The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1772-08-27
Augua u.

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the hand inso water, and Drinking It about
or upon part of mortal body, which can
never walh away the leaf fin or guilt, more
facred or more folemn than the preaching
that word, that doctrine, which is abe to
fave fouls from guilt and miiery, and to lead
them to endlefs glory ! Is the givinga few
pieces of material bread to the people, of
greater lolemnlry and important conGcquence
than the imparting unto them that fpiriiual
bread, that prelernaiufal food, which will
nouriih their fouls with confolation. pc ace.
joy,holineis, immortality ,endlels and unfpeak.
able feliciryl
Ii is true,in baptizing and administering the
lacrament, Minifers fiand and fpeak in the
name and authority of God, of Chrifl and
of the Holy Spirit, but this alters notthe cafe,
becauie when they preach the gofpel they
ftand and ipeak in the name and authority
of the eternal Deity, and exhorr men to. be
recohciled unto God in Chtift's ftead. This
is plain from reafon and icripture, yea, the
fcripture not only teaches, that aminiaer,
when he breaches the gofpel to the people,
hands and fpeaks in the name and su-
thority Of the eternal Deity, bur ALTO that the
gofpel is beyond companion more facred
and holy than the ceremonies of baptifm
and the Lords upper either of which is
but an embe EN- or lhadow of the fubHance,
or Of that valuable pearl"wkich is contained
in the gofpel, with this reafon concurs, at
leaf mRe does, which makes me think that
if this matter were impartfally enquired into.
even without pride and that FRANCE lUthne6
which is incident to our frame TO correct our
errors every mans reafon would concur with
II. 1t then the cafe be fo,why may not man
have lcence and authority to admIniRer the IA
crament and to baptize as well asto preach the
goipel !! If man has right and authority to
touch the fubftance and to divide il unto
men, may he not alto touch The iladow of
that lubifance Is the figure or fien of a
thing more iacred and intangible than the
thing tielf fuppofe indeed that this way
OF giving licence TO men, is agreeable to the
Platform Of New England Churches, and that
it has been Of long Continuance and practice.
But what then If it be an error il ought
to be corrected, notwithstanding its being of
long continuance, or agreeabie.to the plat
form OF all the churches upon the face of the
earth. Yea, not at all the lels for that, be.
cauie if'the whole world countenance an cr-
ror,and if 1t be of many thoufand years con-
tinuance, It is not whit the leis an error.
and is as much offenflve to God, as il
was when it frR entered. This | think
needs no proof, becauie an error in regard TO
giving men authority to preach, and in all
other regards, is departure from or trsnf-
gTefiion OF the will, law and appoi ntment Of
God; which can never be altered by the
will OF man, or BY any error long peI6iled in.
But here ari(es difficulty. If candidates
hould have licence given them as well TO
baPtize, and to adminRer the Sacrament, as
TO preach the gofpel, and this llcence fhould
be judged fuficient to give them full power
and authority to do fo, ordination will at once
be made ufelefs, forifthey once have full power
and authority in the above regard, they need
no more. But let it be 70 and the giving
candidates licence of the above nature, to
preach.t the Gofpel only, does in part render
ordination ufelefs too, this is clear, tor If the
whole OF ordination be rendered ufelefs by
giving candidates ali power and authority
IN regard of the Gofpel and ordinances,
It is in part rendered ufelefs, by giving them
only fOms power and authority in regard
OF them. This proves efficiently that
candidates ought to be ordained before
they have any licence or authority at all to
preach the gofpel. Not indeed that man
may not have IibeltytO preach afew times,
for this feems neceaary, that he may have
opportunity TO- recommend himfelf and his
doctrines to thole who are to ordain him.