Selected quad for the lemma: diversity_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
diversity_n	apostle_n	gift_n	teacher_n	686	5	9.5922	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57667	Pansebeia, or, A view of all religions in the world with the severall church-governments from the creation, to these times : also, a discovery of all known heresies in all ages and places, and choice observations and reflections throughout the whole / by Alexander Ross.	Ross, Alexander, 1591-1654.; Haestens, Henrick van.; Davies, John, 1625-1693.	1655 (1655)	Wing R1972_pt1; Wing R1944_pt2; ESTC R216906	502,923	690

Church of Rome yet was called extraordinarily to preach the Gospel in purity Q. In whom is the power of Election and Ordination of Presbyters or Bishops A. Election was anciently in the Laity and Clergy till the Clergy shook off the Laity And the Pop● excluded the Emperour from whom both he and other Bishops were wont to receive their Investiture by the Ring and crosier-Staffe not in reference to their spirituall Function but to their temporall means which they injoyed by the munificence of Princes but Ordination is onely from the Clergy the Bishop was won● to ordain alone but that was thought rather out of Ecclasiastick custome than out of divine institution For apparently ordination did belong to the whole Presbytery 1. Tim 4. 14. as may be seen also in divers Canons and Councels Q. May any preach now without Calling or Ordination A. No for if every one that pretends to have the spirit should be suffered to preach preaching would grew contemptible Heresies and Sects would multiply Now the Church is established therefore Ordination and an ordinary calling must be expected Indeed in the infancy of Christianity before the Church was setled private men in times of persecution dispersed themselves and preached as we see Acts 8. ● and so the men of Cypr●s and cyrene preached the word at Anti●ch Acts 11 20. So Apollos a private man who onely knew the Baptisme of Iohn and stood in need of more perfect instructions by Aquila and Priscilla yet he taught the word of God Acts 18. 25 26. but such examples were extraordinary in a time when no preachers were found no ordinary calling to be had no Church at all settled Q. Are the names of Apostle Presbyter and Bishop of equal extent A. No for Apostles are called Presbyters 1. Pet. 5. 1. but Presbyters are not Apostles the higher dignity includes the lesser but not on the contrary so Apostles are Bishops Iudas his Apostleship is called his Bishoprick Acts 1. 10. but all Bishops are not Apostles Q. Because an Elder must be apt to teach will it therefore follow that there ought to be none but preaching Elders An. No for a Ruling Elder should also be apt to teach his Children and Family and likewise apt to teach that is to advise and give Counsel in the Consistory though he preach not in the Pulpit Q. Is a Pastor and Doctor all one A. No For all Pastors are Doctors or Teachers but all Doctors are not Pastors Paul in the Synagogue at Anti●ch did the part of a Doctor or Teacher when he uttered words of exhortation yet he was not their Pastor The Prophets Christ and Iohn Baptist were Doctours or Teachers but not Pastors Q. Should there be any superiority of Presbyters ever their fellows A. Yes of order or at sometimes as when they meet in Synods to determine matters there ought to be Moderators or Speakers as we know there were among the Apostles sometimes Peter sometimes Iames see Acts 15. and perhaps such was the superiority that Samuel had over the Prophets in Naioth in Rama 1. Sam. 19. 20. Such Authority had Eliah and Elisha over the other Prophets in their time The superiority of the High Priest over the inferior Priests was typicall as it had relation to Christ the High-Priest of our profession the Prince of Pastors and B shop of our souls Quest. Is it a novelty to have Lay-Elders in the Church A. No for such were in the Church of the Iews Ier. 19. 1. Elders of the people as well as Elders of the Priests which the Apostle means 1 Cor. 12. 28. for besides Apostles Prophets Teachers c. he speaks of Rulers under the abstract word of Governments for having mentioned before in the same Chapter the diversity of gifts Now in this verse he speaks of the diversity of Functions in the Church Q. Are Lay-men excluded from Church government because they are Lay-men A. No For though they be no part of the Clergy yet they are a part of the Church and Members of Christs mysticall body as well as the Clergy And it is for the Clergies advantage that there be Lay-Rulers for by these means the Ministers are eased of much trouble and they are backed with the greater power besides they are lesse obnoxious to envy and opposition which the Remish Clergy hath brought upon themselves by excluding the Laity from Church Government proudly monopolizing all to themselves Lastly many Clergy men though good Scholars yet are indiscreet in their carriage and unskilfull in matter of government Question May a Lay Elder with a safe Conscience leave his Function at the years end seeing it is not lawfull to put the hand to the plough and look back Luke 9. 62. A. If there were not choice of such Elders he could not leave the Church destitute of Government with a safe conscience 2. He may not our of dislike to the Function or of his own head leave it but by order and authority he may where there be others to supply his place 3. That Plough in Luke is not meant of the Plough of Ruling but of preaching which no man called thereto may leave off seeing it is of such necessity for the erecting of Christs Kingdome Q. Is the Function of a Lay-elder unlawfull because he is not called to preach and baptise A. No for preaching and administring the Sacraments do not belong to the ruling but to the preaching Presbyter neither is ruling necessarily annexed to preaching and baptising but that it may be separated from them yea it is fit they should be separated for the reasons above alledged Ministers shall have more time to study and to follow their preaching better if they be taken off from the trouble of ruling and God who giveth to divers men divers gifs and not the same to all men hath made some fitter for preaching others fitter for ruling And it is fit that some of the Laity should have place in the Consistory that nothing may be there concluded partially or prejudiciall to the Laity for so they shall avoid all suspition of tyranny Q. Of what Elders doth Ambrose speak in his Exposition of the fifth Chapter of 1. Tim. A. Both of Elders by age and of Elders by office for having shewed that old age is honourable among all Nations from thence he inferres that both the Synagogue and Church of Christ had Elders without whose advise nothing was done in the Church which Office in his time as he there complains was grown out of date by reason of the pride of the Teachers that they alone might seem to be somewhat Q. Can ruling Elders be proved out of that fifth Chapter of 1. Tim. v. 17. A. Yes for the Apostle wills that the Elders who ruse well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine in which words there is no opposition made between the reaching Presbyters as if they who teach and preach were worthy of double honour