A93085:178
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. From want of being poor in spirit, and sensible of their extreme need of Christ continually in all means: Beggars will pick up crumbs, and watch for a word of encouragement. Isa. 11.6. A little child shall lead the Wolfe and the Lion; that is, when ⟨p. 95⟩the Lord hath humbled the heart of a man. Oh, when a Christian thinks none so poor and shallow, and heartless as I, and every one is better then I, however I need more then any: This soul will be glad to suck the breast; and the Lord will fill others with light and life, and his own bowels, to do such a one good. Whereas, else they are shut up, and they find no good conveyed to them by any of the Ordinances of the Lord, nor any presence of God in them.
2. From want of being poor in spirit, and sensible of their extream need of Christ continually in all means: Beggers will pick up crums, and watch for a word of encouragement. Isa. 11.6. A little childe shall lead the Wolfe and the Lion; that is, when ⟨p. 95⟩the Lord hath humbled the heart of a man. Oh, when a Christian thinks none so poor and shallow, and heartlesse as I, and every one is better then I, however I need more then any: This soul will be glad to suck the brest; and the Lord will fill others with light and life, and his own bowels, to do such a one good. Whereas, else they are shut up, and they finde no good conveyed to them by any of the Ordinances of the Lord, nor any presence of God in them.
3. There is a Ministerial power, committed from Christ by the Church to the ruling Officers thereof. I say, by the Church; for all power in the Church, is properly Christs, yet he nextly communicates it ordinarily to his Church, or multitude of Believers, to whom is committed the supreme power of the Keys in his word, and of binding and loosing, as hath been shown; and by this Church, this power hath been by Christs appointment, and still is, to be communicated to those that are chosen out of themselves, to be Officers and Rulers over them in the Lord, to exercise the power of Christ over them according to his will. Hence the very power of binding and loosing, opening and shutting, given to the Church, is also given to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, and the successors of Christs Apostles in Doctrine, sent of Christ,