William Kiffin

William Kiffin
William Kiffin

March 28, 2011

Christ's Church is Christ's Garden

"The first is, That the Church of Christ, are believers in Christ. Secondly, That the Church of Christ are such as are sweetly overcome, or fetch'd in to Christ, by the comings in of Christ. Thirdly, That the Church of Christ, must worship Christ. Fourthly, That the word of Christ, is the Rule of the worship of Christ."


Hobson further develops these four points, but it is the last that I want for us to hear. "Every king must, and doth rule by a Law suitable to himself: kings that govern, and rule in civil things, are to govern and rule by a civil Law; but Christ who is a king spiritual, ruleth and regulateth his Church by a spiritual Law; civil Laws cannot reach Christ's government; Neither hath Christ centered any power in the civil authority, to regulate mens spirits in the worship of Christ; though that was formerly in the Church of the Jews, which was a type of Christ; it is now ended by Christ; and all power in matter of worship is called home to him, and resided in him . . ."

Paul Hobson, A Garden Inclosed and Wisdom Justified only of Her Children (London: James and Joseph Moxon, 1647), 13, 22-23.

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