Selected quad for the lemma: power_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
power_n	bind_v	heaven_n	loose_v	4,825	5	10.6036	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