Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	apostle_n	church_n	minister_n	2,916	5	6.7721	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47561	The gospel minister's maintenance vindicated Wherein, a regular ministry in the churches, is first asserted, and the objections against a Gospel maintenance for ministers, answered. Also, the dignity, necessity, difficulty, use and excellency of the ministry of Christ is opened. Likewise, the nature and vveghtiness of that sacred vvork and office clearly evinc'd. Recommended to the baptized congregations, by several elders in and about the City of London.	Knollys, Hanserd, 1599?-1691.	1689 (1689)	Wing K711A; ESTC R213604	49,141	150

actual Investiture in our Nature of a●… Power in Heaven and Earth Mat● 28.18.19.20 And Jesus came an● spake unto them saying All Power 〈◊〉 given unto me in Heaven and in Earth Go ye therefore Teach all Nations ●… And lo I am with you always even 〈◊〉 the End of the World. Amen Also after His Blessed and Glorious Ascention and Sitting on the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens Heb. 8. ● Angels and Authorities and Powers being made subject unto him 1 Pet. 3. 22. Did by His Apostles give Commandment and Direction for the continuance hereof to the end of the World and his Second Coming without Sin unto Salvation Heb. 9.28 As Acts 14.21,22,23 After they had by their Ministry been blest with the Conversion of many Souls they took care to direct them into the Duty of Church Communion and by their Suffrages Ordained them Elders in every Church So the Apostle gives this as the Reason Why he left Titus in Creete he not having opportunity after Preaching the Gospel to them to put things into due Order Tit. 1.5 That he should set in Order the things that were wanting or left undone by the Apostle and Or ●…e Elders in every City that is Church in euery City as before Acts 14. who are called Elders Bishops or Pastors and Teachers Names significative of the●… Authority Office and Work. 2. Christ being now in Heaven and an extraordinary Call being ceased the Scriptures being a perfect and standing Rule to the Church through all Ages he has committed this Care to her self according to the Power given to Her who is the Pillar and Ground of Truth to provide Ministers for her own Edification in Obedience to his Commands and Rules given in his word as he shall see good to Bless her with Spiritual Gifts and Abilities in order to the fitting them for this Work the Father also has Covenanted to give his Spirit in the Gifts and Graces of it and promised that the Words he has put into Christs Mouth and the spirit that is upon him shall never depart from him nor his seeds seed for ever Likewise has according to the Circumstances of time the Church hath been under blest her as with his Grace so with all needful Spiritual Gifts Eph. 4.7.11 For the perfecting the saints for the Work of the Ministry for the Edifying the Body of Christ So that whilst there is a Church Millitant Saints on this side Perfection any of the Members of Christ Mystical Body on Earth those Spiritual Gifts needfull to their present State shall be given and be amongst them for the Support of the great Ordinance of the Ministry and for the good of the Church 3. And as its the Churches Duty to Seek these Spiritual Abilities and improve them when they are given to these great and Holy Ends so she must walk regularly herein in obedience to the Rules given by Christ in this Case who hath laid down the qualifications both Negative and Positive of all such as ought to be called to this great work and Trust of Ministring by Office 1 Tim. 3.1 to 9. Tit. 1.6.9 we have no warrant to put any into the Ministry otherwise save such as are here discribed and competently fitted for it For as it was a sin of Old in the Church to put any into the Ministry but those whom God appointed by the Rules given to them so it can be no less Evil for the Church now to call any forth into Office but such who are qualified as God's Word directs and now as Christ hath made this grant of Power to the Church of choosing her own Officers for her Edification so he hath left Rules for her who and how to chose as we said before So likewise he has laid down those special Duties of the Officers in the Church who are to take the oversight Feed Govern Go in and out before them Acts 20.17,18 1. Pet. 5. and 2. 4. When the Church has had a Tryal of the meetness and Abilities of any Person or Persons for this work and service they are by Election and Choice solemnly to set him or them a part by Prayer and Laying on of Hands Acts 14.21,22,23 Acts 6. By which a new relation ariseth of an Elder and a Church a Pastor and a Flock This must be therefore by the mutual voluntary acts of each other by which the Duties of each relation becomes binding upon them according to the Laws of Christ It is the Pastors Duty now to Watch Feed and Govern the Flock and to give himself up to it It is the Churches Duty to submit themselves to Him in the Lord to Love Reverence and Administer freely to him 1 Pet. 5.1,2,3,4,5 Heb. 13.7.17 How greatly then must those Churches be to blame that unconcernedly live in the neglect of so great a Duty upon which the Edification of the Church and her Well-being so much depends as well as Gospel Order For although the Essence and Being of a Church depends upon its Institution in respect both of Matter and Form A competent number of Believers may by mutual agreement lay the Foundation of the Being of a Gospel Church but they cannot be a Church Organical without Officers which the Lord hath placed there for the orderly Exercis●… of his Authority committed to her To neglect this is to despise the Wisdom of Christ who best knows wha● is for the good of His Church and for Her Edification in this State. 2 To slight His Goodness in so useful and beneficial an Institution 3 It s a contempt put upon his Authority as King of Saints who has in his Soveraign Right in and over the Church Ordained it so to be for the Churches Good and Well-being Secondly As there should not be a neglect of this Duty so there should be great care taken that we answer the Will of God herein wherein His Name and Honour is so much concerned in Respect of his Love to and Care of his Church therefore the greaest diligence should be taken that the Rules He has given be duly observed and Applications made of the Qualifications laid down in respect of all such that are called unto Office The outward Call is an Act of the Church the acceptation of the Person so called is an Obediential Act of him to the Will of God but neither of these can be regular where there is not at previous indication of the Mind of God in bestowing those Spiritual Gifts and Qualifications as may render him competently fit to the Discharge of his Office and Work. Now in a Churches undue proceeding herein they discover their own weakness if not Ignorance in respect of the Rule it self and injure the Person so called in laying the weight of so great a Work upon him who is not furnished with Spiritual Abilities to discharge it thereby expose the Honour of Christ and Reputation of His Gospel in the World which should be dear unto us And we have reason to

they Preach but now and then Answ That must be left to the Wisdom and Consideration of the Church who ought to consider the Persons Circumstances with the Call he hath to Preach c. But principally it belongs to those who are set a part to that Work whose Strength and Time is taken up about the great Affairs of Christ and the Gospel Thus we have indeavoured to discharge our Duty as touching this great Work and have we hope Answered all the material Objections any have to bring or urge against the Ministers Maintenance But since we have a little Room we shall add some brief hints further to shew the great charge and work of a true Gospel Minister and so conclude that all may see how needful a thing it is that every one take care to discharge their Duty in this matter to them whereby also the Justness and Righteousness of the Law and appointment of God herein may yet further appear to all The Great and Weighty Work of a True Gospel Minister opened THE Nature and Weightiness of the Work of the Faithful Servant of Christ together with the necessity and difficulty of it we shall consider in its parts in a brief and compendious manner First 'T is a Holy and a sublime Office he is placed in a very high Sphere and Station hence called the Ambassador of Christ What higher Dignity can be conferred on Man The greatness of the Prince whose Messengers they are sets forth their Dignity they are in Christ's stead Imployed in the great Affairs of His Spiritual Kingdom and have received Authority from Him and are also prepared and qualified for this Sacred Work by Him and indeed therefore ought to be blameless as the Stewards of God And hence it is that those who are said to receive them receive Him and those who despise them despise Him. O! with what Holy Fear Dread and Reverence ought they to enter upon this Work and Office least they should dishonour their great and glorious Prince and Heavenly Soveraign whom they represent Is it not a weighty thing to be made the Mouth of Christ 2. Nay and this is not all they are intrusted with matters of the highest moment in the World Christ having committed the Management of his Glorious Interests and great concerns he has on Earth into their Hands they are sent to treat with poor Sinners about Eternal Matters even the Eternal Life or Eternal Death and Damnation of their Precious and Immortal Souls in and about these things Ministers of the Gospel are Fellow Workers together with Christ 2. Cor. 6.1 Though but as Instruments serving him as the principal Agent and efficient Cause He trod the Wine-Press of his Fathers Wrath alone but in the Application of the purchase of Man's Salvation he admits of Fellow-workers tho the internal Work be his i. e. the effects of his Spirits upon the Souls of those whose Hearts are changed yet there is a Ministerial part which lyeth on the faithful Discharge of the Minister's Duty which consisteth partly in Exhortations Motives and Arguments by the Ear conveyed to the Soul and thus Ministers may be said to be Workers together with Christ and without him they can do nothing they are Workers but they must have Christ Work with them or they will find that they Labour in Vain But is it not think you a high and most sacred Place and Office thus to be imployed May not every one of us say who are sufficient for these things for we are unto God saith the Apostle a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish 2 Cor. 2. for that God whom we serve will not Judge of us nor reward us according to our Success as a worthy Author observes but according to our Faithfulness and Diligence in his Work we give as if Paul should say a good savour by our Doctrine unto all and our Labours are a sweet savour in the Nostrils of God whatever effects they have upon the Souls of Men God accepteth of our Labours as to good Men to whom we are Instruments of Eternal Life and Salvation and though others despise the Gospel and refuse the sweet sound thereof yet as to them also we are a sweet savour in the Nostrils of God tho Israel be not saved saith the Prophet yet I shall be glorious it is not through any neglect in us as to our duty if any perish but from their own Willfulness and Rebellious Hearts To the one we are the savour of Death unto Death and to the other the savour of Life unto Life And who is sufficient for these things ver 16. As sweet smells which are to some pleasant and comfortable saith a Worthy Author yet are to others pernicious and deadly so it is with the sweet savour of the Gospel the report which we in all places make of Christ to some through their unbelief and hardness of their Heart and fondness of their Lusts proveth but the Savour of Death unto Death hardning their Hearts to their Eternal Ruine and Destruction but to such who being ordained to Eternal Life believe our Report and imbrace the Gospel and live up to the Precepts and Rule thereof our Preaching proves a Cause of Spiritual and Eternal Life to which that leadeth but O how great a work is this What Man What Angel is sufficient for it O it is a mighty VVork to Preach the Gospel as we ought to Preach it it is that by which Faith cometh How shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard And how shall they hear without a Preacher And how shall they Preach except they are sent Rom. 10.14 i. e. Unless they have an extraordinary or ordinary Mission i. e. either from God more immediately which Call is long since ceased or else by the Election of the Church and Ordination of the Elders or Presbytery this is necessary in all Regular Ministers How else can they duly or profitably in the Name and Authority of Christ preach the Word of Life Brethren you who are Christ's true Ministers being orderly called to this sacred Work your Preaching hath attendency either to save or eternally to condemn the Souls of Men and with what trembling then ought this Work to be undertaken and performed you are intrusted with Men's Souls and must be accountable for them especially such who are committed to your Charge did we consider it and duly ponder upon it in our Minds certainly we should have little else to think upon nor trouble our Heads and Hearts about it would be sure cause us to be more Serious and Laborious we are perswaded than we are VVhat shall we do if through our Neglect and Remisness in this great VVork any should die and perish in their Sins Mind what God saith in that of Ezek. 3.18 Unto his VVatchman When I say unto the wicked thou shalt surely dye and thou givest him not warning nor speakest to warn the wicked from