Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	bind_v	earth_n	loose_v	5,255	5	10.5190	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90932	The preacher sent: or, A vindication of the liberty of publick preaching, by some men not ordained. In answer to two books: 1. Jus divinum ministerii euengelici. By the Provincial Assembly of London. 2. Vindiciæ ministerii euangelici. By Mr. John Collings of Norwich. / Published by Iohn Martin, minister of the Gospel at Edgfield in Norfolk. Sam. Petto, minister of the Gospel at Sand-croft in Suffolk. Frederick Woodal, minister of the Gospel at Woodbridge in Suffolk.	Martin, John, 1595 or 6-1659.; Petto, Samuel, 1624?-1711.	1658 (1658)	Wing P3197; Thomason E1592_2; ESTC R208851	240,824	381

a relation yet it doth not follow that it is so by whomsoever it be performed Obj. 2. Heb. 7. Without controversie the lesser is blessed of the greater Answ The Apostle asserteth Christ to be an High-priest after the Order of Melchisedec Heb. 6. ver 20. and giveth a reason of it Heb. 7. 1. and in the excellency and greatness of Melchisedec he setteth forth the excellency of Christ who is after has order ver 2 3 c. he proveth the greatness of Melchisedec and so of Christ because he blessed Abraham ver 6. and so must be greater then Abraham who received the blessing ver 7. without all contradiction the less is blessed of the greater But what is all this to prove that preaching is an act of authority Doe preachers succeed Melchisedec or Christ Can they bless with a High-priests blessing Are they greater then Abraham as he that gave this blessing was There is a blessing of reverence and worship so men bless God Psal 68. 19. Blessed be the Lord who dayly Dickson londeth us with his benefits There is a blessing of Charity so men bless one another by mutual prayer Rom. 12. 14. Bless them which persecute you bless and curse not It is required as a duty not of preachers only but of all Christians thus to bless yet neither of these kindes of blessing do imply superiority or authority or that he is greater who blesseth then he that is blessed He that blesseth by an Original inherent power as Christ doth he is greater then he that is blessed and of such blessing the Text speaketh but he that blesseth Ministerially and instrumentally is not alwayes greater then he that is blessed nor is the blessing alwayes an act of authority Object 3. The Apostle suffers not women to preach because they may not usurp authority over the man 1 Tim. 2. but is commanded to be in subjection upon which place Oecum The very act of teaching is to usurp authority over the man Answ There is a plain distinction and difference made in the very text alledged between teaching and usurping authority for the words are these But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man but to be in silence 1 Tim. 2. 12. That particle nor doth plainly intimate that two things are forbidden 1. Teaching 2. Usurping authority And a womans usurping authority over her husband seemeth to be the thing directly forbidden by the Apostle rather then the usurping of authority over the Church and hence the words are nor usurp authority over the man and the reasons inforcing it from the mans being first created ver 13. and from the womans being first deceived ver 14. speak it to be an usurping authority over her husband rather then over the Church that is forbidden However there is no such thing found in the Text as that the act of teaching is to usurp authority over the man Object 4. The publick work of the Ministry of the word is an authoritative administration like unto that of Cryers Heralds and Embassadors to be performed in the name of the Lord Jesus and therefore may not be performed by any but such as are authorized and immediately or mediately deputed by him 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. appears because in preaching the Key of the Kingdom of Heaven is used Answ 1. These titles we spake to in another place and thither we refer the Reader 2. A warrant from the written word to preach is authority enough and this we have shewn gifted men have If men who are not authorized by Christ to preach will do it and if this be an usurping of authority yet what is all this to prove either 1. That it is to usurp authority over the Church Or 2. That to preach without Ordination to the work is to usurp such authority over the Church These are the things which not being proved their Argument falleth 3. That there is a Key of Knowledge we grant Luk. 11. v. 52. which Christians who are not in Office may use 1 Cor. 12. ver 7 8. 1 Cor. 14. 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. And in Discipline the power of 1. Excommunication is the binding Key that which shutteth the Kingdom of Heaven the Church against offendors 2. Re-admission is the loosing Key or that which openeth the Kingdom of Heaven the Church to such as repent Matth. 18 vers 17 18. If he neglecteth to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican Verily I say unto you Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven Here the binding Key and the loosing Key are used about Church-censures and if both these were given to the Officers onely which we deny yet gifted men might preach neither can they gain any thing from the Keyes to prove that preaching is an Act of Authority much less to prove their Proposition Argum. 6. That which the Scripture reproves may no man practise But the Scripture reproves uncalled men for preaching Therefore The Minor say they appears in that the false prophets are reproved Jerem. Jus Divin Minist p. 89. 23. 21 32. not onely for their false doctrine but also for running when they were not sent I am against them saith the Lord a fearful commination if God be against them who shall be with them The false prophets themselves accuse Jeremiah Jerem. 29. 27. for making himself a prophet which though it was a most unjust and false impuration yet it holds forth this truth That no man ought to make himself a prophet the false prophets themselves being witnesses The Apostles in the Synod of Jerusalem speak of certain men that went out from them They went out they were not sent out but they went out of their own accord and this is spoken of them by way of reproof And then it follows They troubled you with words subverting your soules He that preacheth unsent is not a builder but a subverter of souls Answ 1. We deny that the Scripture reproves the preaching of gifted men who are unordianed to Office This Argument if it were wholly granted yet it proves not at all what it is produced for Their proposition is That none may do the work of the Ministry without Ordination or being solemnly set apart thereunto Their Argument to prove this is The Scripture reproveth uncalled men for preaching therefore uncalled men may not preach We may grant that uncalled men may not preach and yet may assert that unordained men if gifted may preach For gifted men are called to preach though they be not ordained Let them prove that Ordination is the onely Call to preach if it were granted that Ordination is the Call to Office as elsewhere they endeavour to prove yet it would not follow that there is no Call to preach without that unless it can be proved that there is no preaching but by Office 2. The places alledged

contra the name of a son doth imply a father to be the other Relative and so for other Relations Now the names and titles which the Gospel giveth unto Officers have such reference unto a Church as they do aloud proclaim that Officer and Church are the Relatives and not Officer and imployment If the question be asked To whom are they Officers the answer must be To a Church Officers are called Pastors and that intimateth that they are related to some flocks They are called Teachers and that speaketh them to be related to some who are Learners Therefore we conclude that Office is not a Relation to the imployment of the Ministry but to a Church one special end of which Relation is the work of the Ministry therein CHAP. II. Wherein is proved that Officers stand in Relation to a particular Church only and that they are no Officers to a Church universal Quest 2. WHat Church hath Office Relation to or whether Officers stand in Relation to a Particular Church only or whether they be Officers of an universal Church Answ We affirm That Officers stand in relation as Officers to a particular Church onely and we deny that they are Officers to a Church Universal Our Brethren at last grant a Relation between Officers and a particular Church page 143. and 151. and it 's proved from Act. 20. 28. We shall here hint a few words chiefly to shew that they are not Officers to an Universal Church and then it will necessarily follow that the Relation is between the Officer and a particular Church only We deny Pastors or Teachers to be Officers to an Universal Church Argum. 1. Because we can finde no Scripture-warrant for any Universal-visible-Political-Church The Gospel knoweth no such Catholick or Universal Church that we can any where finde Argum. 2. Because the Titles given unto Officers doe speak their office to be limited unto a particular Church and do forbid or deny their bearing any office-relation to a Church Universal In those Scriptures where our Brethren say there is an enumeration of Officers and so where it is most needful that their properest Names and Titles should be given them yet there those Officers which are still continuing are called Pastors and Teachers 1. Cor. 12. ver 28. God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers And Ephes 4. ver 11. He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers And also where the qualifications of such Officers are layd down and so the properest Titles are necessary that it might ever be known what Officer ought to be so qualified there they are called Bishops which is no more but Overseers as Act. 20. 28. Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over which the Holy-Ghost hath made you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishops or Overseers 1 Tim. 3. 1 2. A Bishop must be blameless the husband of one wife vigilant sober Tit. 1. v. 7. For a Bishop must be blameless c. These Titles being given upon such special occasions unto Officers they must undenyably be such Names and Titles as are proper to them so long as they are Officers It were an impeachment to the wisdome of the Holy-Spirit to say that then it did impose such names upon them as they might lose before they lost their Office We suppose our Brethren will not say that any are Preaching-Officers who are neither Pastors Teachers nor Bishops or Overseers Now we argue thus Major Proposit That Church only that is a mans flock doth or can he bear the Relation or Office of a Pastor to That Church only that is committed to ones charge for teaching doth or can he bear the Relation or Office of a teacher to That Church only that is committed to a mans oversight doth or can he bear the Relation or Office of a Bishop or Overseer to All this appeareth from those Relative names You may as well say a man is a father to that which is none of his childe or a master to him who is none of his servant as you may say a man is a Pastor to any that are not of his flock or a Teacher to those that are not committed to him to be taught or a Bishop and Overseer to those that are not under his oversight So that if a man ceaseth to have a flock then he must needs cease to be a Pastor if he ceaseth to have a Church to be taught by him then he ceaseth to be a reacher by office if he ceaseth to have any to be overseen by him then he ceaseth to be a Bishop or Overseer Minor propos But only a particular Church is a mans flock or is committed to a man for teaching and oversight and not the Universal Church Concl. Ergo A man beareth the relation or office of a Pastor a Teacher or a Bishop or Overseer only to a particular and not to an Universal Church That only a particular Church is a mans flock or is committed to a man for teaching and oversight and not the Universal Church We suppose our Brethren cannot deny for in their Jus Divinum page 143. they have these words Though we beleeve that every Minister is a Minister of the Universal Church yet we are far from thinking that he is actually an Universal Minister The Apostles had the actual care of the Church Universal committed unto them and they were not fixed to any particular charge but were Ministers alike of all the Churches of Christ But it is far otherwise with ordinary Ministers they are fixed to their particular congregations where they are bound by Divine right to reside c. So that according to the judgment of our Brethren ordinary officers such as Pastors and Teachers are have onely the care of particular Churches committed to them their actual power is limited by Divine right to these and not extended to the Universal Church they have no actual power to perform Ministerial offices or administer the Ordinances of Christ in any Churches without a special call but only in those particular Churches where they are fixed And that it is only a particular Church that is a mans flock or is committed to him for teaching and oversight and not the Universal Church we prove thus Because every Pastor Teacher or Overseer is expresly commanded by Christ actually to feed teach and oversee all the flock that is committed to him or them Act. 20. vers 28. Take heed therefore unto your selves and to not only some but all the flock over the which the Holy-Spirit hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God All that flock or Church over which the Holy-Spirit hath made any man a Bishop or Overseer he is commanded actually to feed and take heed to all the Universal Church so as he sinneth if he doth not Ergo The Universal Church is not that flock or Church over which the Holy-Spirit hath made any man a Bishop or

is such his Ministration ought to be Of what nature soever the gifts be such the use of them must be private gifts are to be used privately and publick gifts i. e. such as are fit for publick use publickly else a man doth not Minister a gift as he hath received it which this Text commandeth If publick gifts be exercised only in a private way that man doth not give as he hath received others are without that benefit which they might have by them 4. This command is Universal i. e. to all that have such gifts 1 Pet. 4. 10. As every man hath received a gift and the gift of preaching is instanced in ver 11. and therefore every man that hath that gift of Scripture-interpretation is required to Minister unto others We do not say that every Christian is to preach this Text limiteth the note of Universality unto such as have a gift that way many Christians have not a gift to speak publickly unto edification but we say it holdeth out thus much that every man who hath that gift is to Minister with it If a Father commandeth every childe who hath ability to work and then directeth how to doe some particular work it is undoubted he intendeth that every childe who hath ability to doe that work should act in it and that childe which is able and doth not set about that work disobeyeth his father unless his father giveth him a particular dispensation or prohibition which the other have not Now the Lord commandeth that every Saint or Steward of his manifold grace who hath received a gift should Minister with it unto others ver 10. and particularly directeth how they which have a gift to speak profitably unto others should use that gift ver 11. He that speaketh as the Oracles of God and therefore it is to be concluded he intendeth that every one who is a Steward of his manifold Grace and hath received such a gift should Minister with it unto others and he sinneth if he doth not unless a particular prohibition or dispensation be given him which others have not Here is a general rule requiring every gifted man to preach and therefore unless some particular Scriptures can be shewn which give a prohibition or doe forbid all un-ordained mens preaching every gifted man ought to preach We doe not say barely thus The preaching of gifted men is nowhere forbidden in the word of God Ergo It is lawful But we say By a general command of God every gifted man is required to preach Ergo Every gifted man who is not forbidden preaching by some particular word of God ought to preach because else he sinneth in breaking that general command And in regard the command is not here annexed to Office but to gifts it is not said every man that hath received an Office but every man that hath received a gift let him Minister and this preaching gift is particularized ver 11. and seeing there are many men who are no Officers nor in an immediate capacity to be ordained unto Office-work because they are not chosen to it by any Church who yet are eminently gifted and apt to teach hence many not ordained to Office may and ought to Preach Object 1. Is not this Text chiefly to be understood of giving of Almes and is not the Mr. Collings p. 57. gift spoken of this worlds goods Answ 1. If it be meant chiefly of Almes then not chiefly of Office if this worlds goods be the gift then Office is not the gift and then it is the calling of any Christian who hath the gift to Minister with it and so the objector fighteth with himself 2. Then any Christian who hath this worlds goods may properly be called a Steward and so that it must be administred as Stewards is no Argument that Office is intended as he would make it 3. The Ministring of that gift is to be as Stewards not of this worlds goods but of the Grace of God yea as Stewards not of one Grace only viz. Charity but of the manifold Grace of God 1 Pet. 4. 10. The Ministration is to be of the gift which they are Stewards of and that is said to be manifold In giving of Almes they may shew themselves to be good Stewards of this worlds goods but not of the manifold grace of God and therefore giving of Almes cannot be chiefly intended 4. It is added ver 11. If any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God And therefore it cannot be meant chiefly of Almes but the gift of preaching is declared to be one of those manifold gifts which every man that hath is to Minister unto others Object 2. But here is not only a liberty granted but a duty enjoyned so that by this Text if it were to the purpose gifted persons were Mr. Collings pa. 57. bound to preach and that without Election and calling for the Churches neglect of their duty must not make him neglect his Answ 1. We grant it is the duty of gifted persons to preach and that this Text holdeth out so much Yet 2. It is not here determined either when or where gifted persons ought to preach Here is power given to gifted persons to Preach and therefore it is lawful for them to doe it yea it is commanded and so they sin if they will not doe it But other things must concur before the exercise of this power at this time or in that place This distinction our Brethren Jus Divin Minist pag. 144. give us and so we shall pay them with such coyn as they would have us take We distinguish say they between a Minister of Christ and a Minister of Christ in such a place between the Office it self and the ordinary exercise of it to such or such a people so we distinguish betwixt the preaching of a gifted person in such a place between his power to exrcise his gifts and his power to exercise his gifts to such or such a people or at such a time Suppose ordination did make an Officer or a Minister then all those Gospel-Commands that require it of Officers that they diligently and constantly preach they not onely give a man who is ordained liberty but injoyn it as a duty that he preacheth in this manner But if this man either by banishment or the unjust rejection of a people be put out of imployment and be cast into some place where his gifts are not desired none giveth him a special call to exercise his gifts for a great while together in such cases our Brethren will not say that he hath sinned or broken those Commands when he would have preached if others would have heard So gifted persons are enjoyned to preach yet if they be not called out or desired to exercise their gifts a great while together they may not sin and if other things do not concur to open a door or give an opportun y to preach at this time or in this or that place their

nature of an adjunct having the name of the principal act Yet is not an officer bound to approve of whatsoever shall be ordered by the Church 1 Tim. 5. 22. If the Church sin in Election let not Timothy sin in ordination approbation c. It is also considerable that Act. 6. 3. speaketh not of an appointment to office but to the work of the office Arg. 3. If ordination be the sending of a man forth with power and authority Jus Divin Min. p. 166. to preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments then it is that which gives the essence of the Ministerial office But ordination is so Ergo The Minor they say is proved from Rom. 10. 15. And how shall they preach except they be sent this sending is an authoritative Mission to preach the Word as Cryers and Heralds for so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth and also as Embassadors are sent forth by their Prince with their letters missive and credentials which appears by the words immediately following as it is written How beautiful c. it must be understood of such an authoritative sending which was to continue to the end of the world for the Apostle in that Climax of his makes it as necessary and perpetual as calling upon the name of the Lord as believing and hearing the Word Answ We deny their Minor neither doth all that they have said prove That Ordination is a sending of a man forth with power and authority to preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments 1. We deny that Ordination and Mission are the same things that Text alleadged Rom. 10. 15. speaketh of Mission or sending but not one word about Ordination and therefore it is far from proving that Ordination is a sending a man forth with power and authority to preach c. unless they can prove that they are all one which we conceive they can never do if an authoritative Mission were intended such as Cryers Heralds and Embassadors have yet that would not evidence that Ordination giveth power and authority to preach and administer the Sacraments 2. We deny that the power and authority to preach and administer the Sacraments is received by mission or sending the act of the person sending doth not compleat mission without the objects to whom he sendeth The end of Mission is not to give a call to or justifie the lawfulness of a mans preaching or administring the Sacraments but that a Preacher may justifie the lawfulness of his preaching to such a people i. e. such specifically considered not numerically As if a Jew should deny it to be lawful for any to preach the Word unto Gentiles we may prove it lawful to preach unto the Gentiles by or from mission because Christ hath said Mat. 28. 19. Go ye and teach all Nations baptizing them c. This Mission will prove it lawful for any particular persons in any Nation in any Church in any place to be preached to but mission will not warrant any particular Preacher in publishing the Gospel unto such particular persons in this or that place We deny that mission giveth a man his Commission or authority to preach and if the Apostles Climax did make it as necessary and perpetual as calling upon the name of the Lord as believing and hearing the Word yet that would not prove it The utmost that is said by the Apostle is they cannot i. e. not orderly not warrantably preach except they be sent and it may as well be said they cannot orderly or warrantably preach and administer Sacraments except they be gifted except they have those qualifications which are required unto Officers 1 Tim. 3. v. 1 2 3 c. yet we suppose they will not say that those gifts and qualifications do give power authority to preach and administer the Sacraments if that will be granted then they give up the case wholly for a man may have those gifts and qualifications before and so without Ordination and so by that rule may have power and authority to do those acts although unordained Such gifts and qualifications are necessarily and perpetually required unto Offiers as well as mission and so by the same medium that they prove mission to give authority to perform such acts may we as strongly prove such gifts and qualifications to give authority thereunto 3. We deny that the giving of that mission spoken of Rom. 10. 15. belongeth to any man whatever unless it be meant of the providential sending It belongeth to Christ onely to send it was he that said Mat. 28. 19. Go c. We desire some Scripture-proof that it appertaineth to a Presbytery or any man to give Mission if that cannot be produced then sending is far from being that which giveth the power and authority to preach or the outward call to office which must be given by man Arg. 4. If Ordination be that which gives the Ministerial office then the Jus Divin Min. p. 167. essence of the Ministerial call consisteth in Ordination But Ordination is that which gives the Ministerial office That this so appears from 2. Tim. 1. 6. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands and by 1 Tim. 4. 14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery By laying on of the hands is meant the whole work of Ordination and by gift is meant docendi officium as most interpreters say office of the Ministery and the power and authority conferred thereby upon him The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is often taken not onely for the grace by which we are fitted for an office but for an office unto which men are through grace fitted Thus it is taken Eph. 4. 8. Rom. 12. 6. And thus it is here to be taken Paul by Ordination did not onely declare Timothy to be an Officer and confirm him in that office which he had before collated upon him by the choice of the people but he together with the Presbytery gave him the gift or office of the Ministery Answ We deny the Minor The Texts alleadged do not prove that Ordination is that which gives the Ministerial office There are three things that need proof and if any one of them want it their Argument cometh to nothing 1. That by laying on of hands is meant Ordination 2. That by Gift is meant Office 3. That this gift is given by Ordination 1. It is questionable whether by laying on of hands here be meant Ordination for that ceremony was used upon other occasions as well as in Ordination Laying on of hands was used in the Collation or conveyance of gifts frequently when there was no Ordination as Act. 8. 17 18. Then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost Act. 19. 6. Timothy might have gifts conferred upon him although there were no