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A46373 Jus divinum ministerii evangelici. Or The divine right of the Gospel-ministry: divided into two parts. The first part containing a justification of the Gospel-ministry in general. The necessity of ordination thereunto by imposition of hands. The unlawfulnesse of private mens assuming to themselves either the office or work of the ministry without a lawfull call and ordination. The second part containing a justification of the present ministers of England, both such as were ordained during the prevalency of episcopacy from the foul aspersion of anti-christianism: and those who have been ordained since its abolition, from the unjust imputation of novelty: proving that a bishop and presbyter are all one in Scripture; and that ordination by presbyters is most agreeable to the Scripture-patern. Together with an appendix, wherein the judgement and practice of antiquity about the whole matter of episcopacy, and especially about the ordination of ministers, is briefly discussed. Published by the Provincial Assembly of London. London (England). Provincial Assembly.; Calamy, Edmund, 1600-1666. 1654 (1654) Wing J1216A; ESTC R213934 266,099 375

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Question is What may be done in an ordinary way in Churches where Ordained Ministers either are or may be had Though we will not prescribe against necessity yet we would not have necessity pretended where none is For we reade that the Indians were converted to the Christian Faith by the means of Aedesius and Frumentius two private men but we reade not that either of them took upon them the Office or work of the Ministry Frumentius was ordained Bishop of the Indians by Athanasius Theod. Eccl. hist. l. 1. c. 22. And it is observable how great a journey he undertook rather then to run or officiate without a Call The Iberians were converted as the same Authour relates by the means of a Captive Maid but they sent to Constantine for ordained Ministers by whom they might be further instructed and guided in the waies of God which probably our gifted men would never have done These things thus premised we come now to prove our Proposition That None may undertake the work of the Ministry but he that is solemnly set apart thereunto not respecting so much the number as weight of Arguments First We argue thus That work for the doing of which God hath designed speciall Officers of his own neither ought nor may be performed by any that are not designed unto that Office But God hath designed speciall Officers of his own for the preaching of the Word Therefore None ought or may preach the Word but such as are designed unto this Office The major of this Argument is confirmed by these Reasons First Because God hath severely punished such as have done the work appointed by him to speciall Officers though they had no intent to invade the Office unto which that work was by God designed This appears manifestly first in the case of Saul 1 Sam. 13.8 9. c. He lost his kingdom for offering sacrifice though but once and that in a great straight The Philistims were ready to assault him he had not made his peace with God Samuel delaied his coming the people began to scatter from him whereupon he constrained himself and offered a Sacrifice yet for this one presumptuous though as it might seem necessitated act he hears from Samuel that he had done foolishly i. wickedly and from God that his Kingdom was irrevocably rent from him Secondly In the case of Vzzah 1 Chro. 13.9 10. who put his hand to the Ark and that out of a good intention to keep it from falling when the Oxen shook it and yet the anger of the Lord was kindled against him and he smote him that he died Better it had been for Vzzah to have kept his hands farther off then to have touched the Ark without warrant and better for the people of God that he had so done for for his rashnesse God made a breach upon them and smote him and this act of his did not help but hinder the bringing of the Ark up into the place prepared for it Thirdly In the case of Vzziah 2 Chro. 16.16 17 18. c. who when he was strong had his heart lifted up to his destruction for he transgressed against the Lord his God and went into the Temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the Altar of Incense but the Priests of God withstood him and said It appertaineth not to thee Uzziah to burn Incense to the Lord but to the Priests the Sons of Aaron that are consecrated to burn Incense Go out of the Sanctuary for thou hast transgressed neither shall it be for thine honour from the Lord God and though he was a King yet the Lord smote him immediatly with the plague of Leprosie of which he was not healed till his death This famous History holds forth these great Truths 1. That it is a transgression against God in any to enter upon the work designed by God to another calling 2. That the Original of this transgression is pride of heart 3. That it is the Ministers duty to testifie and bear witnesse against such transgressions 4. That it is dishonourable in the sight of God whatever foolish people may imagine thus to transgresse 5. That God will not be alwaies silent to suffer such transgression unpunished in the greatest when his Ministers warnings are rejected Vzziah would enter into the Sanctuary and is separated from the Congregation Now though God be not so immediate in the severe punishing of such presumption in our daies yet these things are written for our instruction upon whom the ends of the world are come that we should not be presumptuous as some of them were lest we also perish as these did Secondly Because this practice doth make void or at least unnecessary or insufficient those Officers which God hath appointed This is in it self a truth of clearest evidence What needs a peculiar Officer to be set apart to a common work As in the naturall body there is no peculiar member set apart as the Organ of feeling because this sense is common to every member so in the body of Christ there need not any speciall Officer be designed for such a work as is common to and may be performed by every Christian. Thirdly Because this practice doth confound and disturb that order which God hath set in his Church therefore it must needs be sinfull God is the God of order and not of confusion 1 Cor. 14. and hath commanded that every one should do his own work 1 Thess. 4. Rom. 12. And abide in his own calling 1 Cor. 7. He hath condemned those that walk disorderly 2 Thess. 3. and are busie bodies he hath placed in his Church different orders some Shepherds some Sheep some Teachers of the Word some to be taught as their places so their works are distinct as the different members of the body have different offices but now as in the body there would be confusion if any member should do the work of another member so is it in the Church if any member shall invade the duty of another This takes away distinction between Shepherds and Flock Pastor and People Rulers and Ruled and with the new Astronomers casts down Stars towards the Centre and advances and wheels the dull earth to and in an heavenly orb No marvel such Phaetons burn up the spiritual world by presuming to govern the chariot of the Sun Thus the major being cleared we come to the minor or Assumption That God hath set peculiar Officers apart for the Preaching of the Word For the proof of this these two things are to be done First We must prove that Ministers are Officers the Ministry an Office set up by God in his Church For this we referre to the foregoing Propositions in which this Point hath been largely discussed And indeed who can in reason deny that those that are set by God in his Church as Stewards Heraulds Watchmen c. are set by God as Officers in his Church The Apostle himself reckon● them up as special members in the body