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	timothy_n	titus_n	3,219	5	10.1506	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85173	A faithful discovery of a treacherous design of mystical Antichrist displaying Christs banners, but attempting to lay waste Scriptures, churches, Christ, faith, hope, &c. and establish paganism in England. Seasonably given in a letter to the faithful in and near to Beverley. Containing an examination of many doctrines of the people called Quakers in Yorkshire, together with a censure of their way, and several items concerning the designs of God, Satan, and men, in these things, recommended to the consideration of them who are in good earnest for Christ.	Pomroy, John.; Feake, Christopher, fl. 1645-1660.; Glisson, Paul.; Kellet, Joseph.	1653 (1653)	Wing F568; Thomason E699_13; ESTC R202092	45,783	67

not aware or observed not that it was ever since the daies of John the Baptist and that it was {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in them or among them and they knew not 2. Most true it is that where-ever the Kingdome of God comes with power and efficacy it sits down in the heart and doth subdue the thoughts wills affections and actions of Men to the Scepter of Christ But it comes near to many in the Gospel or outward message of peace though they know not the time of their visitation and again is taken away from a nation when the Gospel is taken away 3. We do indeed firmly hold against all the sonnes of formality that it is not talking of God but walking with God not the form of Godlinesse without the power that sets one further than the outward Court and that God is not worshipped in Truth if he be not worshipped in Spirit Also we hold that all the visible order and regiment of the Church as suited to the present Condition in the body is not of the substance of the Kingdom that cannot be shaken but shall cease at the second coming of Christ 4. Yet during the imperfect state of the Church as we mentioned before and the Love-conveyances from one member to another for the increase of the body there cannot be any thing trans-acted but in some form And for the standing forms of Gospel-appointments as Church-order Sacraments c. we judge them added to as appendixes of the Kingdome and they are unalterable by the wisdom or will of Man untill the appearing of Christ Their end is to testifie our blessed subjection of Jesus Christ as Banners and flags hung out to the view of the world to make known the People that own Christ crucified Also they are chanels of Spritual Grace Scripture and experience witnessing and may not be neglected under pretence of avoiding formality or present indisposednesse or dullness which many times is removed by a conscientious attendance upon these exercises Wherefore we conclude that to set up the form without the Power or the Power to jusle out the form of Godliness are both errors and is beside the Rules and practise of those Times which abounded in glorious gifts and wonderfull Grace who yet were most observant of and exactly conversant in Church order Pastors Teachers Elders c. Baptism with water the Lords Supper in the Elements Bread and Wine receiving in and casting out of visible societies by the Power of Christ binding on earth and loosing offenders when penitent continuing in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and publique Prayers and prophecyings as 1 Tim. 2. 1 12. 3. chap. 1. 8. 4. ch. 14. 5. chap. 1. 7. 9. 17. 19. 22. compared with 3. chap. 16. v. But it sufficeth not to our Adversaries to have left things in General but they also affirm that Presbyterians Independents Anabaptists and such differing forms are all in the Kingdom of Babylon and in the confusions of it TOuching which 1. It is our earnest desire that such so differing would not rigidly dwell upon their conceivments in Externals to make a breach in the Body of Christ which is but one by rejecting all though godly that are not in their way of Discipline Faith in Christ and Love to all Saints are joined together Eph. 1. 17. Col. 1. 4. 2. Yet we do abhominate those unjust aspersions of Babel-confusions cast on these effects of an inquisitive mind desiring to know the mind of the Lord which thou O vain man reproachest though thy conscience would tell thee if thou hadst not silenced it that there are many godly persons in those mentioned wayes who rest not in the form but in obedience to God as they understand exercise themselves therein having also the Power of Godliness 3. But it is observable they meddle not with Popery and Episcopacy c. for indeed these principles make all externals indifferent unlesse that they are more violent against Presbyterians Independents Anabaptists because they stand more in their light neither may Familism speak ill of its native Country and old friends We mean the Romish Antichrist Some indeed say that Pastors Teachers Elders Churches and such administrations ended with the Apostles age and that it is not for us to seek them but a more spiritual way 1. BUt its manifest Apostles were but to plant such as Apollos Timothy Titus c. came to water 1 Cor. 3. 16. Thus doth one enter into anothers labours one layeth the foundation and another buildeth thereupon v. 10. wherefore Paul according to the wisdome given to him ordered that in every Church or City where the Church was there should be Elders whose Place and work it was some to Rule well and some to labour in the Word and Doctrine Act. 14. 27. Tit. 1. 5 7 8 9 10. 2. Also we read of Teachers Ministers Churches Overseers Deacons where the Apostle of the Gentiles was not Col. 1. 7. 2 chap. 1. likewise the Angels of the seven Churches in Asia 2. and 3. of Rev. long settled And the Church in the wildernesse during the Apostacy from Primitive Peace and Purity hath witnesses that feed her 1260. Prophetical dayes or years Rev. 12. 6. 14. 3. But it is above controversie If our Lord hath given gifts to men they must imploy those Talents though they are not so eminent as in the Primitive times being according to the measure of the Gift of Christ and his Grace Eph. 4. 7. Rom. 12. 3 4 5 6. Now that the qualifications of an Overseer Elder Deacon may be found in these our daies is manifest if we consider the 1 Tim. 3. 2. c. Tit. 1. 6. as not conteining any extraordinary Grace That we must not expect them to be sent forth as the Apostles immediatly is manifest for though they are to have an open door in their own hearts Yet they are set down as such 1 That may desire the work 1 Tim. 3. 1. 2. Are called to it by the Saints and Eldership trying and approving them 1 Tim. 4. 14. 5. chap. 22. Titus 1. 5. And 3 such as are instructed for the further fitting them for their work 1 Tim. 4 6. 13 14 15. 2 Tim. 2. 2. likewise such 4 as being qualified in some measure yet through modesty or fear or other respects may be unwilling to feed the flock of God though called thereunto 1 Pet. 5. 1 2. reserving still the honour to the chief shepheard v. 4 and that this is a rule to be continued in the Church is evident 1 Tim. 3. 15. ch. 6. 14. So then though they have not these extraordinary endowments or miraculous operations it s nothing material for the Church and the doctrine needeth it not as at the beginning 2. Also that Timothy Titus and the Angels of the Churches and Elders after the Apostles never did miracles that we read of 3. Miracles also being in the last times signes of

the 2●… comming of the Sonne of Man who is not yet come though these false prophets and false Christs say Lo here As for the Scriptures by them mentioned they make out nothing peculiarly for this age more than they did signify at the time of their writing which far exceeded these times in abundance of teaching which though it was better than ours yet differed not in substance from what is in some measure practised by many godly in the nation But when you see any O ye people when you see any teaching of another Christ or not as the anointing teacheth when you see any denying the new Covenant and speaking to a Brother saying Know the Lord making him a Brother though altogether ignorant of God when you see any drawing people from looking after Gods teaching them to Believe Love do his will Profit and the lively impressions of truth stamped on the Affections as well as Conscience Then speak and spare not to apply those Scriptures Moreover when you see a Shepheard that comes not in at the door of the fold and that feeds not but scatters the flock when you find them that strengthen the hands of the wicked by promising him life in his evil wais and sadding the hearts of the righteous by their lies and false applications and lightnesse and profannesse that stand up in the name of the Lord and he hath not sent them Then if you be full of power by the Spirit of the Lord and of Judgement and of might to declare unto them their transgression go on and prosper but forbear those railing accusations wherwith you load as well the precious as the vile boldly denying That ever one gat good by outward Teachers We should write more fully unto you that fear the Lord if we thought the matter stuck upon those circumstantial allegations which these preaching Anti-preachers make hand-over-head against all that mention the name of God in the publick Assemblies of the Nation Briefly to clear them who are Godly from the pretended guilt of certain Matters For whereas their enemies say They are not Ministers of Christ Because They take wages which the Apostles and Prophets did not And Have their particular houses to preach in Are called Masters Study for their Sermons in which they use Method And Expound which they call adding to the Scriptures Also because they hold the use of Learning in and about Divine things We answer to the first concerning wages 1. It is one thing to take a supply of necessaries yea unto conveniency for ones self and family if you call it wages while they administer to the people spiritual things and another thing to be a hireling though we fear there are many such 2. As for the practise of the Apostles and 70 disciples in the ninth and tenth chapters of Luke we read of their comming in as well as going out in the same chapters They were not to go to the Gentiles but whither Christ himself would come their message required hast two Coats would cumber to salute any by the way might occasion diversion or delay And for their going without money t was to encourage them whom he intended to send into the Nations far off to trust him by an experiment of his Providence in their own nation as you read Luke 22. 36. So that that restraint was taken away they did forbear working went not at their own costs and yet had wherewith to lead about a sister a wife 1 Cor. 9. 4 5 6. in which when they straightned Paul and Barnabas who contended with the false Apostles who boasted of their preaching freely Paul insisted on and by many undeniable Arguments asserted his liberty in the rest of that chapter 3. We know some that own not themselves as Pastors of Parish Churches but gifted Brethren approved and called by the Saints called and countenanced by the Magistrate to instruct his People and for the Maintenance the State allows they know not by any solid reason to deny it but accompt it a mercy if Providence give them all their time for the word and prayer taking care otherwise for their subsistence To the second Allegation concerning Particular Houses which they say Apostles and Prophets had not We answer 1. Apostles were itinerant preachers or travelling Messengers of Christ for the planting of Churches Prophets were transient or for some particular service and so neither Apostles nor Prophets needed any constant meeting-places to which they were bound but the ordinary and settled Ministery of the old and new Testament had constant meeting-places as t will appear to him that readeth so far as persecution in the Apostles time allowed 2. It is used by some but as the place which is most convenient for the peoples assembling who have liberty and gladly use it to meet with the upright which was in the times of David of distinct consideration Psal. 111. 1. Those great houses being most convenient for great and mixed Assemblies being also pure to him whose conscience is pure To the third exception we answer 1. Should they be called Masters as Christ is Master it were high indignity to the chief Shepheard but they have it but as a civill respect to their publick employment who can and do own the meanest Saint as a Brother and fellowdisciple of Christ Their Pulpits are but convenient stands and for the better hearing of the people as Ezra used Their chief Seats at Feasts is but the respect which the Master of the Feast may give to any Guest whom he judgeth more honourable according to Christs rule of good manners Concerning this point impartially weigh 1 Tim. 5. 17. Heb. 13. 17. Phil. 2. 29. 1 Thess. 5. 13. which speak of the Ministers of the Gospel and Servants of the Churches But them that honour God God will honour To the fourth fifth and sixth objection against them for studying using Method and Exposition We answer 1. Timothy the Evangelist was exhorted to use such means as are here blamed 1 Tim. 4. 15 18. 2 Tim. 2. 15. and chap. 3. 14 15. 2. Salomon the Preacher saith The Words of the Wise even Words of Truth are as nailes and goads when mannaged as himself used Eccles. 12. 9 10 11. He gave good heed sought out and set in order many Parables and because he was wise he still taught the People knowledge For want of these meditation and method men speak in a circle with wearisome repetitions and not like the good housholders variety as Christ exhorts 3. The Scripture is not bare words but sense Philip opened the words of Isaiah to the Eunuch Christ expounded to his Disciples Paul to the Jews at Rome from morning till evening Ezra read the Law distinctly and gave the sense There is also in the Church a word by interpretation and how is this adding to the Testimony of the Scriptures their fancies because they expound while their expositions agree with the sense of the words and the