Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	aaron_n	call_v	priesthood_n	56	3	9.9122	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45157	A second discourse about re-ordination being an answer to two or three books come out against this subject, in behalf of the many concern'd at this season, who for the sake of their ministry, and upon necessity, do yield to it, in defence of their submission / by John Humfrey, min. ; together, with his testimony, which from the good hand of the Lord, is laid upon himself, to bear, in this generation, against the evil, and to prevent, or repress (as much as by him may be possible) the danger, of the imposition.	Humfrey, John, 1621-1719.	1662 (1662)	Wing H3709; ESTC R9881	127,714	152

about it it appears to me that both what this author sayes may be fully answered and what I have is for the main not touched or in the weight not impaired I can but be sorry my ability hath been no more to serve those I have desired and be content such as I have to lay out yet once more in their behalf and my own though I must needs say with such a heavie and weakned spirit in good earnest that I have more need to crave their prayers unto God and be supported my self then to offer fresh support and furthersatisfaction to others He giveth power to the saint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength A hard task it is upon me unto him I look up and I cannot well tell from whence to derive my discourse which is sure to meet with so much prejudicate interest and opinion It is Custom I know and the common apprehension that rules the many and while their heads run shallow it is not enough for a man to embark in a sound bottom unlesse we have something of the tide also and stream with us I remember what a strange thing the Antipodes seem to Lactantius as others of the Fathers and to beleeve any habitable land beyond the Ocean was to the antient Clemens another world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is enough certainly to make truth it self seem a crime if it appears but singular and if Paul himself but offers to bring some new thing they will determin it before-hand to be babbling though it was the spread doctrine of the Christian Religion And yet is not this all but there are the several engagements of mens spirits and concernments to bee met with also wherein one must look to run the fate of such who are engaged in arbitrations who when they have most carefully discharged their trust doe reap but ill will on both sides and only have left them the testimony of their own conscience that though both parties that are extream be displeased yet both have cause to be content Hee persued and possed safely even by the way that he had not gone with his feet There is a School adage well applyed to the Intellect Intus existens prohibet alienum and I perceive indeed here that the common notion which lies upprrmost hath so filled the minds of most that Orders makes us Ministers which should bee rightly understood and that we are Ministers already that they have no thoughts hardly left them free born for the discussion of this matter It is besides the Original humour of man to be apt to think of himself more high then he ought to think as the Apostle speaks and not soberly according to the measure God hath dealt him and hereupon is the Ordainer ready to beleeve that in Orders he conferrs no lesse then the holy Ghost it self his grace or gifts or the spiritual power at least of the Ministry which all are indeed the prerogative I take it alone of Jesus Christ and does argue both the pride of some mens understandings that dare assume so much without Gods word and the lownesse of others to take it up upon trust as if our Protestants all as well as the Papists were of that opinion A large presumption that lying at the bottom of this dispute does require some of our first and most serious thoughts about it as introductory to our businesse I said I will answer also my part I also will shew my opinion To fetch this matter from the beginning Let us look unto the Priests under the Law and observe what God almighty hath said in the first place Exod. 29.9 The priests office shall be Aarons and his sonnes for a perpetual statute I gather from hence that the Right power dignity office of Priesthood did flow immediately upon the priests under the law from this statute which is undoubtedly Gods will appointing of it If the spiritual power or authority of the priest as our Book of Orders calls us came only by such a delegation that conveighes the same through mans hands then was the priests under the law no priests or had no power for they were not ordained priests but born priests and this right and power of priesthood was theirs we see expresly by this statute for ever We read indeed of the priests sanctifying themselves often to some particular work as to carry the Ark to cleanse the Sanctuary and the like but we read not that they were to be consecrate to their office as I yet finde We read indeed that the high Priest as he succeeded was to be consecrate and annointed and so Aarons garments were kept on purpose but forasmuch as this dignity it self of the high priesthood came also by birth it is apparent that their annointing and consecration did not give them their right and office but only solemnize and confirm it as princes who are so by birth cannot have the regal office conveighed but declared and ratified by their inauguration As for the rest of the priests we read of one consecration only by Moses at once for all of them Lev. 8. Exod. 29. And certainly we may conceive if God did intend that the Ministerial power should be conveighed ordinarily through the hands of man any otherwise then as the signifiers of his will then should not one consecration it is like have sufficed for all but he would have commanded every one of them to be particularly consecrate or set apart for the receiving that power by man in their generations Besides when Aarons sonnes are consecrate at once by Moses this is all you shall find in it An Investiture by several ceremonies you may see Lev. 8. which all are manifestly without the least word or form of conferring power by the way onely of external solemnization and an Attonement made by sacrafice for them because else they might not approach the holy God in their fins and therefore is is said This shalt thou do to hallow them to minister in their office Exod. 29.1 It is not said This thou shalt do to give them their office Their office was conferred by Gods appointment and the hallowing them is only to the work that they might stand before the Lord to execute their service in the holy place And now let us come to look also under the Gospel All power sayes Christ is given me in heaven and earth Go preach and baptize Here we see from whence the authority of the Ministry is derived and that is from him only who is the Master of discipline and fountain of power And does he say this to his Apostles only No it followes And lo I am with you alway even to the end of the world Again when he ascended and gave gifts to men as he gave some to be apostles so he gave some to be pastors and teachers Eph. 4 It is he then gives the office putting us in the Ministry as Paul speaks 1 Tim. 1.12 In Mat. 9.38 It is the father