A93085:232
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.
Heresy and Error hath this property; it ever dies by severe opposition, and truth ever riseth the more; because Christ is against the one, Hence it must fall; but for the other, hence it shall rise by its fall: Hence, set your selves against this, 'tis to oppose the power of Christ Jesus. And hence in Henry the 8th time, the Abbeys fell, and never could rise to this day; but the six Articles against the Saints pursued with blood, made them increase the more.
Heresie and Error hath this property; it ever dies by severe opposition, and truth ever riseth the more; because Christ is against the one, Hence it must fall; but for the other, hence it shall rise by its fall: Hence, set your selves against this, 'tis to oppose the power of Christ Jesus. And hence in Henry the 8th time, the Abbies fell, and never could rise to this day; but the sixe Articles against the Saints pursued with blood, made them increase the more.
3. When men will not submit to the wholesome Laws of Magistrates; which are either fundamental, and continuing; or ⟨p. 118⟩Orders that have their date and time of expiring, made for common good. When men will either have no awes or as good as none, or submit to none but what they please, Deut. 17.12. He that will not hearken, but do presumptuously, shall dye: He being the Minister of the Lord; and indeed it is to call off the Lord. I go not about here to establish a sovereign power in Magistrates, which is proper to God, to make what laws they will, about civil, Religious, or indifferent things, and then people to submit to them for no other reason, but because of their will; under which notion, superstition in Churches hath been ushered and maintained, you must obey authority in that case, it's better to suffer then to sin, and not to do, then do. But I suppose the laws just, righteous, holy, and for public good, and that apparently so, and not in saying so only: Now here, to cast off laws, is to cast off Christ.