Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	believer_n	church_n	visible_a	1,349	5	9.2573	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A40951	A tolleration sent down from heaven to preach, or, Godly religious meetings, and true gospell preachers, praying and preaching, in other places then parish churches and chappels, justified by the highest powers, and signally owned by testimonies from heaven, ought not to be condemned or forbiden, but rather allowed and tollerated by men upon earth and likewise what it is to preach according to the laws and statutes of the kingdome, as the matter of preaching, not punishable by the act against nonconformists : also concerning the by R.F.	R. F. (Richard Farnworth), d. 1666.	1665 (1665)	Wing F508; ESTC R18089	32,211	40

Ordinances of Men for the Lords sake when they viz. mens Ordinances were against preaching in the Name of Christ Jesus and in opposition to the requirings of God and contrary to the Word of the Lord for when the Apostles of Christ were forbidden to preach and commanded by the Magistrates then not to teach at all in the Name of Jesus Acts 4.17,18 they put the Magistrates to be their own Judges concerning that thing however they could not be subject unto them concerning the same so as to give over preaching because God requires it of them for first the Apostles of Christ spoke to the Magistrates by way of enquiry to make them their own Judges of their unreasonableness and injustice concerning the same saying whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you so as to give over preaching in the name of Jesus when you forbid us to preach more then unto God judge ye Secondly they spoke by way of affirmation and justification of preaching when the Magistrates forbad them to preach and could not give over Preaching though men did prohibit them from preaching which may serve as an use of reproof to many hypocritical Priests of this Generation for said the true Gospel Ministers to the Magistrates who forbad them to preach We cannot but speak the thing which we have heard and seen as by the Scriptures is evident and plain see Acts 4. from verse the 1. to the 21. Thirdly The Apostles of Christ and true Gospel Preachers did never intend that Christians and Believers in Christ should be judged as seditious Sectaries and punished by Fines Imprisonment ' and Banishment under pretence of being at seditious Conventicles for meeting and preaching in houses or other places then Parish Churches and Chappels when both the manner of their meeting and matter of preaching is according to the Scriptures and mind of Christ Jesus for it was the practice of Christ and his Apostles to meet together with the Primitive Christians and preach in houses and other places then Parish Churches and Chappels and the Apostles of Christ who had the mind of Christ Jesus commands us to walk as we have them for example Phil. 3.17 and must we be punished for so doing that is to say for meeting and preaching in houses and out of houses as Christ and his Apostles and the Primitive Christians did seeing it was the practice of true Christians and Ministers of the Gospel of Christ so to do whose example is left upon record in Scripture and they have given commandment to Christians to walk as they have them for an example whose godly meetings were lawful assemblies how then can such godly meetings be seditious Conventicles which be according to such good examples Object Now if any object and say that Preaching must not be in Houses but in the visible Church of Christ Jesus in Answer thereunto we may say unto such Answer That the Parish meeting places are not the visible Church of Christ Jesus first because the Liturgy saith that the Church is the houshold and family of God See the Liturgy on Good Friday the Collects so called 2ly That the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God but so are not the Parish meeting places how then can they be said to be Christs visible Church For 3ly it is declared by the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London in the year 1562. in the 19 th Article of the Church Article 19. that the visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of faithful men in the which the pure Word of God is preached is not therefore the preaching of the pure word of God in a Congregation of faithful men the preaching of it in the visible Church of Christ as aforesaid though they be not met and assembled together in a Parish Church or a Chappel The Bishops and Clergie in that Convocation said and in the 13 th Article it is declared Article 13. that works done before the Grace of Christ and the inspiration of his Spirit are not pleasant to God here they own inspiration and forasmuch as preaching is a work do not the Arch-Bishops and Bishops own and declare in effect that none can preach aright so as to be well pleasing unto God untill they be inspired by the spirit of God though they may preach in a Parish Church or a Chappel In th● 34 th Article they say Article 34. that nothing is to be ordained against Gods Word now then if any thing be ordained by men against the Worship of God is not that ordained against Gods Word Again in the 6. Article the Bishops and Clergy have declared Article 6. that whatsoever is not read in the Scriptures nor may be proved thereby is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an Article of the Faith or to be thought requisite or necessary to Salvation And in the same Convocation they have agreed and declared in the 20 th Article Article 20. that it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to Gods Word written and as it ought not to decree any thing against the same so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of Salvation If nothing ought to be ordained that is contrary to the Word of God Article 34. then if an Ordinance be made against meeting and preaching in Houses and upper Chambers Article 20. or in other places then Parish Churches and Chappels is not that Ordinance made against the Word of God because the holy Scriptures are said to be the Word of God against which nothing ought to be ordained as aforesaid and by the holy Scriptures it is evident and plain that it was the practice of the Primitive Christians and Apostles of Christ to assemble together and meet in private Houses and upper Chambers to Preach and Pray and perform service to God and their practice is left upon record in Scripture as a godly Christian example for Believers to follow and they have commanded true christians to walk as they have them for an ensample Phil. 3.17 If it be not lawful for the Church of England to ordain any thing against the word of God written Article 34. then if they ordain that Christians must not meet and assemble together to preach and pray Article 6. and performe service to God in any place but a Par●sh Church or a Chappel is not such an ordinance against the Word of God written because the Apostles of Christ saith to the Saints and Believers in Christ Phil. 3.17 walk as ye have us for an ensample And they met together to preach and pray in Houses and upper Chambers and not in Parish Churches and Chappels for they preached down the outward Temple Article 19. Acts 7.41.47 Acts 17.24,25 If the visible Church of Christ be a Congregation of faithful men in the which the pure Word of God is preached and if none can preach the same so as to be well pleasing unto God before they be inspired by the spirit of God do not such as be inspired by the Spirit of God most truly preach the Word of God though not in a Parish Church or a Chappel and do not they come to the Church of Christ who meet and assemble together with a Congregation of faithful men to hear the Word of God preached by such as are inspired by the Spirit of God as aforesaid Article 34. Article 6. Article 20. though in other places then Parish Churches and Chappels and if nothing ought to be ordained contrary to Gods word is it not plain that every Ordinance of man which is to be submitted unto for the Lords sake should answer the mind of God by being according to the Word of God as aforesaid because the Bishops and Clergie in their Convocation have agreed and declared that it is unlawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to Gods Word written and as they ought not to decree any thing against the Word of God so besides the same they ought not to enforce anything as aforesaid as by the Scriptures and the said Articles is evident and plain THE END

read Acts 20. That the Apostle Paul preached in a Chamber on the first day of the Week until midnight Acts 20.7,8 And Peter preached boldly and effectually in the House of Cornelius Acts 10 and Paul preached two yeares in his own hired House and received all that came unto him preaching the Kingdome of God and teaching those things which concerned the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence no man forbiding him as it is written Acts 28.30,31 whereby it is evident that God owns and justifies Meetings and preaching in Houses and that a Minister of Christ may preach in other places besides Parish Churches and Chapels and in his own hired House also and there receive such as come to be instructed by him in the matters of the Kingdome of God and our Lord Jesus Christ as aforesaid First It is evident and plain therefore by the holy Scripture and also by the Liturgie of the Church of England that preaching and meeting in Houses is owned and honoured by the Lord and ought not to be condemned but justified by the true Christians and believers in Christ for to condemn the Ministers of Christ and true Christians for preaching and meeting in Houses upon the account of Religion and worship of God would be to condemn the practise of Christ and his Apostles and Primitive Christians recorded in Scriptures and it would be to deny and disallow of what God Almighty and the holy Scriptures do evidently justify and own and therefore meeting and preaching in Houses ought not to be forbiden or punished by men because such Christian Religious Meetings preaching and practises are allowed by the Liturgy and owned and honoured by the Lord God of Heaven Secondly That which is allowed by the Liturgie and owned and honoured by the Lord God of Heaven ought not to be forbiden and condemned by men but Christian Religious Meetings and preaching in other places then Parish Churches and Chapels are allowed by the Liturgie and owned and honoured by the Lord God of Heaven Therefore Christian Religious Meetings and preachings in Houses or in other places then Parish Churches and Chapels as aforesaid ought not to be forbiden and condemned by men Thirdly That the Apostles of Christ and Primitive Christians did frequently meet together after Christs Ascension in Houses to preach and pray and perform service to God and that such Christian Religious meetings and preaching in Houses were owned and honoured by the Lord God of Heaven is plain and clearly proved as aforesaid and therefore such Christian religious meetings and preachings are allowed by the Lord to be lawful assemblies and practises which ought to be allowed and tollerated by men because they are owned and justified by the great God of Heaven Fourthly The Apostles of Christ and Primitive Christians to whom Christ appeared after his Resurrection and gave commandment to wait at Jerusalem untill they received the promise of the Father or the Holy Ghost from Heaven did in obedience to that Command return from the Mount Olivet after Christs Ascension unto Jerusalem to wait for the Holy Ghost from Heaven but they did not go into the Temple at Jerusalem nor into a Parish Church or Chappel to wait for the same but they entered into Jerusalem and went into an upper Room and was sitting together in a House when they received the Holy Ghost from Heaven as by the Scriptures are evident and plain Acts 1. and Acts 2. Whereby it appears or from hence we may observe and learn first That the Parish Churches and Chappels were not the places appointed by Christ at his Ascension to meet and assemble together in to wait upon God untill they received the Holy Ghost from Heaven 2ly That God is not bound or tyed up to Parish Churches or Chappels to wait upon him therein as the appointed place of his Worship 3ly That the Lord God Almighty hath signally owned and testified from Heaven that he owns and justifies meetings in Houses to wait upon him beause when they were met together as they sate in a House they received the Holy Ghost from Heaven and spake as the Spirit gave them utterance but we do not read in the Scriptures that Almighty God did ever at any time so wonderfully manifest himself to People in a Parish Church or Chappel as in Houses he hath done since Christs Ascension into Heaven Fifthly The Lord hath so far owned and honoured Meeting and Preaching in House since Christs Ascension that the Hearers have received the Holy Ghost at meeting and preaching in Houses as by the Scripture is evident and plain therefore meeting and preaching in Houses ought not to be forbidden but when did the Lord so evidently appear and signally own meeting and preaching in Parish Churches and Chappels as then and therein to give the Holy Ghost to the Hearers as at preaching in Houses he hath done for when Peter was preaching in the houses of Cornelius the Holy Ghost fell on al them which heard the word as you may read Acts 10. from verse 19. to verse 49. whereby it appears that meeting and preaching in houses are owned and honoured of God as by the Scriptures is apparently proved Sixthly And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place and suddenly there came a sound from Heaven and filled all the House where they were sitting whereby it appeares that they were assembled and met in a House and that Christian meeting was no seditious Conventicle but owned and honoured by the Lord from Heaven though they were not assembled in a Parish Church or Chapel but in a House whereby it appeares that God is well pleased with meeting and preaching in Houses for they were filled with the holy Ghost and spake as the spirit gave them utterance though some mocking of them said these men are full of new Wine but Peter standing up with the Elders lift up his voice and preached unto them and when they had heard him preach the word of God unto them they were pricked in their hearts and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand soules and they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship as you may read Acts 2.1,2 to the 43. Whereby it appears that the Word of God may be effectually preached in houses was there ever such a thing known at a meeting in a Parish Church or Chappel by the preaching of a Parish Priest in those places to convert at one Sermon three thousand Souls as was effectually done by the preaching of the Word by the Apostle Peter as aforesaid therefore it is apparent arid evident by the Scriptures that meeting and preaching in houses are lawful meetings and practices being so highly approv'd of and signally owned of the Lord and such meetings and preaching in Houses as are owned and approved of God ought not to be forbidden by men but rather allowed and tollerated by them Seventhly Though God Almighty did so evidently shew

Apostles did meet and assemble with the primitive Christians and such as came to hear the word of God preached in private Houses and upon Mountains and by the Sea side as well as other places and they left their manner of Christian Religious Meetings Assemblies and practises in other places then Parish Churches and Chapels upon Record in Scripture as an example for Christians to follow Because the Apostles of Christ who had the spirit and mind of Christ Jesus commands the true Christians and Believers in Christ to walk as they have them for example as by the Scripture is plainly apparent Phil. 3.17 For Christ and his Apostles met and assembled together with the Primitive Christians and others and preached in Houses and out of houses on Mountains and by the Sea side and in great multitudes as you may read Matth. 5.1,2 Matth. 3. Matth. 8.1 Matth. 11.1 Matth. 13.1,2,3 Matth. 19. Matth. 24.3,4 c. And again he entred into Capernaum after some dayes and it was noised that he was in the House and streight way many were gathered together in so much that there was no room to receive them not so much as about the Door and he preached the word unto them as you may read Mark 2.1,2 and he began to teach by the Sea side and there was gathered unto him a great multitude and he taught them there also as you may read Mark 4. see also Mark 10.1 and he came down with them and stood in the plain and the company of his Disciples and a great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem and from the Coast of Tire and Sidon came to hear him as it is written Luk. 6.17 and he arose from thence and cometh into the Coasts of Judea by the farther fide of Jordan and the people resorted to him again and as he was wont he taught them again Mark 1● And when much people were gathered together and were come to him out of every City he preached unto them and he went thorough every City and Village preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the Kingdome of God and the twelve were with him as you may read Luk. 8.1,4 Whereby it is evident that Christ did not limit the people to come to Parish Churches to hear the Word preached nor the Ministers of the Gospel to preach it there neither did he ordain punishments for the Preachers or hearers if they did not preach and hear in Parish Churches and not else where but to the number of three or four for when they were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people in so much that they erode one upon another he began to say unto his Disciples first of all beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed neither hid that shall not be known as you may read Luke 12 Luke 15. Luke 8.1 And after Christs Death Resurrection and Ascention the Apostles of Christ and Primitive Christians did Assemble and meet together to preach and pray and performe religions exercise to the number of five and above and not in Parish Churches nor Chapels but in private houses and uper chambers and such like places and such godly Meetings were no seditious Conventicles but according to the example and practise ordained of Christ Jesus for he shewed himself alive after his passion unto them by many infallible proof being seen of them forty dayes and speaking of the things partaining to the Kingdome of God as you may read Acts 1.1,2,3 and being assembled with them after his Resurrection when he was ready to ascend up into Heaven he commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the holy Ghost from Heaven the promise of the Father which saith he ye have heard of me and they returned to Jerusalem in obedience to that command from the Mount called Olivet after Christ was ascended but they did not go into a Parish Church or a Chappel nor into the Temple at Jerusalem to wait for the promise of the Father Therefore Christ did not command them to go into a Parish Church or Chappel nor into the Temple at Jerusalem to wait upon God to receive the promise for if he had no doubt but they would have obeyed his command in that respect They were commanded to wait at Jerusalem for the promise of the Father and they did so in obedience to the command of Christ Jesus but they were not commanded by Christ to wait in the Temple at Jerusalem nor in a Parish Church for the receiving of the promise of the Father or the holy Ghost but rather in a private House Therefore neither the Temple at Jerusalem nor a Parish Church was the place appointed for them to meet in to wait for the promise of the Father but rather an uper Chamber or a private House Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet and when they were come in they went up into an uper Room where abode both Peter and James and John and Andrew Phillip and Thomas Bartholomew and Matthew James the Son of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes and Judas the brother of James these were met together to perform service to God for they continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the Women and Mary the Mother of Jesus and with his brethren and there were met and assembled together upon the account of the exercise of Religion to the number of five and above beside● them of the Houshold in that upper Chamber where they were together for in those dayes Peter stood up in the midst of the Disciples and spoak the number of Names together were about one hundred and twenty and when the day of Pentecoast was fully come they were all with one accord in one place and the place where they were when they received the holy Ghost was neither a Parish Church nor a Chapel but a private House and suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty Wind and it filled all the House where they were siting and there they received the promise of the Father for they were all filled with the Holy Ghost as both by the Scriptures and Liturgie is apparent and evident see for proof thereof Acts 1. and Acts 2. And to prove that the Liturgy alloweth of Meeting in upper Rooms and private Houses for the exercise of Religion as aforesaid because it alloweth of such godly Assemblies and Meetings though not in Parish Churches or Chappels as were practiced by the Apostles of Christ and Primitive Christians as aforesaid for proof thereof see in the Liturgie the Epistle for Whitsunday and for St. Mathias day the Epistle The Liturgie also alloweth of the manner of Meetings and Preaching both in great numbers and multitudes and in other places then Parish Churches and Chappels because it alloweth of the manner of Meetings and Preaching by Christ and his Apostles amongst the Primitive Christians and others First