Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	acknowledge_v	church_n	scripture_n	3,085	5	6.3603	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30892	The anarchy of the Ranters and other libertines, the hierarchy of the Romanists, and other pretended churches, equally refused and refuted in a two-fold apology for the church and people of God called in derision Quakers : wherein they are vindicated from those that accuse them of disorder and confusion on the one hand, and from such as calumniate them with tyranny and imposition on the other ... / by Robert Barclay.	Barclay, Robert, 1648-1690.	1676 (1676)	Wing B718; ESTC R10444	60,765	91

THE ANARCHY OF THE RANTERS And other LIBERTINES The Hierarchy of the Romanists and other Pretended Churches equally Refused and Refuted in a Two-fold Apology for the Church and People of God called in Derision QUAKERS Wherein they are Vindicated from those that accuse them of Disorder and Confusion on the one hand and from such as Calumniate them with Tyranny and Imposition on the other shewing that as the true and pure Principles of the Gospel are restored by their Testimony so is also the ancient apostolick ORDER of the Church of Christ re-established among them and setled upon its Right Basis and Foundation By Robert Barclay Phil. 2. 3. Let nothing be done through Strife or Vain-glory but in Lowliness of Mind let each esteem another better then themselves Hebr. 13. 7. Remember them that have the Rule over you who spoke unto you the Word of God whose Faith follow Printed in the Year 1676. THE PREFACE TO THE READER SUCH is the Malignity of man's Nature in his fallen State and so averse is he from walking in the Straight and even Path of TRUTH that at every turn he is inclinable to lean either to the Right Hand or the Left yea such as by the Work of God's Grace in their Hearts and powerful Operation of his Spirit have obtained an Entrance in this Way are daily molested and set upon on all hands some striving to draw them the one way some the other and if through the Power of God they be kept faithful and stable then are they calumniated on bothsides each likening or comparing them to the worst of their Enemies Those that are acquainted with the holy Scriptures may observe this to have been the Lot of the Saints in all Ages but especially those whose place it hath been to Reform and Restore the Ruins of the House of God when decayed or any considerable time have been lyable to such Censures hence those that set about Repairing of the Walls of Jerusalem were necessitated to Work with the one hand and Defend with the other Christ is accused of the Jews as a Samaritan and by the Samaritans quarrelled for being a Jew The Apostle Paul is whipped imprisoned by the Gentiles and upbraided with being a Jew and teaching their Customs the same Paul is haled and ready to be killed by the Jews for breaking the Law and defiling the Temple with the Gentiles The like hath also befaln these faithful Witnesses and Messengers whom God has raised up in this day to witness for his Truth which hath long been in a great Measure hid but now is again revealed and many brought to be Witnesses of it who thereby are come to walk in the Light of the Lord. This People thus gathered have not wanted those Tryals that usually accompany the Church of Christ both on the right hand on the left each characterizing them in such Terms as they ha●e judged would prove most to their Disadvantage from whence as the Testimony of the false Witnesses against their Lord did not agree neither do these against us some will have us to be foolish mad Creatures others to be deep subtil Polititions some to be illiterate ignorant Fellows others to be learned cunning Jesuites under a meer Vizard divers Professors will have us to be only Pensioners of the Pope undoubtedly Papists but the Papists abhor us as Hereticks Sometimes we are a disorderly confused Rabble leaving every one to do as they list against all Good Order and Government at other times we are so much for Order as we admit not men to exercise the Liberty of their own Judgments Thus are our Reputations tossed by the Envy of our Adversaries which yet cannot but have this Effect upon sober-minded people as to see what Malice works against us and how these men by their Contradictory Assertions concerning us save us the Pains while they Refute one another True it is we have laboured to walk amidst these Extremities upon our appearing for the Truth we have found things good in themselves abused upon both hands for such hath alwayes been the Work of an Apostacy to keep up the Shadow of certain Truths that there-through they might shelter other Evils Thus the Jews made use of the Law and the Prophets to vindicate their Abuses yea and to Crucifie Christ And how much many Christians abuse the Scriptures and the Traditions of the Apostles to uphold Things quite Contrary to it will in the general be readily acknowledged by most But to descend more particularly There be Two Things especially both of which in their primitive Use were appointed and did very much contribute towards the Edification of the Church The one is The Power and Authority which the Apostles had given them of Christ for the Gathering Building up and Governing of his Church by Vertue of which Power and Authority they also wrote the holy Scriptures The other is That Priviledge given to every Christian under the Gospel to be led and guided by the Spirit of Christ and to be taught thereof in all things Now both these in the primitive Church wrought effectually towards the same End of Edification and did as in their Nature they may and in their Use they ought to do in a good Harmony very well consist together but by the Workings of Satan and Perversness of Men they are made to fight against and destroy one another For on the one hand the Authority Power that resided in the Apostles while it is annexed entailed to an Outward Ordination and Succession of Teachers is made use of to cloak and cover all manner of Abuses even the height of Idolatry and Superstition for by Vertue of this Succession these men claiming the like Infallibility that was in the Apostles though they be Strangers to any inward Work or Manifestation of the Spirit in their Hearts will needs obliege all others to acquiesce and agree to their Conclusions however different from or contrary to the Truths of the Gospel and yet for any to call such Conclusions in Question or examine them is no less then a Hainous Heresie deserving Death c. Or while the Revelation of God's Mind is wholely bound up to these things already delivered in the Scriptures as if God had spoke his last words there to his People we are put with our own natural Understandings to Debate about the Meanings of it and forced to interpret them not as they plainly speak but according to the Analogy of a certain Faith made by Men not so much contrived to answer the Scriptures as the Scriptures are strained to vindicate it which to doubt of is also counted Heresie deserving no less then Ejection out of our native Country and to be robbed of the common Aid our Nativity entitles us to and on this hand we may boldly say both Papists and Protestants have greatly gone aside On the other hand some are so great Pretenders to inward Motions and Revelations of the Spirit that

the Apostate Corinthians let such as are of the same kind among us examin seriously and measure their Spirits truly hereby Yea he goes yet further in the following Chapter ver 3 4. 3. As absent in Body but present in Spirit have judged already as though I were present concerning him that hath so done this Deed. 4. In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ when ye are gathered together and my spirit with the Power of our Lord Jesus Christ c. Would not one think this to have been a very presumptuous Word and yet who dare offer to condemn it from all which I shall shortly observe that it seems it was judged no Inconsistency nor Contradiction to be Followers of the Grace in themselves to be perswaded in their own Hearts and also to be Followers of the Apostle Paul and of his Wayes because his Wayes and Example was no other then the Spirit of God in themselves would have led them to if they had been obedient therefore he found it needful to charge them positively to follow him without dding this Reason Next the great Argument the Apostle uses to perswade them hereunto upon which he mainly insists because he had begotten them into the Truth Ye have not many Fathers for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel wherefore I beseech you be ye Followers of me So he makes that as the Cause which the same Apostle also in his Expostulation with the Galatians putting them in mind how he preached the Gospel to them at first and Chap. 14. Ver. 15. Where is then the Blessedness ye spoke of for I bear you Record if possible you would have plucked out your own Eyes and given them unto me We see then that the Lord hath doth give such whom he hath furnished and sent forth to gather a People unto himself Care and Oversight over that People yea and a certain Authority in the Power over them to bring them back to their Duty when they stray at any Time and to appoint yea and command such Things as are needful for Peace and Order and Unity Sake and that there lies an Obligation upon such as are so gathered to reverence honour yea and obey such as are set over them in the Lord for saith the same Apostle 2 Cor. 2. 9. For to this End also did I write that I might know the Proof of you whether you be obedient in all Things And Chap. 7. Ver. 13 15. Yea and exceedingly the more joyed we for the Joy of Titus because his Spirit was refreshed by you all 15. And his inward Affection is more abundant toward you whilest he remembreth the Obedience of you all how with Fear and Trembling you received him Now this will not at all infer as if they had been implicitly led of old or that such as having the same Authority exercise it now sought Dominion over their Brethrens Faith or to force them to do any Thing beyond far less contrary to what the Lord leads us to by his Spirit but we know as they did of old that the Enemy lies near to betray under such Pretences and that seeing in case of Difference the Lord hath and doth and will reveal his Will to his People and hath and doth raise up Members of his Body to whom he gives a Discerning and Power and Authority to instruct reprove yea and command in some Cases and that those that are faithful and low in their Minds keeping their own Places and minding the Lord and the Interest and Good of his Truth in the general over all they shut out the Murmurer and the Spirit of God leads them to have Unity and concur with their Brethren but such as are heady and high-minded are inwardly vexed that any should lead or rule but themselves and so it is the high Thing in themselves that makes them quarrel others for taking so much upon them pretending a Liberty not sinking down in the Seed to be willing to be of no Reputation for its Sake such rather then give up their own Wills will study to make Rents and Divisions not sparing the Flock but prostrating the Reputation and Honour of the Truth even to the World ministring to them an Occasion of Scorn and Laughter to the harding them in their Wickedness and Atheism Besides these Scriptures mentioned I shall set down a few of many more that might be instanced to the same Purpose Ephes. 5. 21. Submitting your selves one to another in the Fear of God Phil. 2. 3. Let nothing be done through Strife or Vain-glory but in Lowliness of Mind let each esteem other better then themselves 29. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all Gladness and hold such in Reputation And 3. 17. Brethren be Followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an Ensample And 4. 9. Those Things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of Peace shall be with you Col. 2. 5. For though I be absent in the Flesh yet am I with you in the Spirit joying and beholding your Order and the Stedfastness of your Faith in Christ. 1 Thes. 5. 12. And we beseech you Brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you 13. And to esteem them very highly in Love for their Work Sake and be at Peace among your selves 14. Now we exhort you Brethren warn them that are unruly comfort the feeble-minded support the weak be patient toward all Men. 2 Thes. 2. 15. Therefore Brethren stand fast and hold the Traditions which ye have been taught whether by Word or our Epistle 2 Cor. 10. 8. For though I should boast somewhat more of our Authority which the Lord hath given us for Edification and not for your Destruction I should not be ashamed Now though the Papists greatly abuse this Place as if hereby they could justifie that Mass of Superstition which they have heaped together yet except we will deny the plain Scripture we must needs believe there lay an Obligation upon the Thessaloni●ns to observe and hold these Appointments and no Doubt needful Institutions which by the Apostles were recommended unto them and yet who will say that they ought or were hereby commanded to do any Thing contrary to that which the Grace of God in their Hearts moved them to 2 Thes. 3 4. And we have Confidence in the Lord touching you that ye both do and will do the Things which we command you 6. Now we command you Brethren in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye withdraw your selves from every Brother that walketh disorderly and not after the Tradition which he received of us What more positive then this and yet the Apostle was not here any Imposer And yet further ver 14. And if any man obey not our Word by this Epistle note that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed Thus Heb.

Corporal Pain even though such be perswaded and offer to make appear that the Decisions they refuse are contrary to the Scriptures And Lastly As among the Papists none though otherwise confessed to be a Member of the Church both knowing and sober except commissionate in some of the Respects above declared can be admitted to sit vote and give his Judgment Any that will be at the Pains to apply this to the Foundation I before laid of the Infallibility of Judgment in that we may account only to be truly called the Church of Christ will easily see the great Difference betwixt us which I shall sum up in these particulars First Do we exclude any Member of the Church of Christ that may be truly accounted so to tell his Judgment Secondly Do we say man ought to be persecuted in his Outwards for his disassent in Spirituals Thirdly Do we plead that decision is to pass conclusive because of the plurality of Votes And much more which the Reader may observe from what is already mentioned which that it may be all more obvious at one view will appear somewhat clearly by this following Figure which will give the Reader an Opportunity to recollect what lay heretofore more scattered The ROMANISTS say That there is an Infallibility in the Church which Infallibility is whenas the Pope calls a General Council of Bishops c. that whatsoever they conclude and agree upon must needs be the infallible Judgment of the Spirit of God because of the Promise of Christ That he would never suffer the Gates of Hell to prevail against his Church and that the Pope and Council made up of certain of the Clergy having one Outward Succession and being lawfully ordained according to the Canons are that Church to which that Promise is made however wicked or depraved they be yet this Infallible Judgment follows them as being necessarily annexed to their Office in which the Authority still stands in its full Strength and Vigour so that there lies an Obligation upon the whole Body of the Church to obey their Decrees and such as do not are not only certainly damned for their disobedience but that it is the Duty of the Civil Magistrate to punish such by Death Banishment or Imprisonment c. in Case they refuse The generality of PROTESTANTS say That though all Synods and Councils may err yet such Assemblies are needful for the Edification of the Church that such do consist of a Convocation of the Clergy with some few Laicks particularly chosen that all others except those so elected have not any Right to vote or give Judgment that such an Assembly so constitute may ministerially determine Controversies of Faith Cases of Conscience Matters of Worship and authoritatively determine the same the Decision is to be by Plurality of Votes without any necessary Respect to the inward Holiness or Regeneration of the Persons if so be they be outwardly called ordained and invested in such a Place and Capacity as gives them an Authority to be Members of such an Assembly what they thus decide as they judge according to the Scripture ought to be received with Reverence and submitted to and those that do not to be punished by the Civil Magistrate by Death Banishment or Imprisonment though they declare and be ready to evidence that it is because they are not agreeable to the Scripture they refuse such Decrees The QUAKERS say That whereas none truly ought nor can be accounted the Church of Christ but such as are in a measure sanctified or sanctifying by the Grace of God and led by his Spirit nor yet any made Officers in the Church but by the Grace of God and inward Revelation of his Spirit not by outward Ordination or Succession from which none is to be excluded if so called whether Married or a Tradesman or a Servant if so be in such a Church there should arise any Difference there will be an infallible Judgment from the Spirit of God which may be in a General Assembly yet not limited to it as excluding others and may prove the Judgment of the Plurality yet not to be decided thereby as if the Infallibility were placed there excluding the fewer in which a Meeting or Assembly upon such an Account there is no Limitation to be of Persons particularly chosen but that all that in a true Sense may be reckoned of the Church as being sober and weighty may be present and give their Judgment and that the Infallible Judgment of Truth which cannot be wanting in such a Church whether it be given through one or more ought to be submitted to not because such Persons give it but because the Spirit leads so to do which every one coming to in themselves will willingly and naturally assent to and if any through Disobedience or Unclearness do not all that the Church ought to do is to deny them her spiritual Fellowship in case the nature of their Disobedience be of that Consequence as may deserve such a Censure But by no means for Matter of Conscience to Molest Trouble or Persecute any in their Outwards Who will be at the Pains to compare these Three seriously together I am hopeful will need no further Argument to prove the Difference But if any will further object What if it fall out de facto that the Teachers Elders or Plurality do decide and from thence will say this is like the Church of Rome and other false Churches it will be hard to prove that to be an infallible Mark of a Wrong Judgment as we have not said it is of a Right And indeed to conclude it were so would necessarily condemn the Church in the Apostles dayes where we see the Teachers and Elders and so far as we can observe the greater number did agree to the Decision Acts 1. 15. for if the thing be right and according to Truth it is so much the better that the Elders and greater Number do agree to it and if wrong their affirming of it will not make it right And truly a Gathering where the Elders and greater Number are always or most frequently wrong and the younger and lesser Number right is such as we cannot suppose the true Church of Christ to be and if any will plead that there is now no infallible Judgment to be expected from the Spirit of God in the Church it no doubt will leave the Dissenters as much in the Mist and at as great a loss as those they dissent from both being no better then blind men hitting at random which will turn Christanity into Sceptism and though we may acknowledge that this Uncertainty prevails in the generality of those called Churches yet we do firmly believe for the Reasons above declared and that for many more that might be given That the true Church of Christ has a more solid stable Foundation and being never separated from Christ her Head walks in a more Certaiu steady and Unerring Path. THE CONCLUSION THE Substance then