C H A P. EQiflle to the Tbeffalonians. V a A. 8. 1c is God that called' , though by mans miniftery : Therefore he that defpif th, defpifeth not met,,.6ut God. Contempt ofAeíinrflers, in their regular prefcripts,Hayes not in the perlons of Adinif1ers, bat reacheth to the Maiefly of God: As thecontempc of an Atnbaflàdor toucher' the King whof e Ambatlador he is. Therefore laid our Sauï eur, d He that defpifethyou, delpifeth me. The reafon is, becaule fuch prefcripts are Gods, the fog-lion : ours onely in refpef}of declaration: as the Law of God, as the Law .giuer: M o sa s his, onely as the Pro - claimer. And as the Edifts of Princes are not therefore the Edifts of the Cryer, becaufe he publi(heth them; but the Princes, whole authority giues vigour vnto them : fo, the prefcripts of holineile publithcd by vs, are nor ours, but Gods, whole Soueraignc authority puts life into them. That we erre not ; this may not be to vnderftood,as if the negleft ofeuery thing deliuered by a Minitler, were prefer-lily the contempt of God,as Popifh Doftors would beare vs in han:l : for what if we preach the e vifons of our owne braire, Shall God be thought to be contemned? The charge to heare the Church ordinary, is nor ab- folute, but to be vndeeftood with limitation. Though out S uiour commanded to beare Pharifès and Scribes f teaching out ofAiofes chaire, yet a caucat hee glues, to sbeware of their leauen. Therefore alto hee iuíi!6es his Difcipl es,violatisg h their tradition ; becaufc, if not in the matter, yet in manner or ends of impofing, they had ex- ceeded their limits. But where their prefcripts are regu- lar, of holinc!Te truly fo called, their contempt redounds to the Maiefly of God. I fay then, Take heed how ye defpife the meaneft of thofe Minifters, that fpeake vnto you in the name of the Lord snot onely their Angels behold the face of their Father in heauen; but God himfçlfe beholds it, and holds himfelfe interetred in their contempt. V 5 Strange 293 Solut. d Lutte to.tó. } C ler.23,16: f Á1at.:;. n,3. g 1t?at.26.6. h ,31at.15.3. r A VP.
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