Serm. CLXXVI. Lon firmation of Chrifiianity `C 7 litent. For which reafon, our Church does not require formal Ablol Ina ro be given to the dying penitent, unlefs he himfelf defire it; which is acertain Argu- ment, that id the Judgment of our Church, theAbfolution of the Pticft is not ne- ceitary to the Forgivenels and Salvation of the Penitent. Forhad they thought it ncceffary, they would have enjoyned thePrieft to give it to every one wham he judged Penitent, whether he defired it or nor. So that the Abfolution of the Prieft, having only the Authority of á Man, pre- fumed tobe skiitul in his Office, but no certain Effe&, in cafehe be mifiaken (as he very eafily may be, and if he be, as he ought co be, a Charitable Man, no doubt often is) I cannot think butthat this Power of remitting and retaining fina, fo folemn- lycentered on the Apoffles by our Saviour, had fomething in it that was miracu- lous and extraordinary, and did fuppofe the knowledge of mens hearts, and that they werenot miftaken in the Application of this Power to particular Perlons; and con- fcquently, that in that miraculous and extraordinary degree, it was peculiar to the Apoflles and their times. For I cannot eafily be brought tobelieve, that the mea- ning of this great Promife to the Apottles Mould be only thisVerily, verily, I fay unto you, wharfever ye ¡hall bind on earth, ifye be notmiftaken, as in many cafes ye will be, and in any cafe ye may be, limit le bound in heaven: and whatfoever ye (hall láofe on earth, ¡hall be tooled in heaven. And if more be meant than this, it Mutt fuppofe a Miraculous Power of difcerning the Sincerity of Mens Hearts. And therefore when the Power of the Keys is conferred on the Mtnifters of the Gofpel, inour Form of Ordination, I fuppofe that only one or both of thefe two things is 'intended by it, viz. a Power to admit Perfons into the Chriftian Church by Baptifm, in' which is fealed to them the Remifiìon of Sins g and to cafe Perlons out of the Communion of the Chriflian Church,by Excommunication and theCenfures of it : and an Authority, by Virtue of 'their Office, to declare to men the Terms of Pardon and Forgivenef,which cannot be that infallible Pow- erof Abfolving which the Apofl:es had: And I am the rather induced to think fo, becaufe I find it promifed to the A. potties, together with the miraculous Power and Efficacy of Prayer, which Sr.' Chryfofiom reckons among the miraculous Gifts, which he fays were ceafed in his Time. That it was thus promifedt you may fee Matth. 18. 18, 19. Verily I fay unto you, whatfoever ye ¡hall bind on Earth, 'ball be bound in Heáven: and what/o- ever ye ¡hall !Dale on Earth, /hall be loafed in Heaven. Again I fay unto you, that if tiro ofyou ¡hall agree on Earth as touching any thing that they ¡hall ask, it ¡hall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven. But furely no Man will pre= tend that any two Chriftians or Miniflers have now this Power, that whatever they Ihall agree together to ask of God, which is fit and lawful in behalf of any Perlon, God will certainly grant it.upon their Requeft. ' In the fame Senfe I un derftand feveral other Texts, concerning the Efficacyof the Prayers of the Apo- flies and fiat Chriftians, as in a great Meafure miraculous, and peculiar to the firft Times of Chriflianity. And I think any Man that attentively confiders them, will think that they cannot well be underftood otherwife. Such as thefe, Matth. 2t. 7o. Andalt Things whatfoever ye ¡hall ask in Prayer, believing, ye 'hall receive. Mark c I. 24. fay unto you, what Thingsfoever ye de/ire 'whenye pray, be- lieve that ye receive them, and ye ¡halt have them. John 14. 14. Ifye (hall ask any Thing in my Name, I will do it 3 and Chap. t S. E y. If ye abide in me, and my Words abide in you, ye 'hall askrebat ye will, and it fhall be done unto you. i John 3. 22. And wharfòever we ask, we receive of him 3 and Chap, 5 .4 , 1 5. 1 And this is the Confidence which we have in him, that ifwe ask anyThing,'according to his Will, he heareth us. And ifwe know he hear us, whatfoever we ask, we know that we have the Petitions that we de/lred of him. Thefe Promifes I take to contain fomething extraordinary, and peculiar to the firft Times of Chritlianity. And this will ap- pear exceeding probable, if we 'confider the Occafion and Circumftances of thefe Promifes, which are fo often joyned with the Promife of a miraculous Power, as in the Place. I ,mentioned before, Matth. 18. 12, 19. where after the Power of binding and loafing, it irrmcdiatey fohows, that if two of you fhall agree on Earth touching any Thing they ¡hall ask, it ¡ball be done for them of my Father, which is Ttt2 in"
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