Perfons into a perpetually unfettled Condi pen to every Seducer. 4. No better Means of Edification among those who separate The Third general Propofition laid down. What meant by the Word Antichrift and Antichriftian, confider'd. Who thofe are, to whom the Title of Antichriftian belongs. Those ift, who live generally in Oppofition to Divine Laws; 2dly, Thofe, who deny that Chrift the Son of God is come in the Flesh; 3dly, Thofe, who being lawfully call'd to the Priesthood, yet prefume to preach falfe or unfound Doctrines; 4thly, Thofe, who will take upon them to inftruct the Flock of Christ without a Call. The The Fourth Propofition from the Text; viz. That it is an unquestionable Evidence of a found and understanding Believer to di- ftinguish well between Seducers or falfe Teachers and the lawful Minifters of God's Word; and confequently to avoid the one, and to reverence and obey the o- ther. The Means to know the Falfe from the True. 1. They make it their Business to affault the weakest first. 2. They ex- press an extraordinary Industry in thofe Courfes in which they engage themselves. 3. They apply themselves exactly to all Changes according to the Inftructions they receive from the Heads and Guides of the feveral Parties. 4. They are prone to the moft fordid and bafeft Flatteries. 5. They make it their Bufinefs, according to the Stations they are in, to expofe God's law- ful Amballadors, his Ordinances, and the whole Scheme of Evangelical Religion, to the utmost Contempt. The Duty of fober Chriftians, when their Souls are endanger'd by the Sophistry of fuch falfe Teachers. 1. To embrace and adhere to the Law and Word of God, and that only. 2. To chufe and to hold fast that Truth, and before them in the unadulterated Word of God, ftedfaftly and without wavering. 3. That they would ftand with the utmost Care upon their Guard, against all Sedu- cers and Innovators, whether fuch as sepa- rate from, or fuch as are yet in Communion Јони I JOHN iv. 6. He that knoweth GOD, heareth Us*; He that is not of God,heareth not us: Hereby know we the Spirit of Truth, and the Spirit of Error. CHAP. IX. The lawful Teachers and Governours of the Church have a Spiritual Power over that Part of their Master's Flock, which is committed to their Care. The Jewish Prieftbood had fuch a Power. The Christian Priesthood have the fame, by virtue of which, they are to inftruct, to reprove, and to correct the Ignorant and Disorderly Members of the Church. W E have prov'd the Neceffity of a Government and Governours in the Church of Chrift; and have shown how infignificant fuch Governors would be, if the Govern'd Part of the Chriftian Flock were not obliged to Obedience to them. The Second General Propofition from the Text was, That It is the Duty of every good VOL. II. B Chri Chriftian to attend to, and obey the Doctrine and juft Authority of thofe,who are lawfully call'd to teach and govern the Church. This Truth has been in fome Measure clear'd, by our having made good the former Particulars: We fhall now go on to fhow, That the lawful Teachers and Governours of the Church, as fuch, have a Spiritual Power over that Part of their Master's Flock, which is committed to their Care. We fay the Teachers and Governours of the Church, as fuch, have a Spiritual, not a Temporal, Power over their Master's Sheep: Because, as our Saviour told Pilate, his Kingdom was not of this World; fo neither is there any Reason why his Substitutes in that Spiritual Work of managing the Body of Believers, fhould have any fuch Power as is neceffary for governing the Kingdoms of this World. As a Spiritual and a Temporal Kingdom are effentially different from one another; fo the Officers and their Powers must be different too. Hence it is, that the Cenfures of the Bishops and Paftors of the Church carry not Life or Death with them ordinarily; their Power being, as the Apoftle long fince declared, 2 Cor.10. Not for Deftruction, but for Edification. 8. It appears indeed, that the High Prieft under the Mofaick Dispensation, was invested with a larger and more extenfive Power; tho' the joining of the Civil Judges in Commiffion with the High Priefts, may feem to take fomewhat of the Burden off their Shoulders. The Command Deut. 17. of God in that Cafe is this; If there arise a Matter too hard for thee, in Judgment between Blood and Blood, between Plea and Plea, and between Stroke and Stroke, being Matter of Controverfy within thy Gates; then halt thou arife, and get 8. thee |