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	peter_n	successor_n	2,942	5	9.2143	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A69532	A learned, vsefull and seasonable discovrse concerning the Chvrch of England, and the Chvrch of Rome addressed by way of letter to M. St. Iohn, a Romish priest / by that eminent author and worthy patriot, Dr. John Bastwick, now prisoner under the popish tyranny at Yorke.	Bastwick, John, 1593-1654.	1643 (1643)	Wing B1066; ESTC R18862	10,786	12

Hereticall impiety Thinke not most curteous Sir that I say thus to object to you the Faults of others which out of over-zealous Piety as they conceit regard not to violate Charity truely when I reflect on such kind of men the Image of the Samaritan Church comes into my mind For that also was ancient splendid rich in Rites and shining with Ceremonies yea it honour'd Moses and eagerly expected the Messias notwithstanding all this the Author of Salvation sentenced Her from his owne mouth not to be in the state of Salvation This I am the more confident to say to you whom I know to be a person of excellent moderation and not to be taken with specious Toies and empty Titles For what a brainsick piece of Braggardisme is that The Roman Church is ancient Admit it be so yet is it withall impious and Superstitious But she is brave and Magnificent Who denyes it yet is she falne into Idolatry T is the most pernicious policy of Satan to gild most execrable Errors with the false but glittering shew of Titles By these artifices how fouly hath he defil'd your Church The very Rites of Pagans condemned and exploded by the Apostles he hath revived and obtruded having painted and varnisht them with new names But Christ himselfe he hath banisht from the Church and Soules of men retaining onely his Name for a shew This was Satans subtilty that he might place Antichrist in the Throne of Christ By these tricks that Man of Sin mounted to the height of his Ambition For openly to have attempted to dethrone the Majesty of Christ had beene Folly and Madnesse as appeared long before in those frantick Hereticks Arius Samosatenus Valentinus and Nestorius scornd contemnd and plagu'd for their Blasphemies For who is so desperately hopelesse of Salvation that could endure to heare an open Blasphemer of Christ They which deny the Godhead or the Trinity or which rage and rayle at Christ are by the common consent of Christians adjudged to Death But the mystery of Iniquity was by secret engines to be contrived more cleanly The Name of Christ was to be kept and Adoration to be given at the naming of Jesus but the vertue and efficacy of his Merits to be abolisht By this Stratagem was Christ to be exterminated that roome might be made at Rome for the seat of Antichrist in the Temple of God Horrible impiety to deny that underhand which openly dare not be attempted Excellently was it said of Seneca What difference is there betwixt denying and defaming God So what matters it whether you deny Christ as a Renegado or whether you strip him of his Offices For if Christ be not vested and dignified with his Office he is no Christ to us Since then under the Name Christ his Regall Sacerdotall and Propheticall Offices and under the Word Jesus all the saving Benefits flowing from that triple Office are comprehended there is no doubt but that is a corrupt Church which hath corrupted those Offices Not to aggravate the atrocity of the Fact with words I say impassionately The Roman Church erres grievously about Christs Offices which she hath corrupted destroyed and violated Of this hainous and hideous Crime our Church was never guilty but ever maintained and defended them Intending to make a Parallel of the Doctrines of both Churches I first say by way of Preface that in all your Doctrinall Additions and Corollaries which as so many unsound Fringes you have sewed to our Assertions there 's nothing which is not superfluous and which without any hazard of our Soules may be canceld exploded and rejected But let us now beginne this parallel-collation of Doctrines from Christs Regall Office This is the Faith of the Reformed Chrurches That Christ Jesus is the onely Monarch Moderator Defender and Governor both of the whole World and of his Church in the World as being set by God upon his Holy Mountaine who hath given him all power in Heaven and Earth and as being the King of Righteounesse the King of Eternity and the King of Kings That he hath a provident care of all things but watches over his Church with a speciall eye of Providence as having bin sought bought with his owne most precious Bloud rescu●d from the Usurpation of Satan That into this Church there is infus'd from Christ her Emperor Righteousnesse Peace Joy Happinesse Light Knowledge of God Certainty of Salvation and whatever other Benefits may redound to loyall and faithfull Subjects from so Great and Gracious a Prince That this Kingdome and Empire is of Divine and Celestiall nature not of a Worldly or vanishing splendor as being governd and guided by the Scepter of the Word and Spirit not by the Authority of Humane Power That this Regiment had never any Vicar or Deputy assign'd to it That to call Peter the Monarch of the Church and the Popes his Successors are meere Toies and Fopperies of Puff-paste Ambition That after the Apostles times no infallible Guides or Doctors are to be found That Multitude Miracles Riches and worldly Pompe are no Markes of the true Church That the Church is not at all times alike conspicuous and visible That we are not to follow Fathers and Councells decreeing any thing dissonant from Christs Edicts But your Papall Church teacheth otherwise viz. That Christ is a King but a worldly one and not King alone neither but the Pope his Vicar shares with him in Raigne and Regiment That in this Vicariat there is a long Series and succession of Popes which are the Heads and Foundations of the Church That the Church must be regulated governd not by Christs Lawes onely but by the Canons also and Constitutions of Councells and Fathers and that the Violaters of such Decrees are more severely to be punisht then the Transgressors of Gods Law That she is to be ruled by Traditions not by Scripture onely That those Traditions of straw are equall to that Sacred Scepter That the genuine Notes and surest signs of the Church are multitude of Men a continued Succession Worldly Pompe and Magnificence Miracles Antiquity Unity Here I appeale to your Candor and Ingenuity that setting aside Partiality for a while and considering well what both sides affirme you would be pleased to judge without Hate or Love whether of us teach and deliver the Doctrine of Christs Princely Office more soundly and sincerely Our Divines leave to Christ alone his Priviledges Prerogatives Honour and Glory inviolate yours either ascribe all these to Men or associating Man with Christ in his Regiment contaminate his Crowne and Dignity with the contagion of most sordid company But perhaps you are loth to condemne that Doctrine as impious which you have bin so long used to consider yet whether at least it be not superfluous and needlesse For tell me if any man utterly ignorant of Pope Fathers and Councells shall submit only to Christs Scepter and obey his Lawes in beleeving in him alone as his only comforter

Testament not in darke or doubtfull termes but plainely and perspicuously as far as was necessary for our Salvation That these sacred Scriptures being the Iudges of all controversies need not the addition of humane Traditions That we are to serve and obey God not according to the Commandements of men but his owne celestiall sanctions and that therefore the worship of Images is to be abolisht out of our Churches and minds not commanded by God That Holidaies not appointed and sanctified by the Lord need not be observed That the use of all kind of Meates is at any time lawfull being frugally and moderately taken That divine service is mis-celebrated in a language unknowne to the people That ther 's no inherent sanctity in some place more then other nor in any Church and that our prayers are no sooner heard in some one place then another Thus beleeves the Reformed Church But she gives no credit to those prodigious paradoxes viz. That iustifiing faith may be without charity and good workes That faith may be without knowledge of what is to be beleeved That men drown'd in their owne corruptions are indued with certaine preparatives to grace or furnisht with merits of congruity That our conversion to God is not wholly to be ascrib'd to grace but in part to Natures endeavour That election depends of faith fore-scene the motion of our free will That the faithfull may Apostatize and fall from grace That concupiscence is void of sinne That Kings have not their preheminence by divine Right That the Clergy are exempt from the subjection and jurisdiction of Kings That faith is not to be kept with Hereticks That blind Monastick obedience is lawfull and laudable That children may lawfully make and breake vowes without their parents consent That a Clergy mans marriage is more detestable then adultery or murther That the gift of continence is given to all that refuse it not That the Pope may lawfully take tribute of stewes That Sacraments confer grace by the worke wrought That infants baptised are not tainted at all with sinne That Christs body is in divers places at once yet neither visible nor tangible That Bread and Wine are transform'd into the very substance of Christs Flesh and Blood That wicked men eat the flesh of Christ in the Eucharist That t is not lawfull for Laicks to drinke of the Sacramentall Cup These and the like monstrous opinions since Christ the Prophet of the Church hath not taught the Reformed Churches doe not beleeve But concerning Christs Prophetick office your Doctors teach most insincerely viz. That Christ indeed is given by God as a Prophet yet hath he not declar'd to the Church all the will of God nor purposely caus●d it to be written in the Scripture for the decision of controversies of Faith by its Light and Evidence That Scriptures are obscure perillous not to be permitted Laymen to read That Authority of Traditions Fathers and Councels are necessary to the Church to supply the Scriptures imperfection That God is to be worshipt according to the prescript of Mens Lawes That Images are to be set in Churches as instructers of the Ignorant That God may lawfully be effigiated and represented in humane Forme That Holidayes are religiously to be observed and celebrated That we ought to obstaine from Meats at Times appoynted by the Church or Pope That t is no prejudice to our prayers to use an unknowne Language in the publike Lyturgy That one place is more holy then another That a man may beleeve and yet be ignorant and that Faith is best defined by Ignorance That charity may be wanting to justifying Faith That men swallowed up in the Whirpoole of corruption retaine yet certaine preparatories to Grace That our Conversion is to be ascribed both to Nature and Grace That Election depends of Faith and the right use of our free Will That Concupicence is not to be reputed sinne That Kings raigne not by the Authority of Scripture That Clergymen are not bound to any Secular Authority That blind and foolish Obedience in Monks is commendable That the Marriage of Clergymen is equall to Sacrilege or worse That the Bond of Matrimony is not dissolved by Adultery That the Gift of Continence is given to all promiscuously That the Pope may well exact Tribute from Strumpets That children may vow against the will of their parents That Sacraments confer Grace by the work wrought That children once washt with Baptismall water are utterly voyd of sin That all unbaptized persons are condemned to eternall Death That Christs Body is in many places at once yet not subject to sight or touch That Bread and Wine are transubstantiated into Christs Body and Blood That our Lords Body is swallowed by impious persons That Christian people ought not to communicate of the Chalice in the Sacrament Thus they attribute indeed the name of Prophet and Doctor to Christ but all the force and power of his prophetick Office is translated to the Pope Councells and Fathers Now Worthy Sir suppose some wel-affected Christian to be of this Beliefe that he will wholly give eare to and be instructed by Christ our Prophet that he will obey onely the Scripture and Gods will therein revealed suppose this man to beleeve that the Scripture is perfect perspicuous the Judge of all controversies and determiner of all doubts that Laicks ought to read it and regulate their lives and manners by it Doe yee thinke the high honour which this man gives to Christ as to our Chiefe-Prophet shall or can prejudice him Far be so wide and wilde a conceit from your ingenuous Candor For what crime hath he committed which being ignorant of Traditions Holidayes Images Fasting-dayes and a number of the like Ceremonious observances doth soly imbrace those Doctrines which Christ hath taught for the Churches comfort and edification Adde now hereto that the same man is fully confidenced that Scripture cannot without extreme impiety be charged with imperfection or obscurity that t is a great crime to debar the people from reading Scripture and no lesse sin to traine them to the beliefe of Traditions that t is impious to worship God in the shape or likenesse of Man or to expose Images to the peoples Adoration that t is Tyranranicall to obtrude the observance of Holidaies under the terror of Penalties which are instituted by men as also to forbid Meats to sober men at certaine Seasons That t is unlawfull to mumble mutter prayers in a strange Tongue That t is absurd to thinke one place holier then another That t is impossible at once to beleeve and yet to be ignorant or that justifying Faith should subsist without charity or that man wallowing in his corruption should be able to prepare himselfe for Grace or that concupiscence should be put out of the catalogue of sins That they are most execrable Miscreants that deprive the Kings Crowne of its divine Right or exempt the Miter from obedience to the Scepter or breake their Faith with Hereticks or draw monastick persons to a blind obedience or calumniate the Marriage of the Clergy as worse then Adultery That they are absurd and senselesse that teach the Gift of continence to be promiscuous and obvious to all which approve of tribute taken from mercenary Prostitutes which think that children may vow or dis-avow against their parents wils which hold that Matrimony is not violated by Adultery That they erre grievously that pretend the Sacraments collate Grace by the bare worke done that all baptized persons are without all Sin and all unbapatized liable to eternall Damnation That they are the maddest Bedlams that like Corybanticall Priests teach Christs Body to be in many places at once unseene and insensible which dreame of a Metamorphosis and change of Bread and Wine into his Body and Blood which dote that our Lords Flesh may be swallowed and devoured by impious Wretches which preclude the Cup from the people though Christ himselfe reach it to them in the Scripture which adore a Wafer in stead of Christ which vainly imagine his corporall presence on earth being consign'd to Heaven till the end of the World Can such a mans ignorance of these Romish Trumperies or his beliefe of Christs sincere Doctrine hurt him when he is alive or damne him for ever being Dead What cruell Rhadamanth or Judge of Hell can passe such a Sentence For what crime is there here What Law hath he transgrest shall any man be blam'd for being afraid to Idolatrize or to worship God after his owne voluntary invention shall he be condemn'd for abandoning the impious and absurd Traditions of Men and obeying the Doctor and Prophet that is given us from Heaven Thus if we collate and parallel the adverse Opinions of the Romish and Reformed Churches it will soone appear which Party is most Zealous of Religion and Piety which is its proper Fruit and product And now most Worthy Sir if I seeme to you to be of a dull understanding and weake judgement pray be pleased to helpe me in this exigent which as it will be a worke worthy of you so most welcome to me Take the Lanthorn of Gods Word in your hand enlighten my Darkenesse shew me the way of God and reduce me from the By-pathes of Error I promise you to banish from me all pertinicious opinionativenesse if I shall see you compleately arm'd with Scriptures proofes But if should attemt to cry downe our Churches Doctrine with clamors onely and Great words and brags of Eminent but Humane Authorities We shall easily sleight such braving Arrogance your rare curtesie commands me to be confident that you will not faile to doe me this good Office For it is not credible that you who are reported to have challeng'd the chiefe of our Champions to the Combate will now refuse as a Master to instruct in the wayes of God so willing a Scholler Adieu most Learned Sir and love Your most affectionate IOHN BASTWICK FINIS ●…ver ●…gi c. 5. ●…ol 2 ●…ac 28 ●…eb 7. ●…ay 9. ●…oc 17 ●… 18.38 ●…k 1.33 Deut. ●… 18.