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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	bishop_n	church_n	good_a	1,603	5	3.5505	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49890	Plain dealing, or, Nevves from New-England a short view of New-Englands present government, both ecclesiasticall and civil, compared with the anciently-received and established government of England in some materiall points : fit for the gravest consideratin in these times / by Thomas Lechford ...; Plain dealing	Lechford, Thomas, ca. 1590-1644?	1642 (1642)	Wing L810; ESTC R12846	46,269	88

of the Bishop well assisted be not a great deale better I leave to our superiours to determin● Who denounce Church censures Dic Ecclesiae * This agreeth with the rule in England Admonition Excommunication Cognizance of causes Churches independent ●●fference of rule in Churches Consistory A better Consistory is and may be constituted in England Difference in number of Officers Chappels of ease These you see are necessary in England in some places Prophesying Prophesying or Preaching by Licence It ought not to be otherwaies in England * Universities Cathedrals and Collegiat Churches * 1 Cor. 13.2 The publique worship Every Sunday morning Lords Supper * Once I stood without one of the doores and looked in and saw the administration Besides I have had credible relation of all the particulars from some of the members Afternoone Baptisme Contribution Differences in contributions Admissions Offences Lectures Fasts feasts a And why not set fasting dayes times and set feasts as well as set Synods in the Reformed Churches b And why not holy dayes as well as the fift of November and the dayes of Purim among the Jews Besides the commemoration of the blessed and heavenly mysteries of our ever blessed Saviour and the good examples and piety of the Saints What time is there for the moderate recreation of youth and servants but after divine services on most of those dayes seeing that upon the Sunday it is justly held unlawfull And sure enough at New-England the Masters will and must hold their servants to their labour more then in other Countries well planted is needfull therefore I think even they should doe well to admit of some Holy dayes too as not a few of the wiser sort among them hold necessary and expedient Little reading catechizing c Whereas in England every Sunday are read in publique Chapters and Psalmes in every Church besides the 〈…〉 Commandements Epistle and Gospell the Creed and other good formes and catechizings and besides what is read upon Holy dayes and other dayes both in the parish and Cathedrall and Collegiat Churches in the Universities and other Chappels the benefit whereof doubtlesse all wise men will acknowledge to be exceeding great as well as publique preaching and expounding Dayes and moneths how called Neglect of instructing the Indians Charity * The Covenant of Grace of the New Testament it is true makes the whole universall Church of Christ and every part thereof or at least belongeth thereunto but allowing Churches a Covenant of Reformation tending to the bett●r ordering and well-being of themselves and for other politique respects this is as much as they at New-England can iustly make of their Covenant and some that are judicious among themselves have ackn●wledged it And yet even this unlesse it be made and guided by good counsell and held with dependance and concatenation upon some chiefe Church or Churches may tend to much division and confusion as is obvious to the understanding of those that are but a little versed in study of these points Ecclesia regnans Elections of the Governour chiefe Magistrates Freemen their oath Courts and Laws Actions and causes Grand Juries Tryals Prophanenesse beaten downe * Although some have held that three or two may make a Church yet I have heard Master Cotton say that a Church could not be without the number of sixe or seaven at least and so was their practise while I was th●●e at Weymouth and New Taunton and at Lin for Long Island Because if there are but three one that is offended with another cannot upon cause tel the Church but one man Ministers names Magistrates nam●s Marriages Testaments Administrar Burials * Causes touching Matrimonie and Testaments and other Ecclesiasticall causes have been anciently by the good lawes of England committed to the Clergie upon better grounds then many are aware of Brethren I pray consider well that the Apostle doth allow judgements of controversies to the Church 1 Cor. 6. And so they did anciently in other Countries as well as in England as appeares by S. Augustines profession thereof cited by one lately viz. That he the said Father and other holy men of the Church suffered the tumultuous perplexities of other mens causes touching secular affaires either by determining them by judging or in cutting them off by entreaties which labour saith he we endure with consolation in the Lord for the hope of eternall life To which molestations the Apostle tyed us not by his owne judgement but by his judgement who spake in him Besides should they judge these things and labour for and watch over us in the Lord and not be recompenced as long as they doe well I speak not to countenance undue exactions bribes or other corruptions I intend brevity and therefore make bold to refer my Reader to the many learned arguments both in Law-books and Divinity of this subject Trainings or Musters Grievances Danger New Plymouth Patent M. Raymer M. Smith M. Chancey his controversie * Eccles. 12.11 One shepheard James 3.1 Not many masters Whether this be their ground I know not but what ever there be in others to advise and assist the deciding determining voice I meane also the negative in some cases ought as I think to be in the Pastor Be there never so many Ministers in the Church Doe nothing without your Pastor or Bishop saith Irenaeus for whatsoever is faulty in the Church the Bishop is first and principally blamed Rev. 2. and 3. Taunton M. Hooke M. Streate their ordination M. Doughty his controversie Divers other Towns and Ministers Island Aquedney Master Gorton whipt and banished New Providence M. Blakeston Connecticot Lady Boteler Lady Moody New Haven Long Island Pascattaqua M. Larkham excommunicated A broyle or riot Episcopacie Province of Maigne Exeter Cape Anne Fishing Isles of Shoales and Richmond Isle of Sables Martins Vineyard French and Datch Virginia Maryland Swedes New-found-land Florida State of the Countrey of New-England * Wheat and Barley are thought not to be so good as those grains in England but the Rye and Pease are as good as the English the Pease have no wormes at all Beanes also there are very good Of the Indians M. 〈◊〉 a hopefull Schoolmaster Some late occurrences concerning Episcopacie a Mat. 10.1 Mar. 3.13 Act. 1.4 2.47 8.5.6 9.32 35. 11.19.20.21.26 b Acts 8.14 9.31 11.22.27 13 2.3 14.21.10 28. c Col. 2.5 Act. 11.27 15.36 16.4 d Acts 8.5.14 11.22 27. 13.2 3. e Mat. 28.19 Acts 13.1 2 3. 8.1 f Acts 1.2 3 4. 2.47 13.1 g Act. 1.25 26. h Act. 6 6. 14.23 i Act. 8.14 11.22 k Rom. 10.15 l Act. 6.6 13 3. 1 Tim. 4.14 m Eph. 4.11 Act. 1 25. 8.14 11.22.27 n Rom. 16.1 o 1 Cor. 3.6 p 2 Tim. 1.6 1 Tim. 4 14. compared q 1 Cor. 12.19 29. r 2 Cor. 10.12 to the end s Act. 13.1 2 3 t Act. 1.4 2.47 v As Hierusalem Antioch Ephesus Acts 11.26 u Acts 11.22 x Acts 1.4 15 26. 2.41 y Act. 19.40 Fitzherb N.B. z 1 Cor. 5.3 4. a Acts 15.6 Objection b Iames 5.14 c 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3 Answer d Acts 1.20 e 2 Cor. 11.28 Chap. 10.12 to the end f 2 Cor. 8.12 g Eph. 5.19 1 Cor. 14.26 40 h Mat. 6.9 Sic ergo adirate vos {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Luke 11.2 i Rom. 15.1 k Rom. 12.16 Idipsum in invi●em sentientes non alta sapientes sed humilibus cons●●●ientes {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} but condescending to the humble l Act. 10.24 44 47 48. 16.30 31 32 33. vers. 14 15. m Acts 8.8 12 14. n Acts 10. o Acts 16. p Acts 8. q Acts 18. r Acts 8.13 Act. 2.41 5.1 compared s 1 Tim. 5.22 Titus 2.2 v Pro. 25.3 Eccles. 8.4 10.16 17. u 1 Cor. 4.1 ● 10

people of God who now see the tops of things onely may safely condemne the foundations which we have not seen 36. Whether is there not a difference between bare speculation and knowledge joyned with sound experience and betweene the experience of Divines and people reforming from out of some deepe corruptions in Churches called Christian and the experience of those that have conversed in and about planting and building Churches where there was none before or among Heathens what is art many times without experience 37. Whether those Authors from Hierome to Arch-Bishop Adamson that alledge all Presbyters to be equall and should alwayes have equall power and authority had any great skill or will or experience in the propagation of Churches among heathens or barbarous Nations 38. If not whether their Testimony bee of that validity as is thought by some If they had whether they might not erre 39. Whether messengers sent by Churches or Ministers taking upon them to go to gather or plant Churches and to ordain or give the right hand of fellowship to Ministers in those Churches and to appease differences in Church affairs are not Episcopall acts 40. Is Episcopacie or a superintendencie necessary at New-England and is it not necessary in more populous places Are there not some nay many depths and u mysteries in Gods holy Word the Scriptures and certain Catholique interpretations which transgressed the faith is hurt Is it possible convenient or necessary for all men nay all Ministers to attain the knowledge of those mysteries or to have the like measure of knowledge faith mercifulnesse wisdome patience long suffering courage whereby to be enabled to rule in the Church of God whereto they are educated tryed chosen and ordained and do not the sacred rules and Laws of God of holy Church and of this Kingdome attribute much yea very much trust and confidence to the chief Pastors Leaders and Rulers the Fathers of the Church especially to the Bishops of the prime and Metropoliticall Churches by the assistance of and with and under the supreame Magistrate the chiefe the best cement of government though much be also in other members of the great body the Church to counsell maintaine and preserve the whole in the faith soundnesse peace and unity especially the chief leaders when need requireth Hence what government for Christians in chief but by pious learned Provinciall and Diocesan Bishops especialy in England and Ireland By the just examination of the whole those that are pious and learned may easily gather what good reasons I had and have to returne as now humbly I doe to the Church of England for whose peace purity and prosperity is the daily prayer of one of her most unworthy sons Clements Inne Novemb. 16. 1641. Thomas Lechford To a friend Sir HEre is a good Land and yeelding many good commodities especially fish and furs corne and other richer things if well followed and if that popular elections destroy us not It is a good Land I say that instructs us to repentance when we consider what a good Land we came from what good lawes and government we have left to make experiments of governing our selves here by new wayes wherein like young Physitians of necessity we must hurt and spoile one another a great while before we come to such a setled Common-wealth or Church-government as is in England I thank God now I understand by experience that there is no such government for English men or any Nation as a Monarchy nor for Christians as by a lawfull Ministerie under godly Diocesan Bishops deducing their station and calling from Christ and his Apostles in descent or succession a thing of greater consequence then ceremonies would to God I had known it sooner which while I have in my place stood for here these two years and not agreeing to this new discipline impossible to be executed or long continued what I have suffered many here can tell I am kept from the Sacrament and all place of preferment in the Common-wealth and forced to get my living by writing petty things which scarce finds me bread and therefore sometimes I look to planting of corne but have not yet here an house of my owne to put my head in or any stock going Whereupon I was determined to come back but by the over-entreaty of some friends I here think to stay a while longer hoping that the Lord will shortly give a good issue to things both in our native Country and Scotland and here as well as in all other his Majesties dominions I was very glad to see my Lord Bishop of Exeters Book it gave me much satisfaction If the people may make Ministers or any Ministers make others without an Apostolicall Bishop what confusion will there be If the whole Church or every congregation as our good men think have the power of the keyes how many Bishops then shall we have If every Parish or congregation be so free and independent as they terme it what unity can we expect Glad also was I to see Master Balls Book of the tryall of the grounds of Separation both which are newly come over and I hope will work much good among us here And whereas I was sometimes mis-led by those of opinion that Bishops and Presbyters all Ministers are of the same authority When I came to consider the necessary propagation of the truth and government of the Church by experimentall foot-steps here I quickly saw my error For besides if the congregations be not united under one Diocesan in fit compasse they are in a confusion notwithstanding all their classicall pretendments how can the Gospel be propagated to the Indians without an Apostolicall Bishop If any Church or people by the Kings leave send forth Ministers to teach and instruct the poore Indians in the Christian Religion they must have at least Apostolicall power to ordain Ministers or Elders in every congregation among them and when they have so done they have power of Visitation where they plant Nor can they without just cause be thrust out from government without great impiety and where they have planted that is their line or Diocese Thus I came to see that of necessity a Diocese and Bishop Diocesan is very neere if not altogether of Divine authority I am also of opinion that it were good for our Ministers to learne how to doe this work from some of our reverend Bishops in England for I feare our Ministers know not how to goe about it Whether must not some Ministers learne their language It is a copious language as I am informed and they have as many words to expresse one thing as we have And when they teach Indians to pray will they not teach them by a forme and how can Gods worship be maintained among ignorant persons without a forme I am firme of opinion that the best of us have been much beholding to the Word read and formes of Prayer From Boston in N.E. Iulii 28. 1640. This Gentleman

it is of Acrius it is false and it is confusion The reformed Churches and Writers that held so had little experience of mission to convert plant Churches among Infidels That reformation goes too deep that tends to pulling downe of Cathedrall Churches and Bishops houses Should not Apostolick Bishops and the chiefest Ministers have houses to dwell in and Churches to recide and officiate in whither all the Churches of their Line may send and come together in Councel or Synod and so do nothing of great moment without their Bishop a Timothy or a Titus Again Baptisme is admission and initiation into the Church to whom Baptisme is commited viz. Apostles and Apostolick Ministers they have power of admission that is of loosing and consequently of binding excommunication or expulsion Where is now the peoples power in the keyes are they all Apostles and Apostolick Ministers what confusion is this who can yeeld to it knowingly I beseech you pardon my zeale and when you have considered all pity my condition and pray for me still Well I am assured that master Prynne master Burton would never yeeld to these things especially if they had experience of them It is good for us to see our errours and acknowledge them that we may obtain peace in the day of account Boston 13. Oct. 1640. To another SOrry and grieved we are at the heart to heare of the troublous estate and condition of our native countrey wee here also meete with our troubles and distresses in outward things and some in spirituall matters also Here wants a staple commodity to maintain cloathing to the Colony And for my own particular hitherto I have beene much distressed here by reason I cannot yet so clearely understand the Church proceedings as to yeeld to them there are therein so many difficult considerations that they have sometimes bred great confusion in my thoughts Never since I saw you have I received the Sacrament of the Lords supper I have disputed in writing though to my great hinderance in regard of outward things yet blessed be the Lord to my better satisfaction at the last I never intended openly to oppose the godlyhere in any thing I thought they mistooke but I was lately taken at advantage and brought before the Magistrates before whom giving a quiet and peaceable answer I was dismissed with favour and respect promised me by some of the chiefe for the future Our chiefe difference was about the foundation of the Church and Ministery and what rigid separations may tend unto what is to be feared in case the most of the people here should remaine unbaptized considerations which may trouble the wisest among us Rigid separations never did nor can propagate the Gospell of Christ they can do no good they have done hurt It is dangerous to found Church government on dark uncertain interpretations of Propheticall or other Scriptures foundations ought to be full of evidence demonstration Blessed be the Lord now some of the chiefe leaders of the Churches here hold the Churches in England true Churches and your Ministery lawfull though divers corruptions there may be among you yea some there bee of the chiefe among us that conceive the government by godly Bishops superintendent over others to be lawfull Churches are not perfect in this world We may not for every disagreement in opinion or for slender pretended corruptions separate from the Church separate so once and no end of separation From Boston in N. E. Decem. 19. 1640. To conclude SUppose there are foure sorts of Government which are used in Church as in Common-wealth Monarchicall absolute without Lawes which is tyrannie Monarchicall bounded by Lawes Aristocraticall and Democraticall Episcopall absolute which is Popish tyrannie Episcopall regulated by just Lawes Presbyterian and Congregationall Which of these will all men like and how long Some have well compared the humour of the people in this kind to a merry relation of an old man and his sonne passing through the streets of a City with one horse betweene them First the old man rode then the people found fault with his unkindnesse in that he did not cause his son to ride with him then the young man gets up too now the people say they are both unmercifull to the beast downe comes the old man then the young man is unmannerly to ride and his father walk on foot at last downe goes the young man also and leads the horse then they were both unwise to lead the horse and neither of them to ride Well but alter the inconstant vulgar will if so God grant it be for the better But then consider stories one alteration follows another some have altered sixe times before they were setled againe and ever the people have paid for it both money and bloud Concerning Church-government what the Presbyterian way is and how sutable for Englands Monarchie I leave to the pious experienced Divines to set forth and the Church and State thereof to judge And for the Congregationall independent government whereof I have had some experience give me leave instead of a better intelligencer thus to present to my deare countrey now in a time of neede my impartiall opinion in these confused papers And in brief-thus Although it had some small colour in Scripture and a great pretence of holinesse yet no sound ground in the Scripture Again if it be neither fit nor possible long to bee continued in New-England as not I alone but many more eye and eare witnesses doe know and the learned can and will judge undoubtedly it must needes be much more unfit and impossible to be brought into England or Ireland or any other populous Nation All which upon the whole I humbly submit unto the sacred judgment and determination of holy Church his royall Majesty and his Highnesses great and honourable Councel the high Court of PARLIAMENT Imprimatur Ioh Hansley FINIS How Churches are gathered there Their Church Covenant Election of their Church Officers Their ordinations The right hand of fellowship by messengers of Churches Some differ How members are received or added to the Church there The usuall termes whereupon Matters of offence how heard in private Dilatorie proceedings in admitting members * Whether Popish Auricular confession and these publique confessions be not extremes and whether some private Pastorall or Presbyteriall collation left at liberty upon cause and in case of trouble of conscience as in the Church of England is approved be not better then those extremes I leave to he wise and learned to judge Testimonials and Recommendations Publique confessions of parties to be received Their profession of faith Officers in the Church Their duties or offices Members duties A Sermon of twelve Articles of Religion Master Knolls how admitted Right hand of fellowship given to brethren The whole Church ruleth Their enterance into Covenant Severing in the family Offences how heard in publique The whole Church ruling and usurping the keyes * Whether a grave and judicious consistorie