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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	apostle_n	bishop_n	ephesus_n	3,999	5	11.0253	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A11606	A threefold preseruatiue against three dangerous diseases of these latter times 1. Non proficiency in grace. 2. Fals-hearted hypocrisie. 3. Back-sliding in religion. Prescribed in a sermon at S. Pauls Crosse in London, September, 17. 1609. By William Sclater, Batcheler in Diuinity, and sometimes fellow of the Kings Colledge in Cambridge.	Sclater, William, 1575-1626.	1610 (1610)	STC 21847; ESTC S116857	29,329	42

more honourable Heare the same Apostle 1. Tim 5.17 Chrys ad locum The Elders that rule well are worthy of double honour Call it Reuerence or Maintenance or both how euer a specialty in it belōgs to them that labour in the word doctrine sure it is more soūd honour is there to be gained in the hearts of our people by preaching then by all outward helps whatsoeuer Thirdly what sayd I honour amongst men yea more comfort to our Consciences and glory in Gods Kingdome Heare Salomon He that winneth soules Pro. 11.30 Dan. 12.3 is wise and Daniel They that turne others to righteousnesse they shall shine as the starres in the firmament and Paul 1. Thess 2.19 What is our hope our ioy our crowne of reioycing are not you it in the presence of our Lord Iesus Christ at his comming What comfort like this when a Minister comes before the Lord the great Shepheard of the Sheepe with the words of Isaiah Is 8.18 applyed to our Sauiour Lo mee and the children that thou hast giuen mee the sonnes daughters which by thy blessing I haue begotten vnto thee in the Gospell Fourthly I would haue added hereto the example of their worthy predecessours Beloued I am so farre from thinking that there were Lay-Elders in the Ancient Church hauing the care of Church discipline that I begin to be of opinion they were all Preaching-Elders that had to do in ordination and iurisdiction Ecclesiasticall The Apostles we know from whom our Reuerend Bishops haue more then probably deriued their succession were all laborious this way One of them on whose shoulders lay the care of all the Churches 1. Cor. 9.16 yet cryes Wo to him selfe if he preach not the Gospell And Timothy I presume was a Bishop yet hath that charge layd on him with an heauy adiuration 1. Tim. 4.1 2. To preach the word And for succeeding ages those Reuerend Bishops S. Ambrose Augustine Chrisostome c. what monuments haue they left vs more venerable then their pithy Sermons and exhortations to the people Let vs all therefore euen Superiours be exhorted so much as infirmities of age and the waighty affaires of Church-gouernment will permit to stirre vp the gift of God that is in vs that if it be possible we may strengthen the weake knees and keepe that which is halting from being turned out of the way Generall preseruatiues for all I come now to priuate Christians that they also may haue wherewith to preserue themselues from this fearefull and discomfortable estate of Apostasy Their most soueraigne antidotes are these Obedience according to their measure of knowledge receiued This is the Christian built on the Rocke Mat. 7. ad fin that heareth the word of God and doth it On such a man let the winds blow the flouds beate the raine fall he stands neuerthelesse vnmouable for he is built vpon the Rocke Our Aduersaries boast much of their thousand Proselytes I am perswaded if they were enquired of they should be foūd such as neuer made any Conscience of their wayes Now sure we are beholden to them that they haue receiued like a Draught the Excremēts of our Church Let them reioyce and applaud themselues in their Thousands for this yet take my warrant They shall neuer winne credit to any Religion whatsoeuer it is they professe Syncerity and vprightnesse of the heart before God Beloued I neuer knew right Nathaniel true Israelite indeed that proued a Reuolt Nor euer could read of Hypocrite but became Apostate if euer trouble arose for the Gospell It 's a true position He that begins Religion in hypocrisy ends in Apostasy 2. Par. 25.2 Verse 14. Amaziah did many things sauouring of vprightnesse in the eyes of the Lord but not with a perfit heart What was his Issue Returning from the slaughter of the Edomites he brought the gods of Se●r and set them vp to be his gods and worshipped them and burnt incense vnto them There is an Art in these times that hath more Students then any other of liberall or Manuall sciences the Art of seeming especially in Religion City and Country almost nothing but vizars Now would God we could remember what Chrysostome sayth Hypocrite is it good to seeme good in Matth. oper imperfect it's farre better to be good Is it euill to seeme euill it's farre worse to be euill c. and the saying of Christ me thinks should not be forgotten To him that hath shall be giuen Luk. 8.18 and whosoeuer hath not from him shall be taken euen that which it seemeth that he hath Labour for assurance and certaine perswasion of the Truth in your owne minds especially for that which is armour of proofe against Apostasy Experimentall sense of Gods holy truth Phil. 3.10 Thou shalt neuer feare infection in the poynt of Iustification if thou know the practise and experience of Iustification As on the other side when men rest onely vpon the authority of their Teachers and gouernours hauing no better reasons of beliefe and worship no maruell if they turne with the wind and run current with the Current and streame of the times And this is the lamentable vnsettlednes of our people that they looke no farther for proofe no not of faith and worship then the Authority of the Magistrate Now blessed be God that hath giuen vnto his Maiesty a right iudgement in matters of Religion and the Lord that hath begun that good worke in him perfect it vnto the day of the Lord Iesus Christ But if which be it farre from vs to surmise if I say the Lord should suffer him to fall To cagro dou leuontes me to Kurio Rom 12.11 or in his wrath depriue vs of his gouernmēt if he should permit vs to a Popish Ruler who seeth not how indifferent our people are such temporazing is euen now rife and that reading best pleaseth seruing the time not the Lord. Fors●ke not the assemblies and gatherings together of the Saints Heb. 10.25 1. Thes 5.19 Exod. 27.20 as the maner sayth the Apostle and we may say too of too many it Quench not the Spirit wouldst thou not quench him Despise not prophecying that 's the holy oyle for the lampe of the Sanctuary not being supplied therwith thou shalt soone perceiue it to grow dimme and by little and little to an vtter extinction Now brethren to omit both Popish and profane Recusants Is it not to be lamented that amongst those who seeme most to bewaile the declinings of our Church there should be some found so eyther nice or humorous that they refuse to arme thēselues against that which they so much feare and pity in others by diligent attendance to the worke of the Ministery One forsooth is too learned another too plaine a third too elegant or else too rude some too formall some too scrupulous none pleaseth but some one whom our parciall conceits haue made our Idoll So wanton are we growne

c. The proposition is omitted and in stead thereof the proofe is set downe verse 4.5.6 The assumption taken for granted the conclusion expressed verse 1. Before particulars be pressed suffer a little to cleare the text from glosses of Nouatians and others What their heresie was is not hard to collect from Saint Cyprian Augustine Epiph. lib. 2. cap. 59. Epiphanius others Epiphanius most briefly thus expresseth it Men falling after baptisme can neuer find mercy or pardon with God The mitigations that some haue sought out of Ambrose others I meane not to si●● all being in the issue equiualent What they speake of de●ying penance and pardon by the Church was a meere shift and euasion whereto they were driuen by force of argument besides that the Lord ordinarily binds and looseth by Ministeriall power of the Church Now I hold it a good rule for iudgement of expositions that is ordinarily giuen by Diuines where we find a sence crossing any truth taught in plaine texts of Scripture of it wee may say it was neuer the sence intended by the holy Ghost Being we now this glosse and inference to this touch Cyp. Epist lib. ● Cap. 2. Epist ad Nouati Aug. t●m 4. d● vt ●q mixt Psa 89.32.33 Saint Cyprian and Augustine thus re●soned against Nouatians from plaine texts of Scripture my purpose is not to recite their word● lest I waste time Their reasons are these First from the promise of God made to Dauid perhaps with referen●e to Salomons fall If any sinne I will visit with the rod but not remooue mercy Secondly from the nature of GOD in comparison to earthly parents was there euer father found so void of fatherhood whō the teares of a penitent prodigall hath not made to melt and that hath not embraced the humbl● submission of the most gracelesse sonne Mal. 3.17 Psa 103.15 Isa 49.25 I will spare you as a father spareth his owne son as a father hath compassion on his children so the Lord on them that feare him If any father be so obdurate can a mother forget her child and not haue compassion on the sonne of her wombe Though they should forget yet will not the LORD forget his Thirdly from examples of GODS dealing with his children repenting Dauid Peter Israelits 4. From the fact of God inuiting to repentance such as were fallen The Church of Ephesus fallen from her first loue Apo. 2.4 5 20 21. of Thyatyra that had committed fornication and eaten meats sacrificed to Idols suffered Iezabel to teach and to deceiue yet are inuited to repentance shall we say and not promised pardon Miseranda fraternitatis irrisio saith Cyprian Cyp. Epist lib. 4. cap. 2. Oh miserable mockage of the brethren thus to inuite to practise and deny the fruit of repentance As if a man should say to a husbandman Go to vse thy best skill and paines in tilling and manuring thy ground sow thy seede but haruest looke for none He blunts the edge of industry through despaire of recompence Veniam negando incentiuum auferūt penitentie Ambr. de Penit lib. 5. Cap. 1. And by denying pardon these take away the greatest incitemēt to repentance For this Scripture know wee there is Lapsus falling and Prolapsio falling away the place not vnderstood of particular slips but of vniuersall relapsing to a course of impiety See we now the second inference and in the same order examine the glosse Reprobates they say may be iustified sanctified what not except saued Behold a monster in Diuinity that euer reprobate should be iustified in Gods sight Cata doran cata diathesin cata meros or truely sanctified by his Spirit It is true something they may haue like it so like that themselues and others may thinke them sanctified Secondly a disposition preparation that way they may attaine Thirdly some parts of it they may partake Rom. 8.30 1. Pet. 2.2 2. Thes 3.13 Ioh. 17.9.19.10 c. 11.27.28 Poculum immorcalitatis quod confectum est de inf●rmitate nostra et virtute diuina habet quidem in se vt omnibus prosit sed si non bibitur non proficit Aug. ad artic salso impos Art 1. but to be iustified in Gods sight or truely sanctified and yet be reprobates these are as●●●ata me thinks in Diuinity for 1. iustification renouation depend vpon election and they are termes conuertible elect and sanctified sanctified elect Secondly what mad man would once dreame that they can euer be iustified by Christs bloud for whom he neuer intentionally shed it We haue a distinction of sufficiency and efficacy ancient I confesse and true The saying of Augustine is most true The cup of immortality that had its confection of humane infirmity and diuine power hath in it sufficiency to benefit all but if it be not drunken it profits nothing But what is this to the question The question is touching the intention of Christ in laying downe his life for a price of redemption and of God the father in sending his Son into the world whether euer he had such a meaning as to saue a reprobate and me thinks it is vnconceiuable that the Lord should from eternall decree not to haue mercy yet send Christ into the world with purpose to saue a cast-away Besides I hold it a true position that for whom Christ merited remission of sinnes and the fauour of God for him also he merited the donation of the Spirit and the grace of perseuerance these being all equally parts of his purchase Thirdly who can imagine an influence of grace from Christ the head where is not reall and true vnion with him and who will vndertake to proue that euer reprobate is vnited vnto Christ fith hee lacks first bond of vnion the Spirit secondly instrument of vnion liuely faith thirdly fruit of vnion Ioh. 14.17 Act. 13.48 Ephe. 5.23 Ioh. 17.21.22 euerlasting life It is true that Christ is head ouer reprobates in respect of eminence not so in regard of influence And the gifts they partake from Christ they haue from him as a rich Lord adorning his Church not as members of his body by deriuation from the head As touching this text some gifts are here mentioned illumination c. but not such as necessarily imply renouation by the Spirit The maine is wanting viz. renewing of the heart to vnfaigned loue of God in CHRIST which I could neuer beleeue to be in a reprobate As to the third inference that Gods elect children called according to his purpose may lose righteousnesse sanctification c. that is more improbably deduced out of this text then eyther of the former I will not trouble you with those vsuall distinctions of reality and sence habit exercise substance and measure Their meaning is that euen such may wholly lose Gods fauour righteousnesse sanctification for the time Now surely if this were so yet this text of all others is most impertinently alleadged to that

some amōgst vs there needes no more but a modification separate some few abuses in the maner the thing may well be restored in the Church These are strange declinations GOD graunt not fore-runners of greater Apostasy In affection when the heat of our zeale for God loue of his truth is abated in vs. Apoc. 2.4 I haue a few things against thee saith the Lord to the Angell of Ephesus that thou hast left thy first loue Shall I say the Lord hath a few things and not rather many against the Church of England for leauing her first loue where it that ancient seuerity and strict hand ouer Papists of whom I may well say They are generally of the slauishest nature of any mē vnder the Sunne the very children of Hagar a little of her Masters indulgence what insolency workes it longer then she feeles the rod of her mistresse ouer-insolent And who euer saw the fruite of lenity this way that the number hath bin any way abated and not rather increased by forbearance How odious once was that Idoll of the Masse when if men would needs adore it Ezek. 8.12 Hos 4.13 it must be in the chambers of their Imagery made in the walles Now if Fame bee not too foule a lier on euery hill vnder euery greene tree may the louers of the whore commit their fornications yea euē in London the eye of the Land no where more frequent In Practise when in manners we grow more dissolute and leaue our strictnes And here beloued Christians where should I begin to complaine that which Isaiah speakes of Israel in respect of Gods Iudgements is it not as true of Englād in regard of her sinnes Isa 1.6 The whole head is sicke the whole heart heauy from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foote there is nothing sound but all full of swellings and putrified sores The Court and City full of effeminate delicacy the Country of hellish profanenesse Magistrates shamelesse in bribery Ministers euen benummed with idlenesse the people generally become Libertines in Religion Gal. 5.7 Beloued yee did run well who hath let you still to obey the truth Courtiers were wont to account Religiō their glory he was of old esteemed most honorable that was most carefull to promote the Gospell How now begin they to cast lots for Christs coate and to share amongst them the portion of Leui Gen. 47.22 things which amongst the barbarous Egyptians were accounted holy And when till now lacked the English Court some Tribunes of the people carefull to keepe from thē ouer-grieuous impositions How do all men seeke their owne Mich. 3.2 Is 1.21 and almost pluck off the skinnes of the people How is the faithfull City become an harlot It was full of iudgement and Iustice lodged there but now they are become murtherers their siluer is become drosse their wine mixed with worse then water It was wont to be reckoned the blemish of Germans to be giuen to bowzing Is it not so that what was wont to be their shame is now accounted our glory to be mighty to drinke wine strong to powre in strong drinke To say nothing of that presumptuous and euen defended prophanation of the LORDS Sabboths that rifenes of Oathes Ie. 28.10 euen in these dayes when the land mournes for them Are not these then apparent euidences of our declinings And as I sayd ere-while God graunt they be not harbingers of greater mischiefes Preseruatiues against Apostasy Speciall I will draw now toward conclusion some few preseruatiues onely against this fearefull downfall shal be prescribed and then an end These some of them concerne men of publique place Magistrates and Ministers some euery of vs euen priuate Christians For Magistrates As touching Magistrates they are or should be pillers of the people and meanes especially to support thē And first by vigilancy That charge of the Apostle giuen in generall to Gods people belongs by an exoche to men in authority Heb. 12.15 Take heed that no man fall away from the grace of God see another caueat Subordinate Let no roote of bitternes whether in doctrine or maners spring vp and trouble you lest thereby many be infected Know you not Gal. 5.9 that a little leauen leaueneth the whole lumpe sayth he againe pointing at corruption in doctrine which same sentence is also applyed to euill example in life 1. Cor. 5.6 Beloued these are the things requiring the speciall vigilancy and care of Magistrates We haue bin taught not by Tertullian onely but by the Lord himselfe 2. Tim. 3.16 to reuerence the fulnes of the Scriptures If any now shall arise and deny the sufficiency of them for determinations of all controuersies in substance or circumstance of Religion let the Church officers hold and censure him as a Destroyer Wee were wont to exhort our people old young men women to diligent conuersing of the Bible If any shall attempt to make enclosure of this common benefit to the Cleargy let him tast the seuerity of Ecclesiasticall discipline These are Gangrenes indeed in the Church such speaches as will encrease to more vngodlynes 2. Tim. 2.16 The like I say of euill examples in life if any such arise thither let the Magistrate hasten to restraine them Corruptions in iudgement slow commonly from neglect of good life 1. Tim. 1.19 They haue put away good conscience sayth Paul and then as concerning faith make shipwracke This exhortation is often vsed to the Magistrates of this place Wee heard the last day of 4. capitall sinnes raging amongst you my purpose is to insist in one onely which if any other is the bane of all grace in the heart that is Adultery whoredome and wine c. steale away the heart And it 's true Hos 4.11 Adultety and Idolatry they are contiguous vices they were the very bane of Salomon the wisest King that euer raigned ouer Israel And if my little obseruance deceiue me not the great sinne as of this Land in generall so of this City especial I come not oft into your City yet let me tell you what I saw in my very entrance vpon your suburbs A woman right of a Courtisans behauiour as Salomon describes her Pro. 7. at whose gates alas how many young spend-thrifts waite as weary of their patrimony and soules saluation Right honourable might it please you to be aduised to obserue the wayes of such strumpets These are they which of all others encrease transgressions amongst men these the Deuills very netts and snares wherein alas how many are entangled euen to destruction for this no doubt is the Lords dreadfull visitation still vpon vs Ier. 5.7 9. because men committed adultery and assemble themselues by companies in the barlots houses The Country likewise swarmes with idle ignorant scandalous Ministers yea I am perswaded all those Emissary Seminaries that haue come vnto vs from Rome neuer did halfe that harme