Shepard - Houston-Packer Collection BV4500 .S43 1657

...s---" . .:r..:.--s:`-;_ A irhole(o, ae Caveat mandyou: If they do fin, their per-funs are under the ceafúre of the Church , in cafe of nìanifeft off4nce and fcand#ll by the mouthes of two or three witncfies who being Members of the whole Church, and under and being fiofial Members ; may, if the cafe need ic,'be proceeded agai,,ft by the whole. Neither have they any power to at any pablick Ordinance Which c;ncerns the. whole Church, and wlere'tis bound by Cnrift to judge,. without the privity and content of the Church, as to e eit Officers, admit Members, call our offenders in the Veftry without the knowledge of the Church, one of the blaints of the reformed Churches, Which the Apo- ftics with their extraordinary power never chd thern- fclves, much lef_e fhculd bete. t Cor. 5. 4. They have no immediate power of rule imme- diately given by Chri(1, over any one particular Church, but mediate by that Church where the y arc ; their gifts of teaching arid ruling are immediately from Chrift; that their a.ftuall power to exercif it over this or particular Congregation, is by that Church only. Hence Beacons that were only to take care for the outward eflate of the Church, A4#, 6. 3, 4. they were ordained byIi Ling up their hands. This is Apofiolicall power, and an intrufi -n, and curs afhudcr the force of the argu- row cf Mailer Bail his Look of power for Presbyte- r :c. Y 2. what is their power affirmatively ? 2' Anfiv. 1. They have a power given them of ruling and governing from Chrift by the people ; hence they are c. ilcd troi`rs , and Inch as rule, and are over Gods Church hence they have ftrib charge and command from .ord to do it. Hence Pant at Ephefus, When h was with them three years, yet had (Rulers there; any verf. a Feed Gods flock bought by Hold; over whichr, not risen, but rho 'holy Gheft bath made you 0- ve jeers ; an-ills Church being like'fheep, apt to firay perifh, unleffe thefe watch againft3 wolves, and theft the ApofIe at his laft parting lift q hence alto, they are to give an account of it ar the laft day. Veb. ;3. Hence the ff tali off the Lords govern- ment over them, who will have no Rulers or Gover- tnbur:, in Churches , v ho (hall either (peak it or think it, mmUC leave all to thetnfelves and their Iiberty; to teach, sflptiZe2 to order things in Church, and fo by this

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