Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	church_n	council_n	tradition_n	2,236	5	9.2761	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B25425	Troposchēmalogia: Tropes and figures; or, A treatise of the metaphors, allegories, and express similitudes, &c. contained in the Bible of the Old and New Testament To which is prefixed, divers arguments to prove the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures wherein also 'tis largely evinced, that by the great whore, mystery Babylon is meant the Papal hierarchy, or present state and church of Rome. Philologia sacra, the second part. Wherein the schemes, or figures in Scripture, are reduced under their proper heads, with a brief explication of each. Together with a treatise of types, parables, &c. with an improvement of them parallel-wise. By B. K; Tropologia. Book 4.	Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704.; De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685. Tropologia. aut	1682 (1682)	Wing K101A; ESTC R7039	690,855	608

having a Dispensation from Heaven which the Pope keeps the Keys of and fearing no Power on Earth for she hath the Beast the Secular Power under her she sits upon him and rides him and is not only distinct from the Secular Power but above it so as what of the Secular Power is still left at Rome is under the Conduct and Management of the Church there being no Civil Administration of Justice or Exercise of Laws but what is authorized and allowed by his Unholiness the Head and the Cardinals the Shoulders Breasts and Arms of the Church or State Ecclesiastical To make this fully evident the Pope doth not only exercise a Power of appointing Seculars in Rome and near to it but he claims the like Supremacy abroad in the Islands far off If the Secular Princes fall off from him or if they will not be reconciled to him as Head of Holy Church he will excommunicate and depose them and dispose of their Crowns Thrones and Scepters from them That the Pope is a Temporal Prince as well as an Ecclesiastical Bishop i. e. makes Laws exacts Tribute raises Souldiers and acts as a Monarch which fairly affords him the Title of Beast that his Royal Robes Chair he sits in to his very Hose and Shooes with the Vestments of Cardinals is Scarlet no Man can reasonably doubt That what the Civil Power claims and the Ecclesiastical Power exercises are not incorporated or entirely mix'd that the Princely Pope is in the Masculine and his Spouse the Church in the Feminine is owned by all Parties That the Church-State doth sit upon ride and govern the Secular at Rome Italy and all its Territories that the Church of Rome owns that she is no Widow but hath a Head called his Holiness or Supreme Ruler of the Church is so evident that we cannot find them upon any File or Record of Controversy There remains therefore no more to be done at this time but to frame our Argument upon the Premises and leave the Reader to prove the Weight thereof in the Ballance Argument If there be no visible State in the Christian World that doth so apparently sit upon command and govern the Beast or a great Secular Power cloathed with Scarlet Vestments as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Then is Rome Papal or Church of Rome the Whore of Babylon here treated of But there is no visible State in the Christian World that doth so apparently sit upon command and govern the Beast or Secular Power cloathed with Scarlet Vestments as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is the Whore of Babylon here treated of To reinforce this Argument we challenge any profest Papists Atheist or any else to shew where any other People or Parties are to whom these Characters agree and then we shall be content to let fall our Argument X. This Beast that Babylon sits upon commands and governs is not only cloathed with Scarlet but is full of the Names of Blasphemy c. Which may be taken in a threefold Sense 1. For reproaching the Name of God 2. For telling Lies in Divine Things 3. For ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to God And tho we will not excuse the Beast from the two former yet for brevity's sake we shall take the latter viz. the ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to Him that saith I am God and my Glory will I not give to another X. Rome Papal or Church of Rome sits upon commands and governs that Beast or Scarlet Power that is not only cloathed with Scarlet Vestments but is full of the Names of Blasphemy which appears by his receiving allowing and encouraging the ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to God and to his Son of which we give you but these Instances 1. When this human sinful and wicked Head is called our Lord God the Pope whether this is not Blasphemy against God 2. When he is called Universal Head of the Catholick Church which none is but Christ 3. When he is called the Lamb of God the Light of the World the Root of David the Lion of the Tribe of Judah whether this is not Blasphemy against the Son of God 4. Whether when the Orders of the Church Oral Tradition the Decrees of Councils are said to be of greater Authority than the Scriptures which they call a Nose of Wax the Hereticks Ink-Rule are perniciously mischievous to the People whether this be not Blasphemy against God that spake and the Word of God spoken 5. When Angels the Virgin Mary and other unknown Saints shall be invocated with Addresses only becoming the Divine Majesty as if these Creatures were infinite and could hear us at so great a distance as is Earth from Heaven which they could not do if perpendicularly over us much less from all parts of the World over which they cannot be whether this ascribing Infiniteness and Adoration to the Creature that is only due to the Creator who is over all God blessed for ever be not Blasphemy 6. To conclude Whether making a God of a piece of Bread and calling the prophane Priest the Maker of the Creature be not ascribing that to the Creature which only belongs to God Is not this the vilest Blasphemy in the World worse if possible than Atheism it self For as Philosophers observe 't is better having no Opinion of God than such an one as is unworthy of Him which we shall close with this Argument Arg. If no People in the Christian World are born up and supported by a Beast full of Names full of such Names or Inscriptions of Blasphemy as Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome must be this Babylon treated of But there is no People in the Christian World born up and supported by such a blasphemous Beast as Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Ergo c. To reinforce this Argument let it be considered that none can pretend to fix this Character or Mark upon any Protestant Dissenters from the Church of Rome called Hereticks who have no such Beast to support them nor ascribe such blasphemous Titles or Adoration to any Creature in Heaven or Earth For they acknowledg the one God the Object of Divine Worship one Mediator between God and Man the Lord Jesus and God's sacred Truth to be the only Rule disowning all Principles and Practices contradictory thereunto Ergo 'T is not the Protestant Dissenters from the Church of Rome that are here meant XI Babylon that sits upon a Scarlet-coloured and blasphemous Beast is adorned with great Pomp and outward Glory very well fitting that Spirit that delights in Grandure Rev. 17.4 And the Woman was arrayed in Purple and Scarlet and deck'd with Gold and precious Stones and Pearl having a Golden Cup in her hand full of Abomination and Filthiness of her Fornication Which must be such as none of her Neighbours can match her in else no Note of Distinction XI

forbidden but now through Christ there is a free Trade opened again to Heaven Convinced and repenting Sinners may be stored with all Things they need as Pardon Peace Union and Communion with God and eternal Life even all the Riches of Grace and Glory Ho every one that will Come buy and you that have no Money come buy Isa 55.1 and ●at yea come buy Wine and Milk without Money and without Price VI. Those that honour an Ambassador honour the Prince that sent him but those that abase slight or despise him do also despise the Prince or State that sent him We cannot despise this Messenger and yet honour his Master saith Mr. Gurnal VI. So those who receive and shew all due respects to Christ's faithful Ministers honour Christ whose Deputies they are and whose Person they represent Few are so bold as to say with that proud King Who is the Lord Exod. 5.2 that I should obey him Yet many dare say Who is the Minister that I should obey his Message or repent at his Summons or tremble at the Words he speaks What 's he Do I not know him What 's he better than us Shall I mind what he says A Rush for his Doctrine c. But let such read that Word He that heareth you heareth me Luk. 10.16 and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me VII An Ambassador should take heed he cast no Indignity upon his Office by any base or unworthy Practice he should behave himself with all Wisdom and Gravity and avoid all dirty and unseemly Actions for in so doing he would bring much Honour and Renown not only to himself but to his Master also that sent him VII So Ministers must be holy Men that they bring not themselves and the Dignity of their Function into Contempt A wise grave and gracious Behavior exceedingly becomes a Minister Paul saith he magnified his Office O then let others take heed they do not vilify and debase it That which another Man may do without much Reproach you cannot do but it will be to your great Blemish and Dishonour nay and to the Dishonour of Christ and of his Truth also VIII An Ambassador is to do his uttermost endeavour to negotiate and accomplish such Matters he is sent about he must see to his Charge For if the Treaty of Peace or Marriage or Ambassy for Commerce and Trade succeed not the Ambassador is sure to be called to an account how he hath discharged his Place c. VIII So Ministers must see the Work of their Place and Function They are saith Gurnal ' called Ambassadors in regard of their Duty as well as Dignity where there is Honor there is Onus Places of Honour are Places of Trust Many like well enough to hear the Ministers Dignity with Diotrephes they love Preheminence yet would willingly be excused the Work that attends it None have a greater Trust reposed in their Hands than Ministers 't is tremendum Onus a Weight that made the Apostle tremble under it I was among you saith Paul with much fear and trembling They have the Charge of Souls committed to them one of which is more worth than all the World no less than the Price of Blood the precious Blood of Jesus Christ To them is committed the Word of Reconciliation Hence they pray and beseech and use all Means imaginable to bring the Souls of Men to Terms of Peace and Reconciliation with God through Christ they knowing the sad and dreadful Effects if they speed not in their Ambassy Knowing the Terror of the Lord we persuade Men. And in another place saith Paul We pray you in Christ's stead be you reconciled to God For if the Treaty of Peace between God and Sinners doth not succeed the Minister is sure to be called to an account how he discharged his Trust in the Business c. IX An Ambassador is to keep close to his Instructions he is in nothing to act contrary to or derogate from his Commission IX So Ministers must see they keep close to the Word of God they had need to take their Errand well before they come into the Pulpit or Assembly of God's People I have received of the Lord what I delivered unto you They must speak nothing require nothing preach nothing but what is according to the Authority of God's Word which is above the Church Senates General Councils or any Authority whatsoever These Ambassadors must act and do exactly according to their Commission c. X. An Ambassador must not only act according to his Commission as to Matter but must deliver his Message also with much Zeal and with all due respect had to his Master or Prince that sent him He must not prosecute his Business coldly or after he hath had Audience give himself to the Pleasures of the Court where he is resident and mind his Affairs no more or not regard how his Master's Business succeeds What Answer will he be able to return Surely if he should do thus he could not say he had done the Work of a faithful Ambassador c. X. So Ministers must be fitted with Zeal and act diligently in their Places or prosecute their Business vigorously their Hearts must be deeply engaged in their spiritual Ambassy They are to preach with all fervency as having the Sense of Christ's Honour and the Worth of immortal Souls upon their Hearts and not only say Thus and thus saith the Lord and be satisfied to see People willing to give them the hearing Tho they may thank them for that Civility yet they must not quit them unless they see they accept of the Terms of Peace and Reconciliation offered to them in Christ's Name through the Gospel They must shew them the Profit that will accrue to them if they do comply and the Danger on the other hand if they do refuse and that it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for them XI It behoveth an Ambassador to be faithful in all things to his Master's Interest and not to become a Pensioner to a Foreign Prince for such an on● is utterly unworthy of such an honourable Employment XI So Ministers must not comply with Christ's Enemies or seek for Reward from them such as would betray his Interest whatever is proffered them But as we are allowed of God to be put in Trust with the Gospel even so we speak 1 Thess 2.4 5. not as pleasing Men but God which trieth our Hearts For neither at any time used we flattering Words as ye know nor a Cloak of Covetousness God is Witness XII An Ambassador ought to seek the Interest of his Fellow-Subjects and shew much Love Care and Tenderness to them so far as the Interest of his Prince will bear and not to do any thing to the spoiling of their Trade c. XII So Ministers ought to seek the Good and Welfare of all the Saints and

I dwell for I have desired it And as for sanctified Ones they are not only Dwellers in it but the very Materials of it so that it can never be without them It being also founded upon a Rock cannot fall Mat. 16 1● The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it IV. Other Houses are liable to be destroyed either by Fire or razed by an Enemy so that one Stone may not be left upon another IV. But the House of God hath stood ever since it was erected notwithstanding the many Plots and Designs of Satan and his Instruments by one means or other if possible to have destroyed it so as that there might not have appeared so much as the Dust or Stones no nor so much as any Sign left in any Part or among any People in the World whether there had been such a Building or no. But blessed for ever be Jehovah that it may yet be said Walk about Zion Psal 48.12 13 14. and go round about her tell the Towers thereof mark well her Bulwarks consider her Palaces that ye may tell it to the Generation following For this God is our God for ever and ever He will be our Guide even unto Death Inferences THis calleth aloud upon all the Members of God's House to strive more and more not only to be a meet Habitation for God but to beautify and adorn this House by their holy and heavenly Conversations Holiness becometh thy House O Lord for ever 2. Let all take heed how they defile or deface this House either by plucking out a Stone or a Pin or touching a Hair of the Head of any that are of this Building 3. Let all God's People examine what their Zeal is for God's House or whether they do truly prize the very Dust and Stones thereof The Church compared to a Family or Houshold Amos 3.2 You have I known above all the Families of the Earth 1 Tim. 3.15 The House of God which is the Church of the Living God Gal. 6.16 As we have Opportunity let us do good unto all Men but especially to the Houshold of Faith Eph. 2.19 Now therefore ye are no more Strangers and Foreigners but Fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God A HOUSE in the holy Scripture is sometimes put for the Family or Houshhold and sometimes for the Structure or Building it self In both these respects the Holy-Ghost runs the Parallel in respect of the Church Metaphor Parallel 1 Tim. 2.20 IN a great House are not Vessels of of Gold and of Silver only but of Wood and of Earth some to Honour and some to Dishonour SO in the Church of God there is a Mixture of Good and Bad Sheep and Goats sincere Christians and Hypocrites like as in a Eield there is a Mixture of Wheat and Tares and in a Floor of Grain there is Chaff as well as Corn tho when any appear unsound drossy and ungodly she turneth them out When the Family of Christ consisted but of twelve Men there was a Judas amongst them II. In a great Family there are Persons of different Ages of different Strength of different Relations to the Master of the Family and of different Employments II. So in the Church of God there are little Children young Men 2 Joh. 2.12 14. Heb. 5.11 12 13 14. and Fathers there are weak and stronger Christians some that stand in need of Milk some that are fit for strong Meat some that need to be led and carried in Arms some that are Teachers and Rulers and others that are taught and ruled III. The Master chief Head or Governor of a Family provides and takes care of all that belong to him 1 Tim. 3.8 hence the Apostle saith He that provides not for his Family is worse than an Infidel and hath denied the Faith III. So God the great and good Master of this heavenly Family doth and will provide for all and every Soul that belongs to him Mat. 6.25 to 30. Take no thought for your Life what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink nor yet for your Body what ye shall put on Why take ye thought for Raiment Consider the Lillies of the Field how they grow they toil not neither do they spin Therefore if God so cloath the Grass of the Field which is to day and to morrow is cast into the Oven shall he not much more cloath you O ye of little Faith The young Lions do lack and suffer Hunger but they that fear the Lord Psal 84.11 shall want no good thing He will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly My God shall supply all your Wants c. Phil 4.19 Casting all your Care upon him for he careth for you c. IV. A Family is also under the Government of him who is the chief Head and Ruler thereof IV. So is the Church under the Government of Christ and every Member is subject to that Authority Order and Rule which he hath left therein V. The Master of a Family defends his Family to the uttermost of his Power against all Enemies V. So doth the blessed God defend and preserve his Church whose Power is infinite So will the Lord of Hosts defend Jerusalem defending Zech. 9.15 also he will deliver VI. Every Person in a Family is privy to all such things as are publickly done in the House many of which ought to be concealed and not divulged to others It is a Reproach to a Person of an honourable Family to make known any thing that is done in the House which ought by all means to be kept secret VI. So each Member of the Church is privy to all such things as are done publickly therein and many things done therein do so particularly relate to the Family that it is an evil thing and justly to be reproved for any Member to divulge or make such private Matters known to others The Church of God in this respect as well as in some others should be as a Spring shut up Cant. 4.12 as a Fountain sealed c. VII It is a great Honour to a Family when it is well governed It was this very thing that the Queen of Sheba was so much taken with when she came to see Solomon 2 Kings 10.1 2 3 4 5. It is said When she saw his Wisdom and the House which he had built and the Meat of his Table and the Sitting of his Servants and the Order of his Ministers and their Apparel and his drinking Vessels and his Burnt-Offerings that he offered in the House of the Lord she was astonished c. In a Family the Governor ought to know his Place and all the rest to be in subjection or else great Confusion and Disorder will break forth Hence a Bishop ought to be one that rules well his own House having his Children in subjection with all Gravity What is more lovely in a Family than

Pilgrim but he had such a cruel Burthen upon his Shoulders that he tired before he came to the end of his Journey Covetousness or an unsatisfied Desire after the Things of this World is compared to a Burthen or Load of thick Clay Who enlargeth his Desires as Hell and cannot be satisfied c. Wo to him that encreaseth that which is not his how long Hab. 2.5 6 And to him that ladeth himself with thick Clay Would not a Man that hath a long Journey to go be laugh'd at should he carry with him a heavy Burthen of Dirt and Rubbish Such Fools are many Professors See Runner III. A Pilgrim in his Travels goes up-hill and down-hill sometimes he meets with good Way and sometimes with bad Way Sometimes he passeth over Stiles and through dirty Lanes and then again through green Fields and pleasant Pastures and delightful Paths till he comes to his desired Place III. So the Pilgrim that would travel to the New Jerusalem meets with various Ways and Passages 1. He must go out of the horrible Pit of Prophaneness that is Work enough for the first Day 's Journey 2. Through the Brook of sincere Repentance or true Contrition for every one that leaves open Prophaneness is not truly penitent 3. Down the Valley of Self-denial a very difficult Passage 4. Over the Mountains of Opposition for the Devil and all will straitway make head against him 5. Over the Stile of carnal Reason Immediatly I consulted not with Flesh and Blood 6. Into the pleasant Ways of the New Covenant 7. So upon the Top of the Rock of Ages and there he may take a Prospect of his own Country IV. A Pilgrim that hath a long and difficult Way to travel is very thoughtful how to find the right Way being a Stranger in that Country through which he must pass And besides being told there are many cross Ways and Turnings and hard difficult Passages to find he takes care therefore to get a good and skilful Guide lest he should lose his Way IV. So the spiritual Pilgrim spares no Cost omits no Study to get the best Information imaginable of the ready Way to the Land of Promise He ceaseth not to enquire of such as pretend themselves to be Guides and such as know the Way but finding them to be short-fighted and ignorant of the Way themselves he seeks further And as he goes along one cries This is the Way Mat. 24.23 another That Some bid him believe as the Church believes and he shall never go astray Others bid him co●form to the Laws of Men and do whatever the Supreme Authority of the Nation doth enjoin in Matters of Faith and Religion Others call upon him to be led wholly by the Light of his Conscience and that will bring him unto the Land of Promise the Place he longs for And at last he meets with another that seems yet to differ from them all and greatly to slight and condemn one grand Fundamental God's Word holds forth under plausible Pretences He cries up Holiness and just Living which all confess is required but in the mean time strives to persuade him to cast off the Satisfaction of Jesus Christ and trust to his own Righteousness or to refined Morality rendring Faith in Christ crucified little more than a Fancy and that the main Design of Christ in coming into the World was only to be a Pattern of Holiness and Humility But he perceiving the Danger great upon this account and that none of these Pretenders could give any convincing Evidence why they should be believed and their Counsel followed above others he rejected all their Directions and resolved to be led by none of them further than their Doctrine agreed with a certain Directory which through the Grace of God he hath obtained namely the written Word of God and that tells him plainly The Way is Christ viz. Christ as a Priest dying for him to appease the Wrath of God Joh. 14.6 and make Atonement for his Sin fulfilling the Law and bringing in everlasting Righteousness Christ as a King to subdue his Sin and to rule and reign over him Dan. 9.24 according to those blessed and wholesom Laws Ordinances and Institutions given forth by him and left in his Word Christ as a Prophet to teach and instruct him Christ as a holy Pattern and Example to imitate and follow so far as by the help of Grace he is able See Surety Sin a Debt The Word compared to Light The Spirit to a Teacher and Guide He hath learned of Christ to be holy and is helped therein by the Holy-Ghost to excell his Neighbour and denies all his Ungodliness and worldly Lusts and yet casts himself only on Christ relying upon his Merits labouring to be like him in all things as the Apostle observes 1 Joh. 3.3 He that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure He lets his Sins go nay loaths that which is evil he lives a mortified Life unto the World and yet trusteth not to any thing that he hath done or can do for eternal Life Acts 4.12 knowing there is no Salvation but by Christ alone He is as godly as any Socinian in the World and yet magnifies the Riches of God's Grace and Christ's Merits so as not to expect Justification any other way V. A Pilgrim often meets with Trouble and great Difficulties in his Way by Winds Storms and Tempests hard Weather Cold Frost and Snow deep and bad Ways and many Dangers which he narrowly escapes V. So the spiritual Pilgrim is also exposed to many Difficulties in his Journey Heaven-wards Terrible Storms sometimes arise Winds of Persecution and Temptation blow so hard that he is scarce able to stand upon his Legs Psal 73.2 My Feet were almost gone my Steps had well nigh slipt c. He is often beset with Crosses and Afflictions that he is as a Man in the Mire and can hardly get out VI. A Pilgrim is a Stranger in the Country through which he passeth and being not known he is much gazed on and sometimes abused by the rude Rabble all which he takes with patience and makes no resistance VI. So the Godly are Strangers in this World And confessed Heb. 11.13 that they were Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth David breaks forth Hold not thy peace at my Tears Psal 39.12 for I am a Stranger with thee and a Sojourner as all my Fathers were Hence they are made oftentimes a Gazing-stock to Men by Reproaches and Afflictions Heb. 10.33 And how grievously have they been abused by the wicked Rabble of the Earth as Jesus Christ himself testifieth If ye were of the World the World would love its own Joh. 15.19 22. but because ye are not of the World but I have chosen you out of the World therefore the World hateth you All these things will they do unto you because they know not him that sent me VII A

the Word reflects back upon himself as it were Physician heal thy self Paul could say in the truth of his Heart to the Saints It is not yours but you I seek This was the beastly Sin which God so loathed in the Prophets and Rulers of Israel You are greedy Dogs which can never have enough that cannot understand they all look to their own Way every one for his Gain from his Quarter Compared with that of Micah 3.11 The Heads thereof speaking of Zion judg for Reward and the Priests teach for Hire and the Prophets divine for Money yet will they lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord amongst us VI. Faithful Rulers are a great Blessing to a People and ought to be cheerfully obeyed reverenced and submitted to 'T is a great Sin to speak evil of Dignities or despise Dominions R●m 13 1. Let every Soul be subject to the higher Powers c. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake 1 Pet 2.13 14. whether it be to the King 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Foundation and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the People the Foundation of a People as Supreme or unto Governors c. VI. So Ministers faithful and able Ministers are no small Blessing and Sign of God's Favour to a People yea great Benefit we receive by them in many respects as might be shewn They feed guide counsel and pray for us as well as rule and govern us and therefore they ought to be with all readiness obeyed Obey them that have the Rule over you Heb. 13.17 and submit your selves for they watch for your Souls as they that must give an Account c. And to speak evil of Ministers is to despise their high and holy Function 't is a God-provoking Evil. There were some in the Apostle's Times who were crept into the Church who like Corah spake against the Dignity and Power of the Apostles and Ministers of Christ who in a sence are said to be the Foundation of God's People whom the Apostle characterized and shews what their End is like to be Who were presumptuous self-willed and were not afraid to speak evil of Dignities Their Hearts rose against the Servants of God for exercising Authority in Christ's Name which is given to them What said Korah All the Lord's People are holy c. as if he should have said Is this Moses more than others But we see what became of him Numb 16. VII Some Rulers or chief Magistrates do not cannot pass any Act or Law such is the Nature and Constitution of the Government where they live without the People No Law can be made but with the Assent and Consent of the People in their Representatives in Parliament as it is here in the English Nation VII So Christ's Ministers or Pastors of Churches cannot by virtue of any Authority given by the Lord Jesus pass any Act either for the receiving in or casting out of Members c. without their Brethren c. They must have the Assent and Consent of the Church Many Reasons might be given for it which I shall omit If he neglect to hear the Church Mat. 18.17 let him be unto thee as an Heathen Man or Publican VIII Rulers should rule their People in Love shewing all Tenderness and Bowels to the Disobedient like tender-hearted Fathers unless it be towards those that are notorious Criminals VIII So should Ministers labour to act in their places towards the Saints in Love and to shew all Tenderness and Meekness with Compassion to such who through weakness transgress See Fathers and not to be severe to any unless obstinate and capital Offenders on such Justice ought to be executed IX Rulers that rule well are worthy of double Honour IX So faithful and laborious Ministers that rule God's House well ought to be greatly respected 1 Tim. 5.17 Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double Honour X. Rulers are very needful there is a great Necessity in all Societies and Communities of Men of Government and Rulers What is a Nation City or Family without Rule Rulers or Government but Disorder and Confusion X. The Need there is of Rulers in God's Church is very great God being a God of Order and not of Confusion in all the Churches of the Saints The Necessity of them appears by considering the Nature of divers of the Metaphors we have opened concerning them What would become of a Flock of Sheep if they had no Shepherd c. Rulers Disparity RUlers or earthly Governors are commonly Noble-men Men of great Name cloathed with outward Glory and Grandure CHrist's true Ministers are of little or no esteem in the eyes of the Men of the World they are commonly accounted base low and contemptible c. Ye see your Calling Brethren 1 Cor. 1.26 27 28 29. how that not many wise Men after the Flesh not many mighty not many noble are called But God hath chosen the foolish Things of the World to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak Things of the World to confound the Things that are mighty and base Things of the World and Things which are despised hath God chosen yea and Things that are not to bring to nought Things that are that no Flesh should glory in his Presence II. Many earthly Rulers are Lords and lord it over their Brethren II. But Christ's Ministers are contented to be Servants Even as their Lord and Master came not to be ministred unto but to minister and was on Earth as him that served So his Ministers must not assume the Title of Lords nor must they lord it over God's People Neither as being Lords over God's Heritage but being Ensamples to the Flock 1 Tit. 5 3. Inferences ANd now to conclude with this Head from the Whole we may infer these Particulars following 1. That a true Minister of Christ is one that is truly converted a gracious holy and sincere Person one that hath the experience of the real Work of God upon his own Heart 2. A Member of a true constituted Church i. e. a Community of godly Christians that have given up themselves in a solemn Covenant in the Fear of God to walk in Fellowship and Communion together according to the Rule of the Gospel amongst whom the Word of God is truly preached and the Ordinances duly and in a right manner administred 3. That he ought to be chosen by the Church according to the Direction left by the Apostle 1 Tim. 3.1 to 6. Tit. 1.5 to 9. 4. That he ought to be a discreet Person endued with considerable Gifts and Abilities by the Holy-Ghost 5. If called to be a Pastor or Elder he ought to be ordained by the laying on of hands of the Presbytery or Eldership 1 Tim. 4.14 1 Tim. 4.14 6. That he ought to be very laborious and give himself wholly to the Work of the Ministry making the Word of

only a Woman and a City but a very evil Woman and a City of Confusion There is the Name of the Lamb much spoken of but his Doctrine undervalued and slighted his Laws trampled upon and violated his Example not regarded for Imitation either by the Bishop himself his Cardinals or inferior Orders having his Humility and Self-denial only in Words like those the Apostle speaketh of that in Words profess God but in Works deny him For under this verbal Humility here is the greatest Pride in the World under this verbal Meekness and Self-denial the greatest Oppression and Cruelty Covetousness and Love of the World as appears by their pompous Garbs their cruel Punishments and the vast Sums of Money brought in from all parts of their Dominion by Sleights and cunning and deceitful Cheats Besides a meer Hodg-podg of Principles one Order or Fraternity professing that which another writes against and cries down which is the more strange to come from a Church infallible Besides the strange Mixtures in their visible Worship of Traditions and human Inventions of lying and diabolical Tricks of blessing by a Cross consecrating holy Water and cleansing by it which are too numerous and tedious to relate and the less needful because every Man that hath seen their Ways hath an imperfect Book of it in his own Mind and can read the Truth of what we say within himself And let any People in the Christian World pretending to Religion be compared to them for supernumerary trifling and insignificant Ceremonies crouded into their pretended Worship nay let all the People in the Christian World be laid in the Ballance against the Church of Rome in this respect and they will be found inconceivably wanting for which we have this Reason to judg her to be Babylon and the City of Confusion If there is more Confusion in Contrariety of Principles Practices contradicting Pretensions crouding in Supernumeraries and Mysteries of Unscriptural Inventions into visible Worship in Rome Papal or the Church of Rome than is to be found amongst any or all People pretending Religion in the Christian World besides Then is Rome Papal or the Church of Rome the great Babylon or City of Confusion But there is more Confusion in the forementioned Respects to be found in Rome Papal or the Church of Rome than in any or all People pretending Religion in the Christian World besides Ergo c. IV. Babylon is not only a Woman and a City a City of Confusion but she is a Whore which is a strange Word to be applied to a great and famous People a Word that carries in it one of the highest Impeachments but no other than was given to Israel Isa 57.3 16.17 Hos 4. 5.3 Judah and Jerusalem in the Days of old upon a very good Reason for they being joined in Covenant with God to serve him in Obedience and Subjection did like to an adulterous Woman break Wedlock and set up other Lovers or Idols in his stead Ezek. 16.38 Hos 1.9 2.2 5. and continued so a long time till a Bill of Divorce was given and God proclaimed them not married to him as his Wife but a Whore and divorced yet it is observable that they used his Name tho they worshipped Idols and cried The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are we IV. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is not only a Woman and a City a City of Confusion but according to Scripture-History and notorious Matter of Fact she is a Whore also and may be justly so called for in the Apostles Time she joined her self to the Lord by firm Ties of a Gospel-Govenant and Profession and was the renowned Spouse of the Son of God owned and profess'd him in the Time of Heathenism received the Apostles and Servants of God amongst them withstood the Fury of the Emperors suffered Persecution had their Faith spoken of throughout the whole World and yet after all this like Israel of old she left God and his holy Laws made Idols to her self of Saints Angels Reliques and Images upon which she doted and forsook the Son of God upon the working and appearance of the Man of Sin who exalted himself into the place of Christ and became her Head by which means she is so far degenerated from what she once was that she retains nothing holds fast nothing of what really appertains to true Godliness but the bare Names of God and Jesus Christ having corrupted the true Worship of the Son of God her first Husband and notoriously abandoned Obedience to him taking this vile Person to be her Head and chief Guide and setting him in the Place of and Dignity above her first Head and true Guide of her Youth and yet like Israel of old still cries The true Church the Catholick Church the Mother-Church are we having on her Forehead a strange Mystery written i. e. God Christ Truth Verity Infallibility and next to this there lies nearest her Heart Devil Pope Lying Deceit Perjury Idolatry and horrible Cruelty towards the best of Men professing Christ and Religion in Uprightness and Truth For which Change of her first Head Husband and Guide of her Youth for this vile Person with which she commits most abominable Lewdness together with the Kings of the Earth she is ranked by the Angel amongst the worst of Women and stiled as her Type and Predecessor of ol● a well-favoured Harlot or of the Angel a Woman a City and notorious Whore which ill and black Characters we conclude with this Argument If there be no Body of professing People in the Christian World that hath so apparently de●lined or adulterated from what they once were deserted the holy Doctrine Example and right Government of Jesus Christ and set up another visible and publick Head of the Church in room and stead of him whose Power and Laws are preferred above and before the Authority and Laws of the Lord Jesus as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this Whore spoken of But there is no Body of professing People in the Christian World that hath so apparently declined or adulterated or deserted the holy Doctrine Example or right Government of Christ ut suprà Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this Whore spoken of To reinforce this Argument let it be shewed by any Man that any People different from the Church of Rome hath made such a Change in point of Religion and Headship and Matters thereto pertaining so as that this black Character of Whore can more fitly and fully be made to meet upon them and we must confess our Argument not weighty but till then we conclude it carries Conviction in the Bowels of it V. Babylon this Woman this City of Confusion this Whore is a very great Woman City and Whore And the great City was divided Rev. 16.19 Chap. 17.18 chap. 18.10 Verse 16. And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City