Selected quad for the lemma: act_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
act_n	bishop_n	church_n	presbyter_n	3,490	5	10.5633	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A55680	Presbyterial government described, or, A methodical synopsis of it, as it is professed and practized in the Church of Scotland gathered out of the confessions of faith, and other publick records of that church ... / by Britannus Philopresbyter.	Clark, James, 1660-1723.; Philopresbyter, Britanus.	1695 (1695)	Wing P3222; ESTC R33950	9,179	14

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 potestas Right and Authoritie for intermeddling ex officio in sacred things but also the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 potentia Abilities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qualifyeing them for their Office comes from his favour and fulness 6 As the Roman Catholick pretention of a visible vi●carious Monarch is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be abjured neither can the Morrellian Democracie be received which cannot well avoid Anarchie and confusion where all are promiscuously and reciprocallie the Rulers and the Ruled therefore these two extreams being both quarrelable Presbyterial Aristocracie headed by the Mediator the only Monarch of the Church as said is seems to be that well tempered mode of Government most favoured by the Scriptures if moderatly and wisely mannadged by the Rulers of it very probably may be entertained with more Universal favour among men Act Ass p 107. 7. That Power which the Mediator hath dispenced unto his Officers is by his will and Wisdom shared in such a Just paritie as that they are all made Peers in Power and Authority none being Superior in Order degree or Jurisdiction to another but all subject and accountable to the Arch-Pastor and Bishop of Souls whose Stewards Servants and Ministers they are having and holding their Commission alone from him Whence all Despotick or Lordly Magisterial Power among Gospel Ministers is utterly to be avoided and abandoned as being not by Divine disposition but Human composition Act Ass Dimd 1580. 2. B Disc 72.74 Act. Ass Dec 8. 1638. 8. The Ordinarie Office-bearers in the Church which GOD hath appointed to continue to the end of the World extraordinarie now ceasing are Doctors Presbyters and Deacons Doctors are commonly ranked with the Preaching Elders Teaching Preaching and Ruling pertaining to them both as they are qualified so to labour Doctors being likewise useful in Schools and Universities for training up Students of Theologie As for Presbyters or Elders they are either such as labour in the word and Doctrine and also Rule whom they call promiscuously Pastors Ministers or Bishops Or such as only Rule being Members Constituent of Ecclesiastick Judicatories concurring Authoritatively with Ministers in matters of Rule and Discipline To these they appropriate the name of Ruling Elders As for Deacons they have no Authority in Courts but in Counts they have being concerned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Church Collections and provisions for the poor and the like Genev form j B Disc 55.2 B Disc 74.77 Ass Direc 3. c. Act Ass 32. 9. The Tittle of Bishop mentioned in the Scripture it is Identical and of the same latitude and import with Presbyter or Pastor both as to the nature of the Office designed by these different Synonymous Appellations and as to the Pastoral work incumbent to those who are vested with the Office 2 B Dis 76.86 Act. Ass 1638.32 10. The intermediate Ordinary way of Communicating and Participating the Pastorial Power and the exercise of it is by the Election of the People either represented in the Eldership who usually are their own choice for eviting the confusion of the Multitude Or Virtually by every indevidual man through their consent having free access to dissent if they produce any relevant reasons or weighty Objections whereof the Presbyterie is Judge competent and ordinarie which is the thing implyed by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ● ● Streatching out or holding up the hand as a sign of assent And chiefly by the Imposition of the bands of the Presbytrie with Prayers and fastings solemnly setting a part and Ordaining the man chosen called tryed and found fit to the work of the Ministrie in general as GOD shall clearly call him to imploy his Talents and in particular to the Pastoral Charge of such a certain Flock whereunto he is orderly called and admitted which Rite and action is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Genev form 2. B Disc 75.79 81. Ass Dic 3.4 c. 11. The Minister being thus settled he must reside and labour among his people for their Salvation and Edification by all Gospel means and he cannot at his own Arbitriment relinquish his flock or lay aside his Pastoral charge but is to be subject to the Presbytrie and other Superior Courts to be disposed of as they find cause convenient neither can any oothers directly and Authoritatively exauterate or deprive him of his Pastoreal Power But they who have the Power to collate and ordain who for clear and Onerous causes may Suspend for a certain time or depose for ever But as to what extent or influence a sentence of the Civil Magistrate may have per concomitantiam we will not medle to define Act Ass. 1638.43 12. This Pastoral Power is exerced and employed either in the administration of the word and Sacraments and other pendicles of the Didactick part of their work wherein Ministers are to be instant faithful and diligent or in the exercise of Disciplin which they are to mannage with discretion prudence and Righteousness both for the increase of Knowledge and Pietie and for the curbing of vice and reforming the flagitious Ass Dir 3.4 2. B Dis 76. 13. As to the execution of Discipline and the Diatactick part of their work the several kinds of Courts Supream and subordinate in which preaching and Ruling Elders are to govern they are either parochial Sessions Classical Presbytries provincical Synods or National Assemblies and if it could be conveniently obtained an Oecumenick or General Council A Parochial Session is the ordained Minister of the place together with the Ruling Elders and if the Minister have a Collegue they moderate in their Session per vices the Moderator having no negative voice a Classical Presbytrie is made up of the parishes of a lesser presinct than a Province and both unto a Presbytrie and a provincial synod made up of several Presbytries each Minister within the respective bounds cometh with one Ruling Elder with him whom their several Sessions choose and think most fit A National Assembly is only made up of chosen commissionated delegats To a National synod there comes two or three Ministers with one Ruling Elder from each Presb●●●● through the Nation and the number of Delegates from every Presbytrie is more or less proportionably to the number and quota of parishes in the Respective Presbytries Also there may be sent Delegates and Commissioners from Vniversities and Broughs Royal providing they be ordained Ruling Elders Act Ass 15●0 2. B Dis 70. Ass Dir 14. c. Ass Decr 17. 1638. Act Ass Jul. 18. 1648. Act Ass 1694. ss 14 The Orderly way of bringing Ecclesiastick causes and cases under the cognizance of the Respective Superior Judicatories is either by Bill by reference or appeal For the more methodical tabling thereof specially in the General Assembly there use to be Commities appointed to ripen and prepair matters for hearing in full Assemblie Appeals ascend Gradatim from the lesser subordinate Courts where the cause was first tabled to the superior till they