Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	apostle_n	scripture_n	write_v	3,107	5	5.7190	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49108	Apostolical communion in the Church of England, asserted and applied for the cure of divisions: in a sermon preached in the Cathedral-Church of St. Peter, Exon: and since enlarged. By Tho. Long, B.D. and one of the prebendaries.	Long, Thomas, 1621-1707.	1673 (1673)	Wing L2959; ESTC R217728	38,652	77

approve of a Liturgy for the same Reasons The Magdeburgenses say that in the third Century See Gennadius de Dogm Ecclesia c. 30. Formulas quadam precationum c. without doubt the Christians had certain forms of Prayers It is evident therefore that we are conformable to the Apostles in the use of solemn forms of Prayers but whether the matter of our Prayers be agreeable to theirs is another Inquiry Doubtless whatever their Prayers were they were consonant to their Doctrine and in that our Liturgy is conformable there is nothing in them contrary to our Doctrine and nothing in our Doctrine contrary to that of the Apostles as hath been proved and it were an easie matter to fill the Margent of our Liturgy with such Q●otations of Scripture as do in express words contain or by clear consequence confirm all the Prayers Hymns and Thanksgivings in that Book The Apostles did publickly use our Lords-Prayer the Creed the Psalms of David the words enjoyned by our Saviour at the Administration of both Sacraments and so do we they read the Scriptures and expounded them they Catechised the younger sort in the Principles of Religion so 〈◊〉 we They had Prayers Supplications Intercessions and giving of thanks for Kings and their subordinate Officers and for all ●●rts and degrees of Men so have we they sung Hymns and Praises to God in their Congregations and so do we They had Comminations and threatnings Censures and Excommunication of impenitent and cont●macious offenders so have we In a word ●● we should collect all the ancient Litur●ies in the Greek Latin Armenian and Aethiopick Churches and extract the most ●●lid pious parts of Devotion out of them 〈◊〉 it would appear that as we have omitted in ●●rs all that was vain and superstitious so we want nothing that is pious or profitable ●any of the reformed Churches do come ●●ar ours but none are yet equal We do not m●tter out our Prayers in an unknown Tongue or perswade our people That ignorance is the mother of Devotion 〈◊〉 which is as unprofitable tumble out a ●●ltitude of words which have none or no ●●od signification as if we were fallen to ●●at age which Hippolytus an ancient Bishop and Martyr spake of viz. the days of Antichrist wherein Liturgy should be extinct we do not sill our Prayer-book with Ave-Maries A Ladies Psalter Dirges and Prayers for the Dead Invocations of Angels and Saints that never had a being we r●●d not Legends and ridiculous stories such as may rather excite laughter or disdain than Devotion In a word we have not their forms for exorcising of Divels Baptising of Bells and Garments their Crucifixes Beads and Agnus Dei's Ours is a reasonable and Apostolical Service wherein the most learned of the Protestant Churches abroad Rivet Grotius and Bochartus Cranmer Arch B. Goodrick Bishop of Ely Skip of Hereford Thirl by of West Day of Chechester Holbick of Lincoln ●idley of Rochester Dr. Cox Almoner Tarler Dean of Lincoln Haynes of Exeter Redman of Westmin●ter Robinson Arch De●con of Leicester have manifested their readiness to hold Comm●nion with us Some respect we should s●●w in for the sake of its first Authors those Bishops and Confessors that were the Compilers of it some of which died in defence of it as others since in opposition to it The world may judg which deserved b●● of the Protestant Religion A work which in that age most men called a work of G●● as Mr. F●x reports When it was com●iled the Arch-Bishop turns it into I 〈◊〉 and sends it to Martin Bu●er who 〈◊〉 this approbation of it that it was generally contained in the word of God 〈…〉 repugnant to it if rightly under 〈◊〉 After this it was amended Bishop Ridley P. Martir Bucer So did the University of Oxford since so as Arch-Bishop Cranmer undertook by the leave of Q●●●n Mary that he and some others would defend it against all the Papists in England Th● Protestants that fled to Geneva and Franckfort in those days kept their own Liturgy rather then Calvins until Knox began to oppose it of which when Mr. C●●●dal told Bishop Ridley the day before his martyrdom I wonder saith the Bishop Mr. K●●x should at this time set himself against the poor Protestants of England and ●●nd fault with their Service Book wherein though his wit may find something to cavil at he shall never be able to and matter of just exception as if any thing were therein contained contrary to the word of God But Mr. Calvin who had commended the use of a Form to the Lord Protector when he saw this though he had offered to assist Tolerabiles ineptias yet not being one of the Composers conf●res it to contain some trifles which yet were tolerable and in truth there 〈◊〉 the●● such things in it as Prayers for 〈…〉 Extream Uncti●n 〈◊〉 In 〈…〉 this Raign it is 〈…〉 again 〈…〉 inquiry to the objections the 〈…〉 so differ The Parliament suppressed the Admonions and imprisoned the Authors some 〈…〉 against and 〈…〉 former allowed 〈…〉 of altering 〈…〉 to be not for the 〈…〉 the Liturgy But this which was have often attempted was effected at last it was pluckt up root and branch not so much as our Lords Prayer spared And this is no new thing there ever have been and will be unquiet spirits to disturb the servants of God in nothing more than their publick devotions St. Augustine complained of this in the Milevitane Council where were two hundred Bishops Can. 12. Tom. 8. p. 32. Ep. 93 94. De bono Persev how That not only the Prayers of the Church but the Lords Prayer was despised by the Donatists of whom he says Tunc desinent dici frafres nostri cum desierint dicere Pater noster he would no longer own them for his Brethren that would not join with him to say Our Father c. Upon which that Council decrees that no Prayers should be publickly used but such as were approved by the Synod But St. Augustine meekly intreats them not only to hear the Sermons but to consider and ponder the publick Prayers which says he the Church had and will always have to the end of the world Bonasus Vapulans We may the less wonder therefore that the Prayers of our Church are despised when the same persons cannot be reconciciled to the Lords Prayer we might have hoped that after so many severe corrections men would have grown sober and repented of their former hard and ungodly speeches But we see a late Apologist for the Non-conformists in a Book written against Mr. Durel steps forth like another Goliah to defye not only the host but in a manner the God of Israel what else mean these horrid expressions against the Lords Prayer I would not have them censured says this tender-hearted man that cannot get leave of themselves to use it as a Prayer especially when they have prayed largely before for themselves and

be a Member of Christ which the good Emperor Theodosius preferred above his being Head of the Empire For if there be a Heaven upon Earth it must needs consist as our eternal happiness hereafter in a Communion with God and his Son Jesus Christ and to this the Text guides even to Mount Sion Heb 12.22 and to the City of the Living God the Heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the General Assembly and Church of the First-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judg of all and to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant To confirm you in this Society is the end of all our preaching and your hearing for when our Saviour ascended up on high he gave some Apostles Eph. 4.11 14. some Prophets some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers that we should be no more Children tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine but for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ This our Apostle intimates to be the end of all the Scriptures but more especially of the Text That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye may have fellowship with us c. Church-Communion is my present Subject concerning which I observe these three parts in the Text. I. The ground and foundation of Apostolical Communion That which we have seen and heard II. Wherein this Communion consists from the divers notions of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Scripture That ye may have fellowship with us i.e. the Apostles III. The excellency of this Communion And truly our fellowship is with the Father c. That I may the better fix your meditations on my discourse and that upon the Text I shall give you the Substance of both in this short Argument That Church which holds Communion with Christ and his Apostles in Doctrine Omnis Doctrina quae cum Ecclesiis Apostolicis Matricibus Originalibus fidei conspirat veritati deputanda Tertul. de praescript Government and Worship is a true Member of Christs Church in which Salvation may be had But the Church of England holds Communion with Christ and his Apostles in Doctrine Government and Worship Therefore the Church of England is is a true Member of Christs Church in which salvation may be had My first Proposition I shall prove from Act. 2.42 where it is recorded of the Primitive Christians That they continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of Bread and in Prayers and it follows v. 47. The Lord added daily to the Church such as should be saved whence I observe 1. That by reason of this Communion they are expresly denominated the Church Plebs sacerdoti adunata as Saint Cyprian 2. And that to this Church Salvation is appropriated God daily added to the Church such as should be saved The Proposition being sufficiently proved I shall for the greater perspicuity prove the Assumption gradually according to the parts into which I divided the Text And shew 1. That the Church of England holds Communion with Christ and his Apostles in Doctrine Anno 1660. Those dissenting Ministers that presented to the Parliament their Reasons for Reformation of the publick Doctrine c. did assure us in the first words that it was far from their thoughts to oppose or disparage orthodox Doctrine a well composed Liturgy Rites for decency and order Ordination of Ministers Apostolical Episcopacy and due Rules of Discipline I wish that as we have heard the voice of Jacob so we had not felt the hands of Esau for though the truth of all that they desired hath been proved by many Worthies in our Israel yet as St. Chrysostome says though we bring the Sun-beams in our hands men will not be perswaded there doth not want light to convince but they resist the Spirit of Truth that should convert them Pray we therefore That he who promised the holy Spirit to them that ask it Luk. 11.13 would pour down such plentiful measures and operations of it into the hearts of this people that as we all profess his holy Name so we may agree together in the truth of his holy Word and live in unity and godly love And so I begin with the first part of the Text viz. The ground and foundation of Apostolical Communion which is the Doctrine delivered in the Scriptures of the New Testament wherein the Church of England doth hold Communion with Christ and his Apostles The things of which the Apostles were eye and ear-witnesses from the beginning of the Gospel that word of life 1 Joh. 1.1 that was spoken by the wisdom of God attested by a voice from Heaven accompanied by the power of God in such variety of Miracles is the only infallible foundation of our Faith and Communion beside which we in vain expect any other either guide or ground Luk. 16.31 Non opus est revelatione post Evangelium Tort. of equal certainty for as our Saviour determined concerning Moses and the Prophets the same may be said of Christ and his Apostles If we believe not them neither will we be perswaded thought one should come from the dead Yet is it no disparagement to our preaching or your hearing that we cannot preface our Sermons as the Apostles did That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you seeing our Saviour hath pronounced them blessed Joh. 20.29 with an Emphasis that have not seen and yet have believed The spirit of perversness did not dye with Pharaoh and the Jews of old There have been little less than Miracles wrought in our generation but if as our Saviour intimates there should be Miracles indeed done in the midst of us there are a sort of Pharisaical persons that would oppose still I shall therefore take it as granted that we do believe those things which Christ and his Apostles have declared unto us in the books of the New Testament In iis quae apertè in SS posita sunt inveniuntur omnia quae continent fidem moresque vivendi S. August de Doct. Christ. 2.9 2 Pet. 3.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 St. Chrys in 2 Thes Hom. 3. and that in them we have the will of God declared unto us concerning all such things as are necessary to our Salvation that they are a most certain and safe rule of Faith able to make the man of God perfect throughly furnished to every good work 2 Tim. 2.13 And whereas it may be objected from St. Peter that in them are some things hard to be understood I answer that the things that are necessary to be known are but few and those are obvious to ordinary capacities and such as are obscure and difficult are not necessary or if there be some difficulties that may be thought necessary to be explained then as Diamonds are best formed by Diamonds