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	bishop_n	evangelist_n	4,208	5	10.0866	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91721	The Racovian catechisme vvherein you have the substance of the confession of those churches, which in the kingdom of Poland, and great dukedome of Lithuania, and other provinces appertaining to that kingdom, do affirm, that no other save the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is that one God of Israel, and that the man Jesus of Nazareth, who was born of the Virgin, and no other besides, or before him, is the onely begotten Sonne of God.; Racovian catechism. English. 1652.	Smalcius, Valentin, 1572-1622.; Socinus, Faustus, 1539-1604.	1652 (1652)	Wing R121; Thomason E1320_1; ESTC R200387	94,429	183

be taught what order is in the same Doctrine prescribed to that Church A. That order consisteth in the duties of those persons whereof the Church consisteth and the diligent and accurate care that all the persons perform their severall duties Q. What are the persons whereof the Church consisteth A. Of them some govern others obey Q. Who rule A. Apostles Prophets Evangelists Doctors Pastors Bishops Elders and Deacons Q. What is their duly or office whom you call Apostles A. To go out into all the world and preach the Gospell of Christ for which things sake they were both chosen first by Christ and by him sent forth from whence they had the denomination of Apostles whom Christ also endued with his holy Spirit sent in a visible manner and armed with great powers Mat. 28. 19. Mark 16. 5. Act. 2. 4. Q. What is the office of Prophets A. To foretell things to come and expound the things that are hard to be understood in the Christian Religion 1 Cor. 14. Q. What is the office of Evangelists A. To be assistant to the Apostles in preaching the Gospell and to disperse it through divers regions and plant it of which sort were Philrp Timotheus and others Act. 21. 8. 2 Tim. 4. 5. Q. What are the offices of Doctors Pastors Bishops and Elders A. To go before others in speaking to keep order in the Church of God and pour out prayers for the people of God 1 Tim. 5. 17. Acts 6. 4. Q. What is the office of Deacons A. To be serviceable to the necessities of the Church especially of the Poor therein Act. 6. 2 3. Q. Are all those persons which you said are to govern others and whose offices have you described at this day found in the Church of God A. As to the Apostles and Prophets it is certain that they have no more place in the Church of Christ For the cause for which they were chosen and sent forth by the Lord is now ceased which was that God by them would have the doctrine of his Son declared and confirmed to the world And therefore they were called the foundations of the Church of Christ by Paul Ephes 2. 20. Wherefore after that the Gospell of Christ had according to the counsell of God been abundantly discovered to the world and confirmed there is no more place left in the Church for such persons as should any further discover and confirm the same Q. Why call you the Apostles and Prophets the foundation of the Church when Christ himself is the foundation thereof 1 Cor. 3. 11. A. The Apostles and Prophets are called the foundation of the Church in one sense and Christ is in another the foundation thereof The one only in reference to other men who belong to the same Church of Christ and wholly ground themselves on the doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets And then Christ is considered as something greater that is as the chief Corner-stone of that foundation see the forecited place Ephes 2. 20. The other not onely in reference to the rest of the Church but also the very Apostles themselves who are built upon Christ as well as other Believers Q. What say you concerning Evangelists A. That they ceased together with the Apostles For they did then with the Apostles preach a New doctrine which now accounted most Old Q. What think you of the other persons A. In as much as their Ministries doe even now continue the persons themselves must also needs continue as being constituted for the ministries sake Q. How are they constituted for the Ministry A. As we have it set down in the doctrine of the Apostles Q. How is that A. Concerning the offices of Doctors Pastors Bishops and Presbyters or Elders the Apostle Paul at large discovereth 1 Tim. 3. 2 3. c. A Bishop must be unblameable c. and Tit. 1. 6 7. c. A Bishop must be unreproveable c. Q. Have not those who teach in the Church and keep order therein need to be sent in some speciall manner A. By no means for they doe not now bring a new doctrine and such as was unheard of before but that of the Apostles received of old by all men exhorting men to lead their lives according to it Whence the Apostle expresly describing all things which belong to the constituting of such persons make no mention of any mission or sending Neverthelesse when such persons according to the prescript of the Apostolick Doctrine are constituted and are endued with those two properties namely innocency of life and aptnesse to teach they ought thereupon to have just authority amongst all Q. What say you to those words of the Apostle Rom. 10. 15. How shall they preach unlesse they be sent A. The Apostle doth not here speak of any preaching whatsoever but of the preaching of a new Doctrine and such as hath not formerly been heard of which sort was the preaching of the Apostles and their assistants who therefore had need of a mission or sending But in as much as at this day there is no such preaching there is also no need of such a mission Q. How ought Deacons to be ordained A. As the Apostles directed 1 Tim. 3. 8 9. Let the Deacons in like manner be grave c. Q. You have handled what pertained to those that govern now handle also that which pertaineth to those that are governed A. It is their duty to be obedient unto those that govern in all those things which they prescribe according to the Word of God Concerning which we read in the Epistle to the Hebrewes chap. 13. 17. Next that they communicate to them that teach in all good things Gal. 6. 6. yea that they allow them double honour or maintenance 1 Tim. 5. 17. Finally that an accusation against them be not admitted under two or three Witnesses 1 Tim. 5. 19. CHAP. III. Concerning the Discipline of the Church of Christ Q. YOu have shewn the Offices of the persons which constitute the Church of Christ now likewise shew the way how these Offices may be duly performed A. That way partly concerneth all partly those that govern Q How doth it concern all A. In that manner as it is written Heh 3. 12 13. Take heed brethren lest there shall be found in any of you an evill heart of unbelief c. and Heb. 12. 15. Taking care lest any man shall fall from the Grace of God and Paul saith 1 Thes 5. 11. Admonish one another and build up one another See also ver 14. of the same Chapter Q. How must ●hey be dealt withall who are despiseds of this order A. Two wayes for they are either privately to be corrected or publickly Q. 〈◊〉 to be privat●ly corrected A. As Christ hath taught Mat. 18. 15 16 c. If thy brother offend against thee c. Q. Why to be so corrected A. Because as it appeareth from this place they privately offend against us and therefore the same is to be

touching the Predestination of God is altogether erroneus and that for two reasons chiefly whereof the one is that it would bring all Religion to ruine the other that it would charge God with many absurd yea horrid things Q. But how would the admission of this opinion bring Religion to ruine A. Because all the things pertaining to Religion and Piety would be in us necessarily and unavoidably and if so to what purpose were it to labour and endeavour that we might be pious For all endeavour and diligence is there superfluous where all things come to passe necessarily as reason it self sheweth But if the endeavour and study of Religion and Piety be taken away Religion and Piety it self must needs be taken away together Q. VVhat absurd and horrid things will be attributed to God if this opinion be admitted A. They are foure in number 1. Justice For it would be manifestly unjust to punish one for not doing what he was unable to do But when God punisheth the impious and disobedient what else doth he then punish them who do not what they are unable to do For if the opinion of the Adversaries be true they by reason of the immutable decree of God cannot possibly become pious and obedient 2. Hypocrisie joyned with deceit For God having excluded already the greatest part of them to whom the Gospel is declared from salvation by his decree doth notwithstanding offer salvation unto all and so doth one thing and maketh shew of another which is the property of Hypocrites and deceivers And which is worse God doth in such a thing wherein another is exceedingly circumvented and hurt 3. Great imprudence for God would seem to take care and endeavour that which he certainly knoweth cannot come to passe But what is more foolish and light then to make a shew as if you earnestly endeavoured to effect that which you know certainly cannot be done and so to expose your self to scorn 4. Pravity in that God would be the author of sin For since it is altogether necessary that sin should go before damnation certainly he that decrees a man shall be of necessity damned decrees also that he shal of necessity sin Q. How do they go about to prove that opinion of theirs concerning Predestination A. By certain testimonies of the scripture wherein this is the chiefest Rom. 8. 28 29 30. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the first born among many brethren Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also calleth and whom he hath called them he also justifyeth and whom he hath justified them he also glorifieth Q. What answer give you to this testimony A. That you may the better understand that Testimony and the like I must first declare to you what the scripture meaneth by Predestination Election and Vocation or Calling Q. I would fain have you explain that A. The Predestination of God in the scriptures signifieth no other thing then such a decree of his concerning men before the foundation of the world that to those who would believe in him and be obedient to him he would give eternall life and punish them with eternal death and damnation who would refuse to believe in him and be obedient to him which thing is apparent in that Christ the perfect Interpreter of the divine will hath so expounded to us this counsel and decree of God saying that he that believeth on him shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned Mark 16. 16. Q. VVhat say you of Election A. Election when the Scripture speaketh of our Salvation hath a double signification for sometimes those that assent to the Gospel preached are said to be Elected of God but sometimes also they who do not onely assent to the Gospel but lead their lives according to the prescript thereof are called elect An example of the first signification you have 1 Cor. 1. 26 27. You see your calling brethren that not many wise men according to the flesh not many Potent not many noble but God hath chosen the foolish things of this world that he might shame the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world that he might shame the strong where election and vocation are taken for the same thing An example of the latter you have Matt. 22. 14. where Christ saith That many called but few chosen But you have an example of both in those words of Peter 2 Epist 1. 10 11. Endeavour to making your calling and election sure that is by good works as some coppies have it Q. VVhat say you of Vocation A. Vocation when it is referred to our salvation hath the same signification with Election as appeareth by the quoted places Q. But how do you make answer to the aforesaid testimonies A. This testimony maketh nothing for that Predestination which the Adversaries have devised For they hold a predestination without any regard of good works whereas Paul here speaketh of such a predestination as hath regard to those that love God and demonstrateth that afflictions do not hurt such men but rather help them for good Now he saith of them that they are called according to the purpose to shew that they at length have believed the Gospell according to the purpose of God and are predestinated to salvation who love God But we have before shewn that that is in mans power Q. I would therefore intreat you to expound the place to me A. The plain meaning is this The Apostle sheweth that all afflictions cooperate for good to them who love God and have believed the Gospell of Christ Which he proveth in this manner namely in that they are predestinated to all those things which it behooved the Lord Christ himself to suffer Now as those things could not stop his passage to Eternall Life so neither can it stop theirs Which when the Apostle had demonstrated he describeth certain degrees whereby men attain unto Eternall Life shewing that God doth by the preaching of the Gospell gather them into his Church whom he hath predestinated to be conformable to the image of his son in afflictions and immortality and then justifieth them being freed from all their sinne and finally doth in a more perfect way designe them to Eternall Life and Immortality Q. What are those testimonies whereby they think that Free-will is expresly taken away A. They pertain either to all or to certain persons Quest Which are they that pertain to all A. Amongst others they are these It is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Rom. 9. 16. No man cometh to me unlesse the Father that sent me draw him John 6. 44. They believed as many as were ordained to Eternall Life Act. 13. 48. Q. What say you to the

held concerning any private offence whether against God or against others for so equity it self perswadeth and Christian Love altogether requireth Q. How are they publickly to be Corrected A. By words or deeds Q. How by words A. In such a manner as that they be publickly reproved by all in the Church of Christ of which thing Paul speaketh 1 Tim. 5. 20. and 2 Cor. 2. 6. Q. How by deeds A. When we either avoid their company or refuse to eat with them although we do not yet count him for an enemy but admonish him as a brother or when we cast him out of the Church of Christ and no longer acknowledge him for a brother Q. Where is it written concerning this matter A. Touching the first manner 1 Cor. 5. 11. 2 Thes 3. 6 10. Touching the latter 1 Cor. 5. 14 15. and Mat. 18. 17. Q. Why is such correction observed in the Church of Christ A. That the transgressour may be healed and reduced into the way and others may be stricken with fear and kept untainted and that scandall may be removed out of the Church of Christ and the Word of God not evill spoken of and finally neither his Name nor Glory be profaned Q. What danger is imminent over such men A. Even this that being cast out of the Church and consequently out of the Kingdom of Christ there remaineth nothing for them nothing but destruction since this Excommunication is no other then that binding whereof Christ speaketh Mat. 18. 18. Verily Verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall bind upon earth shall be bound also in the Heavens and whatsoever ye shall loose upon earth shall be loosed also in the Heavens Q. What is the power of binding and loosing which the Church hath A. It is the declaring and denouncing according to the Word of God who is unworthy to be of the Church of Christ Q. VVhat is that manner of keeping order in the Church of Christ which chiefly concerneth them that govern A. They are bound not onely to observe those Offices which appertain to others more diligently then all the rest but also continually to excite others to the discharge of them respectively to oversee the Church to observe the carriage of every one to be instant in season and out of season to reprove rebuke with all long-suffering and doctrine as you have it 2 Tim. 4. 2. yet must these things be done with such caution as the Apostle sheweth fit to be used namely that they do not chide an Elder but admonish him as a Father a junior as a brother the elder women as mothers the younger as sisters with all chastity 1 Tim. 5 1 2. CHAP. IV. Of the Invisible Church of Christ Q. WHat is the Invisible Church A. Such as put their confidence in Christ and obey him and therefore are his Body Q. VVhy call you that society of men Invisible A. because It is not exposed to the sight of men who are not able to penetrate into the hearts and tell who sincerely believe or not But with the heart it is believed to righteousnesse Rom. 10. 10. and by Faith men are ingrafted into the Olive of the Church and made members of Christ Rom. 11. 19 20. Q. Can it not by outward actions be known who is a member of the Church A. By the outward actions may easily be known who is not a member of the Church of Christ for the Apostle saith that the works of the flesh are manifest Gal. 5. 19. and such men walk in the works of the flesh But it can hardly be known by the outward actions where true Faith is for outward actions proceeding from a corrupt heart may carry the same appearance with those that flow from a heart which is sincere In short he that is evill-minded may put on the outward garb of a good man but it is otherwise in a good man who never laboureth to put on the garb of an evill man Q. I now understand all the things that pertain to the knowledge of God and Christ declare further if any thing else pertaineth to the knowledge of this saving way A. I have already abundantly opened every thing to you It will be your part having well understood and considered them to imprint them in your mind and institute your life according to the prescript of them And the Lord God give you his assistance thereunto to whom in as much as he hath been pleased graciously to help us in bringing this Conference to an end be praise and glory through Jesus Christ for ever and ever Amen FINIS