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	call_v	evangelist_n	3,049	5	9.9516	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A43272	The lambs innocency defended, against lyes and slanders In answer to a second reply of a priest, who is called a minister at Lazonby in Cumberland called Simon Atkinson, who hath shewed his wolfish nature against those people called Quakers; ranking them up with the papists; falsly accusing them of those things which they utterly detest; but his weapons is turned against himselfe by one of the campe of the God of Israel, whose eye is opened in measure, ... working in the shadow of reformation translated into a fairer forme springing from the old corrupt root; and to see the bickerings of the night-armie running on heaps now in the dawning of the day; and the uncircumcised in Heart and Ears in flying from the light, and repoose of the same: and from the alarum of the spirits trumpet which is founded vvithin, for the cutting downe of the man of sin, and for the quenching of his motions. Written in defence of the truth as it is in Jesus, by a foole to the wisdom of this world, who, according to measure, hath tasted and obtained of the wisdome	Helling, Joseph.	1658 (1658)	Wing H1382; ESTC R216631	44,515	52

practises as the Reader may take notice in my Answers all along this Book to that of God in every Conscience who Reades it I appeale Pr. fourth con Caust thou prove or darest thou deny that Ministers in the Gosspel time were not seated in their own Churches whether in Countries Townes or Cities Act. 14.23 ch 20.28 Tit. 1 5. 1 Pet 5 1.2 Col. 1.17 all these places plainly speaboth the countrary Ans I doe not deny but that the Apostles ordained Elders in every Church and that such as was not greedy of filthy luere Tit. 1.7 1 Tim 3.3 but took the over sight not for silthy luere but of a ready mind 1 Pet. 5.1.2.3 and they watched for soules Heb. 13 17. and not for gain from their quarters as you Priests doe but that they were seated in Parishes the Popes division with their set stypends suing men at Law if they could not pay them the tenth of the increase of their goods and ground I say that of deny and all these Scriptures that thou hast cited will not prove such a thing as that the Eiders there spoken of received Tythes either Tews Tythes or Gentiles Tythes as tenth Stack tenth Cock tenth Lambe tenth Fleece tenth Geese tenth Pig and a Hen if one have but two and Smoake pence or Peter pence c. so S. A. thou and thy Fellows with your invented Elders must be forced to own the Pope to be the institutor and promulgator of your Gentiles Tythes and he is your example for these things and not the Apostles nor Elders of old and I refer the Reader to Henry Clarkes Book stiled a description of the Prophets Apostles and Ministers of Christ and also of them called Ministers in England c. there thou may take notice of the rise and foundation of your English Church order and your Ministers maintenance who is found deceitfull workers and enemies to the Crosse of Christ Pr. fifth con Were not the Apostles Evangelists and Prophets extraordinary Officers in the Church 1 Cor. 12.28 and particularly Commissioned to Preach up and down at itinerants any where every where without limitation Mark 16.15 and doth not thy deniall of this argue grosse ignorance of the very Scripture letter Ans Here thou shews thine extravagant spirit confusedly Reader compare the fourth proposition and fifth together and see what contraditions is in them for in the fourth thou S. A. goes about to prove the Ministers setled in Churches whether in Countries Townes or Cities and now thou saith they are Commissioned to Preach any where every where without limitation and also that they are particularly Commissioned and were extraordinary Officers citing Marks 16 15 as though none but the eleven had had that commission let Paul Silas Timothy Barnabas and these Scriptures Acts 20.4.5.6 ch 13.1 ch 9.10 bear witnesse against thy falacy for Apostles Prophets and Evangelists with Pastors and Teachers Eph. 4.11 is but ordinary members compacted in the body 1 Cor. 12.12 27.28 and ordinarily supplyeth that place in the body where they are placed as also doth the lesser members and one cannot say to another I have no need of thee 1 Cor. 12.21.22 c. so but ordinary Officers in the body for the edifying of the same and for the compleating and perfecting it so here thy deceipt is seen and thou not to be like unto them nor none of you Tythe-mongers who is at ease in the flesh and in your parishes with a fat benefice And whereas thou saith I deny the Apostles Evangelists and Prophets Call Commission Office and Ministry w●ch was without limitation here I charge thee in meeknes and in truth to be a lyar for I own the Apostles Prophets and Evangelists their call commission office and travell in their Ministry and I honour them with my soule whose record layes open such leveners as thou to be deceitfull workers and enemies to the Crosse of Christ transformed into the name of the Ministers of Christ but the nature ground commission and life of Christ his Apostles you want so take thy shameles accusations home again who hath thus belied me the Lord open thy eyes to see thy own folly Pr. sixth con Is there not a vast difference between taking hire and wages which the workman is worthy of Luke 10.7.1 Cor 9.7.10.15 1 Tim. 5.18 and teaching for hire and filthy lucre sake and if it be the duty of all that are taught in the Word to communicate to him that teacheth in all good things Gal. 6 6. canst thou prove that it is not lawfull for them to take such things and if Tythes are a Legall ceremony and unlawfull under the Gospel A. Here the end of thy drut is seen Meats for the belly and the belly is for meat but God shall destroy both it and them 1 Cor. 6.13 but there is a great difference between that hire wages which the Apostles was commissioned to receive and taking of Gentile tythes which was never commanded in the Old or New Testament and also taking set stipends making bargains with Parishes suing and casting into prisons as is proved I say here is a vast difference thou hast cited Luke 10 1.1 Cor. 10 7. 10 15.1 Tim 5.8 for the defence of your hire Reader take notice of Luke 10.7 where Christ saith in the same house r●m●in eating and drinking c. for the labourer is worthy of his hire also v 8. Eat such things as is set before you mark he doth not say Take Tythes and if they will not give you Tythes sue them at Law or cast them into prison as you priests doe but he said they might cate and drink with them that did receive them Luke 10.8 mind that they were not to bide where they were not received v 10. But the Priests of our time who calls themselves Ministers of Christ as men voyd of all reason compels all sorts of people to maintain them albeit they be not received and they that denyes them to Tythes let them be what they will in opinion or judgement in Law or prison they must goe Oh shamelesse men where is your comission or example in the New Testament for these things yea or in the Old Testament And whereas thou cites 1 Cor. 9 7. I say take notice Paul saith v. 4. have we not power to eat and to drink I mark he doth not say have we not power to take Tythes and although he had power to eat and to drink yet he used none of these things neither did he write that it should be done unto him see ve●ses 15.16.17 18 19. And as for 1 Tim 5.18 I answer we shall not deprive the Oxe of his provender nor the labourer of his hire but shall communicate of our carnalls to them that sows spirituall and teaches in all good things as al 6.6 I say if any who labours in the Word and preaches freely as he hath received it come amongst us he shall have meat and

rage that forging lyes is become your greatest refuge who perswades people that we trust in our selves and selfe righteousnesse which things we utterly detest and they remain for thee and you all to prove And as for despising of others that is false for we own all Creatures as they are in themselves Creatures or Vessells but the seeds is at enmity mind that for the Creation of God we have no cause to hate but the mover of cedition in the ground take notice of that Pr. As for that Scripture thou cites Luke 18.9.10 and bids we consider the scope of the Parable and we cannot but see our selves punctually to resemble the Pharisees Ans Here thou hast reckoned us up with the Pharisee and saith we resemble him here I charge thee with another lye and it remains for thee to prove which of us did or doth boast in our prayers of Fastings paying fo Tythos and that we were not like other men but we are bold to declare that our regeneration is not by our own merits nor our salvation by works of righteousnes which we have done but according to his mercy he hath saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 so thy accusations touches us not but shall stand against you with Luke 18.9.10 and all other Scripture for y●e are out of the rule of Scripture both under the Law and Gospel as easily may be proved Pr. Couldest thou or any of you but convince me of this that they are just that justifie themselves then I should side and say with you and the Papists your patterns in this and the most of your opinions that perfection is not onely attainable in this life but that it is the easiest thing in the world but how hard will it be to prove this principle Ans I doe not strive to convince any of their justnesse that justifie themselves for I deny them that so doth and the Papists to be our patternes but whether you will side with us or not thou and thy fellows must be forced to take the Popes Law for a prop to your Gospel for by that Law you are guarded therefore let thine accusation return home again and take the Papists for thy patternes thou and you who tradeth in their shops and as for perfections to be attainable in this life here thou shews forth thy ignorance and that thou art not called into the ministry of Christ Reader mark permand of God to Abraham Gen. 17.1 Deut. 18.13 Iob 1.8 8.20 Psal 37.37 It was the Doctrine of the Apostle 2 Cor. 13.9.11 in Phil. 3.15 It was for that end that the Scripture was recorded 2 Tim. 3.17 it was the Prayer of the Apostle for the Chruch Heb. 13.21.1 Pet 5.10 Heb. 6.1 yea the whole end of the Ministre Ephes 4.11.12 thou that denyes perfection denies thy gift and the power of the Lord. For shame for what end dost thou Preach it is evident hereby that you keep people alwayes learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth which maketh free Iohn 8.32 And now that it is the easiest thing in the world I say in perfection is ease peace and joy in the holy Ghost and no treasure is to be compared to it or any measure of it and you that are not growing towards it knows nothing of redemption And thou that perswads people that perfection is not to be attained unto here keeps people alwayes in the bondage of corruction for it is hard to be attained unto which is the cause why many stumble Pr. Was is not Christs peculiar prerogative to be without sin Heb. 4 15.1 Pet. 2.22 1 John 3.5 he did challenge the world Ioh. 8 46. and could abide the bitterest brunts of the Devill because there was nothing in him for Satan to worke upon Iohn 14.30 but who besides himselfe could ever say so Ans I grant it was and is the proper freedom of the head and also of the members of that head and these Scriptures which thou hast cited I own compared with Heb. 2.18 and that none could ever truely say so of themselves is granted also But this doth not disanull perfection and thou that doth despise it and pleads against it pleads against the one offering against the Prayer of Christ and priviledge of the Saints Iohn 23.14 and against the whole end of the Ministry Ephes 4.12 and against the worke of a Minister Col. 1.28.29 so man I exhort thee be ware what thou dost least thou repent when it is too late for as the tree falls so it lyes and as death seazes upon a man so judgement will find him out and every man shall be judged according to the deeds done in his body and the righteous hath hope in his death but the wicked shall rise to the resurrection of condemnation Pr. Paul after a long and prosperous progresse in sanctification mortification and vivification was not ashamed to speak the truth Rom. 7.11.18.24 but who can beare witnesse of your humiliation in this manner nay the contrary is contemptuously and impudently boasted of by you Ans Here thou art seen to be ignorant of us speaking evill of things thou knows not for the Lord is our witnes whether we have not groaned under the bondage of corruption or not and cryed unto him which is onely able to be delivered from the body of sin And the Apostles condition we own knowing that in our flesh dwelleth no good thing which is of its own nature although thou hast thus judged of us neverthelesse we have a treasure hid in carthen vessels which you with all you doe cannot deprive us of which is our joy But to proceed Paul did not continue in sin he said God forbid Rom 1.2 c. they could not live any longer in sin they were planted together in the likenes of his death See what he dyed unto Rom. 6.10 and although Paul did complain of the body of sin Rom. 7. yet consider what testimony he gives in Rom. 8.1.2.3 37. verses take notice of Rom 8.8 thou that stands up to make voyd the comming of the Son of God by pleading against perfection taking the Apostles condition in his imperfection to pleade for the Devills Kingdom withall but leaves his after condition in Rom. 8.1.2 as though the Apostle all his life time had been subject to bondage Oh shamelesse man who for covetous ends would have people kept from the teachings of Gods Spirit which sanctifieth I say The Lord rebuke thee Pr. Is your condition then with Christ and not with the Apostle O horrible Blasphemy are you finite creatures equall with the infinite Creator doe not all naturall as well as spirituall light abhor this Ans Here thou askes a question I say our condition is with Paul in the measure of the growth and with Christ according to the measure unto which we are grown and although we be finite creatures as the Apostles was yet we can

Commission of the Ministry which was Go teach c. freely yee have received freely give and for his sake who gave this Commition we take pleasure in infirmity as the Apostle did a Cor. 12.10 and some in much patience which signes and wonders and mighty deeds as may be proved to the prayse of the loving God and we doe not make a gain of people as you doe no more then the Apostles did 2 Cor. 12.17.18 neither doe we goo to a Towne or parish to inquire what maintenance there is for a Minister as Tythes Gleabe-Lands c and give them a Sermon or two as you call them of liking But we goe to inquire who fears the Lord and owns the Spirit of God to be their Teacher which Teacher cannot be removed into a corner Isay 30.20 and with such we can take a little meat and drink which the Apostles was Commisioned to receive and here is our joy and proofe not onely in imitation but in life also witnesse a gainst all you who rules as Lords patterns of pride and covetonsnesse learning your Trade and selling your invenitions bearing rule by your weans which is a filthy horrible thing now in England as it was in Ieremiahs days Ier. 5.30 31. Oh ye Priests put it not from you for it sticks fast upon you Pr. And now to the rest of the Quaries I shall onely propose some cousiderations Ans I did but propound foure questions unto thee as in number and thou hast diverted two of them and answered two of them with lyes and true words and false accusations mixed together as one voyd of all sence making no matter what thou speake as is and may be proved Reader this is the querie which is not answered Whether the false Teachers and Decoivers may not be known by their fruits and whether they that bring●th forth the same fruits which was declared against by the true Prophet Christ Iesus and his Apostles of old be not the false Teachers now as they were then yea or nay This quaerie is digressed because it coma neer thee S. A. Pr. first Consideration Dost thou conclude in cold blood that either none or very few of the Ministers in England are truely godly and that either none or very few reall Saints are the seale of their Ministry in the Lord and is such sensoriousnesse safe and without flune Ans I doe conclude That the Ministers of Jesus Christ new in England who is called by the grace of God with Commission from the Spirit of God to Preach the Gospel freely as they have received in by the Revelation of Iesus in them as in Gal. 1.16 according to the measure of the gist of God Eph. 4.7 I say these are truely godly as they are obedient to the grace appeared mark and that the children of light who is called and obedient to the grace out of the fashions and customes of the world and out of all formally invented worships to worship God in spirit and in truth in the inward man Psal 51.6 I say this is the seale of their Ministry but that the Parish ministers who is called Ministers in England is truely godly that I do deny For he that loves me saith Christ keeps my Commandements now mark he hath commanded his to be perfect but the Priest of England denyes and pleads against his Doctrine herein he hath commanded not to sweare at all but the Priests of England pleads against hsi Doctrine herein he hath commanded not to sue any man at Law but the Priests of England resists his Doctrine here in suing poor people and swearing or causing some to sweare mens goods from them yes trebble sums Christ commanded to give freely as they had received but the Priests of England neither receives freely nor gives freely Christ commanded not to be called of man Master but the Priests of England both calls and is called Master with many more particulars which might be mentioned to this purpose all which shews That the Priests of England is out of Christs Doctrine and so hath not God 2 Iohn 9. so not truely godly And as for them which follows you which is thus found out of and oppose it against Christs Doctrine I say they make your Ministry manifert and seales it with their unbridled lungs and actions to be a barren fruitlesse Ministry voyd of sanctification which maketh Saints so you and your followers I doe deny to be either truely godly or reall Saints But I call them not in cold blood as thou quaeries neither according to flesh and bloods wiscom but by the spirit of truth and light of our Lord Iesus Christ I say I call you like Priest like people Hos 4.9 c. and this is no sinfull sensuring I commend my felse to every mans Conscience in the sight of God as the Apostle did 2 Cor. 4.2 and to the honest hearted every where who is but willing to compare your practises with the Doctrine of Christ and practises of his Aposels Pr. second Consideration Dost thou say or thinks that thy selfe mire hatest all daceit and sin whatsoever then the said godly Ministers and Sainits in England or else-where doe Ans I am not sufficient of my selfe to think any thing as of my selfe but my sufficiency is of God who hath opened my Book of Conscience wherein I find and reade the motions of the flesh to be an enemy to the motions of Gods Spirit which hath made me cry with tears for deliverance from that bondage so by the power of God I utterly tetest that nature in my selfe in the particular and in the generall which opposeth Christ and his Doctrine and doth conclude you to be no Ministers of Christ who wrests his Doctrine for selse ends and to your own destruction and them to be no Saints who follows such for the god of this world hath blinded their eyes that cannot see you to be painted Harlots lest the light of the glorious Gospel should shine unto them Therefore I say you are running from mountain to hill under pretence of Resormation and still without the doore in the fashions and customs of this world and in your airic Knowledge and Wisdom there you set up your building and also the foundation of your worship hatched by Tradition springing from imaginations the ground of changeable wayes● take notice of that Pr. third consideration Dost thou affirme that the detestable titles of blinde guides dumbe dogs greedy Dogs c. are given without sin to such Minesters and that their Doctrine and practises prova them to be such as Christ and his Apostles declares against Ans As for godly Saints or Ministers these titles are not given to such by us God forbid but I affirme and testisie by the spirit of truth with the Prophet that these titles are given without sin to you who is found seeking gain from your quarter as they were Isay 56.10 11. and you beare the expresse image of the false Prophets and false Apostles