Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	church_n	contain_v	doctrine_n	2,906	5	6.1091	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A11011	Lectures vpon the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians. Preached by that faithfull seruant of God, Maister Robert Rollok, sometime rector of the Vniuersitie of Edenburgh	Rollock, Robert, 1555?-1599.; Holland, Henry, 1555 or 6-1603.	1603 (1603)	STC 21282; ESTC S116223	383,986	492

Church of Laodicea acquainted therewithall The reason why he would haue this Epistle communicated with the whole Church both of Colosse and Laodicea was the great profit which it containeth in it by meanes wherof it might profit all the faithfull euen vnto eternall life From whence wee may gather that it is not enough that Pastors Teachers Elders and others know the holie Scriptures wherof this worthie Epistle of Pauls is an excellent part but that they must of necessitie acquaint common Christians and all faithfull people therewith And therefore are the Church-Rulers bound to reade them both publikely and priuately and must propound and interpret them in the assemblies of the congregation yea must turne them into vulgar tongues that so the common people may reade them and vnderstand them and in a word they must carefully prouide that that booke may not be to the common people as if it were a book closed and shut vp into which no man must looke but they alone But how farre are the Doctors of the Popish Church from this holie minde They forbid lay men as they call thē from reading the holie Scriptures yea they strictly enioyne that translations of the vulgar tongues should not bee vsed Wherein what greater furtherance can they giue to the kingdome of Satan who knowing how needfull the Scriptures are to saluation doth wholy by himselfe and his supporters striue vnto this and laboureth nothing more then to hinder the scriptures from comming into mens hands or once appearing in their sight Another thing worthie obseruation is this that though Pauls Epistles as almost all the rest of the bookes of the holie Scripture were written to some certaine Church or to some certaine person that yet notwithstanding they doe indifferently appertaine to all Christians because they containe in them a perpetuall doctrine and such as is common for all Christians and were no lesse committed to writing for our instruction and comfort then for theirs to whom they were namely written For looke what the Apostle said touching the bookes and writings of the Prophets Rom. 15. 4. Whatsoeuer things were written before hand were written for our learning that through patience and comfort of the Scriptures we might haue hope that same may wee affirme of all the holie Canonicall bookes of the Bible and the rather because the holie Ghost saith Euery Scripture giuen by diuine inspiration is profitable to teach to rebuke to correct and to instruct in righteousnes c. 2. Timoth 3. 16. And why should we doubt of it sith they come all from one God were penned and indited by one spirit and tend all to one end the glorie of God either in pledging vp saluation to them that are appointed to euerlasting life or damnation to them that are put apart against the day of wrath But it followeth in the text And that ye likewise reade c. This is the second speciall point wherein he commandeth the Colossians to reade that epistle which was written frō Laodicea What this epistle was it is very hard to determine we may with some probabilitie and without any impietie say that though it were not such a one as Paul himselfe wrote yet that it is likely yea more then that certaine that he approoued of it or else he would neuer haue had it read from whomsoeuer it came or was written to himselfe whether it were from the whole Church of Laodicea or from the pastor of the said Church yet he tooke the reading of it to be necessarie for the Colossians because the state of the neighbour Churches was not vnlike theirs From whence also wee may obserue that though the holy Scripture be abundantly sufficient for the establishing of the points of Christian religion and for framing and fashioning vs to holie life and that nothing be wanting therein that is necessarie to sound doctrine and to true sanctitie that yet it is profitable and that euen to edification to reade good mens holy writings though they be of farre different authoritie from the word of God For if we may be edified and builded vp by gracious and good speeches which do proceede from the faithfull members of Christ and also may be aduanced in goodnes by their holie life both which cases are plaine in the holie Scriptures and euen in the Apostles owne epistles why should not also their holie writings agreeing with the word of God tend also in some sort to our godly edification And therfore as men are and ought to be sharply reproued for that they neglect to reade the holy Scriptures or word of God so are they also much too blame for neglecting to reade good and holie books Wherein I marueile what men can alleage for themselues that can allow themselues so much time and leisure to pursue profits and pleasures yea to follow sinne and haue no spare houre to be occupied in reading of Gods holy word and other good workes Surely all that they can say for themselues is but figge leaues and neither will giue peace to our owne hearts nor stand vs in stead before God and good men He addeth in the 17. verse And say vnto Archippus c. This is the third speciall point that he chargeth the Church withal and it concerneth the admonishing of Archippus or putting of him in minde touching his dutie It should seeme that hee Archippus what he was was a minister or a preacher of the Gospell in the Church of Colosse and was a collegue as we may say with Epaphras who was then at Rome with Paul Whereupon also in Pauls epistle to Philemon vers 2. he is called Pauls fellow souldier that is to say his fellow labourer and helper in preaching of the Gospell of Christ But whatsoeuer he was it is very probable that he was somewhat slacke and negligent in doing his dutie and therefore he willeth yea he commaundeth the Church to admonish and put him in minde thereof From whence wee may obserue that it is a part of the Churches dutie when it seeth any of the ministers or officers thereof either not sufficiently The Churches dutie towards the negligent diligent or any whit slacke in accomplishing of their calling and charge to admonish them and call vpon them for greater care and more conscience in the faithfull performance thereof And good reason for if priuate men as members may yea ought to admonish one another and prouoke to good workes whilest it is called to day then the bodie of the Saints may as well doe it to the priuate members yea and publike ministers and officers thereof if you will vnlesse you will say either that they cannot faile in doing their dutie or auerre that mens places exempt and free them from other mens charitable ouer sight and carefull admonitions Yet in this there must be great respect had namely that it be done with such reuerence and modestie as becommeth the flock towards their pastor whom Cautions to be obserued in the Churches admonishing of