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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
power_n	bind_v	heaven_n	key_n	4,425	5	10.2745	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A38645	Essayes upon several subjects not unworthy consideration in these times communicated by letters to private friends and at their request to the publick.		1651 (1651)	Wing E3303; ESTC R214416	20,887	42

Magistrates to suffer the great things of Religion to passe out of their hands Sacerdotum ea sunt ingenia ut ni pareant territent multitudo vana Religione capta melius vatibus quam ducibus paret By this we may see that the Magistrate is Gods Minister too for our good as well in spirituall as temporall matters and that as he ought to see all things duly observed and performed that God hath prescribed in his Word so 't is his right to determine and ordain whatever may make for the advancement of Religion in relation either to Offices or Persons Civill or Sacred as they are usually styled in the administration of the whole policy or government of Christs visible Church within the circuit of his jurisdiction The Ordinances of the Church of Geneva where the ignorance of many in this point hath took sanctuary will teach us thus much for the Magistrates have stampt their authority upon them in these words Nous Syndiques petit et grand Conseil de Geneve c. apres avoir en de Pasteurs et Ministres de cette Eglise advis conforme a la parole de Dieu c. avons ordonne et establi de suivre eu nostre ville et territoire la Police Ecclesiastique qui s' ensuit The whole constitution of their policy was from the Magistrate all the Ministers had to doe in it was to give their advice only so likewise if any difference arise among the Ministers in matters of doctrin or that they be scandalous in their lives the last Appeal is made to the Magistrate who hath reserved to himself the finall judgment and determination thereof Their neighbours the Suissers are something more strict in the managing of their authority even to the imposing upon their Ministers that respect to their Magistracy that they are not so much as to take notice in the pulpit of any failings in the execution thereof without acquainting them therewith first in private as understanding wel enough the strange effects that such discourses may produce no lesse to the vilifying of the Magistracy then the Ministery too at last If the Magistrates power then bee of this extent we that are Christians can do no lesse then pray as the Heathens did for their Emperour ut Deus ipsi intelligentem divini humaníque juris mentem det and that God would enable him with all graces fitting so great a function whose performing of the great duty God hath laid upon him herein will more truly advance then lessen the Ministers office which is next to be enquired into Hee that hath heaven for his throne and the earth for his foot-stoole is pleased to call the Church his House where for the better ordering of all things he hath placed some as Stewards and Overseers of the rest Not to speak of those who were endowed with more extraordinary gifts for the performance of their spirituall functions as the Apostles Prophets Evangelists those we find frequently mentioned in Scripture as the ordinary Dispensers of the mysteries of God are sometimes called Bishops sometimes Elders Pastors or Teachers and these seem to import one and the same office or charge otherwise I doe not rightly understand St. Luke in the 20 of the Acts 17. where St. Paul sends from Miletus to call thither the Elders of the Church of Ephesus whom in the 28. ver. hee charges to take heed unto themselves and to all the flock over which the holy Ghost hath made them Bishops or Overseers nor yet St. Paul Tit. 1.5 where hee speaks of leaving him in Crete to ordain Elders in every Church and immediately infers that a Bishop the same that before hee had called an Elder must be blamelesse c. the distinctions which were made in after times and upon what grounds are too large to bee mentioned here In the Ministers charge we may consider 1. The institution of the office it selfe and this derives only from Christ from whom they receive their commission 2. The application of this office to a certain person and this we usually call Ordination which after due exmination both of life and doctrine is wont to be performed with prayer and fasting by the Pastors themselves 3. The designation or election of a person to a certain place and this we find diversly managed in severall ages according to the exigents of times occasions nor can there be any certain rule prescribed herein Sometimes the Church it self claimed the right of electing their own Pastor at other times the Pastors solely disposed of elections and many times it so falls out that to avoid popular confusion and faction the Magistrate hath been constrained to assume this part only to himself as it doth belong to him Lastly to confirm the Minister in the exercise of his Pastorall cure and to give all freedome and encouragement to the discharge thereof Nor must that large commission which our Saviour hath given to the Dispensers of his Word and Sacraments make them in the least manner to exceed their bounds The Church cannot wel enjoy hers unless Caesar have his all the power they can pretend to is for edification not destruction directive only and persuasive no wayes coactive If Christianity were to be inforced what Armies would be sufficient to make the world beleeve in a crucified God and a self-denying Religion If this were not set upon mens minds by the power and demonstration of the Spirit the demonstration of all other power would be to little effect The power of the Keyes in binding and loosing so much insisted on is no more then to declare that heavens gates are open to the penitent and shut to the obdurate they cannot blesse those upon whom God will poure out his curses nor curse those hee is pleased to blesse they are Embassadors only for Christ and have nothing to deliver but what hee is pleased to command Nor must Excommunication and the delivering up of men unto Satan which hath made such a terrible noise of late make us to apprehend that Ministers are armed with thunder and lightning or that they can command fire from heaven to destroy all those they take for Samaritans We care not many times what we say or do when we are a little angry and that our own interest is concerned otherwise we should not look upon delivering men up to Satan for so ordinary a businesse as many would make it That which the Apostle did in this case seems to have had something of the miracle in it and so is understood by most of the Ancients and many learned Moderns too and being so ought neither to bee made a rule or example As for Excommunication by whom and how it is to be managed would require a larger Discourse then this occasion wil permit That part of it which consists in the debarring of men from the assembly of the Saints participation of the Ordinances hath nothing of force or coaction in it those that wil

doubt but Christ hath his Church though we may imagine many defects otherwise in point of Discipline which whilst wee amend whatever we know to be amisse in our selves wee must leave to bee reformed by those who have the power committed to them and who they are is the next Enquiry The thirst of Power and Government where it once takes is unquenchable Ambition is a disease which is rather heightned then cured by Physick What stronger preservative can bee prescribed against this poison then the example of our Saviour in his life and doctrine and yet what high towers of Pride hath hee that stiles himself his Vicar built upon this humble foundation Let us then take heed lest by pretending to advance the Scepter of Christ we put a Reed into his hand and by pleading for our own power ruine his Since therefore the Church of God amongst us consists of Christian Magistrates as well as Ministers and People let us in the first place consider the Magistrates power and office whose function unlesse he fail of his duty either as a Magistrate or a Christian must needs extend to the care and well ordering of all things whereby we may lead as well a godly as a peaceable life By the law of nature we know the same man might bee and often was both King and Priest the office of Priesthood was still annexed to the Primogeniture in that most equal government of the Patriarchs over their families and descendents And when by Gods positive law the Leviticall Priesthood was instituted some reliques of the ancient custom still remained the fathers of families were to slay the Paschall lamb and any that was skilfull therein might circumcise the gift of Prophesie which might seem more peculiar to the Priesthood was sometimes bestowed upon their Kings and as often upon private persons as their Priests And here it might be enquired whether under the Gospel the office of Supream Magistracy and a Pastorall charge might be performed by the same person which though we should deny would nothing prejudice our assertion Imperantis non est imperata facere sed imperando jubere ut fiant Magistrates may well enough take care that Ministers perform their duty and that all things relating to Religion be duly administred without undertaking the particular functions themselves Hence it is that they are called Pastorum pastores custodes utriusque tabulae Nor doth the lustre of Supream Authority ever appear more glorious then when it shines forth in the due care and ordering of religious matters which either are or ought to be chiefly regarded The Roman Emperours accounted the office of Pontifex Maximus too great to be imparted to others and the best of Christian Princes have rather esteemed it their duty then any intrusion to take cognizance of things pertaining to Religion If some have been more remisse therein then others their neglect cannot prejudice the right of those that come after them Those then are too uncivill with their Superiours that whilst they make their own functions to passe for such solemn and and sacred things afford them only a Civill title What not their office too of divine institution may not those that are nursing Fathers of the Church see that the children have bread If the Bishop of Rome under pretence only of being Christs Vicar hath assumed so much power in the Church may not they that are truly his Vice-gerents see that all things be administred according to his direction And as their authority is divine because they are Magistrates so we must allow their Acts to be something more then Civil or profane as they are usually styled if we have but so much charity as to take them for Christians All Rivers lose their name when they come once to be emptied into the sea and whoever gives up his name unto Christ must be content only to bear his image and superscription his whole man and all his actions are or ought to be then truly Christian and holy And as the Magistrate cannot say this or that hee may doe as a Magistrate but not as a Christian since the tie of his Religion being the highest swallows up all other relations and gives the denomination to all his actions so ought not any ingenuous man by such poore shifts and distinctions for the compassing of I know not what pretended authority either teach the Magistrate to neglect his duty or others to contemn his power But is not the Magistrate within the Church and doth not the Pastors office extend to him as well by the preaching of the Gospel as by the exercise of the power of the Keyes 'T is true he is but we must not then make the Church such a thing and afterwards give it that power as many doe nor may the Pastors by the exercising of their Ministeriall function thereby more pretend to advance their authority or office above his then the Physitian by curing him as well as others or the Chirurgeon by lancing his wounds or if need be by cutting off some rotten member Some object further the inconveniences that would follow if the Magistrates authority were thus far admitted which yet by dividing the power cannot but be far greater And when all is said the severall pretenders hereunto are Men not Angells from whom as the Church may receive good so it cannot be altogether secured from evill because they are neither infallible in their judgments nor unbyassed in their affections Nor ought the fitnesse and ability which some pretend for the Ministers managing of Church affairs devest the Magistrate of his right 't is fit and 't was a good wish of him ut sapientes regnarent aut regnantes saperent and yet wee must not expect to have none States-men but Lawyers or Kings but Philosophers only Neither may the difficulty or abstrusnesse to judg of points in Religion as some would make us beleeve dethrone the Magistrate from his office or deterre him from his duty Every Christian is a competent Judge of these and ought to passe sentence upon the profoundest Doctor in trying his most subtil reasonings by the touch-stone of Gods Word as far at least as concerns himself If Paul when he was questioned concerning the Resurrection of the dead appealed to Caesars Tribunall before whom he saies he ought to be judged how can we be so dis-ingenuous as to refuse that to the Christian Magistrate which the Apostle gives to a Heathen Emperour And certainly if Magistrates would but consider that Religion is the power of their Power and that which ought to governe their Government they would with David make Gods law their study that they might thence learn to be wiser then their Teachers and so avoid the imputation of incapacity or ignorance to perform that which ought to be their chief Art And if conscience move them not hereunto mee thinks Policy should if we were strangers to our own times other ages would tell us how dangerous it is for the Supream