CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

And 1. It lieth in that spiritual command and authority which he hath in his Church; This is expressed when he saith, All power is given to me in heaven and earth, therefore go make disciples, and baptize. Here you see the Institution of Sacraments is founded upon that power given to Christ, and from this it is Eph. 4, That upon his Ascension, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men: By this power the Church of God is like Solomons Queen richly attired in all curious needle-work; It's from this glory of Christs that he putteth such glory on the Church, so that for all the Ordinances and dispensations thereof, for all the success and benefit to be reaped by them, We are to look up to Christ, hereupon we say, that to bring any other doctrine, any other Sacrament or worship then Christ hath appointed, is a capital crime; It's to invade the Jura regalia, which Christ hath obtained of God, and therefore to despise the Ordinances, the gifts, the Ministry that Christ hath appointed in his Church, is to neglect and contemn a great part of that glory God put on Christ for this end Col. 3. You have the Apostle running out into such full and large expressions concerning Christ, making him the head of the Church, in whom God hath put all fullness, that he is to have the preeminence in all ⟨p. 28⟩things; Let us not then despise but magnify all the Ordinances, Offices, and gifts Christ hath appointed, for when he ascended in his triumph to heaven, he scattered these gifts as great Emperors do use to do large bounties to their people, and they are for heavenly and spiritual advantages, All power he hath is to bless, to convert. to comfort, to sanctify every Ordinance about which we are employed.

And 1. It lieth in that spirituall command and authority which he hath in his Church; This is expressed when he saith, All power is given to me in heaven and earth, therefore go make disciples, and baptize. Here you see the Institution of Sacraments is founded upon that power given to Christ, and from this it is Eph. 4, That upon his Ascention, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men: By this power the Church of God is like Solomons Queen richly attired in all curious needle-work; It's from this glory of Christs that he putteth such glory on the Church, so that for all the Ordinances and dispensations thereof, for all the successe and benefit to be reaped by them, We are to look up to Christ, hereupon we say, that to bring any other doctrine, any other Sacrament or worship then Christ hath appointed, is a capitall crime; It's to invade the Jura regalia, which Christ hath obtained of God, and therefore to despise the Ordinances, the gifts, the Ministery that Christ hath appointed in his Church, is to neglect and contemn a great part of that glory God put on Christ for this end