Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	bishop_n	ecclesiastical_a	power_n	1,653	5	4.9005	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80541	A copie of tvvo vvritings sent to the Parliament. The one intituled motions for reforming of the Church of England in this present Parliament: most taken out of Irenaus Philadelphus. The other a humble petition unto the Parliament, for reforming of the Church of England: all taken out of the holy Scriptures.	Du Moulin, Lewis, 1606-1680. Motions for reforming the Church of England in this present Parliament.	1641 (1641)	Wing C6235; Thomason E238_12; ESTC R2679	18,517	27

be left unto the Church for every one to give according to the blessing which hee hath received of the Lord. And so Christ hath ordained that they which preach the Gospell should live of the Gospell and not by Popish Lordships and Livings or Iewish Tythes and Offerings As for the Law of Tythes it did cease with the change of the Leviticall Preisthood e Heb. 11. It is therefore humbly desired that the Land and revenewes of the Prelates and Cleargie yet remaining may now by this Parliament f 2 Co● 31. D● 17 1● 19.20 Esa 19 23. Ps 3.4 Ez 20.4 5 Pro. 3 10. Rev 17 1● be taken away and converted to better use As those of the Abbyes Nunneries have beene by former Parliaments Their originall beeing one and the same And further it is desired that not the distinction alone of Deanes Archdeacons Parsons Vicars and Readers be taken away but their offices and places also g Rev 11.18.14.8 ● 10.12 16.10 17.18 Chap. 2 Th● 3.8 in regard they are not elected called or ordained according to Gods Word but their entrance into the Ministery is by a Popish and unlawfull vocation strange from the Scriptures and never heard off in the primitive Church 10. No doubt but it is the office duetie of this present Parliament to cherish and protect the true ministers of Christ h Esa 23. 3 10.12 D● 17.14 19 20 Ps 2 11.12 72 and on the other hand to suppresse and root out by their authority all false Ministers and unlawfull Ecclesiasticall functions whatsoever i 2 C● 29 chap Therefore our humble Request is that all Popish Offices entrance administration and maintenance with their Names Titles and Priviledges may be now abolished and that every Christian Congregation may have freedome to enjoy the publick ordinarie ministery of Pastors k Act. 17. 2● Rom ● 7 8 Teachers Elders Deacons and Helpers as those onely which Christ hath appointed in his Testament for the feeding governing and building up of his Church And as every Congregation hath power l Act. 5. 23. 22.2 with 1.15 in Christ to take unto themselves meet and sufficient men into those offices so the Hierarchie and their dependant Offices beeing all unlawfull and Antichristian in the height of jurisdiction and place be taken away an act of Parliament be made that from henceforth these true Ministers which are too much vilified shall have more honour respect then heretofore 11. Howsoever the Papists doe place the power of the Keyes in the Pope the Protestants in the Bishops and the Reformed Churches in the Presbytery Classes and Synods notwithstanding according to the Apostolick institution every particular Congregation m 1 Co 5.4.11.12 13. Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 16.3 2 Cor. 8.19 Act. 18.23 15.23 18.22 hath power in and for it selfe immediately from Christ to exercise Ecclesiasticall government and all other religions Ordinances So that the power of Excommunication is in the body of the Church whereof the parties that are to bee cast out are members And so farre is the power of Ecclesiasticall K●yes from belonging solelie to Bishops and Ministers as that they themselves stand under it For the Congregation which did elect and ordaine them may if the cause so require depose them from the M nistery they exercise n 1 Tim. 3 10. 5 22. Rom. 16.16 Phil. 3 2. 1 Tim. 6.3 5. Eze. 44 12.13 Mat. 18.16 and if they remain obstinate and impenitent orderly cut them off by Excommunication And this is a truth so cleare and manifest viz. that according to the ancient constitution of the primitive Church the power of he ecclesiasticall Keyes is given to the whole body of every Christian Congregation o Ps 122.3 Act. 2.47 Rom. 16.2 Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.4 c. and not to any member apart or to more members sequestred from the whole or to any other Congregation to doe it for them As that the learned on all sides as Papists Lutherans Calvinists Conformists Non-Conformists ancient Writers with the publick Confession of all the Reformed Churches what ever their practice be give Testimony hereto as we have it in our hands to shew if the Parliament be pleased to call for it 12. That there ought to be no Nationall Provintiall or Diocesian Bishops wee have shewed before neither are Churches to be made by the bounds and limits of Parishes for that is an ordinance of man even the man of sin and contrary to the faith and order of the Gospel but to consist of a company of people called and separated from the world by the Word of God p Act. 2.39 19.9 Rom. 1.6.7 10 14 c. and joyned together by voluntary profession of the faith of Christ in the fellowship and practice of the Gospel and therefore no drunkards no whoremongers no prophane persons at least which are known may be received retained or compelled to be members in the Church of Christ q Mat. 3.7 2 Cor. 6.14 Rev. 21. ult num 15 27 22 15. Esa 35.8 9 c. which is his body whereof he is head and his temple wherein hee dwelleth by his Spirit but the House of God must be kept as neare as it is possible free and cleane from all polutions and prophanations whatsoever And to this Church Christ hath given his power to chuse and call into office among themselves such as are fit without going to Synods or Bishops with Presentations of any for that is but a humane device and therefore by the Parliament not to be tolerated 13. That in stead of Lay Elders to sit in Nationall and Provintiall Synods an office that hath no root in Christs Testament let it be appointed by the Parliament that every Christian Congregation shall have free liberty to elect and ordaine as the Word requireth Governours or ruling Elders r Act. ● 28. R● 12.8 Phil. 1. 1 Tim. 17. Ep● 11.12 1 Cor. 28. n● 12.24 2● Exod. 3● 42. De● 1.13 being men of life unreproveable sober gentle loving temperate men of wisedome knowledge and sound judgement that may sit in the Church to see the Congregation holily and quietly ordered discerne between cause and cause plea and plea and accordingly prevent and redresse evils 14. A better course cannot be taken for providing for the poore then that the Ordinance of the Gospel be observed which is that Deacons be chosen in every Congregation ſ Act. 6. 1 Tim 8.9 Ro● 12.8 1 Cor. ● 28. Ph● 1.1 being men of honest report grave temperate not given to excesse nor to filthy lucre let these gather and collect by the ordinance of the Church the goods and benevolence of the faithfull and faithfully distribute the same according to the necessity of the Saints For Church-wardens Side-men and Collectours their offices are unlawfull and hurtfull unlawfull because they are counterfeits of Gods true Officers namely Elders and Deacons also