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	peter_n	successor_n	2,335	5	9.6117	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39279	A defence of the Thirty nine articles of the Church of England written in Latin by J. Ellis ... now done into English ; to which are added the Lambeth Articles ; together with the judgment of Bishop Andrews, Dr. Overall, and other eminent and learned men upon them.; Articulorum XXXIX Ecclesiae Anglicanae defensio. English	Ellis, John, 1599?-1665.; Andrewes, Lancelot, 1555-1626.; Overall, John, 1560-1619.; Church of England. Thirty-nine Articles.	1700 (1700)	Wing E587; ESTC R1641	74,086	146

was then in the Hands of the Bishops and Priests because at that time the Church had no other Watchmen and Conducters of Souls but the Word of God does not exclude other Supporters of the Gospel such as pious Princes are whom the Church has sometimes accounted Guides to promote Piety Obj. 3. We find that the Apostles governed the Church Acts 20. 28. Passed Sentence concerning Religious Controversies Acts 15. 6. and inflicted j●st Punishments upon Offenders Acts 5. 3. And therefore the Government of the Church in this Kingdom of England does of Right belong to the Ministers and not to the King's Majesty Answ. The Apostles were Ministers extraordinary And that ancient State of the Church wherein there were no Christian Princes must not be made use of for a constant and standing Rule Obj. 4. To Christ was given all Power both in Heaven and Earth Mat. 28. 18. By which is signified 〈◊〉 Spiritual and an E●rthly Kingdom But C●ist gave the Keys of both to Peter Mat. 16. 19. Now Peter has given his Authority to the Bishop of Rome And therefore to this Bishop as in others so also in this Kingdom of England d●s this 〈◊〉 belong Answ. Some understand the 〈◊〉 Place of a Spiritual Power As if Christ had said As in Heaven I am the King of Angels and blessed Spirits so by Faith I reign in the Hearts of Men. Others interpret this exalted Power to be given to Christ the Mediator over all Creatures which could not be communicated to mere Man But now in neither of these Senses did Christ give an absolute Power to Peter he only gave him a Share in the Ecclesiastical Ministry and in the same Sense the Keys were given to the rest of the Apostles Mat. 18. 18. Besides could you suppose that Peter had such a Power given him above the rest of the Apostles it could not yet be proved that the Pope as being his Successor is possessed of the same Authority Obj. 5 King John made this Country tributary to the Pope Answ. King John unwillingly and out of Fear made England tributary to the Pope and because it was to the Prejudice of the Kingdom and his Successors Henry his Son with the chief Estates of the Realm protested against this Donation nay and threatned that they would defend themselves by Arms against the Temporal Jurisdiction of the Pope as appears by our English Annals Obj. 6. Against the latter part of this Article 't is objected that Theft is a grievous Crime and yet the hanging of Thieves is against the Law of God which thinks it sufficient to punish it with a Four or a Five-fold Restitution Ex. 22. 1 2. Answ. Some answer to this that That Law of not inflicting a Capital Punishment upon Thieves was parely Political and did belong only to the Jews Neither was it ever repeated or confirmed under the New Testament And then they say that when Faults were multiplied the Punishment was to be more severe and prove from P●v 6. 31. That the Punishment of Theft was heightned to a Seven-fold Restitution and then t●ey all●dge 2 Sam. 12. 5. that of a Thief that was condemned to Death by King David They say besides that the Law of Moses does not at all hinder but that Thieves may suffer Death especially supposing that Capital Punishments for such Cr●mes be 〈◊〉 by a publick Law and a general Consent of All For Laws of this sort in things not contrary to Piety do approach very near the Nature of Divine Laws Rom. 13. 1 2. And again supposing that the Thieves are not weak and sickly Men unsit for working or not taken care of by the Overseers of the Poor for there is a regard to be had to such as are compelled by extreme Want to steal Besides too supposing Thefts cannot be corrected by gentler and l●ghter Punishments Or lastly supposing that which is taken away by stealth be a considerable Injury and Loss to the Owner Obj. 7. Capital Punishment of ●einous Offences seems to be contrary to the Law of Charity so peculiar to the Gospel for the New Testament as 't is a gracious 〈◊〉 does not admit of Revenge or Punishments too severe Answ. Under the Old Testament heinous Offences were punished with Death notwithstanding the Law of Charity which was as much in force then as it is now But Grace in the New Testament as to the Matter of Salvation is opposed to a slavish Fear and rigorous Observance of the Law of Moses but nor to any Capital Punishments inflicted by the 〈◊〉 upon Offenders Obj. 8. To the last part of the Article 't is objected That 't is the express Command of God that Man's Blood be not shed Gen. 9. 6. But Wars cannot be waged without shedding of Blood Answ. It is a private and not a publick Slaughter that is there forbidden Obj. 9. It is the Command of Christ that we resist not Evil but whosoever shall smite thee on thy Right Cheek turn to him the other also Mat. 5. 39. Answ. Christ here teaches us the utmost Patience that we should not repell Injuries in any violent manner but rather to bear them patiently than to strive with self-will'd Men or study any private Revenge especially when the Love of our Neighbour the Conversion of Insidels or the Glory of God require this Submission from us This Duty seems chiesly to belong to Christians in the time of a publick Persecution such as was almost continual in the Primitive Church Yet we are not hereby forbid to avoid an Injury by such Rules of Defence as are unblameable Neither are Magistrates forbidden to execute publick Revenge otherwise the Malice of wicked Men would be sharpened and the Common-wealth would never be in quietness Obj. 〈◊〉 It is said Mat. 26. 52. All they that take the Sword shall perith with the Sword Answ. Our Saviour here speak● of him that shall take up the Sword by a 〈◊〉 Authority and not of a Magistrate 〈◊〉 God's Minister that bearet● not t● 〈◊〉 in ●ain Rom 13. 1 2. Obj. 〈◊〉 The Arm●●ians are not Carnal but Spiritual saith St. Paul 2 Cor. 10. 4. Answ. The Means which the Apostles were wont to make use of in planting and promoting the Gospel is there spoken of Such they were not says he as Men of Carnal Minds are wont to use to gain Authority to their Doctrine such as Humane Skill Flattery and outward Force But they were the inward Truth and Efficacy of the Doctrine it self Now it cannot be gathered from all this that it is not lawful to wage War upon just Reasons ART XXXVIII Of Christian Mens Goods which are not common THE Riches and Goods of Christians are not common as touching the Right Title and Possession of the same as certain Anabaptists do falsly boast Notwithstanding every Man ought of such things as he possesseth liberally to give Alms to the Poor according to his Ability Obj. 1. The more common any Good is the better it is and therefore

who can drink no Wine C●d such as can get none are excepted A●o there is scarce any Country in the World in which there is so great a scarcity of Wine that it cannot be got for so sacred an Use. Christ foresaw those things that are said to be Inconveniencies and yet he has not permitted us to administer the Sacraments lame and imperfect ART XXXI Of the one Oblation of Christ finished upon the Cross. THE Offering of Christ once made is that perfect Redemption Propitiation and Satisfaction for all the Sins of the whole World both Original and Actual and there is no other Satisfaction for Sin but that alone Wherefore the Sacrifices of Masses in the which it was commonly said that the Priest did offer Christ for the Quick and the Dead to have remission of Pain or Guilt were blasphemous Fables and dangerous Conceits Obj. 1. The Offering of Christ was made only for many Mat. 20. 28. and for the Sheep i. e. for the Elect John 10. 15. Answ. That Christ died for many and for the Sheep or Elect we must not deny but from hence to imagine that the Death of Christ was not a Price sufficient for All is a vain Conclusion not only because the Word many is very often equivalent to the word All D●n 12. 2. R●m 5. 19. but because the Dignity of Christ's Death was so great in it self that not only Mankind by God created but tho' God had created ●any more World's it would have been a f● and sufficient Satisfaction for them All Altho' the World only of Believers can obtain Salvation th●o his Death Obj. 2. Praying Fasting Alms and Temporal Punishments are Satisfactions for Sin Answ. Whatever Good Works we are able to perform or whatsoever we may suffer for God's Glory even all that we are obliged to do and suffer by the right of Creation Redemption and Divine Precept Luke 17. 19. Eph. 2. 10. Tit. 3. 1. But it would be an extream rash thing to think of paying a Debt with a Debt And then as for Temporal Punishments they are not Satisfactions but the Divine Corrections and Chastisements even which God does often avert when Men repent not that they Satisfie but only because he regards their true Faith Obj. 3. The Offering that Christ made upon the Cross is to be represented in the Supper Answ. The Offering of Christ is to be represented bloody and not by any other unbloody Offering but by the Breaking of Bread and the pouring out of Wine Obj. 4. The Mass is the Application of the Sacrifice of Christ. Answ. The Sacrifice of Christ is applied only by Faith Obj. 5. The Prophets foretold that there should be a perpetual Sacrifice in the Church Mal. 1. 11. Esa. 66 23. Answ. The Sacrifices of the Church of the New Testament are Eucharistical and Spiritual ●nd these are Perpetual Obj. 6. Christ said to his Disciples Do this in remembrance of me i. e. Sacrifice this for the Word facere or do is often taken in this sense as Virgil has it Cùm faciam Vitulâ When I off● Sacrifice with a Heifer So Lev. 15. 15. 1 Kings 18. 23. Ho● 2. 8. And in other places in the vulgar Translation Answ. The Latins use a concise way of speaking and sometimes make the word facere to do signifie facere rem d●inam to do a Religious or Sacred thing But the facere to do cannot signifie in this place to Sacrifice because it relates to the Actions of Christ of which we cannot properly say that they are to be Sacrificed And then this is not only spoken to Ministers but to other Lay-Communicants likewise as appears by the Apostle's Exposition 3 Cor. 11. 26. And They have no Power or Authority to Consecrate ART XXXII Of the Marriage of Priests BIshops Priests and Deacons are not commanded by God's Law either to vow the estate of Single Life or to abstain from Marriage Therefore it is lawful for Them as for all other Christian Men to marry at their own discretion as they shall judge the same to serve better to Godliness Obj. 1. Marriage hinders Holy Duties and therefore in the Old Testame●t t●e High Priest and Priests were commanded to abstain from the Conjugal Bed so often as they were obliged to attend upon Holy Things Exo. 19. 15. and 28. 4. Answ. It is the abuse of Marriage and not Marriage it self that hinders Holy Duties David whilst he was married prayed seven times in a Day and did meditate upon the Law of God Day and Night That Abstinence which was commanded the Priests under the Old Testament is said to be Ceremonial and was required even in Lay-Persons for a certain time to which belongs likewise the abstaining from Wine and Strong Drinks which was commanded the Priests when they were upon Holy Duty However it be it is without doubt convenient for all Christians as well as Pastors to abstain from such conjugal Commerce as may hinder their Worship of God Obj. 2. St. Paul commands married People that they should abstain from one another by consent for a time that they might give themselves the more ardently to Prayer 1 Cor. 7. 5. Wherefore since Priests must daily attend upon Prayer and Sacrifices it is plain that they are injoyned to a perpetu●l Continence Answ. The Apostle there speaks concerning extraordinary Prayer such as is joyn'd with Fasting but Clergy-Men are not every Day obliged to such Devotions Nay and by this Rule all Christians must abstain for ever from Marriage for 't is said to All In general 1 Thess. 5. 17. Pray without ceasing Obj 3. They that are unmarried do care for the Things of the Lord better than those that are married 1 Cor. 7. 32. Answ. The Apostle here does not dispute concerning Men of the Holy Order alone but of all Christians in general who should also by the same reason live a single Life But alcho ' Marriage has its Troubles it has its Conveniencies too And a pious Wife is given not for an Impediment but for a Help as well in Spiritual as in Family Concerns Celibacy is therefore to be preferred to Marriage when the Church is under various Persecutions and upon condition the Person has the Gift of Continence But from hence no general Rule can be made that Celibacy is to be observed by any particular Order of Men. Wherefore also the Apostle says 1 Cor. 7. 28. That if thou marry thou hast not sinned So that the place before cited proves nothing against this Article ART XXXIII Of Excommunicated Persons how they are to be avoided THat Person which by open denunciation of the Church is rightly cut off from the Unity of the Church and Excommunicated ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the Faithful as an Heathen and Publican until he be openly reconciled by Penance and received in the Church by a Judge that has authority thereunto Obj. 1. Christ has said Mat. 13. 39. Let both grow together until the

Harvest which is to be understood of the Good and the Bad Therefore the Wicked ought not to be Excommunicated Answ. Christ speaks there concerning Hypocrites that cannot be discerned from those that are sincerely Good Or else he is distinguishing the Duty of Ministers from that of a Magistrate Let them grow i. e. do not kill them Obj. 2. In the Old Testament God commanded that All should keep the Pass●ver Num 〈◊〉 10. Answ. God commanded all that wer● M●mbers of his People to keep the Passover Exod. 12. 43. Th● was a C●mand 〈◊〉 the Presump●ous th● 〈◊〉 should be 〈◊〉 off from among his Peop● 〈◊〉 15. 30. and those th● wer● desiled w● kept back Nu. 9. 6. Now under the Cere●l Uncleanness the Moral was typified and sigured Obj. 3. John Baptized a Generation of Vipers Luke 3. 7. Answ. Altho' they were a Generation of Vipers whom John Baptized yet they were no longer Vipers when they were once Baptized at least not so in Profession Obj. 4. It seems not to be in the Power of Men to exclude any One from the Kingdom of God and to thrust Others down to Hell Answ. The Church condemns no Man but agrees with and executes the Judgment of God by declaring it according to express Command and it delivers Men over to Satan not by its own Authority but in the Name of Christ 1 Cor. 5. 4. Obj. 5. St. Paul says of him that would by no means obey his Word that such an one should be esteemed not as an Enemy but admonished as a Brother 2 Thess. 3. 14. 15. Whereas a Brother is not to be look'd upon as a Heathen or a Publican Answ. The Excommunicated are called Brethren partly by Profession and because they were Brethren 1 Cor. 5. 11. partly by Hope because upon Repentance he may become a Brother again and partly by Love and a Desire and Study to save him which ought to be the End of Excommunication Besides the Apostle did not say Account him as a Brother but admonish him as such ART XXXIV Of the Traditions of the Church IT is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one or utterly like for at all times they have been divers and may be changed according to the Diversity of Countries Times and Mens Manners so that nothing be Ordained against God's Word Whosoever thro' his private Judgment willingly and purposely doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church which be not repugnant to the Word of God and be ordained and approved by common Authority ought to be rebuked openly that others may fear to do the like as he that offendeth against the common Order of the Church and hurteth the Authority of the Magistrate and woundeth the Consciences of the weak Brethren Every particular or National Church hath Authority to Ordain change and abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the Church ordained only by Man's Authority so that all things be done to Edifying Obj. 1. Christians ought to walk according to the same Rule and to have the highest Agreement amongst themselves as may be gathered from Gal. 6. 16. 1 Pet. 3. 8. and therefore the same Ceremonies are alike necessary in all places Answ. The variety of Ceremonies does not destroy the Unity of the Church provided the Faithful do but walk according to the same Rule of Doctrine Obj. 2. Christ has said Reprove a Sinner betwixt him and thy self alone Mat. 18. 15. therefore he is not publickly to be reproved by any One Answ. This Place treats of the Duty of private Men for private Offences committed against private Persons and not of the Duty of Pastors in reproving scandalous and notorious Sins publickly committed Such as these must be publickly reproved Obj. 3. The Apostle advises Titus to avoid Strifes and Contentions Chap. 3. 9. and therefore they are not to be reproved who oppose the Traditions of the Church Answ. Unprofitable Disputations and noisy Talk without Edification are to be avoided because such vain Contentions do not convert the Froward and Obstinate but rather confirm them in their Errors In the mean time Ministers may reprove Gainsayers with much Prudence Patience and Sobriety and all this be done to the Good and Profit of others Obj. 4. The same Apostles commanded the Thessalonians to hold the Traditions 2 Thess. 2. 15. And therefore that Church had not Authority to change or disannul the Traditions of it Answ. The Traditions which the Apostle speaks of were either Doctrinal and such as were already set down in the Scriptures or if not they were Instituted by the Apostle who received from the Lord what he del●vered to them But the Article speaks of such Traditions as were originally Instituted by the sole and ordinary Authority of Men. ART XXXV Of Homilies THE Second Book of Homilies the several Titles whereo● we have se● down ●nder this Article does 〈◊〉 a Godly and wholsome Doctrine and necessary for these Times as does the former Book of Homilies which were set forth in Time of Edward ●he Sixth And therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may be understood of the People Of the Names of the Homilies 1. Of the right Use of the Churc● 2. Against Peril of Idolatry 3. Of repairing and keeping clean of Churches 4. Of Good Works first of Fasting 5. Against Gluttony and Drunkenness 6. Against Excess of Apparel 7. Of Prayer 8. Of the Place and Time of Prayer 9. That Common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministred in a known Tongue 10. Of the Reverend Estimation of God's Word 11. Of Alms-doing 12. Of the Nativity of Christ. 13. Of the Passion of Christ. 14. Of the Resurrection of Christ. 15. Of the Worthy Receiving of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ. 16. Of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost 17. For the R●gation-Days 18. Of the State of Matrimony 19. Of Repentance 20. Against Idleness 21. Against Rebellion Obj. 1. The 〈◊〉 contained in the Homilies is not in these Times so necessary because there is plenty of Minist●rs 〈◊〉 can and do viva voce preach the Word of God Answ. This Article was intended chiefly for the Beginning of the Reformation when there was a much greater want of M●n that were fit for the Ministry And then if even of these Times we would suppose it to speak there are very many Churches for want of sufficient Encouragement or other Reasons which are destitute of a Learned Preacher and which indeed is to be lamented And besides such is the carelesness of some in their Preachings that it would be more profitable to hear a Homily than their Sermons Obj. 2. It seems to be an Office unworthy of a Minister of the Gospel to repeat Word for Word Exhortations from the Copy of another for a Child can do that Answ. It would be unworthy of a Minister of the Gospel to do this from the Copy of any private Man but it is