Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	bind_v	church_n	loose_v	6,945	5	10.4606	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50248	A defence of the answer and arguments of the synod met at Boston in the year 1662 concerning the subject of Baptism and consociation of churches against the reply made thereto, by the Reverend Mr. John Davenport, pastor of the church at New-Haven, in his treatise entituled Another essay for investigation of the truth &c. : together with an answer to the apologetical preface set before that essay, by some of the elders who were members of the Synod above-mentioned.	Mather, Richard, 1596-1669.	1664 (1664)	Wing M1271; ESTC W19818	155,430	150

in them not being the same but distinct for in the one the Argument is from their being disciples or Scholars and therefore under discipline in Christs School but this here is from their being Baptized and that therefore they are in a state of subjection to the authoritative teaching of Christs Ministers and to the observation of all his commandment● and that therefore they are in a state of subjection to discipline for thus the Argument stands They that are Baptized are thereby left in a state of subject on to the authoritative teaching of Christs Ministers and to the observation of all his Commandments and therefore in a state of subjection to Discipline But the adult persons spoken of are persons Baptized Therefore c. The P●op●si●ion is grounded on the Text Mat. 28.19 20. where Christs Ministers are required to Bap●ize and to teach the Baptized to observe all his commandments The Assumption is plain of it self To the seventh Argument viz. That Elders must seed i. e. both Teach and Rule all the Flock and that children are part of the Flock The Reverend Author answereth That this concerneth not such grown persons as are not in full communion for without this they are not to be accounted of the Flock or Church Ans. If this that is here said were sufficiently and clearly proved it would be very acceptable to many Elders in this Country as clearing them from a great part of the burthen which they suppose themselves to be under And when the Holy-Ghost saith that they must take heed to themselves and to all the flock Act. 20 28. and that they must watch for their Souls as they that must give account Heb. 13.17 to say that these Soules and this flock are only such as are in full communi●n and Infants or Children in minority and that these last mentioned who then were of the flock do now cease to be of it when they become ●aul and that now the Elders are not charged to watch over them any longer nor to give account of their Soules we fear this would be an undue straitning and limiting of the Texts alledged and would be no good plea before the Lord and therefore without b●t●er proof we dare not assent unto it For what the Synod alledgeth That the Apostle writing to the F●ock or Church at Ephesus doth also write to children Eph. 6.1 as counting them part of the flock We do not see that this is sufficiently taken off by what the Reverend Author answereth viz. That those Children were either Children in their Minority or if adult they were personally joyned to the Church and so in full Communion For let the words and scope of the Text be considered and we conceive it will appear that this exposition of the place is too narrow for the Children there spoken of are such as were bound to obey their Parents in the Lord this being right and such as were under the fifth Commandment the words whereof the Apostle doth there alledge Honour thy Father and Mother c. Now how shall it appear that though Children in minority and children when admitted into full communion in the Church are bound to obey their Parents and to Honour Father and Mother yet other children are not so bound Is there any ground for it that children now adult if not in full communion in the Church are exempted from this Commandment of Obedience to their Parents and of Ho●ouring of them we conceive there is none and if there be not then the children there spoken of are children adult as well as others w●ether in full communion or not And if so then these children as well as others are part of the Flock and Church of Ephesus to whom that Epistle is written and then the whole Flock being under the charge of Elders to feed them i. e. both to Teach and k●l● them it appeareth thereby that what the Synod here saith That these children are under the Watch and Discipline and Government of the Church is sound and good and so stands for all that is here alledged to the contrary In Answer to the Eighth Argument From the danger of Irreligion and Apostacy breaking into Churches and the want of any Church-way to prevent and heal the same if these children of Church-members be not under Church-government and Discipline and that through want hereof many Church-members would be brought under that dreadfull judgement of being let-alone in their wickedness Hos. 4.16 17. The Reverend Author nameth sundry other means for preventing these evils as That no adult person● be received into personal membership till fit for all Church-communion and that the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven which Christ hath left to binde and loose be rightly managed toward Delinquent-members that are orderly admitted into Church-communion and for others that are not thus joyned to the Church that authority in Families and Common-wealth be wisely and faithfully managed toward such pag. 15 16. Ans. All these we acknowledge may by the blessing of God be much available in their way for ●he pu●pose ●lledged and Oh that there were due care and wa●ch●●●lnes● in Churche● Families and Common-wealth for the faithful and due exercise hereof Nevertheless we conceive all these are not ●●fficien● for the purpose desired 1. Because some of them are not Church-wayes at all of which the Synods Argument speaketh though it is not so expressed by the Reverend Author and therefore t●ough government in Families and Common-wealth were carefully used in the manner expressed yet Church-way may be wanting for all this 2. Those Church-wayes that are mentioned viz. Care in admitting into the Church and due managing the Keyes of Discipline to them that are so admitted these are not sufficient to prevent the evils spoken of and the reason is Because there is a great multitude of persons who were either born in the Church or were admitted thereinto in their infancy or minority who if they be not under Church-discipline when adult are let alone in their wickedness in respect of any Church-way to heal them and by want of this Church-discipline toward these persons I●religion and Apostacy may break into the Churches notwithstanding all Church-wayes toward others and all other wayes in Common-wealth and Families toward these for Church-way for the good of these there is none if they be not under Church-government and Discipline As for that which is here said by the Reverend Author That the Churches censuring of adult persons admitted before they be qualified for communion in all Ordinances will not prevent or heal those evils seeing the Lord blesseth onely his own Institutions not mens Devices and that Humane Inventions usually cause the evils which they pretend to cure pag. 15. This Reason may have in it self a truth viz. that Gods Institutions and not mens Inventions are the way wherein men may expect a Blessing But if such a thing be affirmed of Church-discipline toward the persons spoken of that such Church-discipline is an Humane