Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	according_a	call_v	true_a	2,933	5	4.1631	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A94805	A directory of church-government. Anciently contended for, and as farre as the times would suffer, practised by the first non-conformists in the daies of Queen Elizabeth. Found in the study of the most accomplished divine, Mr. Thomas Cartwright, after his decease; and reserved to be published for such a time as this. Published by authority.	Travers, Walter, 1547 or 8-1635. De disciplina ecclesiæ sacra, ex Dei verba descripta.; Cartwright, Thomas, 1535-1603.	1645 (1645)	Wing T2066; Thomason E269_17; ESTC R212376	12,368	26

A DIRECTORY OF Church-government Anciently contended for and as farre as the Times would suffer practised by the first Non-conformists in the daies of Queen ELIZABETH Found in the study of the most accomplished Divine Mr. Thomas Cartwright after his decease and reserved to be published for such a time as this Published by Authority LONDON Printed for John Wright in the Old-baily 1644. THE SACRED DISCIPLINE of the CHURCH described in the Word of God THe Discipline of Christs Church that is necessary for all times is delivered by Christ and set downe in the holy Scriptures Therefore the true and lawfull Discipline is to be fetched from thence and from thence alone And that which resteth upon any other foundation ought to be esteemed unlawfull and counterfeit Of all particular Churches there is one and the same right order and forme Therefore also no one may challenge to it selfe any power over others nor any right which doth not alike agree to others The Ministers of publique charges in every particular Church ought to be called and appointed to their charges by a lawfull Ecclesiasticall calling such as hereafter is set downe All these for the divers regard of their severall kinds are of equall power amongst themselves No man can be lawfully called to publique charge in any Church but he that is fit to discharge the same And none is to be accounted fit but he that is endued with the common gifts of all the godly that is with faith and a blamelesse life And further also with those that are proper to that Ministery wherein he is to be used and necessary for the executing of the same whereupon for triall of those gifts some convenient way and examination is to be used The party to be called must first be elected then he is to be ordained to that charge whereunto he is chosen by the prayers of that Church whereunto he is to be admitted the mutuall duties of him and of the Church being before laid open The Ministers of the Church are first they that are Ministers of the word In their examination it is specially to be taken héed unto that they be apt to teach and tryed men not utterly unlearned nor newly planted and converted to the Faith Now these Ministers of the word are first Pastors which doe administer the Word and Sacraments then Teachers which are occupied in wholsome doctrine Besides there are also Elders which watch over the life and behaviour of every man and Deacons which have care over the poore Further in every particular Church there ought to be a Presbytery which is a Consistory and as it were a Senate of Elders Vnder the name of Elders here are contained they who in the Church minister doctrine and they who are properly called Elders By the common Counsell of the Eldership all things are directed that belong to the state of their Church First such as belong to the guidance of the whole body of it in the holy and common assembly gathered together in the name of the Lord that all things may be done in them duely orderly and to edification 2. Then also such as pertaine to particular persons First to all the members of that Church that the good may enioy all the priviledges that belong unto them that the wicked may be corrected with Ecclesiasticall censures according to the quality of the fault private and publique by admonishing by remooving either from the Lords Supper by suspension as it is commonly called or out of the Church by Excommunication The which belong specially to the Ministers of publique charge in the Church to their calling either to be begun or ended and ended either by relieving or punishing them and that for a time by suspension or altogether by deposition For directing of the Eldership let the Pastors be set over it or if there be no Pastors then one in the same Church let the Pastors doe it in their turnes But yet in all the greater affaires of the Church as in Excommunicating of any and in choosing and deposing of Church Ministers nothing may be concluded without the knowledge and consent of the Church Particular Churches ought to yeeld mutuall help one to another for which cause they are to communicate amongst themselves The end of this communicating together is that all things in them may be so directed both in regard of Doctrine and also of Discipline as by the Word of God they ought to bée Therfore the things that belong hereunto are determined by the common opinion of those who meet so to communicate together and whatsoever is to be amended furthered or procured in any of those severall Churches that belong to that assembly Wherein albeit no particular Church hath power over another yet every particular Church of the same resort méeting and counsell ought to obey the opinion of more Churches with whom they communicate For holding of these meetings and assemblies there are to be chosen by every Church belonging to that assembly principall men from among the Elders who are to have their instructions from them and so to bee sent to the Assembly There must be also a care had that the things they shall returne to have been godly agréed on by the méetings be diligently observed by the Churches Further in such assemblies there is also to be chosen one that may be set over the assemblies who may moderate and direct them His duty is to see that the assemblies be held godly quiet and comely Therefore it belongeth unto him to begin and end the conference with prayer to know every mans instructions to propound in order the things that are to bee handled to gather their opinions and to propound what is the opinion of the greater part It is also the part of the rest of the assembly to speak their opinions of the things propounded godly and quietly The Synodicall Discipline gathered out of the Synods and use of the Churches which have restored it according to the Word of God and out of sundry bookes that are written of the same and referred unto certain Heads Of the necessity of a Calling LEt no man thrust himselfe into the executing of any part of publique charge in the administration of the Word Sacraments Discipline or care over the poore Neither let any such sue or seek for any publique charge of the Church but let every one tarry untill hee bee lawfully called The manner of entring and determining of a Calling and against a Ministery of no certaine place and the desertion of a Church LEt none be called but unto some certain charge ordained of God and to the exercising of the same in some particular Congregation And he that is so called let him be so bound to that Church that he may not after be of any other or depart from it without the consent thereof Let none be called but they that have first subscribed the confession of Doctrine and Discipline Whereof let them be admonished to have copies

if it seem meet so to be done by the judgment of the Consistory In private and lesse faults the precept of Christ Mat. 18. is to be kept Greater and publique offences are to be handled by the Consistory Further publique offences are to be esteemed first such as are done openly before all or whomsoever the whole Church knowing of it Secondly such as be done in a publique place albeit few know it Thirdly that are made such by pertinacy and contempt Fourthly that for the helnousnesse of the offence are to be punished with some grievous civill punishment They that are to be excommunicated being in publique charge in the Church are to be deposed also from their charges They also are to be discharged that are unfit for the Ministery by reason of their ignorance or of some incurable disease or by any other such cause are disabled to performe their Ministery But in the roomes of such as are disabled by meanes of sicknesse or age let another be placed without the reproach of him that is discharged and further so as the reverence of the Ministery may remaine unto him and he may be provided for liberally and in good order When there is question concerning an heretique complained of to the Consistory streight let two or three neighbour Ministers be called men godly and learned and free from that suspition by whose opinion he may be suspended till such time as the Conference may take knowledge of his cause The obstinate after admonition by the Consistory though the fault have not been so great are to be suspended from the Communion and if they continue in their obstinacy this shall be the order to proceed to their Excommunication Three severall Sabbath daies after the Sermon publiquely let be declared the offence committed by the offender The first Sabbath let not the offenders name be published The second let it be declared and withall a certaine day of the weeke named to be kept for that cause in fasting and prayer The third let warning be given of his Excommunicating to follow the next Sabbath after except there may be shewed some sufficient cause to the contrary so upon the fourth Sabbath day let the sentence of Excommunication be pronounced against him that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. He that hath committed great offences opprobrious to the Church and to be grievously punished by the Magistrates authority albeit he professe his repentance in words yet for the triall thereof and to take away the offence let him for a time be kept from the Communion Which how often and how long it is to be done let the Consistory according to their discretion determine After which if the party repent he is brotherly to be received againe but not untill he have openly professed his repentance before the Church by consent whereof he should have been Excommunicated If the Ministers of any publique charge of the Church commit any such thing they are to be deposed from their charge Of the assemblies of the Church PArticular Churches are to communicate one with another by common meetings and resorts In them onely Ecclesiasticall matters are to be handled and of those onely such as pertaine to the Churches of that resort concerning other Churches unlesse they be desired they are to determine nothing further then to referre such matters to their next common and great meeting Let the Order of proceeding in them be this First let the survey be taken of those that are present and the names of those that are absent and should be there be noted that they may give a reason at their next meeting of their absence or be censured by the judgement of the assembly next Let the acts of the last assembly of that kinde be read that if any of the same remaine unfinished they may be dispatched Then let those things be dealt in that are properly belonging to the present assembly Where first the instructions sent from the Churches are to be delivered by every one in order as they sit together with their Letters of credence Secondly let the state of the Churches of that resort be considered to wit how they are instructed and guided Whether the holy Doctrine and Discipline be taught and exercised in them and whether the Ministers of publique charges doe their duty and such like Further more they shall determine of those things that doe appertaine to the common state of all the Churches of that resort or unto any of the same which way may be sufficient for the oversight of the Churches Lastly if it seem meet the Delegates present may be censured They that are to meet in such assemblies are to be chosen by the consent of the Churches of that assembly and conference to whom it may appertaine Let such onely be chosen that exercise publique function in the Church of Ministery or Eldership and which have subscribed to the Doctrine and Discipline and have promised to behave themselves according to the Word of God Notwithstanding it may be lawfull also to be present for other Elders and other Ministers and likewise if the Assembly thinke it meet for Deacons and for Students in Divinity especially those that exercise themselves in expounding the holy Scriptures in the Conferences and be asked their opinion Which in students is to this end that their judgements in handling matters Ecclesiasticall may be both tried and sharpned But they onely are to give voyce which are chosen by the Churches and have brought their instructions signed from them If there fall out any very waighty matter to be consulted of let notice of it be given to the Moderator of the Assembly next going before or to the Minister of that Church where the next meeting is to be The same is to send word of it in due time to the Minister of every Church of that Assembly that they may communicate it afore-hand with those to whom it appertaineth that the Delegates resorting to the next meeting may understand and report their judgements In appointing of the place for the Assembly regard must be had of the convenient distance and other commodities that no part may justly complaine that they are burthened above others In every such Ecclesiasticall Assembly it is meet there be a Moderator Hee is to have charge of the Assembly to see it kept in good order Hee is alwaies if it may be conveniently to be changed The choise is to be in this manner The Moderator of the former Assembly of that kind or in his absence the Minister of the Church where they meet having first prayed fitly to that purpose is to move the Assembly to choose a Moderator He being chosen is to provide that the things done in the Assembly may be written that the Delegates of every Church may write them out and communicate them with the Conferences from whence they came The Moderator is also by the order and judgement of the Assembly to give answer either by speech or

by Letters to such as desire any answer and to execute censures if any be to be executed Further he is to procure all things to be done in it godly and quietly exhorting to meeknesse moderation of spirit and forbearing one of another where need shall be and referring it to the Assembly to take order for such as are obstinate and contentious Lastly he is to remember them of the next meeting following with thankes for their paines and exhortation to proceed cheerfully in their Callings and so curteously to dismisse the Assembly Before such time none may depart without leave of the Assembly Those Assemblies according to their kinds have greate authority if they be greater and lesse if they be lesse Therefore unlesse it be a plaine act and manifest unto all if any thinke himselfe injured by the lesse meeting he may appeale still unto a greater till he come to a generall Councell so that hee ascend orderly from the lesse to the next greater But it is to be understood that the sentence of the Assemblies be holden firme untill it be otherwise judged by an Assembly of greater authority Assemblies or meetings are either Conferences or Synods COnferences are the meetings of the Elders of a few Churches as for example of twelve There are to meet in a Conference chosen by the Eldership of every particular Church one Minister and one Elder The Conferences are to be kept once in six weeks They are specially to looke into the state of the Churches of that resort and Conference Examining particularly these severall points Whether all things be done in them according to the holy Doctrine and Discipline of the Gospell to wit whether any questions be moved concerning any point of Doctrine Whether the Ecclesiasticall Discipline be duely observed Whether any Minister be wanting in any of those Churches that a sufficient one in due time may be procured Whether the other Ministers of publique charge in the Church be appointed in every Congregation Whether care be had of Schooles and for the poore Finally they are to be demanded wherein any of them needeth the advice of the Conference for the advancement of the Gospell amongst them Before the end of the meeting if it shall be so thought good by them let one of the Ministers assembled in Conference either chosen by voyce or taking it by turn Preach publiquely Of his Speech let the rest judge among themselves the Elders being put apart and admonish him brotherly if there be any cause examining all things according to those Rules that are before declared in the Chapter concerning the things that are to be performed by those that preach Of Synods A Synod is the meeting of chosen men of many Conferences In them let the whole Treatise of Discipline be read In them also other things first being finished as was said before let all those that are present be censured if it may be done conveniently and let them also have a communion in and with the Church where they were called There are two sorts of Synods the first is particular which comprehendeth both the Provinciall and Nationall Synod A Provinciall Synod is the meeting of the chosen Men of every Conference within the Province A Province containeth foure and twenty conferences A fit way to call a provinciall councell may be this The care thereof except themselves will determine of it may be committed to the particular Eldership of some conference within the Province which by advise of the same conference may appoint the place and time for the meeting of the Provinciall Synod To that Church or Eldership are to be sent the matters that seemed to the particular conferences more difficult for them to take order in and such as belong to the Churches of the whole Province which is to be done diligently and in good time that the same may in due season give notice of the place and time of the Synod and of the matters to be debated therein that they which shall be sent may come the better prepared and judge of them according to the advise of the Conferences Two Ministers and as many Elders are to be sent from every Conference unto the Provinciall Synod The same is to be held every halfe yeare or oftner till the Discipline be setled It is to be held three moneths before every nationall Synod that they may prepare and make ready those things that pertaine to the Nationall The acts of the Provinciall Synod are to be sent unto the Nationall by the Eldership of that Church in which it was holden and every Minister is to be furnished with a Copy of them and with the reasons of the same A Nationall Synod or convocation is a meeting of the chosen men of every Province within the Dominion of the same Nation and civill government The way to call it unlesse it shall determine otherwise may be the same with the Provinciall that is by the Eldership of some particular Church which shall appoint the time and place of the next Nationall Convocation but not otherwise then by the advise of their Provinciall Synod Out of every Provinciall Synod there are to bee chosen three Ministers and as many Elders to bee sent to the Nationall They are to handle the things pertaining to the Churches of the whole Nation or Kingdome as the Doctrine Discipline Ceremonies things not decided by inferiour meetings appeales and such like By the order of the same one is to bee appointed which may gather into one booke the Notes of every particular Church Thus much for particular meetings the universall followeth which is called a generall or oecomenicall councell which is a meeting of the chosen men of every Nationall Synod The acts of all such councells are to be registred and reported in a book The Discipline intituled the Discipline of the Church ' described in the Word of God as farre as we can judge is taken and drawne from the most pure Fountaine of the Word of God and containeth in it the Discipline of the Church that is necessary essentiall and common to all ages of the Church The Synodicall also adjoyned as it resteth upon the same foundations is likewise necessary and perpetuall But as farre as it is not expresly confirmed by Authority of the holy Scripture but is applied to the use and times of the Church as their divers states may require according to the Analogy and generall Rules of the same Scripture is to bee judged profitable for the Churches that receive it but may bee changed in such things as belong not to the essence of the Discipline upon a like godly reason as the divers estates of the Church may require The forme of the Subscription THe Brethren of the conference of N. whose names are here under written have subscribed this discipline after this manner This Discipline wee allow as a godly Discipline and agreeable to the Word of God yet so as wee may be first satisfied in the things hereunder noted and desire the same so acknowledged by us to be furthered by all lawfull meanes that by publique authority of the Magistrate and of our Church it may bee established Which thing if it may bee obtained of Her right Excellent Majesty and other the Magistrates of this Kingdome we promise that we will doe nothing against it whereby the publique peace of the Church may be troubled In the meane time we promise to observe it so far as it may be lawfull for us so to doe by the publique Lawes of this Kingdome and by the Peace of our Church FINIS