Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	call_v	church_n	congregation_n	1,735	5	9.2238	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A94141	Reasons of the present judgement of the Vniversity of Oxford, concerning [brace] The Solemne League and Covenant. The Negative Oath. The Ordinances concerning discipline and vvorship. Approved by generall consent in a full convocation, 1. Jun. 1647. and presented to consideration.	University of Oxford. Convocation.; Zouch, Richard, 1590-1661.; Langbaine, Gerard, 1609-1658.; Sanderson, Robert, 1587-1663.	1647 (1647)	Wing S623; Thomason E391_15; ESTC R18621	29,824	43

Jure divino in the strictest sense that is to say expressely commanded by God in his Word yet of Apostolicall institution that is to say was established in the Churches by the Apostles according to the mind and after the example of their Master Jesus Christ and that by virtue of their ordinary power and authority derived from him as deputed by him Governors of his Church 2. Or at least that Episcopall Aristocracy hath a fairer pretension and may lay a juster title and claime to a Divine institution then any of the other formes of Church-Government can doe all which yet do pretend thereunto viz. that of the Papall Monarchy that of the Presbyterian Democracy and that of the Independents by Particular Congregations or Gathered Churches 2. But we are assured by the undoubted testimony of Antient Records and later Histories that this forme of Government hath beene continued with such an universall uninterrupted unquestioned succession in all the Churches of God and in all Kingdomes that have beene called Christian throughout the whole world for fifteen hundred yeers together that there never was in all that time any considerable opposition made there against That of Aërius was the greatest wherein yet there was little of consideration beside these two things that it grew at the first but out of discontent and gained him at the last but the reputation of an Heretique From which antiquity and continuance we have just cause to fear that to endeavour the extirpation thereof 1. Would give such advantage to the Papists who usually object against us and our Religion the contempt of antiquity and the love of novelty that we should not be able to wipe off the aspersion 2. Would so diminish the just authority due to the consentient judgement and practice of the universall Church the best interpreter of Scripture in things not clearly exprest for Lex currit cum praxi that without it we should be at a losse in sundry points both of Faith and Manners at this day firmely believed and securely practiced by us when by the Socinians Anabaptists and other Sectaries we should be called upon for our proofes As namely sundry Orthodoxall explications concerning the Trinity and Co-equality of the Persons in the God-head against the Arians and other Heretiques the number use and efficacy of Sacraments the Baptising of Infants Nationall Churches the observation of the Lords-Day and even the Canon of Scripture it self Thirdly in respect of our selves we are not satisfied how it can stand with the principles of Justice Ingenuity and Humanity to require the extirpation of Episcopall Government unlesse it had been first cleerly demonstrated to be unlawful to be sincerely and really endeavoured by us 1. Who have all of us who have taken any Degree by subscribing the 39. Articles testified our approbation of that Government one of those a Articles affirming the very Book containing the form of their Consecration to contain in it nothing contrary to the Word of God 2. Who have most of us viz. as many as have entred into the Ministery received Orders from their hands whom we should very ill requite for laying their hands upon us if we should now lay to our hands to root them up and cannot tell for what 3. Who have sundry of us since the beginning of this Parliament subscribed our names to Petitions exhibited or intended to be exhibited to that High Court for the continuance of that Government Which as we then did sincerely and really so we should with like sincerity and reality still not having met with any thing since to shew us our errour be ready to doe the same again if we had the same hopes we then had of the reception of such Petitions 4. Who hold some of us our livelyhood either in whole or in part by those titles of Deanes Deanes and Chapters c. mentioned in the Articles being members of some Collegiate or Cathedrall Churches And our memories will not readily serve us with any example in this kind since the world began wherein any state or profession of men though convicted as we are not of a crime that might deserve deprivation were required to bind themselves by oath sincerely and really to endeavour the rooting out of that in it selfe not unlawfull together wherewith they must also root out themselves their estates and livelyhoods 5. Especially it being usuall in most of the said Churches that such persons as are admitted members thereof have a personall Oath administred unto them to maintain the honour Immunities Libertyes and profits of the same and whilst they live to seeke the good and not to doe any thing to the hurt hindrance or prejudice thereof or in other words to the like effect Fourthly in respect of the Church of England we are not satisfied how we can swear to endeavour the extirpation of the established Government no necessity or just Cause for so doing either offering it selfe or being offered to our understandings 1. Since all change of Government unavoidably bringeth with it besides those that are present and evident sundry other ●●●onveniences which no wit of man can possibly fore-see to provide against till late experience discover them We cannot be sure that the evils which may ensue upon the change of this Government which hath been of so long continuance in this Kingdome is so deeply roo●ed in the Lawes thereof and hath so neere a conjunction with and so strong an influence upon the Civill State and Government as that the change thereof must infer the necessity of a great alteration to be made in the other also may not be greater then the supposed evils whatsoever they are which by this change are sought to be remedied For there are not yet any come to our knowledge of that desperate nature as not to be capable of other remedy then the utter extirpation of the whole Government it selfe 2. Whereas the House of Commons have b remonstrated that it was far from their purpose or desire to abolish the Church-Government but rather that all the members of the Church of England should be regulated by such Rules of Order and Discipline as are established by Parl●ament and that it was Malignancie to infuse into the people that they had any other meaning We are loth by consenting to the second Article to become guilty of such Infusion as may bring us within the compasse and danger of the fourth Article of this Covenant 3. Since it hath been declared by sundry c Acts of Parliament That the holy Church of England was founded in the state of Prelacy within the Realm of England We dare not by endeavouring the extirpation of Prelacy strike at the very foundation and thereby as much as in us lyeth cooperate towards the ●●ine of this famous Church which in all conscience and d●ty we are bound with out utmost lawfull power to uphold Lastly in respect of our Obligations to His Majesty by our Duty and oathes we are not satisfied how