Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

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

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88653	The tythe-takers cart overthrown or, The downfall of tythes. Proved that they are not to be payd now, either to the appropriate or impropriate parsons or persons. Pen'd for the general satisfaction and easement of all the people of England. By D. Lupton, servant of Christ Jesus in the work of the Gospel.	Lupton, Donald, d. 1676.	1652 (1652)	Wing L3495; Thomason E1380_3; ESTC R209388	17,631	52

honor unto himself says the Apostle Heb. 5.4 If the second then by whom If only from other men and corrupt too then as our Saviour speaks it how can ye believe who receive honour one of another Joh. 5.44 If from Christ and his blessed Spirit of Truth and the Apostles they themselves plead not their Visible Succession of Presbytery or Ordination of Ministers so high as from the two first but from the Apostles times by the Imposition of hands of the Presbytery from Paul and Titus and other Disciples they hold out and make the World believe their perpetuated Visibility and Ordination of Ministers made from time to time and so even to this time by one another And by this Rule their Ordination came in corrupted times and by corrupted persons into the hands of the Popes of Rome which Gangrene spread it self by the Popes policy into all Kingdoms for the Kingdoms of the World have been made drunk with her fornications and so the Popes Doctrine and Discipline advanc'd it self into our Nation and so our Archbishops and Bishops and other Ministers had Ordination by the Popes Power and Keys and these from them Behold we pray you all good people of England the Claim and Title our pretending Presbyters lay hold on to prove themselves lawful Ministers of Christ and so cry out that Tythes all Tythes are due to them as such Ministers and Presbyters Now that their Claim to Tythes may be of no force or virtue we shall lay down some Conclusions against their Calling which being found true and undeniable they cannot have the face to lay claim any longer or to take and rake that which is not their own 1. First Therefore we say That their Ordination it self by a visible descent and grant from one to another is corrupted and against divine Truth How can a clean thing come out of an unclean or a streight from a crooked A corrupted Fountain cannot send forth pure streams nor a rotten Root sound Branches These Parsons come out of the loyns of the Bishops and they from the Popes Authority these men themselves were the pullers down of the Bishops Power as Antichristian which had they been lawful why rejected if unlawful how can our Presbyters be good who proceed from them And then 2. Secondly Their Ordination of one another as they say from the Apostles times holds up a Visibility of the Ministry and by consequence a Visible Church too which is not only Popish but opposes Christs Spiritual Kingdom My Kingdom is not of this World And we believe the Communion of Saints now Faith says the Apostle is of things not seen Heb. 11.1 He himself is called the King Invisible his Kingdom his Office his Ordinances and People are all Spiritual and Invisible and Godliness it self is called a great Mystery and yet our Presbyters and pretending Ministers will be visible and worldly how can light and darkness agree But 3. Thirdly The Prophets of God were called by God and extraordinarily endowed not with titles only but with gifts and graces and sent immediately Behold I send THEE even THEE to the house of Israel says God unto the Prophet Ezekiel Ezek. 2. And after them the Apostles were all called and then sent by Christ Behold I send you as sheep among Wolves But are our Presbyters thus called or sent or are they sent at all Nay they seek places desire places solicit for Preferments do all they can to procure fat Livings and the best Benefices Do not these run think you and God sends them not Yea they climb by Craft and Ambition and come not in at the door Joh. 10. We may know who they are and to whom they do belong And yet further 4. Fourthly Their works and fruits shew they are not of this flock or fold if they be lawfully sent let them shew forth the works of him that sent them the tree is known by his fruits Can we find in these men though they so much cry up Reformation any true Reformation at all Oh could we but with Lanthorn and Candle find an Humble Presbyterian Minister a merciful One a liberal-minded One a meek One endued with the Spirit of Love and but even Obedience to the Civil Magistrate But alas the Pulpits are filled and the Commonwealth too with ambitious and proud Parsons with covetous and contentious seeking not as the Apostle says you but yours your Goods your Tythes not wearing Christs Motto Hereby ye shall be known to be my Disciples if ye love one another We appeal to all England and further too to their own Consciences if this be not so We may say then and conclude with the Apostle Are ye not carnal Are not these men in their sins And then how can we imagine and conclude these men to be not only Followers but true Teachers of Gods Word also whose Actions are diametrically opposite unto those of Christ 'T is said of him Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world Joh. 1. Is he a Lamb and must these be Lions Did he take away sin and shall these keep it and live in it Oh 't is time to distinguish them they have wore their hoods and vails long enough it 's time to unmask them We proceed on and say 5. Fifthly These Presbyterian Ministers confess so much themselves That there is a twofold Calling to the Ministry one Immediate another Mediate now say they the Prophets and Apostles were indeed called Immediately but they only Mediately what have they then we pray you but what any man might have had for money as well as themselves And what is this their Mediate Calling for more they dare not say in truth they have but an Outward Art as a shadow to a body or as sign to the thing it self nothing worth without the Inward Or have these men the Influences and Assistance of Gods holy Spirit more in them then others Or is it promised or given to them more then to others who have not that outward Calling As for their parts and Arts their seeming gifts and shifts too they are by study and other helps acquired their degrees in Schools humane not divine Now this is no safe Conclusion but rather indeed a meer Delusion to say because such and such are Ministers in Arts in a University and have some knowledg in Hebrew Greek and Latin and have by Friends and Moneys too if not by making Feasts or Banquets for some of the Classical Rabbies that therefore if some of these shall lay hands upon them that therefore they are true Ministers of Christ and from that time forward chiefly if not solely they may set their heart and affections to try all ways possible to enjoy a good Parsonage and then demand and command Tythes as true Orothodox and godly Ministers of Christ Oh falshood Oh these men to be layd in the ballance will be found too light And for all this it may yet be asked them Friend how came