N01685:45
The presence of Christ with the ministers of the Gospel, opened & applied in…The presence of Christ with the ministers of the Gospel, opened & applyed in…
The presence of Christ with the ministers of the Gospel, opened & applied in a sermon preached at Swampfield, January 1st. 1717[/]18. Being the day of the gathering of the church, and the ordination of the Reverend Joseph Willard their pastor. / By Solomon Stoddard, A.M. & Pastor of Northampton.The presence of Christ with the ministers of the Gospel, opened & applyed in a sermon preached at Swampfield, January 1st. 1717[/]18. Being the day of the gathering of the church, and the ordination of the Reverend Joseph Willard their pastor. / By Solomon Stoddard, A.M. & Pastor of Northampton.
printed by B. Green, 1718
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.
This Principle is very Popular; it is taking with them to see themselves advanced to a share in the government: They have a greater fondness for power than ability to use it, and nothing but light as clear as the light of the Sun at Noon day, will prevail with some Men to part with one Inch of that power, which they are told, doth belong to them.
But I shall endeavour to clear it up, That the government of the Church is given unto the Elders, & that the Fraternity have no power in binding & loosing.
CHRIST JESUS is the absolute head of the Church, and keeps that part of government entirely in His own hands, to appoint Officers and Laws for His Church. The Civil Magistrate has power also in many Ecclesiastical cases; he may appoint days of Fasting, as Jehoshaphat did, 2 Chren. 20.3. Jehoshaphat feared & set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a Fast throughout all Judah. And by the same reason they may appoint days of Thanksgiving, ⟨p. 4⟩they may call Ecclesiastical Councils, they may take care of the Maintenance of Ministers, they may Suppress those that give disturbance to the Church.
CHRIST JESUS is the absolute head of the Church, and keeps that part of government entirely in His own hands, to appoint Officers and Laws for His Church. The Civil Magistrate has power also in many Ecclesiastical cases; he may appoint days of Fasting, as Jehoshaphat did, 2 Chren. 20.3. Jehoshaphat feared & set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a Fast throughout all Judah. And by the same reason they may appoint days of Thankgiving, ⟨p. 4⟩they may call Ecclesiastical Councils, they may take care of the Maintenance of Ministers, they may Suppress those that give disturbance to the Church.