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	church_n	pastor_n	3,324	5	9.0283	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93887	Zerubbabel to Sanballat and Tobiah: or, The first part of the duply to M.S. alias Two brethren. By Adam Steuart. Whereunto is added, the judgement of the reformed churches of France, Switzerland, Geneva, &c. concerning independants, who condemne them with an unanimous consent. Published by David Steuart. March 17. 1644. Imprimatur Ja: Cranford.; Duply to M.S. alias Two brethren. Part 1	Steuart, Adam.; Steuart, David, fl. 1644.	1645 (1645)	Wing S5494; Thomason E274_14; ESTC R209896	100,836	110

saying We are not subject to any Synode We have an absolute and Independant Authority Synods are chiefly busied about hearing of the Complaints of particular Churches and to judge of Appellations If you deny that Power unto Synods they have no more to do and their Convocation shall be to no use for in vain should they pronounce Iudgements which were not in their power to put in Execution Every Consistory should governe it self after its own fancy as if in a great Country one should make of every Village a Soveraignty that were to introduce an Order which since the dayes of the Apostles was never practised untill this time There are many little Country Churches whereof the Consistory is composed of one Pastor who is of no deep understanding and of four or five Persons that are Elders of the Church shall we give to such a Church or Consistory an Independant Authority And that Pastor hapning to die these Persons shall they have power to choose another or give him Imposition of Hands Are they competent Judges of a Ministers sulficiency What if because of the Affliction of the Church it be necessary to Celebrate a Fast throughout all the Churches of the Kingdom who shall ordaine this Fast Who shall appoint the Day If the Complaints of all the Churches must be represented to the Soveraigne Prince who shall Depute Who shall present the Requests of the whole Body of the Churches of the Kingdom If for certain Emergent Occasions it be necessary to change something in the Discipline of the Church and to make new Ordinances to binde all the Churches can that be done by Independant Consistories not subject to any generall Rule Briefly we must hold constantly that the Dependence of Inferiour Companies being subject to Superious is the Band that entertains the Union of the Church which being cut asunder there should be no more Correspondence and we should see a horrible confusion No man can be Iudge in his own Cause If there be a strife betwixt two particular Churches as it fals out very often not one of these Churches can be Iudge They must addresse themselves to some superiour Authority I will not believe that these Independants have intelligence with the Adversaries and that their Aime is under colour of Reformation to cast us into a Confusion which might expose us to be laught at by those who are our Opposites I would rather believe that they erre for want of Experience and knowledge of that which is pessible and profitable for the Church of God Sentiment d'un grand Theologien de Hollande touchant l'Independence declarè en une Lettre addressée a Mr. Buchanan VN voyage que j'ay faict au nom de nostre Academie est cause du retardement de ma Responce a celle que vous m'aves faict la faveur de m'escrire Ie vous suis obligè des tesmoignages de vostre affection et vous prie de faire estat reciproquement de la mienne Ie ne vous seaures asses representer comme nous gemissons pour les confusions de vos Royaumes Ie souhaite avec passion que la Reformation de l'Eglise d'Escosse soit suivie de celle d'Angleterre et que vos Ordres aussi bien que vos Armées leur soient rendues salutaires ie ne hesite nullement ains crois que ceux qui veulent introduire l'Independ des Eglises introduiront l'Anarchie confusion et toutes sortes de licence a remplir les Chaires de Fanatiques vos Eglises de Schismes Ie ne doute point que nombre de personnes ne soient portées a ce parti de bon Zele ne croient bien faire Mais la consequence de ceste Indep ne se pouroit jamais suffisamment descouvrir qu'apres quelle auroit esté establie autant presque que vous auriez d'Eglises autant auriez vous dautel contre autels et l'un seroit pour Paul et l'autre pour Cephas le 3 pour Apollos Dieu vous garde de ces horribles confusions on veroit un beau mesnage si chaque Famille estoit Independ sans police et sans dependence d'un ordre public et que seroit ce del Eglise Iaurois mis la main a la plume pour en faire une dissertation estendue si je neusse estimé quil seroit plus a propos que ce jugement soit demandé a nostre faculte il auroit par a moyen plus de pards que procedent dun particulier Aoust 1. 1644. The Iudgement of a great Divine in Holland concerning Independency declared in a Letter directed to Master Buchanan Sir A Iourney that I was put upon by our University is the cause why I had not answered sooner those Letters you were pleased to write unto me I am much beholding to you for the testimony of your Affection and I pray you reciprocally to make account you have mine I cannot sufficiently represent unto you how much we take to heart the confusions of your Kingdom Learnestly wish that the Reformation of Scotland may be imitated by the Church of England and that your Church-Government as well as your Brotherly Assistance by Armes may be serviceable unto them I doubt nothing but firmely believe that they that would introduce Independency of Churches would bring in an Anarchie a confusion and all sorts of Licence to furnish all Pulpits with men of Fanatick Spirits as also your Churches with Schismes I make no question but many of them are carried to these opinions with a good meaning that they think therein they do wel But the dangerous consequence of such an Independence should it be established would discover more then we believe can ever sufficiently be discovered till it be established As many Altars should you then have erected one against another as you have Churches One Church would side it selfe with Paul another with Cephas a third with Apollos God preserve you from these horrid confusions you should see a sweet Oconomie if every particular family should once come to be Independant without any Policy or Dependance upon the publike and what then would become of the poor Church of God I should have been much larger in handling the point more accurately had I not thought it had been more expedient for you to have had the Iudgement of the Divines of this University jointly being that it would have carried more authority with it then possibly any thing can do that proceeds from a private man onely Quod foelix faustumque sit THe first period of this Book is a manifest untruth There is no such thing in all my Book as that my heart with discontent is rent in two pieces to hear the innocent bleatings of that wronged Lamb the Apologie So as I may here use your admirative Interrogation Is this the use men make of pressing Sermons Your following Injuries non sunt dignae irâ Caesaris I must be fain to beare with this Epidemicall Disease of you Independents and

Evangelisé il nous soit Anatheme Gal. 1. Jusques La que Sainct Jehan la douceur la charitè mesme ne veut point que nous recevions en nos maisons n'y que nous saluions seulement ceux qui ne nous apportent la Sancte Doctrine de l'Evangile 7. Quant a ce qu'ils ne font aucun cas du Jugement n'y du Consentement des autres Eglises Reformées ayns le rejettent comme un Argument Humain je trouvc qu'ils ont fort peu profite en l'Escbole de Sainct Paul qui veut que nous nous submettions les uns aux aulrres en la crainte de Dieu que nous nous prevenions les uns les aultres par honneur que les esprits des Prophetes soient subjects aux Prophetes A Dieu ne plaise que nous metions en un mesrus rang les Ordonances de Dieu et les constitutions Ecclesiastiques 〈◊〉 ce que Dieu nous dit nous est une Ley invialable 〈◊〉 aux bommes Nous esprouvons toutes choses retenons ce qui est bon Pour le fonds et l'Essence de la Religion il n'y a que Dieu seul qui en puisse Orda●ner Mais quant a l'ordre Exterieur a la police de l'Eglise ce sage pere de famille se contrute de nous dere en general que tout se face en sa maison honnestement par ordre il laisse le detail a la saincte Prudence de ceux quil appelle a conduire son peuple c'est a eux lors quils sont Assembles au nom du Seigneur de le supplier ardenment de presider au milieu d'eux et de leur mettre un coeur les choses qui seront les plus expedientes pour s● gloire l'edification de ses Enfants la conduite des autres Eglises Reformees ne nous impose pas un jong necessaire ne nous peut estre proposee comme une loy infallible mais elle nous doibt servir d'Exemple que nous devons imiter si nous ny recognoissons des repugnances manifestes a la parole de Dien que s'il y a quel qu'un qui ponse estre contentieux nous a avens pas une telle constume ny aussi les Eglises de Dieu 1 Cor. 11.16 6. Nous tenons pour constant qu'il n'y a n'y doibt avoir auoune charge pour paistre conduire l'Eglise qui ne soit fondé en la parale de Dieu ainsy les charges du Ministre Pasteur Evesque Ancien Diacre sont fondèe simmediatement for mellement expressement dans la parole de Dien bien que quelques nus venlent que la charge d'Ancien telle qu'elle anjour dhuy dans les Eglises reformées n'est fondee dans l'Escriture que par analogie tirèe par consequence necessaire comme ils parleut qui au fond est un de mesme car ce qui est tiré par consequence necessaire de la St. Escriteure y est autand comme ce qui est en te●●es expres Tout cecy est conforme aux articles 29 30. de confession de Foy au il est dict que nostre Seigneur a establic'este police governement dans l'Eglise par Pasteurs Sur veillants ou Anciens diacres que les urays Pasteurs en quelque lieu qu'ils soient ont le ●esme authoritè esgale puissance s●ubs nostre Seigneur l'Archi-pasteur grand Evesque des nos ames Act. 6.4 Ephes 4.11 1 Tim. 3.1 Tit. 1.5 Math. 20.26 18 2. 2 Cor. 1.27 1 Pet. 5.3 The Iudgement of the Church of France concerning Episcapacy and Independency extracted out of Letters written to Master Buchanan by some French Ministers 1. OUr Churches have ever believed and constantly taught that the Order of Bishops it not at any hand of Divine Right 2. If some Protestant Doctors have used this terme Divine it is with the same impropriety and abuse of Language that some of the Ancients called those Canons which their Fathers had made and which themselves could at any time change and abrogate Divine Canens 3. According to the Scripture Priest and Bishop point out but one and the same Christ howsoever in divers respects one of those names which seemes to be derived from their age or yeares denotes such a gravity as befits Christs Ministers and the other expresseth their Office that is to watch over the Flock which is common to them both 4 It is as cleare as the day that in Scripture Priest and Bishop mark out one and the same Charge for there were many Bishops in the same Town Phil. 1. and the very same persons are qualified indifferently both Priest and Bishop Acts 20.1 5. So as we take it to be the surest way to hold our selves close to that Apostolique simplicity that the Church of God be governed by Pastors Antients and Deacons 6. But we understand on all hands and the Writings of the Bishops themselves make it good that they have hither-to made a Body a part distinguished from other Postors likewise that they take an Authority upon them and a superiority over the other Pastors of the Church which they will needs have to be of Divine Right Likewise that they beleeve that they alone are the Representative Church of the Nation that they challenge to themselves the cognizance and absolute disposall of all the Affaires of importance that they exercise a dominion over their Brethren whom the Forme of their Discipline hath put in a kind of subjection unto them and treate the Pastors not as their Brethren and equalls by Divine Right but as Subjects and servants which being granted it cannot be avoided but they must be accounted as those that have exercised a kind of Tyranny in the House of God and maintained the arts of Antichristianisme 7. Wherefore many of our men considering the state of the Church of England which God had delivered from the Errours and the Idolatries of the Church of Rome how notwithstanding she still retained the Pompe of Hierarchy and Ceremonies had just cause to say that the Body of the great Whore was indeed taken away but that her Vestments and Apparrell still remained with her 8. We were much joyed when we understood that things were so well fitted and disposed toward an holy Reformation in England being well assured that the power which the Bishops had usurped and which till this present was given them ought to be entirely suppressed and abolished 9. But we are much afflicted that among them that put their hand to so holy and necessary a work there there are some that passe from one Extream to another willing that every particular Church be so absolute and soveraign that it depend not upon any other for its direction nor be obliged to give an account to other Churches of its Government 10. We conceive that this is not

extreme confusion souvent advient que deux pasteurs d'une mesme Eglise s'entrequerellent divisent le troupeau en deux factions contraires En ce cas il faut par necessitè avoir recours a une compagnie puissance superieure que si l'Eglise nà qu'un Pasteur que ce Pasteur soit vitieux vive à'une vie scandaleuse soit supporté par le Consistoire entier ou que le Consistoire soit divisé il n'y a point de remede a ce mal que par les Colloques Synodes ayants puissance de suspendre ou deposer un tel Pasteur n'y ayant qu'un Pasteur en ceste Eglise iceluy meritant d'estre depose qui est ce qui le deposera Les Anciens du Consistoire seuls prononceront ils contre luy sentence de deposition Que si quelcun du peuple est injustement suspendu de la Saincte Cene ou excommunié a qui aura il recours pour estre restabli a qui formera il ses plainctes si le Consistoire qui l'a injustement condamnè a une Authorité Independante irrefragable Que si une nouvelle Heresie s'espand que quelques Pasteurs Eglises en soyent infectées quel moyen d'obvier a un si grand mal que par un Synode qui puisse deposer les Pasteurs obstinés en leur erreur Insectants le troupeau sans le Synode de Dordrect l'Arminianisme sespandroit par tout le pays si chaque Consistoire eust esté absolu Independant il eust peu mespriser la decision du Synode en disant nous ne sommes subjects a aucun Synode avons une authorité absolue Independante L'es Synodes sont principalement occupès a ouyr les plainctes des Eglises particulieres a juger des appels si vous ostez cela aux Synodes ils nont plus rien a faire leur Convocation sera inutile Car aussi eu vain prononceroient ils des jugements dont l'Execution ne seroit en leur puissance Chasque Consistoireise gouvernezoit a sa fautasie comme si en un grand pays de chaque village on faisoit une Souverainetè Cela est vouloir introduire vn ordre qui depuis le temps des Apostres jusques a maintenant n'a jamais esté practiqué Il y a plusieurs petites Eglises Champestres dont le Consistoire est composè d'un Pasteur qui na pas beaucoup de capacité de quatre ou cinq paysans qui sont Ancicus de l'Eglise donner a on a une telle Eglise ou Consistoire une authoritè Independante ce Pasteur venant a mourir ees payisans auront ils le pouvoir d'èn choisir un autre ou de luy imposer les mains sont ls Juges suffisants de la capacitè d'un Ministre Que si a cause de l'affliction de l'Eglise il est besoin de celebrer un jeusue par toutes les Eglises du Royaume qui ordonnerace jusne qui assignera le jour S'il faut representer au Prince Souverain les plaintes de toutes les Eglises qui esce qui deputera qui est ce qui presentera les requestes de tout le corps des Eglises du Royaume Si pour quelques occasions survenues il est besoiug de changer quelque chose en la Discipline Ecclesiastique faire des nouveaux reglements qui obligent toutes les Eglises cela se pourra il faire par des Consistoires Independants nm subjects a aucun reglement general Bref faut tenir pour constant que la Dependance des Compagnies inferieures subjectes aux Superieures est le lien qui entretient l'Vnion de l'Eglise le quelestant couppê il ny auroit plus de correspondance on verroit une horrible confusion Nul ne peut estre Juge eu sa propre cause s'il y a de la contention entre deux Eglises Particulieres comme cela advient fort souvent pas une de ces Eglises ne peut estre Iuge faut avoir recours a quelque authorité superieure Ie ne veux croire que ces Independants ayent Intelligence avec les Adversaires que leur but soit soubs ombre de Reformation de nous jecter en vne confusion qui nous expose en risee a ceux qui nous sont contraires I'aime mieux croire qu'ils errent par faute d'experience de cognoissance de ce qui est possible ou profitable a l'Eglise de Dieu P. D. M. The Iudgement of a great Divine in France concerning Independency declared in a Letter directed to Master Buchanan A Friend of mine a vertuous man and fearing God has advertised me that certaine persons finde fault with the Order established in our Churches by the which the Consistories are subject unto Colloques and the Colloques unto Provinciall Synods and the Provinciall Synods unto Nationall Synods They would have every Consistory to have an absolute authority and not to depend upon any superiour Assembly My Friend askes me thereupon my judgement The thing is of such a nature and of such weight that I could not deny him his request I say then That those that make such Propositions ought not to be believed if men followed their advice there could nothing follow but a turning of the Church upside down and an utter confusion It fals out often that two Pastors of one and the same Church fall out amongst themselves and divide the flock into two contrary Factions in this case of necessity we must have recourse unto a Company and Power Superiour But if the Church have but one Pastor and he be a vicious man and of a scandalous life and be supported by the whole Consistory or that the Consistory be divided there is no remedie for this evil but by Colloques and Synods that have power to suspend and Depose such a Pastor There being but one Pastor in this Church and he deserving to be deposed who is he that shall depose him The Elders of the Consistorie alone Shall they pronounce Sentence of Deposition against him What if any one among the People be suspended from the holy Supper or excommunicated To whom shall he have his recourse to be received again into the Church And to whom shall he make his Complaint if the Consistorie which hath unjustly condemned him have an Independant and irrefragable Authority What if a new Heresic be sowen abroad and that certaine Pastors and Churches be infected with it what means is there to meet with such an evil but by a Synode that hath power to depose Pastors that are obstinate in their Error and infect the Flocks Had it not been for the Synod of Dordrecht Arminianisme had spread it self over the whole country If every Consistory had been Independant it had contemned the Decision of the Synod

sure at the rising of the Assembly to murmure at and condemne the Iudgements that were passed if either they were not to their good liking or that they found them not to be grounded upon such Reasons as themselves approved of 5. As to that that they permit any one whatsoever if he have the ability to Preach publickly in their Assemblies notwithstanding that he have not Orders This is one of the greatest Disorders that can possibly happen in the world This what is it other but to bring in all kinde of Fanatiques and Enthusiasts and to expose Christian Religion to be made a laughing-stock to the Enemies of Gods Truth And to make of the House of God which is an House of Order a Babell of Disorder and horrible Confusion It will serve them to little purpose to alleadge for themselves the Example of the Ancient Church in the Times of the Apostles for in those times all the faithfull had Extraordinary Graces as also the guift of Prophecie and yet for all that were those holy Prophets to stay till they were bidden to speake and untill such time as it was said to them as to St. Paul and Barnabas Men Brethren If you have any word of Exhortation speake on which was a kind of Vocation Now a daies when men have not such Infusions of Guifts but that they acquire the Sciences and abilities for Preaching by study and paines God powring forth his blessing upon their industry it were to mocke God and men to require that all men should Preach indifferently without any praevious Examen of their Guifts or the dexterity they have to divide the Word of God to Edification 6. As to that That many maintaine that every man ought to have liberty to make profession of whatsoever Religion himselfe thinkes best how bad soever it be provided that he attempt nothing against the State wherein he lives this is a Libertinisme not to be indured in the House of God and it is flatly against his Word For in the Old Testament it was not permitted to any to make profession of any other Religion save that which God himselfe had instituted And you know what God ordained against false Prophets that turne away the people from his service Deut. 13. As also in the New Testament how St. Paul wills us to take heed of such as make Divisions and raise scandalls against that Doctrin that we have learn't and that we turne away from them Rom. 16. And that if an Apostle or an Angell from Heaven preach another Gospell unto us then hath been preached that he be accursed Gal. 1. yea St. Iohn very sweetnesse and Charity it self will not at any hand that we receive into our houses no not that we so much as bid God speed to those that bring us not the Doctrin of the Gospell 7. As to that That they make no reckoning either of the Iudgement or Consent of other Reformed Churches but reject them as an humane Argument I see they have profited little in Saint Pauls Schoole whose Lesson is that we submit our selves one to another in the feare of God and that in giving honour we goe one before the other and that the spirits of the Prophets be subject to the Prophets God forbid we should ever place Gods Ordinances and the Ecclesiasticall Constitutions in the same ranke together Whatsoever God sayes should be unto us a Law inviolable But as for men we are to prove all things and to hold that which is good For as much as concernes the Foundation or Essence of Religion there is none but God alone that can ordain any thing in it But as to the Exteriour Order and Policy of the Church That wise Father of his Family is content to leave with us his Generall Word of direction That in his House all things be done decently and in order He leaves the particulars to the pious prudence of such as he hath called to the guidance and Government of his people It is their duty when they are met together in the name of the Lord to be earnest Suiters and Suppliants unto him that he will please to preside in the midst of them and put in their hearts to doe those things that shall be most expedient for his Glory and the Edification of his Children The Government of other Reformed Churches layes no absolute yoake upon us nor can it be propounded as any infallible Law But true it is it ought to be a Patterne and Example for our imitation if so be we finde no manifest repugnancies in it to the Word of God But if there be any that is resolved to be contentious hereabouts we have no such custome nor yet have the Churches of God 1 Cor. 2.16 We hold for certaine that there neither is nor ought to be any Office for teaching and governing the Church which should not have its foundation and ground in Gods Word And so the Office of Minister Pastor Bishop Ancient and Deacon are founded immediatly Formally and Expresly on the Word of God howsoever some there be that will needs have the Office of Ancients as it is now practised in the Reformed Churches to have no other ground at all in Scripture save onely by Analogy and as it is drawne thence by necessary Consequence as they speake which in conclusion is one and the same thing For that which is deduced by necessary Consequence from Scripture is every jot as much in Scripture as that what ever it is that is there in Expresse Termes All this is agreeable and conforme with 29. and 30. Articles of the Confession of Faith where it is said That our Lord hath established this Policy and Government in his Church viz. by Pastors Over-seers or Ancients and Deacons And that those that are true Pastors in what place soever they inhabit have the very same Authority and equall power under the Lord Iesus Christ the chiefe Pastor and Bishop of our soules Act. 6.4 Eph. 4.11 1 Tim. 3.1 Tit. 1.5 Matth. 20.26.18.2 2 Cor. 1.27 1 Pet. 5.3 Sentiment d'u grand Theologien de France Touchant l'Independence declarè en une Lettre addresseè a Mr. Buchanan VN mien amy homme vertueux craignant Dieu m'a adverti que quelques personnes trouvent mauvais l'ordre establi en nos Eglises par le quel les Consistoires sont subjects aux Colloques les Colloques aux Synodes Provinciaux les Provinciaux aux Nationaux Ils voudroient que chaque Consistoire eust une authoritè absolue qui ne dependist d'aucune assemblée superieure la dessus ce mien amy me demande quel est mou seutiment la chose est de telle nature de telle importance que je nay peu luy refuser ce qu'il requiert de moy Je dis donc que ceux qui font telles Propositions ne doivent estre creus si on suiuois leur advis il ne s'en pourroit ensuiure que le renversement de l'Eglise une