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	true_a	unity_n	1,784	5	9.4467	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A05113	Mr Henry Barrowes platform Which may serve, as a preparative to purge away prelatisme: with some other parts of poperie. Made ready to be sent from Miles Mickle-bound to much-beloved-England. Togither with some other memorable things. And, a familiar dialogue, in and with the which, all the severall matters conteyned in this booke, are set forth and interlaced. After the untimely death of the penman of the foresaid platforme. & his fellow prisoner; who being constant witnesses in points apperteyning to the true worship of God, and right government of his Church, sealed up their testimony with their bloud: and paciently suffred the stopping of their breath, for their love to the Lord. Anno 1593.	Barrow, Henry, 1550?-1593.	1611 (1611)	STC 1525; ESTC S122418	73,650	164

Examinatiō hath these vvords For I know the doctrine touching the holy Trinitie Nature and Offices of the Lord Iesus Free justification by him both the sacraments c. published by her Majesties authoritie and commanded by her lawes to be the Lords blessed and undoubted truthes without the knowledg and profession wherof no salvation is to be had And sheweth the things that he disliketh and for vvhat cause he durst not partake in the publik assemblies of our land notwithstanding the former truthes there taught and professed And againe in his Confession of faith he sayth The trueth of doctrine touching the holy Trinitie touching the natures and Offices of Christ Iustifying faith Sacraments and Eternall life and the rest established by her Majesties Lawes and professed by her self their Honours and such as have knowledge in the assemblies of this land I acknowledge from my heart to be such as if I mainteyned not the unitie and held not the communion of the same doctrine with them in these points I could not possibly be saved For out of the communion of the true profession which her Majestie hath established in these and the like truthes there is no hope of salvation left But ioyne notwithstanding in the publike assembles of this Land I dare not for the former causes I doe moreover willingly confesse that many both of the Teachers and also of the Professors within these Parish assemblies haue so imbraced this trueth of doctrine established and professed in this Land as the Lord of his infinite goodnes hath granted them the favour to show outwardly many tokens wherby in regard of the Lords election I professe before men and Angels that I judge them to be mēbers of that body whereof the sonne of God Christ Iesus 〈◊〉 the head Onely herein the Lord be merciful unto them as to my self in regard of my synnes that they are not under that outward form of govermēt which Christ hath left c. And whereas Mr Iacob would father upon this people that they hold every person in England which holdeth the publick faith is no true Christian. Mr Iohnson in his answer pag. 7. sayth thus Touching this point I minde the state of their people two wayes the one concerning their severall persons considered a part from the constitution of your Church the other concerning their estate and standing in that constitution Concerning the former of these that is considering them a part from the cōstitution I acknowledge that in divers of them there appeareth such knowledge and faith of the Gospell with the fruits thereof as they may well be thought in regard of Gods election in Christ to be heires of salvation and in that respect to be true Christians God pardoning unto them their standing under Antichrist which they doe not see or minde But I seare least many more were heretofore partaker of this grace then be now since your Antichristian estate and the unlawfulnes to a●ide therein hath been discovered Concerning the latter that is in respect of their estate standing in that constitution of your Church I am perswaded whosoever so stand holding your publik● faith and multitude of Antichristian abhominations withall they cannot by the word of God be judged true Christians as touching their outward estate in that Church of yours but stand all subject to wrath God imputing this their sinne unto them And that all therfore whosoever will be assured of Gods mercie and salvation ought with speed to goe out of your Church it still remayning in Antichristian estate c. Thus Desiderius I haue shewed you what divers of them haue written and professed in and about the point by you objected if it be not sufficient I will shew you more Desiderius You may spare that labour for I am fully satisfied Miles And for that cause I was the more large As also that when these things are published others at home abroad may likevvise receive satisfaction And if any of the people themselves have been so overseen as to speak according to the report that you heard they may by this meanes be againe brought to their owne grounds which some through simplenes rashnes or incōsideratenes may forget offend against the same But the more circumspect and wise are more considerate and wary Thus being somewhat weary I will rest from discoursing a while and in the meane time you may read these three writings which will be worth your paines and the printing And they also will cleare that people and the truth from such clamours as you haue heard concerning thē The first is a letter which one of them in Ireland wrote unto a Scottish preacher there Ao. 1594. wherein is layd downe sundrie grounds of their separation The other are two Petitions the first whereof was vvritten by Mr Henry Barrovve in the daies of Q. Elizabeth of famous memorie the secōd by another of their vvriters 〈◊〉 the time of the first Parliament holden in the happy raign of our now Soveraigne King Iames. To Mr Wood. Wisdome and grace from God most high WHereas you seemed very desirous to haue us set downe in writing our faith and profession concerning the true Church togither with the causes of our separation from the English and Irish parish assemblies promising your self either to assēt unto us or shew sufficient cause of your dislike by writing also with defece of your churches estate c We as willing to render an account of our beleefe and practise unto all men that shall demand the same and desirous of your salvation and fellowship in the holy faith if such be the will of God our selves of further instruction and light by any that can enform us from the word haue condiscended unto your request beleeving confessing concerning this part of the Gospel as followeth That the true Church of God on earth is communion and fellowship of righteous men and women whose harts God hath pu●ified by saith calling and gathering them ●nto himself and under his true obedience by the scepter of his word and spirit sepa●ating them from the world of Infidels Turks ●ewes and false Christians to live togither under his holy covenant obeying and wo●●shiping him in spirit and truth keeping th● unitie of the Spirit in the band of peace an● love and unfeighned That this Church although dispersed amōg many natiōs over the face of the earth is one as God is one hath one faith Lord religion law and goverment in all places unto it the scriptures and written word o● God is given for the direction thereof and edification in all thinges whereunto each member is bound as well Prince as people to observe inviolably whatsoever is therein commanded unto the worlds end and that no man nor the vvhole church it self hath authority to alter change inovate breake abrogate or superordeyne any thing unto or from this Lawe of the Most high neither may the church

Faultes escaped Pag Lin. Faultes Corrections 80. 9. in them and were in them 219. 14. Tius Titus 230. 25. ● that Dioceses were ● 231. 11. 25 85 241. 33.   ture be subverted 71. in margin Act. 3 6. Act. 6.3 163. in marg Mat. 86. Math. 16. The Christian Reader will pardon the rest Mr HENRY BARROWES PLATFORM Which may serve as a Preparative to purge away Prelatisme with some other parts of Poperie Made ready to be sent from Miles Mickle-bound to Much-beloved England Togither with some other memorable things And A familiar Dialogue in and with the which all the severall matters conteyned in this booke are set forth and interlaced After the untimely death of the penman of the foresaid Platforme his fellow prisoner who being constant witnesses in points apperteyning to the true worship of God and right government of his Church sealed up their testimony with their bloud And paciently suffred the stopping of their breath for their love to the LORD Anno 1593. Printed for the yeare of better hope To such as are already true Christians and all that desire so to be health salutation in the Authour of salvation THis Conference or Discourse between Desiderius and my self Togither with other things of excellent argument worthily beloved vvas for your sakes by our mutual consent put to printing Reape therefore the benefite thereof and defend it from the unjust cavils of all that set against the same And for the literall faults therein amend with the pen I pray you as they are espied in the reading And if in the materials all thinges hang not well togeither in your sense consider them better by the word of God and what agreeth therwith cast not away neither receive any thing that dissenteth therefrom But try all things and keepe that which is good M. M. TAke wings o Booke and fly abroade with speed The things in thee are good for men to reed Which haue not seen what thou canst to them show And what thou speakst is meete for all to know Who would discern some things amiss that bee Within the Land of our Nativitee To such thou shalt be iudged wondrous kinde Because thou canst right well informe their minde In such a sort as they shall bettred bee And well advantag'd by the things in thee Yet foes enough thou shalt be sure to finde 'Mong Priests that have the soules of many pinde And Prelates too which very seldome preach Or suffer those that carefully would teach Gods truth and give Christs sheep their wholsome food All such Restreyners make the sinfull brood And of that Ranck not one of them is found That feeds the flock in wholsome pasture ground If such bring food they poison give withall Which proveth worse then wormwood mixt with gall They suffer not the milk of Gods word pure To work vpon the soules of men a cure Though sincere milk therof that some is it Which makes for God the soule of each man fit And thou directs them in no other wise Nor wouldst haue any follow such mens guise As will not to that wholsome Word bend care And all his pathes unto Iehovahs seare A Dialogue or Discourse passing betweene Desiderius and Miles Micklebound by occasion of their old love and new meeting Miles Micklebound RIght glad am I to see you Desiderius but who ever would haue thought to haue met you here in these partes Some great weighty cause doubtlesse hath occasioned you to come hither But I praye tell me how doe all our friends in England and what good newes bring you from thence Desiderius It may be thought a wonder to see your selfe here my much beloved Miles for it was reported that you were at Rome that you were the Popes scholer c. But I am glad to see you so farre from his citie of seven hills where his seat is And that putts mee in better hope concerning you then others have Miles For certayn Desiderius I am and alwaies have been furder off and more opposi●e to the Popes religion and learning then now distant frō his citie and seate where I never yet came not purpose to come vnlesse I should happen to long for fyre and fagot Desiderius That increaseth my hope to bring like joy unto your selfe know this that our friends in England are generally well as I see you are whereof I am not a litle joyeux Miles And how goes it with religion Are there not good hopes for reformation Desiderius The hopes that way are as fewe small as ever they were Howbeit that which you call reformation others doe count deformation Miles But how then is it with the Prelats Are they so proud or doe they dominiere beare like sway as heretofore Desid Yea doubtlesse For there are none that are put down more then the Puritans as they are called nor none that rise up faster then the Prelates as you call them Miles Then in deed there can be no present hope for Bishops and the abuses brought in by them are a bane to the beawtie of true religion and doe greatly hinder all sound and sincere walking therein Desider Multitudes are otherwise minded then you are and many wiser then I doe think them to be the very pillars of the Church and chiefe upholders of true religion And what should I then think of the matter Miles Not as the multitude doe for then you think erroneously And if these be the pillars or propps of any Church it must needs be the church of Antichrist For wee finde no warrant in all the scriptures that their offices callings or administrations haue any place power or right in the Church of Christ as shal plainly appeare hereafter But where you seem to let your judgment rely upō the multitude and to approve of that which wiser then your self doe justify you are taught not to follow a multitude to doe evill Exod. 23. And the divine proverbe sheweth that it is as great an evil to justify the wicked as to condemne the innocent But as woe is pronounced to him that calls good evil so likewise to him that cal leth evil good Esa. 5.29 For your judgeing of matters in case of religion you ought to look to the lawe and word of God and not to the wisdome of man For the wisdome of the wise men of this world is foolishnes with God and the wisdome of God is foolishnes with them The Philosophers and other wise men could never by their worldly wisdome atteyne to the right knowledge of God heavenly things This apperteyneth to the foolish things of the world which God hath chosen to confound the wise As sayth the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. Read the whole chapter at your leasure for your better information But I pray you how sayd you that it was with the Puritans Desiderius I observe that there are none more detest●d mocked troden down then are they nor none more upholden then those that you so much dislike even

being received into the soule by faith is the true nourishment therof and salvation of the whole man For he hath redeemed us from death destructiō iustified us in the sight of God and procured us life with him All which we apprehend thorow faith But in this trueth I know you are already grounded so as I need not speak further for your instruction and as for them should I speak should I write should I doe all I can it will not profite them For without the extraordinary work of God they must still beleeve as their church beleeves For that cannot erre as they fondly suppose So that it may hold what it vvill and they must hold the same vvithout all triall or mistrust Thus by one error they are fast fettered in many must be left to their blind guides till they fall togither into the ditch For other guides they will not haue Therfore I shall now spare a labour and speake no further of this point Desiderius Thus brought I you out of the way wherin you were shewing the unlawfulnes of kneeling in the sacramēt Yet vvas it not vvithout fruit for even by that vvhich you haue sayd men may playnely see that vvee ought not to conceite or imitate those supersticious idolatrous and absurd Papists vvho are so addicted to their ovvne vvayes and are like those that cried Great is Diana of the Ephesians Act. 19.28 And great vvith these is their goddesse the false church M. Mick But vvhat say you of the Christians whose cause I pleaded for that addict themselves to the wayes and word of God Desiderius I freely acknowledge that such ought to be lovingly respected And you haue brought me to like better of them then ever I did but espetially that you so well cleared their doctrine of faith to be sound and their separation to be but from sin and such outward orders and ordinances that are unsound and sinfull which they therefore forsake that they might doe the will of God according to his written word the light of our feet and lanterne to all our pathes M. Mick You haue sayd ynough to cleare them both from heresie and schisme for he is no heretique that is sound in the faith And he is no schismatique that separates onely from disorder sin For we ought not to communicate in sin either with men or Angels Desiderius And that is the ground whereupon I my selfe neyther doe nor dare communicate in the Church of England with that sinful ordinance of man the service book or book of cōmon prayer M. Mick If you professe so much in England by your practise as you haue here confessed with your mouth you may happen to be called a Brownist if not to tast of other hard intreaty Des. Yet the truth is the truth Which as it appeareth unto me so stand I bound to obey unto it But I pray you why doe the foresayd people solemnize mariage in civil Assemblies or dwellings M. Mick Because it is a civil action and ought civilly to be performed according to the true nature of it Desiderius Why it is the judgment almost of all men to haue it done in the Church by a Minister And in England it is a common received custome to haue it so performed M. Mick I wish rather that for the proofe of it you could haue sayd Thus saith the Lord. And then to haue shewed the chapter and verse where it is so sayd But you haue done nothing lesse neither in deed it is impossible to be done there being no such thing once named or implied in all the scripture And consequently the ground whereon you stand is not rocky and firme but unsure and sandy which shall wash away with the raine every house built upon such a foundation when the flouds come and the windes blowe shall certainly fall as we may learne both by Christs own doctrine in the Gospell and reason it selfe doth shewe the same And if an Argument drawen from a common custome be good then if it be a common custome to haue the Lords holy Sabbaths profaned with Beare and Bull baiting with dicing and carding with May games and morrice dance with laciviousnes and luxurie with rifling or revelling c. then all is good and all may be done sane conscientia But I hope that both you and every childe of God truely sanctified doe defie and abhorre all such things not onely on the Sabbath dayes but every day of the week and of their whole life And is it not a common received custome in England to worship God by their book of cōmon prayer in English as the Papists by their Massebook in Latin and by their Images beades crucifixes and other the like in stead of true invocation upon the Name of God by the work of his Spirite But being all vvithout and against the vvarrant of the vvord of God your self dare neyther practise nor approve them And vvhy then doe you not minde the like in other things no less unvvarrantable As is the solemnization of mariage ecclesiastically and other such like Many abominations might be pleaded for by common custome and multitude of men in that minde But lay aside these sandy grounds and heare the vvords of the Lavve Thou shalt not follow a multitude to doe evill neyther agree in a controversie to decline after many and overthrow the truth Exod. 23.2 Beleeve it for truth That All Church actions are layd dovvne in the scriptures vvhich is the rule of truth But in them vve finde no mention of mariage to be a Church action Therefore it ought not to be so made or used And againe All the dueties of the Ministerie are expressed in the scriptures But in them there is no more mention or vvarrant for the ministers solemnizing of mariages to the living then is for their burying of the dead vvhich is just none at all Ergo they are both unlavvfull and ought not to be done And where you affirme the contrary saying it ought to be done by a Minister doe you meane a minister indefinitely without any respect whether he be true or false Desiderius No But I meane a true Minister onely For no true Christian ought to goe to false minister for any such end M. Mick Your reason is right and good But then the Ministers of England haue no right in that work they being in respect of their offices not true but false Ministers and so proved Desiderius But in respect of their guiftes they may be sayd to be the Ministers of Christ. For many of them haue excellent giftes M. M. So had Balaam likewise who yet was but a false Minister and a Southsayer And so haue many Lawyers others in our Land if they would and might be suffred to exercise their gifts who yet are no Ministers at all Gifts then doe help to make men fit for a Ministerie but doe not make them ministers much lesse true Ministers For every true Minister must not onely be