Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	faith_n	true_a	word_n	2,531	5	4.4807	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A08068	The confession of faith of certayn English people living in exile, in the Low countreyes. Together with a brief note of the speciall heads of those things wherin we differ fro[m] the Church of Engla[n]d.; True confession of the faith, which wee falsely called Brownists, doo hould	Ainsworth, Henry, 1571-1622?; Johnson, Francis, 1562-1618.	1607 (1607)	STC 18435; ESTC S119852	30,939	73

THE CONFESSION of faith of certayn English people living in exile in the Low countreyes Together with a brief note of the special heads of those things wherin we differ frō the Church of Englād 2 Cor. 4 13. We beleev therefore have we spoken Harmony of Confess in the preface set before it in the Name of the French Belgick Churches The Prelates Priests alway cry out that we are Hereticks Schismaticks and Sectaryes Howbeit let them know that the crime of Heresy is not to be imputed to them whose faith doth wholly rely vpon most sure grounds of the Scripture That they are not Schismaticks who entierly cleave to the true Church of God such as the Prophets Apostles do describe vnto vs Nor they to be coūted Sectaryes who embrace the truth of God which is one and alwayes like it self Reprinted in the yeare 1607. To the reverend and learned men Students of holy Scripture in the Christian Vniversities of Leyden in Holland of Sanctandrewes in Scotland of Heidelberg Geneva and other the like famous schooles of learning in the Low countreys Scotland Germany France The English people exiled in the Low coūtreys wish grace and peace in Iesus Christ. THis true Confession of our fayth in our iudgment wholly agreable to the sacred Scripture we here exhibit vnto al to be discussed and vnto you reverend Sirs we dedicate it for two causes First for that we know you are able in respect of your singular knowledg in the Scriptures and hope you are willing in respect of your syncere piety to convince our errours by the light of Gods word if any where we erre out of the way Secondly that this testimony of Christian faith if you also fynd it to agree with the word of truth may by you be approved eyther in silence or by writing as you shal think best It may be we shal be thought very bold that being despised of all yet doubted not to sollicite you so many and so great learned men But this we did partly at the request of others to whom we would not deny it partly with desire to have the truth through your help more defended furder spread abroad partly constreyned by our exile other calamities almost infinite partly also moved with love of our native countrey and of these wherein now we live and others else where wishing that al may walk with a right foot to the truth of ehe G●sspel praying daily vnto God that the great work of restoring religion the Church decayed which he hath happily begun in these latter tymes by our Gracious Soveraigne and the other Princes of these countreyes ages his servants he would fully accomplish to the glorie of his name ●ternal salvation in Christ of his elect in al places of the earth Touching the causes which moved vs to publish this Confession of faith to forsake the Church of Eugland as now it standeth we have truly as briefly as we could related them in the Preface to the Reader hereafter following therefore thought here to omit the repetition of them The Lord Iesus alway preserve you your Vniversityes to the prayse of his name the ornament of good learning th● propagation maintenance of his pure Religion From Amsterdam in the low countreyes The yeare of the last patience of the saints 1598. ❧ The preface to the Christian Reader IT may seem strange vnto thee Christian Reader that any of the Englysh nation should for the truth of the Gospell be forced to forsake their native country live in exile especially in these dayes when the Gospel seemeth to have free passage florish in that land And for this cause have our exile ben hardly thought of by many and evil spoken of by some who know not as it seemeth eyther the trew estate of the Church of England or causes of our forsaking and separation from the same but hearing this sect as they call it to be every where spoken against have without all further search accounted and divulged vs as heretickes or Schismatickes at the least Yea some and such as worst might have sought the increase of our afflictions even here also if they could which thing they have both secretly and openly attempted This hath Sathan added vnto all our former sorrowes envying that we should have rest in any part of the inhabited world and therfore ceaseth not to make warre with the remnant of the womans seed which keep the comcōmaundements of God and the testimony of Iesus Christ. But the Lord that brought his former Israel out of Egypt when they walked about from nation to nation from one Kingdome to an other people suffered no man to do them wrong but reproved Kinges for their sakes the same Lord yet liveth to mainteyn the right of his afflicted servantes whō he hath severed and dayly gathereth out of the world to be vnto himself a chosen generation a royal priesthood a peculiar people Israell of God He is our hope and strength and help in troubles ready to be found he will hyde vs vnder his winges and vnder his feathers we shall be sure vntill these miseries be overpast And though we could for our partes wel have borne this rebuke of Christ in silence aud left our cause to him who iudgeth iustly al the children of men yet for the manifestation clearing of the truth of God from reproches of men and for the bringing others together with our selves to the same knowledg and fellowship off the Gospel we have thought it needfull our duty to make knowen vnto the world our vnfeyned fayth in God and loyall obedience towards our Prince and all Governers set over vs in the Lord together with the reasons of our leaving the Ministery worship and Church of England Which are not as they pretend for some few faultes corcorruptions remayning such as we acknowledg may be found in the perfectest Church on earth Neyther count wee it lawfull for any member to forsake the fellowship off the Church for blemishes and imperfections which every one according to his calling should studiously seek to cure and to exspect and further it vntill eyther there follow redresse or the disease be growe incureable the candlestick be moved out of the place But we having through Gods mercy learned to discerne betwixr the true worship of God the Antichristiā leitourgy the true ministery of Christ Antichristiā prelacy the ordināces of Christs testament Popish canons have also learned to leave the evill choose the good to forsake Babell the land of our captivitie get vs vnto Sion the mount of the Lordes holynes and place where his honour dwelleth But first we desire thee good Reader to vnderstand and mynd that we have not in any dislyke of the Civill estate and politick government in that Common wealth which we much like and love separated our selves from

Cathedrall and Parishionall Assemblies in this confusion are a strange Antichristian Ministerie and Offices and are not that Ministerie above named instituted in Christs Testament nor placed in or over his Church XXX These their Popish Offices Entrance Administration and Maintenance with their names titles privileges prerogatives also the power and rule they vsurp over and in these Ecclesiasticall assemblies over the whole Ministration and affaires therof yea one over another creating Priests citing suspēding silencing deposing absolving excommunicating c Their confounding of Ecclesiasticall Civill jurisdiction causes and procedings in their persons Courts Cōmissions Visitations the Priests of lesse rule taking their Ministery from exercising it vnder them by their prescription limitation swearing Canonical obedience vnto thē administring by their devised imposed stinted popish Leitourgie c. Finally the dispensations which they vse for Plurality of benefices licences of Non residency Licences to mary and eat flesh both which with them are on certain dayes tymes forbidden c These we say are sufficient proofes of the former assertion the particulars therin being duly examined by compared to the rules of Christs Testament Not to speak here of their private Baptisme of the signe of the Crosse vsed in Baptisme of questions propounded to the infants of the Priests surplice prayer over the dead at buriall kneeling at the Lords supper and other the like popish corruptions almost infinite reteyned and allowed among them XXXI These Ecclesiastical Assemblies remayning thus in confusion bondage vnder this Antichristian Ministerie Courts Canons worship Ordinances c. without freedom and power to redresse any enormitie among them cannot be said in this confusion and subiection truly to have Christ their Prophet Priest and King neither can be in this estate whilest we judg them by the rules of Gods word estemed the true visible orderly gathered or cōstituted Churches of Christ whereof the faithful may become or stād Members or have anie spirituall communion with them in their publick worship and Administration XXXII Therfore are al that will be saved bound by Gods commandement with speed to come forth of this Antichristian estate leaving the suppression of it vnto the Magistrate to whom it belongeth And all such also as have received or exercised any of these false Offices or any pretended function or Ministerie in or to this false and Antichristian constitution are willingly in Gods feare to give over aud leave those vnlawfull Offices and no longer to minister in this maner to these assemblies in this estate Neyther may any of what sort or conditiō soever give any part of their goods Lands Money or money worth to the maintenance of this false Ministerie and worship vpon any cōmandement or vnder any colour whatsoever XXXIII And being come forth of this Antichristiā-estate vnto the freedom true profession of Christ besides the instructing and well guyding of their owne families they are willingly to ioyne together in Christian communion and orderly covenant and by free confession of the faith obedience of Christ to vnite themselves into peculiar visible Congregations wherin as mēbers of one body wherof Christ is the only head they are to worship and serve God according to his word remēbring to keep holy the Lords day XXXIIII Then also such to whom God hath given gifts to interpret the Scriptures tryed in the exercise of Prophecy attending to studie and learning may and ought by the appointment of the Congregation to prophesie according to the proportion of faith and so to teach publickly the word of God for the edification exhortation and comfort of the Church Vntill such tyme as the people be meet for and God manifest men with able gifts and fitnes to such Office or Offices as Christ hath appointed to the publick Ministerie of his Church But no Sacraments to be administred vntil the Pastors or Teachers be chosen and ordeined into their Office XXXV And then wheresoever there shall be a people fit and men furnished with meet and necessary gifts they are not onely still to continue the exercise of Prophesy aforesayd but also vpon due tryal to proceed vnto choyce and ordination of Officers for the Ministery and service of the Church according to the rule of Gods word so hold on stil to walk forward in the wayes of Christ for their mutuall edification and comfort as it shall please God to give knowledg and grace therevnto And particularly that such as be of the seed or vnder the government of any of the Church be even in their infancie received to Baptisme and made partakers of the signe of Gods covenant made with the Faithful their seed throughout all generations And that al of the Church that are of yeares and able to examine themselves d● communicate also in the Lords supper both men and women and in both kinde● bread and wine In which clements as also in the water of baptisme even after they are consecrate there is neyther transubstantiation into nor consubstantiation with the body and blood of Iesus Christ whom the heavens must conteyn vntil the time that all things be restored But they are in the ordinance of God signes and seales of Gods everlasting covenant with vs representing offring to all the receivers but exhibiting only to the true beleevers the Lord Iesus Christ al his benefits vnto righteousnes sanctification and eternal lyfe through faith in his name to the glorie and prayse of God XXXVI Thus being rightly gathered established stil proceeding in Christian cōmunion and obedience of the Gospell of Christ none is to separate for faults and corruptiōs which may so long as the Church consisteth of mortall men will fall out arise among them even in true constituted Churches but by due order to seeke redres●e thereof XXXVII Such as yet see not the truth may not withstanding heare the publik doctrine and prayers of the church and with a meeknes are to bee sought by al meanes Yet none who are growen in yeares may be received into their cōmunion as members but such as do make confession of their faith publickly desiring to be received as members and promising to walk in the obedience of Christ. Neyther any infants but such as are the seed of the faithfull by one of the parents or vnder their education and government And further not any from one congregation to be received members in another without bringing certificate of their former estate present purpose XXXVIII And although the particular Congregations be thus distinct and severall bodies every one as a compact and knit citie in it self yet are they al to walke by one and the same rule and by all meanes convenient to have the counsel and help one of another in all needfull affaires of the Church as members of one body in the common faith

vnder Christ their onely head XXXIX It is the office and duty of Princes Magistrates who by the ordinance of God are supreme governours vnder him over all persons and causes within their Realmes and dominions to suppresse and root out by their authoritie al false Ministeries voluntarie religions counterfeit worship of God to abolish and destroy the Idol Temples Images Altars Vestments all other monuments of Idolatry and superstition and to take and convert to their own civill vses not only the benefit of all such idolatrous buildings and monuments but also the Revenues Demeanes Lordships Possessions Gleabes and Maintenance of any false Ministeries and vnlawfull ecclesiasticall functions whatsoever within their dominions And on the other hand to stablish and mainteyn by their lawes every part of Gods word his Christian Religion pure worship and true Ministery described in his word to cherish and protect all such as are careful to worship God according to his word and to lead a godly lyfe in al peace and loyalty yea to enforce al their subjects whether Ecclesiasticall or Civil to do their dutyes to God and men protecting mainteining the good punishing and restreyning the evil according as God hath commaunded whose Lieutenants they are here on earth XL. And thus the protectiō cōmandement of the Princes and Magistrates maketh it much more peaceable though no whit at all more lawfull to walke in the wayes and ordinances of Iesus Christ which he hath commanded his Church to keep without spot and vurebukeable vntill his appearing in the end of the world And in this behalf therefore the brethren thus mynded and proceding as is before said are both cōtinually to supplicate to God and as they may to their Princes Governors that thus vnder thē they may lead a quiet and peaceable lyfe in al godlines and honestie XLI And if God encline the Magigstrates hearts to the allowance and protection of the Church therein it ought to be accoūted a singular happy blessing of God who grāteth such noursing Fathers Mothers to his Church And it behoveth al to be careful to walk worthie so great a mercy of God in all thankfulnes and obedience XLII But if God withold the Magistrates allowance furtherance herein yet must wee notwithstanding proceed together in Christian covenant cōmunion thus to walke in the obedience of Christ and confession of his faith and Gospel even through the middest of all tryalls afflictiōs not accounting our goods lands wives children Fathers Mothers brethren sisters no nor our lives dear vnto vs so as wee may finish our course with joy remembring alwayes that we ought to obey God rather then man grounding vpon the commandement commission promise of our Saviour Christ who as he hath all power in heaven and in earth so hath also promised if we keep his commandements which hee hath given without limitation of tyme place Magistrates allowance or disallowance to be with vs vnto the end of the world and when we have finished our course and kept the faith to give vs the crown of righteousnes which is layd vp for all that love his appearing XLIII Vnto al men is to be given whatsoever is due vnto them Tributes Customes and all other such lawfull accustomed dutyes ought willingly and orderly to be payed and performed Our lands goods and bodyes to be submitted in the Lord to the Magistrates pleasure And the Magistrates themselves every way to be acknowledged reverenced and obeyed according to godlines not because of wrath onely but also for conscience sake And finally all men so to be estemed and regarded as is due and meet for their place age estate and condition XLIIII And thus we labour to giue vnto God y t which is Gods vnto Cesar that which is Cesars and vnto all men that which belongeth vnto them Endevoring our selves to have alwayes a cleare conscience towards God and towards men And having hope in God that the resurrection of the dead shal be of the just vnto life of the vnjust vnto condemnation everlasting Now if any take this to be heresie then do we with the Apostle freely confesse that after the way which they call heresie we worship God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ beleeving all things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets and Apostles and whatsoever is according to this rule of truth published in our owne countrey or holden by any reformed Churches in their Confessions abroad in the world We do also reiect and detest all straunge and heretical opinions doctrines of all Hereticks both old and new whatsoever XLV Finally whereas we are much slaundered and traduced as if we denyed or misliked that forme of prayer commonly called the Lords prayer we thought it needful here also cōcerning it to make known that we beleev and acknowledg it to be a most absolute and most excellent forme of prayer such as no men nor Angels can set downe the like And that it was taught and appointed by our Lord Iesus Christ not that we should be tyed to the vse of those very words but that we should according to that rule make all our requests and thankesgiving vnto God forasmuch as it is a perfect forme patterne conteining in it plaine sufficient directions of prayer for all occasions necessities that have ben are or shal be to the Church of God or any member therof to the end of the world Now vnto him that is able to keep vs that woe fal 〈◊〉 and to present vs faultlesse before the presence of his glory with ioy that is to God only wise our Saviour be glory and maiestie and dominion power both now 〈◊〉 for ever Amen ¶ The heads of the differences between vs and the Church of England as it standeth at this day concerning divers corruptions of Antichrist yet remayning among them I. THat Christ the Lord hath by his last Testament given to his Church and set therein sufficient ordinary Offices with the maner of calling or Entrance Works and Maintenance for the administration of his holy things and for the sufficient ordinary instruction guydance service of his Church to the end of the world 2. That every particular Church hath like full interest power to enioy and practise all the ordinances of Christ given by him to his Church to be observed therein perpetually 3. That a true visible Church is a company of people called and separated from the world by the word of God and ioyned together by voluntarie profession of the faith of Christ in the fellowship of the Gospell And that therefore no prophane persons vnbeleevers or wicked livers may be received reteyned or c●̄pelled to be members in the Church of Christ which is his body God having in all ages appointed made a separation of his people from the world before the Law vnder