登陆注册
15365600000155

第155章 OF POWER ECCLESIASTICAL(5)

We have first that the twelve Apostles were sent "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,"and commanded to preach "that the kingdom of God was at hand."Now preaching,in the original,is that act which a crier,herald,or other officer useth to do publicly in proclaiming of a king.But a crier hath not right to command any man.And the seventy Disciples are sent out as "Labourers,not as lords of the harvest";and are bidden to say,"The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you";and by kingdom here is meant,not the kingdom of grace,but the kingdom of glory;for they are bidden to denounce it to those cities which shall not receive them,as a threatening,that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for such a city.And our Saviour telleth his Disciples,that sought priority of place,their office was to minister,even as the Son of Man came,not to be ministered unto,but to minister.Preachers therefore have not magisterial,but ministerial power:"Be not called masters,"saith our Saviour,"for one is your master,even Christ."

Another point of their commission is to "teach all nations";as it is in Matthew,28.19,or as in St.Mark,16.15,"Go into all the world,and preach the gospel to every creature."Teaching,therefore,and preaching is the same thing.For they that proclaim the coming of a king must withal make known by what right he cometh,if they mean men shall submit themselves unto him:as St.Paul did to the Jews of Thessalonica,when "three Sabbath days he reasoned with them out of the Scriptures,opening and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered,and risen again from the dead,and that this Jesus is Christ."But to teach out of the Old Testament that Jesus was Christ,that is to say,king,and risen from the dead,is not to say that men are bound,after they believe it,to obey those that tell them so,against the laws and commands of their sovereigns;but that they shall do wisely to expect the coming of Christ hereafter,in patience and faith,with obedience to their present magistrates.

Another point of their commission is to "baptize,in the name of the Father,and of the Son,and of the Holy Ghost."What is baptism?

Dipping into water.But what is it to dip a man into the water in the name of anything?The meaning of these words of baptism is this.

He that is baptized is dipped or washed as a sign of becoming a new man and a loyal subject to that God whose person was represented in old time by Moses,and the high priests,when He reigned over the Jews;and to Jesus Christ,His Son,God and Man,that hath redeemed us,and shall in his human nature represent his Father's person in his eternal kingdom after the resurrection;and to acknowledge the doctrine of the Apostles,who,assisted by the Spirit of the Father and of the Son,were left for guides to bring us into that kingdom,to be the only and assured way thereunto.This being our promise in baptism;and the authority of earthly sovereigns being not to be put down till the day of judgement;for that is expressly affirmed by St.Paul,where he saith,"As in Adam all die,so in Christ all shall be made alive.But every man in his own order,Christ the first fruits,afterward they that are Christ's at his coming;then cometh the end,when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God,even the Father,when he shall have put down all rule,and all authority and power."It is manifest that we do not in baptism constitute over us another authority by which our external actions are to be governed in this life,but promise to take the doctrine of the Apostles for our direction in the way to life eternal.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 蝶笙

    蝶笙

    别名《蝴蝶少女》未成年的我偷偷跑出界只为了看看人类世界却不想。。。
  • 象棋高手

    象棋高手

    “马走日,象走田,车走直路炮翻山,士走斜线护将帅,小卒一去不复还!”王帅从沉睡中苏醒过来,朗声说道。“这小子连他娘都忘记了,偏偏还记得象棋。”旁边有人嘀咕一句。……地球上的象棋高手穿越来到一个叫“楚汉王朝”的世界。看他如何在这个以棋为尊的世界里大展身手,过关斩将!PS:本书没有系统,没有修炼,以象棋为主题。内行看门道,外行看热闹。适合九至九十九岁的书友阅读。
  • 花青栀

    花青栀

    我到底是谁?我到底是谁?为何所有人都要置我于死地?宝宝为何成魔?火凤冰凰为何出现在这里?姐妹为何落得如此境地,苏子清花青栀能否修的一世姻缘?他是唯一能令我哭,能令我笑。令我开心,令我难过,令我朝思暮想的人。再聚首,难相守;若相守,莫回首。因果轮回,因何情殇,缘起缘灭。因谁断肠,缘灭成殇,空城旧梦
  • 八零后幸福生活

    八零后幸福生活

    本文取景于中国杭州市,文中的其中之一主角便是作者本人,他正是通过一次偶然的相亲活动,从而收获了爱情。作者通过目前最热门的相亲风,相亲节目,相亲活动,从而引发写作的构思。作者通过本文,直观的正面的描述自己的相亲经历,以及通过自己的切身经历折射出80后对相亲既爱又恨的畸形心态。他们渴望爱情,可是又惧怕爱情。他们期待婚姻,可是又抵制婚姻。80后,他们是生活在这个社会风口浪尖的特殊一个群体,他们背负着太多的使命和责任。看过电视剧{蜗居}的人,想必都对80后有了一个更深度的了解。这是一部讲述80后爱情,生活,事业和婚姻的都市题材小说,小说以杭州为实景地,客观的展示了80后对爱情,生活,事业和婚姻的人生态度,其中不乏警示和启迪,同时这也是一部励志作品,我相信读者朋友们必然可以从中受到人生的启迪。
  • 管理的力量

    管理的力量

    《管理的力量》以科学管理为依据,着重从目标、决策、领导、创新、激励、人才等几个方面介绍管理知识,同时,又结合中国式管理的一些内容,希望能为广大管理人员提供一个全新的视角去看管理,也希望借助我们微薄的力量,为你的管理工作排难解忧,为你的企业大厦添砖加瓦。为中国管理加油!为中国经济加油!为中国梦加油!
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 晃荡的高中三年

    晃荡的高中三年

    逗必日常,不喜勿喷,论我们那些年混过去的高中三年
  • 步步错

    步步错

    “你送我姐出嫁的时候,是什么样的心情啊?”凌宣美歪头问叶洛寒。叶洛寒薄唇微启“她会后悔的。”“凌悠然,如果在给你一次机会,你还会进入dark吗?”凌悠然苦笑“会把,不然11年前我就饿死啦,不然...也不会遇见他吧”华丽转身,如魅锐变,是命运的转折还是鲜血淋漓?遇上他,是她的幸还是悲?凌悠然的冷血不是“暗”教会她的,是这个社会送给她的见面礼。叶洛寒始终不敢承认凌悠然的一眼,已让他沉沦!上天是否真的厚此薄彼,是她顾虑太多,还是他已经遗忘!她现实、物质、冷漠、无情,而他又何尝不是孤寂、野心、掠夺、占用,冰与冰的取暖不是融化就是碎裂。
  • 惹火辣妻:隐婚总裁很纯情

    惹火辣妻:隐婚总裁很纯情

    秦思有一个缺点,宫奕有一个长处。她犯错,他用长处来弥补。他们之间,是一场赤果果的交易。她要钱,他要她的身体。“总裁夫人的位置,敢不敢挑战?”他如高高在上的王者,掌握着绝对主权。她在他身下悄然绽放,默默闭上眼睛:“我不敢。”
  • 侍与噬

    侍与噬

    一个看似平凡的大学生,一个不平凡的身份。侍与噬与生俱来的纠葛,到底隐藏了什么样的秘密。人类究竟是坐以待毙,还是破釜沉舟?一切谎言与事实,是否会有尽头?