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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	lord_n	name_n	write_v	5,698	5	5.8489	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85545	A defence of Christian liberty to the Lords table; except in case of excommunication and suspension. Wherein many arguments, queres, suppositions, and objections are answered by plain texts, and consent of scriptures. As also some positions answered by way of a short conference which the author hath had with divers, both in citie and countrey. All which are profitable to inform to truth, and lawfull obedience to authoritie. / By John Graunt, who beareth witnesse to the faith. Published according to order.	Graunt, John, of Bucklersbury.	1646 (1646)	Wing G1591; Thomason E330_22; ESTC R200727	25,078	32

separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you This Scripture you say proves the state of the question on your part for you say the Apostles here speake of the Antichristian church of Rome whose filthy unclean doctrines were such that notwithstanding they were Christians in profession yet Gods people could not communicate with them but they must there was no avoyding it by reason of their abominable canons be defiled with them And therefore you say these texts of Scriptures are a sufficient ground to separate from Christian congregations I answer they are a ground to separate from such Antichristian congregations as the Apostles speak of but I require of you to prove the abomination the unclean thing in the authorized congregations in England and then you say something but till that be proved this Scripture is not for your purpose For the Church of England by the Parliaments of reformation in King Edward the sixt and Queen Elizabeths dayes separated from the fals doctrines and unclean practices of the church of Rome and then made acts lawes and ordinances against the abominable tenets and false devised imagined religion their Priests Sacrifices and back't their decrees with the penalty of death yet notwithstanding in processe of time the Prelaticall clergy brought in many corrupt innovations tending to act again the old uncleannesses under new pretences yet this honorable Parliament hath rooted up and extirpated the Prelaticall Hierarchy root and branch and still sit spending their wits spirits and pains for the reforming of Doctrine and Discipline that all congregations may bee regulated in and by the neerest way agreeable to the word of God Now considering all these things we enjoy under this happy authority that is over us your condition being under this authority and so placed of God take heed therefore nay how will you avoid it but that your resisting this authority you doe therein resist the Ordinance of God and her in walk contrary to Gods word Rom. 13. 1 2. Nay do you not fulfil the Prophesie of the Scriptures in presumption and selfe-willednesse to despise such Governors and speak evill of such digniti●s as the Apostle foretold 2 Pet. 2. 10. How can you possibly cleare your way from the gainsaying of Core Jude v. 11. Nay is there not a plain parallell between him and his companies gainsaying and you and your companies gainsayings Num. 16. Did not they which were under authority usurp authority and in striving against Moses Aaron those that God had set over them did they not strive against the Lord Numb. 26. 9. I will forbeare the consequence the Lord give you grace to repent of your striving resistance and gainsaying and murmure no longer against them in saying they impose will-worship upon your consciences in requiring many things there is not a plain word for if it be not against the word but agreeing with the sense and meaning of the word submit your selves to their rules And if you conceive you know better then the Parliament your way is to petition and not to make resistance The next consideration is the Spirituall or voluntary congregation the communion of Saints The Prophet David calls them the Assembly of Saints the Congr●gation of Saints Psal. 89. 5. 7. The house of Aaron his Saint the house of Israel his chosen one the house of Levi his Priest Psa. 136. and the Apostle the houshold of faith Gal. 6. 10. the houshold of God Eph. 6. 19. the house and Church of the living God 1 Tim. 3. 15. This church is called The Lords body Col. 1. 18. 24. because it is made living by the life that is in him spirituall by his spirit for they are all begotten and born of the Spirit and that which is born of the spirit is spirit John 3. 6. as that which is born of the flesh is flesh This communion and whole congregation by the Spirit of God are all baptized into one body and have been made all to drink into one spirit 1 Corinth 12. 13. These are all the children of wisdome all sonnes of God and heires of the promises these all by regeneration are as Peter was made living stones and are built of God a spirituall house a chosen generation a peculiar people 1 Pet. 2. These are the little flock of sheep lambs of Christ to whom the Father hath given the Kingdome who by faith have both the earnest and the abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ having fellowship with God their Father the Son their Saviour the holy Ghost their comforter and with each other in joying and sorrowing comforting and lamenting beleeving and hoping suffering and expecting with a mutuall affection the morning and day of salvation 1 John 1. 3. 7. chap. 3. 2. These are they that fear the Lord that receive him and his and often speak and confer one with another that are alwayes mindful of his covenant in whose heart is his Law These are the Lords Priests with whom he hath made a covenant of life and peace who have alwayes the Lord in their thoughts Mal. 2. and 3. chapters These onely have received an unction from the holy One that teacheth them all things 1 John 2. 20. These according to the command of their Lord give unto Cesar the things that are Cesars and to God the things that are Gods Mark 12. 17. they love the Lord with all their heart and their neighbour as themselves they are all spiritual and so is their communion and fellowship and none but such as are spirituall are of this congregation this communion of Saints But a Minister in the North countrey told me the Independent congregations were this communion of Saints which is the last particular in the first Position To whom I answered His expression was very strange to me for I did not find any such name expressing creatures written in the book of life And I am sure all the Saints names are written there Wherefore said I hee that gives that name to any people and those that take that name unto themselves are both alike to be blamed for there is no one nor very many creatures can be said to be Independent but God alone the great creator I am the first and the last saith the Lord and besides mee there is no God Isaiah 44. 6. And thou even thou art Lord alone Nehem 9. 6. There is not a Saint nor congregation of holy ones can say one to another I have no need of thee for they are all members one of another and every one the members of Christ Ephes. 4. 25. chap. 5. 30. 1 Cor. 12. I wonder that so many learned that professe that way and own the name Independent I wonder I say that their learning doth not afford them a more proper terme for as much as under this notion they aim at liberty of conscience Were they not better to expresse themselves under the names of Religious

A DEFENCE OF Christian Liberty To the LORDS Table Except in case of Excommunication and Suspension Wherein many Arguments Queres Suppositions and Objections are answered by plain Texts and consent of Scriptures As also some Positions answered by way of a short Conference which the Author hath had with divers both in Citie and Countrey All which are profitable to inform to truth and lawfull obedience to Authoritie By John Graunt who beareth witnesse to the Faith Jerem. 10. 23. O Lord I know that the way of Man is not in himselfe it is not in Man that walketh to direct his steps 1 John 2. 26. These things have I written unto you concerning them which seduce you 2 Tim. 3. 13. But evill men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived Published according to Order London Printed for Humphrey Robinson and are to be sold at the three Pigeons in Pauls Church-yard 1646. THE PREFACE TO THE READER OUR Lord once asked a question of his Disciples Are yee able to drink of the Cup that I shall drink of and to be baptized with the Baptisme that I am baptized with In the answer he agrees with his servants that it should be so with them Mat. 20. 22. 23. And as this was the case of James and John so it was Peters and all the faithfuls also and is now and ever was Gods servants case and condition to suffer with him as truly as they shall reigne with him For as the shadow followes the naturall body so afflictions follow the Church the children of Truth his mysticall Body And as there is an universall daily proofe of this truth so in particular at Woolchurch Anno 1645. for a modest and privat testimony of the the Witnesses of sound Doctrine the testifier thereof was testified against with contempt and reproach which for the truths sake he hath patiently born not rendring evill for evill or railing for railing but contrariwise blessing knowing that the Lord calls his servants thereunto that they may inherit a blessing And notwithstanding the Parishioners his suffering he being not thereby discouraged went on in discovery of the truth and in opposition of the mistakes so that the questions were brought to publication in a small short Treatise called Christian liberty to the Lords Table against which authorized Tract I have received divers exceptions from severall friends yea friends which doth the more take my affection And the said exceptions under differing notions as below are mentioned All which with my defensive answers to each I again present with open face to the world And in conclusion a briefe recitall of some short Discourses I have had in my journey in the Countries with such as are opposite to the present government And because since the time my small Taper was lighted there hath risen a man of much eminency a burning glory a starre of great shining holding forth with Scripture Learning and Arts the subject and matter of my meditations yet the manner being different and my phrase stile and knowledge like my selfe low and mean I therefore commend my thoughts to such of my own capacity casting my mite into the Lords Treasury and thrusting in my weake and mean Sickle of plain workmanship into the Lords great harvest praying that all that read it with the same affection that I write it may gain the like benefit A Defence of Christian Liberty to the LORDS Table THE first thing I received by way of opposition to my book were six Arguments My first Argument against your Treatise saith my friend called Christian liberty to the Lords Table is this Because the Scripture doth not testifie of any particular man converted by the Sacrament alone Therefore it is a reason to me to beleeve the Sacrament doth not convert My Defence to your first Argument Friend by your first Argument you seem to divide between the Scriptures and the Sacrament in these words By the Sacrament alone which is a mistaking the point in hand For my book is intituled Christian liberty to the Lords Table the Title thereof shewing and preaching the quite contrary for there can bee neither Christians so called nor Sacraments so instituted where there is no Scriptures And that this might have been understood by you consider the Texts of the Old and New Testament alledged for proofe with the place Preacher and hearers instanced at Woolchurch in London Secondly there is no example that the reading the Scriptures doe convert should any man beleeve therefore the Lord doth not many times convert by reading We have no expresse Scripture to testifie that Peter James and John with the rest of the Apostles by name were outwardly baptized shall we therefore not beleeve it We doe not read that the Apostles Evangelists or Disciples of Christ did once or ever use the Lord prayer although he commanded it Luke 11. 2. is it therefore un●awfull to use it And that the Supper of the Lord is a teaching Ordinance as it is a confirming ordinance we shall have many times occasion to cleare in making my defence His second Argument I doe not read in Scripture that the Sacrament was administred to any Christian Assembly till some of that Assembly were begotten to God by the word of truth which makes me beleeve that it was for the Saints sakes onely when it was instituted and administred and so to confirm and not to convert but to commemorate and strengthen My defence to your second Argument I doe not read in all the Scriptures that the participation of the Lords Supper was denied any common beleever for want of speciall faith and not being a spirituall Christian for although God did in a speciall sense institute and ordain all his ordinances for his elects sake for their regeneration and confirmation their spirituall communion with God in Christ yet I affirm that among these faithfull the outward and common Christians did in the Apostles times may now communicate in the outward common things of the word Sacraments for they that gladly received the word were baptized and continued in the Doctrine Sacraments and Prayer Acts 2. 41 42. And as it was thus at Jerusalem so it was at Samaria Acts 8. Corinth Ephesus Colosse and in all the Churches of the Saints And therefore the outward signes of the Sacraments were not ordained for the Saints onely but it is with Christians in our time as it was with Abraham and his seed that is the elect in these words Gen. 17. 7. I will be thy God and the God of thy seed but the outward signes of the covenant belonged to all his seed ingenerall and to the seed of all others that came to acknowledge the truth and beleeve the Scriptures His third Argument Because the right use of the Sacrament is onely and alone with the faithfull they onely have spirituall communion with the Lord in whose remembrance it was instituted My defence to your third Argument In my defence to your