An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

In the third place, The dispensation of comfort to those that are in trouble, ¹is of two sorts, Charitativè and Potestativè. Charitativè is that which every Christian in the way of love is bound to do to another. When the Apostle commanded the Thessalonians, to comfort one another, he speaketh to them as private Christians. Potestativè is that whereby the Ministers of the Gospel, who are in Power and Office, do administer consolation to others. And as the Minister in Office hath a peculiar promise from God in the discharge of his Office; so may the private Christian expect a greater success in his labours, when faithfully discharged: For the Office is not enough, unless it be dispensed in Gods way. Hence to them is given the Keys or Power to bind and loose, with this addition, that what they do shall be ratified, that is, as they say, Clave non errante, provided that they bind or loose in a Scripture-way. The Minister then of the Gospel is by his Office to comfort as well as to terrify, to loose as well as to bind; not that he doth these things authoritatively, but ministerially and declaratively only, yet so that in the declaration of this, a special: success may be expected from God. Hence James 5. 14, 15. Those who are sick, are commanded to call for the Elders to pray for them; and in that is included all other duties requisite to the saving of that sick mans soul. Yea some have been so greatly disconsolate, and tempted by Satan, that learned and pious Divines have though is convenient, to give a particular absolution, and private application of the Gospel to such an humbled sinner, and that in a ministerial way, as in the name of Christ.

In the third place, The dispensation of comfort to those that are in trouble, ¹is of two sorts, Charitativè and Potestativè. Charitativè is that which every Christian in the way of love is bound to do to another. When the Apostle commanded the Th•ssal•nians, to comfort one another, he speaketh to them as private Christians. Potestativè is that whereby the Ministers of the Gospel, who are in Power and Office, do administer consolation to others. And as the Minister in Office hath a peculiar promise from God in the discharge of his Office; so may the private Christian expect a greater success in his labours, when faithfully discharged: For the Office is not enough, unless it be dispensed in Gods way. Hence to them is given the Keyes or Power to bind and loose, with this addition, that what they do shall be ratified, that is, as they say, Clave non errante, provided that they bind or loose in a Scripture-way. The Minister then of the Gospel is by his Office to comfort as well as to terrifie, to loose as well as to bind; not that he doth these things authoritatively, but ministerially and declaratively only, yet so that in the declaration of this, a specia: success may be expected from God. Hence