Selected quad for the lemma: church_n
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A17037
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A true and short declaration both of the gathering and ioyning together of certaine persons, and also of the lamentable breach and division which fell amongst them.
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Browne, Robert, ca. 1550-1633.
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1583
(1583)
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STC 3910.5; ESTC S1834
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31,414
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25
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A TRVE AND SHORT DECLARATION BOTH OF THE GATHERING AND IOYNING TOGETHER OF CERTAINE PERSONS AND ALSO OF THE LAMENTABLE BREACH AND DIVISION WHICH FELL AMONGST THEM THERE Were certaine persons in England of vvhich some vvere brought vp in schooles in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge some in families houshouldes as is the manner of that coâ—ntrie Some of these vvhich had liued studied in Cambrige vvere there knovvne counted forvvard in religion others also both there in the contrie vvere more carefull zelous then their frovvard enimies could suffer They in Cambrige vvere scattered from thense soâ—e to one traâ—e of life some to an other as Robert Broune Robert Harrison William Harrison Philip Broune Robert Barker Some of of these applied theÌ„ selues to teach schollers to the vvhâ—ch labour R. Broune also gaue hiâ— selfe for the space of three yeares He hauiâ—g a special care to teach religion vvith other learning did thereby keepe his schâ—llers in such 〈◊〉 good order as all the TounsemeÌ„ vvhere he taught gaue him vvitnes Yet the vvorld being so corrupt as it is the times so perilous he greatly misliked the vvantes defaultes vvhich he savve euerie vvhere marcked plaiÌ„ly that vvithout redâ—esse nether the parentes could long reioise in their children nor the children profit so much â—n religion as that their other studies learning might be blessed thereby Hereuppon he fell into great care vvas soare greened vvhile he long considered mâ—nie thinges amisse the cause of all to be the vvofull and lameÌ„table state off the church Wherefore he laboured much to knovve his duetie in such thiÌ„ges because the church of God is his kingdom his name especially is thereby magnâ—fied he vvholy bent him selfe to searh find out the matters of the church as hovv it vvas to be guided ordered vvhat abuses there vvere in the ecclesiastical gouernment then vsed These thinges he had long before debated in him selfe vvith others suffered also some trouble about theÌ„ at CaÌ„brige yet novve on fresh he set his mind on these thinges night day did consult vvith him selfe others about theÌ„ least he should be ignorant or mistake anie off those matters What so euer thinges he ffâ—und bâ—longing to the church to his calling as a meÌ„ber off the â—hurch he did put it in pâ—â—ctis For euâ—n lâ—tle children are off the church kingdom off God yea off such saith Christ doth his kingdom consist therefore both in his schole he laboured that the kingdom off God might appeare also in those of the tovvne vvith vvhom he kept companie So by vvord practisse he tried out all thigs that he might be staied both in iudgmeÌ„t couÌ„sell also in enterprising matters as his duetie should lead him But this his dealrÌ„g got hiÌ„ much enuie of the preacher soÌ„e others vvhere he taught much trouble also vvheÌ„ he broke â—is miÌ„d more plainlie vnto theÌ„ PreseÌ„tlie aâ—ter this he vvas dischargeed of his schole by the grudge of his enimies Yet he taught still vvith great good Vvill fauour of the TounsemeÌ„ till such time as the plâ—gue increased in the Tovvne he vvas seÌ„t for avvai by his freÌ„des Therfore because his schollers thâ—ugh neuer so Vvel plied profited by him vvere notvvithstanding ether flitting avvaie Vpon such occasions or to bastâ—lie sent to the Vniuersitie or because of their misguiding there to some occupations bi thought thâ—â— the fruict of his labour Vvas toe much vncertaine tooke counsell if by soÌ„e better vvaie hâ— might profit the châ—rch Then he gaue vvarning to the Toune departed to come home as his rather vvilled him So might hâ— haue liued vvith his father bâ—ing a maâ— of some countenaunce and haue vvanted noethinge if he hadd beene soe disposed but his care as alvvayes before so then especially being set on the church of God he asked leaue of his father tooke his Iournie to CaÌ„bridge froÌ„ vvheÌ„se a fevv yeares before he had departed He ther had dealiÌ„g vvith M. GreeÌ„haÌ„ of dreitoÌ„ vvhoÌ„e of all others he hard fai vvas moste forvvarde and thought that Vvith him by him he should haue some stai of his care hope of his purpoâ—e Wherefore as those vvhich in ould tyme vvere called the prophetes children of the prophetes liued to gether because of corruptioÌ„s among others so came he vnto him He vvas suffered as others also in his his house to speake of that part of scripture Vvhich vvas vsed to be red after mâ—ales And although he said that vvithout leaue special vvord from the bishop he vvas to sâ—ffâ—r none to teach openlie in his parish yet Vvithout anie such leaue he suffered R. B. Notvvithstanding vvhen R. B. savve that the dishops feet vvere to much sett in euerie place that spiritual infectioÌ„ to much spred eueÌ„ to the best reformed places he tooke that occasioÌ„ vvhâ—â—h the Lord did first geue him for redresse vvhen certaine in Cambrâ—gâ— hâ—d boaâ—h â—oueâ— hiâ— also vvith consent of the Maior Vicechancelar called him to preach among them he delt in this manner He first considered the state of Cambrige hovve the châ—rch of God vvas planted therein For he iudged that the church vvas to call and receaue him if he shâ—uld be there chosen and appointed to preaâ—h Then did he thinck on this vvhoe should be châ—â—fest or haue charge before others to looke to such matters For the bishops take vppon them the chieftie but to be called and aâ—thorised by them he thought it vnlavvefull And vvhy he vvas of this minde he had these and such like vvarrantes namelie thei shoulde be chiefest vvhich partake vnto vs the chiefest grâ—â—es and vse of their callinges And thâ—t doeth Christ as it is vvritten of his fullnes haue all vve reâ—eâ—ued and grace for grace Ioh. 1. 16. And to him hath God made all thinges subiect saâ—eâ—h Paâ—l Ephes 1. 22. eueÌ„ vnder his feet and hath appointed him ouer all thinges to be the head of the church vvhich is his bodie euen the fullnes of him vvhich filleth all in all thinges Novve next vnder Christ is not the bâ—shop of the dioces by vvhoÌ„e so manie mischiefes are vvrought nether anie one vvhich hath but single authoritie but first thei that haue their authoritie together as first the church vvhich Christ also teacheth vvhere he saieth If he vvill not vouchsafe to heare them tell it vnto the church if he refuse to heare the church also let him be vnto the as an heathen maÌ„ a publican Mat 18 17. Therefore is the church called the pillar ground of trueth 1. Tim. 3. 15. the voice of the Vvhole people gâ—ided bie the elders and forvvardâ—st is saied to be the voice of God And that 149. pâ—alme doth shâ—vne this gâ—eat honour Vvhiâ—h is to all the saincts Therefore the meetinges together of manie churches also of euerie Vvhâ—le châ—rch of the
diuided Hovve many non residents are there gredie dâ—uourers off benefices sâ—ipendes other popish liuings Which are vtterly vnlavvefull because thei are bie tythings vvhich are novve no more to be geuen to the ministerie or biâ— lavves customes vvhich hinder the due placing displacing off ministâ—rs the right libertie off the church therein These a thousand mo abominations haue thei amongst theÌ„ confesse tâ—â—m selues that thei can not redresse them So thâ—i hould one communioÌ„ vvith hoggs dogges euâ—n open vngodlie persons haue no remedie Behould do these men preach Christ vvhâ—ch thus do pâ—ruert the ghospel of Christ For this is the sum of the ghospell of Paules preaching as he him selfe vvittnesseth Act. 20. Râ—pentance tovvardes God faieth tovvardes our Lord Iesus Christ This repeÌ„tance fâ—ith is dâ—nied â—o also Christ his ghospel is cast â—nder foote vvhere such greuous corruptions doe raigne nether his gouernment prophecie can ouersee trie out such fâ—lthâ—nes nor make separation of-cleane and vncleanne not yet by his preisthood anie such â—ncleannes can be clensed avvaie Therefor vve say that these men can not preach Christ truelie but onelie in â—hâ—vve nether can build vpon Christ the foundation for it is not for you saied the lords people but for vs to build the house vnto our god for vve our selues together vvill build it vnto the lord god of Israel Therefore not all builders or preachers are to be receaued or reioyced in but such as in deed do hould the foundacion preach Christ aright for the enuie strife vvhereofâ— Paul speaketh vvas seacret or vvhen it appeared yet it could not and vvas not menifestlye proued therefore such preachinge vvas not against the foundacion But if anie doe vvâ—l fullie presumptuouslye stand in anie opeÌ„ synne â—de same can not hould the foundacion for vvhether the sinne be small or great Mat. 18. if it become open be duelie brought be fore the church the offeÌ„der vvill not heare the church let him be vnto the faieth Christ as an heathen man a publican againe it is vvritten that that man vvhich shall doe presumptuouslie against the voice of the highe preist vvhich figured the voice of Christ Iesus at this daye in his chuch that man shall die dut. 17. And Saul kinge of Israel though he saied he had sinned yet beâ—ause he excused it repented not Samuel vvould not returne to him tyll agaieÌ„ he had saied I haue sinned vvithout excuse 1. Sam. 1â— So thâ—t plainelie it appeareth that Samuel Iudged Saul not to hould the foundacion vvhile he openly excused his sinneâ— for else he vvould not hauÌ„ forsaken his fellovvshipp left him to the shame of the people But Semuels vvords before doe plainly deâ—lare that all open sinne vnrepented stoud in is the ouerthrovv of the foundacion for Rebellion is as the sinne of vvitch craft transgres froÌ„ is vvickednes Idolatrie verse 23. if then vvitches Idolaterrs hould not the foundacioÌ„ suerli noe more doe thei vvhich by ane sinne rebâ—ll transgresse against god vvittingliâ— excuse it as did Saule or vvilâ—fullie presumptuâ—â—â—lâ—e Iustifie it Novv let it be Iudged hov â—ther thei build â—pon the foundacion or hould 〈◊〉 â—â—undacion or preach Christ as thei sai thei doe for this is to lay the foundacion Acts. 8. 12. to preach the thengs that concren thâ—-kingdome of God the naÌ„â— of Iesus Christ this is to ouerthrovve the fouÌ„dacion vvhich vvilfullie thei or vvith persecution outrage thei vphould the abominations of a coÌ„trarie kingdome This is to lay the foundacioâ— Mat 28. to preach Babtise in the name of the Faster teachinge to obserue doe vvhat soe euer saieth Christ I haue commaunded you thâ—s is to ouerthrovv the foundacion to teach a toleration practissing of things vvhich aâ—e coÌ„traie to the vvhole gouernment kingdom of Christ Novv to hould the foundacioÌ„ is to beleeue also receaue that doctrine of Christ in profession practise of life for as soone as thei beleeued thei vvere babtised saieth the text thei continued in the apotles doctrine fellovvship coÌ„munâ—oÌ„ of praâ—ers sacramâ—ts Act. â— yea thei shâ—vved their vvorkes their loue the singlenes of their harts verse 46. Act. 19. vvere seprat froÌ„ that frovvard generation it is vvritten thâ—t if aâ—ie man shâ—ll breake of the least commaundemeÌ„ts teach men soe that is shall doe it openlie geâ—e euil example hould Iustâ—fie it in doctraine vvords he shâ—ll be called the least in the kingdom of God Mat. 5. that is hâ— shal be excludede shâ—t out off â—is kingdom And if anie man shall ad or diminish of the vvord of God either by doctrine or by practisse that vvitingli stubburnlie he can not hould the foundacion for Goâ— shâ—ll add vnto hiâ— the plagues that are vvritten Reuel 22. Pro. 30. Therefore sâ—ie noe more ye vvicked preachers that ye hould the fouÌ„dacion or that ye preach for vvhat is it vvorth to saie vnto Christ haile King of the Ievves bovve the knee be fore him vvhâ— you cast your filthie disorders popish gouernment as dougne on his face you haue not yet gathered the people froÌ„ the Popish parishes vvicked fellovvshâ—p nether â—aue planted the church by layinge the foundacion thereof â—or here by is the foundacion â—ried vvhen vVe make hould the couenant vvith the Lord to be vnder hâ—s gouernment vvhen vve haue the povver of the Lord as it is vvritten Cor. 1. 5. amongst vs the sâ—pter of Christ Iesus amongst vs. But these doe hould the vvhep the svvord of Popish excomuÌ„ication They are vvithout the Lords couenant vvithout his gouernmeÌ„t Thei haue alltogether corrupted their vvaies thei haue broken the yoake Burste the bands in sunder for euen those vvhich can be none of Christ church abidnge in such vvickednes are cheefe in their churches soe farr are thei from buâ—ldinge of gould tymbere together vvith hay stubble that thei put fier to the better tymber tuÌ„ble dovvne the better stones to ouerthâ—vve the Lords buildinge Thus haue thei an ansvvere of those places of the. 1. Phil 1 Cor. 3. vvhich is this that â—hir vviâ—kednes abominacion is more greuous then that can be counted the Infirmitie of speaking toe eloquentlie or of enuie vvhich is secrett or of a conâ—eâ—tious mynd THE ORDER AGREED ON FOR THE GIVDING establishing of the companie in all Godlines such like This doctrine before being shevved to the companie openlie preached a mong them â—â—uie did agree thâ—reto though much trouble persecution did follovve yet some did cleaue fast to the trueth but some Fâ—ll avvâ—iâ— â—â—o vvhen triall by puâ—suites losses imprisonment caÌ„e further increaâ—ed 〈◊〉 Robert Bâ—rker Nâ—colas vvoâ—â—ovves Tatsâ—l Bond soÌ„e othâ—rs for sooke vs also hâ—lâ— baâ—k â— vvere afraied at the first