Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	work_n	work_v	write_v	138	4	5.3337	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A68614	The unbishoping of Timothy and Titus. Or A briefe elaborate discourse, prooving Timothy to be no bishop (much lesse any sole, or diocæsan bishop) of Ephesus, nor Titus of Crete and that the power of ordination, or imposition of hands, belongs jure divino to presbyters, as well as to bishops, and not to bishops onely. Wherein all objections and pretences to the contrary are fully answered; and the pretended superiority of bishops over other ministers and presbyters jure divino, (now much contended for) utterly subverted in a most perspicuous maner. By a wellwisher to Gods truth and people.	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1636 (1636)	STC 20476.5; ESTC S114342	135,615	241

argument that he was in truth no Bishop but rather an Euangelist as hee is expresly stiled 2. Tim. 4 5. Doe the worke of an Euangelist 2. Secondly Because he was S. Paules Associate Copartner Brother and fellow-helper in his Apostolicall function whence he often stiles him his Brother his fellow-worker and conjoynes him with him in the Prologue the inscription of most of his Epistles which are written in both their names witnes 2. Cor. 1 1 c. 4 17. 2. Cor. 1 1 19. Col. 1 1 1. Thes 1 1 c. 3 2. 2. Thes 1 1. Phil. 1 1 c. 2 19. Rom. 16 21. Heb. 13 23. Timothy therefore being a Copartner with S. Paul in his Apostle-ship or Apostolicall function superior in degree to the Episcopall office as is apparant by Ephes 4. 11. 1. Cor. 12. 18. and the generall consent of all men it is not probable that hee would devest himselfe of his Apostolicall Iurisdiction to become an inferior Bishop or relinquish a Superior to take up an inferior degree Who ever saw of late any Archbishop or Bishop to deny himselfe of his Archiepiscopall or Episcopall preeminency to be made a poore Country Vicar or Curate And can we then conjecture that Timothy would relinquish his Apostleship for an Ephesian Bishop-pricke or else hold it by way of Commendam with his Apostleship Commendams being not of such antiquity and a meere late Popish innovation or descend from an Evangelist-ship to a Bishop-ricke 3. Thirdly because Timothy was ever either accompanying S. Paul in his Travels or bonds as his fellow-helper minister and assistant or else sent by him from one Church to another as his Messenger Delegate or College to establish comfort and instruct them being never long resident in any one fixed place or Church as all Bishops were We read Acts 16 1 usque 12. That Timothy came first of all to Paul when hee was at Derbe and Listra Paul then taking him to goe forth with him and that they went both together through the Churches of Phrygia Galatia Asia Mysia and at last came to Philippy where hee abode with Paul and from thence wrote the first Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians as the Postscript manifests In which Epistle hee writes thus unto them 1 Cor. 16 10. Now if Timotheus come see that hee may be with you without feare for he worketh the worke of the Lord as I also doe And c. 4 17. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus who is my beloved Sonne and faithfull in the Lord who shall bring you into remembrance of my wayes which be in Christ as I teach everywhere in every Church By which it is apparant that Timothy was sent by Paul from Philippi to Corinth after this Epistle to instruct them Where he continuing a while repaired againe to Paul to Philippi and there joynes with Paul in the second Epistle to the Corinthians written in both their names 2. Cor. 1. 1. informing them in the 19. verse That the Sonne of God Jesus Christ who was preached among them by us even by me Sylvanus and Timotheus was not yea and nay but in him was yea By which it is evident that Timothy had before this second Epistle written preached Iesus Christ among the Corinthians by Pauls appointment After which Paul remooving from Philippy Timothy accompanied him to Thessalonica and B 〈…〉 a where hee abode till Paul came to Athens from whence hee sent a commaund to Timothy to Berea to come to him with all speed to Athens where hee stayed for him Acts. 17 13 14 15 16. Which he did accordingly joyning with Paul in the first and second Epistle to the Thessalonians written from Athens in both their names 1. Thess 1. 1. 2. Thes 1. 1. yea whiles Paul stayed at Athens hee sent Timothy from thence to the Thessalonians to establish and comfort them concerning their faith that they should not be mooved by their afflictions where he continuing for a space came from them againe to Paul to Athens bringing him good tidings of their faith and charity 1. Thes 3 1. to 7. After this hee remooveth with Paul to Corinth from thence being sent into Macedonia hee came againe to Paul unto Corinth Acts. 18 5 from whence Paul writing his Epistle to the Romans remembers the salutation of Timotheus his Worke-fellow to the Romans among others Rom. 16 11. After this Paul remooving to Ephesus sent Timotheus Erastus two of them who there ministred unto him into Macedonia himselfe staying in Asia for a season Acts. 19 20. From whence Paul afterwards passed into Macedonia Grece then returning into Asia Timotheus others accompanied him and going before taried for him at Troas Acts 20 4 5. Whether Paul sent for the Elders and Bishops of the Church of Ephesus giving them a strict and severe charge to take heed to themselves and to all the flocke over which the holy Ghost had made them Bishops to feed the Church of God which he had purchased with his owne blood v. 17. 28. c. A taske fitter for Timothy to enjoyne them had he beene their Diocaesan then Paul and a charge more meet for Timothy to receive then they had he then beene Bishop of the See of Ephesus who being so neare Ephesus should have accompanied these Elders of his Church to Ephesus when Paul dismissed them rather then have left his flocke at randome after so strict a charge to feed them But yet though the Elders went backe to their Cures from Miletus Timothy did not so for from thence hee accompanied Paul to Jerusalem Acts. 21 15 16 17. and from thence to Rome For the Epistle to the Colossians written from Rome is penned in both their names Col. 1 1. and the Epistle to the Hebrewees as the Postscript testifieth was written to the Hebrewes from Italy by Timothy where Timothy was for a while imprisoned and then set at liberty Heb. 13. 23. After which Paul writes his Epistle to the Philipptans from Rome where hee was in bondes at which time Timothy was present with him joyning in this Epistle Philip. 1. 1. informing the Philippians that hee trusted to send Timotheus shortly unto them that hee also might be of good comfort when he should know their estate Philip 2 19. whether Timothy being sent by him as is most probable Paul wrote his second Epistle to him at his second appearing before Nero charging him to doe his diligence to come shortly to him before winter 2. Tim. 4 9 21. he being then not at Ephesus but at Troas or Philippi as is apparant by 2. Tim. 4 12 13. and Philip. 2 19. Timothy therefore thus ever accompanying Paul in his Travels and Bondes and traveling from one Church to another by his appointment and mission never keeping any fixed residence in any one place much lesse at Ephesus could not be Bishop or Presbyter of any particular Church the Apostles instituting no non-resident Bishops or Elders but such onely as

sinne upon him Levit. 19. 17. Prov. 9 8. Eccles 9 5. and so is every Magistrate to doe Nehem. 13. 11. to 31. Psal 141. 5. This therefore is no argument of any Episcopall Jurisdiction the rather because this rebuke was to be publikely in the Church before all not in a private Chamber or Consistory Court as all Expositors accord in which our Bishops pronounce their Censures Obj. 5. The fift argument to proove Timothy a Bishop is the 1 Tim. 5 19. Against an Elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses Hee had power to receive an accusation against Ministers that so hee might correct them therefore hee was a Bishop Answ 1. I answer first that this is a meere Non sequitur For 1. Hee might have this power to receive such accusations as an Euangelist and Paules Coadjutor Secondly As Paules Delegate or Officiall as our Bishops Officialls Vicars and Chauncellors now exercise Episcopall Iurisdiction under them as their substitutes onely not by any inherent Episcopall dignity or authority in themselves Thirdly Hee might doe it by the appointement and mutuall consent of the people who had power in all cases of difference to constitute any man a Iudge though no Bishop 1. Cor. 6 1 to 7. Fourthly Hee might doe it onely as an Elder Elders having power to rule well 1. Tim. 5. 17. and so by consequence to receive accusations and to correct delinquents by reproofes or Ecclesiasticall Censures with the consequent of the Congregation 1 Cor. 5 4 5. 11 12 c. 6 1 to 7. Gal. 6 1. 2. Thessal 3. 14 15. Fifthly I had almost added that hee might have done it as an Ecclesiasticall Commissioner but that I considered that hee was not so much as to receive an accusation against an Elder but under two or three witnesses at least first examined and our Ecclesiasticall Commissioners and Bishops are so farre from this divine Apostolicall precept by which they would proove Timothy and themselves to be Bishops Iure divino that they will pursevante silence suspend imprison Ministers and Elders and put them to selfe accusing one ex officio oathes and upon every jealosie suspition and private accusation of any drunkard rascall or without two or three witnesses or accusers first examined against them and brought face to face A direct proofe that neither they nor their proceedings are Iure divino Answ 2. Secondly I answer that by Elder in this text as many conceive is not meant a Presbyter or Minister but an ancient man as it is taken in the first verse of the chapter so as it prooves not that Timothy had any Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction over the Elders that were Ministers of Ephesus who ruled that Church v. 17. and ●w 〈…〉 Bishops of it Acts. 20 28. Where Paul enjoynes them to take heed to themselves as having no Superintendent paramount them not giving Timothy any charge to take heed to them Thirdly Admit these Elders were Ministers yet Timothy had no judiciary p●wer over them to suspend or correct them since v. 〈◊〉 hee is expresly enjoyned not to rebuke an Elder but intreat him as a Father which is farre from giving him any such Episcopall Iurisdiction over them as our Bishops now exercise and usurpe using godly Ministers and ra●ing them rather like dogs and scullions then Elders Fourthly The words are not that hee should not excommunicate suspend convent or censure an Elder but that hee should not receive an accusation against him but before two or three witnesses Now to condemne or censure is one thing to receive an accusation another The first not but a Iudge or cheife officer can doe the second every register clerke informer or under officer Yea every private Christian is capable to receive an accusation and every ordinary Minister too against another superior to him in age estate or place either privately to admonish him that is accused of his fault or to reproove him for it or to counsell him how to repent and redresse it or to comfort him if hee be dejected with it or to informe against him to the Magistrate or whole Congregation or to pray to God for his amendement Math. 18. 15. 16. 17. Levit. 19. 7. Gal. 6. 1. 2. Thess 3. 14. 15. 1. Tim. 5. 20. 24. Tit. 1. 10. to 14. 2. Iohan. 10. 11. Iud. 22. 23. which well expound this text Fifthly The true meaninge of this text is this that Timothy and other Christians of what quality soever especially Ministers should not lightly receive or beleeve any ill report cheifly of an Elder or Minister without sufficient testimony of the truth thereof by two of three able witnesses as will plainely appeare by paralelling it with Psal 15. 3. Numb 35. 30. Deut. 17. 6. c. 19. 15. Hebr. 10. 28. and with Math. 18. 15. 16. 17. where our Saviour saith thus Moreover if thy brother shall trespas against thee goe and tell him his fault betweene him and thee alone if hee shall heare thee thou hast gained thy brother But if hee will not heare thee then take with thee two or three more that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established and if hee shall neglect to heare them tell it to the Church and if hee neglect to heare the Church let him be unto thee as an beathen man and publican A perfect Commentary on this text of Paul and a direct censure of our Bishops ex officio oathes and proceedings by the parties owne selfe-accusing oath and answere without or before witnesses produced 6. This text admitt it gives power to Timothy to take accusations against an Elder before two or three witnesses yet it excludes not the other Elders of Ephesus from having like power with him it gives him not any sole power to heare and determine complaints without the other Elders assistance or consent but together with them Math. 18 19. 1 Tim. 5 17. Acts. 20 28. Hence the fourth Councell of Carthage Can. 23. and after it Gratian. Caus 15. Quaest 7. Cap. Nullus Decree That a Bishop should heare no mans cause without the presence of his Clerkes and that the sentence of the Bishop should be void unlesse it were confirmed with the presence of the Clergy yea Gratian in that place prooves out of the Councels of Hispalis Agatha the first Carthage the second and fourth Gregory whose words and Canons hee recites at large that a Minister Presbyter or Deacon cannot be punished or deprived by the Bishop alone but by a Synode or Councell and that the Bishop cannot heare or determine the causes of Cleargymen alone without associating the Elders of the Church or other adjoyning Bishops with him for which cause many ancient Councels denied that there should be two Councels kept in each Province every yeare to heare and determine all Ecclesiasticall causes and controversies This text therefore prooves nothing for Timothies Ecclesiasticall or Episcopall Jurisdiction being written rather for the Churches and Ministers future