A53671:210
A brief instruction in the worship of God, and discipline of the churches of…
A brief instruction in the worship of God, and discipline of the churches of the New Testament, by way of question and answer with an explication and confirmation of those answers.
London : s.n., 1667
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.
Secondly, that he doth communicate of this authority by way of trust, to be exercised by them in his name, unto persons by him appointed, so much as is needful for the ordering and disposing of all things in his Churches, unto the blessed ends for which he hath ⟨p. 145⟩instituted and appointed them. For no man can have any power in his Church for any end whatever, but by delegation from him. What is not received from him, is mere usurpation. And whoever takes upon himself the exercise of any Rule, or Authority, or power in the Church, not granted unto them by him, or not rightly derived from him, is an oppressor, a thief, and a Robber; this necessarily follows upon the absolute investiture of all power in him alone. 1 Cor. 12.28. Ephe. 4.11, 12.
Secondly, that he doth communicate of this authority by way of trust, to be exercised by them in his name, unto persons by him appointed, so much as is needful for the ordering and disposing of all things in his Churches, unto the blessed ends for which he hath ⟨p. 145⟩instituted and appointed them. For no man can have any power in his Church for any end whatever, but by delegation from him. What is not received from him, is meer usurpation. And whoever takes upon himself the exercise of any Rule, or Authority, or power in the Church, not granted unto them by him, or not rightly derived from him, is an oppressor, a thief, and a Robber; this necessarily follows upon the absolute investiture of all power in him alone. 1 Cor. 12.28. Ephe. 4.11, 12.
Thirdly, the means whereby the Lord Christ communicates this power unto men, is by his Law, and constitution, whereby he hath granted, ordained, and appointed, that such and such powers shall be exercised in his Church, and that by such and such persons, to be derived unto them in such a way and manner; so that the word of the Gospel, or the Laws and constitutions of the Lord Christ therein, are the first recipient seat and subject morally of all Church power whatever.