Selected quad for the lemma: act_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
act_n	apostle_n	church_n	elder_n	5,779	5	10.2377	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20215	Answeres to certaine novations desired by some to be embraced by the reformed church some defend one part, others another part of these novations : in this treatise their chief objections are turned into questions.		1638 (1638)	STC 664.7; ESTC S1042	60,919	98

Matth. 18.15 16. 5. Paul in 2 Tim. 5.17 speaketh of three sorts of elders viz. pastours who labour in the word interpreting and applying it Doctors who only interpret it and ruling Elders who labour only in discipline some make only two sorts of elders viz. ruling and preaching elders for both pastors and doctors preach Christ Presbyteriall government is a ruling of GODS church by these elders if it were unlawfull Paul would not vouchsafe double honour on these that rule well 6 Presbyteries synodall and generall assemblies are meetings of such elders for presbyteriall government the pastor with his elders ruleth his parochin in small matters remitting greater to the other assemblies 7. Every man knoweth not all things therefore matters to be agreed upon are more cleared when manyest wits meet together and the consent and authoritie is greater when manyest votes agree together Though Paul was an apostle and Barnabas a disciple yet the church of Antiochía sent them with other disciples to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem they being a greater number of qualified men for the clearing of things questioned at that time Act 15. Quest Seing a congregation is a perfect church and hath all things perteining to a church may they not choose to themselves a Pastour without consent of a presbyterie Answ The foresaid independancie doth not warrand it more than that a presbyterie shall appoint a pastor unto a parish without consent of the people 2. Every familie and every member of Christ hath the same independencie then every familie by it selfe alone and every person by himselfe alone have as good warrand to choose to themselves pastours without the consent of a congregation 3. If a congregation hath more power and authoritie than a particular person this taketh away independencie or immediat dependencie in outward government so the professors of independencie do stablish a dependencie in popular authoritie whereupon particular persons depend 4. GODS word the rule of mens lives and of all outward government dependeth not upon men in the being and secret keeping thereof for GODS Spirit dyted it and his secret overruling power protecteth it but the outward power of keeping it and taking care to see it obeyed pertaineth to civile rulers who are Custodes intriusque tabulae they should see both church and common-wealth obey it This is civile government the outward power of right dividing and applying of it and of punishing the offenders ministerially pertaineth to church rulers this is church government this rule warrandeth not people alone to choose their pastors nor pastors alone to choose their flocks 5. No congregation nor particular persons have any perfection that pertaineth to a church without CHRIST their head the fulnesse of all perfection by whose Spirit his servants were directed to appoint preachers as followeth viz. the Gentiles choosed not Paul and Barnabas but the church of Antiochia were commanded to send them to the Gentiles Act. 13. And when they ordained elders in every church the people choosed them not by themselves alone Act. 14.23 The Baereans choosed not Paul and Silas but the brethren sent them to Berea Act. 17.10 and Paul committed GODS flock to the elders at Miletum whom the holy Ghost had made their overseers Act. 20.28 The cities of Crete alone choosed neither Titus nor their preaching elders but Paul left Titus to ordeine them Tit. 1.5 then contemne not the ministeriall authoritie for CHRIST the fulnesse of all perfection hath given to them the ministeriall keyes of the kingdome of Heaven Quest Doeth not both civile and church government perteine to every member of Christ Answ Yes in respect of the good and profite effected by them but not in respect of their administration as the benefits of sight hearing and speaking perteine to the whole body and to every member thereof but the offices and actions of hearing seeing c. perteine only to the eyes ears and mouth So peace and prosperitie the benefites of these governments perteine to every Christian but the administration of Iustice and Iudgement c. perteine only to sufficient qualified men chosen to be rulers 2. They urge impossibilities who would have all Christians to be rulers for infants can not speak young children want understanding GODS word biddeth women be subject to their husbands albeit they have the same independencie with them the most part of men are distracted in their callings by sea and land men abiding at home can not rule altogether If all speak Command and give out laws together who can hear and obey all shall be in confusion therefore GOD commandeth nature inclineth and necessitie forceth these governments to be exercised by a few persons fitted and chosen for that end I have not described the offices and government of elders but I prove their government to be lawfull which some denyed CHAP. IX Some forbid the baptisme of children before their years of discretion QV SHould any be baptised before they understand the articles of their faith and give an account thereof in the Years of discretion Answ All the apostles except Paul were baptized before they knew many articles of the Belief as the sufferings of Christ represented by the water his resurrection ascension sitting at the right hand of GOD and his coming againe in judgement neither understood they the things signified by the LORDS Supper though they heard them from His mouth untill afterwards 2. They that were circumcised knew not the mysterie thereof being but eight dayes old therefore all people should be partakers of GODS ordinances so far as they are capable as did the apostles and the circumcised Infants are capable of outward baptisme but not of the Lords Supper neither of the meaning of any Sacrament CHAP. X. It is said that Ministers admitted by bishops are not lawfully called Quest ARE any lawfully called by bishops or prelats Answ If any admitted by the ministrie degener intō ambitious preiats the ministeriall power not being rightly taken from them by church discipline they may lawfully admit others to the ministrie but nor to ambitious prelacie nor to teach erroneous doctrine 2. If bishops bee lawfully deprived of their ministeriall office their admission of others is null 3. If any start up from a civile person to episcopacie not being first a minister his admission of others like as of other civile persons is of none effect No man can give the power which hee never received John Baptist did preach and baptize not being called of men but of GOD. CHAP. XI Some forbide to converse or praise GOD in the societie of infidels or ignorants SHould we sing psalmes or exercise divine service with infidels ignorant or reprobate people Answ The LORD and his apostles never debarred Judas from their divine service 2. Simon Magus did abide a while with Philip. The Prophets fled not from Saul when he prophesied amongst them We should separate our selves from the wicked and come out of Babylon in forsaking their idolatrie and known sins least we be