Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	apostle_n	barnabas_n	elder_n	2,738	5	9.7205	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91196	Independency examined, vnmasked, refuted, by twelve new particular interrogatories: detecting both the manifold absurdities, inconveniences that must necessarily attend it, to the great disturbance of church, state, the diminution, subversion of the lawfull undoubted power of all christian magistrates, parliaments, synods: and shaking the chiefe pillars, wherwith its patrons would support it. / By William Prynne of Lincolnes Inne, Esquier.	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1644 (1644)	Wing P3985; Thomason E257_3; ESTC R210043	15,631	15

common Law as * Mr Selden with others more t●uely interp●t●t Since our Saviour speaks there 1. of a private trespasse done to a private person of which no church classes or ecclesiasticall consistorie hath proper conusance not of a publike scandal to the congregation or any scandalous crime or vice as is evident by the very first words and by Luk. 17. 3 4. compared with ●●n 50. 17. 1 King 8. 31. 2. Of a demand of private satisfaction first personally next in presence of witnesse before any complaint to the church or councell 3. Of no censure or judgment passed but barely of an admonition given by the church to the partie offending which if neglected and not heard then 4. Not the church councell and all other persons but onely the partie offended was to repute but not excommunicate out of the church or congregation him as an heathen and a publicane which were both odious to the Iewes who had no civill conversation with them and were no members of the Iewish church except Proselites as the expresse words let him be TO THEE not any others as an heathen and a pulican that is converse no more with him but avoid his company 2 Thes. 3. 14. resolve Which Reasons compared with Matth. 5. 22 25. c. 10. 17. c. 12. 14. c. 22. 15. c. 27. 1 7. Acts 18. 12 13 14 15 16. c. 16. 20 21. c. 17. 6. c. 23. 1. 14 15. c. 24. 1. to 7. c. 25. 26. infallibly evidence the Church or Assembly in this Text to be meant onely of the Temporall court Councell or Sanhedrin of the Iewes not of any Ecclesiasticall or Church-Iudicatory or excommunication as Papists anciently with some others now determine 11. Whether the Apostles and members of the first evangelicall Synode we read of Acts 15. sate and voted in it as Apostles onely indued with a spirit of infallibilitie which was a peculiar priviledge to them alone or else in their ordinary capacity as Elders and chief members of it If as Apostles only and in that extraordinary capacitie as * Independents assert then 1. Paul and Barnabas being Apostles as well as they might have decided that controversie at Antioch without sending to Jerusalem to determine it 2. The church at Antioch would have sent to none but the Apostles to resolve their doubts and not to the Elders at Jerusalem as well as to the Apostles as they did vers. 2. Thirdly Paul and Barnabas would have put the question to the Apostles onely not to the Elders and church as well as to them which they did vers. 4 5 6. Fourthly the Apostles would not have called a Synod of all the Apostles Elders and Brethren at Jerusalem to consider of or consult about this thing vers. 6. but have determined it presently by their infallible spirit without consultation or a Synods assistance Fifthly Peter and James would not have argued the case so largely and proved it by arguments and Scriptures as they did one after another vers. 17 to 23. but have peremptorily resolved it without dispute had they sate and determined it by their extraordinarie infallible power Sixtly the finall resolution letters and canons of this Synod had run onely in the Apostles names had they proceeded onely by their Apostolicall infallible authoritie and not in the names of the Elders and Brethren too coupled together with theirs both in the letters and canons vers. 21 22 23 24 27 28. c. 16. 4. c. 21. 18. 25. who were not all endued with the self-same infallibility and power as the Apostles were for ought can be proved Therfore their assembling in this councell not in their extraordinary capacity as Apostles only but as Elders Ministers and the Elders Brethrens sitting together in Councel with them upon this controversie and occasion is an undeniable Scripture-authority for the lawfulnesse use of Parliaments Councels Synods under the Gospel upon all like necessarie occasions and for their power to determine controversies of Religion to make Canons in things necessary for the churches peace and government there being no one place in Scripture against it but many Texts in the old Testament to backe it elsewhere quoted mauger all evasions exceptions to elude it 12. Whether the temporall Magistrate Parliament and civill State have not a lawfull coercive power though * not to restraine the preaching of the Gospel and truth of God yet to suppresse restraine imprison confine banish the broachers of any heresies schismes erronious seditious doctrines enthusiasmes or setters up of new formes of Ecclesiasticall government without lawfull authoritie to the endangering of the peoples soules or disturbance of the Churches Kingdomes peace as well as Ministers and particular Churches Christians power to * reprove refute avoid excommunicate or anathematize them notwithstanding † some Independents new-minted objections against it and that by virtue of Deut. 13. 1. to 12. Lev. 24. 11. to 17. Num. 26. throughout Josh. 7. 25. 26. c. 22. 11. to 34. Psal. 101. 4 5 8. 4 5 8. 1 King 18. 40. 2 King 10. 21 to 29. c. 23. 5. 20. 2 Chro. 34. 4. 5. Rom. 13. 1. to 6. 1 Pet. 2. 14. Gal. 5. 12. Rev. 2. 20. c. 19. 20. 21. cap. 17. 16. And the ten hornes interpreted to be ten Kings v. 12. shall hate the whore with all her Panders and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and shall burne her with fire for God hath put it into their hearts TO FVLFILL HIS WILL Ezra 7. 26. And whosoever will not doe the Law of thy God let judgment be executed speedily upon him whether it be unto death or unto banishment or to confiscation of goods or to imprisonment with sundry * other Texts Hence * Christian Princes Magistrates Parliaments in all ages and churches in the world have made severe temporall Lawes Edicts against and inflicted corporall punishment banishment confiscation of goods and in some cases death it selfe upon Hereticks Schismaticks disturbers of the churches peace with erronious or seditious doctrines which lawfull power of theirs hath ever bin asserted by the most † orthodox Churches Writers in all ages and never oppugned by any but Anabaptists who deny all civill Magistrates or such licencious Hereticks Schismaticks or false Teachers who would spread their pestilent errours and seditious novell positions without restraint or durst never suffer Martyrdome for or seale them with the losse of their Liberties Lives Estates which godly orthodox Martyrs and Christians have cheerfully undergone under Pagan Hereticall and Popish Kings Magistrates And if we either deny abolish eclipse diminish or suspend this necessary coercive power the principall meanes under God to suppresse extirpate all growing errours schismes which disturbe the churches trantranquilitie seduce unstable soules our church and realmes will be soone overgrowne with dangerous errours heresies schismes and brought to speedy desolation the contemptible sword of excommunication or non-communion and the bare preaching of Gods Word to obstinate Hereticks

judgments a verse to unity piety purity but † prone to Errour Heresie Schismes lyes yea lying phantasies and through defect of a severe coercive power in Ecclesiasticall Synods-Parliaments temporall Magistrates who as * some new Independent Lights informe us have no coercive power to suppresse these springing heresies but onely by a non-communion with or refuting them by the word to which they will obstinatly * refuse to hearken as deeming their own opinions most divine we shall have almost as many severall heresies sects Churches as there are families persons Quot homines tot sententiae tot Ecclesiae Yea if they thus admit every Minister or secular person to have a divine right freedom to set up such an independent Church and government as he pleaseth then by the self-same reason they must have a like liberty to elect erect what civill forme of government they please to set up a new Independent Republike Corporation Kingdome Magistracy in every family parish city county and to cast off all former civill Governours Governments Lawes at pleasure as well as Ecclesiasticall there being the selfe-same grounds both of obligation obedience to and exemption from the one as other And if men by their Christian liberty shall thus be wholly exempted at their pleasure as well from all temporall as ecclesiasticall Lawes and formes of government as grant me but the one they must of necessity yeeld the other the same Texts Reasons obliging us equally in both and * Kings Parliaments having the self-same jurisdiction in and over all † ecclesiasticall matters which are not positively of divine institution and injunction as in and over temporall what an Anarchy and Ataxy this will suddenly introduce to turn all Kingdomes Republikes Nations Corporations Churches Families and the World it self quite upside down and ruine them by schisms I tremble to imagine 5. Whether the Minister alone or the Congregation without the Minister or both conjoined have power in their Independent Churches to make and prescribe particular formes of Church-covenants orders conditions to all who are or shall be admitted members of their new erected congregations If the Minister alone without the people which I suppose they grant because he is the principall actor in gathering their new Churches to himselfe and the sole person who must first admit them to be members of his Flock upon his own conditions I would then demand whether every Independent Minister arrogates not as much or more power to himselfe in making prescribing lawes and covenants to his congregation by his own inherent authority without consent of King Parliament Synod or People as the Pope himselfe usurpeth and farre more power authority then Independents either do or dare ascribe to Christian Princes Magistrates Councels or the Parliament to all and every of which they absolutely * deny any power of making or prescribing ecclesiasticall lawes covenants canons to binde them or their independent Churches or any members of them yea any sufficient coercive power to restrain or punish Hereticks Schismaticks or Broachers of heterodox novell opinions to disturb the Churches or Republikes tranquillity If the people alone without the Minister or both conjoyned then you invest every Independent Conventicle consisting of never so few inconsiderable ignorant members with a greater legislative power and ecclesiasticall authority then you allow to whole Nationall Parliaments Councels consisting of most eminent learned pious persons of all sorts who by your New doctrine have no jurisdiction at all to make or enjoyne any forme of church-government covenant ecclesiasticall lawes or canons to any particular churches as if the eminentest Ministers and members of churches by becomming members of Parliaments or Councels did thereby forfeit and lose the right or exercise of that power in those great representative bodies of the whole Kingdome and church of England which you readily allow both them and others in every private church or Conventicle A most strange and senselesse whimsie 6. Whether it be lawfull or justifiable by the Word of God for any Independent Minister of England contrary to the Lawes of the Realme and Inhibitions of Parliament of his owne bare authority to congregate and erect an independent congregation or to prescribe a particular forme of church-government together with a church-covenant in nature of a solemne Oath to which euery particular member of his new congregation must subscribe before admission into his Church Whether there bee any the least precept president in Scripture or Antiquity to warrant such an irregular usurped authority and power among Christians which the verie Apostles themselves never claimed Whether all the particular churches in any Nation Kingdome city Republike professing the same orthodox Faith though divided for more conveniency into severall congregations be not all members of and constitute but * one intire Nationall church or common christian Society as they did at first before thus multiplied augmented even as all the particular houses parishes societies in London are members of and make but one city and corporation all the families parishes townes counties in England but one Kingdome or Republike and as all particular and Nationall churches in the world make up but one entire catholike militant church whence both in Scripture phrase and common speech in all Authors Languages whatsoever they are commonly called by the name of One Church in the singular number as the Church of England France Scotland Ireland the Eastern Westerne Greeke Latine Church the Church of the Jewes Gentiles c. And if so then let our Independents shew me if they can the least colour of Scripture or reason why the Parliament and Assembly chosen to assist them by publike consent representing our whole church State may not as lawfully set up and prescribe a new church-government discipline lawes and canons agreeable to and not discrepant from Gods Word to binde all particular churches and persons within our Realme as well as pull downe and demolish the old or make temporall lawes and ordinances to binde all persons societies members of the Realm and Independents too as well as others both to obedience and punishment or else for ever disclaim their new-minted government their declamations arguments against the power of nationall Synods Parliaments in Ecclesiastical matters and church-government as most ridiculous and absurd 7. Whether the members of every Independent Church may at their owne free liberty when ever they please desert their owne particular Church and become members of other Independent or Presbyteriall Congregations without the licence or dispensation of their owne Church or Minister first obtained If yea then why oblige they them to the contrary by particular Church-covenants or refuse to admit any members of one Independent Church into another without such consent or licence first obtained or at least repute it a grand injury in that Church or Minister who admits them especially if they be wealthy members for some say poore ones and persons of meaner condition are not much regarded by

Independents no more then poore or contemptible offices If nay then by what law or conscience doe or can they congregate their Independent Churches out of twenty or thirty severall parishes and congregations not onely without any authority of the State or licence of the Ministers or whole Churches in those Parishes but even against their expresse wills and desires yet thinke they doe God good service these Ministers Parishes no injustice by it though it be directly contrary to their owne Principles and these common dictates of God and Nature Quod tibi non vis fieri alteri ne feceris and * All things whatsoever ye would that men should doe unto you doe yee even so unto them for this is the Law and the Prophets 8. Whether Independents peremptory refusall to admit any to be member of their Churches to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper or to have their children baptized among them unlesse they will first subscribe to such particular Church-covenants Orders as they shall prescribe and their rigid Excommunication rejection of such members who have taken their Covenants in case they subscribe not to all their further dictates and opinions without any re-admission till they shall promise an universall conformity in opinion and practice to whatever is required by their Independent Minister or congregations be not an usurpation of as great yea greater coercive power over the consciences persons of Christians as Presbyterians Parliaments claime or as the Bishops themselves in the height of their pride and tyranny as Bishops ever challenged or usurped Notwithstanding Christian liberty of conscience in opinions practice which they pretend to leave arbitrary to every mans free election be the principall pillar to support the sweetest inescating bait to entice men to embrace their Independency If they say they imprison enforce no mans person or conscience but leave all persons consciences free I answer that the excluding men from their church-assemblies sacraments christian communion yea their very innocent infants from baptisme itselfe in their independent Churches unles they will conforme to their arbitrary Church-covenants dictates prescriptions warranted by no Scripture or divine examples is a farre greater * greivance violence coertion to the persons conscience of Christians then all imprisonment Racks and corporall tortures in the world yea an unjust exclusion of them from that undoubted right to the ordinances and Church of Christ wherewith God himselfe hath invested them 9. Whether Independents refusall to admit such Christians who are not notoriously scandalous in their lives nor grossely ignorant in the Principles of Religion to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper when they earnestly desire to receive it or professe a cordiall present remorse of all their former sinfull courses with an unfained resolution to live a pious holy life for the future onely upon this suspicion or apprehension that they are but carnall men not truly regenerated or sanctified by Gods Spirit though they cannot certainly judge of their present spirituall conditions † infallibly known to God alone be not a very uncharitable arrogant yea unchristian practice contrary to our Saviours owne immediate example who at the first institution of this Sacrament admitted * Judas to his last Supper as well as his fellow-disciples though he certainly knew him to be both a Traitor and Devill opposite to the injunction of † Paul himselfe who though he disswades unworthy Receivers from eating and drinking the Lords Supper without due preparation and examination for feare of eating and drinking damnation or judgment to and drawing downe temporall diseases on themselves yet he simply excludes none from receiving it at their owne perils who are willing or desirous to participate of it nor gives any authority to Ministers absolutely to seclude them from it unlesse excommunicated and notoriously scandalous And whether their present deniall to administer the Sacrament in their churches to those who are truely religious earnestly longing even frequently to receive it for their spirituall comfort according to Christs own institution only for fear lest some unregenerate persons should communicate with them and depriving their whole congregations of this most comfortable necessary ordinance for sundry months nay yeares as some have done upon this groundlesse unwarrantable reason● refuted by Christs owne example who administred the Sacrament to the other Disciples though there were a Judas amongst them by the practice doctrine of Paul himself 1 Cor. 11. 17. to 34. and the usage of all Christian churches throughout the Vniverse be not an over-rigid uncharitable unjust that I say not impious action injurious to Christ himself to the soules and spirituall estates of those good Christians secluded from the Sacrament and a more transcendent strain of tyrannicall usurpation over the soules the consciences of Christians and ordinances of God himself than ever our most domineering Lordly Prelates exercised or any Presbyterians have hitherto pretended to lay claim unto If this proceed not from a domineering spirit and be not an excessive * Lording of it over the Lords inheritance yea over Christ himself in this his ordinance I professe I am much mistaken Yea I feare this spirituall pride and excessive uncharitablenesse of some who take upon them by their owne inherent power to erect new Congregations and set up new formes of church-government Discipline c. in Christian States Churches already planted without yea against their Parliaments or † Christian Magistrates authority when as the very Apostles did never by their owne ordinary jurisdiction as private Ministers but onely by their extraordinary calling as Apostles or in and by their Canonicall Epistles dictated by Gods Spirit prescribe any matters of church-government Discipline Rites or order to the particular Churches first gathered and planted by themselves alone as is evident by Acts 7 1. to 8. c. 14. 22 23. Tit. 1. 5. 1 Cor. c. 7. 11. 12. 14. c. 16. 1. 2. Jam. 2. 2. 3. c. 5. 13. 14. 15. 16. except in and by a publike Synod Acts 15. and thus debarre others from the Sacrament as unmeet Receivers upon such unwarrantable grounds do make themselves far more uncapable unmeet to receive it than those they thus exclude 10. Whether that noted Text of Matth. 18. 15 16 17. If thy brother shall trespasse against thee goe tell him his fault between thee and him alone if he will heare thee then thou hast gained thy brother But if he will not heare then take with thee one or two more that in the mouth of one or two witnesses every thing may be established And if he shall neglect to heare them TELL IT TO THE CHVRCH but if he neglect TO HEARE THE CHVRCH let him be to thee as an heathen man and a Publican be meant of any Independent or ecclesiasticall Consistorie excommunication or church-censures properly so called or not rather of the Iewish Synedrium Councell or civill court of justice and of a civill excommunication like to an Outlawry at the