Selected quad for the lemma: soul_n
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A42933
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Gods government of his church, and the deputation thereof to men both for the civill and ecclesiastical estate : especially for the ecclesiasticall, concerning which many doubts and debates are now moved.
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1641
(1641)
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Wing G958; ESTC R21789
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29,179
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52
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Rabbi is Teacher and usuall Joh. 1.38 Paul a father to the Corinthians 1. Cor. 4.15 Barnabas and Silas leaders Act. 15.22 terms and therefore doth not absolutely deny them but their use in the Pharisaicall humour which was to love them and to be proud of them that their party might overtop the Sadduces so faction here as in many other kinds is chief cause of the mischief 2. They which have these titles must acknowledge their Deputation from God and these terms due properly and indeed to him but lent to them for saith Christ ye have one Rabbi Father Doctor in heaven those in earth are but subordinate to him they must not require to be heard in their owne names but in Christs Thus saith the Lord must be their plea. 3. They must not do as the Kings of the earth the heathen Roman Lords then most in the Jews eye who 1. neither d Pilate said Knowest thou not that I have power c. ruled nor taught according to Gods Law but by humane reason and Laws of their own in many things very corrupt 2. they minded an earthly Empire e They would have no King but Caesar to rule all over the whole world and domineered therein over the Kings of the earth 3. promoted their f Who can war with the beast Apoc. 13 4. Soveraignty by the sword and violent means 4. made all their acquirements serve to the getting of g Who is like unto the beast ibid. same and glory to themselves 5. became gracious h See Luk. 3.1 Lords to their instruments and rewarded them with worldly honours and preferments and minded not at all the doing of their soules good and the obtaining a better life after this which are the maine ayme of Christs Deputies for ruling and teaching So then these obliquities being avoyded the titles of a Patriarch an Archbuilder an Archbishop are in themselves lawfull being moderatly managed for the service and good of Gods people God deales in like manner with kings for though he himself be The King of kings and the Lord of lords yet is Nebuchadnezzar by the Spirit of God stiled A King of kings And if so then a Christian King as Gods Deputy and having more then one Kingdome subject to him may be termed a King of kings and may substitute under him Viceroyes Nobles and Judges as helpers to bear the burden of governement under him as well as Archbuilders and Bishops for sacred matters Yet the practice of the Pope of Rome is not at all warranted or countenanced hereby but rather hence it may be argued that hee sins most highly 1. Because being an ecclesiasticall man he claimeth the secular and civill power also and would have both swords whereas every soule is bidden to be subject to the higher power and if every soule then both Pauls and Peters and much more the Popes 2. The Popes sins that being an ecclesiasticall person he claims superiority over Kings and Princes in all the world this extent of Soveraignty is Christs prerogative only 3. That hee too little esteemeth Gods Law and too highly advanceth his owne Constitutions and Canons and Doctrines many of them needlesse or false or contrary to Gods Lawes But his pride is abundantly manifest therefore I say no more Whereas his Orators plead in his behalf that he is as far above the Emperor or any King in dignity as the Sun before the Moon Heaven before the Earth and spirituall things before temporall and in regard that matters concerning the soul are of more esteem then matters of the body he is above all Kings States in the world I answer In these things they grosly flatter him and deceive themselves for God knowing the condition of humane nature to be frail and the necessities incident to our bodies very many appointed six dayes in speciall for provision for the body and but one in speciall for his service and the instruction of our souls and yet the soul is of far greater dignity and worth then the body And manifest it is that God set Moses David and Solomon in place above Aaron Abiathar and Zadock for though well and happy being is more excellent in it self then meer being yet seeing the care of being is in order progresse before well being and in the way necessary thereunto for man must have a being else he cannot have a well being therefore God hath given the first and chief place to the King that 1. We may live and enjoy a quiet and peaceable life and not one become a prey to another 2. Lead this life in all godlinesse and honesty by the Kings care who provides for both these by subordinate civill and ecclesiasticall persons And for this cause it was and is that though the duties of the Sabbath and service of God are more excellent in themselves then our food and care of our bodies yet God will have mercy rather then sacrifice and dispenseth with sacred duties for the saving of mens lives and necessary cure of diseases But on the other side some object The terme Bishop is attributed to a Presbyter Tit. 1.5 7. and elsewhere So that every Presbyter or Minister may bee truly called a Bishop and if so then why should there be an imparity maintained in this calling I answer The word Bishop in its owne nature signifieth an Overseer or Superintendent in any kinde as Pakid in Hebrew So God is The great Bishop of all Job 20.29 1 Pet. 2.25 * Euseb in vit Constant l. 4. Constantine termes himselfe Episcopon in one kind his ecclesiasticall chief Rulers in another Heathen Authors stile God Episcopon of all good and bad actions and give the title also to civill Magistrates In the like acception the 70. Interpreters use it 2 Kin. 11.15 and elsewhere It is also given to ecclesiasticall Officers as to Eleazar who though he was under Aaron yet was Captain of the Captains over the Levites Numb 4.16 So 't is to the Priests in office under Jehojadah 2 King 11.18 In the new Testament the 11. Apostles had the same Episcopen Bishoprick from which Judas fell and into which Matthias was chosen Act. 1.20 In the Church of Ephesus those which bee called Presbyters or Elders that is Ministers as by custome now wee call them are likewise called Bishops or Overseers over their flocks Now though the same terme be given to all these yet the matter it selfe and the very different degrees of the persons to whom it is given admit not a parity in any wise The like is evident in other termes Christ is Sar a Isa 9.6 Prince of peace and Michael the great Sar b Dan. 12.1 Prince The Kings of Persia and Grecia are each of them called Sar This very word is attributed to the c 1 Sam. 12.9 Captain of an army To the d 2 Chr. 18.25 Ruler of a City To the chief e 1 Chr. 27.22 Rulers of the Tribes To the f
different parts of a mans body be serviceable each to other and all be usefull for the good of the whole Nor did Christ himself only work micacles but shewed in his Apostles and other instruments a manifest concurrence of his almighty power as hee had done in Moses and Aaron when he fent them for building up of the Israelitish Church The case is much alike for now the Roman power and tyranny afflicted the Christian Church as of old Pharaoh did the Israelitish But what ever was the power opposing Christianity Christ shewed himfelse not onely to be the great Prophet before promised whom God at that time raised like unto Moses but also to bee a mighty King going b Rev. 6.2 forth conquering and still more and more to conquer For as when before Sauls time Samuel well ordering the Ecclesiasticall estate and all matters by God committed to his charge God was the c 1. Sam 12.12 King of Israel and mightily defended them against their enemies So when in the primitive times the Aposties and their successours well managed matters spirituall in the Church Christ shewed himselfe to bee their King and graciously protected them and made the Gospel to prosper in despite of all malicious and tyrannous designes to root it out 1. No policy no strength can prevaile against the Almighty how great soever it seeme in the eyes of man Gods wayes are not as worldly mens and at that time this was his course As Moses appointed seventy Elders subordinate unto him for deciding smaller matters and easing him in his charge of Judging the people so it pleased Christ as man and to set a pattern for his Deputies to use subordinate officers to appoint seventy Disciples to goe two by two as labourers into Gods harvest into all parts whither hee himselfe would come Christ also sent the twelve Apostles 1. Cor. 12.28 Ephes 4.11 the witnesses of what hee did and spake to call both Jewes and Gentiles to Gods truth Such messengers of old were Moses Aaron Elias Esay Jeremie Ezechiel and other Prophets whom God sent early and late to bring the old Israelites and Jewes out of Egypt and Babel and what Proselites they could from their superstitious errours and wicked wayes 2. God now also endowed some of his servants with the spirit of Prophesie who as it seemed good to God did first upon extraordinary occasions and for the speciall use of the Church foretell things to come and secondly expounded Scriptures which God for the comfort and instruction of his people had formerly given Prophets of both these kindes God of old raised for the building of the Jewish Church 3. God appointed some to be Evangelists writing a compendious story of Christs life and death namely Matthew Mark Luke John others Evangelists preaching and divulging the same in their sermons and opening som passages thereof in their writings So in times before from the beginning of the world God as he saw it necessary or expedient for the use of his Church in divers manners and divers parts caused the Gospel of Christ redemption by his name to be preached to Adam Noah and others and afterward by Moses David Esay Zachary and all the a Luk. 1.70 18.35 24.25 Act. 3.18 Prophets since the world began And therefore often in the new Testament for the chiefe passages of Christs words and actions and what b Act. 3.21 should befall untill his second comming and for the chief doctrines delivered by the Apostles the Law and the Prophets are usually cited 4. 1. Cor. 12.28 Ephes 4.11 God gave some to be Pastors and Teachers who were to informe their auditors mindes with knowledge of truth and to direct their practise Such of old were the Priests and Levites interpreters of the Law which was read and preached every Sabbath in their Synagogues Hence the terme Rabbi interpreted a Teacher or Doctor was never unto Christs time so frequently but in some respect abusively for the best things may be abused used among the Jewes Of Christs comming at twelve yeares old among these Jewish Teachers the Gospel speaketh John 3. Christ met with Nicodemus and others of this kind Rulers and Teachers in Israel So they of old who were chiefe in the schools of the Prophets were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Teachers and did by their schollars as Paul did by Timothy teach them 2. Tim. 2.2 that they might teach others who in time should bee able to teach And whereas God frequently calleth the children of Israel his sheepe they who fed them with sound doctrine and led them on in the practice of Godlinesse were of old their Pastors or Shepheards and from them is the term borrowed in the new Testament 5 Christ enabled some to work miracles for the confirm tion of the doctrine of the Gospel in the first publishing thereof and for the more speedy withdrawing of the Gentiles from under the Romish tyranny and superstition as he had done of old for the deliverance of Israel from out of Egypts bondage and Idolatry and as hee did at other times upon divers just occasions 6 God gave to some the gift of healing the bodies of men infirme or diseased that the world might bee more sensible and seriously considerate of cures done upon their ill affected soules Such cures were of old wrought in taking away of some of the plagues of Egypt the Leprosie of Miriam and Naaman the deadly disease of Ezekiah the raising from death the Widow of Sarepta's and the Sunamites children the dead souldier and other the like 7 God appointed some to bee helpers such as by their company consent in the truth and any service of love were taken unto the Apostles and Apostolicall men when they journyed from nation to nation In this kind went together Paul and Barnahas Act. 11.25 30. Barnabas and John called Mark Paul and Silas Acts 15.93 41. Timothy and Erastus Acts 19.22 and Paul Barnabas and Titus Gal. 2.2 Paul and Tychicus Ephes 6.21 They also were helpers whose names are joyned with Paul's in some of his Epistles as Timothy 2. Cor. 1.1 Phil. 1.1 and Sosthenes 1. Cor. 1.1 Of this number also may they be counted who ministred unto the labourers in Gods harvest of their substance and supplied them with necessaries 8 God also gave Governments stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by a borrowed word most properly spoken of governours of Ships By this terme the Spirit seemeth to allude to the entertainment which the Church of God sindeth in the world that is tossed as a ship in the troublous and dangerous sea and partly to the government in a ship where care is ever taken to have a Master and masters mate and * So the seventy were sent two by two and the Apostles travelling took a helper with each of them double officers in severall places that if the first in place mis-carry the mate may be ready to succeed or if both subsist the inferiour on any