A59692:130
Subjection to Christ in all his ordinances and appointments the best means to preserve…
Subjection to Christ in all his ordinances and appointments the best means to preserve our liberty : together with a treatise of ineffectual hearing the word ... : with some remarkable passages of His life / by Thomas Shepard ...
London: printed by S.G. for John Rothwell, 1657
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.
Now we know, in the Church there is a three-fold power of Christ in Government: 1. The supreme Monarchical absolute power of Christ, in and by his Ordinances. 2. There is some derivative power of the Church from Christ jointly together. 3. There is a Ministerial power of the officers of the Church it self. Hence the Kingdom of Christ is overthrown when these three are, when this three-fold cord is broken by the sons of men; and if whole America cast off these, or any of these; then they fall to bondage; and if particular persons in Churches do, the Lord will do the like to them much more: 1 Kings 9. 4, 5. When Solomon had been praying much, the Lord tells him; If he would walk before him as David ⟨p. 31⟩his father had done, to keep his statutes and obey his commandments; then he would be a God, making good his promise; but if not, then the Lord would cast off him and that place. So Zach. 14. 17. And it shall be, that who so will not come up of all the families of the Earth, to worship the King the Lord of Hosts; even upon them shall be no rain. The Lord is quick in his judgements, and will spare none.
Now we know, in the Church there is a three-fold power of Christ in Government: 1. The supreme Monarchicall absolute power of Christ, in and by his Ordinances. 2. There is some derivative power of the Church from Christ joyntly together. 3. There is a Ministeriall power of the officers of the Church it self. Hence the Kingdome of Christ is overthrown when these three are, when this three-fold cord is broken by the sons of men; and if whole America cast off these, or any of these; then they fall to bondage; and if particular persons in Churches do, the Lord will do the like to them much more: 1 Kings 9. 4, 5. When Solomon had been praying much, the Lord tells him; If he would walk before him as David ⟨p. 31⟩his father had done, to keep his statutes and obey his commandments; then he would be a God, making good his promise; but if not, then the Lord would cast off him and that place. So