A64635:289
Certain discourses, viz. of Babylon (Rev. 18. 4.) being the present See of Rome…
Certain discourses, viz. of Babylon (Rev. 18. 4.) being the present See of Rome (with a sermon of Bishop Beadles upon the same words) of laying on of hands (Heb. 6. 2.) to be an ordained ministry, of the old form of words in ordination, of a set form of prayer : each being the judgment of the late Arch-bishop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland / published and enlarged by Nicholas Bernard ... : unto which is added a character of Bishop Bedel, and an answer to Mr. Pierces fifth letter concerning the late Primate.Certain discourses, viz. of Babylon (Rev. 18. 4.) being the present See of Rome (with a sermon of Bishop Bedels upon the same words) of laying on of hands (Heb. 6. 2.) to be an ordained ministry, of the old form of words in ordination, of a set form of prayer : each being the judgment of the late Arch-bishop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland / published and enlarged by Nicholas Bernard ... : unto which is added a character of Bishop Bedel, and an answer to Mr. Pierces fifth letter concerning the late Primate.
London: printed for John Crook, 1659
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.
4. In the word of God preached, §4there is exercised this part of our function, in loosing men from their sins, being a special part of this Ministry of reconciliation, committed to us, as the Ambassadors of Christ here upon the earth for that end; sinners are said to be holden with the cords of their own sins, Prov. 5. 12. The Apostles (saith Saint Jerome) according to their Commission given them by their Master, Whosoever you shall loose on earth, shall be loosened in heaven; (which bears the same sense with remitting, and retaining of sins here,) aDid loose those cords by the word of God, and Testimonies of Scripture, and exhortations unto virtues bSaint Ambrose saith ⟨p. 268⟩the same, that sins are remitted by the word of God; &c. And so calls the Levite, that interpreted the Law, a Minister of remission; As the Jewish Scribes, by taking away this key of knowledge, are said to shut up the Kingdom of heaven, so a Scribe fitted for the Kingdom of God in the Ministry, is a means by it to open the door of heaven to them, by being an instrument to open mens eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sius, &c. And by applying the word unto the consciences of their hearers, the Ministers of Christ did discharge that part of their function which concerns forgiveness of sins; not only declaratively, but operatively; in as ⟨p. 269⟩much as God is pleased to use their preaching of the Gospel, as a means of conferring his spirit upon the sons of men, and of working of faith, and repentance, whereby remission of sins is obtained: thus John is said to have preached the Baptism of repentance, 3and to have given knowledge of salvation to the people, for the remission of sins: and Saint James, cap. 5. 20