Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	christian_a	church_n	jewish_a	1,506	5	9.5679	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77763	A plea for Mr Strong's church-members; shewing they ought not implicitely to submit to his unnecessary and doubtful rules, although for it he threaten to debar them from the Lords Table, or to leave them altogether. / By Thomas Bakewell.	Bakewell, Thomas, b. 1618 or 19.	1650 (1650)	Wing B536; Thomason E610_6; ESTC R206336	7,343	11

A PLEA FOR Mr Strong 's Church-Members Shewing they ought not implicitely to submit to his unnecessary and doubtful Rules Although for it he threaten to debar them from the Lords Table or to leave them altogether By Thomas Bakewell 1 COR. 15.58 Therefore my beloved Brethren be ye stedfast unmoveable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. LONDON Printed for Iohn Dallom and are to be sold at his shop in black Fryers neer Carter-lane 1650. A Plea for Mr Strong 's Church-Members Shewing they ought not implicitely to submit to his unnecessary and doubtful Rules although for it he threaten to debar them from the Lords Table or leave them altogether THe Cause moving me to speak my thoughts of those Rules was this A friend in that Parish told me that M. Strong had imposed some doubtful Rules on his own examined and approved Communicants to subscribe and till they do it he is resolved to debar them all from the Lords Table if not wholly forsake them although their Consciences be not satisfied touching the lawfulness of it hereupon I wrote my opinion of those Rules intended for Mr Strong But another told me it was in vain for some Ministers had written to him about it to whom he will give no answer nor yet dispence the Ordinance as if he were the Lord of Gods Ordinances to dispence or refuse at his pleasure yea to his own approved Communicants and also having the Pastoral charge over them But is this to feed the Lambs of Christ and as a Nurse to impart if it were possible his own Soul for the Babes in Christ or as a faithful Steward to feed the Lords family to monopolize Gods Ordinance he being but an Embassador or Messenger of it from Christ to them Or is this to have the tongue of the learned to speak in season to the weary Soul to impose such penalties on the Conscience unsatisfied Now for their satisfaction I thought good to publish my thoughts of those Rules The first Rule Christ hath instituted particular Churches under the Gospel and it 's the duty of Saints to gather themselves into such Societies To these two Propositions I would know of him what Churches those be into which the Saints are not yet admitted and into which it is the Saints duty to gather themselves Is there any Churches without Saints or into which the Saints are not yet admitted Only it is their duty to gather themselves into such Societies This kind of reasoning is much like as if he had said Christ hath instituted Bodies without Members and its the Members duty to gather themselves into those Bodies or Christ hath instituted Trees without Branches and it is the Branches duty to gather themselves into those Trees Therefore I demand again what be those Churches into which the Saints must gather themselves I hope you will not call your self the Church one man cannot be a Congregation into which the Saints should be gathered nor the Church to which they should be added The Embassador of Christ should beseech men to be reconciled to God not to himself as false Prophets draw Disciples to themselves Acts 20.30 To the other Proposition what be those Saints without the Church whose duty it is to gather themselves into it Do you mean some among the Turks miraculously wrought upon with true saving grace that they should hasten themselves into the visible Church If so why do you not go amongst them and seek for such and bring them in to make known the mind of God unto them As for baptized Christians they need no gathering into the Church they are children of Zion Psal 149.2 It shall be said this and that man was born in her Psal 87.5 The Christian Church shall travel and bring forth more children to God then the Jewish Church did Isai 54.1 And all her children do seal their admission into the Universal visible Church at their Baptism which comprehends all particular Churches which are but as branches and members of it this Universal Church was instituted by Jesus Christ into which all Ministers both extraordinary and ordinary are placed 1 Cor. 12 18. and into which all Christians sealed their admittance at their Baptism both those children that are born of baptized parents and also those converted from Heathens and Infidels without these are all added to that one Universal Church Acts 2.45 47. Not to Peters or Pauls-Church or any one single Congregation for then in case of removal to another they would need again to be baptized their Ministers again to be ordained yea as often as they remove into other Churches but Baptism signifies ingrafting into Christ and the new birth But as a man can be born but once and the sience ingrafred but once so a Member can be but once admitted into the visible Church which is already done and sealed at their Baptism The second Rule Churches instituted by Christ are to be a company of visible Saints united into one Body by mutual consent to enjoy a constant communion among themselves partaking in all Ordinances according to Gods Order for the edification of one another Ans It is true that those of age who are real Members of Christ and also have sealed the Covenant of Grace and their admission into the visible Church at their Baptism those I grant are true Saints yet sometimes no more visible then those 7000. who had not bowed the knee to Baal Gods people are called hidden ones Psal 83.3 They have that white stone and that new Name written which no man knows but he that receives it Rev. 2.17 Again the best cannot enjoy a constant communion there was a breach between Paul and Barnabas Acts 15.39 And for partaking in all Ordinances we know sometimes those that believe in Christ are cast out Joh. 9.34 and the incestuous man partaking in all Ordinances 1 Cor. 5.1 2. and the Churches of Asia had left their first love and had a name to live and was dead and held the doctrine of Baalam and of the Nicholaitans and suffered Jesebel to seduce the servants of God and yet still they are true Churches Again suppose they had none of those open abominations yet they might have hypocrites which are uncapable of the fore-mentioned priviledges yet all those are visible Members till they are discovered and judicially cast out Again many of the members may be infants which may have true grace as Iohn and Ieremiah had yet not capable of communion or of publike enjoyment of the Ordinances yet members having sealed their admission by Baptism to the parents profession which is the only form of all Christian Churches The third Rule Saints are only such who being of age do profess faith in Christ and yield obedience unto Christ according to the Rule of Faith and Life taught by Christ and his Apostles and of such only should particular Churches consist and of their children

Ans The most of this was contained in the second Rule and there answered I shall hear take notice of this Rule contradicting it self saying Saints are only such who being of age do profess faith in Christ and yield obedience unto Christ c. and also of children But can children be of age and profess faith in Christ at the same time it is impossible and yet he saith those Saints on which the Church consists are only such and also their children so that if children be admitted to be members it is without all that profession flat against this Rule which saith the Church only consists of such or else if children be not admitted then also it is flat against the last clause of it Again if these children shall be admitted members for their parents profession then why may they not also be admitted members having sealed their parents profession by Baptism If any of that Root be holy so are the branches Rom. 11.16 unless he turn Anabaptist and so make their Baptism null and voyd and if so then they must be again baptized at their new admission into his Church and renounce all their Christianity they had before that last admission Again I would know what need there is of a second admission unless there had been a cutting off by Excommunication but they are not so cut off only it is his hard thoughts of godly Christians to esteem them without cause to be such but for those he is pleased to admit into his Church it seems their children shall partake of the Lords Table without any examination because they are members although flat against this Rule and in the very next age the Ordinances of Christ will be more polluted then in any age under the very Prelates who did appoint Catechising in order to prepare children for that Ordinance yea some of those Churches have admitted members more for money then for fitness holding the poor to hard terms although never so godly and the rich to easie terms although never so prophane and being once admitted they will not cast them out if rich when as sufficient proof hath been made that they were common lyars common swearers common drunkards and Cheaters of the State The fourth Rule The Vnion of Church-members among themselves is not their co-habitation but their consent to unity in the fore-mentioned ends Ans Their Consent was given by sealing the Covenant of Grace the Sacrament of their Admittance into the Universal Church by which they have a right to all the fore-mentioned Priviledges and this their consent was further ratified by their constant communion with the Church in all publike worship and a continual practise of holiness both in their general and particular Callings which shews their approbation of their former profession and all this is known by other of the Church co-habiting near to them and they near the place of publike Worship but if they did not co-habit near together and also near the place of publike Worship they could neither perform those publike and private duties nor could others observe them neither could the Shepherd take care of his flock nor be an example to the flock as he is commanded if the sheep might wander where they list and as far from his fold as they please But why should he break the bounds of co-habitation if it were not to break the Assemblies of publike Worship also much like to the Prelates admittance to the Lords Table who if they brought them money for their Tokens they neither cared where or how they lived but the Scripture speaketh of a Sabbath days journey Acts 1.12 which is so far as with convenience they may perform all duties to God both in publike and private yet not as if co-habiting only made them members so that if a Turk or Heathen should live in one of our Parishes that for he is so living there he is a member of that Church this is far from our thoughts for he must first be admited into the Universal Church by professing the Christian Faith and sealing to it by Baptism and this we say gives him right to all the Priviledges of the Christian Church in any particular place where ever he shall inhabit but till this be done we do not look upon Turks and Heathens as Church members for living amongst us although never so godly The fifth Rule Admission into these Churches are to be by men according to the Rules prescribed by Christ and their Admissions and Ejection are no further ratified by Christ then they do agree to these Rules Ans Church-officers being lawfully called have power to act by vertue of their Call although they do not come up in holindss to the Rules prescribed by Christ so did Judas and Demas and others whose calling and not their holiness gave them power to act also I grant that these Church-officers have power to admit Jews and Turks into the Christian Church upon their conversion to the Christian Faith manifested to them and also to admit Christians that are cast out of the Church by Excommunication upon repentance and satisfaction made to the Church for that offence for which they were cast out but to make Admissions and Ejections receiving in and casting out of those that have sealed their admission into the Church and their ingrafting into Christ and as yet never forfeited their admission or at least the forfeiture was never taken nor they cast out this were cruel Usurpation with a witness to make the hearts of Gods people sad but God will deliver his people out of their hand Ezek. 13.22 23. and so much the sooner when men express so much pride of heart to say Christ will no further ratifie their Admissions and Ejections then they agree to these Rules as though Christ were more tyed to their inventions then to his own Institution The sixth Rule The men imployed in this work are Officers to whom with the Body the power of the Keys is committed Answ All bodies both naturall Politicall and Misticall are guided by their head and also all power in Government whether in Church or State is committed to the Governours thereof therefore saith Christ unto Peter in the name of all the Apostles I give unto thee the keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven Mat. 16 19. and likewise to all the Apostles What ye shal binde or loose upon earth shal be done in heaven John 20.23 and after their decease they left others to set in order things that were wanting Tit. 1.5 and when any thing is amisse in the Churches of Asia the Angel thereof is charged with it again some must rule and some obey them that rule over them Heb. 13 7.17.24 1 Tim. 5.17 But if the keyes were given for all to act with them over whom should they rule neither could there by order or decencie observed as is required Tit. 1.5 1 Cor. 14.40 Col. 2.5 For all are masterlesse where all are masters again the Scripture saith this punishment of

Excommunication was inflicted by many 2 Cor. 2.6 not by all as Independents would have it nor by one as the Prelates would have again if in any Society the governed have power to cast out the Governor as the Governor hath power to cast them out this would soon be the bane of all Societies the servant may then as well cast out the master as the master the servant Hagar may as well cast out Abraham as he cast out her and so the son may cast out the father as the father the son which would be the ruine of Church and State immediately yea of all Families and civil Societies The seventh Rule Church-Officers are to be chosen by their Church-Members Ans It is true that Church-members and not Turks and Infidels are to choose Church-officers but through some defect all the members cannot choose them for children and sick persons and those in a journey and excommunicate persons cannot choose them nor women who may not speak in the Church nor servants who do not contribute to their maintenance may not choose them yet all in the Church who are not hindered by such like impediments may choose their Officers yea out of themselves they may choose their Elders and Deacons for saith the Text Look you out from among your selves seven men of honest report and full of the Holy Ghost and Wisdom and they chose Steven and the rest Acts 6.3.5 But those were only chosen for that particular Society where they lived and for no other they were not placed in the Ministry nor in the Universal Church so that if they remove to another Church they cannot take their office with them therefore their power to choose and also to be chosen reacheth no further then their own Society or Congregation But a Minister being chosen to be placed in the Universal Church a particular Church cannot choose them for the Ministry because I say their office is not there confined but if they shall remove to another Congregation they take their office with them yea if he should be cast out among the Heathen he may preach and baptize and so dispence all the Ordinances to them if they will embrace the Christian Faith but if multitudes of other Christians were cast amongst them they can act but as private Christian The Jews being returned from Babylon found that they had no Ministers did not make Ministers of other men but sent to Iddo and his brethren and desired to send them Minsters for the House of God and they sent them a man of understanding of the Tribe of Levi Ezra 8.17 18. And so should other Congregations send to the University for the like blessing When Samaria had received the Christian Faith the Apostles heard of it and sent them Peter and John Act. 8.14 But the Congregation can give the Minister no power to act they cannot put him into the Ministry which are not in it themselves nor give him power to act in other Congregations where they have no power at all It is not said the particular Church but the people of the Land shall choose the Watch-men and not out of their particular Church but out of their Coasts Ezek. 33.2 Now those people of the Land may be Ministers in the University coming thither out of all parts of the Land and yet out of their Coasts or national Church so that hear we grant them to be Church-members although not members of their particular Society and it is a gracious promise that all Governors in Church and State shall be chosen out of the midest of them that is of thy brethren by Nation and not strangers Jer. 30.21 22. Also I grant that a Congregation may choose their own Ministers in relation to themselves being already in the Ministry both elected and ordained by Ministers before for the Ministry but a Congregation may not elect and ordain a Minister into the Ministry Matthias was chosen by a hundred and twenty names of men that is Officers Act. 1.15 When two or three are in the Name of Christ having his Authority they are Church-officers with the power of binding and loosing Mat. 18.17.20 so that 120. was made up of the 70. and 11 Apostles and other preachers which were with them from the Baptism of John Act. 1.21 22. The Officers of Antichrist falling and said to be 7000. names of men Rev. 11.13 and Ministers must be ordained by the Presbytery 1 Tim. 4.14 and not by the people yea when Deacons were chosen out of themselves for their present Society yet they were ordained by the Apostles they prayed and laid their hands on them Acts 6.3 4. Thus far I grant that the Members of a particular Church have power to choose and to be chosen for Church-officers but no further The eight Rule The Officers instituted by Christ in the Church are Pastors Elders and Deacons whose callings and qualifications are plainly laid down in the Word Now to this last Rule I shall willingly subscribe if you do not limit and restrain your Officers from acting and make meer Cyphers of them having but the bare names of Officers and yet give the least Member in the Congregation as much power if not more to act then he making them to punish those whom every member but themselves shall think fit giving them no power at all to judge and censure but to execute the censure of all other members whether he thinks the censure just or not but Ministers are sometimes called Elders in regard of their Power in the Church and the rest charged to obey them Heb. 13.7.17.24 Tit. 5.17 and sometimes they are called Pastors to feed them with knowledge and understanding Ier. 3.15 and sometimes they are called Bishops or Over-seers in regard of their pains and labour vigilency and aptness to teach the flock 1 Tim. 3.1 2. and also to defend them from Wolves that would devour the flock and likewise to maintain the Office of ruling Elders who also are placed in the Church to strengthen the Disciples and to take care that the poor be provided for of that society and that the Collections be gathered and disposed by the Deacons as they shall appoint for to them should the stock of the poor be committed when relief was sent to the Churches in Judea it was committed to the Elders Act. 11.30 and also their work is to deside controversies when private Brethren cannot do it then saith the Text tell the Church Mat. 18.17 that is her Officers and what they bind and lose shall be done in heaven ver 18. now this cannot be the whole body because two or three may do it in the name and power of Christ ver 20. nor any two or three had not that authority for then the offending and the offended brethren had it but they had it not nor two or three more for it was the third gradation and yet but two or three which could be none but the Officers or Eldership which is the highest appeal in a particular Church Thus if you allow of their Offices as well as their names I shall subscribe to this last but I doubt you will not unlesse you do renounce the latter part of your sixt Rule Imprimat J. D. August 22. 1650. FINIS