Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	officer_n	ordain_v	ordination_n	3,414	5	11.2484	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80670	Councill humbly propounded for the speedy settlement of these long disturbed nations. Wherein is offered such a King, such a church-government, such liberty for tender consciences, as that the royalist, Presbiterian, and persons of different judgements (the three great interests of our nations) may acquiess in.		1660 (1660)	Wing C6515; Thomason E1021_14; ESTC R208448	4,891	8

Psalme prayer and preaching as usually but not to be confin'd to a forme of words in prayer but the substance only laid downe as it is excellently well by the last Assembly and in the afternoone before Sermon to have on one Lords day Catechizing another a Chapter read in the old and New Testament and on the third expounding of some part of Scripture and so constantly the Minsters worke should be also to bury and preach in season and out of season Thus far most sober good men of the Episcopalian Presbyterian or Congregationall partie might agree and if the Scripture requires no more it is pittie more should be imposed but there is a difference which should be decided with much wariness and that is about Ordination Some hold that a Church constituted as I have before mentioned should choose ruling Elders who should ordaine and that the Apostles being vertually Elders did upon this account ordaine others hold the Apostles ordained as extraordinary Officers and so Ordination ceaseth but it is generally received that laying on of the hands of the Presbyterie is an Eldership of Pastors of Churches which if it may be made good from Scripture then I conceive the ensuing expedient would tend very much towards reconciling of Brethren let eight Parishes be constituted a Diocesse or Classis the Pastors of which to choose out one to be Bishop President or Chaireman who with two or three or more of the rest of the Presbyters may ordaine here is the Bishop that is without Lordliness and that hath a flock to take care of Thirdly As for liberty for tender consciences there need be no more then this that none should be debarred meerly meeting in private about the service of God I do not meane by private that the doors shall be shut but in other places besides the Church and a penalty upon those that hinder them for they may meet for the purpose of good discourse repeating of Sermons besides its hard to thrust out those that differ only in circumstantialls and if I mistake not very Reverend fathers have highly approved that perticular Churches with their Minister should choose out such as God hath endeued to speak to edification wherefore let only such be suppressed as shall preach or publish blasphemy treason or such grosse errors as the Parliament shall think fit to punish this is not like to touch any truly godly and then it is to be hoped that men will spend their heat against fundamentall errors though retaining good will and compassion for the infected and that an agreement in greater truths will swallow up differences about the lesser and reconcile christians in love to one another these three forementioned particulars are not only very soveraign for the healing of our Nations but I think I may call them the essentialls of settlement and they will gain all the three great parties amongst us and bind peace fast to us but though these are the main things necessary yet there are two things more that very much conduce to the making of our settlement such a compleat and happy one as is to be wished The first is An act of Indempnitie and forgetfullnesse for all words books writings actions Military and civill in relation to our Wars differences changes extended as far as possible this will turn anger into love but as for the war at first it was a breach between the three estates neither of which alone had power to make a Law therefore to make the war with the King all one as if it was undertaken by private persons is to nullifie the power of the House of Commons and an enslavery of the people and for what hath been done since things have been out of course christianity teacheth us not revenge wherefore let reason guided with clemency rule herein Secondly That the Nations mind may go on and the Parliament not change from the intentions of the people that an act be made that on such a certaine day every three years the Sheriffe of each Country shall under a penalty summon the Country to choose Knights and Burgesses to serve in Parliament who shall sit on such a certain day likewise as shall be appointed and the foregoing Parliament if not dissolved shall end the day before the new one cometh to sit some generall qualifications would do well as to choose no Atheist Papist Drunkard Whore-monger common swearers or profane person these things being done other necessaries would be easie you should not be daily in danger of plots our common enemy would not be of in our own bowels there would be no more expectation of tumults or of more tossings and things would be in such a quiet posture as Military Officers may be turned into Civil swords into plough-shares and every one may then set under his own Vine eating the fruit of his own labor This will not only maintaine peace at home but defend our peace from enemies abroad then you will have a fair opportunity to set forward trade to hear complaints redresse grievances to ease burthens prevent fraud to take off oppression to consider poor prisoners for debt to equal elections for Parliament men to cause Justice to be administred impartially to suppresse scandalous profane and obsceen books to regulate the Law and its charges so as that the poorest wronged may have right in all things to be a terror to evildoers but a prais to thē that do well then will righteousness run downe as a mighty stream and God even our God will bless us but whoever hath power given them and shall neglect the poor and needy suffer violence and wickednesse love their own ease judge for reward this their sin will be bitterness in the latter end unto them Now there be these three things I would leave with you for the publick good Namely First That a house be set up in every County with three overseers for the poor that they which can work should the other be provided for near the Sea if a trade was mannaged busses for fishing may be used and many lame and blind imployed about the nets in the mean time the coining of Copper tokens or Farthings would much serve the good of the poor Secondly That the art of Navigation may be strengthned for through the neglect and breaking of it Seamen and shipping the walls of our Nation is much lessened and decayed and is in danger if not lookt after to fall and come to ruine Thirdly As you would have God preserve us from the plague and sword take a more effectual course then ever to prevent and punish swearing cursing whoring drunkennesse cheating Idle and loose gaming and all prophanesse and debaucherie otherwise what peace on earth if heaven should fight against us I remember before our late troubles we was troubled with an uncivil wicked crew given up to gaming drinking violence playes and all manner of sensual vanitie who cared for no more religion then to nick name those that was indeed religious and to vilifie stricknesse and cry down and abuse those whose tender consciences could not conform to imposed ceremonies FINIS