N01685:60
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.
2. They must be Obeyed & submitted unto; the Church and every Member of it must be subject to their Government. But if the Brethren have power to Vote in acts of government, then they have a liberty to obey or disobey; and particular persons are only to obey the Elders in case there be a concurrence of the Brethren with them If the Elders must be obeyed they must not be controlled or over ruled by them. There be other titles given to the Elders importing the same. ⟨p. 8⟩They are called Pastors or Shepherd; and so have a government over the Sheep: the Sheep are not sit to govern themselves. They are Overseers or Bishops Acts 20.28. The care of the Church is committed unto them.
2. They must be Obeyed & submitted unto; the Church and every Member of it must be subject to their Government. But if the Brethren have power to Vote in acts of government, then they have a liberty to obey or disobey; and particular persons are only to obey the Elders in case there be a concurrence of the Brethren with them If the Elders must be obeyed they must not be controuled or over ruled by them. There be other titles given to the Elders importing the same. ⟨p. 8⟩They are called Pastors or Shepherd; and so have a government over the Sheep: the Sheep are not sit to govern themselves. They are Overseers or Bishops Acts 20.28. The care of the Church is committed unto them.
3. Arg. The Ministers of the Jewish Church were the sole judges in Spiritual causes. Sometimes also they were made judges in Civil Causes, because they were suitably qualified. 1 Chron. 26.29, 30. And of the Izharites, Chenaniah & his Sons, were for the outward business over Israel, for officers & judges. And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand & seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward, in all business of the Lord, and in the service of the king. So in the following verses. But the Ministers and they alone were judges in spiritual causes. It is probable from some places of Scripture, that some Men of other Tribes were admitted to the Ministry in Israel. The Pharisees were of any Tribe, and they were allowed to be Teachers.