Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	apostle_n	church_n	creed_n	1,331	5	10.2664	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A04528	The Catholique iudge: or A moderator of the Catholique moderator Where in forme or manner of a plea or suite at law, the differences betweene those of the Reformed Church, and them of the Romish Church are decided; and without partialitie is shewed which is the true religion and catholique Church, for the instruction of either partie. Together with eight strong arguments or reasons, why the Popes cannot be competent iudges in these controversies. Written in the Dutch and French tongue, by Iohn of the Crosse, a Catholique gentleman. Translated out of French into English, by the right worshipfull and learned Knight Sir A.A.	John of the Crosse, a Catholique gentleman.; A. A., Sir.	1623 (1623)	STC 14651; ESTC S107831	50,836	96

that they of the Romane Church would not accuse them of such faults that is to say of heresie vnlawfull calling and innovation or bringing in of novelties but rather perceiving their religion to consent and accord with the truth of God contained in the writings of the Prophets and Apostles that they would imbrace the Reformed religion For first of all the Reformed Christians complaine very much of the wrong that is offered them in acvsing their religion of heresie Lib. 2. cap. de Har. 2. Man Ioan. Auent lib. 3. Annal. because they can proue that such are not Heretiques as in some points dissent from the opinion of the Romane Church neither they which maintain that there are Antipodes Antipodes are they which tread against our feet Glos dist 10. ca. Mul. dist 2. Euseb l. 5 c 26. Lib. confes fol. 274. 6. 4. Ar. Flor. hist par 3. cap. 13. as Pope Zacharie did thinke nor all they which will not obey all the commandements and ordinances of the Pope as the Canonists haue determined nor they which giue not consent to the celebrating of Easter as Pope Victor appointed neither they which beleeue not all the traditions which are instituted observed as good and godly by the Romane Church For then all such should be heretiques as beleeue not that Dominick wrought more miracles then our Lord Iesus Christ and all the Apostles Also that the said Dominick is greater then Ioh. Baptist Moreover that we must firmely beleeue all the Legends of Saint Francis Bernardine and other such like vnder paine and penaltie of being damned excommunicated and burned as Heretiques To conclude all those must not bee reputed Heretiques which beleeue not that all Emperours Kings and Magistrates and consequently all humane creatures are subiect to the power and to the outward sword of the Popes But the Reformed Christians esteeme them to be Heretiques Who ought to be held for Heretiques First of all which bring into the Church of Christ such a doctrine as is repugnant to the Analogie and rule of Faith briefly contained in the Apostles Creede Secondly such as turne aside from the true Catholique Church that is to say vniversall which retaines the pure doctrine of God And finally such as beeing often and seriously admonished doe notwithstanding absolutely persevere in their errors for which they haue beene many times reprehended and condemned The protestation of the Reformed Church The Reformed now protest that they haue not declined or gone astray one whit from the Analogie and rule of Christian Faith and confession of the faithfull nor from the foure most ancient generall Councels that is to say of Nice of Constantinople of Ephesus and of Chalcedon nor from the Creed of Saint Athanasius nor finally from any part of the Word of God They further protest that they were never lawfully cited in due and rightfull forme and manner or condemned by competent Iudges nor convinced of any errors but rather that they alwayes either rendred a reason and made confession of their Faith or have appealed publiquely to a generall free Councell of all Christendome For touching the Councell of Trent That the Coūcell of Trent was not free that it was not free or open they can as they say cleerly proue by Histories in which it appeareth manifestly that Cervinus Polus and diuerse other Cardinals were excluded from this Councell as also Iaques Nacluaist Bishop of Clodiafossa Dominicke Withelme of Venice Paul Verger Bishop of Iustinopolis with certaine others and that onely because they were suspected somewhat to incline to the Reformed religion and for certaine reasons and speeches which they deliuered or vttered against the Popes Concerning the sending and calling of the Reformed Doctors which first did repugne or resist the Sea of Rome the Reformed affirme that they were called in part immediately that is to say they were called by God without any outward means and that God disposed their hearts enflaming them with a true zeale for the advancement of his glory and of the kingdome of his Sonne Iesus Christ In part also mediatly that is to say by outward meanes that is by the approving enccouragement and forwarding of Christian Princes Lords and Magistrates stirred vp by God for this purpose as also diverse Nations which with humble prayers praise the Lord for so great a grace and singular benefit of Reformation And this is not onely lawfull for Christian Princes and Magistrates to doe but they are bound and tyed vnto it by the duty of their Calling at all times when the outward and visible state of the Church requireth any reformation of errors which may haue crept into the Church by the malice or bad dealing and ignorance of the Pastors That is manifestly perceived say the Reformed as well by the expresse commandement of God in so many places of his Word as by all the notable examples of Ezekias Iosaphat Iosias and diuerse other religious Kings that feared God who in their time caused the service of God to be reformed which was corrupted with Idolatry and superstition as the holy History at large doth testifie Finally whereas they of the Romane Church accuse the Reformed religion of nouelty The doctrine of the Reformed is not new The Reformed Christians therevpon complaine that thereby great wrong is done vnto Gods truth because the Reformed plainely shew that they neither acknowledge nor make profession of any other doctrine then that by which Adam Seth Noe Abraham and all the other Patriarches and faithfull men haue beene saued and the which our Sauiour Iesus Christ his Apostles and the first six Counsels and the most ancient Fathers and Orthodoxe Doctors haue deliuered and set forth So that finally the diuel whilest the workmen did sleep hath filled the Lords field with so much darnell that the good corne can scarcely be discerned and perceaued For albeit our Lord God hath alwayes firmly decreed to maintain continue his Church yet his will is not that his Church should be alwaies a like flourishing and prosperous but like the moon he suffers it sometime to encrease sometimes to be in the waine or decrease Gen. 7. 1 King 19. Mat. 2. euen so we see that in the time of Noe there were but eight persons saued in the Arke from the waters of the flood It is also sayd that in the time of the Prophet Elias there were 7000. which embraced the true doctrine Likewise when the comming of Iesus Christ was expected the Church was so obscure and concealed that scarce one faithfull person seemed to be remaining How true doctrine was by little falsified In like manner after the happie birth of our Sauiour the Christian Church began to decline by little and little for the space of 1500 yeeres For in the first 500. yeeres falshood began to oppose and resist the truth In the other 500. yeeres ensuing truth began to giue place to falshood and at the length in the last 500. yeeres truth