Selected quad for the lemma: act_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
act_n	church_n	elder_n	ordain_v	2,629	5	8.8340	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85444	The right of the Church asserted, against the povver usurped over it. By J. Gailhard, A.M. & D.	Gailhard, J. (Jean)	1660 (1660)	Wing G127; Thomason E1046_7; ESTC R208052	21,398	25

it_o belong_v to_o the_o church_n as_o it_o be_v prove_v act_v 1.23_o 24_o etc._n etc._n &_o 16.22_o and_o witness_v by_o cyprian_a in_o his_o epistle_n book_n 1_o epist_n 4._o but_o we_o say_v that_o the_o call_n to_o a_o certain_a place_n those_o that_o be_v ordain_v be_v of_o the_o church_n ii_o this_o right_n of_o the_o church_n do_v consist_v in_o this_o that_o the_o church_n have_v power_n to_o choose_v her_o ruler_n from_o within_o herself_o this_o be_v evident_a in_o the_o case_n of_o deacon_n act_n 6._o the_o twelve_o call_v the_o multitude_n and_o say_v to_o they_o look_v you_o out_o among_o you_o seven_o man_n of_o honest_a report_n so_o it_o be_v in_o the_o case_n of_o elder_n which_o paul_n and_o barnabas_n do_v ordain_v not_o without_o the_o vote_n of_o the_o people_n act_v 14.23_o and_o indeed_o since_o the_o fundamental_a right_n of_o government_n doth_o in_o the_o whole_a congregation_n it_o must_v be_v their_o prerogative_n to_o elect_v who_o they_o think_v fit_a for_o the_o administration_n of_o it_o it_o be_v a_o article_n of_o the_o waldence_n write_v 500_o year_n ago_o that_o among_o other_o privilege_n which_o christ_n have_v grant_v to_o his_o church_n this_o be_v one_o they_o must_v choose_v their_o ruler_n from_o among_o themselves_o yet_o always_o provide_v they_o choose_v they_o according_a to_o the_o will_n of_o christ_n reveal_v in_o his_o word_n and_o if_o it_o be_v according_a to_o his_o appointment_n he_o will_v fit_v they_o with_o gift_n to_o rule_v and_o so_o he_o will_v prosper_v their_o weak_a endeavour_n beside_o that_o as_o after_o the_o election_n the_o congregation_n must_v obey_v their_o ruler_n so_o afore_o their_o election_n they_o must_v give_v their_o vote_n and_o consent_n to_o that_o effect_n or_o else_o that_o obedience_n which_o be_v due_a to_o ruler_n heb._n 13.17_o will_v not_o be_v very_o free_a and_o voluntary_a as_o it_o ought_v to_o be_v for_z as_o we_o have_v say_v afore_o of_o pastor_n so_o we_o say_v of_o this_o it_o be_v a_o kind_n of_o marriage_n where_o consent_n of_o both_o party_n be_v require_v and_o as_o we_o have_v say_v that_o the_o church_n so_o call_v in_o distinction_n of_o any_o civil_a body_n have_v right_a to_o choose_v her_o ruler_n from_o among_o herself_o so_o here_o by_o this_o among_o herself_o we_o speak_v of_o the_o laity_n of_o it_o from_o the_o flock_n distinguish_v from_o the_o pastor_n or_o teacher_n in_o the_o 2_o chron._n 19.8_o there_o be_v choose_v as_o priest_n and_o levite_n so_o also_o of_o the_o chief_a of_o the_o father_n of_o israel_n for_o the_o judgement_n of_o the_o lord_n and_o since_o it_o be_v well_o know_v that_o the_o synagogue_n have_v a_o council_n of_o secular_a man_n choose_v out_o of_o the_o congregation_n to_o rule_v it_o which_o be_v continue_v in_o the_o day_n of_o our_o saviour_n for_o we_o read_v often_o of_o the_o ruler_n of_o the_o synagogue_n which_o jewish_a church_n we_o know_v to_o have_v be_v as_o well_o govern_v as_o any_o that_o ever_o be_v and_o since_o our_o saviour_n although_o he_o much_o condemn_v their_o corruption_n in_o doctrine_n and_o conversation_n yet_o he_o never_o have_v a_o word_n against_o this_o form_n of_o government_n the_o continuation_n of_o which_o the_o lord_n jesus_n foretell_v his_o disciple_n when_o he_o say_v they_o shall_v be_v bring_v and_o beat_v in_o the_o synagogue_n in_o the_o christian_a church_n these_o also_o be_v appoint_v to_o be_v ruler_n as_o in_o our_o letter_n to_o a_o person_n of_o quality_n we_o have_v demonstrate_v out_o of_o several_a text_n of_o scripture_n this_o only_a i_o add_v as_o the_o church_n do_v choose_v their_o messenger_n of_o who_o we_o read_v 2_o cor._n 8.19_o 23._o as_o they_o choose_v their_o representative_n act_n 15.23_o so_o also_o they_o elect_v their_o ruler_n call_v elder_n 1_o tim._n 5.17_o to_o who_o the_o relief_n for_o the_o brethren_n be_v to_o be_v deliver_v act_v 11.30_o iii_o the_o right_n of_o the_o church_n do_v consist_v in_o the_o administration_n of_o discipline_n the_o power_n whereof_o be_v in_o the_o church_n or_o her_o representative_n by_o virtue_n of_o which_o they_o may_v suspend_v erroneous_a and_o scandalon_n person_n from_o the_o public_a hear_n of_o the_o word_n receive_v of_o the_o lord_n supper_n and_o exclude_v they_o from_o communion_n with_o god_n people_n 2_o thessaly_n 3.6.14_o until_o they_o repent_v and_o give_v a_o public_a testimony_n of_o it_o in_o the_o primitive_a church_n there_o be_v several_a degree_n of_o these_o church_n censure_v according_a to_o the_o nature_n of_o their_o offence_n some_o be_v only_o censure_v in_o private_a other_o in_o a_o more_o public_a way_n other_o be_v not_o permit_v to_o come_v into_o the_o church_n to_o hear_v the_o word_n although_o they_o be_v permit_v to_o stand_v just_a at_o the_o door_n some_o be_v suffer_v to_o go_v in_o until_o sermon_n be_v do_v and_o then_o they_o go_v forth_o some_o be_v permit_v to_o stay_v till_o after_o prayer_n but_o they_o be_v to_o go_v out_o before_o the_o blessing_n be_v pronounce_v and_o other_o may_v tarry_v till_o after_o the_o blessing_n but_o not_o to_o be_v admit_v to_o the_o lord_n supper_n when_o it_o be_v to_o be_v administer_v all_o those_o thing_n may_v be_v account_v circumstantial_a because_o leave_v to_o the_o prudence_n of_o the_o church_n for_o now_o adays_o we_o do_v not_o follow_v it_o altogether_o although_o we_o know_v thus_o much_o to_o be_v necessary_a to_o use_v censure_n against_o offender_n but_o the_o manner_n be_v leave_v to_o the_o discretion_n of_o the_o church_n however_o they_o must_v not_o be_v so_o absurd_a and_o ridiculous_a as_o to_o give_v a_o white_a sheet_n as_o the_o episcopal_a custom_n be_v i_o can_v but_o admire_v at_o some_o who_o fear_v to_o disoblige_v man_n rather_o than_o to_o displease_v god_n do_v connive_v at_o the_o licentiousness_n and_o profaneness_n of_o other_o as_o if_o in_o imitation_n of_o these_o unruly_a person_n they_o be_v resolve_v not_o to_o perform_v their_o duty_n and_o this_o upon_o this_o account_n that_o such_o and_o such_o man_n be_v of_o such_o a_o temper_n as_o that_o if_o they_o be_v censure_v they_o will_v altogether_o forsake_v the_o church_n but_o i_o must_v tell_v they_o that_o they_o will_v be_v wise_a than_o god_n as_o if_o to_o prevent_v a_o evil_a not_o in_o be_v but_o only_o fear_v they_o be_v to_o suffer_v and_o comply_v with_o a_o real_a and_o actual_a evil_n they_o to_o who_o discipline_n be_v commit_v must_v be_v careful_a to_o execute_v it_o for_o say_v the_o apostle_n rom._n 12._o he_o that_o rule_v let_v he_o do_v it_o with_o diligence_n as_o for_o the_o success_n they_o must_v commit_v it_o to_o the_o hand_n of_o god_n however_o let_v the_o event_n be_v what_o it_o will_v they_o have_v that_o comfort_n to_o have_v discharge_v their_o duty_n the_o case_n of_o the_o french_a church_n be_v notable_a in_o this_o where_o the_o offender_n have_v liberty_n to_o forsake_v the_o reform_a religion_n and_o be_v welcome_a among_o papist_n the_o king_n be_v that_o way_n yet_o notwithstanding_o this_o consideration_n they_o strict_o administer_v discipline_n and_o such_o be_v the_o blessing_n of_o god_n that_o he_o overrule_v man_n heart_n for_o instead_o of_o a_o postatise_v they_o submit_v to_o the_o power_n and_o censure_n of_o the_o church_n and_o although_o upon_o this_o they_o will_v depart_v from_o the_o church_n of_o which_o i_o can_v bring_v so_o much_o as_o a_o instance_n although_o i_o have_v reason_n to_o be_v acquaint_v with_o their_o affair_n yet_o they_o may_v say_v they_o go_v from_o among_o we_o because_o they_o be_v none_o of_o we_o rot_a member_n if_o obstinate_a mustbe_a cut_v off_o lest_o they_o corrupt_v other_o as_o s._n paul_n say_v of_o hymeneus_n and_o philetes_n 2_o tim._n 2.17_o that_o this_o right_n be_v belong_v to_o the_o church_n be_v clear_a out_o of_o our_o bless_a saviour_n saying_n matth._n 15._o v._n 17_o if_o he_o will_v not_o hear_v thou_o tell_v it_o the_o church_n wherein_o be_v employ_v that_o the_o church_n have_v power_n to_o procure_v some_o satisfaction_n for_o the_o offence_n receive_v which_o power_n if_o a_o man_n will_v not_o submit_v unto_o he_o must_v be_v unto_o we_o as_o a_o heathen_a and_o a_o publican_n this_o right_a the_o church_n of_o corinth_n make_v use_v of_o according_a to_o s_n paul_n exhortation_n 1_o cor._n 5._o which_o be_v not_o commit_v to_o a_o single_a person_n but_o to_o the_o whole_a church_n to_o which_o the_o apostle_n write_v this_o epistle_n and_o s._n paul_n by_o virtue_n of_o this_o right_n deliver_v up_o that_o be_v excommunicate_v hymeneus_n and_o philetes_n 1_o tim._n 1.20_o yet_o from_o hence_o one_o must_v not_o infer_v that_o this_o right_n be_v administer_v by_o a_o

single_a person_n for_o 1._o it_o can_v be_v demonstrate_v that_o paul_n alone_o do_v it_o but_o it_o be_v more_o than_o probable_a that_o he_o have_v the_o advice_n and_o assent_n of_o the_o church_n which_o these_o two_o be_v of_o perhaps_o of_o the_o church_n of_o laodicea_n whence_o that_o epistle_n be_v write_v for_o this_o be_v his_o practice_n 1_o cor._n 3._o when_o you_o be_v assemble_v and_o my_o spirit_n with_o the_o power_n of_o the_o lord_n j._n ch_n 2._o neither_o must_v every_o one_o draw_v this_o consequence_n whatsoever_o paul_n do_v i_o may_v do_v for_o his_o call_v be_v immediate_a from_o christ_n and_o extraordinary_a in_o itself_o the_o sentence_n of_o the_o church_n in_o the_o execution_n of_o this_o discipline_n be_v pass_v by_o the_o representative_a of_o it_o and_o in_o case_n the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n be_v such_o as_o that_o because_o the_o power_n of_o the_o party_n or_o of_o some_o other_o consiedration_n it_o be_v not_o or_o can_v be_v decide_v in_o particular_a congregation_n by_o the_o pastor_n and_o his_o elder_n it_o must_v be_v refer_v to_o a_o classis_fw-la from_o it_o to_o a_o synod_n according_a to_o the_o pattern_n act_v 15._o so_o that_o it_o be_v a_o sacrilegious_a usurpation_n of_o any_o particular_a one_o as_o pope_n or_o any_o other_o that_o will_v do_v it_o alone_o without_o the_o church_n or_o her_o representative_n in_o the_o choose_n of_o which_o there_o ought_v to_o be_v such_o care_n as_o that_o they_o be_v not_o idiot_n or_o ignorant_a man_n but_o man_n of_o piety_n understanding_n and_o of_o credit_n as_o much_o as_o can_v be_v to_o meet_v in_o a_o certain_a place_n and_o always_o they_o must_v remember_v that_o their_o authority_n be_v not_o supreme_a but_o ministerial_a and_o therefore_o that_o they_o be_v bind_v only_o to_o the_o law_n and_o rule_v give_v by_o the_o holy_a ghost_n in_o the_o word_n and_o therefore_o as_o in_o point_n of_o doctrine_n so_o as_o to_o discipline_n in_o all_o thing_n they_o must_v follow_v the_o word_n for_o it_o do_v not_o belong_v to_o the_o church_n now_o establish_v to_o make_v any_o law_n different_a from_o or_o contrary_a to_o the_o rule_n of_o the_o word_n the_o right_n of_o the_o church_n do_v in_o the_o four_o place_n consist_v in_o the_o power_n of_o advise_v and_o vote_v in_o synod_n counsel_n and_o ecclesiastical_a assembly_n by_o their_o elder_n deputy_n and_o representative_n not_o only_o arch_a bishop_n and_o bishop_n as_o papist_n will_v have_v and_o not_o only_a pastor_n and_o those_o that_o be_v profess_v divine_n as_o the_o prelatical_a party_n desire_v but_o also_o other_o godly_a and_o know_a person_n choose_v and_o send_v by_o the_o church_n afore_o call_v elder_n deputy_n and_o representative_n be_v to_o be_v admit_v to_o vote_n in_o the_o decision_n of_o controversy_n this_o i_o speak_v not_o of_o my_o own_o neither_o must_v it_o be_v call_v a_o new_a thing_n since_o for_o the_o confirmation_n of_o it_o i_o will_v bring_v 1._o scripture_n 2._o antiquity_n 3._o reason_n as_o to_o the_o 1._o in_o the_o counsel_n synod_n or_o assembly_n hold_v by_o the_o apostle_n not_o only_o the_o apostle_n themselves_o but_o also_o the_o elder_n and_o deputy_n of_o the_o people_n who_o be_v not_o profess_a divine_n be_v admit_v so_o in_o the_o council_n of_o hyerusalem_n of_o which_o we_o read_v act_v the_o 15_o out_o of_o which_o place_n these_o 2_o thing_n do_v appear_v 1._o that_o the_o church_n deputy_n be_v admit_v into_o the_o assembly_n v._o 22._o it_o please_v the_o apostle_n and_o elder_n with_o the_o whole_a church_n which_o be_v interpret_v the_o next_o verse_n the_o brethren_n represent_v the_o church_n 2._o it_o do_v appear_v that_o they_o be_v admit_v not_o to_o be_v simple_o and_o mere_a spectator_n but_o also_o to_o be_v judge_n and_o to_o decide_v with_o their_o vote_n affair_n propound_v in_o the_o assembly_n for_o they_o be_v name_v among_o those_o who_o the_o letter_n come_v from_o who_o have_v not_o be_v name_v in_o the_o letter_n except_o they_o have_v a_o vote_n in_o the_o decree_n wherefore_o in_o these_o time_n except_o the_o prelatical_a party_n do_v think_v themselves_o wise_a and_o great_a than_o the_o apostle_n they_o ought_v not_o to_o deprive_v the_o church_n of_o this_o right_n as_o they_o do_v through_o usurpation_n but_o rather_o to_o restore_v they_o to_o that_o share_n which_o they_o ought_v to_o have_v in_o the_o government_n of_o the_o church_n which_o to_o deny_v be_v to_o commit_v a_o heinous_a sacrilege_n and_o to_o be_v guilty_a of_o as_o great_a a_o tyranny_n as_o can_v be_v usurp_v over_o the_o people_n of_o god_n and_o as_o the_o apostle_n yield_v to_o the_o church_n her_o right_n so_o in_o the_o primitive_a time_n the_o church_n be_v not_o deprive_v of_o it_o for_o in_o the_o most_o famous_a and_o ecumenical_a council_n this_o be_v grant_v to_o the_o church_n 1._o in_o the_o first_o council_n of_o nice_a call_v by_o the_o emperor_n constantine_n the_o great_a against_o arius_n who_o deny_v the_o deity_n of_o christ_n the_o elder_n of_o the_o people_n and_o representative_a of_o the_o church_n have_v their_o vote_n in_o it_o so_o in_o the_o first_o council_n of_o constantinople_n call_v by_o the_o emperor_n theodosius_n the_o first_o against_o macedonius_n who_o deny_v the_o deity_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n in_o this_o also_o the_o deputy_n of_o the_o church_n vote_v in_o the_o article_n therein_o debate_v as_o it_o do_v appear_v by_o the_o subscription_n of_o the_o act_n of_o these_o two_o synod_n for_o further_a confirmation_n of_o this_o right_n of_o the_o church_n to_o my_o judgement_n no_o better_a reason_n than_o this_o can_v be_v give_v these_o synod_n and_o assembly_n do_v represent_v the_o church_n if_o it_o be_v a_o provincial_a synod_n it_o represent_v the_o church_n of_o a_o province_n if_o national_a of_o a_o nation_n so_o if_o universal_a it_o represent_v the_o whole_a christian_a church_n now_o if_o this_o church_n either_o provincial_n national_a etc._n etc._n represent_v by_o these_o synod_n do_v consist_v not_o only_o of_o bishop_n or_o pastor_n doctor_n teacher_n and_o minister_n but_o also_o of_o lay_n or_o secular_a person_n among_o who_o sometime_o there_o happen_v to_o be_v man_n no_o way_n inferior_a in_o part_n and_o piety_n to_o many_o of_o the_o clergy_n so_o it_o be_v of_o good_a consequence_n to_o say_v that_o some_o of_o the_o body_n of_o the_o church_n consist_v of_o lie_v man_n be_v to_o be_v admit_v to_o these_o church-assembly_n for_o since_o they_o be_v interest_v in_o the_o transaction_n of_o such_o meeting_n they_o must_v send_v their_o deputy_n to_o be_v present_a to_o the_o conclusion_n take_v there_o or_o else_o all_o these_o assembly_n shall_v be_v no_o better_o than_o a_o council_n of_o trent_n call_v not_o to_o debate_v of_o but_o to_o confirm_v error_n where_o one_o of_o the_o party_n shall_v be_v exclude_v and_o the_o other_o shall_v be_v the_o party_n and_o judg._n these_o assembly_n can_v be_v say_v to_o be_v free_a and_o lawful_a when_o there_o be_v so_o much_o violence_n and_o corruption_n as_o that_o one_o shall_v be_v admit_v as_o guilty_a and_o accuse_v person_n when_o he_o shall_v be_v equal_a to_o his_o adversary_n in_o such_o a_o meeting_n wherefore_o i_o say_v in_o case_n a_o synod_n be_v call_v in_o this_o nation_n consist_v of_o episcopal_a man_n for_o the_o most_o if_o the_o business_n be_v to_o be_v decide_v by_o plurallity_n of_o vote_n it_o will_v not_o be_v a_o right_n and_o competent_a assembly_n except_o thing_n be_v resolve_v by_o strength_n of_o reason_n and_o by_o a_o equal_a number_n of_o the_o different_a party_n but_o to_o be_v brief_a this_o right_n of_o the_o church_n in_o the_o 8_o place_n do_v consist_v in_o this_o that_o the_o church_n be_v subject_a to_o no_o power_n but_o to_o the_o power_n of_o christ_n the_o church_n own_v no_o authority_n but_o he_o and_o it_o ought_v to_o be_v free_a from_o any_o other_o dominion_n christ_n jesus_n be_v the_o only_a lord_n and_o potentate_n of_o his_o church_n which_o to_o signify_v he_o be_v call_v sometime_o the_o king_n other_o time_n the_o lord_n master_n husband_n head_n and_z shepherd_z of_o his_o church_n if_o any_o other_o secular_a or_o ecclesiastical_a officer_n do_v aspire_v to_o this_o power_n he_o be_v a_o thief_n and_o a_o robber_n we_o must_v not_o think_v that_o christ_n jesus_n have_v so_o dear_o purchase_v his_o church_n to_o submit_v she_o afterward_o to_o the_o will_n and_o lust_n of_o man_n he_o have_v redeem_a we_o say_v the_o apostle_n that_o we_o shall_v be_v a_o peculiar_a people_n unto_o himself_o therefore_o not_o addict_v to_o other_o one_o can_v lay_v any_o claim_n to_o the_o church_n except_o he_o have_v purchase_v it_o except_o he_o