Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	body_n	church_n	member_n	1,786	5	7.7946	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90063	Irenicum; or, An essay towards a brotherly peace & union, between those of the congregational and presbyterian way; shewing out of the most learned and renowned divines of the congregational way, that their positions concerning 1. Church matters and members. 2. Church constitution and form. 3. Church state. 4. Church officers and ordination. 5. Church government and censures. 6. Church combinations and synods. 7. Communion with and separation from churches. are sufficient for the establishing a firme and lasting peace between them and the Presbyterians ... In pursuance of the good design begun at the Savoy, where it was agreed, and declared, that such reforming churches as consist of persons sound in the faith, and of conversation becoming the Gospel, ought not to refuse the communion of each other ... Drawn up and published by Discipulus de Tempore Junior.	Newcomen, Matthew, 1610?-1669.; D. T.	1659 (1659)	Wing N910; Thomason E978_1; ESTC R202985	58,516	89

engaging of the people to reformation by Edward the sixth and Queen Elizabeth had the vertue of a covenant to constitute the Church See Chapter second answer to question the fourth Therefore much more the late solemn league and covenant 6. Peoples ordinary and fixed attending together upon one Ministery and joyning ordinarily together in the duties of publike worship hath the nature and vertue of a Church covenant See chap. 2. answ to quest 4. And therefore they who most urge the necessity of a covenant cannot condemn our Parochial assemblies as no Churches for want of such a covenant 7. The work now to do in England is not to make Churches where none are but to reduce them to their primitive institution See chap. 2. answ to quest 5. Therefore they who have troubled themselves and the Church so much with constituting and gathering new Churches have troubled themselves and others with a work they have nothing to do withall and so have cause to fear that the Lord Christ will say unto them another day Who hath required this at your hands CHAP. III. Of Church State Question 1. WHat think you of the Assemblies and Congregations of England Answ The faithful Congregations in England are true Churches of Christ Mr. Hooker Survey of discipline preface a 3. Mr. Hooker Quest 2. But what is meant by faithful congregations Answ 1. There is the nature of a true visible Church where the word of God is purely preached Mr. Cotton the Sacraments duely administred with discipline also according to the word of God But then the Sacrament must not be administred to undue persons such as are the ignorant and scandalous nor the ignorant and scandalous must not be admitted into the Church if discipline be rightly administred yea though all these do not concur joyntly yet the essence of a true Church may be found though defective for integrity Mr. Cotton Holinesse of church-members pag. 10. line 17. 2. For where there hath been a Church that hath yeelded professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ then in case a settled Ministry be continued there God still continues a true visible Church there Mr. Cotton holiness of Church-members pag. 5. line 12. And the essence of a true visible Church is preserved though there be found in it some hypocrites and some notoriously scandalous both in judgement and practice Mr. Cotton holiness of Church-members p. 19. l. 1. 3. Neither doth the hypocrisie of sundry members of the Church and the toleration of some open scandals presently take away the nature of the Church Mr. Cotton holiness of Church-members pag. 2. line 8. 4. For the members of the Church though orderly constituted may in time grow corrupt which though they ought not to be tolerated in the Church yet their continuance therein through the defect of the execution of discipline and Church-censures doth not immediately dissolve the being of the Church as appears in the Church of Israel and in the Churches of Galatia Corinth Pergamus and Thyatira Platform of discipline from New England chap. 3. sect 3. 5. Yea if all the members of the Church should make but an hypocritical ignorant and verbal profession of Christ and faith in him yet I will not deny but such a society may have the name of a Church and thus far the nature of it that the actions thereof are not null Mr. Cotton holiness of Church-members p. 62. l. 33. Quest 3. But there are many precious promises made to and many glorious things spoke of the Church of Christ and can they be truely applied to such a Church as this Answ Look what promises are made to the invisible Church Mr. Cotton they are for their sakes offered to all the members of the visible whereof the lively are the chief Mr. Cotton of infant baptisme p. 6. l. 9. 2. It is one thing to prophesie of the transcendent glorious happiness of an exact pure Church in some age of it another to command and foretell the perpetual continuance of it in such a degree of purity Mr. Cotton of infant bapt p. 134. l. 20. Quest 4. But were it not better therefore to gather the Saints those that are really gracious and holy into bodies by themselves separate from the rest that are corrupt members Answ This were upon the point to cast them upon supposal that these corrupt members be such as receive her membership in their infancy out of the Church Mr. Cotton and the Lord hath allowed but two causes for the casting off any person out of the Church first obstinacy persisted in after the admonition fo● an offence first private Mat. 18.17 Secondly breaking ou● into some heinous crime against the light of nature 1 Cor. 5.11 Mr. Cotton holiness of church-Church-members p. 56. l. 21. Quest But if such members as these are be not to be cast out nor withdrawn from what is to be done Answ Such as are born of Christian parents and baptized in their infancy into the fellowship of the Church Mr. Cotton are initiated members of the same Church though destitute of spiritual grace untill they justly deprive themselves of the priviledge of that fellowship for even of such is the Kingdom of God Mark 10.14 Mr. Cotton holiness of Church-members pag. 1. line 16. 2. Such members of the Church as were born in the same and received their membership in their infancy by vertue of the covenant of their parents when growing to years of discretion they desire to be made partakers of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper unto which because holy things are not to be given to the unworthy therefore it is requisite that these as well as others should come to their tryal and examination and manifest their faith and repentance by an open profession thereof before they be received to the Lords Supper or otherwise not to be admitted thereto Platform of discipline from New England chap. 12. sect 7. 3. Yet these Church members that were so born or received in their child-hood before they are capable of being made partakers of full communion have many priviledges which others not Church-members have not they are in covenant with God have the seal thereof upon them to wit baptisme and so if not regenerate are in a more hopeful way of attaining regenerating grace and all the spiritual blessings both of the covenant and seal they are also under Church-watch and so consequently subject to the reprehensions admonitions and censures thereof for their healing and amendment as need shall require Platform of discipline chap. 12. sect 7. Infants though born in the Church yet if when they grow up to years they shall degeenrate into a prophane or scandalous course they shall not be tolerated to abide in the Church yea if they shall not take hold of the covenant of their fathers but content themselves in an ignorant civil worldly course of life they shall not be allowed to enter into the holy communion with the sincere members

IRENICVM OR AN ESSAY Towards a Brotherly PEACE VNION Between those of the Congregational And Presbyterian Way Shewing out of the most Learned and Renowned Divines of the Congregational Way that their Positions Concerning 1. Church Matters and Members 2. Church Constitution and Form 3. Church State 4. Church Officers and Ordination 5. Church Government and Censures 6. Church Combinations and Synods 7. Communion with and Separation from Churches Are sufficient for the establishing a firme and lasting Peace between them and the Presbyterians Drawn up and published by Discipulus De Tempore Junior In pursuance of the good design begun at the Savoy where it was agreed and declared That such Reforming Churches as consist of Persons sound in the Faith and of Conversation becoming the Gospel ought not to refuse the communion of each other so far as may consist With their own principles respectively though they walk not in all things according to the same Rules of Church Order Canon 29. London Printed for Nathanael Webb and William-Grantham at the black Bear in Pauls Church-yard near the little North-door 1659. THE Preface BUt who would write Irenicums seeing they who attempt it reap usually no other fruit then he who running in between two men that are a fighting with an honest intent to part them and make them friends brings both their fists about his own ears or turns both their swords into his own bosome and maketh them both his enemies at least the prevailing party and he that thinks he hath the better of the cause will take it exceedingly ill as the Lutherans do Pareus his Irenicum which some of them call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Scotch non Conformists the Irenicum of their Country man Forbes The consideration of this made the Collector of these Papers though often sollicited with thoughts of that he hath now attempted to lay them by till being a little awakened first with the report of some thing towards an accommodation of dissenting parties endeavoured and as they say effected in Cumberland and Westmerland and in other Counties and with an expectation of some thing that was agreed by the Congregational way in their meeting at the Savoy that might conduce to that end he judged it now seasonable to present these Papers to publike view that he might suum conferre symbolum If this may procure a right understanding and composing of the differences between brethren the Collector hath his desire and reward if it fail and miss that end yet he hopes his reward is with the Lord having this testimony in his own conscience that in singleness of heart he hath managed this cause not knowingly or willingly falsifyng and wresting the words of those reverend men whom he cites from which crime if his own protestation be not enough to clear him thou shalt by and by Reader have the deposition of two sufficient witnesses If thou wilt not believe them neither get the Books and trust thine own eyes If any say these authors elsewhere express themselves otherwise all that I answer is that my design and work was not to reconcile them to themselves but if I could to their Presbyterian Brethren which how far it is done read but read with understanding and without prejudice and then judge Thine in the Lord D. T. The Attestation WE have examined all the several Quotations here alledged by the Books out of which they were taken and finde them to be punctually and syllabically true and that there is no falsification nor violation of them and this we being persons no wayes interested in the controversies between the Presbyterian and Congregational Brethren nor engaged to either Party Testifie under our hands L. K. R. N. To the Judicious Reader AMongst the manifold divisions both in Church and State whereby England hath been and still is damnified and endangered the doleful differences betwixt Presbyterians and Independants are not the least nor least lamented by gracious hearts as in other respects so because the loud noise thereof both from the Pulpit and the Press doth cause their adversaries sinfully to rejoyce 2 Sam. 1.20 In this regard the Popish the prophane and Prelatical party do encourage their hopes that the good work of Covenanted Church-Reformation in England Scotland and Ireland will ere long wither and come to nothing True it is that as neither kingdom nor house so no other society divided against it self can stand Mark 3.24 25. for division maketh way for dissipation Gen. 49.7 Upon this account in pursuance of that Machivilian Maxim Divide impera the Jesuited Papist and the self-seeking Statist do vigorously endeavor to maintain and encrease our divisions in matters of Religion at this day errors and contentions which are like tares hindring the growth of grace amongst Christians Mat. 13.23 are sowed by the Divel their implacable enemy And it is an expression of great displeasure from the Lord when the evil spirit is sent or suffered so far to prevail upon them which should be one in mutual amity that they in passion deal treacherously one with another Judg. 9.23 As it cannot be denyed but that animosities causing sad separations may be found amongst good men For the contention between Paul and Barnabas was so sharpe that they departed asunder one from the other so experience amongst our selves confirmeth Act. 15.39 what Solomon long since asserted A brother offended is harder to win than a strong City and their contentions are like the bars of a Palace In the late Assembly of Divines called together by Authority of Parliament many hours yea days were run up in serious debates that the Presbyterians and their dissenting brethren might be reconciled in matters of Church discipline And since that time many books have been publish't by godly Ministers of both perswasions to drive on that good design but the end intended hath not hitherto been accomplisht Now the good hand of the Almighty the God of Peace hath stirred up the heart of a faithful and able Minister of the Gospel whose name would adde authority to this work though he see cause to conceal it in a new way to attempt a brotherly agreement His design is to stitch up our rents and to heal our breaches by discovering the concessions and positions of the chief Patrons of the Congregational way that in reference to Church constitution of members and officers and in reference to Church administrations by Classes and Synods there is not so great opposition betwixt the Presbyterians and them as the Independent Brethren here amongst us do pretend and publish And let the indifferent Reader who is not byassed with prejudice and partiality judge whether there be not much ingenuity with meeknesse of wisdom and solidity of judgement in the Narrative and inferences herein tendred without any unbrotherly reflections or bitter exasperations The whole Treatise both in regard of the matter and manner of managing it speaketh the Author to be a man of