Selected quad for the lemma: city_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
city_n	bishop_n	church_n	ordain_v	4,727	4	9.0001	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52038	An expedient to preserve peace and amity, among dissenting brethren. By a brother in Christ	Marshall, Stephen, 1594?-1655.	1647 (1647)	Wing M754A; ESTC R204591	29,957	42

circumstance_n thereof_o we_o have_v also_o the_o word_n of_o man_n as_o infallible_a as_o man_n can_v be_v for_o that_o we_o may_v take_v upon_o good_a trust_n to_o be_v moral_o infallible_a which_o proceed_v from_o man_n who_o neither_o deceive_v nor_o be_v deceive_v now_o i_o suppose_v that_o the_o parliament_n have_v so_o full_o declare_v their_o sincerity_n and_o discharge_v their_o trust_n in_o establish_v this_o government_n that_o the_o most_o opposite_a thereunto_o can_v admit_v of_o such_o a_o unworthy_a thought_n as_o if_o they_o intend_v to_o impose_v any_o government_n upon_o the_o people_n which_o in_o conscience_n they_o think_v not_o most_o agreeable_a to_o god_n word_n which_o as_o it_o clear_v they_o from_o the_o least_o suspicion_n of_o deceive_v so_o it_o be_v also_o manifest_a that_o they_o have_v use_v the_o best_a and_o most_o approve_a mean_n allow_v to_o mortal_a man_n not_o to_o be_v deceive_v for_o in_o this_o weighty_a work_n they_o have_v begin_v with_o the_o invocation_n of_o god_n infallible_a spirit_n which_o be_v the_o author_n and_o leader_n into_o all_o truth_n and_o have_v assemble_v learned_a and_o religious_a man_n of_o the_o holy_a call_n to_o enter_v into_o free_a deliberation_n and_o debate_n of_o that_o kind_n of_o church-government_n which_o they_o shall_v find_v most_o consonant_a to_o god_n word_n and_o if_o after_o all_o this_o we_o can_v imagine_v they_o have_v err_v in_o their_o decree_n how_o can_v we_o without_o presumption_n conceive_v the_o judgement_n of_o any_o private_a man_n to_o be_v more_o infallible_a now_o if_o any_o shall_v think_v that_o this_o kind_n of_o government_n in_o every_o part_n thereof_o be_v establish_v with_o such_o a_o perpetual_a decree_n that_o it_o can_v never_o be_v change_v we_o must_v know_v that_o many_o thing_n may_v be_v infallible_o true_a yet_o not_o always_o necessary_a to_o be_v continue_v true_o in_o the_o author_n of_o truth_n and_o true_a in_o the_o mean_n of_o truth_n and_o yet_o may_v be_v lay_v aside_o when_o they_o be_v no_o long_o useful_a for_o edification_n a_o example_n hereof_o we_o may_v see_v in_o the_o ceremonial_a law_n which_o be_v appoint_v by_o god_n himself_o no_o man_n will_v doubt_v but_o it_o be_v infallible_o true_a and_o be_v abolish_v by_o the_o same_o power_n that_o ordain_v it_o no_o man_n need_v doubt_n but_o that_o it_o be_v just_o remove_v infallibility_n do_v not_o always_o infer_v immutability_n thing_n be_v not_o only_o continue_v for_o their_o truth_n but_o also_o for_o their_o goodness_n and_o fitness_n and_o applicableness_n to_o present_a use_n so_o long_o as_o the_o ceremonial_a law_n be_v to_o endure_v it_o be_v of_o divine_a infallibility_n needful_a for_o the_o church_n of_o the_o jew_n and_o during_o that_o time_n immutable_a by_o any_o power_n but_o divine_a but_o when_o the_o evangelical_a law_n succeed_v which_o by_o fulfil_n end_v the_o ceremonial_a the_o worship_n of_o god_n become_v more_o spiritual_a leave_v the_o decency_n circumstance_n and_o outward_a manner_n to_o the_o human_a infallibility_n of_o the_o magistrate_n set_v in_o authoriiy_n by_o god_n who_o decree_n in_o such_o matter_n be_v unchangeable_a by_o any_o inferior_a power_n yet_o alterable_a by_o the_o same_o power_n that_o decree_v they_o moreover_o the_o papist_n object_n against_o our_o doctrine_n that_o before_o luther_n it_o be_v not_o know_v in_o thy_o world_n and_o the_o prelate_n object_n against_o our_o discipline_n that_o before_o calvin_n it_o be_v never_o know_v by_o both_o with_o aspersion_n they_o think_v to_o disgrace_v our_o doctrine_n and_o our_o discipline_n put_v upon_o they_o the_o stamp_n of_o novelty_n as_o though_o they_o be_v but_o invention_n of_o man_n but_o as_o our_o doctrine_n have_v be_v sufficient_o assert_v against_o their_o calumny_n to_o be_v the_o very_a doctrine_n of_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n leave_v and_o record_v in_o the_o holy_a scripture_n so_o it_o be_v also_o plain_a that_o this_o government_n of_o god_n church_n by_o the_o presbytery_n be_v know_v and_o practise_v in_o the_o world_n before_o either_o popery_n or_o prelacy_n be_v in_o be_v both_o which_o be_v indeed_o novelty_n and_o the_o very_a spawn_n of_o corrupt_a man_n it_o be_v clear_o demonstrate_v from_o the_o bosom_n of_o antiquity_n that_o the_o apostle_n and_o evangelist_n know_v the_o mind_n of_o christ_n do_v in_o all_o city_n and_o place_n where_o they_o collect_v church_n ordain_v a_o college_n of_o presbyter_n call_v the_o presbytery_n with_o equal_a power_n to_o feed_v and_o govern_v the_o same_o this_o form_n of_o government_n continue_v in_o the_o primitive_a church_n about_o 1500_o year_n in_o purity_n and_o parity_n afterwards_o by_o pride_n and_o contention_n of_o the_o leader_n bishop_n be_v set_v up_o above_o presbyter_n and_o when_o that_o equality_n be_v once_o break_v there_o be_v no_o stop_n then_o metropolitan_n be_v put_v above_o bishop_n and_o patriarch_n above_o metropolitan_n and_o at_o the_o last_o whereunto_o all_o tend_v they_o bring_v forth_o that_o man_n of_o sin_n or_o son_n of_o perdition_n the_o pope_n who_o perk_v above_o all_o and_o have_v ever_o since_o contrary_a to_o the_o rule_n of_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n maintain_v by_o fraud_n fire_n and_o blood_n a_o prodigious_a tyranny_n and_o oppression_n in_o the_o church_n b●t_v there_o be_v one_o testimony_n more_o which_o we_o can_v produce_v as_o a_o clear_a light_n out_o of_o the_o very_a darkness_n and_o dungeon_n of_o popery_n when_o there_o be_v no_o day_n of_o knowledge_n in_o the_o christian_a world_n but_o all_o be_v overspread_v with_o antichristian_a error_n and_o that_o be_v about_o 500_o year_n ago_o when_o god_n move_v waldo_n a_o citizen_n of_o lion_n to_o discover_v the_o imposture_n of_o the_o popish_a church_n who_o draw_v after_o he_o many_o disciple_n be_v persecute_v by_o the_o bloody_a synagogue_n and_o drive_v from_o the_o society_n of_o man_n into_o mountain_n among_o beast_n which_o they_o find_v less_o savage_a than_o their_o own_o kind_n there_o they_o multiply_v into_o many_o congregation_n and_o spread_v themselves_o into_o divers_a place_n be_v call_v by_o divers_a name_n then_o they_o find_v it_o necessary_a that_o the_o worship_n of_o god_n may_v be_v perfect_a among_o they_o to_o establish_v a_o discipline_n and_o government_n over_o all_o their_o church_n in_o which_o deliberation_n they_o have_v no_o pattern_n to_o follow_v no_o step_n to_o tread_v in_o no_o help_n from_o story_n or_o record_n of_o antiquity_n which_o be_v all_o destroy_v or_o corrupt_v their_o only_a guide_n and_o light_a to_o direct_v they_o be_v the_o word_n of_o god_n which_o the_o world_n be_v never_o able_a to_o extinguish_v and_o by_o his_o divine_a power_n be_v preserve_v among_o they_o there_o they_o seek_v and_o there_o they_o find_v the_o platform_n of_o their_o discipline_n and_o what_o be_v it_o no_o other_o than_o presbyterian_a every_o congregation_n govern_v by_o pastor_n elder_n and_o deacon_n and_o as_o occasion_v require_v by_o a_o combination_n of_o they_o into_o synod_n counsel_n and_o assembly_n now_o if_o this_o way_n be_v practise_v among_o they_o wherein_o they_o be_v only_o lead_v by_o divine_a light_n how_o unjust_o do_v some_o despise_v it_o as_o a_o novelty_n other_o reject_v it_o as_o a_o human_a ordinance_n when_o as_o our_o own_o age_n also_o search_v in_o the_o same_o holy_a monument_n have_v pitch_v upon_o the_o same_o discipline_n as_o in_o they_o hold_v forth_o to_o the_o church_n of_o god_n i_o think_v this_o will_v move_v the_o spirit_n of_o meek_a and_o sanctify_a man_n not_o to_o be_v wise_a above_o sobriety_n nor_o contest_v against_o such_o a_o cloud_n of_o witness_n for_o if_o the_o primitive_a apostolical_a time_n the_o middle_a age_n of_o the_o church_n under_o persecution_n and_o now_o the_o last_o generation_n wherein_o we_o live_v have_v all_o by_o the_o light_n of_o god_n word_n and_o guidance_n of_o his_o spirit_n concur_v in_o one_o and_o the_o same_o discipline_n why_o shall_v any_o combine_v against_o it_o or_o suffer_v themselves_o to_o be_v persuade_v rather_o to_o disturb_v the_o peace_n and_o unity_n of_o god_n church_n then_o yield_v a_o christian_a conformity_n thereunto_o 3_o but_o against_o this_o power_n of_o the_o magistrate_n it_o may_v be_v further_o object_v that_o although_o power_n be_v give_v he_o over_o the_o body_n and_o estate_n and_o outward_a adjunct_n of_o man_n yet_o the_o conscience_n be_v the_o peculiar_a court_n of_o god_n wherein_o man_n have_v nothing_o to_o do_v but_o by_o intrusion_n when_o the_o body_n lie_v in_o prison_n the_o judge_n by_o a_o habeas_fw-la corpus_fw-la can_v remove_v it_o but_o when_o the_o conscience_n be_v under_o bond_n no_o judge_n can_v send_v a_o habeas_fw-la conscientiam_fw-la to_o deliver_v it_o and_o have_v no_o power_n to_o release_v he_o can_v have_v none_o to_o bind_v it_o

wrap_v up_o in_o general_a precept_n it_o behoove_v we_o to_o learn_v from_o his_o deputy_n upon_o earth_n ask_v council_n of_o the_o lord_n what_o his_o mind_n and_o pleasure_n be_v and_o such_o for_o the_o most_o part_n be_v the_o outward_a rite_n form_n and_o circumstance_n of_o his_o evangelical_a worship_n these_o thing_n fall_v within_o the_o compass_n of_o order_n and_o decency_n which_o be_v rather_o civil_a notion_n then_o divine_a yet_o as_o army_n in_o the_o field_n easy_o fall_v into_o a_o rout_n not_o well_o array_v so_o assembly_n in_o the_o church_n and_o church_n in_o the_o commonwealth_n prove_v but_o rude_a and_o tumultuous_a meeting_n if_o they_o be_v not_o decent_o order_v a_o lute_n or_o viol_n be_v see_v play_v upon_o but_o there_o be_v much_o ado_n to_o tune_v many_o instrument_n into_o one_o consort_n private_a christian_n may_v dispose_v of_o themselves_o in_o their_o own_o house_n but_o when_o they_o meet_v in_o a_o public_a body_n they_o must_v be_v tune_v by_o the_o public_a magistrate_n the_o world_n will_v never_o have_v stand_v without_o society_n nor_o can_v society_n hold_v without_o government_n neither_o can_v there_o be_v any_o government_n where_o some_o rule_n not_o and_o some_o obey_v all_o the_o question_n be_v to_o set_v due_a limit_n and_o bound_n to_o the_o civil_a government_n wherein_o i_o conceive_v that_o there_o be_v the_o self_n the_o same_o measure_n betwixt_o the_o magistrate_n and_o the_o conscience_n for_o as_o the_o word_n of_o god_n bind_v the_o conscience_n to_o obey_v so_o it_o prescribe_v the_o magistrate_n to_o govern_v otherwise_o if_o as_o the_o high_a priest_n forbid_v the_o apostle_n to_o teach_v in_o the_o name_n of_o jesus_n so_o the_o magistrate_n shall_v impose_v any_o thing_n upon_o the_o people_n contrary_a to_o divine_a law_n or_o the_o word_n reveal_v the_o case_n be_v plain_a that_o we_o ought_v to_o obey_v god_n rather_o than_o man_n these_o rub_v thus_o remove_v in_o our_o way_n i_o shall_v proceed_v to_o the_o solve_n of_o such_o objection_n as_o be_v common_o make_v by_o those_o brethren_n that_o challenge_v a_o liberty_n and_o exemption_n from_o this_o lawful_a obedience_n 1._o first_o they_o build_v upon_o our_o own_o ground_n allege_v that_o since_o the_o nature_n of_o conscience_n be_v so_o free_a and_o voluntary_a in_o itself_o it_o must_v needs_o be_v a_o manifest_a violation_n of_o her_o freedom_n to_o constrain_v she_o by_o law_n or_o penalty_n or_o imposition_n of_o man_n to_o which_o i_o answer_v that_o we_o must_v remember_v to_o put_v a_o difference_n betwixt_o the_o constraint_n and_o the_o restraint_n of_o man_n conscience_n no_o law_n nor_o power_n of_o man_n can_v constrain_v the_o conscience_n in_o her_o voluntary_a act_n to_o go_v against_o she_o own_o light_n or_o approve_v that_o which_o she_o condemn_v or_o say_v to_o herself_o conscience_n i_o lie_v no_o she_o may_v and_o aught_o rather_o to_o suffer_v then_o undergo_v such_o a_o constraint_n but_o the_o law_n of_o man_n may_v so_o far_o restrain_v their_o liberty_n that_o she_o produce_v not_o the_o act_n of_o her_o private_a sense_n and_o freedom_n into_o hurtful_a effect_n such_o as_o may_v endanger_v and_o disturb_v our_o christian_a and_o public_a peace_n it_o have_v be_v always_o observe_v that_o it_o be_v as_o natural_a and_o appetition_n for_o error_n to_o beget_v error_n and_o opinion_n to_o spread_v opinion_n as_o for_o one_o kind_n to_o generate_v and_o multiply_v the_o same_o insomuch_o when_o a_o erroneous_a conscience_n will_v not_o be_v limit_v nor_o contain_v within_o itself_o it_o may_v and_o aught_o to_o be_v restrain_v and_o inhibit_v from_o infect_v other_o and_o disperse_v the_o contagion_n 2._o second_o it_o may_v be_v again_o object_v that_o although_o it_o be_v grant_v nothing_o can_v bind_v the_o conscience_n but_o the_o pure_a word_n of_o god_n yet_o forasmuch_o as_o no_o word_n of_o scrirture_n be_v produce_v express_o confirm_v this_o from_o of_o polity_n and_o presbyterian_a government_n which_o we_o be_v command_v to_o obey_v it_o will_v plain_o follow_v that_o the_o conscience_n of_o man_n be_v therein_o leave_v unto_o their_o liberty_n to_o give_v a_o full_a answer_n hereunto_o it_o will_v be_v necessary_a to_o take_v the_o frame_n of_o this_o government_n in_o piece_n as_o the_o levite_n do_v the_o tabernacle_n when_o they_o remove_v their_o tent_n and_o then_o bring_v it_o piece_n by_o piece_n to_o the_o light_n of_o god_n word_n to_o see_v what_o be_v thereby_o confirm_v and_o what_o unfirm_v but_o because_o this_o be_v already_o do_v by_o divers_a worthy_a brethren_n of_o the_o holy_a call_n i_o shall_v forbear_v to_o insert_v their_o volume_n into_o these_o few_o sheet_n and_o shall_v only_o say_v that_o this_o kind_n of_o government_n be_v either_o express_o or_o by_o good_a consequence_n include_v and_o allow_v by_o the_o scripture_n as_o not_o repugnant_a to_o it_o in_o any_o thing_n of_o the_o presbytery_n itself_o where_o the_o government_n be_v inherent_a i_o hear_v no_o question_n make_v but_o that_o it_o be_v express_o mention_v in_o the_o scripture_n the_o main_a doubt_n and_o difference_n be_v whither_o it_o be_v independent_a in_o particular_a congregation_n subordinate_a to_o synod_n and_o assembly_n as_o the_o urgency_n and_o occasion_n of_o the_o church_n may_v require_v those_o brethren_n that_o maintain_v independency_n of_o single_a congregation_n stand_v upon_o a_o ground_n feeble_a and_o unfirm_a say_v that_o in_o the_o apostle_n time_n there_o be_v no_o other_o church_n but_o only_o congregational_a in_o which_o alone_o all_o government_n be_v confine_v this_o assertion_n will_v hold_v no_o further_o true_a then_o in_o such_o church_n as_o be_v gather_v while_o christ_n be_v upon_o earth_n then_o indeed_o we_o may_v conceive_v that_o the_o first_o evangelical_a church_n consist_v in_o the_o congregation_n of_o the_o apostle_n and_o afterwards_o of_o the_o disciple_n but_o when_o christ_n ascend_v into_o heaven_n and_o the_o holy_a ghost_n descend_v upon_o earth_n we_o shall_v find_v that_o when_o the_o multitude_n of_o believer_n increase_v so_o much_o in_o several_a city_n as_o one_o congregation_n can_v not_o contain_v they_o their_o manner_n be_v to_o distribute_v themselves_o into_o several_a meeting_n accordinp_v to_o the_o commodity_n of_o their_o habitation_n in_o the_o say_a city_n or_o else_o as_o it_o may_v most_o stand_v with_o their_o safety_n now_o the_o apostle_n themselves_o and_o their_o coadjutor_n the_o evangelist_n and_o other_o founder_n of_o church_n under_o they_o do_v usual_o constitute_v and_o ordain_v elder_n in_o every_o city_n but_o not_o in_o every_o congregation_n who_o have_v power_n in_o common_a and_o colle●gially_o to_o teach_v and_o govern_v the_o whole_a flock_n though_o several_o congregat_v in_o the_o same_o city_n thus_o we_o read_v of_o the_o elder_n of_o jerusalem_n of_o antiochia_n of_o ephesus_n of_o corinth_n of_o philippi_n and_o many_o mo_z where_o the_o number_n of_o the_o faithful_a be_v enlarge_v whereby_o it_o appear_v that_o in_o the_o apostle_n time_n and_o the_o time_n succeed_v those_o primitive_a church_n be_v city_n church_n consist_v of_o divers_a congregation_n and_o not_o congregational_a as_o be_v pretend_v independent_a within_o themselves_o true_a it_o be_v the_o city_n church_n be_v common_o independent_a within_o itself_o but_o thereof_o the_o reason_n be_v because_o the_o city_n in_o their_o civil_a policy_n be_v free_a and_o unsubject_v otherwise_o the_o government_n of_o the_o city_n church_n reach_v as_o far_o as_o the_o jurisdiction_n of_o the_o city_n if_o all_o this_o be_v true_a as_o it_o be_v make_v most_o evident_a by_o the_o unpartial_a searcher_n of_o antiquity_n we_o may_v herein_o observe_v a_o pattern_n though_o not_o a_o precept_n for_o the_o subordination_n of_o church_n for_o if_o in_o the_o apostle_n time_n a_o city_n church_n consist_v of_o many_o congregation_n by_o the_o same_o proportion_n according_a to_o the_o increase_n of_o believer_n a_o provincial_n church_n may_v consist_v of_o many_o city_n and_o a_o national_a church_n of_o many_o province_n and_o the_o catholic_n church_n of_o many_o nation_n the_o low_a step_n be_v lay_v by_o the_o apostle_n the_o high_a step_n be_v a_o point_n of_o our_o belief_n and_o from_o the_o low_a to_o the_o high_a there_o be_v no_o passage_n but_o by_o gradation_n which_o be_v the_o scale_n of_o that_o government_n now_o hold_v forth_o by_o parliament_n but_o to_o this_o may_v be_v reply_v all_o this_o that_o you_o say_v be_v but_o conjectural_a and_o that_o have_v no_o power_n to_o bind_v the_o conscience_n which_o must_v have_v a_o word_n infallible_a to_o rest_n upon_o to_o this_o i_o answer_v that_o for_o the_o substance_n of_o this_o government_n we_o have_v the_o infallible_a word_n of_o god_n whereof_o neither_o part_n doubt_v for_o the_o frame_n and_o