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	religion_n	word_n	3,061	5	3.7397	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93467	A solemn exhortation made and published to the several churches of Christ within this province of Lancaster, for the excitation of all persons therein to the practise of their duties, requisite to the effectual carrying on of church-discipline; and in it the edification of our churches, and the reformation of religion. / By the provincial synod assembled at Preston, Feb. 7. 1648.		1649 (1649)	Wing S4440; Thomason E542_7; ESTC R205958	7,961	16

God hath been exalted and his unsearchable wisdom and rich mercy magnified in not onely the redemption of our lives liberties and estates from the common enemies and the full subduing of them once and again before the Lord and before his people but the bringing forth out of all those perplexed dangerous difficult and cross occurrences of great advantage to us as in many other respects so especially in the establishing of Church-Government in that good measure in which it is setled The progress whereof in this Province we have much cause to admire and study thankfulness for And we confess the greatest defects that now remain concerning it are in the practise of it which is our part and that the unfitness unsetledness averseness and remissness of mens spirits in relation to it is now the great obstruction at which it sticks And we may be jealous lest as the want of love to the Truth hath through the just Judgment of God been a wide inlet in many places to damnable Heresies so the want of a heart in us to use this price in our hand of Church-power may lay us open to destructive disorder We observe also That as mans corruption and Satans malice concurred to hinder Church Discipline while the work of discovering clearing up and publique authorizing of the rule was in hand by raising and keeping up of differences in judgment with hot and doubtful disputes concerning it unworthy aspersions and contempt cast upon it anticipations of mature direction of authority about it by some brethrens rending from our Churches and setting up ways of Discipinle dissonant to it private politique designings under pretences of it a common hatred to Reformation and strictness imposed by it disaffection and discouragement to it by many in places of Power expectation and endeavors for a legal Toleration and an assuming of liberty in Religion for the present the fruitful mother of all Atheism Error false Religion and Profaneness so do they still concur by the same arts and means and that with a higher hand to hinder the putting of it in practise so that by the short experience we have had and the present face of things we may very probably make account to meet with yet as much yea more difficulty in the carrying on of this Discipline then was found in the establishing of it which some men whose counsel is flesh and blood discerning may perhaps take occasion thence to languish in their activeness or wholy to refrain from acting or to stand off from joyning in it and happily to blame the godly forwardness of others but we wish such men better counsellers and hope all those who are acted by principles of conscience and spiritual interest will from the apprehension of such difficulty collect an obligation to more diligence and thence address themselves with greater zeal courage and resolution to the work All these mighty engagements and impulsives brethren and beloved being with serious and right Christian consideration weighed we beseech and exhort you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ That the Government and Discipline of the Church ordained by Christ and set forth summarily by authority in the Ordinance of Parliament of 29. August 1648. be presently faithfully constantly and impartially put in practise in all Church assemblies by all Ministers ruling Elders and other Christians according to the Power or Commandment delivered to them in the Word of God respectively with all other known duties of Religion coming within the cognizance of the said Government and in particular as conducing or necessarily concomitant thereunto these following First That in such Congregations as are not provided of ruling Elders and may afford any number of persons duly qualified for that Office the Minister and People do without delay or excuse proceed with due solemnity to elect such Elders and that the persons so elected take upon them the said function as thereunto called of God and that the Classical Presbytery to which that Congregation appertained or if that be not the Ministers and others nominated by Ordinance of Parliament of 2. Octob. 1646. as sit to be of that Classis proceed to constitute that congregational Eldership to which the said persons are so chosen and the Eldership so constituted to address themselves to the Execution of the Discipline in their Congregation with all diligence and to associate themselves as they have opportunity to the Classical Presbytery which they belong unto That the Ministers of the Gospel give themselves continually to prayer and to the Ministry of the Word that they study to shew themselves approved to God workmen that need not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of Truth that they be eminently and exemplary holy and blameless in their conversation that they be quick sightedly watchful against the springing and spreading of Errors and the breaking out of Divisions within their flocks and that they labor to instruct by way of catechising all the young and weak in knowledg within the same That the Ministers and Elders set themselves diligently to the oversight of their Congregations to discern into and help them in their knowledg and spiritual estate and to discover direct and correct their conversation therein passing over none that profess Christianity within their bounds uncast our of the Church and endeavoring the recovery of those that are cast out That they constantly meet in publique that they may be ready for the addresses of the people and to consult on and apply such means as may be effectual for the edification of the congregation or any member thereof That they rule with diligence and impartiality in the application or releasement of Church censures as the condition of any shall require That they punctually observe the meetings of the associated Presbyteries Classical and Provincial that in matters too hard for their single Elderships or wherein they are appealed from they may reap the benefit of joint counsel authority and prayer and mutually afford the same and that none of them detract grow weary or suffer themselves to be diverted from frequenting such assemblies although the affairs of Church-discipline being so newly entred upon be for the present somewhat extraordinarily pressing The Classical Presbyteries being that one special work of theirs is to superintend them that have the oversight of others are besought to take special care that the Ministers and ruling Elders within their respective Divisions be sufficient for their callings industrious in the execution thereof and unblameable in their walking in which respects their accutest vigilancy is required that the unworthy be timely prevented the negligent or offensive regulated and the unreclaimable ejected All Christians whatsoever are exhorted That they beware of giving any offence to any either by manifest sin or by the appearance of evil remembering that double heavy woe which in the sentence of our blessed Saviour offences bring to wit one to the world another to the offence giver That they carefully avoid all rash or groundless taking

of offence against any person or practise not judging upon in evident cases as being bound out from it by a double Law of Justice and Charity And here whereas there are said to be some that murmur against certain of the Communicants in the several Congregations as if they were visibly unworthy of the Lords Supper We desire that such complainers would rather apply themselves to their duty of private admonition and publique information and proof thereof before the Elderships respectively and not uncharitably charge either an unworthiness upon a party or a mis-administration upon an Eldership before a due eviction thereof be made And forasmuch as imputations of infufficiency and scandalousness are in general expressions and in private talk cast upon some Church-Officers we earnestly pray that there may be either an orderly complaint prosecution and proof made of such imputations before the Presbytery whereto any such Officer belongeth or a forbearing of such smitings with the tongue Furthermore Christians are exhorted That what errors or offences they plainly discern in any brother they take notice of them not to hate disdain upbraid or presently to withdraw brotherly respect and society from him for the same much less to whisper or publish such things when where or to whom there is no warrant to the defamation or exasperating of the party and the multiplying of offences but to exercise pity and endeavors of recovery towards him if the matter be a smaller failing or but an infirmity to instruct and perswade him and patiently to bear expecting his amendment if the matter be of an higher nature and scandalous indeed let every one take heed of winking at or being wanting in his place to the removing of the Scandal and make conscience to apply himself according to the rule of Christ by a set solemn and opportune admonition in private to the lapsed party withal wisdom fidelity meekness and love accounting it a happy work to gain a fallen brother and that this private admonition is ordinarily the first step to the process of Church-Discipline If upon it the parties repentance be not discerned follow our Saviours rule to the next step take along with you to the person one or two faithful brethren That they may be both witnesses and assistants to a second admonition If neither in this course a good effect appear in him omit not that third remedy prescribed by Christ of telling it to the Church but go and acquaint the Eldership with thy brothers trespass thy past proceedings for his reclaiming and the successesness thereof which last remedy is to be made use of forthwith in all publiquely known or openly divulged scandals and both in case of such published Scandals and in those more private so persisted in against brotherly admonition as is aforesaid we exhort every person that is offended or knoweth and can testifie the matter of fact That he willingly appear and witness the same before the Eldership all which is to be done by every one respectively as he tendereth the saveing the offender the putting away of the evil from the Church the vindication of that worthy Name of Christ by which we are all called and the purity of his Ordinances and that he himself may not be a partaker of other mens sins In this course of admonition and prosecution before the Eldership let none out of private spleen revive the memory of old and forgotten offences which not only tract of time but the real Reformation of the party unto the full satisfaction of the godly and silencing of the world may have buried And let every one that is overtaken with a fault be ready to receive submit to accept of and improve to his good the admonition of any Church-Officer or Brother given him as an act of conscience and love in his Brother and as to him self a kindness or excellent oyl to heal him Also we exhort all Christians cordially to esteem and affect diligently to attend upon really to subject themselves to and profitably to use what Discipline is but the conservatory or inclosure of to wit the publique and private Ordinances of the Gospel as the Word the Sacraments Prayer and the rest And in regard of that great neglect we observe in many places by many of that soul-feasting Ordinance the Lords Supper which was so dearly bequeathed by Christ immediatly before his death unto his Church We exhort that no person of age that names himself by the Name of Christ would ordinarily absent or wretchlesly deprive himself thereof but that he labour for knowledg to enable him to examine himself for faith and for a good conscience towards God and man and that he be diligent in the use of all publique and private means to attain the same and particularly that he submit to be catechised by the Minister and tried and approved by the Eldership And whereas some that come not to the Lords Supper nor offer themselves to the Eldership to be admitted to it repine as if they were kept back by them they are exhorted not to pretend themselves to be debarred by them whereas they never tendered themselves to be received And whereas others that absent themselves except against the manner of admission by approving themselves to the Eldership in point of knowledg and conversation such should religiously weigh upon what binding grounds the Eldership requires the said satisfaction and to endeavour themselves either to receive resolution of the Eldership or Minister for their insisting on such satisfaction or to yield resolution to them for their refusing to give it and if that way they gain not access to the Ordinance rather to appeal to the Classical and thence to the Provincial Assembly in case they find themselves agrieved then to sit down without using what means they are afforded to gain participation in so necessary and precious an Ordinance All Governors of Families are exhorted to see to the godly ordering of their housholds to observe constantly and to bring all under their charge unto Family Duties of Religion as Prayer reading the Word repeating and taking account of Sermons especially on the Lords Day singing of Psalms catechising them and bringing them to be catechised by the Minister that they may come to and grow up in the knowledg and obedience of the truth necessary to their Salvation and so to restrain them from wickedness and lead them to godliness both by their own example and by their authority that as much as in them lies the Church or any of their Brethren be not offended with any of them and their eternal happiness may be procured Also such as keep Schools for the education of youth are exhorted to train up their youth in divine literature and to discipline them to eschew vice and practice piety themselves also exercising duties of Religion in their Schools and being every way exemplary in good to them and that in allowing times of recreation they according to the Directory leave the observing of holy-days and exchange them for other convenient times And we exhort That if any Brethren amongst us either in any thing dissent from the present constitution of Church Government or take offence at any practise in any of our Churches or Members they would beware of running into or continuing in Schism thereupon but walk by the same rule with us so far as there is an agreement in judgment betwixt us and endeavor to receive or give satisfaction wherein there is any practical difference and take heed of violating their own declared principles concerning continuing or withdrawing of Church-communion Lastly Let all Christians chiefly study strive for and exercise the power of godliness whereto Church-Discipline serveth as an handmaid and whereof visible conformity is but the outward shape and let the mainest of their care be employed in the getting and keeping of faith and a good conscience the materials of that power of godliness and seeing most perillous times are come upon us wherein it is opposed and assaulted by all ways both of subtilty and power We earnestly exhort and warn you all that with exquisite heed and resolute stedfastness ye discern and resist all those that shall seek to seduce you either into error or division contrary to that sound doctrine and safe fellowship which ye have imbraced in our Churches that with accurate circumspection ye keep your selves from the common and raigning sins of these times that ye stand fast to our solemn League and Covenant in all the branches of it and namely in those that contain the great and much hazarded publique Interests of Religion Civil Government and Brotherly Union not suffering your selves to be drawn aside to any new inventions to the subverting of any of them And that ye walk in the old path and good way of the infallible Scriptures and avoyd such courses as have but the warrant of pretended good intentions urgent necessity or mis-interpreted providence coyned for them And if it be the Will of God That ye must suffer for not saying a confederacy to such ways or for well doing be not afraid of mens terror neither be troubled nor ashamed but sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts rejoyce count your selves happy glorifie God on this behalf and commit the keeping of your souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator James Hyet Moderator Thomas Johnson Assessor Edward Gee Scribe FINIS