Selected quad for the lemma: doctrine_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
doctrine_n	according_a	church_n	discipline_n	2,858	5	9.0169	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A00283	A briefe and plaine declaration, concerning the desires of all those faithfull ministers, that haue and do seeke for the discipline and reformation of the Church of Englande which may serue for a iust apologie, against the false accusations and slaunders of their aduersaries.	Fenner, Dudley, 1558?-1587, attributed name.; Fulke, William, 1538-1589, attributed name.; Travers, Walter, 1547 or 8-1635, attributed name.	1584 (1584)	STC 10395; ESTC S111889	54,423	158

them by prayer and imposition of hands the visible Graces of the holye Ghoste which Philip did not The same Philip in Act. 21. verse 8. is called an Euangelist So is Timothy 2. Timoth. 4. 5. Such was Titus Silus and many other This office also with the order of the Apostles is expired and hath no place Likewise as wee doe plainly see that the gifts of healing of povvers or myracles and of diuerse tonges haue long since ceassed to be in the Church So the offices of them which were groūded vpon these gifts must also cease and bee determined Therfore the Papists do vainly retain the name office of Exorcists when they cānot cast out diuels extream vnction when they cannot cure disseases and to speak with straunge tonges which they haue not by inspiration that without any interpretation which Saint Paule expresly forbiddeth There remayneth therefore of these before rehearsed onely in the Church these Ecclesiasticall offices instituted of God namely Pastors Doctors Gouernours and Deacons By which the church of God may according to his worde be directed in all matters which are commonly called Ecclesiasticall And therefore as it is vnlawful so it is vnneedeful for men following the deuises of their owne brayne without the warrant of Gods worde to institute and ordayne anye other offices or kindes of ministerye beside these appointed approued by God himself exercised in the Primitiue pure church vntil the mistery of iniquity working a way for Antichristes pride presumption changed Gods ordinance and brought in al kind of false doctrine confusion and now againe restored in al rightly reformed Churches with such daylie increase and glory of the kingdom of Christ and suppression of the tyrannie of Sathan that the onelye experience hereof might bee a sufficient perswasion to vs to leaue this disordered state of ours wherein we haue so long laboured with so little profit and to imbrace that most beautifull order of Ecclesiastical regimēt which God so manifestlye doth blesse and prosper in our neighboures handes But while we speake of Ecclesiasticall gouernment it maye bee thought of some that we shoulde intreat first of the supreame authority of Christian Princes Whereuppon it seemeth that al the regiment of the church dependeth which is such a myst to dazle the eyes of ignoraunt persons that they thinke all thinges in the Ecclesiastical state ought to be disposed by that onelye high authoritye and absolute power of the Ciuil magistrate Others there be with more colour of reason that referre onely indifferent matters to the disposition of Princes but in determining indifferēt matters they shewe themselues not to bee indifferent Iudges For whatsoeuer it shall please the Ciuill Magistrate or themselues to call or count indifferent it must be so holden of all men without anye further enquiry But of the supreame authority of christian princes in Ecclesiasticall causes howe farre it extēdeth by the word of God we shal haue better occasiō to intreat hereafter when we haue described the Ecclesiastical state And that it is neither needefull nor agreeable to good order of teaching to begin first therewith it may be plaine to euerye man by this reason The Church of God was perfect in all her regiment before there was any Christian Prince yea the Churche of God may stande and doth stande at this day in moste blessed estate where the Ciuill Magistrates are not the greatest fauorers By which it is manifest that the regiment and gouernement thereof dependeth not vppon the authority of Princes but vpon the ordinaunce of God who hath most mercifully and wisely so established the same that as with the comfortable ayde of Christian Magistrates it may singulerlie flourish prosper so without it it may continue and against the aduersaries therof preuail For the church craueth help defence of christian Princes to continue go forward more peaceably profitably to the setting vp of the kingdō of Christ but al hir authority she receiueth immediatly of God Let vs therfore return to those offices of Ecclesiasticall regiment which now remain to be exercised in the Church of God being instituted ordained by Christe himselfe which before we haue proued out of the scriptures to be only these Doctors Pastors Gouernors Deacons wherof some appertain to doctrin some to gouernment and discipline The duty of doctors Pastors is chiefly to teach and instruct the people of god in al things that God hath appointed thē to learne The office of Elders Deacons is to prouide that good order and discipline bee obserued in the church These offices being rightly established exercised in the Church are able to make vs meet together in the vnity of faith and knowledge of the sonne of God vnto a perfect man acording to doctrine And both for doctrine and order of gouernement to make vs one body of Christe and members one of another Nowe what shoulde be desired more then this in the church of God or what wisdom of man can espy better then the spirite of God by what means this shold be brought to effect which we do desire what mans wit cā deuise better then the wisdom of god hath expressed Or whē God hath established an order for the administratiō of his own house what presūptiō of man dare change it But what dare not dust ashes presūe to do against his maker that with greatest incōuenience when with best pretences of correcting and reforming that which they do thinke to be vnperfect in his doings Exāple thereof we haue most euident That which is alleaged as the chief defence of this disordered state which now remaineth in our church namely that our fathers of old time were not content with the simple order instituted by Christe and established by his Apostles but for better gouerning of the Church thought good some offices to ad therto some to take away some to alter change and in effect to peruerte and ouerthrow all Christian and Ecclesiastical pollicie which was builded vpon the foundation of the Prophetes and Apostles Iesus Christ being the cheeft corner stone But how vnhappy a successe this good intent as they call it of theirs deserued to haue of God who alwayes abhorreth all good intentes of men that are contrarye to the good pleasure of his will expressed in his holy worde the age before vs alasse hath felt the present time doth plainly see and wee praye God the posterity warned by examples of their auncesters maye take heede of it For where there are specially two thinges propounded in the Churche of God Doctrine and Discipline as if a man woulde say knowledge and practise by which the glory of God is sought and shineth therin In steed of true Doctrine followed all manner of corruptions of the same both in the whole and in euery part thereof as ignorance heresies idolatry superstition c. The Discipline degenerated vnto intollerable tyrannye

we finde in the worde of God certayn Officers appoynted for gouernmente vvee are bolde to affirme that that charge belongeth vnto those that are such And that doth S. Paule playnely declare where hee putteth a difference of the seuerall offices of the Church whereof hee nameth Gouernors for one 1. Cor. 28. 29. and Rom. 12. 8. Let him that ruleth doe it with diligence Therefore there ought to be in euery Church a Consistory or segnorye of Elders or gouernors which ought to haue the hearinge examination and determining of all matters pertaining to Discipline and Gouernement of that Congregation which authoritye of theirs neuerthelesse ought to be moderated that their iudgment may be rightly accounted the iudgement of the holy Church Which thing consisteth in these two pointes First that the Elders bee elected and chosen by consent of the whole Congregation men of Godlinesse and Wisedome in whome the whole Churche reposeth such confidence that they commit vnto them their authoritye in hearing determining such matters as without horrible confusion they cānot perform themselues And hereto also may be referred that which is sayde of Election of Pastours that the Apostles Paul and Barnabas did ordain by Election of the congregation Elders vnto many Churches Actes 14. 23. because the name of Elders is common to both to Pastors and Gouernors and is vsed in the Scripture to comprehend both at once as it appeareth manifestly by S. Paul 1. Tim. 5. 7. Those Elders that gouern well are worthy of double honor especially those that labour in the word and doctrine Of which testimonie we learne these three things First that there bee Elders in the Church which meddle not with teaching but are occupied altogether in gouerning Secondly that the Elders which labor in teaching otherwise called Pastors are ioined also in gouernment with them which teach not And thirdlye that the name of Elder comprehendeth both sorts of Elders And especially in the place before alleadged for election ther is great reason to lead vs to think that the elders for gouernment are as wel vnderstood as the other for doctrin because it is writtē in the same place that after they had ordeined them Elders in euery congregation by election as hauing set the Churches in perfect order which could not be except thei had established discipline as wel as doctrine they cōmitted thē to the Lorde in whome they beleeued The second point for moderation of the elders authority in such sorte that their sentēce may be the sentēce of the Church is this that when the cōsistory hath traueled in examining of causes pertaining to Ecclesiasticall Discipline and agreed what iudgement ought to passe vpon the matters they propound it to the whole multitude that it may be confirmed by their consent Wherof S. Paul speaketh touching the execution of Excōmunication because the fact was manifest Whē you are gathered together with my spirit in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ and with the power of our Lord Iesus Christ to deliuer such a one vnto Sathan Nowe therfore to● prooue that there ought to be a Consistory of elders in euery Church for gouerning of the same It is manifest by the cōmandemēt of our Sauior Christ touching him that despiseth pryuate admonitiō If he hear not them tel the congregation if hee hear not the congregation let him be vnto thee as an heathē publicane Verily I say vnto you whatsoeuer you shall bind vpon earth shall be bound in heauen In which saying of our Sauiour Christ this worde Congregation is not so largely taken as in other places for the whole multitude but for the chosen assembly of elders For our sauiour Christ in that worde alludeth vnto the assembly of elders that was amōg the Iews which they called but corruptlie of a greeke worde Synedrion which signifieth a Counsell or Consistory Sanedrin which had the hearing and determining of all difficult and waightie matters among the Iews the like wherof hee willed to be established in his Churche for administration of gouernment For seeing it was first instituted by God for gouernement of his Church in the olde lawe as hath beene shewed before out of Num. 11. 6. although it was shamefully abused by the wicked Iewes our sauiour Christ trāslateth it into his Church also in the new Testament and the name of Elders doth moste aptlye agree vnto them that bee gouernours in the Church now euen as it did to the ancients of Israel so that the Pastors seme to haue borrowed the name of Elders speciallye in respect of their gouernment The name of this consistory also in the new Testament we finde to be agreable with that of the Iewes whereof our sauiour Christe speaketh when he sayth Tell the congregation or assembly S Paule 1. Tim. 4. 14. Dispise not the gift which was giuen thee thorough prophecie with imposition of handes of the Eldership where the greeke word is Presbyterion the assemblie or Consistorye of the Elders Which worde is vsed also by Saint Luke in his Gospell speaking of the consistory of the Iewish Elders Luke 22. 66. As soone as it was daye the whole Eldership or assemblie of Elders came togeather both chiefe Priestes and Scribes and brought him into their counsell In which saying their counsel Synedrion is called Presbyterion Also Saint Paule Act. 20. 5. that he had beene a persecutor of christians taketh witnesse of the high priest and of the whol consistory of Elders vsing the same word Presbyterion By which it is euident that our sauiour Christ by this word Ecclesia in that place meaneth a consistory or assemblye of Elders whose authoritie he doth ratifie with such power that whatsoeuer is bounde or loosed by them on earth in the feare of God and with heartie prayer the Lord will bring it to passe yea he him selfe will be in the middest of them as President of their counsell to direct their consultations to the glory of God and the profite of his owne Church Therefore in euery Church there ought to be a consistory of Elders or Gouernours which with the Pastor may take charge of Ecclesiasticall discipline and good order to bee obserued in the church to the punishment of vice and the aduauncement of true vertue These if they gouerne well as Saint Paule doth testifie are worthy of double honour both that honour which is due to Godly men and that which is due to good gouernours How necessarye it is that Discipline shoulde be in the Church to keepe men in awe from offending and to bring offenders to repentaunce to auoyde the infection of sinne within the Church and the reproche that groweth by neglecting the punnishment of sinne among them that are without the Church We thinke it needlesse to stande long in proouing the matter of it selfe is so apparaunt and hath such plentifull testimonies in the scripture And especially let the reasons of Saint Paule 1. Cor. 5.

and external domination clean contrarye to the commaundemente of Christ whereof insued all vnbrideled license of vngodly liuing To be short the exchaunge of the ordinaunce of God and Christ brought in nothing else but the Diuell and Antichriste Wherefore if we minde such a reformation as shall bee acceptable to God profitable vnto his church We must thoroughly bee resolued to set vp no new kinde of ministerye of our owne inuention neyther for teaching nor for discipline in the Ecclesiastical state but bring all thinges to that most perfect and absolute order which God himselfe hath established by his worde And because all offices of the Churche are so lincked togeather as the members of one bodye whereof Christe is the heade we will so describe one part as the descriptiō of thē al may be sufficiently cōprehended therin As if a man wold set forth the manifold office vses of the hād he shold declare what it doth alone what it doth with the helpe of the other hand or with the arme with the brest with the knee or with the foot c what it cā do with diuers kinds of tooles what without al maner of instrumēts This order we thought good to obserue in describing the ministery of the Church as by which both the distinction cōmunicatiō of al offices seruices in the Church might most plainli appear Otherwise we force not by what method so the same truth be plainly set forth by any mā And as we controle not other mens methods by ours so we wold not that other mens maner of teaching shold be preiudicial to ours This we say because of thē which either for lack of wit or thorow too much wilfulnes if they see any difference in the form order of teaching of diuers men though in matter substaunce they all agree they exclaim there is no vnitie therfore no truth among thē Let vs then proceed in our purpose The office of teaching is the chiefe principall office that is in the church By that we be taught to know God how to serue him what benefits to look for at his hand without which knowlege ther cā be no felicity but only destruction loked for according to the saying of the wise man Wher propheciyng fayleth ther the people perish The ministery is diuided into two functiōs they that exercise the first are called Pastors the other are called Doctors or Teachers The office of a Doctor is to teach as the very name doth declare but yet euery teacher is not mēt thereby for it appertaineth to Pastors also to teach yet this latter is distinct frō the former Almighty God being carefull that true doctrin should continue in his church from time to time most wisely prouided that certain mē shold be appointed in euery cōgregation whō he hath endued with gifts meete for the same purpose which shoulde employe themselues either wholly or principally to the studie of holy scriptures therebye to learne to auouche the principles of true religion and to represse and beate downe al false and strange opinions of which sathan neuer ceaseth to sow the seeds but cheefly where this office is not set vp mayntained according to Gods ordinance These men must not content themselues with contemplatiue knowledge but as by the grace of God they excell other men in vnderstanding so they must diligentlye instruct other mē in the same learning and openly confute al false Doctrine and herisie and especially they ought to take payne in the instruction of such men as maye bee made meete to serue in the Churche as Pastoures and to succeede in their place as Doctours Their institution is set foorth 1. Corin. 12. 28. Also Ephes. 4. 11. In the former place the Apostle teacheth that they are the ordinaunce of God Sayth he God hath ordayned in the Church First Apostles Secondly Prophets Thirdly Doctors or Teachers In the latter place hee testifieth that our Sauior Christ ascended on high ledde cap●iuitie captiue and hath giuen giftes vnto ●en amongst which gifts he accoun●eth the function of Teachers Who ●●oulde then refuse to imbrace the ●rdinaunce of God Who should de●riue vs of the free gyft of Christ The office of Doctours is briefly ex●ressed in Rom. 12. 7. Let him that is Teacher attend vppon teaching where ●lso it is distinguished from other of●ces and namely from the office of ●astors For it followeth immediat●e Let him that exhorteth which is a ●rincipall part of a Pastors office not ●ecessarily requyred in a Teacher Be ●ligent in his exhortation For the office of Doctours is onely to teach true doctrine and to confute all heresies and false opinions by the worde of God concerning all Articles prin●●ples of Christian religion without applying their teaching to anye particular state of time of persons or places The example or practize of this office is set foorth Acts. 13. 1. Where it is recorded by S. Luke that Paule and Barnabas before the holy Ghost commanded them to be separated for the worke wherevnto he called them were in the number of prophetes and Doctors with Symeon Niger Lucius of Syrene and Manahen● in the Church of Antiochia where they continued in that office a whol● yeare in which Citie the Disciples were first called by the name of christians Act. 11. 26. Likewise Apollo● which was an eloquent man mightie in the scriptures firste at Ephesus but afterward beeing more perfectly instructed in the waye of God by Aquila and Priscilla in the church of Acha●a exercised the office of a Teacher with great profite of thē which had beleeued and to the great confusion of the stiffnecked Iewes while hee proued plainly by the scriptures that Iesus was the Christ. Act. 18. 28. Therefore if we purpose to haue the church to flourish in true knowlege we must prouide that this office be restored both in the vniuersities and in as manie other places as maye be as well for the better instruction of al men which are desirous to learne as especiallye for the information of those which shoulde occupye the ●oomes of Pastours of which sort ●here ought to be a great number alwayes in good towardnesse to take charge of so many seuerall flockes as must of necessitie be in so great a Church as this is Besides Doctors there must be Pa●tours ordained in euery congregation which haue diuers appellations ●n the scripture as Eph. 4. They are ●alled by the name of Pastours be●ause they ought to feede the seueral ●ocks of Gods sheepe committed to ●heir charge As it appeareth Act. 20 ●8 1. Peter 5. 2. They are called also Elders not alwaies in respect of their ●ge but of their office and grauitie ●or Timothie was but a young man and yet had the office of an Elder This name was receiued of an an●ient custome of the people of Is●aell who vsed so to call those that were Rulers and Officers amonge them

and then moste earnestly commaundeth him to practise the same with all diligence his wordes are these All Scripture is inspired of GOD and profitable for Doctrine for exhortation for reformation and for instruction which is in righteousnesse tha● the man of God maye bee prepared to a● good workes Therefore I charge thee before God before the Lord Iesus Christ which shall iudge the quicke and the deade at his appearing and in his kingdome preache the worde bee instan● in season and out of season improoue rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine The firste part therefore and the cheefest of a Pastours office or duety is to feede with wholsome doctrine the flocke that is committed to his charge and therefore Sainte Paul● describing what manner of men are meete for that charge vnto Timothy requireth that a Byshop or Pastour bee apt or able to teache for if a man haue neuer so much knoweledge and bee not apt or able to teach he ought by no meanes to be admitted vnto this vocation And vnto Titus writing Chap. 1. verse 9. he requireth that he be such a one as holdeth fast the faythfull worde according to Doctrine that he also may be able to exhort with wholesome Doctrine and improoue them that say against it Wherevppon it followeth necessarily that whosoeuer is himselfe ignoraunt in the knowledge of Gods worde and therefore vnable eyther to exhorte with wholsome doctrine or to confute them that gainsay it is altogether vnmeete for the office of a Pastor or bishop Wherefore if euer we minde suche a reformation as God shall thereby bee glorifyed and his Churche edifyed wee must vtterlye remooue al the vnlearned pastors as men by no means to be tollerated to haue any charge ouer the lords flok also prouide that herafter none be receiued into that office but such as are sufficient for their knowledge abilitie in teaching to take so waightie a charge in hand What man hauing but one hundreth sheep would make such a man shepheard or ouerseer ouer them as were a naturall Idiott or otherwise altogeather vnskilfull or vnable to performe those thinges that belong to a shepheard If no man haue so little care of brute beastes What brutishe negligence is it to commit the people of God redeemed with the precious bloud of Iesus Christ to such vnskilfull and vnsufficient Pastours as neither them selues know the waye of saluation neither are able to lead other vnto it whereof they are ignoraunt them selues If there bee no waye of saluation but by faith and none can beleeue but such as heare the worde of God preached O Lorde how miserable is the state of many flockes in this lande who either seldome or neuer heare the worde of God truely preached and ●herefore know not how to beleeue that they might be saued But here it will be aunswered that as it is a thing greatly to be desired To it is altogether vnpossible to prouide the Church of so many learned Pastours as shoulde take charge of euery seueral congregation But hereto we replie that it is a thing necessarily required at our hands by God almighty and therefore we must obiect no impossibilitie especially whē our owne negligence is the cause of all the difficultie or if you will so call it impossibilitie We confesse it will be harde at the first but we must doe our endeuour and commit the successe vnto God and there is no doubt but in time it will grow to an happy ende But when we shall be altogether carelesse as we haue been of long time and that is worse not acknowledging anye default in this behalfe as there be that doe not and that is most of all mayntaining suche lets and hinderaunces as bee continuall nurseies of ignoraunce and ignorant pastors We may bee ashamed to alledge that difficulty for which none are to be blamed but we our selues We may be ashamed now that our church hath had rest and peace with free preaching of the gospel this 25. or 26. years vnder the protection of our most gratious Queen to bee so vnfurnished of learned Pastors as we are whereas if that diligence had bene vsed of all partes as might and shoulde haue beene emploied of all them that vnfaignedly seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse almoste in halfe the time this necessitie might haue bene well supplied If we seeke experience what diligent carefull prouision is able to do with the blessing of God looke to our neighbours brethren in Christ of Fraunce whoe although they neuer enioyed one day of such peace as we haue don so many years Yet how plentifullie they are furnished withall kinds of Ecclesiasticall ministers and namely with Godly and learned pastors it would reioyce any Christian heart to beholde in them ●nd lament to see the lack in vs. But ●s for those that acknowledge no de●ect in our Church thorow the great multitude of ignoraunt Pastors We had rather at this time praie to God ●o lighten their blindenes then by ●ny long discourse to discouer their palpable darkenes Would to God there were not more difficultie in reforming them that maintaine suche inconueniences as except they bee taken away we shall neuer be disburdened of the cankers of the church those vnlearned ministers For while Nonresidents and Pluralities be reteined we shal neuer want vnlearned Curates that for small stipendes will supplie the absence of Pluralities and Nonresidentes Which grosse corruptions of pastorall office as they maye haue some honest pretence so canne they haue no better pretence neyther are they reteyned with a better conscience then the Priestes in our Sauiour Christs time suffered the exchaungers of mony Grasyers and Pulterers to make a Burse or shambles and a Pultrie yea a denne of theeues of the Temple of God which was appoynted to be a house of prayer to all nations Math. 21. 12. Mark 11. 15. Iohn 2. 14. But especially while the whole office of a Pastour shall be thought to consist in reading onely a prescript number of Psalmes and chapters of the scriptures with other appointed formes of prayer and that he maye bee allowed as a sufficient Pastour which doth the thinges which a Childe of ten yeares olde maye doe as well as he so long shall we neuer lacke vnlearned Pastours ignoraunt and vngodly people Symonicall and sacrilegious patrones So long the building of Gods Church shall goe but slowly forwarde beside other superstitious fantasies mayntained in the peoples heartes which for shortnesse wee omitte to speake off What though some saye formall reading might be borne withall for a time vntill the Church might bee prouided of sufficient Pastours which yet is not graunted shall it therefore continue alwayes to the perpetuall decay of knowledge and hurt of the Church of God What greater discouragement is there vnto Students then to see the rewardes of learning bestowed as commonly vppon the ignorant as vpon the learned What encouragement