Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n
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A88108
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A brief plat-form of that government which is called Presbyterial. By William Ley minister of the Word at Charlwood in Surrey.
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Ley, William, b. 1620 or 21.
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1648
(1648)
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Wing L1887; Thomason E457_1; ESTC R204958
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18,562
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30
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Rod a sanctified means for recoverie 't is not for us to say with Lot Nay my brethren do not so wickedly nor with Eli It is no good report I hear of you If a garden were over-spread with weeds if a Common-wealth with Theevs if a Familie with stubborn Sons and Servants what must bee don think you would you not as the Lord command's bring them out to the Congregation and make them examples that all may hear and fear and do no more wickedly Bad men brought forth bad times let us begin to reform the men and the times shall bee innocent els the times like the ground are accursed for our sakes Gentlemen Center not your actions upon your self bee not emptie vines and self-bearing trees build not your own houses and let the hous of God lie waste do somthing for Christ for his Church for the Common-wealth that both Church and Common-wealth may know yee live not onely a vegetative and sensitive but a rational and spiritual Life I confess I am plain with you but I may say with David Is there not a caus hath hee not don the like Psal 2.10 Hee take's notice indeed that the Heathen rage and the people imagin vainly yet the totall application of subjection to Christ is pressed home to Kings and Rulers bee wise now therefore Ministers must bee like bees painful profitable carrying their stings about them as well as honie Christ gave his Apostles Tongues but they were fierie a Sword but 't was two-edged John was not onely a shineing but a burning Light Paul's presence was contemptible but his Epistles powerful I might indeed have qualified som expressions in respect of that great respect and reverence I bear to all of you but becaus dutie must prevail above interest and the discharge of Conscience above Courtship I have therefore set an edg upon the Government intending by the sincere performance of my own Office to oblige you all to the serious and speedy accomplishment of your new engagements and thus I commend you to God and earnestly beg a blessing on your favorable assistance to the Caus of Christ whose unworthie Servant I am and for his sake Your's in all Obligations both of Love and Service WILLIAM LEY A Brief delineation of that Church-Government which is called Presbyterial THough where the Sun shine's it is not necessarie to light Candles yet seeing mans neglect in reading the Word his ignorance in understanding of it his wilfulness in opposing it is very great all helps are necessarie every stone is to bee moved whereby hee may advance his knowledg in those things which do manifestly concern the glory of God and do discover the Kingly power and prerogative of Jesus Christ For though it bee happie for us that Christ is a Priest and Prophet yet hath hee a more durable and glorious Office then either of these to wit that of a King whereby hee reign 's in our hearts rule 's in his Church over-rule's Satan and all his enemies Christ came into the world to manifest his Regal power to which Satan and his complices have been perpetually opposite see Psal 2.1 Further the historie of his Passion put 's it out of all doubt for this was the onely point of his accusation confessed by himself Job 8.33 Prosecuted by the Jewes Luke 23.2 Prevalent with Pilate Joh. 19.12 Mentioned in his superscription Joh. 19.19 so that his death may in this sens bee styled not a Redemption but a Martyrdom for to bee a Martyr is to die a Witness and Christ died to bear witness to the truth which may shame many brethren in these daies that will not dare to Seal that Caus with their ink which Christ hath already sealed with his blood I intend not in this discours to spin out the Caus by any unnecessary florishes for I had rather engage the Readers judgment theu his fancie It is a jugling art to throw mists of wit and tart sentences upon the advers party that so the nakedness of the Caus may lie undiscerned The Points I shall insist upon are these Four That God hath instituted a Government in his Church That the Subject of Ecclesiastical power are not all the members of the Church in common but the Presbyterie consisting of Pastors and Elders I shall show what Presbyterial Government is I shal give account of the variety of Officers distinguished by the Word with the proper Acts whereunto they are obliged I. GOD hath instituted a Government in his Church The proofs 1 Cor. 12.28 2 Cor. 10.18 and 13.10 Rom. 12.8 Becaus there hath ever been a Government in the Church of God as is evident in the Old and New Testament and ever since the Apostolical times till now of late the Truth of a Government was never called into question Becaus without Church-Government Truth cannot bee maintained Order established Ignorant instructed Vnity anb Vniformity embraced the Peace of the Church secured Offenders removed Ordinances purely administred all which things ought to bee kept inviolably by the Word of God If there bee a Government in the State nay in every Family consisting of Officers and Elders much more in the Church which is the hous and family of God so it is that of necessity every body whether Natural Politick or Ecclesiastical is susteined by it Rules 2. I. That Government is best that com's neerest the precept and pattern of the Word of God and the best examples of the reformed Churches 1. To the pattern of the Word of God for it is all-sufficient 2 Tim. 3.16 and to this our conscience binde's us 2. To the best examples as Scotland Holland France Germany c. and to unite with these Charity Fraternity and our Covenant binde us II. That Government is best which is not redundant or superfluous in challenging any power above or beyond the Word nor deficient or wanting in any one branch or notable particular contained in it The Definition of Church-Government Church-Government is a power or authority spiritual revealed in the holy Scriptures derived from Jesus Christ our Mediator and given by him onely to his own Officers and by them exercised in dispensing the Word Seals Censures and all other ordinances of Christ for the edifying of the Church of Christ Parts proved 1. It is Spiritual The Kingdom of Christ is not of this world therefore are they called the Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 16.19 and 18.15 16 17 18. 2. It is revealed in the Scripture 1 Cor. 12.28 2 Thes 3.6 and 14. 1 Tim. 1.20 1 Cor. 5.4 5. 2 Cor. 2.6 Tit. 3.10 3. It is derived from Christ Ephes 4.8 Joh. 20.21 22 23. 2 Cor. 10.8 4. Onely to his own Officers Matth. 16.19 and 28.20 1 Tim. 5.17 1 Cor. 4.21 5. For the edifying of the Church of Christ Ephes 4.12 13. 1 Cor 4 2. 1 Cor. 14.12 II. The Subject of Ecclesiastical Government are not all the members in common but the Presbyterie or Church-representative consisting of Pastors
Saints were not of Caesar's hous yet all Saints salute so also 1 Tim. 5.8 Their particular Office is 1. To give notice of scandals 1 Tim. 5.20 It may becom the part of a godly Joseph to bring to his Father the evill report of his Brethren so 1 Thes 5.14 2. To judg of them 1 Cor. 12.28 Acts 20.17 28. as hath been shewed alreadie 3. To admonish Rom. 15.14 2 Thes 3.15 4. To visit the Sick see Mr Perkins right way of dying Tom. 1. pag. 502. col 1. where hee expound's the place James 5.14 By Elders saith hee is mean't not only Ministers but ruleing Elders men grave ancient endued with the spirit of Understanding and Prayer But is it not better for the People to bee subject to the Government of one then many Ob. 1. Surely No Trying by Elders is a trying per pares sol i. men of your own coat wherein is both equity and equality 2. Elders though placed in Authority above the Governed yet not above the Laws of Christ not above the Government 3. If you respect not in your choice of Parochial-Elders the qualifications laid forth in Scripture 't is a Thorn you make for your own sides an Injurie you bring upon your own heads Blame not the Government but thank your selvs Bee therefore carefull by Praying Fasting and Obeying the Ministers seasonable and pious directions first to choos whom you may like and then Like whom you have Chosen 4. Becaus in respect of the great want of Men endued with gifts and graces Admonitions may bee ill given and worstaken I shall lay down Twelve rules of Direction in this great Case of Admonition and Rebuke which may bee of som use to the Elders as Aarons twelve Stones which hee wore in his Brest-plate which were designed unto him to direct him in Judgment Exod. 28.21 ADMONISH Admonish 1. Meekly 1 Meekly Gal 6.1 2 Tim. 2.25 Tit. 3.2 Consider it is man against man one sinfull man against another and that Michael an Arch-angel a pure Angel of Light durst not bring a railing accusation against an Angel of Darkness 2. Regularly 2 Regularly according to the three degrees held out in Scripture Mat. 18.17 that is 1. Privately 2. Solemnly 3. Publickly Christ bid's it bee don betwixt Him and Thee it is a secret business and therefore the Dutch Church hath ordered that hee who shall blaze a Fault before it bee com to the third Admonition shal bee censured and suffer as a slanderer 3. Compassionately 3 Compassionately This sweeten's the reprehension which like a Pill in sugar is more easie of digestion it cut 's off objections from the party 't is not the Winde but the Sun that make's the Traveller to pull off his Cloak It is observed by the Author of the Councel of Trent that in the Primitive times the excess of Charity in correcting Concil Trent Hist l. 4 p. 330. wrote by Pietro Soave an Italian did make the Corrector feel greater pain then the Corrected so that in the Church no punishment was imposed without great Lamentation of the Multitude and greater of the better sort and this is the caus why to Correct was called to Lament So St. Paul rebuking the Corinthians for not chastising the incestuous said You have not Lamented to separate such a Transgressor from you And in another Epistle I fear that when I com unto you I shall not finde you such as I desire but in Contentions and Tumults and that at my coming I shall lament and many of those that have sinned before De affectu quo debent esse praediti qui excommunicant hoc dicere possumus c. Nero Caesar cum esset neei subscripturus c. Pet. Martyr loc Com. Clas 3. pag. 786. See 1 Thes 2.10.11 Acts 20.8.31 Peter Martyr writeing of this point concerning the affection with which those that excommunicate ought to bee qualified tel's us that great Clemencie is to bee used for if wee are members of the same body how shall wee choos but wonderfully grieve when one member is to be pluck't away from the rest Nero Caesar when hee was to subscribe the sentence against a condemned person was wont to say Oh how I could wish to bee ignorant of letters 4. Practically 4 Practically No man can admonish to the life that Duty wherein his conscience withstand's him saying Thou also art guilty Take heed of this bee not like Pharises say and do not Nor like Mile-posts beckning to others to go and standing still themselvs By this you will bring a Scandal upon the Government of Christ you lay a Stumbling block before the People and a most notorious guilt upon your own Souls Odi Homines quorum ore sententiae natant in animo nutant Putean Comus Well said Chrysostom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nothing more vain then for a man to play the Preacher in words onely that is not to act the part of a Doctor or Elder but an Hypocrite See Rom. 2.21 22 23 24. 5. Holily Let the Partie see your endeavor is to gain him 5 Holily or to re-gain the glory of God Joshua reproved Achan not for the Wedg of Gold but the Glory of God Josh 7.19 This is a good end and like to prosper 6. Charitably 6 Charitably as though thou wert to give judgment upon thy self remember six commands of the Decalogue run upon this strain Thou shalt love thy Neighbor as thy self so saith Christ Matth. 7.12 Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do yee even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets 7. Impartially Fear no mans face rich as well as poor 7 Impartially Gods Laws are not like Cobwebs to let little flies be taken and suffer great ones to burst thorow In this Case as in the Case of Judgment there must bee a Levelling of Persons Husbands as well as Wives Parents as well as Children Masters as well as Servants Lev. 19.15 Matth. 3.12 Christ purgeth thorowly his floor 8. Effectually Strike the Nail to the head 8 Effectually if yee can at one blow Remember 't is a business of Life and Death Pluck thy Neighbor strongly out of the Pit Jer. 48.10 Cursed is hee that doth the work of the Lord by the halvs deceitfully negligently 9. Hopefully 9 Hopefully This causeth the Physitian to take the Patient in hand becaus hee hope 's to cure him Hope set's an edg upon the Duty when els in consideration of original pravity customary courses evill Society Satans policie admonition might seem fruitless 10. Diligently 10 Diligently Thus the good Shepherd leav's his ninetie nine sheep in the wilderness to follow that which was lost the the lazy Shepherds do not so Ezek. 34.4 Number the lean Sheep as well as the fat and remember Christ came to seek that which was lost and that Angels in heaven rejoice over one Sinner that repenteth 11.