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
A86483	An examination of sundry Scriptures alleadged by our brethren, in defence of some particulars of their church-way. Humbly submitted to the sight and censure of any judicious divine: especially of such of the reverend godly-learned Assembly as vouchsafe to read it. By R. Hollingworth, M.A. of Magd. Col. Camb. Imprimatur, Ja. Cranford. Decemb. 17. 1644.	Hollingworth, Richard, 1607-1656.	1645 (1645)	Wing H2492; Thomason E24_6; ESTC R7700	24,410	32

sense 1 Cor. 5.12 Those without Answ of whom the Apostle speaketh were unbelievers Pagans and Heathen Answ to 32 q. p. 11. without Christ as well as without the visible Church The Apostle opposeth Fornicators of the world to Fornicators that are Brethren Without are dogs Sorcerers Rev. 12.15 such as Paul had not to do with What have I to do c. v. 12. and yet he had to do with all Christians by his illimited Apostolike power (y) Answ to 9 Pos p. 64. whether they belong to that or any other Congregation or no such as God judgeth or are left to the immediate judgement of God But this is not the case of Believers not joyned especially in your sense of joyning to a particular Congregation nor do you I hope judge it to be the case of Believers in the Churches of England and Scotland 18. The Elders are not Lords over Gods Heritage 1 Pet. 5.3 nor do exercise authority as the Kings and Princes of the earth do remembring our Saviours lesson Matth. 20.25 26. Luke 22.25 26. They are not so many Bishops (z) A Classicall Presbytery sets up many Bishops for one M. D. striving for preeminence as Diotrephes did 3 Joh. v. 9 10 (a) These Scriptures are alleadged Answer to 32 q. p. 59. 76. though not with such tartnesse against Presbyteriall Government To say nothing that the title 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dominus sometimes translated Sir and sometimes Lord Job 12.21 1 Pet. 3.6 is given to Christ to Elders and meaner persons 3 Job v. 4.40 5.7 12.21 Kev 7.14 Though Elders be not Lords over Gods heritage yet they are Leaders and Guides yea Shepherds Rulers Overseers Bishops and Governours and not onely Presidents of the Congregation Answer Moderatours of her actions or as the fore-men of the Jury The other Text forbids Kingly or Lordly power in the Ministers of the Gospel for the two Apostles still dreaming of a Temporall kingdom and being kinsmen to Christ did expect some Temporall honour and advancement Christ saith not there was inequality amongst the Priests of the Jews or amongst the Priests of the Gentiles or between the Priests and People but it shall not be so among you but very aptly and pertinently to their Petition answereth The Princes of the Gentiles c. propounding himself v. 28. whose Kingdom is not of this world for an example to them yet he had no intent to equall them to himself in Church-power or other Ministers to the Apostles or the People to the Presbyters We make not all Church Ministers Bishops but the Elders onely as we are warranted by Acts 20.17 28. Tit. 1.5 7. Diotrephes being but one was liker to a Prelate then to a Presbytery yet Saint John doth not blame him simply for accepting or having pre eminence or for taking upon him to answer in behalf of the Church to which S. John writ or for taking to him the power of commanding forbidding excommunicating but for loving pre eminence as Mat. 23.6 7. for not receiving the Apostles and Brethren and prohibiting what he should have required and encouraged and excommunicating such as were the best members of the Church I will not tell you who said All the Church is holy ye take too much upon you c. 19. The power of Government is expresly given to the Church when we are bidden hear the Church which is a particular congregation Mat. 18. Answer The Church in the first and primary intent of these words was a Church then in being which did abominate the Gentiles for Heathens and Gentiles are all one viz. the Jewish Church which was not a particular congregation but a Nationall Church having graduall judicatories and appeals of which the Apostles were at that time and Christ lived dyed an actuall member (b) Answ to 32. Q. p. 14. They who presume that Christ did no more respect the Jewish Church then they do the Church of England do over-skip it and understand this onely of the Christian Church and bring Christ in speaking on this manner Peter if thy Brother offend thee to day or to morrow and will not be gained keep it in thy mind two or three yeares and thou shalt have a Church to which thou mayst complain tell the Church when there is one This Gospell was writ principally to and for the Jews some say in Hebrew in it the Spirit of God useth much the language and dialect of the old Testament in which Kahal and Ecclesia with the 70. do sometimes signifie the company of Elders (c) A subordination of the Jewish Synagogues and courts is acknowledged by Cot. Keyes p. 24. aswell as the body of the people and a Nationall Church with graduall Judicatories and appeals as well as a particular assembly Now there is not a Word in the Text to shew either that Church is not here taken for the Presbitary but for the people seeing when Christ saith Whatsoever ye shall bind c. he speaks to the Disciples v. 1. or Apostles which are elsewhere said to have the power of binding and loosing Mat. 16.19 Jo. 20.23 and were not ordinary beleevers but Elders 1 Pet. 5.1 or that it is meant onely of a parutilar congregation without graduall Judicatories or appeals a Notion not agreeable to the Jewish Church here in the first place spoken of I read that the promise of binding and loosing is not given to a particular congregation when it is leavened with errour and variance Ecclesia litigans non ligat clavis errans non ligat but then a Synod of Churches or of their messengers may Judicially convince and condemn errour fearch out truth determine declare and impose the way of truth and peace upon the Church (d) Cot. Keyes p. 47. 20. Mat. 16.19 Christ directeth his speech not to Peter alone but to all the Disciples also This seemes to be taken out of the Answ to 32. Q. p. 44. for to them all was the Question propounded by Christ v. 15. Nor to them as Generall Officers of all-Churches for that commission was not yet given them but as Disciples and Beleevers Peter was an Apostle in Office and Commission Answ though not yet sent out into all the world and an Elder Mat. 10. 1 2 c. and doubtlesse the key of Authority and Rule when it was promised to Peter and given to him with the rest of the Apostles John 20.23 is the same authority which is given to their successors the Elders See Cot. Keyes p. 4. p. 10. whereby they are called to feed and rule the Church of God as the Apostles had done before Acts 20.28 If the Keyes were not given to Peter as an Elder or Apostle but as a Believer then it will follow First that the Keyes are not given to a congregationall Church or any visible Church or the Members thereof against whom the Gates of hell may prevail but to true beleevers or