Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	day_n	lord_n	week_n	9,333	5	9.8928	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34539	The nonconformist's plea for lay-communion with the Church of England together with a modest defence of ministerial nonconformity, and the exercise of their ministry / by Mr. John Corbet ...	Corbet, John, 1620-1680.	1683 (1683)	Wing C6259; ESTC R2132	20,263	32

and this Realm received the same according to the commandments of God And that they might the better understand what the Lord hath commanded therein this Church did appoint also that at the ordering of Priests there be read for the Epistle that portion of Acts 20. which relates St. Paul's sending to Ephesus and calling for the Elders of the Congregation with his exhortation to them to take heed to themselves and to all the flock among whom the Holy Ghost hath made them Overseers to rule the congregation of God Or else 1 Tim. 3 which sets forth the Office and due qualifications of a Bishop These portions of Scripture this Church appointed to be read to the Presbyters as belonging to their Office and to instruct them in the nature of it And afterwards the Bishop speaks to them that are to receive the office of Priesthood in this form of words You have heard brethren as well in your private examination as in the exhortation and the holy lessons taken out of the Gospel and the Writings of the Apostles of what dignity and of how great importance this Office is whereunto ye are called That is to say the Messengers the Watchmen the Pastors and Stewards of the Lord to teach to premonish to seed to provide for the Lords Family I acknowledg that the passages here alledged are taken out of the old Book of Ordination that was established in this Church till the late alterations made Anno 1662. if those alterations signifie another meaning about the several Holy Orders than what was signified in the old Book then the sense of the Church of England in these times differs from the sense of the same Church in all times preceding the said Alterations but if they signifie no other meaning than what was signified in the old Book my citations are of force to shew what is the sense of this Church as well of the present as of the former times about this matter Here I must take notice that in opposition to part of what hath been alledged it was asserted That that part of 1 Tim. 3. which contains the office and qualification of a Bishop was read at the Ordination of Presbyters not because it belonged to their Office but because it was joyned with that which follows touching the office of a Deacon then likewise read as properly concerning the office of a Presbyter pretended to be no other than the Deacon there mentioned To this I answer If the Presbyter in the Church of England be indeed no other than the Deacon spoken of 1 Tim. 3. it see●● strange that this Church yea and the Universal Church should so miscall an Officer as to give him a name viz. Presbyter which the Scripture always appropriates to another Officer as is pretended and to neglect the Scripture name of this Office viz. Deacon It is strange that an Officer said to be no other than the Deacon there spoken of should have the power of the keys the same form of Ordination which Christ used towards his Apostles If it were so it is likewise strange that the qualifications of the said Deacon should be appointed to be read at the Ordination of a Presbyter as properly belonging to him and also at the Ordination of a Deacon inferior to a Presbyter as properly belonging to him the former part of the Chapter touching a Bishop being omitted Besides all this the new Book of Ordination puts the matter out of doubt and evidently refutes the aforesaid evasion For in it the latter part of 1 Tim. 3. beginning at verse 8. touching the Office of Deacon is appointed to be read at the ordering of Deacons and the same is not appointed to be read at the ordering of Priests but another portion of Scripture viz. Eph 4. 7 c. Furthermore if the Deacon mentioned in Timothy be no other than the subject Presbyter I would know in what place of Scripture the Deacon of the Church of England inferior to a Presbyter is set forth And be it noted that the Deacon of this Church is not so much the Deacon of Tables as of the Word and therefore a Presbyter must needs be degraded in being made no more than a Deacon of the Word Hitherto I have insisted on the nature of my Office and have proved it to be the Office of a Pastor Now I proceed to prove That in my present state I am bound to fulfil it Being dedicated to this Ministry I stand under a perpetual obligation to fulfil it according to my ability and opportunity and as the necessity of souls requireth of me And whatsoever some think the thing is most evident That the souls of men cry aloud for all the help that can possibly be given them by those whom Christ hath qualified and called to the work of the Ministry wheth●r Conformists or Nonconformists This apprehension reflects no dishonour upon conscientious Conforming Ministers for whose ability and industry I bless God But the number of them is not so proportionable to the people of this Land as to make the labours of those that are cast out to be needless The harvest is great and the labourers are too few As for this City in which are six Parishes within the Gates besides two in the Suburbs I leave it to the consideration of those that know the state thereof whether there be sufficient care taken for the preaching of the Gospel when as there is no setled preaching on the Lords days or week days in any of the Parish Churches The Parish in which I dwell hath for many years had no Minister at all and the two Parishes without the Gates for many years have had neither Ministers nor Churches in one of which is the house that was licensed by his Majesty for our meeting The only setled preaching is at the Cathedral performed sometimes by the Superior Clergy but mostly by a greater number of others in their courses who generally living at a distance cannot be so well known to the people as their appointed Teachers ought to be and let them that know the place of preaching consider and judg whether it can contain the inhabitants if all should repair thither I pass not to be despised or judged by them who make slight work of the cure of Souls for whom Christ hath given himself a ransom Certainly they are more precious than to be exposed to perish for lack of sufficient instruction and exhortation rather than preachers authorized by Christ if silenced by men when not disobedient to any ordinance prescribed by his word should speak to them that they might be saved The necessary means of saving souls such as is the due publick preaching of the Gospel together with personal instruction is incomparably more valuable than the maintaining of uniformity in little opinions and ceremonies and other accidental forms and orders § 2. That I am not obliged either by the Nature of my Office or by any Oath or Promise or by being under the