A41335:159
Weighty questions discussed I. Whether imposition of hands in separating a person to the…
Weighty questions discussed I. Whether imposition of hands in separating a person to the work of the ministry be necessary?, II. Whether it be essential to the right constitution of a particular church, that the teaching elders and the members meet always in one place? : whereunto is added a prediction of Mr. Daniel Rogers, minister in Essex, long before the beheading King Charles I and Arch-Bishop Laud, foretelling that they should not dye a natural death / by Giles Firmin ...Weighty questions discussed I. Whether imposition of hands in separating a person to the work of the ministry be necessry?, II. Whether it be essential to the right constitution of a particular church, that the teaching elders and the members meet alwayes in one place? : whereunto is added a prediction of Mr. Daniel Rogers, minister in Essex, long before the beheading King Charles I and Arch-Bishop Laud, foretelling that they should not dye a natural death / by Giles Firmin ...
London : Printed for the author, 1692
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.
Sixthly, Since then we are come to consequence from Scripture; I gave you a Scripture, 1 Cor. 12.12 The Body is one, and hath many Members, &c. He does not mean that particular Church of Corinth, is that one Body: he adds, so is Christ, v. 13. Jews and Gentiles make up that one Body. v. 25. The Members of this one Body, must have the same care one of another. Does the Apostle tie up his Discourse to the Church of Corinth, that the Members of that Church should have care one of another? and if one of their Members did ••••er, v. 26. all the rest of the Members of Corinth suffer with them, but for other Churches take no care of them: If they suffer, you need not suffer with them. Certainly, this was not the Apostles meaning. I look upon all particular Churches to be Members of that one Body: It is such a Church, in which Christ hath set Apostles, Prophets, &c. v. 28. It is such a Church, where some are as Eyes, others as Ears; some as Feet, some as Hands, verses 15, 16. Therefore he speaks of the Visible Church. If every particular Church were the Body of Christ, how many Bodies should Christ have? But he hath but one Body, as the 12th. verse, and Ephes. 4.4, 12. tell us. Since th•n all particular Churches are but Members of that one Body, and the Lord hath commanded the Members to have care one of another. Surely, the Lord hath not confined the Ministerial Power of a Pastor, to his own particular Church; so that if a Neighbour-Church have no Pastor, that the Pastors near to this Church may not help that Church to a Pastor, and in that way which his Word hath declared. Your Practice testifieth it; for you would make the Person to be ordained, and others believe, you ordain in another Church; and this is an Act of Authority, but not as you perform it, nor according to God's Word, and so it is no Ordination.
Sixthly, Since then we are come to consequence from Scripture; I gave you a Scripture, 1 Cor. 12.12 The Body is one, and hath many Members, &c. He does not mean that particular Church of Corinth, is that one Body: he adds, so is Christ, v. 13. Jews and Gentiles make up that one Body. v. 25. The Members of this one Body, must have the same care one of another. Does the Apostle tye up his Discourse to the Church of Corinth, that the Members of that Church should have care one of another? and if one of their Members did er, v. 26. all the rest of the Members of Corinth suffer with them, but for other Churches take no care of them: If they suffer, you need not suffer with them. Certainly, this was not the Apostles meaning. I look upon all particular Churches to be Members of that one Body: It is such a Church, in which Christ hath set Apostles, Prophets, &c. v. 28. It is such a Church, where some are as Eyes, others as Ears; some as Feet, some as Hands, verses 15, 16. Therefore he speaks of the Visible Church. If every particular Church were the Body of Christ, how many Bodies should Christ have? But he hath but one Body, as the 12th. verse, and