Wesley Corpus

Could that great work have been promoted at all in many places, if laymen had not preached ? And yet how seldom do the very Papists urge this as an objec tion against the Reformation l Nay, as rigorous as they are in things of this kind, they themselves appoint, even in some of their strictest Orders, that “if any lay-brother believes himself called of God to preach as a Missionary, the Superior of the Order, being informed thereof, shall immediately send him away.” In all Protestant Churches it is still more evident that ordi nation is not held a necessary pre-requisite of preaching; for in Sweden, in Germany, in Holland, and, I believe, in every Reformed Church in Europe, it is not only permitted but required, that before any one is ordained, (before he is admitted even into Deacon’s Orders, wherever the distinction between Priests and Deacons is retained,) he should publicly preach a year or more ad probandum facultatem. And for this practice they believe they have the authority of an express command of God: “Let these first be proved; then let them use the office of a Deacon, being found blameless.” (1 Tim. iii. 10.) 13. “In England, however, there is nothing of this kind; no layman permitted to speak in public.” No! Can you be igno rant, that in an hundred churches they do it continually? In how many (particularly in the west of England) does the parish clerk read one of the Lessons? (In some he reads the whole Service of the Church, perhaps cv.cry Lord’s day.) And do not other laymen constantly do the same thing, yea, in our very cathedrals? which, being under the more immediate inspection of the Bishops, should be patterns to all other churches. Perhaps it will be said, “But this is not preaching.” Yes, but it is essentially such. For what is it to preach, but praedi care verbum Dei; “to publish the word of God?” And this laymen do all over England; particularly under the eye of every Bishop in the nation. Nay, is it not done in the Universities themselves? Who ordained that singing-man at Christ-Church; who is likewise utterly unqualified for the work, murdering every Lesson he reads? not even endeavouring to read it as the word of God, but rather as an old song!