A25294:901
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian…The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian…
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian catechism in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy labourer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian catechisme in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy laborer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...
London: printed by T. Mabb for Thomas Davies, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Reas. 2. Because the building and keeping in repair, and strengthening and advancing the Church, in which the end of this Ministry consists, cannot be procured by men, but by such a power.
Reas. 3. Because the Kingdom of Heaven is of that nature, that it can be subject to no imperial or commanding power of sinful man, but to him only that is infallible, and imperable, God and man, Christ Jesus; and to a Ministerial or servant-like power of sinful men only.
Reas. 3. Because the Kingdome of Heaven is of that nature, that it can be sub•ect to no imperial or commanding power of sinfull man, but to him onely that is infallible, and imperable, God and man, Christ Jesus; and to a Ministerial or servant-like power of sinfull men only.
Use 1. Of Refutation, against Papists, who give an imperial and commanding power to Peter, and to the Popes of Rome: which also they would fain pick out of this place. But the power here spoken of, is equally given, or joined to all the Ministers of the Word, and not to Peter alone, as they would have it. For, 1. Peter here represented the persons of all the Apostles, and of all Ministers of the Word, their successors; and in some kind of the whole Church. For as Christ thus proposed the question to them all, and had the answer given by Peter by the approbation and consent of them all, as that to which they adhered, and allowed as well as he, and therefore might be said to have been made in the name of all, he being the senior, and so often the speaker for all; so also in this promise instead of them all, Christ directs his speech to Peter. 2. This same power is solemnly given unto all the Apostles, and to their successors, Joh. 20. 23. 3. Unto every true Church this power is in some kind extended.