Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	church_n	part_n	universal_a	2,451	5	9.1017	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A01076	A defence of the right of kings Wherein the power of the papacie ouer princes, is refuted; and the Oath of Allegeance iustified. Written for the vse of all English romanists; more especially, for the information of those priests, or Iesuits, which are by proclamation commanded to conforme themselues, or depart the kingdome. By Edvvard Forset, Esquire.	Forset, Edward, 1553?-1630.	1624 (1624)	STC 11189; ESTC S119405	55,644	106

by what words thereof can he challenge the obedience of all the subiects or Christians in that Common-wealth 3 Whether if St. Peter be affirmed to be the said Monarche what can be alledged for his Superiority that is not equally communicable to the rest of the Apostles ioyntly or severally by the like authorizement 4 Whether St. Peter was more especially appointed the chiefe Apostle for both Iewes and Gentiles If for the Iewes how came it that St. Paul reproved him for misleading the Iewes If for the Gentiles why was St. Paul by a publike consent and Counsell nominated to be the Apostle of the Gentiles who at Rome planted the Church and from whom the succession is most proper 5 Whether St. Peter ever came at Rome sith there is evident demonstration by computing the times and places of his abode during his life after Christs ascension that he could not be there at all by any coniecture as by the Epistles of St. Paul is evicted 6 Allowing that St. Peter was at Rome was he not there as an Apostle and so no more appropriate to that place then to the whole world 7 Being an Apostle how came he to be chiefe yea the vniuersall Pastor over both Iewes and Gentiles except such his Pastorship were rather Apostolicall then Episcopall If his 〈◊〉 were Apostolicall then all the Apostles had interest thereunto as well as he If Episcopall did he renounce or relinquish his Apostleship to erect a new state or seate of an 〈◊〉 Bishop neuer mentioned in the Scripture and of a larger extent and dominion then the Apostleship and by what warrant and authoritye did he so 8 If he did found any such Episcopall eminencie vniversall over all the Churches of the world and that invested in his owne person why may it not be thought that such his Episcopall function was setled vpon him rather at Antioch where his chiefest abode was after his departure from Ierusalem then at Rome 9 Whether in case he preferred Rome before Antioch Ierusalem and other places whereof there is no apparant proofe or certainty is that successive seare established at Rome of the like and the same power vertue and veritie as was conferred on his owne person 10 Whether such supposed succession were afixed to the place or aplied to the persons 11 Whether if the succession were applied to the place was it not cut off and discontinued when there was no vniuersall Bishop refiant at Rome which for some hundreths of yeares after Christ and since the vsurpation Papall for a long time together hath come to passe 12 If the succession were in the persons did not the abominable wickednes of life or the open profession of Atheisme Arianisme Coniuration and contracting with the Deuill damnable doctrines of all sorts and hereticall positions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by such persons yeain their Cathedra dissolve the said succession and what 〈◊〉 they make for Pope Ioane whose stay standeth vnrefuted 13 Moveover he 〈◊〉 me what became of this 〈◊〉 and where that Common-wealth of Christians as they will needs calbit that they may make themselues common wealths men could finde there one 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Governor when there were two three or 〈◊〉 such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at once 14 Yet we haue not done questioning with him This great 〈◊〉 of doubts must resolve vs how it commeth to 〈◊〉 that the 〈◊〉 persian 〈◊〉 Russian 〈◊〉 and other 〈◊〉 Churches haue not beene made 〈◊〉 with this 〈◊〉 mentall part of doctrine that Christ hath ordayned the Bishop of Rome the supreame and vniuersall Pastor of the whole Common-wealth of Christians which he hath 〈◊〉 and founded 15 He is also to 〈◊〉 himself of an answere to another question Whether the succesors of S. Peter were it once agreed vppon who they were Clement Linus Cletus or 〈◊〉 did over hold or exercise any ditivation of authority from St. Peter over 〈◊〉 and other Apostles that survived St. Peter in the Church or did they or any of them striue for Superioritye with them yea rather did they not yeeld vnto them 16 Besides this 〈◊〉 diving determinor in Divinity doubts must take into his consideration what warrantize of any lawful vocation election and ordinatiō the succeeding Bishops of Rome can avow or maintain sith no man may take on him any 〈◊〉 ministery or 〈◊〉 but in that regular and 〈◊〉 manner And whether such their calling to their Ministeriall offices and Pastorall charge were ordinary or extraordinary the difference in the admissions and choyce of such Bishops which sometimes was by substitution of the proceeding Bishop sometimes by election of the people and in later times by the suffrages of Cardinals and sometimes by meere intrusion giveth cause to move this question 17 What reasons can be pretended or alledged why if both Christ and St. Peter intended the succession of Bishops onely in that Sea of Rome 〈◊〉 there hath new Titles beene taken vp of Patriarke 〈◊〉 and then of Supreame head of the Church and then of Papa or Pope which seemeth to inferre an alteration or else an augmentation of the power or charge first conferred by Christ or St. Peter vppon that Sea and so consequently a question whether the latter diuised Titles be likewise authorized from Christ 18 Doth it not behoue that this so pregnant a Patron of Papacy doe cleare all causes touching the interruption and discontinuance of the supposed succession of Popes whereof some hauing before beene propounded it shall not be amisse to cast him one bone more to whet his teeth or witt vppon I would know whether after cannons and constitutions made by his Holinesse and ratyfied by Councells touching the lawfull election and admittance of the Bishop of Rome if a Pope enter vnduly and contrary to such orders and Cannons by simony bribery faction yea with strong hand or any other corrupt courses may notwithstanding be held and reputed a lawfull Pope and the acts by him done the carnalls by him made and the decrees or trans-actions of his time shall bee adiudged as to stand in the right of Christs Vicar on earth Are not in such cases the linckes of the chaine tying together the succession broken or let loose sith in the particulers in whom the same should be continued such elections and ordinations are adiudged intrusions and vsurpations yea vtterly voyde and very nullities 19 Yet I must make him a little more worke with other questions what is the cause that for so long a space of 600. yeares after Christs Assention this position of the Romish Supremacy and vniuersall head-ship if it were so evident and demonstratiue from Christs owne appointment as this bold bragger would haue vs to beleeue was neither by the Fathers of the Primitiue Church nor by any generall Councels approoued or ratified 20 I am disposed to offer him another objection like a blocke to stumble at which neuer any Papist yet well passed ouer but he brake his shin against it and that is the opinion and censure of Gregory the

the heart of man at the Creation so was it also reduced and comprised by the Wisedome of God into the Tables of the Morall Law in the which for as much as we haue an expresse commandement of honor and obedience to gouernors that must remaine fixed in our hearts to hold vs firme in the Bond of allegiance Then let P. R. and all his conjoyned Catholikes as hee vaunteth make it plaine vnto vs that eyther Nature hath implanted or the Commandements of God haue enioyned therepressing or deposing of such Princes vppon any exceptions surmizes or accusations whatsoeuer As for the Law of Nations because that is but secundary and derivatiue from the other what hath beene averred of the one holdeth the same respect and certainty as doth the roote it selfe from whence it issueth yet before wee depart from this Argument of Natures working I haue to note that this cunning and curious Composer of Bookes and Contriuer of cases doth in this his chiefe proposition worke himselfe quite out of the question and putteth the Pope cleane out of the doores for the question being of the power of the Pope that is of the power authority and iurisdiction of a Forraine Commander and Iudge he telleth vs that God and Nature hath left some sufficient authority in euery Common-wealth c. which directly maketh the Popes preheminency with vs altogether needelesse and a very nullity sith by his owne sayings and that more agreeable to reason there is sufficient authority within the Land not requiring any his 〈◊〉 or vsurpations to the gouerning of that body which is of it selfe compleate and liueth by the vigor spirit and powerfull opperation of his owne soule his lawfull Soueraigne Thus is the Pope as touching the first reason drawne from the Law or Right of Nature or Nations either left out by him or cast out by me from repressing of Princes or 〈◊〉 himselfe within these our Countries or Territories The second reason bringeth a better Commission that will make way through all repugnances it is inforced in the name and authority of Christ himselfe and it is thus chayned together for impregnable strength Christ was to found is Common-wealth of Christians the farre more perfection then other states had before been establishe subjecting temporall things to spirituall and appointing a Supreame Vniuersall gouernour in the same with a generall charge to looke to all his sheepe without exception of great or small people or Potentates Therefore hee inferreth that the Supreame care iudgement direction and censure of the matter in question was left by Christ vnto the sayd Supreame 〈◊〉 or Pastor of his Church and Common-wealth But it was doubted whether this power was committed to the supreame Pastor directly and immediatly or indirectly and by consequence The Canonists out of the Commission vnto St. Peter Pose ones meas do hold the direct and immediate authority charge and ouersight in temporallities The Catholike Diuines vpon whom the brunt and pressure by 〈◊〉 must bee sayed haue thought it safer to chuse the indirect and consequentiall which they expresse in this manner When the gouernment of spirituall affaires is impugned by any temporall Gouernors so as the sayd spirituall Commission cannot be executed without redresse or remedy 〈◊〉 and in such cases the said Supreame Pastor is to haue authority to proceede against the temporall gouernors Also for the defence and preseruation of his spirituall charge but both parts fully are agreed that there is such authority left by Christ in his Church for remedy of vrgent causes otherwise he should not haue sufficiently prouided for the necessity thereof Here is goodly building of Castles in the ayre Castles did I say Nay of the Tower of Babell in the steede of the City of God Christ sayth hee was to found his Common-wealth of Christians in farre more perfection then other states c. why Christs intentions erections and perfections were all to saue sinners and to bring them vnto Heauen what proofe is this that hee was to found the Popish Hyerarchy or the Antichristian Monarchy and what is this farre more perfection c. Is it an outward pompe or power to chayne and fetter Princes vnder a temporall obedience of a Spirituall Vsurper What is this same subjecting of temporall things to spirituall is it to make a Minister or Bishop of Heauenly matters tyrannous and rampant ouer the temperall states setting their imperiall feete vppon the neckes of Lyons and Dragons what is the nature end and eminency of the spirituall Kingdome of Christ is it any other then the Preaching of the Gospell the way of salvation and the possessing of euerlasting life Then what straightnesse what extractions doth the Limbeckes of their braines bewitched with temporall vanities make of a worldly rule and Dominion He was to appoint one Supreame and 〈◊〉 Gouernor c. we on the other side constantly denying this their principle doe easily bring them to the end of their wits yet wee will pocket vp one confession in this place which hee is likely to forsake and not acknowledge another time In more perfection sayth hee then other states had before beene established acknowledging thereby that vnder the Law and in the old Testament the temporall was not subject to the spirituall Hath hee not well collected and conected his propositions to bring out this grand conclusion of superiority ouer Princes doth he not neede a distinction of proofe to make these parts that cleaue like sand to hold together against the breach which wee are to make vppon him His distinction of direct or indirect shal be directly anoyded and his great Mace which hee beareth vp in his March of state of Ordine ad Deum must bee directed and ordered to a better sence and his commission of pasce shall bee examined how farre it can authorize him to assume the pretented power If hee will but thanke me for it I will befriend him a little with my directions I will chalke him out his way with a straight line by the which hee must be brought and passe along if he desireth to come right vppon the conclusion I will distribute his journey into seuerall baytings or reposes otherwise called common places I doubt it will prooue a long labour and very troub esome to carry his commission along with him hee is like to venture himselfe in many straights and hazardable passages and will be often stayed by the Kings Watch but more often foundred by the rubs and roughnesse of the way which hee is to walke through He must begin and set forth at this poynt 1 That Christ purposing to found his Common-wealth of Christians in farre more perfection c. hath appoynted the same to be an absolute Monarchy vnder one supreame and vniversall Governour visible eminent and knowne as the head on earth in all causes of Christs kingdome 2 Next who that individuall person is whom Christ appointed to be such a Monarche and by what commission is he assigned thereunto and