7. I allow, That it is _highly expedient_, whoever preaches in his name, should have an outward as well as an inward call. But that it is _absolutely necessary_ I deny. “Nay, is not the scripture express? _No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron?_” Heb. v. 4. Numberless times has this text been quoted on the occasion, as containing the very strength of the cause. But surely never was so unhappy a quotation. For, first, _Aaron_ was not called to preach at all. He was called _to offer gifts and sacrifice for sin_. That was his peculiar employment. Secondly, These men do not offer sacrifice at all; but only preach, which _Aaron_ did not. Therefore it is not possible to find one text in all the Bible, which is more wide of the point than this. 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.