words whereby we may be saved

1. This reproveth such as take upon them to preach the Gospel, and are no Ministers. And here let none mistake me, as if I spake against the preaching of any that are true Ministers of Jesus Christ, whether they be set apart for the work and office in the Episcopal or Congregational, or Presbyterian way: But I speak against the preaching of them which are no Ministers, and have no call nor commission for this ⟨p. 11⟩work. The Angel is sent here to Cornelius, but he doth not preach the Gospel to him; yea he did not dare to do it, because he had no commission; for if the Angel had received a commission to preach, he would not have dared to have forborne: None will deny that the Angel had gifts sufficient, if that had been commission; but because he did not preach, it is a sign he had no commission; and if the Angel did not dare to preach when he was not commissioned, how dare uncommissioned men to do it? I speak not only of the preaching of such as are lamentably deficient in gifts (except in their own conceit) but also of the preaching of them which have good gifts (which might well and regularly be made use of in a private way) but they are of other callings in which they are commanded to abide, if they would abide with God, 1 Cor. 7.24. How dare they to entrench so far upon the office of the Ministry, as to do that which is one of the chiefest parts of the work of the Ministry, namely, to preach the Gospel? If any such should read these lines, and have an honest design in what they do, and suppose they do well herein; let them seriously consider whether they be not under a temptation of the Devil, and think of these sad consequences which have been, and may be the fruit of such mens preaching.

1. This reproveth such as take upon them to preach the Gospel, and are no Ministers. And here let none mistake me, as if I spake against the preaching of any that are true Ministers of Jesus Christ, whether they be set apart for the work and office in the Episcopal or Congregational, or Presbyterian way: But I speak against the preaching of them which are no Ministers, and have no call nor commission for this ⟨p. 11⟩work. The Angel is sent here to Cornelius, but he doth not preach the Gospel to him; yea he did not dare to do it, because he had no commission; for if the Angel had received a commission to preach, he would not have dared to have forborn: None will dny that the Angel had gifts sufficient, if that had been commission; but because he did not preach, it is a sign he had no commission; and if the Angel did not dare to preach when he was not commissioned, how dare uncommissioned men to do it? I speak not only of the preaching of such as are lamentably deficient in gifts (except in their own conceit) but also of the preaching of them which have good gifts (which might well and regularly be made use of in a private way) but they are of other callings in which they are commanded to abide, if they would abide with God,