N01685:55
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.
The plain meaning of the Place is this, That as a reward of his hearty confession of Christ, Christ would bestow on him the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven by making him an Officer in the Christian Church. And its absurd & ridiculous to ask whether he is made an Officer as an Officer, or as a Believer. It is all one as if we should ask whether the Staff be given to a Captain as a Captain, or as a common Soldier: or to ask whether the Office of a Governor be given to him as a Governor, or as a Freeman. The giving the Keys to Peter gives Office power to him; they are given unto him as one chosen to such an Office.
The plain meaning of the Place is this, That as a reward of his hearty confession of Christ, Christ would bestow on him the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven by making him an Officer in the Christian Church. And its absurd & ridiculous to ask whether he is made an Officer as an Officer, or as a Believer. It is all one as if we should ask whether the Staff be given to a Captain as a Captain, or as a common Souldier: or to ask whether the Office of a Governour be given to him as a Governour, or as a Freeman. The giving the Keys to Peter gives Officepower to him; they are given unto him as one chosen to such an Office.
2. Arg. Is taken from 1 Tim. 5.17. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the Word & Doctrine. Heb. 13 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and sumbit your selves, for they watch for your souls as they that must give account.
Consider 1. Who they are to whom this Honour & Obedience must be yielded, that are styled Rulers. And it is very evident that they are Elders, principally if not only Teaching Elders: In Heb. 17.13. They are said to be those that watch for their souls And v. 7. He speaks of such Rulers, as have spoken to them in the Name of God.