Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
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A32107
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A letter to a non-conformist minister of the kirk shewing the nullity of the Presbyterian mission or authority to preach the Gospel.
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Calder, Robert, 1658-1723.
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1677
(1677)
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Wing C277; ESTC R2364
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10,942
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118
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a_o letter_n to_o a_o nonconformist_a minister_n of_o the_o kirk_n show_v the_o nullity_n of_o the_o presbyterian_a mission_n or_o authority_n to_o preach_v the_o gospel_n london_n print_v for_o b._n tooke_n at_o the_o ship_n in_o st._n paul_n churchyard_n 1677._o to_o the_o reader_n reader_n it_o be_v not_o now_o the_o order_n or_o character_n of_o our_o clergy_n nor_o their_o power_n of_o bind_v and_o absolve_v sinner_n which_o the_o people_z have_v any_o great_a regard_n for_o but_o only_o our_o lung_n and_o faculty_n of_o preach_v hence_o it_o come_v to_o pass_v that_o by_o this_o curiosity_n after_o preach_v the_o people_n be_v betray_v to_o the_o cozenage_n of_o every_o new_a light_n and_o impostor_n in_o religion_n who_o be_v common_o a_o zealous_a and_o eloquent_a preacher_n and_o so_o profound_a a_o dissembler_n that_o we_o be_v not_o otherwise_o able_a to_o detect_v he_o but_o by_o inquire_v into_o his_o mission_n a_o letter_n to_o a_o nonconformist_a minister_n of_o the_o kirk_n show_v the_o nullity_n of_o the_o presbyterian_a mission_n and_o authority_n to_o preach_v the_o gospel_n sir_n i_o shall_v be_v very_o much_o oblige_v to_o receive_v a_o satisfaction_n from_o you_o which_o i_o can_v never_o give_v myself_o concern_v the_o validity_n of_o your_o presbyterian_a mission_n i_o conceive_v it_o to_o be_v the_o most_o material_a thing_n in_o difference_n between_o we_o and_o that_o it_o ought_v to_o be_v consider_v in_o the_o first_o place_n there_o be_v no_o imposture_n like_o that_o of_o assume_v to_o be_v preacher_n of_o the_o gospel_n without_o lawful_a authority_n i_o shall_v here_o trouble_v you_o with_o the_o reason_n of_o my_o dissatisfaction_n in_o this_o matter_n first_o then_o i_o must_v crave_v your_o pardon_n to_o look_v backward_o as_o far_o as_o your_o first_o reform_v ancestor_n from_o who_o presbytery_n do_v more_o immediate_o derive_v itself_o mr._n calvin_n in_o geneva_n mr._n knox_n in_o scotland_n etc._n etc._n and_o then_o permit_v i_o to_o ask_v a_o certain_a question_n which_o hitherto_o none_o of_o you_o will_v do_v we_o the_o kindness_n to_o resolve_v who_o send_v they_o to_o reform_v the_o church_n or_o as_o you_o phrase_v it_o to_o preach_v the_o gospel_n and_o how_o shall_v they_o preach_v except_o they_o be_v send_v rom._n 10._o 15._o which_o word_v of_o st._n paul_n seem_v to_o be_v a_o question_n but_o be_v indeed_o a_o full_a and_o peremptory_a affirmation_n that_o no_o ability_n of_o popular_a eloquence_n can_v qualify_v any_o person_n for_o preacher_n of_o the_o gospel_n without_o external_a and_o lawful_a mission_n this_o than_o i_o shall_v lay_v down_o as_o a_o foundation_n to_o what_o i_o have_v to_o say_v that_o lawful_a mission_n be_v essential_a to_o a_o preacher_n of_o the_o gospel_n and_o if_o so_o i_o shall_v endeavour_v to_o make_v evident_a that_o all_o your_o predecessor_n of_o the_o kirk_n how_o able_a soever_o as_o to_o other_o qualification_n want_v this_o essential_a and_o consequent_o yourself_o who_o derive_v a_o succession_n from_o they_o grant_v i_o sir_n a_o little_a of_o your_o patience_n and_o consider_v there_o be_v only_o these_o five_o imaginable_a authority_n from_o whence_o they_o can_v pretend_v to_o have_v receive_v it_o 1._o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n 2_o themselves_o or_o their_o own_o internal_a spirit_n 3_o or_o the_o people_n 4_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n 5_o or_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n other_o authority_n or_o mission_n as_o namely_o that_o of_o the_o greek_a church_n you_o will_v not_o pretend_v to_o first_o from_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n this_o you_o know_v to_o be_v the_o matter_n in_o question_n and_o the_o eternal_a controversy_n and_o the_o allegation_n of_o all_o fanatic_n it_o will_v be_v therefore_o a_o reasonable_a demand_n by_o what_o evidence_n do_v it_o appear_v to_o the_o world_n and_o how_o shall_v the_o contemner_n of_o your_o gospel_n be_v leave_v unexcusable_a but_o by_o evidence_n of_o their_o authority_n who_o be_v send_v to_o reveal_v it_o in_o the_o affair_n of_o this_o world_n ambassador_n you_o know_v must_v not_o want_v their_o credential_n how_o much_o less_o the_o ambassador_n of_o religion_n doubtless_o that_o of_o your_o ancestor_n must_v needs_o have_v be_v a_o embassy_n extraordinary_a be_v to_o reform_v the_o world_n overrun_v in_o their_o sense_n with_o idolatry_n and_o superstition_n to_o this_o you_o answer_v that_o the_o powerful_a gift_n and_o sanctity_n of_o those_o person_n be_v sufficient_a evidence_n of_o their_o be_v inspire_a by_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n and_o that_o the_o conversion_n of_o many_o thousand_o from_o superstition_n to_o godliness_n be_v a_o undoubted_a seal_n to_o their_o ministry_n this_o be_v the_o answer_n of_o all_o dissenter_n and_o party_n of_o what_o name_n soever_o anabaptist_n behemist_n etc._n etc._n that_o they_o easy_o convert_v many_o thousand_o no_o body_n deny_v but_o whether_o from_o superstition_n to_o godliness_n or_o only_o to_o pride_n censoriousness_n and_o contempt_n of_o all_o authority_n be_v the_o great_a controversy_n nay_o be_v it_o never_o make_v a_o note_n of_o a_o man_n convert_v as_o the_o excellent_a friendly_a debate_n observe_v that_o though_o he_o have_v a_o great_a many_o fault_n yet_o he_o be_v wrought_v to_o a_o antipathy_n to_o bishop_n common_a prayer_n and_o surplice_n and_o as_o to_o yourself_o i_o may_v appeal_v to_o your_o conscience_n whether_o you_o esteem_v any_o man_n a_o right_a convert_n that_o be_v a_o friend_n to_o these_o thing_n as_o to_o those_o powerful_a gift_n you_o speak_v of_o you_o do_v not_o mean_v any_o thing_n that_o be_v miraculous_a or_o that_o other_o sect_n will_v not_o as_o soon_o pretend_v to_o and_o true_o as_o for_o the_o sanctity_n of_o your_o whole_a party_n observable_a be_v the_o confession_n of_o mr._n calvin_n himself_o in_o his_o comment_n on_o the_o thirty_o four_o verse_n of_o the_o eleven_o chapter_n of_o daniel_n and_o i_o promise_v you_o not_o to_o injure_v he_o in_o the_o quotation_n say_v in_o illorum_fw-la exiguo_fw-la numero_fw-la qui_fw-la seize_v ab_fw-la idololatriis_fw-la papatus_fw-la subduxerunt_fw-la major_a pars_fw-la plena_fw-la est_fw-la perfidia_fw-la &_o dolis_fw-la praeclarum_fw-la quidem_fw-la zelum_fw-la simulant_fw-la sed_fw-la si_fw-la intus_fw-la excutias_fw-la reperies_fw-la plenos_fw-la esse_fw-la fraudibus_fw-la of_o that_o small_a number_n of_o person_n say_v he_o who_o profess_v the_o pure_a gospel_n the_o great_a part_n be_v full_a of_o perfidiousness_n and_o deceit_n they_o pretend_v a_o excellent_a zeal_n but_o if_o you_o inspect_v they_o narrow_o you_o shall_v find_v they_o abound_v with_o the_o fraud_n second_o themselves_o or_o their_o own_o internal_a spirit_n it_o be_v absurd_a for_o so_o all_o man_n may_v become_v preacher_n of_o the_o gospel_n that_o will_v assume_v the_o confidence_n three_o the_o people_n let_v we_o allow_v this_o authority_n for_o good_a and_o then_o i_o pray_v will_v not_o socinian_n anabaptist_n behemist_n five_o monarchy-man_n and_o who_o not_o enter_v in_o at_o this_o door_n and_o plead_v their_o call_n by_o the_o people_n to_o reform_v the_o presbyterian_o be_v please_v to_o tell_v we_o what_o people_n do_v you_o mean_v if_o those_o of_o your_o own_o opinion_n they_o will_v not_o in_o some_o place_n amount_v to_o a_o four_o or_o five_o part_n of_o the_o people_n and_o must_v all_o the_o rest_n be_v debar_v from_o elect_v their_o own_o preacher_n beside_o you_o know_v it_o be_v not_o the_o people_n election_n alone_o that_o can_v constitute_v a_o preacher_n of_o the_o gospel_n it_o be_v the_o mission_n and_o ordination_n of_o your_o predecessor_n that_o i_o be_o now_o inquire_v after_o you_o can_v be_v ignorant_a concern_v the_o popular_a election_n of_o minister_n that_o it_o have_v be_v disuse_v many_o century_n before_o calvin_n for_o the_o tumult_n faction_n and_o confusion_n that_o attend_v it_o the_o unstable_a people_n seldom_o or_o never_o agree_v about_o the_o person_n to_o be_v elect_v and_o i_o be_o sure_a there_o be_v no_o precept_n of_o scripture_n invest_n they_o with_o any_o such_o power_n four_o or_o will_v you_o derive_v your_o ministry_n from_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n but_o all_o dissenter_n proclaim_v their_o extraction_n from_o the_o same_o original_a which_o of_o they_o shall_v we_o believe_v from_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n give_v i_o leave_v to_o ask_v whether_o immediate_o or_o mediate_o immediate_o you_o will_v not_o say_v if_o mediate_o i_o pray_v inform_v we_o by_o who_o or_o from_o who_o hand_n do_v your_o puritan_n ancestor_n receive_v their_o mission_n and_o ordination_n well_o five_o some_o body_n must_v send_v they_o to_o preach_v the_o gospel_n be_v it_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n yes_o i_o have_v hear_v you_o say_v and_o be_v not_o this_o to_o confess_v yourselves_o the_o emissary_n of_o antichrist_n that_o man_n of_o sin_n the_o whore_n of_o babylon_n quid_fw-la christo_fw-la cum_fw-la
belial_n but_o the_o unhappiness_n of_o it_o be_v that_o this_o mission_n from_o rome_n or_o roman_a bishop_n will_v as_o soon_o watrant_a the_o sermon_n of_o a_o popish_a friar_n as_o those_o of_o your_o predecessor_n and_o as_o to_o your_o pretend_a ordination_n from_o rome_n there_o be_v one_o difficulty_n in_o it_o that_o i_o confess_v i_o can_v resolve_v be_v it_o not_o episcopal_a ordination_n if_o any_o they_o receive_v from_o that_o church_n and_o be_v such_o ordination_n good_a and_o valid_a yea_o or_o no_o if_o good_a wherefore_o will_v you_o needs_o abolish_v it_o as_o repugnant_a to_o the_o word_n of_o god_n if_o not_o what_o will_v become_v of_o your_o order_n and_o further_o i_o will_v glad_o understand_v be_v any_o person_n send_v to_o go_v and_o preach_v the_o gospel_n after_o their_o own_o sense_n if_o so_o than_o he_o that_o have_v receive_v mission_n from_o your_o kirk_n may_v when_o he_o list_v become_v a_o independent_a or_o anabaptist_n preacher_n and_o justify_v his_o new_a doctrine_n by_o your_o commission_n as_o for_o calvin_n beza_n who_o write_v his_o life_n inform_v we_o that_o he_o be_v never_o initiate_v into_o any_o order_n of_o the_o roman_a church_n nullis_fw-la erat_fw-la pontificiis_fw-la calvini_n ordinibus_fw-la initiatus_fw-la be_v beza_n word_n who_o be_v his_o great_a acquaintance_n and_o successor_n at_o geneva_n can_v not_o but_o know_v it_o very_o well_o i_o be_v of_o opinion_n that_o your_o founder_n calvin_n have_v be_v in_o some_o order_n until_o your_o own_o beza_n inform_v i_o to_o the_o contrary_n farrellus_n also_o and_o viret_n his_o fellow_n preacher_n in_o geneva_n you_o will_v find_v in_o the_o same_o querpo_n without_o order_n as_o for_o john_n knoz_n he_o be_v say_v mr._n clark_n a_o presbyterian_a minister_n who_o write_v his_o life_n put_v into_o order_n very_o young_a that_o be_v when_o he_o be_v profess_o of_o the_o roman_a catholic_n religion_n he_o be_v make_v deacon_n or_o priest_n of_o that_o church_n by_o episcopal_a ordination_n but_o all_o this_o while_n we_o be_v to_o seek_v for_o their_o presbyterian_a mission_n do_v john_n knox_n receive_v any_o authority_n to_o ordain_v other_o presbyterian_o can_v he_o confer_v a_o power_n on_o other_o which_o he_o have_v not_o receive_v of_o ordain_v minister_n to_o say_v there_o be_v necessity_n for_o it_o be_v a_o answer_n that_o will_v excuse_v also_o other_o dissenter_n plead_v the_o same_o necessity_n of_o their_o ministry_n of_o all_o which_o our_o church_n be_v so_o sensible_a that_o she_o will_v admit_v none_o of_o your_o brethren_n to_o her_o eclesiastical_a function_n without_o reordination_n presbyteri_fw-la &_o diaconi_fw-la praeter_fw-la episcopum_fw-la nihil_fw-la agere_fw-la pertentent_fw-la say_v the_o forty_o canon_n of_o the_o apostle_n a_o canon_n which_o if_o it_o be_v not_o apostolical_a you_o can_v deny_v be_v very_o ancient_a and_o do_v not_o epiphanius_n and_o saint_n austin_n recount_v it_o among_o the_o heresy_n of_o aerius_n that_o he_o affirm_v bishop_n and_o presbyter_n be_v the_o same_o thing_n aerius_n cum_fw-la esset_fw-la bresbyter_n say_v saint_n austin_n doluisse_fw-la fertur_fw-la quod_fw-la episcopus_fw-la non_fw-la potuit_fw-la haeres_fw-la 53._o ordinari_fw-la etc._n etc._n aerius_n be_v a_o presbyter_n resent_v his_o disappointment_n of_o a_o bishopric_n and_o to_o satisfy_v his_o humour_n of_o revenge_n will_v needs_o assert_v that_o they_o be_v the_o same_o office_n thus_o for_o aught_o i_o can_v see_v your_o presbyterian_a ancestor_n have_v no_o mission_n at_o all_o or_o no_o more_o than_o other_o dissenter_n who_o all_o derive_v themselves_o from_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n from_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n etc._n etc._n sleidan_n a_o protestant_a historian_n report_v in_o his_o commentary_n that_o luther_n hear_v of_o the_o multitude_n assemble_v by_o thomas_n muncer_n the_o famous_a prophet_n of_o the_o anabaptist_n write_v a_o epistle_n to_o the_o magistrate_n of_o mulhusen_n a_o city_n in_o germany_n where_o the_o say_a muncer_n remain_v advise_v they_o to_o require_v of_o he_o who_o send_v he_o to_o preach_v the_o gospel_n and_o if_o he_o answer_v god_n that_o he_o evidence_n it_o by_o some_o sign_n or_o extraordinary_a token_n otherwise_o that_o he_o be_v reject_v hoc_fw-la enim_fw-la proprium_fw-la &_o familiar_a est_fw-la deo_fw-la say_v luther_n ut_fw-la quoties_fw-la consuetam_fw-la &_o ordinariam_fw-la viam_fw-la velit_fw-la immutari_fw-la tum_fw-la voluntatem_fw-la svam_fw-la aliquo_fw-la signo_fw-la declaret_fw-la the_o same_o quaere_fw-la sir_n you_o may_v at_o your_o leisure_n do_v we_o the_o favour_n to_o resolve_v in_o reference_n to_o your_o self_n you_o can_v alas_o plead_v any_o necessity_n to_o reform_v episcopacy_n but_o all_o the_o other_o sect_n will_v plead_v the_o same_o to_o reform_v you_o nor_o will_v it_o relieve_v you_o to_o say_v that_o by_o this_o argument_n the_o jewish_a church_n reject_v christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n the_o case_n not_o be_v the_o same_o betwixt_o christ_n and_o the_o jewish_a church_n and_o between_o we_o and_o you_o to_o satisfy_v the_o jew_n and_o their_o question_n by_o what_o authority_n do_v thou_o these_o thing_n our_o bless_a saviour_n appeal_v to_o the_o miracle_n which_o he_o wrought_v if_o you_o believe_v not_o i_o believe_v the_o work_n which_o i_o do_v nor_o will_v it_o avail_v you_o to_o return_v the_o question_n upon_o ourselves_o who_o send_v we_o to_o reform_v the_o church_n of_o rome_n this_o true_o be_v no_o answer_n but_o a_o desire_v we_o to_o answer_v for_o you_o be_v plkase_v to_o know_v then_o that_o the_o church_n of_o england_n be_v never_o of_o your_o froward_a and_o uncharitable_a humour_n in_o relation_n to_o that_o church_n to_o reform_v ourselves_o say_v mr._n hooker_n be_v not_o to_o sever_v from_o the_o church_n we_o be_v of_o before_o eccles_n pol._n lib._n 3._o sect._n 1_o we_o be_v very_o sensible_a of_o their_o error_n and_o yet_o we_o confess_v with_o st._n austin_n there_o be_v no_o just_a necessity_n to_o divide_v the_o unity_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n because_o separation_n in_o the_o church_n tend_v to_o no_o other_o end_n but_o to_o discredit_v the_o christian_a religion_n and_o render_v it_o less_o considerable_a if_o not_o contemptible_a to_o its_o adversary_n turk_n and_o infidel_n he_o that_o will_v admit_v no_o church_n say_v primate_n bramhall_n but_o that_o which_o be_v spotless_a with_o acesius_n must_v provide_v a_o ladder_n for_o himself_o to_o climb_v alone_o to_o heaven_n but_o as_o to_o your_o party_n sir_n i_o pray_v who_o give_v they_o any_o authority_n to_o preach_v their_o reformation_n to_o these_o kingdom_n give_v i_o leave_v to_o observe_v to_o you_o this_o passage_n in_o the_o racovian_a catechism_n there_o i_o remember_v the_o question_n be_v put_v num_fw-la two_o qui_fw-la docent_fw-la in_o ecclesia_fw-la sociniana_n ut_fw-la singulari_fw-la aliqua_fw-la ratione_fw-la mittantur_fw-la opus_fw-la habent_fw-la whether_o the_o preacher_n of_o socinian_n doctrine_n have_v need_n of_o any_o extraordinary_a mission_n the_o answer_n be_v nullo_n modo_fw-la quia_fw-la nullam_fw-la novam_fw-la nec_fw-la inauditam_fw-la afferunt_fw-la doctrinam_fw-la etc._n etc._n that_o be_v not_o at_o all_o because_o socinian_n preach_v no_o new_a nor_o strange_a doctrine_n but_o that_o only_a which_o be_v primitive_a and_o declare_v in_o the_o holy_a scripture_n the_o same_o be_v affirm_v by_o mr._n calvin_n concern_v his_o own_o reformation_n in_o the_o preface_n to_o his_o institution_n which_o the_o lutheran_n you_o know_v will_v by_o no_o mean_n admit_v for_o truth_n see_v conradus_n scluselburg_n de_fw-fr theologia_n calvinistarum_fw-la indeed_o it_o have_v be_v somewhat_o if_o it_o be_v not_o the_o matter_n in_o question_n or_o if_o socinian_o behemist_n and_o all_o the_o sect_n that_o ever_o molest_v the_o church_n do_v not_o urge_v as_o much_o for_o themselves_o boast_v of_o gospel_n truth_n to_o say_v that_o your_o party_n agree_v with_o we_o in_o all_o the_o vital_a article_n of_o religion_n be_v to_o say_v what_o perhaps_o few_o of_o you_o believe_v for_o i_o doubt_v not_o if_o opportunity_n serve_v every_o sect_n of_o you_o will_v advance_v its_o respective_a religion_n as_o if_o that_o only_o be_v gospel_n and_o all_o other_o but_o lie_v and_o superstition_n or_o if_o you_o do_v believe_v it_o the_o more_o be_v your_o unhappiness_n to_o molest_v the_o church_n about_o opinion_n which_o you_o do_v not_o esteem_v of_o any_o vital_a importance_n i_o wish_v i_o can_v oblige_v you_o to_o consider_v whether_o you_o ought_v to_o take_v upon_o you_o to_o reform_v that_o be_v suppress_v the_o universal_a order_n of_o christ_n church_n by_o bishop_n etc._n etc._n banish_v all_o ancient_a liturgy_n the_o use_n of_o the_o creed_n the_o lord_n prayer_n and_o ten_o commandment_n out_o of_o your_o public_a devotion_n all_o anniversary_n solemnity_n of_o christ_n nativity_n resurrection_n etc._n etc._n all_o reverence_n or_o kneel_v at_o the_o holy_a sacrament_n of_o