N01685:51
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.
1. What is given: There be two expressions of this, The first is the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: This intends power over the Church. The Keys are the Ensign of Authority When Eliakim was made Steward of the Kings house, it is expressed in this manner: Isai. 22 22. The Key of the house of David I will lay upon his shoulder, so he shall open and none shall shut, and he shall shut and none shall open. At this day, when a besieged City doth render to the besiegers, they deliver up the Keys as a sign of their Subjection. The second expression is, That what he binds on earth is bound in heaven, &c. This notes a power to inflict Church Censures, and also to deliver from them: for in John it is explained by permitting & retaining sins.
2. The Subject that this power is given unto, viz. Firstly to Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, and so to their Successors to the end of the World. As the Church is to continue, so the government of the Church must be continued. Gospel Ordinances will continue in force to the end of the World; therefore the Gospel Church is called, A Kingdom that cannot be moved, Heb. 12.28. The Key of Doctrine doth belong to the Ministers, they are the Successors of the Apostles to the end of the World: And the Key of Discipline belongs to the same Persons that the Key of Doctrine doth belong to. Heb. 13.7. Remember them that have the rule over you, that have spoken to you the Word of God. The managing of the Keys is a work of Office, and therefore doth belong to those that have Office power in the Church.
I shall not show how this Scripture has been abused by those of the Church of Rome, for the Establishing of Papal power; But mind you how it hath been darkened by a violent interpretation among out selves, viz. That the Keys were given to Peter partly as an Apostle, partly as a Minister, partly as a Believer. This interpretation has more of fancy than truth: If this interpretation were given by inspired Men, it ought to be received, but there is not a tittle in the Text that looks that way.