N01685:64
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.
4. Arg. The Community are not fit to judge & rule in the Church. They must be Men of understanding that are to judge in Civil causes. Exod. 18.21. Thou shalt provide out of all the People able men. Deut. 1.13. Take you wise men & understanding, and known among your Tribes, & I will make them rulers over you. There is a great deal of intricacy many times in causes, & many things are offered to blind the eyes: there may be fair pretences for foul actions. Sometimes it is difficult to find out matter of fact; sometimes to find out matter of law. So that there is great need of understanding. Solomon prayed for wisdom to judge Israel, and Israel took notice that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment, 1 King. 3. ult. But the Community are not men of understanding. Wise Men are but here & there to be found. Many of them have not had the advantage of Reading & Study. Some of them are Men of very weak Abilities, some of them are rash, some of them are Young, hardly Sixteen Years of Age, so me of them are Servants; a crafty man may lead a ⟨p. 11⟩Score of them by the Nose; they are uncapable to see into an abstruse thing. Let the government be put into their hands, & things will be carried head-long by a tumultuous cry. If the Multitude were to be judges in Civil causes, things would quickly be turned up side down. We have many examples in the Scripture of the ungovernable Spirit of the Multitude. When Christ Jesus stood before Pilate, they cried out, Crucify him, crucify him. When Stephen pleaded his case, they lift up their voice & stopped their ears, & ran upon him with one accord. When Paul made his defence, they lift up their voice & said, Away with such a fellow, it is not fit that he should live. We have no reason to think that Christ would intrust the government of His Church with Men so uncapable to govern. We read of the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
4. Arg. The Community are not fit to judge & rule in the Church. They must be Men of understanding that are to judge in Civil causes. Exod. 18.21. Thou shalt provide out of all the People able men.