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
A90879	A voice from heaven: or, A testimony against the remainders of Antichrist yet in England: and in particular, the court of tryers for approbation of ministers. / Born by Gualter Postlethwait, pastor to a Church of Christ in Lewes in Sussex.	Postlethwaite, Walter, d. 1671.	1655 (1655)	Wing P3022; Thomason E1498_3; ESTC R208640	39,391	112

in the aforesaid Treatise pag. 371. This is altogether strange to Scripture for if we grant that single congregations with their Eldership be excluded from the power of Government and exercising Ecclesiastick discipline yet will it not appear from Scripture that there are any higher Elderships or larger combinations of Churches then those of the first form and of the first step from the single congregation yea the contrary apears in that the Churches of Asia grant them collective Churches Rev. 2. and 3 chapters do severally receive of Christ the praise of their good and blame of their evil carriage each single Church for her self without any reflection on superior combinations notwithstanding some of them lay situate within eight or ten miles of each other and those that were farthest distant not above 200 miles each from other as some have computed the Journeys between them This is strange if there were superior Combina●ions and if there should have been 't is much that Christ should not blame them after so long continuance of Christianity for not setting up his ordinances especially considering the defection of divers of the Churches to whose charge it might well have been laid as a thing wherein they were accessary to their own Apostacy that they had not set all up Gods meanes to preserve them If it be objected that we read of an higher Eldership exercising acts of rule over a Proportional combination of Churches viz a Synodical assembly Act. 15. To this I answer We read not of any combination of any such combination of the Churches there mentioned viz. of Hierusalem Antioch Syria and Cilicia whereby they should become Subject unto the rule of one superior Eldership in matters conceived to belong firstly to their cognizance or that may be referred unto them or in which there may be appeales made unto them nor when and how the said combination was made and established Secondly here was no Synod by which our adversaries understand an assembly of Officers resulting out of many inferiour Presbyteries I say here was no Synod in this sense For we read of no forreigners that came to this Synod if we must call it so but these that came from Antioch of whom we finde nothing that may import their concurrence in the decrees of it but these proceeded from the Apostles Elders and whole Church that must needs mean the Church at Hierusalem and when 't is said With the whole Church there is a reflection in the expression on the Apostles and Elders as related at least in their present residence and action which is all can be said of the Apostles being general officers unto that Church onely So that upon the whole the result is that the decrees here made were of the Church at Jerusalem and the officers of it onely Thirdly here was no appeale from the censure of the Church at Antioch For we read not of any Ecclesiasticall censure that the Church at Antioch had passed either concerning the persons disputing or the things disputed but onely of dissention and disputation had betwixt Paul and Barnabas and those that came from Judea Neither were there any refers made from Antioch unto Hierusalem as though the matter were too high for their Cognizance or beyond their abilitie to determine For the Churches of Antioch and Hierusalem were alike congregational I say more then Classical in that strict sense wherein the next to Congregational is meant our adversaries cannot say and furnished both with extraordinary Officers to which appeals and refers in the sense before recited cannot agree But the reason of sending from Antioch unto Hierusalem seemes to me most probably to be this viz. to take off the scandal that came to the Church of Antioch and at least might come to those of Syria and Cilicia also by these false teachers by whose comming out of Judea it may be also bragging of the Apostles and Elders at Hierusalem that they taught the same doctrine to the brethren there yea moreover and it may be urging them to go and see if it Vid. Bez. in oc were not so by these meanes I say the Church of Antioch had as it is probable at least twice taken some offence and been staggered in their faith as though Paul and Barnabas had taught otherwise then the Apostles and Elders at Hierusalem And so the errand of these Messengers from Antioch to Hierusalem was primarily to get satisfaction that there was the same doctrine taught at Hierusalem that was at Antioch for the establishing of such as might be staggered and preventing of farther danger by the pretences of these false teachers And this seemes to shine forth clearly in the returne of those at Hierusalem in the 23 24 25 26 27. verses Because some had gone out from them that had offended the brethren of Antioch c. therefore they send chosen men of their own company that might take off the offence by assuring them of the contrary judgement of the Apostles to what those false teachers taught Fourthly here was no rule exercised over the Churches to which they of Hierusalem wrote the result of their conference occasioned by the Messengers from Antioch wherein they throughly weighed the controverted point to give a sound resolve for the establishing of the staggering brethren There was no rule exercised I say for Paul is so embarqued with the Church of Antioch by his residence there and deepe hand in carrying on the controversie with the false teachers that I cannot see how without diminution of his Apostolical authority that the decrees of the Apostles should be more then materially binding viz. because Gods word onely How Paul that in the defence of this same point causes whomsoever should preach otherwise then he with the rest of his perswasion Gal. 1. 8 9. had preached how he I say should submit unto any Judicature on earth Authoritatively determining of his doctrine whether sound or not so as their decrees should be formally binding viz. as the decrees of such a court this I cannot conceive And again 't is a joynt act to make these Dec●ees a joynt act of the Apostles Elders and brethren the whole Church concurs to the making and sending of them and that under the same Notion vers 22 23. 25 28. It pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church It seemed good unto us being assembled with one accord It seemed good unto the holy Ghost and to us which us must be interpreted by Apostles Elders and brethren mentioned in the inscription of the letter Now it will not be granted that the brethren did joyne with the Apostles in an act of rule over another Church or Churches Neither will it helpe to say that the concurrence of the Apostles and Elders and of the brethren was of a different nature For the text is so full as to the involving them together in the same act under the same expressions even the highest with so much punctualness in signifying their joynt

concurrence that it will not admit such a plea. Difference in the order of their concurrence we shall grant viz. that the Apostles and Elders did lead the Church in these acts but difference in nature we cannot grant If it be said that by the whole Church is meant onely the Synodical Church the reason that is given for this falls to the ground For 't is grounded on the Impossibility of the meeting of the Church of Hierusalem together in one place that hath been refuted from cleare texts of Scripture But be it that we shut out the brethren from a concurrence of the same nature with the Apostles and Elders to the making of these decrees and let our adversaries make the most of vers 6. of this chapter and vers 4. of the following chapter will they say these decrees were Authoritative and formally binding the Churches of Antioch Syria Cilicia I trow not when they have better considered of the matter according to what has been said Will they say that the Elders of a Classicall Presbytery at Ierusalem for they assert no more of the Presbytery there see Mr. Wood in the aforesaid tractate pag. 371. and the Messengers of Antioch are excluded from the decision of the controversie and Decrees here made by the text it self ch 16. 4. did exercise rule over all these Churches so far distant that could not therefore be of their combination Neither is it to be conceived but if classes were then in fashion they had their classical combinations and Presbyteries too and shall Presbyteries of the same order rule over one another It may be it will be said that the presence of the Apostles being Extraordinary Officers constituted this a Synod I answer 't is sooner said then proved The text rather represents the Apostles condescending to act with the Church then elevating the Church to act with them vers 22 25. If against what has beene said against exercise of authority by this meeting over the Churches that vers 28 of laying a burden of necessary things upon them be objected Let it be considered whether there be not as much said of the Assertion of the Pharisees vers 5. whether therebe not as much said of their Assertion vers 10. And thus you see how hard it will be to grant any more with Scripture-warrant if we should grant classical Elderships and combinations but we shall not grant these for want of instance in Scripture or any other sound ground for them For the most Numerous of Churches that we read of we have already shewed at large that it was Congregational viz. the Church at Hierusalem And I conceive that the Numerousness of the Churches we read of in Scripture called severally even the most Numerous but by the name of Church in the singular Number without the mention of any more then one company of Elders I conceive that hath occasioned the conceit of classical Churches and Elderships but without warrant from Scripture as may appeare I say from that the Holy Ghost hath been so punctual in shewing that the most numerous Churches have still met together in one place To the Church of Hierusalem we may adde that of Corinth 'T is plaine that the Apostle writes to the body of the congregation by the epither he gives them in the inscriptions of both Epistles These he hints their ordinary coming together to joyne in the same individual acts when he enjoynes them the casting out of the incestuous person When ye are gathered together to deliver such a one to Satan 1 Ep. chap. 5. vers 4 5. A like hint we have in the same Epistle chap. 14. vers 23. And here we may take notice not onely that this Numerous Church of Corinth how Numerous soever pretended to be was congregational but that this Church had and exercised the power of the Keys for neglect of exercising which she is blamed 1 Cor. 5. 2. although Paul had not before this written to manifest his determination and that the exercise of this great piece of the Power of the Keys viz. Power of excommunication I say the exercise of this Power is put upon the body of the congregation by Paul without any distinct application of his speech to the Presbyterie And in the same manner that the Power of binding is put upon them in the same manner is the Power of loosing put on them 2 Cor. 2. 6. c. without any mention of their Eldership in particular but wrapping up Elders and People together as which were both to concur in this exercise of Ecclesiastick discipline and that with a concurrence of like nature as to the substance of the matter leaving to each their due place in the body the one going before the other following in the Lord. But to return if these most numerous congregations were congregational not Classical I cannot think there were any Classical Churches except there be a Scripture produced as plain for their Classicalness as these are that I have quoted to the congregrationalness of these that I have instanced in For reason will carry any man to thinke if the most Numerous Churches were congregationall that the less Numerous were so too and nothing but a plaine Scripture can stop the course of such a reasoning And thus the whole fabrick of the Classical way falls to the ground in my Judgement Their appropriating all authority and power of exercising Ecclesiastick discipline to the Presbyterie the secluding the Presbytery of a particular congregation from such authority together with the whole course of subordinations of combinations of Churches and Elders from the Classical that is the lowest to Oecumenical that is the highest combination they can none of them shew their genealogie nor derive their Pedigree from Scripture And what difference betwixt the Episcopal and Presbyterial Government wherein does their constitution differ except in the exorbitant power of a Chair-man that the Presbyterians cut by the height of the rest of the Presbyters in the several combinations And what difference betwixt the Vniversal Church of the Papists and that of of the Presbyterians is it more then Circumstantial The Papists refer the Roote and head of the Universality to Rome the Presbyterians do not the Papists subject it unto the Pope the Presbyterians do not but unto a general Councel and some Papists plead for no more save in the interim of the general Councel Vide Ellis Vind. Cathol Pag. 16. Let it be seriously considered that the Bishop of Rome is not reckoned the Antichrist from what time he got the peaceable possession of his Universal Bishoprick with all the exorbitant Power thereunto belonging but from what Vide Cot. in Rev. 13. Pag. 36. time he aipired to and carryed it ambitiously and had it yeelded usually unto him to sway Bishops and Churches at his pleasure and from this time at least before he proceeded farther he is reckoned Antichrist and the seventh head of the Monstrous Beast Rev. 13. 1. c. That is no

other then the Catholick Visible Roman Church as Mr. Cotton has learnedly demonstrated in an exposition of his on that 13 of the Revelations lately published And this reckoning of the beginning of Antichrist is suitable to that description of him that is given 1 Thes 2. 4. That he opposeth and exalteth himself Accordingly we may easily gather that the ambition of a Chair-man with the fond devotion of some Elders and people may soone turn Presbyterie into Episcopacy There needs not an act of State for setling such power on a Chairman and putting Elders people in subjection unto him to constitute either Papacy or Episcopacy Thus you see there is little difference betwixt Presbytery and Episcopacy and an easie transition from Presbytery to Episcopacy yea Papacy and Vide Perk. Probl. Pag. 235. they agree much also in nature being an usurpation of Authority over the particular Congregations the visible Churches of Christs institution and therefore I have put them together as also Mr. Bain's Diocesan tryal qu. 1. pag. 21. Those who subject themselves to a Presbytery sayes he as being under it by subordination may in effect as well be subject to an Episcopal and by consequence I say to a Papal consistory Let it be seriously weighed that the Apostle gives us this Character of the Spirit of Antichrist that such a Spirit confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh John 4. 3. We must not understand this of a confession of words onely but it is sufficient if practice speak it For Antichrist acknowledges that Christ is come in the flesh in words but he denyes it in practise whiles he brings in Judaism or any other way of worship that Christ hath not instituted into the Churches according to that uncontrolled expectation of the Woman of Samaria John 4. 25 26. When the Messias comes he shall tell us all things viz. about worship that was the matter in discourse for that Practise contradicts Christs being come in the flesh when men do not look onely to Christs institution in matter of worship And this is the expectation of the Jewes even at this day that Christ will at his coming give in a sutable platform of his worship sutable to his being come into the world to whō therefore the practice of Judaism must needs be a stumbling-block Though men may thinke they differ from Rome they are of the same spirit if they walk not according to the Gospel-institution of Christ Before I come to the reasons of the Obj. 1 point I shall answer some Objections And first 't will be said This way of separation that you press to be made from the Parochial and Episcopal yea classical Churches nulls all at least the most part of the reformed Churches in the world I answer This tends not to null or Answ make void the faith of the true believers that shall be found in the aforesaid ways of Church-order I deny not their faith whereby they are of the mystical Church of Christ and accordingly destroy not their mystical Churchdom which is acknowledged by a voice from heaven in the text when such as are in Babylon mixt with the Gentiles in the outer Court unmeasured and nourished hitherto in the wilderness of abominable confusion where the great whore sits President when I say such as these are called out of the Babylonish corruption and confusion by the name of Gods people they are plainly acknowledged to be of the mystical Church And yet they are implicitely denyed to be of a right order when they are called and warned to come out of Babylon that must needs mean order since their faith is approved for that being done there remaines nothing to be disapproved but order for under these two the Apostle sums up all to be approved or disapproved in the Church Colos 2. 5. I deny accordingly that the Churches before mentioned are such visible Churches as Christ hath instituted and their politie such as he hath appointed and assert Though their faith be Christian yet their order is Antichristian I deny them not to be the Woman nourished in the wilderness Rev. 12. 6 14. But I deny them to be the Candlesticks that stand before the God of the earth chap. 11. 4. And this need not be grievous since the Holy Ghost hath foretold us of such a distinction of Christians Some are content to walk with the nations in the outer court with so much as will keepe life and soule together and to bite hard in the Wilderness and straggle there from one greene path to another so they can but get a living Others God gives power to be his witnesses against the Gentiles and to set up Christs owne order in the face and to the teeth of the Beast that ascends out of the Bottomless pit though they be slaine for it and will not be content to serve God as Pharaoh will give them leave Such was the Congregation in Queen Mary's time which Mr. Fox mentions Gods preservation of in his 3 Vol. pag. 921. and those of which Mr. Cotton makes mention in the way of Congregational Churches cleared pag. 4. These were in Queen Elizabeths dayes and were remembered by some amongst us but lately dead they were about an hundred and they refused the common Lyturgie and Congregations attending thereunto and used prayer and preaching and Sacraments among themselves and suffered imprisonment for it and pleaded for their separation before the Lord Mayor Bishop Sandes and other Commissioners Jul. 20. 1576. and in this they behaved themselves as faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ 'T is one thing for Churches to be looked upon as Churches in point of salvation and another thing for them to be looked upon as Churches in respect of outward constitution and visible order In the former account we cannot but give the right hand of Fellowship to all that looke to no other way of salvation but by the blood of the Lambe in the latter account we can give the right hand of fellowship onely to those that are after the heavenly patterne laid down in the Word we must not for respect to a right faith swallow a wrong order Hath not the letting go the right order let in a wrong faith Does not the great beast Rev. 13 Blaspheme God and his Tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven meaning the Catholick Church of Rome as Mr. Cotton on the place shews at large Secondly 't will be said this laies a ground to question all the ordinances Obj. 2 that have beene administred in any other way then that you press for whether they are to be accounted null and void To this I answer there is a double degree Answ of corruption that ordinances have met withal Some have beene corrupted in the essentials of them as for instance the Lords supper in the Popish Churches was essentially corrupted The signs were turned into the thing signified one Element denied to the people c. When ordinances are thus essentially corrupted they