Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	church_n	council_n	synod_n	2,505	5	9.3100	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44826	The benefit of a well-ordered conversation as it was delivered in a sermon preached June 24th. 1682. On a day of publick humiliation. As also a funeral discourse upon the three first verses of the third chapter of Isaiah; occasioned by the death of the worshipful Major General Denison; who deceased at Ipswich, Sept. 20. 1682. By Mr. William Hubbard. To which is annexed an Irenicon or a salve for New-England's sore: penned by the said major general; and left behind him as his farewell and last advice to his friends of the Massachusets.	Hubbard, William, 1621 or 2-1704.; Denison, Daniel, 1613-1682. Irenicon.	1684 (1684)	Wing H3208; ESTC W9576	81,919	262

Dissolution than the sad and unreasonable Divisions about matters of Religion in which I include not the Quakers nor professed Anabaptists but shall confine my Discourse to those that call themselves Independents or Congregational men and those that are called by them Presbyterians supposing that an union or reconciliation between these parties would restore the Body to an Athletick plight and enable it without the help of Physick to master or expel the other peccant Humors sed hic locus lubricus difficilis I hope it is no Noli me tangere though it will not bear rough handling yet there must be some search at least with a Ladies hand if we desire a Cure The Differences between the parties abovesaid at least as they are scattered in the breasts of individual men for it will be hard to find a company agreeing in the same are in general about the external Order and Regiment in the Church and Administrations therein agreeing not only in all Doctrinal Points but in the same manner of Administrations in all the Essentials of Order The particular differences may be referred to two Heads 1. The References or Relations our particular Church hath to other Churches as to Councils and Communion with each other and the Members of each other 2. Relating to the exercise of Rule within the Church it self Those that are now called Presbyterians by others formerly called Independents do in the Points aforesaid own and acknowledg what is delivered in Print by the Pious and Learned Mr. Cotton in his Book of the Keys as I take it in his distinction of power of Authority and power of interest and exemplifie by the instance of a Judge and Jury and making association of Churches an Ordinance of God and in reference to Synods what that Reverend man hath delivered in his Apologetical Preface to Learned Mr. Norton's Book in answer to Apollonius and what the said Mr. Norton hath in these very minutes and particularities returned in answer to the said Apollonius as the mind and judgment not only of the New-English Churches but of the whole Congregational way in the particulars aforesaid they have not only the two Champions abovenamed but a whole cloud of Witnesses as appears by the Platform of Discipline laid down by the Synod at Gambridge in the year 1647. and approved by the General Court and in the answer to the two Questions about the Subject of Baptism and Communion of Churches by a Synod also at Gambridge as also in the answer to Mr. Dury subscribed by all the Elders at least of this Jurisdiction They which call themselves Independents and differing from the other in the points aforesaid seem not to be of one mind some denying they are bound to the directive judgment of a Council some larger some streighter as to the extent of other Churches some affirming the Power and Rule of the Church is in the Brethren without the Elders and that the Elders except in Preaching and Administrations of the Sacraments calling of and Moderating in Church Meetings have no more authority than any particular Brother though this will not down with every palate yet on these dissenting from those they call Presbyterians and at some times by-named from their Leaders and Apostates from their first Principles and are by them repaid with the sirname of Brown Morellius and both pretending to the Congregational way but not agreeing what that way is Hinc ille Lachrimae This is our sickness 2. The Occasion 2. A wise man excusing himself why he could not follow the antient Fathers as they are called in all they delivered saith he did believe that which they joyntly and calmly delivered as the received Doctrine but he could not receive every looser or ungirt expression nor all they delivered in heat of opposition and dispute in defence of the Truth against Errors a very venial offence though not without danger the valiant Captain by overcharging endangers himself and may bring a mischief to the whole Army our Leaders without diminution to their great worth were but men and many of them unacquainted with the practise of this way sufficiently experienced in their sufferings and pressures under the Episcopal way they might by some less distinct expressions occasion some of their hearers to mistake their meaning not only those that before their coming hither had imbibed the Principles of separation but even others of honest Principles who could not but willingly embrace power and authority that they never before dreamed of Quis nisi mentis inops oblatam respucit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be put into their hands immediately from Christ and was necessary and safe for the preservation of his Kingly Government modest men refuse not the honour due unto them and are not willing to have that just power which is their right wrung out of their hands But have not these men mistaken their Teachers have they led you into these perswasions from whence some of themselves are fallen we must do to others as we would be done by we would not be charged with words spoken more laxly and as it were by the by Neither would we take it kindly if upon consideration we seriously and solemnly declare our minds to the World under our hands we should not be believed or at best be charged with contradiction possibly it may be said they practised not according as they now profess they were not bound affirmative Precepts do not bind ad semper their candor forbearance to others fear of disturbing the Peace hope of gaining different minds prevailed with them to a condescention in practice whereas had they attended their own Principles they had saved us this trouble forgive them this wrong 3. The Danger 3. Where there is contention there is every evil work Division in the politick is as a wound in the natural body Solutio continui which unless healed as the Artists speak by the first intention will come to suppuration and that in the nobler and Vital parts produces inflamation and other deadly accidents it is not our fingers that are cut or feet surbated they are not Hereticks we complain of it is thou my familiar friend it is the vital part of New-England that are and will be engaged in this conflict a man without Spectacles may see the lamentable influence this sickness hath in all our common concernment in Church and State in Town and Field The Distemper that is dangerous to an Athletick is mortal to a decayed body are not gray hairs upon us are we not past our Meridian is not our Sun past the Tropick and are not all motions the swifter the nearer they are to their period the Physitians tell us that old age is a sickness and are not we senio confecti are not decayes upon us have we not lost our best blood and spirits where are our Winthrop Dudley Cotton Hooker's cum multis aliis the Shamgars that singly could have made head against a whole Host and good Wilson