Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	build_v	peter_n	rock_n	30,238	5	9.7701	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85408	Philadelphia: or, XL. queries peaceably and inoffensively propounded for the discovery of truth in this question, or case of conscience; whether persons baptized (as themselves call baptism) after a profession of faith, may, or may not, lawfully, and with good conscience, hold communion with such churches, who judg themselves truly baptized, though in infancy, and before such a profession? Together with some few brief touches about infant, and after-baptism. By J.G. a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ.	Goodwin, John, 1594?-1665.	1653 (1653)	Wing G1189; Thomason E702_7; ESTC R207109	25,228	32

and apart without suffering any inconvenience by that which is vile is it a point of wisdom in them to deprive themselves of the enjoyment of what is precious because there is somewhat which they suppose to be vile near to it XI Whether may persons who are weak in the Faith be rejected by a Church from communion with them in case they desire it only because they question or dissent from the sence of the generality of this Church in some one point of doubtful disputation Or is not the practice of a man who pretends to be strong in the Faith in renouncing communion with a Church or which is the same in rejecting a Church from his communion which he judgeth weak in the Faith only because they more generally dissent from him in a matter of doubtful disputation a practice much more unchristian and unwarrantable then the former Or is not the practice especially the necessity of dipping after Infant-ablution or Infant-Baptism a matter of doubtful disputation unless haply by matters of doubtful disputation we mean not whatsoever is questioned opposed or denyed by any man or any sort of men being asserted and held by others but only such things which are controverted and disputed with good probability on either side by men of gravity worth soberness of judgment throughly versed and expert in the Scriptures c. And whether in this sence or notion of matters of doubtful disputation is the necessity of the said practice of after-Baptism so much as matter of doubtful disputation the generality of Christians so qualified as hath been expressed unanimously agreeing in the non-necessity yea and which is somewhat more in the irregularity of it XII Whether did the Lord Christ pointing to any river or water say Vpon this water will I build my Church Or did he not speaking either of himself or of that great Truth viz. that He was the Son of the living God which Peter had confessed say Vpon this Rock will I build my Church a Or is there the softest whisper or gentlest breathing in the Scripture of any such notion or opinion as this that a true Church of Christ cannot be constituted or made no not of the truest and soundest Believers in the world unless they have been baptized after their believing how or after what manner soever they have been baptized before XIII Whether is an error or mistake about the adequate or appropriate subject of Baptism of any worse consequence or greater danger then an error or mistake about Melchisedec's Father as viz. in case a man should suppose him to have been Noah which he must be in case Melchisedec were the same Person with Sem when as he was some other man If so how or wherein doth the excess of the danger or evil of the consequence appear If not whether is it Christian or any ways becoming the Spirit of the Gospel to abandon communion with such Churches which being interpreted is to proclaim them polluted hated and abhorred by Christ only because a man supposeth them to lie under the guilt of such an error or mistake XIV Whether may not the importune contest or question about the appropriate subject of Baptism as it is stated by the Brethren of New Baptism in opposition to the judgment and practice almost of the whole Christian World justly be numbered amongst those questions which the Apostle calls foolish and unlearned and adviseth both Timothy and Titus to avoyd as being questions which ingender strife a and are unprofitable and vain b considering 1. That the experience of many years in the Reformed Churches abroad and of some years amongst our selves at home hath abundantly taught and informed us that the said question hath yielded little other fruit unto those that have set their hearts to it yea and unto others also but contention strife emulations evil surmizings distractions confusions alienations of mind and affections amongst Christian Brethren evil speakings vilifyings revilings needless and wastful expence of time loss of many precious opportunities for matters of greatest consequence unprofitable disturbings and turmoylings of weak Consciences shatterings scatterings rendings and teerings of such Churches and Christian Societies who till this root of bitterness sprang up amongst them walked in love and with the light of Gods countenance shining on them holding the unity of the Spirit in the band of peace edifying one another in their most holy Faith c. 2. That the said Question in the nature and direct tendency of it leadeth unto very little that is considerable or of much consequence for Christians to know and that what is brought to light of moment and consequence by occasion of the ventilation of it is nothing but what might arrive at the knowledg of Christians in a more peaceable and less troublesom way And 3. and lastly That those who are most confident that they have found the treasure of Truth which the Question we speak of seeketh after are no ways as far as any ways appeareth or can be discerned spiritually enriched by it but rather impoverished at least the generality of them losing by degrees that Christian sweetness meekness humility love patience soberness of mind fruitfulness of conversation c. which were observable in them before as if their new Baptism had been into a new or another Jesus altogether unlike unto him whom Paul preached XV Whether is any Member of a Christian Church or Society at any more liberty or under any greater necessity to excommunicate cut off or separate this Church or all the members of it from his communion only upon his private conceit or perswasion suppose according to truth that they walk not in all things according to Gospel-rule then this Church is to excommunicate him upon a true and certain perswasion that he walketh not in every thing according to the rule of the Gospel Or if Churches either be at liberty or under an obligation by way of duty to excommunicate every of their members respectively because they judg them not to walk in all things according to the Gospel are they not at liberty or bound in duty and conscience thus to cast out all their members one after another considering that not in some things only but even in many things as the Apostle James speaketh we offend all Or hath any single member of a Church any more liberty or authority to adjudg and determine without the Scriptures upon what grounds or occasions his departure from a Church is justifiable then a Church hath to make Laws and Constitutions of her own for the ejecting of her members Or is it anywhere a case adjudged in the Scriptures that if a Church in any part of the world suppose under the frozen Zone shall not practice dipping after sprinkling or other washing in the Name of Jesus Christ every member thereof stands bound in conscience yea or is so much as at liberty to reverse or disoblige himself from his solemn and sacred engagements to it XVI