6o Mat.zo.7. Luke9.2; i Tltn.:.:, But the power of .Ab[olutio,, Vcrfoi; .V•rfe ~•· Of the PoTPer --- 3· The like may we fay of the power of Preaching, whic~ them long before; even when He fem them, and commanded t/,em 19 Pg l the l(ingdome of Go o, which was done, before this powerwas pr~et<~) fed, which here is bellowed; as will evidently appeare, the one beint~· ven, Matth.Io, the other after promifed, MattiJ.J6. · ~~~ 4· Neither can it be meant ofprayer. There is no partition inpray · Prayers andJupplications are to be made for all men, ~Ut here is aplainep::~ tition. There is a ~ortl~, whofefinnes are remttteJ, and another !!>uo. rumwhofe finnes are retamed. '\: · Seeing then, this new ceremonie and folemne manner ofproceeding in thi<, are able to perfwadeany, it was forne new poW€rthat here was conferre?, and not thofe which before had beene (though there be, that apply this,others to fome one, and others to all ofthem:) I take itto be a power diflinct from the former, and (not to hold you long) to bee the accomplifhment of the promife made, Matth.l6.19. of thepower of tbe I(eyes, wh~ch here in this place and in thefe words is fulfilled. and have therein for me the joynt confent of theFathers. Which bei~g a diffe• rent power in it felfc, is that, which wecall theAEl or IJ3enefit of Abfolu. lion; in whi!i:h (as in the reil) there is in the due time and place ofit, an ufe fortheremifoonof(innes. Whereunto our SAVIOUR CHRisT; by His fending them, doth inllitute them, and give them the k.ey ofau•. thority : And by breathing on them and infpiring them,doth enablethem~ .and give them the key of knowledge, to doe it well, and havingbellowed both thefe upon them as the Stewards ofhir Houfe, cloth latlofall deliver .them their Commiftion to doe it, having fo enabled the~ and at~thoriz.e& · .them a~ before: So much for thepower~ 1r. Every power is not e'vety \Vhere tobeexercifed, tior upon everymat~ ~'""' p«- ter ; but each power hath his properfubjeEl. . T:;:,; fubject . The matter or jubj~El? whereon this power is to beexercifed, isfinne; of this To be confidered firllm tt felfe, as thematter at large. And then, as qua~ power. lified with rhe perfon : (for it is quorum,andnot qu.e peccata ;)As the nee; rer and more proper fubjeEl. F<ewa, at Firll then, the fubjeEl are fimzes. Simm in themfelves, no wayes_re· large. llrained or limited. No finnes at aJI, either for number orgteatnejfe bemg ~~ . . Wit~our eJG. Not for number. For Q!rifl teaching us, That 'll>ee ot1r felves Jl:ouldfor~ cepr~on· of gi-ve until/ fe'Venty times feven times cloth thereby after a fort gtve us tO M'.~~;~::, , underllan~~ that Hewill nodlick~ With us forthe like numberin ours. For Goo forbid, weefhould imagine, Hee ·taught us to be more mer· .ciFull or ofgreater perfection than He will be Himfelfe. That number amotrnteth to tenne1'uhilees 9{pardo11 : For (o many finnes, may weethen - · - · · · hope
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=