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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	bishop_n	ordination_n	presbyter_n	9,874	5	10.5221	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77901	Poimēnopurgos. Pastorum propugnaculum. Or, The pulpits patronage against the force of un-ordained usurpation, and invasion. By Thomas Ball, sometimes Fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, now minister of the Gospel in Northampton, at the request, and by the advice, of very many of his neighbour-ministers.	Ball, Thomas, 1589 or 90-1659.	1656 (1656)	Wing B584; Thomason E863_10; ESTC R206670	204,465	356

have an hand in Ordination we have shewed before at lage when we shewed what we did not mean by Ordination whither the Reader may repair for satisfaction in it (w) Part 2. Chapter 3. for in our opinion they have no essentiall influence though they may and should be present and assistant at it as we have shewed so that the question and contention is between the Prelates and the Presbyters if these could be agreed the work were done and it were easie to be assured where Ordination might be had 2. We shall with all our hearts compound this controversie and never let it go unto the Jury for if the Bishops will grant as very many of them do that Presbyters in some cases may Ordain we shall grant that Bishops in all cases may but one and that is when a Bishop never was a Presbyter as in Italy it often falls out but if the Priest remember that he was a Clerk the Prelate that he was a Presbyter we shall be ready to kisse those hands that were sometimes laid upon our heads or on our Brethrens for though we think that gradus non variat speciem those honours and embellishments amount not to another order or degree of Ministers yet we do not think them fatal and annihilating of that power of Presbytery they had before if any body therefore doubt whether unpreferred Presbyters have power to Ordain let him go with all our hearts to those Presbyters whom Kings or other Potentates delight to honor accommodate with gayer trappings and endowments (x) Ephes 6. 6. When Benhadad sent unto the Prophet a present namely fourty Camels loaden with every good thing of Damascus as it s said (x) 2 Kings 8. 7 8 9 10. we do not find the Prophet refusing of it and chiding him for laying such an heavy Obligation on him for sure he was that if it were too much there were enough that would assist him in the bearing of it they say religio peperit divitias sed filia devoravit matrem that greatnesse was goodnesse Child but growing wanton kickt against her Dam that the honours and advancements of the Ministers and Church-men in former times opprest them and made them either dull and phlegmatick unto their duty or rampant and untractable unto their fellow Presbyters but now there is a way found out to ease them and let them blood in case of restiveness there is a Law made (y) Deut. 22. 4. Exod. 23. 5. that if one finds the Ass of him that hates him lying under his burthen he should not fail to help him up but we are perswaded that if it had been one of those-fourty Camells that were carrying of the good things of Damascus unto the Prophet there would have been no need of any such Law the world is now become so kind and civil that there is little fear of any such oppression if a Church-man be overwhelmed and lye under a load of riches and revenue he will be quickly eased 3. Although the Presbyters in this and other reformed Churches did believe hold the Bishops Ordination lawful and for peace and order sake were content to take it from them when it might be had yet they always thought they did it not by vertue of any superior order or distinguishing degree they had which Presbyters had not but as Presbyters designed in that part of the Office to have precedency and be alwayes of the quorum and accountable for any errours committed in it and knew very well that they were not omitted or declined for want of any power or inability to Ordain because they are commanded in the rules of Ordination so to minister the Doctrine and Sacraments and Discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded one part whereof they knew to have been Ordination (z) 2 Tim. 2. 2. and howsoever the Bishops hands were alwayes on the parties head to be Ordained yet the other Presbyters there present were not excluded but laid their hands on also as well as he and though in Ordination they do not say Ordain Ministers yet that 's implyed as we have shewed before for it is not expresly said in the Ordination of a Bishop as appears in the Book Object 4. If none but Presbyters that preach have power to Ordain there will be packing that is none shall be ordered and admitted into Office by them unless they be of Presbyterian principals addicted totally unto that party for they will fift and winnow them as the Devil would have done the Apostles (a) Luk. 22. ●1 that whatsoever is in them shal be discovered if it be not purely putely Presbyteriall they will be shifted off by some device as in the Prelaters dayes their Chaplains had certain private marks to know a Puritan which if discovered in the Party to be Ordained there was no hope of his Admission they had some Shibboleth or other whereby they gathered quarum partium he was of and if he faultred in the answer he was as polluted put from the Priesthood as they were (b) Neh. 7. 64. and it s no new thing but descends unto them from the Scribes and Pharisees that Colledge of Presbyters that we read of that sat in Councill against our Saviour Christ (c) Luk. 22. 66. where none were suffered to be present but those that were engaged perfectly and of their gang nati natorum qui nascuntur ab illis (d) Acts 4. 5 6. Joh. 11. 47 48. And it came to passe on the morrow that their Rulers and Elders and Scribes and Annas the High Priest and Caiphas and John and Alexander and as many as were of the Kindred of the High Priest were gathered together at Jerusalem here was a pack indeed and accordingly the act was ordered a Vote passeth that they should preach no more (e) Act. 4. 18. and so in after times the Presbyters and Popes of Rome gave Holy Orders unto none but those that were engaged throughly unto their way and would preach any thing that was proposed to them by the Conclave and Colledge of Presbyters that sat at Rome as now they do and have a Meeting weekly de propagando fide whereby those monsterous Heresies of Purgatory praying for the Dead Masses Monasteries worshipping of Saints Transubstantiation Supererogation Penances and Pilgrimages and the like were hatched and communicated to the world these got and mingled that Cup of Fornication and then send it to their Mercenary Chaplins to be divided among the Nations as it is (f) Rev. 17. 2. and if it happened that God at any time revealed any thing to any body that was eccentrick unto this Design as he did to Berengarius Waldus and others in the world these Hornets presently so stung and wounded them that they were forced either to abjure or quit their Stations Now seeing God by a mighty hand hath freed us from this vermin should we again make nests for them to breed in and

frequently and more affectionately (w) Phil. 2. 22. ye know the proof of him that as a Son with the Father so he hath served with me in the Gospel so when he was resolved to intrust Titus with Ordination (x) Titus 1. 5. he doth in the verse before bestow a Son-ship on him (y) Verse 4. to Titus mine own Son after the common faith he gives this power unto none but unto Sons that should be bound to carry on Gods Interest and Design Seeing therefore partiality will cleave unto Authority be sure the Authority be fixed where it should be seeing every entity and being in the world is apt for to augment and magnifie it self according to that saying of the Philosopher 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what one hath he labours for to heap its good to follow God and hope the best of things Object 5. If Ordination thus descends from Presbyter to Presbyter from one to one in a succession line and uninterrupted course we see not how the Popes of Rome can be declined and excluded for they are Presbyters what Peter was they say they are for claim to be his Followers and Successors and though some have been Cardinals that never were Presbyters or Priests yet certain it is there never was a Pope that was not first a Priest or Presbyter (z) 1 Pet. 5. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Presbyters which are among you I exhort who am also a Presbyter or Elder not only a single and simple Presbyter but a Presbyter in composition or combination and if it once be in the Pope it must come from him for he for many years hath looked on himself as the root and fountain of all Ecclesiasticall and Spirituall power and to be sure there were no Presbyters for many ages and successions in the Church but what received Ordination from his Authority and Influence and if the persons Ordained be the Sons of those that do Ordain as hath been said then our Presbyters at this day must be Popes Sons for indeed Papa is but Father in other words only used because of the affinity it hath with other Forreign Languages so that the Pope must needs bee not God-Father but Father to all the Presbyters that are now and forasmuch as in the judgement and opinion of all our Presbyters to be sure of those that be of the Province of London the Pope is Antichrist we see not how his Sons and Children can be freed from being Antichristian for if they go about for to evade by shifting and distinctions they will be found to be as arrant Sons as formerly only more dis-ingenuous and disobedient to their Parents they should be honester in our opinions if they would do as one in this Nation who chose rather to be accounted as he was indeed a Noble mans Bastard than an ordinary mans Son as otherwise he might have been Sol. 1. The Popes of Rome are not the first nor only Antichrists for there were such in the Church when Rome was Orthodox and farre enough from being Antichristian for the mystery of iniquity began to work in Pauls time as he sayes (a) 2 Thes 2. 7. and some began to love preheminence in Saint John's time (b) John 3. 9. which is the great peece of Antichristianism that is objected to the Pope nay so modest were the Popes of Rome that they contended not for the Title of Vniversall Bishop untill John Bishop of Constantinople went about to snatch it from them and affix it unto that Seat about the year of our Lord five hundred ninety five Now when they saw it would be gone they put in for it and prevailed and for that other part of Antichrist which is to be Heterodox about the Nature and Offices of Christ according as Saint John determined it (c) Joh. 2. 22. there were many of that spirit and perswasion in the Church before John the Apostle wrote his Epistle (d) 1 John 1. 18. 1 John 4. 3. and Arrianism and Photinianism that flatly and plainly denied Christs Divinity were almost every where before they were at Rome for it is well known that Rome was Orthodox cum ingemuerat orbis miratus erat se factum esse Arrianum when the whole World groaned under that opinion now shall we account those Antichristian that have received Ordination from the Successors of those Arrian and Photinian Bishops if so then all the Eastern Churches ever since were and still are Antichristian then those good Bishops that made up the four first O●cumenical or Generall Councills must be Antichristian for Ordination came to them in this respect from Antichrists 2. God is the Father of all Beleevers as wee are taught (e) Matth. 6. 9. yea we are bidden to own no other Father (f) Mat. 23. 9. call no man Father upon earth for one is your Father which is in Heaven this is the Originall and root of all the Church as the Apostle plainly shews (g) Eph. 3. 14 15. and sure we are that he was long before the Pope of Rome and if we be examined further and looked on as we are Presbyters yet here we are more ancient than the Pope for not only did God set Teachers in the Church (h) 1 Cor. 12. 22. but when Christ ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men that is hee gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers (i) Ephes 4. 8. 11. There were therefore Pastors and Teachers in the Church before the Bishops of Rome were called Popes or pretended unto that Universality of Jurisdiction or Ambition of being above all that justly brought upon him the suspition of being the Antichrist or Man of Sin signified by the Apostle in that signall place (k) 2 Thes 2. 4. yea not onely in other parts of the World but also here in England Pastors and Teachers were established before the Popes of Rome had any interest or anthority among us three Bishops sent from hence unto the Synod of Arles when Constantine the Great was Governour and Ruler here before he was made Emperour the whole Synod with the names of the Bishops sent from hence may be seen at large in the First Volumn of Sir Henry Spelman's Councills its true that this Land was much afflicted partly by the venom of the Arrian and Pelagian Heresies partly by the barbarous cruelty of the Northern Nations that were Pagan-Idolaters for the recovery and relief of whom Gregory the Bishop not yet Pope of Rome sent over Austin and other Ministers not to plant the Faith and Gospell which was done long before but to reclaim and reconcile the jarring parties that were found among the Britaines that were forced into Wales for their security and partly to work upon the Saxon Kings that then were little better than Pagans for Austin found in those parts both Bishops and Presbyters that told him of his pride and

bear the frowns and favours that would otherwise be able to bias him and bend him from his duty 4. They must be Officers propagation doth suppose similitnde nam partus sequitur ventrem do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles (m) Mat. 7. 16. It s possible a Propagator may fall short and act below his sphear but never above a mountain may bring forth a mouse but a mouse never yet brought forth a mountain and it s most true in this particular of generation propagation that nihil dat quod non habet we cannot propagate and give what we never had an Officer therefore he must needs be that makes an Officer Our Bretheren of London have observed out of Jewish Writers that the Jewish Sanedrim or Counsell of seventy was perpetuated and continued from age to age by Ordination or laying on of hands and it is the less marvel because great care was taken at the first in the choise of those that were designed to it for God expresly commandeth Moses that he should chuse none but such as he knew to be the Elders of the people and Officers over them (n) Num. 11. 16. and wheresoever in the Gospel this is mentioned it s always spoken unto Officers as unto Timothy Lay hands on no man suddenly (o) 1 Tim 5. 22. so unto Titus For this cause left I thee at Creet that thou mightest set in order the things that are w●nting and ordain Elders in every City (p) Tim 1. 5. for seeing its a propagation or preservation of the kind as soon ●ay a Jack-a-napes or a Monkey preserve and propagate Mankind as these now Officers the Pastors and Teachers in the Church 5. Head-Officers Paul was a Head-Officer (q) 1 Cor. 9. 1 5. yet hath an hand in Timothies Ordination as we have shewed be ore the lowest that we read of were Pr●phets and Teachers in the Church at Antioch (r) Act. 13. 1. in that Presbytery that Paul speaks of (s) 1 Tim. 4. 14 its very like there were Apostles for Peter none of the meanest thinks not himself too good to be a Presbyter the Elders which are among you I exhort who am also an Elder that is a Presbyter (t) 1 Pet. 5. 1. and it is no wonder that the highest did attend it for it is the h●ghest work a consecrating or devoting one unto the highest honor and imployment in the Church the matching and espousing one to Jesus Christ the putting of ones hand unto the Plow from which he never must look back again (u) Luk. 9. 62. that there are orders and degrees of Officers appears because the well-using of the Office of a Deacon was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a good degree or step unto another place as the Apostle speaks (w) 1 Tim. 3. 13. and the Apostles were the first or highest order or degree as appears from that enumeration that is set down (x) 1 Cor. 12. 8. yet they think not themselves too good to ordain the meanest Officer for so the Deacons alwayes were accounted and that in a busy time when they had renounced secular Imployments as below them and confined themselves to Prayer and the Ministry of the word (y) Act. 6. 2 3 4. so Paul and Barnabas were the great Apostles of the Gentiles yet thought it not enough to Preach the Gospell and convert men to the truth but did also carefully ordain them Elders in every Church (z) Act. 14. 23 good people therefore must not think much to leave this unto Preaching Elders that was never practised by any of Gods people either in the Scripture or after ages of the Church and which is really above their sphear even a great deal more than they can mannage or tell how to weld and be content those should perform it that are by God deputed thereunto CHAP. VI. Arguing the equity that Ordination should be still continued in the Church WEE have shewed largely what Ordination is not and what it is we have looked round about it and beheld as well the back parts as the fore parts we have also already offered much for the continuance and fixing of it in the Church yet because we have professed a way of Argument and presumed much upon the strength and goodness of our Cause we are not willing to give out to be any way defective in our last Act inertis est Poetae in extremo a●●u deficere what therefore we have hinted and intimated formerly we are content to argue plainly and adventure unto the shock for we have no ingagement of our own that we know for we preach not our selves but Iesus Christ the Lord (k) 2 Cor. 4 5. may say as he did when the boat-man was afraid Caesarem vehis fortunam Caesaris we cary Christ in these our arguments and sure we are that he cannot miscarry our business therefore is to crave leave to offer these few arguments to equall and unbiased consideration 1. The Church of Christ is not a common field Arg. 1 laid open and exposed unto any body but an inclosure when any soul is turned and converted unto Jesus Christ hee becomes severall is mownded and ditched in with all exactness Christs flocks are not fed in the Common field but in the closes (l) Psal 100. 3. We are thy people and the Sheep of thy Pasture The Pastures are less exposed than the common field are hedgd and ditched in which the field is not yea there was more security and sequestration for there was a fold that had a Dore that was not only shut to some and kept close but had also Porters waiting and attending at it as our Saviour argues (m) Joh 10. 1 2. yet that 's not all for the Church is also compared to a Vinyeard (n) Esa 5. 1 2 Mark 12. 1 2. and that is alwayes strongly fenced yea to a Garden which is not only fenced with Hedge and Ditch as Vineyards use to be but most commonly wall'd in that the eyes of strangers may be kept continent loving doth commonly begin at looking as in the first Garden and so the Church is to be a Garden inclosed o yea the Cant. 4. 12. Church is Gods house and an house is alwaies and ought to be a Castle (p) 1 Tim. 3. 15. that thou maiest know how to behave thy self in the house of God which is the Church of the living God But there are none of these inclosures valid and of use if Ordination be removed if the Dore or entrance be alwayes open who can be kept out and we know not any other Barr or Bolt to fasten and shut it up if these Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven be once removed and taken from the Pastors to whom Christ gave them (q) Mat. 16. 19 all will be common quickly the Bear out of the Wood will root it and the wild Beast out of the field devour it as in

make all Nations their Disciples he laid upon them Discipline as well as Doctrine so we find the converted Nations are called not Followers Professors or Confessors but Disciples (c) Act. 15. 10 that is men interested and engaged in a Discipline or way of serving God that was not common and ordinary to other men 3. He sayes teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you that is to administer the rules and censures that I have left upon record unto you now what else do we conceive and understand by Discipline but an humble carefull wise administration of the rules and censures God hath left unto us in his Holy Word that is an observance of all things which Christ hath commanded to us and if this be punctually and posi●ively imposed and laid upon us in our Grand Commission what need is there of Forein Arguments for to ass●rt it and hence it is that the Apostles every where commend the Churches for remembering and observing the traditions delivered to them (d) 1 Cor. 11. ● 2 Thes 2. 15. cap. 3. 6. which were not matters of Doctrine as the Papists would perswade us but of Discipline as appeares in that place of the Corinthians for hee spends the Chapter in directing their habits and behaviour in their publick meetings seeing therefore Discipline is commanded and enjoyned in ●ts proper place that is in the very words of ou● Commission we see not how it can be shifted or evaded by us Argu. 4. Ministers are compared to and called Shepheards our Saviour saw the people were as Sheep that had no Shepheards (e) Mat. 9. 36. 37. not properly but metaphorically as people are not properly Sheep but as Sheep so Ministers are not properly Shepheards but as Shepheards so the Prophet of Christ himself (f) I●a 40. 11. he shall seed his flock like a Shepheard and gather the Lambs with his arms and carry them in his bosome and shall gently lead those that are with young Now by all these metaphorical expressions are meant teaching and guiding of them as it is in Mark (g) Mar. 6. 34. where it s said he began to teach them many things its true they are called Pastors frequently (h) Jer. 23. 1 2. Jer. 3. 15. but that is but the Latin word made English for what the Prophet calls Pastors in the first and second verses he calls Shepheards in the fourth verse and the Apostle (i) Eph. 4. 11. he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers now Shepheards we know are the guides and rulers of their Sheep for when they feed them they do not put the Grass and Hay into their mouths but lead them and drive them where it is to be had as David sayes (k) Psal 23. 1 2 3 4. he maketh me to ly down in the green Pastures he leadeth me beside the waters of comfort so thy rod and thy staff they comfort me what can be more magisterial than a rod as Paul (l) 1 Cor. 4. 21. Shall I come unto you with a rod or in love and in the Spirit of meeknesse the Crook and the Dog are inseparable companions and attendants of the Shepheard for though it be certain that the Sheep do know and understand their Shepheards voice or whistle as our Saviour speaks (m) John 10. 3 4. yet they will not bee corrected and restrained without his rod or staff what Solomon sayes of our Servants that they will not be corrected by words (n) Pro. 29. 19. is true of Gods Servants who though they hear they will not answer though they understand you will not act accordingly unlesse they bee restrained and compelled to it and therefore the same word doth signifie to feed and rule (o) Matth. 2. 6. and thou Bethelem in the Land of Judah art not the least among the Princes of Iuda for out of thee shall come a Governour that shall rule my people Israel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall rule or shall feed as it is in the margent of our Bibles yea sometimes it signifies to rule and not to feed (p) Rev. 19. 15 he shall rule them with a rod of Iron 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same word but no body will think that Sheep can be fed with Iron wee should think those very strange Sheep that should eat the Iron on the Shepheards Crook Sir Thomas More in his Eutopia saies That the Sheep of England have eaten up whole Towns yet wee do not think that they were Ostritches to eat the Iron in them but the Rod and Iron will restrain and rule them keep them within due bounds and lodge them on their owners Lands it s not for want of feeding and pasturage that we in this Country of Northampton are forced to maintain so many Shepheards but for want of Govenment that they feed not in the grounds of other men or in the severall not open and allowed to them or in moist or mor●sh grounds where they may catch the ●ot and be corrupted it was our Saviours great injunction unto Peter when hee was to leave them and the world (q) John 21. 15 16. 17. that he would feed his sheep and that if he loved him where we may not think that there was nothing meant but teaching and instructing for Peter himself expounds it otherwise (r) 1 Pet. 5. 2. feed the flock of God that is among you take the oversight or guardianship thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 playing the Bishops with them that is ruling and guiding of them correcting reforming when there is need what ever may be thought of other Ministers yet Bishops ever were accounted Governours so Paul when he sends for the Elders of Ephesus unto him (s) Act. 20. 17. bids them take heed unto themselves and unto all the flock over whom the Holy Ghost hath made you Bishops 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood that is to govern them and rule them as Bishops and Visitors do use to do especially if it should be true that a very learned Brother doth affirm that all these Elders were Diocesan-Bishops and came to Ephesus as to the Metropolis or Arch-Bishops Sea to take instructions from the Apostle for the Government of their several and particular Stations and Jurisdictions but some kind of Bishops wee are sure they were and Jurisdiction and Inspection wee are sure they had and it is notorious that the Kings and Emperors among the Heathen were called Shepheards (t) Isa 44. 28. that ●aith of Cyrus he is my Shepheard aad shall perform all my pleasure even saying to Jerusalem thou shalt be built and to the Temple thy foundation shall be laid What a Magnificent and gallant Fellow is Agamemnon by the Poet said to be yet he calls him in the Illiades 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Shepheard or Pastor of the