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
A87828	Seven questions about the controversie betweene the Church of England, and the Separatists and Anabaptists, breifely [sic] discussed. 1. Whether is the Church of England as it now stands a true church? 2. Whether the Church of England be a right nationall church? 3. Whether are the ministers in the Church of England sent of God, and so are true ministers or not? 4. Whether is the baptisme of infants a true and lawfull baptisme or no? 5. Whether it be lawfull to be rebaptized or not? 6. Whether it is lawfull to separate from all the publike ordinances and Christian assemblies in our English church, because there are some defects in discipline, and in other things amongst us? 7. Whether is it necessarie to demolish our churches (steeple-houses as the Separatists call them,) and to build them in other places, because they were built by idolators for idolatrous worship, were abused with images, and dedicated to saints? By Immanuel Knutton, preacher of Gods word at Beeston in Nottingham shire [sic].	Knutton, Immanuel, d. 1655.	1645 (1645)	Wing K744; Thomason E25_20; ESTC R4217	31,540	40

Prophets frequently speake of it Isa 60. Isa 61. Isa 62. and 63. and 64. c. Jer. 30. Jer. 31. Jer. 33.12 13. Ezek. 34.25 26 27 28 29. Ezek. 36.24 Ezek. 37.25 Likewise we find these Prophets speaking of Nationall Churches amongst the Gentiles which should come and joyne with the Church of the Jewes Isa 49 23. Isa 60.16 Isa 19 24.25 Doubtlesse there shall be many famous Nationall Churches after the conversion of the Jewes which I hope drawes on fast And when those dayes are come there will be more famous National Churches then ever the old Jewish Church was Zach. 14.20.21 Object But the Church of England wants those Church Officers mentioned Eph. 4.11 which Christ left to his Church Answer Can there be no Church no Christians without them What shall we say of the Families of the Patriarkes of the Jewish Congregations under the Law yea of Christ and his Apostles Either deny them to have beene visible Churches or shew us these distinct Officers amongst them looke upon the Church since Christ was there not a worthy Church of God in Jerusalem from the time of Christs ascention till the Election of the 7 Deacons those hundred and twenty Disciples Acts 1.15 And 3000. Converts Acts 2.41 those continuall troopes that flocked to the Apostles were they no true Church Let the Apostles and Evangelists be Pastors and Doctors where were their Elders Deacons Releevers Afterwards when Deacons were ordained yet what newes is their of Elders till Acts 11.30 Yet that of Jerusalem was more forward then the rest we will not as the Separatists are wont argue from Scriptures negatively no proofe yet much probability is in St. Pauls silence He writes to Rome Corinth and other Churches Those his divine letters in a sweet Christian civillity salute even ordinary Christians and would he have utterly passed by all mention of these Church Officers amongst his so precise acknowledgement of lesser titles in others if they had beene ere this ordained Rom. 1.8 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes 1.7 Gal. 4.15 All these notwithstanding all this were true Churches famous forward and exemplary Onely the Phillippian Church is stiled with Bishops and Deacons but no Elders besides them Phil. 1.2 But through Gods great mercy we have many who conscionably teach and feed by teaching call them what you please Lecturers Parsons Vicars c. If they preach Christ truely upon true inward abilities upon a sufficient if not perfect outward vocation such are Pastors and Doctors allowed by Christ we stand not upon circumstances and appendancies of the fashions of ordination manner of choice attire titles maintenance but if for substance these be no true Pastors and Doctors Christ never had any in his Church since the Apostles left the Earth QVEST. III. Whether are the Ministers in the Church of England sent of God and so are true Ministers or not Ans I Affirme they be true Ministers of Jesus Christ sent of God into his Vineyard to build up his Church and People as living stones upon Christ the cheif corner stone Reas 1 Because we have many Godly learned and painefull Ministers as well qualified for that worthy function as any in the world who are exceedingly dilligent in the excercise of their gifts endeavouring to convert and confirme soules to the utmost of their ability now their ability and fidility argues that God hath sent them Rom. 10.15 Jer. 23.21 22. As if he had said I gave no commission to these Prophets yet they ran as of their owne heads c. If they had received directions and creands from me and had delivered them accordingly to my people they should have laboured to have turned them from their leud courses Where the Lord shewes that the conscionable and able preaching of his word proves that he sends such about that worke Reas 2 Because That God hath blessed the labours of the Ministers of this Church to the conversion of many and to their confirmation in the truth which thing God would not have done if he had not sent them Jer. 23.32 1 Cor. 9.2 Yea. the Separatists themselves received their first Illumination Faith and other graces from the word preached by us before they made a divorcement from us Object But the Ministers of the Church of England were called by the Prelates whose calling is Antichristian from the Pope therefore they are not the Ministers of Jesus Christ Ans I grant that the calling of the Lordly Prelates as they are described in the second Article of the Covenant exercise their jurisdiction in their Courts by their Substitutes is Antichristian yet the Godly and Learned Ministers of this Church called by them are true Ministers called of God for these reasons Reas 1 Because the Prelates are Christians and so their calling of us is not altogether unlawfull with the Separates every Vlebeian Artificer hath power to elect and ordaine by vertue of his Christian profession the act of the worthiest standing for all how can they deny this right to persons in some measure qualified for this worke Reas 2 Because The Prelates are learned men and Divines many of them are judicious and orthodox in judgement against popish Heresies and have written and preacht substantially against them which yet I speake not in favour of their calling for I looke upon it as Antichristian and directly opposing Christs words in Mat. 20.25 26. Reas 3 Because The Prelates in their ordination command us to preach the Gospel truely now ● we be not rightly called because called from them then one of these things of both these must necessarily follow Either it is unlawfull for the Prelates to command us to Preach the Gospel or it is unlawfull for us to preach the Gospel as they command us I cannot see how the former can be unlawfull because their charge and command to Ministers is no waies Antichristian but Christian for they command us to preach the Gospel not as Popish Prelates but as Christians and Learned Divines now good counsell is worthy to be followed from whomsoever it comes though from an enemie I see not how the latter is unlawfull if one be qualified w●th fidelity and ability he ought to preach the word though the Prelates licenced and commanded him because as yet here was no other outward way of calling Ministers to preach in this Church of England appointed and established by authority I heard of an Usurer in this Kingdome who had gotten very much money by usury and unjust gaine he made it his only calling which doubtlesse is unlawfull it pleased God to convince him of the unlawfullnesse of his usury he made restitution largely to his debtors and sent his servant with restitution money to divers of them though his course of usury was unlawfull yet it was lawfull yea needfull for him to command his servant to carrie home restitution money to such as borrowed of him and it was lawfull for his servant to obey him in this of the like nature is

Acts 2.45 Acts. 4 34 35 36 37. this course continued about 200. yeares during which time no marvell though they required not tithes that which was given them being a farre greater proportion such as oppose the morality of tithes now would not bee willing to deale so with us Ministers of the Gospel QVEST. IIII. Whether is the Baptisme of Infants a true and lawfull Baptisme or not Answer I Affirme it is a true right lawfull and fit Baptisme and ought to be used in a Christian Church professing Gods truth Reas 1 Because excepting the difference of the visible ceremony there is the same analogie of reason of Baptisme as of circumcision the same internall spirituall thing signified viz. remission of sins mortification of the flesh Deut. 10.16 Jer. 4.4.6 Act. 2.38 Act. 22.16 Rom. 6.4 both of them are Symballs of our Adoption into Gods family and so our imitation into the Divine Covenant Gen. 17.7.10 1 Cor. 12 13. Gal. 3.26 27. besides Baptisme succeedes Circumcision Col. 2.11.12 or else the conditon of Christian infants under the Gospel were worse then the condition of Jewish Infants under the Law in regard of their age if Baptisme might not bee conferred upon them now as Circumcision upon the Jewish children if Baptisme belong not to Infants then the grace and favour of God by Christs comming is more obscure and straight and lesse testified then it was to the Jewes which to affirme is an horrible indignity offered to Christ Object But there was an expresse commandement for circumcising of Infants Gen. 17. but no such for Baptizing of Infants now Answ 1 There is a generall command Mat. 28.19 20. all that beleeve of any condition whatsoever should be Baptized under which Infants borne of Christian parents are comprehended for in Lawes and Precepts that be generall an enumeration of singulars and perticulars is not required because lawes doe command concerning the whole Kind Secondly the Baptisme of Christian Infants hath descended and continued from the Apostles dayes to us Origen who lived in the yeare 213. said that the Church received the tradition from the Apostles to give Baptisme to Infants Augustine who lived in the yeare 420. said that Baptisme of Infants the Church univerfall held it not instituted by Councells but alwaies retained it and most rightly beleeved it to be delivered by Apostolike Authority Now such examples are aequivalent to expresse commands Thirdly The New Testament doth not literally command remember to keepe holy the Sabbath not to say grace before and after meales not to pray with our families morning and evening not women to receive the Lords Supper many other such like things I might instance yet we hold this to be morall duties and ought of necssiety to be performed and may be proved sufficiently by consequence out of the New Testament Reas 2 Because Christian Infants are in the Covenant of grace as well as the children of Israelites Gen. 17.7 Act. 2.39 for this blessed Covenant is exceedingly extended and enlarged by Christ good reason then the seale of this Covenant should not be straightned nor made narrower then Circumcision was now Christian Infants being within the Covenant of Grace Baptisme the Seale of it is their right for as much as they are Christians belonging to the Church of God 1 Cor. 7.14 here he saith your children are holy if but one of the persons married be a beleever some by holy understand legetimate as if he had said your children are not bastards but lawfully begotten and borne But the Apostle speakes not of civill legitimation for the children of Infidells may be and are legitimate others construe the words thus that your children are holy viz. by education in Christianity others interpret them thus your Children are holy viz. by the secret operation and illumination of the spirit which begets in them new inclinations towards God as in John Baptist and the Prophet Jeremy Others say thus your children are holy viz. They are Christians belonging to the Covenant and to the Church this I chuse holy here is not understood civill but legally the Law called things uncleane prophane as vessells and living creatures and men without the Church and so the Law called things dedicated to God holy therefore as the children of the Jewes in the old Testament were not uncleane but holy that is they were not Gentiles but Jewes in Covenant with God from the wombe by the vigour and vertue of that promise Gen. 17.7 though by nature they were children of wrath so here Christians with their children who are adopted into the place of the Jewes now in the new Testament the Apostle calls holy that is they are not Heathens but Christians though by reason of originall sin they are borne children of wrath so according to faederall grace wee are borne Christians though according to nationall generation wee are borne sinners by vertue of which faederall sanctity Christian Infants have as cleare a right to Baptisme as Jewish Infants had to Circumcision such then who oppose faederall sanctity and teach that the custom or Baptizing Infants hath continued in the Church not from example or command in Scripture but from the degrees of the Church take part with the Papists who stifly seeke to maintaine theirs against us Reas 3 Because Infants are capeable of the thing signified therefore they may be Baptized they may have grace secretly bestowed as Jeremy and John Baptist many such belong to heaven Mat. 19.14 as if he had said of such little ones and of others affected like them doth the Kingdome of God consist Marke 10.14 Christ blessed them then we may bestow the Sacrament and seale of blessing on them Object If wee could certainely know which Infants had grace wrought in them and did belong to Heaven then we might baptize them but this we know not therefore it s the best not to baptize them til they come to riper yeares to make a profession and a confession of the Christian faith Answer First know that wee cannot infallibly discerne which man hath true grace and is elected this God only knowes we may and ought to judge very charitably upon an exact profession so upon a bare profession Phillip Baptized Simon Magus Act. 8.13 We must never Baptize any if we stay for infallible knowledge of any particular mans Election and particular Sanctification Secondly the faith of Parents may warrant their infants Baptisme yea though they have a bare historicall faith not a justifying faith if they can credere ad baptismum though not ad salutem this faith makes their children fit for Baptisme there were many in the Apostles times who were Baptized having only an historicall faith as Magus and others Object But the new Testament runnes much upon these speeches beleeve and bee baptized repent and be baptized teach and baptize now Infants are not capeable of the exercise of any of these graces nor capeable of teaching and what good can the Parents faith doe to

lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world Verse 4 Then said Paul John verily baptized with the baptisme of repentance saying unto the people that they should beleeve on him which should come after him that is on Christ Jesus Paraph. Then said Paul Iohn verily as the outward Minister of Baptisme baptized you with water to the remission of sinnes together with his baptisme teaching the people that they should beleeve in that Jesus Christ which should come after him so as his baptisme was true and perfect yet such as was not accompanied attended with these miraculous gifts which now since the full glorification of Christ are bestowed upon men Verse 5 When they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Iesus Paraph. Whiles therefore Iohn taught them thus and made this holy comentary upon his said baptisme they that heard it in receiving his baptisme were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Verse 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them the holy Ghost came on them and they spake with tongues and prophesied Paraph. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them as having before beene fully and duely baptized the Holy Ghost came downe upon them in miraculous gifts and they spake with tongues and prophesied So that here is no ground for rebaptization in this place these twelve doubtlesse had received the Holy Ghost though not in that miraculous and extraordinary manner as they did after for Paul in his question saith they beleeved now to beleeve is a fruit of the Spirit Therefore the Separatists doe very ill oposing our Baptizing of Infants for in Scripture we finde no examples wherein Infants of Christian Parents were denyed baptisme but examples we find wherein they had it conferred upon them 1 Cor. 10.2 as I proved before and Lydia with all her houshould was baptized likewise wee finde no negative precept inhibiting paedobaptisme neither can it bee proved truely that Christs command Teach and Baptize c. doth exclude infants from baptisme now if their bee neither example nor precept against paedobaptisme then such as oppose it doe ill for they follow those pestilent hereticks called Annabaptists in Germany who sprung up there when the light of the Gospel first began to shine not very long since about Luthers time this their opinion being but new and upstart there is good reason they should disclaime it and be humbled for it QVEST. VI. Whether is it lawfull to separate from all the publike Ordinances and Christian assemblies in our English Church because there are some defects in Discipline and in other things amongst us Ans I Conceive it is absolutely unlawfull to relinquish Gods holy Ordinances and the Assemblies of godly Christians in this Church of England because of our mixt congregations and because of some defects in our Discipline Reas 1 Because Jesus Christ leaves us not for our defects and weakenesses but continues with us and I hope will doe for ever It appeares Christ dwells amongst us because hee hath setled his sacred word amongst us sent us many godly and learned teachers and where these are teaching the truth there is Christ Mat. 28.20 Also he hath planted his Sacraments in our Church he hath converted many soules in our land to himself by the faithfull dispensation of his Ordinances but where all this is there Christ is resident Exod. 20.24 such a Church is the spouse of Christ and whilst she holds the foundation of Religion retaining the substantiall grounds of it agreable to the analogie of faith she is spoused to Christ but if shee reject the foundation of religion she is an harlot as the Church of Rome is Revelat. 2. there Christ walkes amongst the seven golden candlestickes viz. Those seven Churches of Asia yet some of them had great defects Now till Christ leaves us it is unlawfull for them to leave us and account our Church an harlot such as do thus do through the sides of our Church wound Christ strike at him and dishonour him Luke 10.16 Reas 2 Because in separating from our Assemblies and Ordinances you prevent the exercise of many an holy duty which you might ought to have performed amongst us Heb. 10. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love good workes but some might aske how must we performe this duty he answers verse 25. not forsaking the Assembling of our selves together c. here the Apostles impugneth the supercidiousnesse of the selfe conceited Jewes who out of contempt of the Gentiles deserted the Christian Assemblies as if he had said notwithdrawing and utterly separating our selves from the assemblies of Gods people upon conceit of the peculiar rights prerogatives which God hath given the Jewes above the Gentiles and standing upon the high tearmes of difference as the manner of some is c. Reas 3 Because its the high way to the sinne against the Ghost as is very cleare Heb. 10.25.26 for such as despise and desert our Christian Assemblies and Gods holy ordinances amongst us for some defects and imperfections which doe not alienate Christ his presence love from us are in the ready way to fall to blaspheme the truth and to sinne unpardonable Mr. Paget of Amsterdam in his preface to his booke called An arrow against the Separation of the Brownists complaines of them thus It is apparent that three or foure hundred of the Brownists have brought forth more Apostate Anabaptists and Arrians sometimes in one yeare then 10000 members of the reformed Dutch Church in this City have done in ten yeares or more though tempted and compassed about with seducers as much as any other Now the Arrian heresie is fearefull and odious in the yeare 324 sprang up Arrins a Presbyter in Alexandria who denyed that the Sonne of God was begotten of the substance of the Father but said that he was a creature and that there was a time wherein the Sonne was not The Anabaptists taught that infants should not bee baptized untill they came to perfect age and can give a confession of their owne faith Next that Christ tooke not flesh and blood of the Virgin but brought it from heaven Next that God not onely revealeth his will by the written word but also by visions and dreames Next that that Church is not a true Church wherein there is any Spot or wrinckle Next that the Office of Magistrates under the New Testament is not a calling approved of God Thomas Muntzerus one of the first Fathers of this Sect made a great insurrection though the Anabaptists teach that warres are unlawfull for Christians but was overcome and beheaded in the yeare 1533. Iohannes Leidensis troubled the City of Munster but was taken and condemned to death he called himselfe King of new Ierusalem David Georgius an Anabaptist in Holland said that he was Christ the Messias and Saviour of the world Thus wee see when men disdaine the Assemblies of Saints for some defects God leaves them to