Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	epistle_n	paul_n	timothy_n	2,910	5	10.4803	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10250	Propositions and principles of diuinitie propounded and disputed in the vniuersitie of Geneua, by certaine students of diuinitie there, vnder M. Theod. Beza, and M. Anthonie Faius ... Wherein is contained a methodicall summarie, or epitome of the common places of diuinitie. Translated out of Latine into English, to the end that the causes, both of the present dangers of that Church, and also of the troubles of those that are hardlie dealt vvith els-vvhere, may appeare in the English tongue.; Theses theologicae. English	Bèze, Théodore de, 1519-1605.; La Faye, Antoine de, 1540-1615. aut; Penry, John, 1559-1593.	1591 (1591)	STC 2053; ESTC S101754	189,778	296

the word committed vnto them and sometimes they do declare dictinct and peculiar functions in which sense we take them in the treatise following 7 Of these fiue the three first were temporarie hauing also euery one of them a distinct Ministerie and they were peculiarlie called Apostles Euangelistes and Prophets as being appointed for the planting of the Church throughout the worlde by the publishing of the newe couenant The other two callinges were perpetuallie to remaine vnto the last comming of Christ 8 The chiefe and most excellent of all these were the twelue Apostles vnto whose number PAVLE was afterward called as it were the embassadors of God who were elected and admitted neither of men neither by men but of Christ immediatlie that all of them being of equall authoritie amongst themselues should become the Maister-workman of the building whereabout they were to be imployed beeing strictlie tied vnto no certaine congregation 9 They therefore as they were lead by the inspiration of the holie Ghost or by some peculiar commaundement of God traueling thorow many countries preached the grace of Christ euerie where vnto all men the which they both confirmed with miracles and sealed by the administration of the Sacraments They also committed the churches which they had planted to be gouerned by their Pastors and Doctors as time and place would permit this office being faithfullie performed by them and they being called out of this life the Apostolicall calling also ceased 10 Hence it appeareth how vaine and detestable in all godlie eares is that voice of the Romishe Prelate who is not affraid to professe himselfe an Apostle by vertue of his tyrannicall succession and is not ashamed vnder the fayned pretence of PETERS Primacie to call himselfe chief or Prince of the Apostles amongst whome there was none either greater or lesser then other and euen the heade of the whole Church 11 It is out of controuersie that all those were called Prophetes who by the inspiration of Gods Spirit forsawe and fore-told things to come whose calling before the comming of Christ was when the Priests grew negligent to direct the faith of the Saints vnto the promised saluation and also both to raise vp the godlie to beat down the disobedient by their diuine reuelations So also at the beginning of the preaching of the Gospell they were called Prophets who were indued with a peculiar gift of reuelation or diuine wisdome wherwith God would at that time adorne his Church of this sort was AGABVS the foure daughters of PHILIP the Euangelist mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles and others vndoubtedlie not a few 12 Sometimes notwithstanding the woorde PROPHET and Prophesying in the Scriptures are taken in a manifold sense and signifie all those in generall who execute the function of the Pastor For in this sense the Apostle saith He that prophesieth aedifieth the Church exhorteth comforteth reproueth the contrarie doctrine 13 Vnder the name EVANGELISTS are vnderstood those whome the Apostles vsed as their companions and fellow labourers because they themselues were not sufficientlie able to performe euerie work in all the Churches of this sort was TIMOTHIE and TITVS SILVANVS and others 14 Now their office was to performe the worke begun or otherwise committed vnto them by the Apostles as it is manifest especiallie out of the Epistles of PAVLE to TIMOTHY and TITVS whose calling was also temporarie Those foure in like sort are called Euangelists in a more strict signification whose seruice the Lord vsed for the writing of the storie of the Gospell and describing the beginning of the Christian Church 15 There remaine two callings belonging to the Ministerie of the word to wit Pastors and Doctors who are distinguished from the former in a three-fold respect first in that they are not immediatlie but haue bene euer since the time of the Apostles ordained by the ministery of men according vnto that forme whereof wee shall speake Secondlie in that they are tied vnto a certain congregation lastlie because the Lord hath ordained both these functions to be perpetuall in the Church 16 The proper the peculiar function of the Doctor is to teach the doctrine of true Religion by the faithfull interpreting of the Scriptures to defend the same against the gainsayers and to gouerne the Ecclesiasticall schooles 17 Nowe the Ministerie of Pastors as of the Priest in times past consisteth in three points First not onlie in the simple laying open of the propheticall and appostolicall doctrine which wee sayd to bee the office of the Doctors but also both in the priuate and publick aplication therof by sinceare and diligent teaching reproouing correcting and instructing Next in the administration of the Sacraments which are come in place of the legall rites brieflie in conceauing publick prayers which is not the lest part of the Ecclesiasticall ministerie 18 The administration of the worde also is committed vnto the Elders peculiarlie soe called whome Paul doeth especially expresse by the name of gouerners but not simply to that end for the which it is committed vnto the Pastors and doctors For they doe not administer the worde either publicklie vnto the whole congregation or priuatlie vnto some but haue authoritie to administer the ecclesiasticall censures together with the Pastors by reprouing rebuking and binding if necessitie so require those who by due tryal are found to walk inordinatly in the Church being such as cannot be otherwise amended which is don not that sinners should perish but contrariwise that being humbled at least by shame they may returne into the right way 19 These together with the Pastors though distinguished by their function as wee said are some times called by a generall and common name of Bishoppes overseers rulers and that in respect of the flocke which they are to rule and gouerne 20 DEACONS peculiarlie so called are those who haue the charge both of the receauing and also of the orderlie distribution of the almes and the administration of the rest of the Church-goods and the applying of them to the necessitie of the poore other holie vses amongst which number in times past were reckoned the companie of widdowes beeing appointed especiallie for the manifold necessities of the poore 21 Nowe it is vnlawfull for anie man to intermeddle with these holie functions except he be rightlie called a lawfull calling is that whereby according to the order instituted by Christ anie man of whose life and doctrine there hath bene a diligent and a precise examination had is by the Church whereunto he is appointed the name of God beeing in all singlenesse and sinceritie called vpon chosen as it were by the voice of the holie Ghost speaking in the mouth of the Church 22 In these kindes of elections whether they be done at once in the same tenour time and place which vse being at the first in a holie sort practised in the Church was afterwarde made dangerous by couetousnesse and ambition or in diuers actions times and places it