Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
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A88108
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A brief plat-form of that government which is called Presbyterial. By William Ley minister of the Word at Charlwood in Surrey.
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Ley, William, b. 1620 or 21.
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1648
(1648)
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Wing L1887; Thomason E457_1; ESTC R204958
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18,562
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30
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and Elders which vindicate's and cleare's up the fourth branch of the Definition which I demonstrate by ten Arguments The Officers alone are styled Governors and the people said to bee Governed in Scripture and thereupon disinteressed from Government See the names given to Pastors They are called not onely Over-seers Builders Workmen Reconcilers Pastors Salt of the Earth but Lights Stewards Fathers Ambassadors Rulers Lights Matth. 5.14 Stewards 1 Cor. 4.1 Embassadors 2 Cor. 5.20 Fathers 1 Cor. 4.15 Rulers Heb. 13.17 God hath given the Keyes of Government onely to them whom hee intended should govern But that was onely to Officers the Disciples being at that season absent Matth. 16.19 Joh. 20.21 To whom the Acts of Government do belong they are the eyes ears hands and principal members of the body but the parts of Christ's body are not all alike Rom. 12.6 7. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given us whether Prophecying Let us prophecie according to the proportion of faith or Ministrie Let us wait on our ministrie or hee that Teacheth on teaching 1 Cor. 12.19 And if they were all one member where were the body Experience evidenceth that all the whole multitude are not all endued with gifts requisite for unto Government is required a new large spiritual and a discerning Heart 1 Cor. 14.32 That it is not to bee committed to the people which bring 's in confusion God being the God of Order for then the weak as well as the strong the ignorant as well as the intelligent Children as well as Parents women as well as men must have the Keyes hung at their girdles They have not power of Ordination which belong's to Government as is evident Act. 6.6 When they had set before the Apostles and when they had prayed they laid their hands on him and 13.1 2 3. 1 Tim. 4.14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by prophecie with the laying on of the hands of the Presbyterie 1 Tim. 5.22 Lay hands suddenly on no man neither bee pertaker of other mens sins keep thy self pure 2 Tim. 1.6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is given thee by laying on of hands Tit. 1.5 For this caus left I thee in Creet that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every Citie as I have appointed thee This power in the people would tend not to edification but disprofit every way for either the daies of Church-censuring must bee on the Sabbath-day and then it hinder's the soule 's health or els on the Week-daies and then it hinder's their occupations besides all this such censure would bee most tedious for every one being Judg must look to pronounce according to truth judgment and righteousness and look to bee acquainted with every circumstance of all actions They who have the power of Government have the power of Preaching and administration of the Sacraments saving one exception in the word concerning ruleing Elders 1 Tim. 5. The reason is becaus the Scripture conjoin's both together Matth. 16.19 Job 20.22 The nature of the Church in the Old Tsstament was otherwise the government whereof was committed to Priests who judged of Leprosies and pronounced excommunication Ezek. 44.23 24. They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and prophane and cause men to discern between the clean and unclean and in controversie they shall stand in judgment and judg it according to my judgments and they shall keep my Statutes and my Lawes in all my Assemblies and they shall hallow my Sabbaths The charge laid upon the Officers demonstrate's it Rev. 2.6 1. Tim. 5.17 Let the Elders that rule well bee accounted worthy of double honor especially they that labor in the word and doctrine Tit. 3.10 A man that is an Heretick after the first and second admonition reject 1 Thes 5.12 And wee beseech you brethren to know them which labor among you and are over you in the Lord Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selvs for they watch for your souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you There bee three places of Scripture which may stumble us if they bee not at present unfolded I. * Matth. 18.17 If thy Brother neglect to hear thee tell it the Church and if hee neglect c. The next words explain the sens There is a two fold Church 1 Parochial of all the multitude 2 Ministerial or representative Christ speak's of the later not of the former Deodat Calvin Beza Tremel according to the judgment of many judicious Divines for this is the Church that hath the Keyes of bindeing and loosing which power was not given to the whole multitude but to the Apostles ver 18. 2. This doth conclude little in their Caus for the place doth establish a Chuch of lesser Assemblies then the whole body 3. I should willingly grant them a share were there no danger in it for wee finde that publick Votes do not bring forth many happy pious peaceable or seasonable conclusions the major part being seldom the better 1 Cor. 5.4 5 When yee are gathered together and my spirit deliver such an one to Satan See for its explication 2 Cor. 2.2.6 Sufficient to such an one is the censure inflicted by many not by all Besides the Church of Corinth was not Congregational for it was a City of so great strength that it durst bid defiance to the Roman Ambassadors and wee finde it consisted of divers particular congregations see Acts 8.19 20. God hath much people in it Act. 18.15 Paul continued there a yeer and six months 1 Cor. 1.14 Paul baptized but a few yet the Corinthians were baptized 1 Cor. 12.13 1 Cor. 5.12 III. Qui facit per alium facit per se Do not yee judg them that are within The answer is that what is don by the Consistory of Ministers and Elders in the name of Christ and according to the rule of the Word may bee said to bee don by the Congregation nay by Christ himself as what is don by the Parliament may be said to bee don by the people the act of Publick persons is the act of the * Quod in Vrbe est Senatus id in Ecclesia est Presbyterium Cal. Instit l. 4. Praesident probatiquique Seniores Tertul. Plebs à cognitione non excluditur Cal. l. 4. c. 11. Publick 2. Paul judged primarily and authoritatively by way of power 1 Cor. 5.3 4 5. The people concomitantly and approbatively by way of consent 3. If a godly and understanding congregation do desire to take knowledg of our Church-Censures and to bee present at them I think there is none will exclude them though there is little cause of suspition saith Mr Calvin that they can err or dissent from the judgment of God who do
Rod a sanctified means for recoverie 't is not for us to say with Lot Nay my brethren do not so wickedly nor with Eli It is no good report I hear of you If a garden were over-spread with weeds if a Common-wealth with Theevs if a Familie with stubborn Sons and Servants what must bee don think you would you not as the Lord command's bring them out to the Congregation and make them examples that all may hear and fear and do no more wickedly Bad men brought forth bad times let us begin to reform the men and the times shall bee innocent els the times like the ground are accursed for our sakes Gentlemen Center not your actions upon your self bee not emptie vines and self-bearing trees build not your own houses and let the hous of God lie waste do somthing for Christ for his Church for the Common-wealth that both Church and Common-wealth may know yee live not onely a vegetative and sensitive but a rational and spiritual Life I confess I am plain with you but I may say with David Is there not a caus hath hee not don the like Psal 2.10 Hee take's notice indeed that the Heathen rage and the people imagin vainly yet the totall application of subjection to Christ is pressed home to Kings and Rulers bee wise now therefore Ministers must bee like bees painful profitable carrying their stings about them as well as honie Christ gave his Apostles Tongues but they were fierie a Sword but 't was two-edged John was not onely a shineing but a burning Light Paul's presence was contemptible but his Epistles powerful I might indeed have qualified som expressions in respect of that great respect and reverence I bear to all of you but becaus dutie must prevail above interest and the discharge of Conscience above Courtship I have therefore set an edg upon the Government intending by the sincere performance of my own Office to oblige you all to the serious and speedy accomplishment of your new engagements and thus I commend you to God and earnestly beg a blessing on your favorable assistance to the Caus of Christ whose unworthie Servant I am and for his sake Your's in all Obligations both of Love and Service WILLIAM LEY A Brief delineation of that Church-Government which is called Presbyterial THough where the Sun shine's it is not necessarie to light Candles yet seeing mans neglect in reading the Word his ignorance in understanding of it his wilfulness in opposing it is very great all helps are necessarie every stone is to bee moved whereby hee may advance his knowledg in those things which do manifestly concern the glory of God and do discover the Kingly power and prerogative of Jesus Christ For though it bee happie for us that Christ is a Priest and Prophet yet hath hee a more durable and glorious Office then either of these to wit that of a King whereby hee reign 's in our hearts rule 's in his Church over-rule's Satan and all his enemies Christ came into the world to manifest his Regal power to which Satan and his complices have been perpetually opposite see Psal 2.1 Further the historie of his Passion put 's it out of all doubt for this was the onely point of his accusation confessed by himself Job 8.33 Prosecuted by the Jewes Luke 23.2 Prevalent with Pilate Joh. 19.12 Mentioned in his superscription Joh. 19.19 so that his death may in this sens bee styled not a Redemption but a Martyrdom for to bee a Martyr is to die a Witness and Christ died to bear witness to the truth which may shame many brethren in these daies that will not dare to Seal that Caus with their ink which Christ hath already sealed with his blood I intend not in this discours to spin out the Caus by any unnecessary florishes for I had rather engage the Readers judgment theu his fancie It is a jugling art to throw mists of wit and tart sentences upon the advers party that so the nakedness of the Caus may lie undiscerned The Points I shall insist upon are these Four That God hath instituted a Government in his Church That the Subject of Ecclesiastical power are not all the members of the Church in common but the Presbyterie consisting of Pastors and Elders I shall show what Presbyterial Government is I shal give account of the variety of Officers distinguished by the Word with the proper Acts whereunto they are obliged I. GOD hath instituted a Government in his Church The proofs 1 Cor. 12.28 2 Cor. 10.18 and 13.10 Rom. 12.8 Becaus there hath ever been a Government in the Church of God as is evident in the Old and New Testament and ever since the Apostolical times till now of late the Truth of a Government was never called into question Becaus without Church-Government Truth cannot bee maintained Order established Ignorant instructed Vnity anb Vniformity embraced the Peace of the Church secured Offenders removed Ordinances purely administred all which things ought to bee kept inviolably by the Word of God If there bee a Government in the State nay in every Family consisting of Officers and Elders much more in the Church which is the hous and family of God so it is that of necessity every body whether Natural Politick or Ecclesiastical is susteined by it Rules 2. I. That Government is best that com's neerest the precept and pattern of the Word of God and the best examples of the reformed Churches 1. To the pattern of the Word of God for it is all-sufficient 2 Tim. 3.16 and to this our conscience binde's us 2. To the best examples as Scotland Holland France Germany c. and to unite with these Charity Fraternity and our Covenant binde us II. That Government is best which is not redundant or superfluous in challenging any power above or beyond the Word nor deficient or wanting in any one branch or notable particular contained in it The Definition of Church-Government Church-Government is a power or authority spiritual revealed in the holy Scriptures derived from Jesus Christ our Mediator and given by him onely to his own Officers and by them exercised in dispensing the Word Seals Censures and all other ordinances of Christ for the edifying of the Church of Christ Parts proved 1. It is Spiritual The Kingdom of Christ is not of this world therefore are they called the Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 16.19 and 18.15 16 17 18. 2. It is revealed in the Scripture 1 Cor. 12.28 2 Thes 3.6 and 14. 1 Tim. 1.20 1 Cor. 5.4 5. 2 Cor. 2.6 Tit. 3.10 3. It is derived from Christ Ephes 4.8 Joh. 20.21 22 23. 2 Cor. 10.8 4. Onely to his own Officers Matth. 16.19 and 28.20 1 Tim. 5.17 1 Cor. 4.21 5. For the edifying of the Church of Christ Ephes 4.12 13. 1 Cor 4 2. 1 Cor. 14.12 II. The Subject of Ecclesiastical Government are not all the members in common but the Presbyterie or Church-representative consisting of Pastors