Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
authority_n apostle_n bishop_n successor_n 2,181 5 9.3340 5 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A35026 The naked truth, or, The true state of the primitive church by an humble moderator. Croft, Herbert, 1603-1691. 1675 (1675) Wing C6970; ESTC R225557 74,185 74

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commit_v to_o their_o management_n and_o judicature_n the_o civil_a law_n be_v that_o whereby_o most_o of_o the_o civilise_a world_n be_v govern_v and_o if_o we_o will_v have_v commerce_n with_o they_o it_o be_v fit_a we_o shall_v have_v able_a civilian_n to_o deal_v with_o they_o which_o will_v never_o be_v unelss_o they_o have_v profitable_a and_o honourabl_a place_n to_o encourage_v they_o for_o it_o all_o that_o i_o beg_v of_o they_o be_v that_o they_o will_v contain_v themselves_o within_o their_o own_o sphere_n of_o activity_n and_o not_o intrude_v into_o spiritual_a and_o sacred_a matter_n commit_v by_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n to_o the_o priesthood_n and_o so_o i_o beg_v of_o priest_n that_o they_o will_v not_o intermeddle_v in_o lay_v and_o temporol_n officer_n in_o the_o time_n of_o popery_n when_o spiritual_a and_o temporal_a affair_n be_v all_o intermingle_v and_o horrible_o confound_v as_o the_o pope_n take_v upon_o he_o secular_a and_o imperial_a authority_n direct_o contrary_a to_o the_o word_n and_o constitution_n of_o christ_n so_o the_o bishop_n and_o priest_n under_o he_o intermeddle_v in_o all_o secular_a affair_n and_o office_n and_o in_o this_o nation_n bishop_n be_v frequent_o lord_n keeper_n treasurer_n chief_a justice_n viceroy_n what_o not_o which_o be_v strange_o unapostolical_a and_o unlawful_a their_o vocation_n be_v whole_o spiritual_a as_o man_n choose_v out_o of_o the_o world_n shall_v have_v no_o more_o to_o do_v with_o it_o than_o of_o mere_a necessity_n for_o food_n and_o raiment_n wherefore_o to_o take_v upon_o they_o any_o lay-office_n which_o must_v needs_o take_v they_o off_o much_o from_o the_o ministry_n of_o the_o word_n and_o prayer_n be_v doubtless_o very_o sinful_a for_o act_n 6._o we_o find_v the_o apostle_n give_v themselves_o continual_o to_o these_o and_o will_v not_o endure_v to_o have_v these_o interrupt_v by_o that_o charitable_a office_n of_o take_v care_n for_o the_o poor_a certain_o than_o they_o 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some_o opinion_n of_o his_o own_o then_o st._n austin_n recount_v several_a of_o his_o opinion_n whereof_o this_o be_v one_o that_o he_o affirm_v there_o be_v no_o difference_n between_o a_o bishop_n and_o a_o presbyter_n where_o i_o pray_v you_o observe_v st._n austin_n give_v we_o the_o reason_n why_o he_o rank_n he_o with_o heretic_n viz._n because_o he_o fall_v into_o the_o arrian_n heresy_n then_o follow_v and_o he_o add_v some_o opinion_n of_o his_o own_o st._n austin_n call_v these_o opinion_n not_o heresy_n for_o he_o do_v not_o say_v he_o add_v more_o heresy_n of_o his_o own_o second_o i_o pray_v you_o observe_v st._n austin_n make_v no_o mention_n of_o his_o affirm_v the_o identity_n of_o order_n but_o only_o this_o that_o there_o be_v no_o difference_n at_o all_o between_o bishop_n and_o presbyter_n wherein_o i_o will_v condemn_v aerius_n as_o well_o as_o you_o but_o as_o for_o the_o identity_n of_o order_n it_o be_v well_o know_v that_o st._n austin_n be_v note_v by_o 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a_o heretic_n in_o this_o very_a particular_a of_o identity_n of_o order_n yet_o they_o bring_v neither_o scripture_n nor_o any_o reason_n at_o all_o but_o mere_o a_o bare_a narrative_a of_o aerius_n and_o his_o opinion_n not_o so_o much_o as_o call_v his_o opinion_n in_o this_o particular_a heresy_n much_o less_o offer_v proof_n for_o it_o by_o st._n augustine_n rule_n we_o may_v with_o great_a civility_n to_o they_o and_o great_a confidence_n in_o the_o truth_n still_o affirm_v the_o identity_n of_o order_n but_o how_o will_v i_o answer_v that_o objection_n take_v out_o of_o st._n hierom_n who_o say_v you_o be_v as_o great_a a_o leveller_n of_o bishop_n with_o priest_n as_o any_o and_o therefore_o whatever_o come_v from_o he_o you_o may_v be_v sure_o be_v extract_v from_o he_o by_o the_o powerfulness_n of_o undeniable_a truth_n yet_o he_o confess_v that_o
bishop_n have_v the_o authority_n of_o ordination_n more_o than_o presbyter_n a_o man_n may_v smile_v to_o see_v this_o use_v as_o a_o argument_n for_o the_o preeminency_n of_o bishop_n which_o be_v direct_o against_o it_o for_o st._n hierom_n have_v discourse_v of_o the_o equality_n and_o identity_n of_o presbyter_n and_o bishop_n and_o have_v bring_v many_o argument_n from_o scripture_n to_o prove_v that_o bishop_n and_o presbyter_n be_v only_o two_o name_n for_o one_o and_o the_o same_o office_n for_o a_o further_a confirmation_n hereof_o ask_v this_o question_n i_o pray_v what_o do_v a_o bishop_n do_v more_o than_o a_o presbyter_n except_o ordination_n plain_o intimate_v thereby_o that_o this_o can_v make_v no_o such_o distinction_n of_o eminency_n in_o they_o above_o presbyter_n i_o beseech_v you_o consider_v do_v not_o presbyter_n perform_v office_n of_o a_o high_a nature_n than_o ordination_n presbyter_n be_v ordain_v ambassador_n for_o christ_n to_o preach_v his_o holy_a 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particular_n and_o you_o will_v find_v a_o small_a remainder_n that_o preach_v pious_o and_o edify_v also_o very_o few_o to_o equal_a the_o compiler_n of_o our_o homily_n and_o then_o calm_o consider_v the_o great_a use_n yea_o the_o great_a necessity_n of_o such_o homily_n but_o if_o you_o can_v furnish_v all_o our_o church_n with_o pious_a discreet_a edify_a preach_a pastor_n i_o be_o abundant_o satisfy_v and_o do_v you_o seal_v up_o the_o book_n of_o homily_n till_o a_o new_a dearth_n of_o spiritual_a food_n which_o god_n in_o his_o great_a mercy_n prevent_v amen_n concern_v bishop_n and_o priest_n whoever_o unbiased_a read_v the_o scripture_n thence_o proceed_v to_o the_o first_o christian_n writer_n and_o so_o go_v on_o from_o age_n to_o age_n can_v doubt_v but_o that_o the_o church_n be_v always_o govern_v by_o bishop_n that_o be_v by_o one_o elder_a or_o presbyter_n or_o precedent_n or_o what_o else_o you_o please_v to_o call_v he_o set_v over_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o clergy_n with_o authority_n to_o ordain_v to_o exhort_v to_o rebuke_n to_o judge_n and_o censure_n as_o he_o find_v cause_n no_o other_o form_n of_o government_n be_v mention_v by_o any_o authority_n for_o fifteen_o hundred_o year_n from_o the_o apostle_n downward_o now_o who_o can_v in_o reason_n and_o modesty_n suspect_v those_o primitive_a bishop_n who_o live_v in_o the_o day_n of_o the_o apostle_n choose_v by_o they_o into_o the_o church_n succeed_v they_o in_o church_n government_n yea_o and_o in_o martyrdom_n also_o for_o the_o faith_n as_o clemens_n ignatius_n polycarpus_n and_o other_o who_o i_o say_v can_v suspect_v they_o to_o be_v prevaricator_n in_o church_n discipline_n and_o take_v upon_o they_o another_o form_n of_o episcopal_a government_n contrary_a to_o apostolican_n institution_n these_o great_a master_n of_o self-denial_n who_o give_v their_o life_n for_o the_o truth_n will_v they_o transmit_v unto_o posterity_n a_o church_n government_n contrary_a to_o the_o truth_n let_v 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i_o will_v not_o presume_v to_o censure_v they_o i_o will_v only_o say_v that_o from_o the_o begin_n it_o be_v not_o so_o and_o i_o thank_v god_n it_o be_v not_o so_o with_o we_o but_o as_o it_o be_v in_o the_o beginning_n so_o it_o be_v now_o with_o we_o and_o ever_o shall_v be_v i_o trust_v in_o god_n amen_o but_o notwithstanding_o all_o this_o yet_o it_o be_v very_o much_o to_o be_v doubt_v whether_o they_o be_v of_o any_o distinct_a superior_a order_n from_o and_o above_o the_o presbyter_n or_o one_o of_o the_o same_o order_n set_v over_o the_o rest_n with_o power_n to_o ordain_v elder_n to_o exhort_v rebuke_n chastise_v as_o timothy_n and_o titus_n be_v constitute_v by_o st._n paul_n for_o though_o they_o be_v of_o the_o same_o order_n with_o the_o other_o elder_n and_o pastor_n yet_o there_o be_v great_a reason_n for_o some_o to_o be_v place_v with_o great_a authority_n to_o rule_v over_o the_o rest_n the_o scripture_n tell_v we_o that_o even_o in_o the_o day_n of_o the_o apostle_n there_o be_v several_a seduce_a teacher_n lead_v the_o people_n into_o error_n and_o heresy_n and_o more_o be_v to_o follow_v after_o the_o apostle_n time_n grievous_a wolf_n in_o sheep_n clothing_n and_o therefore_o it_o be_v very_o necessary_a to_o pick_v out_o some_o of_o eminent_a soundness_n in_o faith_n and_o godliness_n of_o life_n and_o set_v they_o up_o on_o high_a with_o great_a authority_n as_o fix_v star_n in_o the_o heaven_n so_o style_v revel_v 1._o to_o who_o all_o may_v have_v regard_n in_o dangerous_a time_n as_o mariner_n observe_v in_o their_o seafaring_a journey_n but_o the_o scripture_n no_o where_o express_v any_o distinction_n of_o order_n among_o the_o elder_n we_o find_v there_o but_o two_o order_n mention_v bishop_n and_o deacon_n of_o deacon_n we_o shall_v treat_v afterward_o let_v we_o now_o proceed_v to_o the_o order_n of_o bishop_n and_o priest_n which_o the_o scripture_n distinguish_v not_o for_o there_o we_o find_v but_o one_o kind_n of_o ordination_n then_o certain_o but_o one_o order_n for_o two_o distinct_a order_n can_v be_v confer_v in_o the_o same_o instant_n by_o the_o same_o word_n by_o the_o same_o action_n they_o who_o think_v deaconship_n and_o priesthood_n distinct_a the_o one_o subservient_fw-fr to_o the_o other_o though_o they_o intend_v in_o the_o same_o hour_n to_o consecrate_v the_o same_o man_n deacon_n and_o priest_n do_v they_o not_o first_o complete_a he_o deacon_n than_o priest_n i_o pray_v let_v any_o man_n show_v i_o from_o scripture_n as_o i_o say_v timothy_n or_o titus_n or_o any_o one_o ordain_v twice_o make_v first_o priest_n than_o bishop_n which_o be_v absolute_o necessary_a if_o they_o be_v distinct_a character_n and_o it_o be_v general_o affirm_v though_o i_o humble_o conceive_v they_o scarce_o understand_v what_o they_o affirm_v i_o mean_v they_o understand_v not_o what_o these_o character_n be_v whether_o greek_a hebrew_n or_o arabic_a or_o what_o else_o but_o let_v that_o pass_v i_o desire_v they_o only_o to_o show_v i_o how_o a_o man_n can_v make_v two_o character_n with_o one_o stroke_n or_o motion_n a._n and_o b._n at_o the_o same_o instant_n if_o then_o neither_o timothy_n nor_o titus_n nor_o any_o other_o be_v but_o once_o ordain_v whence_o can_v we_o gather_v these_o two_o distinct_a character_n these_o two_o distinct_a order_n we_o find_v the_o apostle_n themselves_o but_o once_o ordain_v those_o by_o the_o apostle_n but_o once_o ordain_v and_o so_o on_o when_o st._n paul_n leave_v titus_n in_o crete_n to_o ordain_v he_o mention_n only_o one_o ordination_n that_o of_o presbyter_n so_o the_o word_n in_o greek_a no_o other_o there_o be_v no_o commission_n give_v he_o to_o ordain_v bishop_n and_o presbyter_n who_o then_o be_v to_o ordain_v bishop_n there_o not_o titus_n he_o have_v no_o such_o command_n we_o do_v not_o find_v that_o st._n paul_n himself_o do_v and_o sure_o you_o will_v not_o grant_v that_o the_o presbyter_n which_o titus_n ordain_v that_o they_o can_v ordain_v bishop_n there_o for_o you_o will_v not_o allow_v they_o to_o ordain_v so_o much_o as_o presbyter_n yet_o bishop_n you_o will_v needs_o have_v in_o every_o city_n and_o in_o crete_n be_v very_o many_o who_o ordain_v bishop_n for_o they_o all_o true_o i_o can_v find_v nor_o you_o neither_o i_o believe_v but_o you_o will_v say_v the_o superior_a order_n contain_v in_o it_o virtual_o the_o inferior_a order_n let_v this_o pass_n at_o present_a do_v presbyter_n then_o virtual_o cantain_n bishop_n if_o so_o then_o all_o presbyter_n be_v bishop_n no_o say_v you_o bishop_n be_v the_o superior_a order_n and_o that_o contain_v in_o it_o presbyter_n you_o say_v so_o but_o by_o your_o leave_n you_o be_v to_o prove_v so_o or_o give_v i_o leave_v to_o say_v otherwise_o especial_o see_v i_o have_v scripture_n for_o my_o say_n and_o you_o have_v none_o for_o you_o but_o shall_v i_o grant_v bishop_n the_o superior_a what_o then_o we_o find_v titus_n ordain_v not_o any_o but_o presbyter_n as_o he_o be_v command_v by_o st._n paul_n so_o we_o be_v still_o at_o a_o loss_n for_o our_o bishop_n we_o find_v not_o their_o ordination_n or_o do_v st._n paul_n mistake_v in_o his_o expression_n and_o mean_v bishop_n in_o every_o city_n say_v presbyter_n in_o every_o city_n let_v this_o pass_v also_o and_o i_o pray_v let_v we_o see_v what_o you_o mean_v by_o this_o the_o superior_a order_n virtual_o contain_v the_o inferior_a do_v not_o you_o say_v they_o be_v two_o distinct_a order_n two_o real_a distinct_a indelible_a character_n imprint_v in_o the_o soul_n as_o the_o schoolman_n affirm_v give_v i_o leave_v to_o talk_v their_o language_n though_o i_o understand_v it_o not_o if_o i_o take_v a_o fair_a paper_n and_o make_v a_o a._n upon_o it_o for_o the_o character_n of_o presbyter_n and_o then_o make_v a_o b._n upon_o it_o for_o the_o character_n of_o