Selected quad for the lemma: power_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
power_n	able_a	people_n	zion_n	26	3	9.1424	4	false

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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

is able to do the lesser therefore he is able to do the greater Now the office of a Deacon is inferior to the office of a Presbyter c. Answ 1. Our brethren use the same Argument from the lesser to the greater Affirmatively and take it from this very instance of Deacons Surely they might take such Coyn as they pay to others To Prove Ordination of Ministers to be an Ordinance of Christ in Jus Divin Minist p. 1. pag. 158. this very book they use this Argument In the very choice of Deacons which was but an inferior office and serving onely for the distribution of the temporal estates of people the Apostle requires that they should not only be Elected by the people but also ordained to this Office much more ought this to be done in the choice of persons who are called to the work of Preaching and dispensing Sacramental mysteries a service of all others of greatest weight and worth These are their own words in which the Reader may see that they argue not onely from the lesser to the greater but even to the greatest and that Affirmatively The Argument is the same and as forcible if we apply it to Election and say thus In the very choice of their Deacons which was but an inferiour Office the people had the power of Election much more ought they to have the choice of their Pastors who are to be exercised in the work of Preaching and dispensing Sacramental mysteries which are services of all others of greatest weight and worth 2. An Argument from that which is both lesser in it self and also in probability to that which is greater may not be valid Affirmatively we grant it is no good way of arguing to say because a man is able to do the lesser therefore he is able to do the greater Our brethren are mistaken if they think that we argue thus the people are able to chuse Deacons Ergo they are able to chuse Pastors That the people have abilitie to chuse their Pastors is not the immediate conclusion of our Argument from Act. 6. but that Christ hath granted the people a liberty or power to elect their Pastors this is it which we strictly conclude thence and in the second place we may argue That because Christ hath granted them liberty or power to chuse their Pastors therefore he hath given them ability to do it These are two distinct questions 1. whether the people have abilitie to chuse their Pastors 2. whether Christ hath granted the people or a particular Church liberty and power to chuse them It is the latter of the two which we determine Affirmatively from Act. 6. If their abilitie to chuse their Pastors be questioned we have many other Mediums to prove that by as John 10. v. 4. The sheep follow him i. e. Christ for they know his voice v. 5. And a stranger they will not follow but will flee from him for they know not the voyce of strangers and v. 14. 27. Whence it is evident that not only Church-officers as Pastors and Teachers but the sheep of Christ who are to be fed or Taught even they have abilitie to discern whether it be Christs voice or the voice of strangers which they hear whether they be such Teachers as they are to follow or such as they are to flee from and what can be required more to give abilitie for Election but a knowledge what Teachers they are to own and who are to be avoided our Brethren at other times will grant that the peoples choice maketh a man their Minister their Pastor and how could this be if they had not ability to chuse and why is it that they here argue against their having the whole and sole power of Election if Officers lay claim not onely to Ordination but also to part of Election it will be next unto nothing that they will leave to the people 3. An Argument from the Lesse to the Greater in probability or in the causes of it though the thing also be greater in it self yet is valid affirmatively in Divine things from that which is less credible lesse likely hath less apparent grounds and causes for it to that which is more credible more likely hath more apparent grounds and causes for it is a good way of arguing and that affirmatively and therefore it is not a certain rule which our Brethren give that Argumentum a minori ad majus non valet Affirmative The Scripture is frequent in such arguings as Mat. 6. v. 26. Behold the fowls of the Air your heavenly father feedeth them are ye not much better then they v. 30. If God so cloath the grass of the field which to day is and and to morrow is cast into the oven shall be not much more cloath you O ye of little faith Luk. 12. v. 6 7. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings and not one of them is forgotten before God but even the very hairs of your head are all numbred fear not therefore ye are of more value then many sparrows Luk. 11. v. 13. If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him The Argument from the Less to the Greater affirmatively is urged in all these instances from the Lords taking care of the Lillies of the field and the fowls of the air which are of less value he argueth that he will take care of his own people who are of Greater value or far better then they From earthly Fathers providing for their children he affirmeth with a much more that our heavenly Father will provide for his children things far Greater in themselves And the same is our Argument from Act. 6. If the Lord would have the people have the whole and sole choice of their Deacons who were to take care of their bodies and worldly goods much more would the Lord have the people have the whole and sole choice of their Pastors and Teachers who are to take care of their souls as Dr. Ames saith There are more and more weighty causes requiring the consent of the Church in appointing Pastors then in appointing Deacons Indeed the spiritual welfare of souls is promoted or hindred according to the sutableness or unsutableness of the Teachers as the comfort of the natural life would many times be lost if a man should be forced to take a woman to be his wife without chusing her or a woman were forced to have a man for her husband that she did not chuse yea though the parties might be gracious that were so taken unchosen So the comfort of the spiritual life would often be lost if such Pastors were obtruded upon Churches as they did not chuse and many temptations they might be exposed to in the case of unsutable Pastors more then in the case of unsutable Deacons and therefore the whole and sole power of chusing Pastors appertaineth to the Church

rescue her she would be carried away Captive or lie fallen and oppressed in our Streets The learned and judicious Authors of this Treatise hath the Lord stirred up at last to vindicare some Truths which seemed to them to suffer wrong therefore are they come into the Field and whether they quit themselves like men the ensuing Discourse will declare It 's of a Polemical Nature and Controversies are seldom managed without heat in such engagements men are apt to offend persons whilst they defend Truth and proceed too far upon the account of their own interest minding not so much what 's to be said for Truth opposed as what 's to be laid upon the Opposers These Brethren and Friends to Truth have no such Spirit in them they contend for the Truth yet are not contentious like Moses and Michael they are milde and meek having nothing provocative in their Lips or Pens their Moderation will appear to all men more love sweetness and candor in a work of this nature can hardly be found or expected Reader wouldst thou know whether men unordained may warrantably preach whether Election or Ordination do give the Essentials to a Minister or Church-Officer whether such an Officer relate to the Church universal or to a particular Church which are things of great concernment consult this Tractate read it without prejudice weigh things seriously and doubtless thou wilt finde much satisfaction and see cause to bless the Lord for the labours of these his Servants That the God of Truth would give us all hearts to love the Truth and receive the love of the Truth is the prayer of Thy Friend in the Truth M. L. A Catalogue of Books printed for and sold by Livewel Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley AN Exposition of the nineteen first chapters of Ezekiel in three volumes quarto By William Greenhil Sermons on Christ's last discovery of himself octavo By William Greenhill An Exposition of the 13 chap. of the Revelations quar By John Cotton Jacob's Ladder c. octav By Fr. Raworth Truth with time proving none of the 7 last Vials are yet poured out quar By J. Canne The time of the end A treatise of the last Apostacy the little Horn and the Beast that slayeth the Witnesses octav By J. Canne The holiness of Church-members quart By John Cotton Singing of Psalms a Gospel-Ordinance quar By J. Cotton An explicite Declaration of the testimony of Christ according to the plain sayings of the Gospel quar By Tho. Moor Senior A Treatise of the Person of Christ c. quar By Tho. Moor Senior An Antidote against the spreading Infections of the Spirit of Antichrist in these last days under many Wizards being a Discovery of a lying and antichristian Spirit in some of those called Quakers quart By Tho. Moor Junior The Knowledge of Christ c. wherein the Types Prophecies Genealogies Miracles Humiliation Exaltation and the Mediatorial Office of Christ are opened and applied quarto By John Davenport of Newhaven in New-England The legislative power Christs peculiar prerogative quar By William Aspinewal A presage of sundry sad calamities yet to come quar By William Aspinwal The abrogation of the Jewish Sabbath or the Sabbath of the 7th day of the week quar By William Aspinwal Arrows against Babylon By John Pendarves Sighs for Sion By John Pendarves The Fear of God what it is and exhorted to a Sermon preached by John Pendarves The Voice of the Spirit A discovery what the witnessing-work of the Spirit is how the Spirit witnesseth who are capable of attaining the witnessings of the Spirit how a Soul may know its enjoyment of them by what means a Soul may attain them octav By S. Petto A Voice from Heaven a testimony against the remainders of antichrist yet in England octav By Gaulter Postlethwait Christ and Moses excellency a triplex Treatise distinguishing the 2 Covenants octav By V. Powel Saving Faith set forth in three Dialogues octav By Vavasor Power Generation-Work in three parts 1. part shewing what Generation-work is that Saints in their several generations have the peculiar works of their generations that its of great concernment for a Saint to attend to and be industrious in it wherein the work of the present generation lies how a man may finde out that part of it which is properly his work how it may be so carried on as God may be served 2. part being an exposition of the 7 Vials Rev. 16. 3. part an exposition of the 7 Vials Rev. 16. 3. part an exposition of the prophesie of the 2 witnesses from the 11 12 14 ch of Rev. to which is added a Key to unlock the mystical numbers of Daniel and the Revelations By John Tillinghast Mr. Tillinghasts 8 last Sermons viz. The fifth kingdom founded on the new covenant the signs of the times Christ the only Foundation the promise of the Father the evil of the times look to your aims and ends the idols abolished oct 6 several Treatises viz. the promises made and fulfilled in Christ absolute promises made to sinners as sinners the life of Faith in justification sanctification expectation the Saints anchor rightly cast Christs new command of offences octav By John Tillinghast Knowledge of the times or a resolution of the question how long it shall be to the end of the wonders By J. T. Elijah's Mantle or the remains of that late worthy and faithful servant of Jesus Crhist M. Joh. Tillingh viz. 1. the conformity of a Saint to the will of God 2. the will of God and Christ concerning sinners 3. no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus 4. Christs love to his own 5. true Gospel-humiliation 6. the most effectual means to kill and subdue sin 7. the advocateship of Jesus Christ a great ground of Saints comfort and support under sins infirmities 8. the only way for Saints to be deliver'd from the errors and evils of the times 9. of the old covenant being so far as the Author had proceeded in a Treatise of the two coven before his death The Contents of the CHAPTERS Chap. 1. WHerein is shewn that Office is not a relation to the work or employment of the Minstery but a relation to a Church Chap. 2. Wherein is proved that Officers stand in relation to a particular Church onely and that they are no Officers to a Church Universal Chap. 3. Wherein is given a Description of Office and the several parts of it are proved from Scripture and some conclusions drawn from the whole precedent discourse Chap. 4. Wherein the question is stated about the preaching of gifted men and several things propounded for the cleering the state of it Chap. 5. Wherein two Arguments are urged proving the lawfulness of the preaching of gifted Brethren though not Ordained Chap. 6. Wherein the third fourth and fifth Arguments are urged for the proving the lawfulnes of gifted Brethrens preaching though not Ordained Chap. 7. Answering the first Argument brought against

requisites to those new Officers are clearly found in the Text. Here is 1. Election in its proper place before Ordination as it was Act. 6. v. 5 6. The Deacons were first chosen And after that they prayed and laid on hands So here by the direction of Paul and Barnabas the people first chose Elders in every Church by suffrages or lifting up of hands and thus the native signification of that word is retained and the peoples priviledge preserved to whom the chusing power doth belong for by their own grant they could not be their Ministers their Pastors their Shepherds without their chusing of them and these were to be made their Pastors their Elders for such are said to be created in every Church therefore here was an appropriating of these Elders to those Churches by their chusing of them and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so aptly expressing so undeniable a requisite to such a matter as the Apostle is treating of we wonder that any should offer to vex and trouble the Text by forcing a sence upon the word which the Scripture knoweth nothing of 2. Ordination which is holden forth by those words And had prayed with fasting And thus we have removed the objections against the Scriptures alleaged for the peoples having the whole and sole power of Election Their second Argument to prove that the power of Election of Ministers doth not by Divine right belong wholly and solely to the Major part of every particular congregation is drawn from the mischief that they say will inevitably flow from this assertion And four mischiefs they speak of Obj. 1. It is certain that every one that is to be made a Minister is first of all to be tryed and proved whether he be fit for so great an office 1 Tim. 3. 10. Let these also be proved c. these also that is the Deacons as well as the Bishops the Bishop therefore is to be tryed and examined whether he be apt to teach whether he be able to convince gain-sayers Now there are many Congregations wherein the Major part are very unfit to judge of Ministerial abilities and if the whole and sole power were in them they would set up Idol-Shepher ds instead of able Shepherds Ans 1. That persons ought first to be proved whether they be fit for such an Office before it be conferred upon them we grant i. e. A knowledge or good experience that they are furnished with such qualifications as the Gospel requireth such Officers should have ought to be attained before Election unto the office If they intend by it a formal examination implying the superiority of the examiners the subjection of the examined the Text doth not witness that such a probation is required If a Church by observation of a mans conversation by hearing his doctrine by its own familiar converses with him and others report of him hath gained a knowledge or experience of his fitness for the work this is all the proving that can necessarily be enforced hence 2. It was referred to the Church to judge of the qualifications of Deacons Act. 6. v. 3. Look ye out among you seven men of honest report full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom This implyeth that they were able to discern whether they were so qualified or not else it had been in vain to put them upon looking out such And it is as easie to judge of most of those qualifications required to be in an Elder 1 Tim. 3. as it was of those required in a Deacon Act. 6. The people are able to discern whether a man be blameless the husband of one wife vigilant sober of good behaviour given to hospitality v. 2 3 4 5 6 7. and therefore onely their ability to try whether they be apt to teach and able to convince gain-sayers can be questioned and we have clear proof of a Churches proving Deacons let our Brethren shew as clear proof for a Presbyteries proving Elders 3. We desire Scripture grounds to evidence that any true Churches of Christ consist of such members as the Major part are unfit to judge of Ministerial abilities this we deny and they give us their bare word for the proof of it This being unproved no such mischief as they suppose doth ensue upon the peoples having the whole and sole power of chusing 4. The Sheep of Christ are said to know his voice Joh. 10. v. 4. v. 5. A stranger will they not follow but will flee from him and this importeth their having ability and liberty to judge what Teachers they are to Elect and what Teachers they are to reject and the sheep of Christ who are hearers are thus to judge of Teachers Surely this implyeth their fitness to prove them both whether they be apt to teach and able to convince gain-sayers Obj. 2. There are some Congregations wherein the Major part are wicked and if left to themselves wholly would chuse none but such as are like themselves Ans 1. This will as well deny it to belong to the Eldership as to the Major part of a Church for there are many wicked men who are ordained so are according to our brethrens principles made Elders and if they associate are a wicked Eldership and if left to themselves would chuse and ordain none but such as are like themselves Surely our Brethren cannot deny the Election of Pastors to a wicked Congregation yet grant it to a wicked Eldership And if they say itbelongeth onely to a good Eldership to act therein we may as well say it belongeth onely to such a Congregation the Major part whereof is good 2. We do not say the power of Election of Pastors doth belong to such a Congregation the Major part whereof is wicked but to such a Church the Major part whereof is visibly godly if the Major part of a Congregation be wicked we suppose then it is no true Church If once it were a Church yet now it ceaseth to be so or is unchurched or else the Minor better part is to be deemed the Church By Congregations surely they mean Parishes our brethren know that though some pleaders for the peoples power of Election have granted that there are true Churches in some Parishes yet they never said that we can find that Parishes taken collectively are true Churches Because the major part of many parishes are wicked therefore we deny that they are Churches of Christ or that the power of Election of Officers doth appertain to the Major part of the Parishioners We cannot find that they are in a capacity to have Officers over them until they be a Church and so are uncapable of Elecing They suppose a Church or Congregation sutable to Presbyterian Principles and then deny the Election which is according to Congregational principles to belong to it Obj. 3. There are some wherein the Major part posbly may be heretical and will never consent to the Election of an Orthodox and sound Minister Ans 1. The answers