A93085:118
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; how we may know whether we have heard the same effectually: and by what means it may be come effectual unto us. With some remarkable passages of his life. By Tho. Shepherd, late pastor of the Church of Christ in Cambridge in New-England. Now published by Mr. Jonathan Michel pastor of the said church in New England.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; how we may know whether we have heard the same effectually: and by what means it may be come effectual unto us. With some remarkable passages of his life. By Tho. Shephard, late pastor of the Church of Christ in Cambridge in New-England. Now published by Mr. Jonathan Michell pastor of the said church in New England.
London: printed for John Rothwell, 1652
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.
2. Try when the external Kingdom of Christ in his Church is cast off; for we told you, this was Christs Kingdom. 'Tis called ⟨p. 53⟩the Kingdom of Heaven, Matth. 25.1. And 'tis it which the Lord gives up at the last day to God the Father; and hence, Mat. 8.12. the members thereof are The children of the Kingdom; and hence we read of the rulers and governors of it: and the keys, not only of doctrine; but of power and jurisdiction committed by Christ Jesus to it, punctually expressed in Scripture.
2. Try when the external Kingdome of Christ in his Church is cast off; for we told you, this was Christs Kingdome. 'Tis called ⟨p. 53⟩the Kingdome of Heaven, Matth. 25.1. And 'tis it which the Lord gives up at the last day to God the Father; and hence, Mat. 8.12. the members thereof are The children of the Kingdome; and hence we read of the rulers and governours of it: and the keys, not only of doctrine; but of power and jurisdiction committed by Christ Jesus to it, punctually exprest in Scripture.
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: