Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	christian_a	church_n	pastor_n	1,389	5	9.1051	5	false

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A16643	A plaine confutation of a treatise of Brovvnisme, published by some of that faction, entituled: A description of the visible Church In the confutation wherof, is shewed, that the author hath neither described a true gouerment of the Church, nor yet proued, that outward discipline is the life of the Church. Whereunto is annexed an ansvvere vnto two other pamphlets, by the said factioners latelie dispersed, of certaine conferences had with some of them in prison. Wherein is made knowen the inconstancie of this sect, what the articles are which they still maintaine: as also a short confutation of them. There is also added a short ansvvere vnto such argumentes as they haue vsed to proue the Church of England not to be the Church of God.	Alison, Richard, controversialist.	1590 (1590)	STC 355; ESTC S100153	67,007	148

then blotted out Cain Esau Corah yea and Israel it selfe Againe is it true that all those which are not vnder this gouernement are dogs c. I will not aske what shall become of these men themselues but what is become of Peter and the rest that remained with Christ and of all the churches of Ierusalem Ephesus Corinth and the rest which had not this gouernement and all these offices at any time among them for some wanted Deacons some widows some vnministring Elders some Doctors To draw to an end The scriptures that are alledged to proue these matters are either promises of that full redemption which is obtained and shall be perfited vnto the church in the day of Christs appearing as Esa. 52. 1. and 35. 8. and Reuelation 28. 27. or else are they types thereof as Eze. 44. and the ninth verse and Zacharie 14. 21. VVherefore they cannot proue the truth hereof in the visible church of God Also Reuel 22. 15. sheweth the estate of the vngodly which in the day of that generall search shall be thrust out of the presence of God VVhich matter Paul doth plainly shew Rom. 2. 9. for hee threatneth oppression and anguishe vnto euerie soule that doth euill whether Iew or Greeke that is whether of the visible Church or not In this one thing these men may be commended that seeing their assertions cannot bee warranted by the woorde of of God they will doe the best they can to make their sayings true in themselues For surely they coulde not possiblie giue ouer themselues vnto a doggish disposition as they do if they were not perswaded that in so dooing the conditions of men which haue cast off gouernement should in theÌ„ be made manifest vnto the world VVee are therefore to desire for them that discipline may be put in practise if happely they may bee brought to some good order Thus haue we seene how the Author of this Treatise hath failed in the perfourmance of his promise made in the title thereof A MANIFESTATION OF THE INCONSTANCIE of Brownisme grathered out of two Treatises lately dispersed throughout the land AThanasius speaking of the Eusebian hereticke saith that if once he tast the Arrian schisme he will neuer refraine his tongue from vngodlinesse He noteth it also as a common disease in all heretikes that they will be constant in a peeuish wilfulnesse least they should be condemned of those whom they haue seduced yet in all other things inconstant Nunc probantes quod dicunt mox vero vituperaÌ„tes quod dixerunt ac rursum approbantes quod paulo ante calumniabantur It is no maruell therfore though the factioners of our age hauing auouched their owne dreames to be the truth of God do now cry out y t they are blasphemed abused slaÌ„dered if the same be laid to their charge yet in discoursing vpon the self-same matters they wil not stick to iustifie their first conceipts al which may appeare to him that readeth the two pamphlets lately by them published the one intituled A collection of certaine slanderous Articles and the other A collection of certaine articles and conferences c. For in these bookes we shall finde the certaintie of doctrine what it is amongst conceited diuines And that the truth may be more euident I wil set downe first their Articles which sometimes they did hold and now are charged with Secondly the sore complaints that they make of being slandered with them by our Bishops Thirdly what small cause they haue to complaine considering that they are now resolute to defend the same Articles vnto the death And lastly the fondnesse of their assertions which for the auoiding of tediousnes shalbe done either by referring the Reader vnto those places where these matters are handled elsewhere or else by plaine and euident proofes The Articles which are so iniuriously imputed vnto them as they themselues haue published are these 1 THat it is not lavvfull to vse the Lords praier publikelie in the church for a set forme of praier 2 Secondlie that all set and stinted praiers are meere babling in the sight of the Lord not to be vsed in publike Christian assemblies 3 Thirdly that the publique praiers and vvorship of God in England as it is by lavv in the church of England established is false superstitious popish and not to be vsed in anie Christian congregation 4 That the Church of England as it is novv established is no entire member of the church of Christ. 5 That the gouernment of the church of England as it is novv established is no lavvfull gouernement nor christian but antichristian and popish 6 That the Sacraments of baptisme the Lords supper as they are administred in the church of England be not true sacraments 7 That infants ought not to be baptised according to the forme of baptisme ministred novv in the church of England but are rather to be kept vnbaptised 8 Manie of them make scruple to affirme that the Queenes maiestie hath supreame authoritie to gouerne the church of England in cases ecclesiasticall and to make lavves ecclesiasticall not contrarie to Christs lavves 9 That the lavves ecclesiasticall alreadie established by the authoritie of the queene realme be not lavvfull 10 That if the Prince or magistrate vnder her do refuse or defer to reforme such faults as are amisse in the church the people maie take the reforming of them into their ovvne hands before or vvithout her authoritie 11 That the presbiterie or eldership maie for some causes after admonition if there ensue not reformation excommunicate the Queene 12 That the Church of England as it novv standeth by lavv established professeth not a true Christ nor true religion that it hath no ministers in deed nor Sacraments in deed Now they complaine that they are much abused in being charged with these matters for the title of one of the Treatises is A collection of certaine slanderous articles giuen out by the bishops against such faithful Christians as they now vniustly detaine in their prisons c. The Epistle saith that there are spersed abroad throughout the land certaine articles of the bishops owne deuising against these men to bring them into hatred vvith the vvhole land The Author in answering the said Articles termeth them forged positions Again God forbid saith he that our Magistrates should be guiltie of our innocent blood by such slanderous reports To be short master Barrow as he himselfe reporteth complained to Doctor Androwes that he hath bene greeuouslie slandred blasphemed and accused by spearsed articles c. therefore a great fault there is in those which offer these persecuted Christians for so they terme themselues this great iniurie or else in them who if the Black-amore could change his hue would deny their owne opinions but if they giue the lie vnto vs without iust cause as it shall appeare that they do by that which followeth and maintaine these things which thus confideÌ„tly they haue denied

the corruptioÌ„ of their harts Thirdly that our ministery is antichristian a matter handled pag. 125. the scurrilitie in calling them hirelings mercenary preachers c. deserueth no answer the names of parson vicar c. doth not make a difference in the ministery but in their maintenance Fourthly we are subiect to the popish courtes as high commission c. wherunto I answer that al these courts haue their authority from her maiesty though some of theÌ„ more directly then the other In consideration wherof to call the lest antichristian is arrogant but to ioine theÌ„ all in one sentence to disswade her maiesties subiects froÌ„ yeelding obedience vnto any of theÌ„ it will be found an act of no good subiect yet for mine owne parte I purpose not to giue iudgement in the matter I leaue it to such as are acquainted with the law onely I will propound the case which is this The high court of Parlement hath agreed that the queene her hignes successors kings queenes of this realme shall haue full power by letters pattents vnder the great seale to name and authorise when as often and for so long time as her highnes her heires or successors shall thinke meete such person or persons as she or they shal thinke meet to execute vnder her c. all manner iurisdictions priuileges and preheminences in any wise concerning any spirituall iurisdiction within England and Ireland c. 1. Eliz. 1. Now her maiestie by the authoritie aforesaid hath graunted her letters pattentes vnder the great seale for the two courts of high commission and delegates And by the said authority first from the Parlement and then from her maiestie these two courtes doe stande and not by any other right or authoritie whatsoeuer yet these two courts of high commission and of delegates are here tearmed popishe and antichristian courts and the people are condemned to be antichristian which yeelde obedience vnto them This therefore is the case Whether it toucheth her maiesty or not that libels railing vpon and calling her highnes authority which is warranted by her broad seale popish antichristian c. Brownist These assemblies are not ruled by the old and new testament but by the canons iniunctions and decrees of those antichristian and popish courts therefore c. Ansvvere The Argument is this The true church is ruled by the old and new testament but the church of Englande is not c. Therefore c. If Christ hath in his last will set down a perfect gouernment for his church as they say he hath there is little vse of the olde Testament for direction of discipline vnder the Gospell But this Argument being in effect the same with the former needeth no other answere then it had Brownist These people stand not in for their Christian libertie but all of them remaine in bondage to these Aegyptian and Babylonishe yoakes yeelding obedience vnto these courts and their canons Therefore c. Ansvvere The Argument is this All and euerie of the true Church stand in and for their christian libertie to practise whatsoeuer God hath commanded them c. But in the church of England they stande not for their christian libertie Therefore c. Ansvvere We haue seene pag. 49. 50. that the priuate man doth passe the bondes of his calling in presuming to deale with publike reformation Againe it was sayde pag. 45. that in the visible church it doth not alwaies fall out that euerie member hath that freedom which is requisite in the performance of their christian dueties of his calling The proposition therefore is false As for the assumption in differing nothing from the three former it doth commend the greate facilitie of the author who in resoning in so smal varietie of matter is able to frame so greate a change of argumentes which yet being considered of doe appeare all one in effect Brownist These assemblies haue not the povver vvhich Christ hath giuen vnto his church vnto the vvorlds end al the povvers of earth and hell cannot take from them viz. to binde and loose and to reforme things that are amisse but are driuen to the Commissarie courtes Therefore c. Ansvvere The Argument is this The true church hath power to execute the censures of the church but the church of Englande hath not Therefore c. The proposition faileth for the true church is sometimes without outward gouernement whereof read pag. 25. and so consequently without the power which this man speaketh off for I know he will not restraine this power of binding and loosing though he might vnto the ministerie of the word whereof notwithstanding Christ speaketh Ioh. 20. 23. saying Whose sinnes soeuer ye remit they are remitted and whose sinnes ye retaine they are retained As for the assumption it is most vntrue for we haue not onely the power of Gods word which he hath giuen vnto his ministerie to bind and to loose therby but also the censures of the church in respect of outward gouernement I grant that euerie seuerall congregation hath not this power and I dare affirme that in no age it can be proued that euery seuerall congregation had this authoritie but euen in those churches which had an Eldership the same was not in euery assemblie but diuerse congregations were ordered by one senyorie therefore to say that because euerie priuate congregation hath not this power therefore it is not at all in the church is a childish kind of reasoning Brownist These assemblies cast out sathan by the power of sathan namely by these Imps of Antichrist the Bishops commissaries and priests Therfore they are not and for all their reasons seuerall and ioyned cannot be held in any Christian iudgement the true church of Christ. Answere In this last Argument is granted vnto vs that which before was denied viz. that our church hath power of casting out but it faileth in the manner for if they say true this power is not from Christ but from the imps of Antichrist c. vnto which accusation I answere the end wherefore men are cast out from amongst vs by the doctrine of our church should be that the offender by being depriued of the seales of the couenant might be brought vnto repentance Now for the ordering hereof the people are not in the weightie matters of the church to haue their voice pag. 47. c. And a presbyterie in euery congregation cannot be had pag. â—8 therfore neither election ordination excommunication nor other censures of the Church are to be committed to euerie particular congregation As for this vnchristian dealing in condemning for Antichristian whatsoeuer is not according to their humour it hath bene often answered Some defectes there are in our gouernment we challenge no perfection some corruption there is oftentimes in such as haue the ordering of it I defend not all But in this I would be resolued if wee by the power of Satan cast out Satan by what power do they cast out

although in one of their writings which they haue dispersed they haue made this protestatioÌ„ We purpose not to medle with the reformation of the state otherwise then by our prayers vnto God yet as forgetting them selues immediately after in the same discourse they affirme that Christ hath left but one forme of gouernement in his last will and Testament vnto his church which he hath sealed with his bloud and therefore not left it arbitrable at the plesures of princes or policies of times to be done or vndone but made it by a double right inuiolable both by his vvord and his TestameÌ„t so that the church of God can neither be gouerned by any other lawes or gouernement neither ought it to be without this for God holdeth them all in the state of enemies which haue not his sonne to raigne ouer them Now then the faithfull are coÌ„maÌ„ded to gather togither in Christs name with promise of directioÌ„ protection authoritie not only to establish his lawes ordinances amoÌ„g theÌ„ but faithfully to gouern his church therby for the kingdom of God coÌ„sisteth not in word but in power Now this assembly of the faithfull before they be planted established in this order coÌ„sisteth hitherto but of priuate persons none as yet being called vnto office function Therefore we may well conclude that God coÌ„maÌ„deth his faithful seruants being as yet priuat men togither to build his church according to the true patterne of Christs Testament thus farre they But here is no word of God to proue any of these assertions we read of Asa Iehosaphat Iehoiada the priest Hezekia Iosia others some of them pulling downe the abominations of Iuda others setting vp the priests Leuits in their places in the house of God disposing theÌ„ as in the feere of God semed good in their eies but in the whole book of God is not to be found either precept or exaÌ„ple to warrant a priuat man in purging much lesse in erecting the church of God Who then required these things at the hands of these men will they tell vs of extraordinary procedings in matters of extremity Let them shew herein some extraordinary testimony from God to warrant vs in regarding them otherwise here is in trusion For howsoeuer Zerubbabel Iehosuah Ezra Nehemia did daily pray for the restoring of the people out of captiuity were most willing ready to go before theÌ„ to bring them to Ierusalem yet vntill they had authority coÌ„mitted to theÌ„ so to do by the kings of Persia Cirus Darius others they neuer durst atteÌ„pt the matter and yet we may truly say that these were no common persons Iehosua being the high priest Zerubbabel a chief maÌ„ of the people Ezra a scribe of the law Nehemia a great man yea in the court of Artashast but they al knew ful wel that Moses Aaron the prince and the priest must ioine together in all such actions Likewise in this church they haue holie lavves as limites and boundes vvhich it is lavvfull at no hand to transgresse they haue lavves to direct them in the choise of euerie officer vvhat kiude of them the Lord vvill haue Brownist This tautologie of the holy lawes of the church it is not so vnwisely iterated repeated but it is as foolishly also and fondly proued For Christ Matth. 5. 17. saying that he came not to destroy the lavve and the prophets but to fulfill them and Paul 1. Tim. 1. 18. giuing a commandement to Timothie which commandement is expressed what it is in the third fourth and fift verses of the same chapter doe not once speke of the churches lawes for outward direction as may appeare euidently to euery one that hath but a meane iudgement in the scriptures Ansvver Their pastor must be apt to teach no yong scholler able to diuide the word aright holding fast the faithfull word according to doctrine that he may be able also to exhort rebuke improue with wholesome doctrine and to conuince them that say against it he must be a man that loueth goodnes he must be wise righteoue holy temperate he must be of life vnreproueable as Gods steward he must be generally wel reported of and one that ruleth his owne householde vnder obedience with all honestie he must be modest humble meeke gentle and louing he must be a man of great patience compassion labour and diligence he must alwaies be carefull and watchfull ouer the flocke wherof the Lord hath made him ouerseer with all willingnes and cheerefulnes not holding his office in respect of persons but doing his duetie to euerie soule as he will answere before the chiefe shepheard c. Ansvvere In this descriptioÌ„ of the pastors office as the author hath set down some things therein required so hath he lefte other matters pertaining by his own doctrine thereunto altogether vntouched for whereas he telleth vs of an Eldershippe wherein the pastor is the chiefe here is nothing mentioned of this matter as if the ecclesiasticall censure remained as peculiar vnto the Elders Againe forasmuch as he requireth in a pastor that hee exhort rebuke and conuince the gayne-sayers of wholesome doctrine hee doth confirme herein that which hath ben said concerning the Doctor for either this functioÌ„ is not in the publik place of Gods worship or else it doeth intrude into the pastorall charge so these offices would not be seuered and diuerse Thirdly seeing modestie humilitie meeknes c. are necessarie in a Pastor Doctor Elder aud all we seee howe vnfitte these men are to beare anie office in the Church of God considering how farre they are from modestie meeknes or ciuill honestie when they call the ministerie of England traitors to Christ the Popes bastardes wicked guides Antichrists c. VVhen the booke of common praier is tearmed a peece of swines flesh and the people of Englande generally are accounted persecutors of the church of God no Christians Lastly we may obserue that some of these testimonies of Scripture in the margent are not so fit as might bee to proue the office of a pastor For Nu. 12. 3. doth speake of the meeknes of Moses but his was not a pastorall charge Esa. 50. 4. setteth foorth the Prophets diligence Zach. 7. 11. complaineth of the peoples obstinacie but what are these to proue the office of a pastor The place that is quoted 1. Tim. 2. 20. because it is somewhat after the end of the chapter it shall be answered when that verse is found Brownist Their Doctor or teacher must bee a man apt to teach able to diuide the word of God aright and to deliuer sound and wholsome doctrine froÌ„ the same still bulding vpon the same grounde worke he must be mightie in the Scriptures able to conuince the gainsaiers and carefully to deliuer his doctrine pure sound and plaine not vvith curiositie or affection but so that it may

Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Text snippets containing the quad