Selected quad for the lemma: doctrine_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
doctrine_n	apostle_n	church_n	primitive_a	4,139	5	9.1134	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45617	Noah's dove, or, An epistle of peace directed to his intirely affected brethren, the Presbiterians and Independants as a probable means for their agreement and vnion / from Sir Iames Harington, Knight.	Harrington, James, Sir, 1607-1680.	1645 (1645)	Wing H815; ESTC R31528	5,826	14

the paralell in generall Counsells and Parliaments affirming that the other way hath no grounds in Scripture since Churches were necessarily Independant no State being then Christian that this way by reason that our corrupt nature hath no check is destructive to the unitie of Religion Since according to the number of the Congregations will be their opinions as also pernitious to Common-wealths their being no feuds so bloody and irreconciliable as those that breake out about points of Faith instance in the wars betweene the Turke and Persian Papists and Protestants in the Lutheran contestations and Arian persecutions Lastly they conclude an inconsistencie in this way with relations and callings disaffection and departure from Bed Board Families and Imployments being experimentall consequences of Religious differences On the other side the contradicting partie affirme that a generall Assembly differs but in name from a Conclave of Cardinals or Prelaticall Synod that every member of the Church is free and ought not in matters of Faith to conclude himselfe by Proxie that no Church hath power over another or Brethren since the Apostles have Dominion over the Consciences of their Brethren that their Platforme of Church Government ought to be and is jure divino that the Eavngelicall Scripture sets foorth theirs and no other Now deare Brethren give me your pardon and leave with Moses to step in betwixt your Combatings with his and Abrahams words why doe ye contend being ye are Brethren it may be God giving a blessing and each of you in his hand I shall in my Proposition be a medium to unite you only dispise not my indeavours since the Lord hides many things from the wise and prudent and reveales them to Babes But to proceed I observe neither of you arrogate to your selves an infallability but piously seeke an Orthodox and Prudentiall way of Government for the attaining and preserving Gods truth blessed are your indeavours yea they shal be blessed Wherefore I aske the Presbiterians why doe ye extoll and lift up a generall assemblie above the rest of the flocke of Christ To the Independants I say why doe ye preferre the judgement of one particular Congregation before the ioynt votes of all the refined Christian Churches of the Kingdome surely the first will yeild to me that where most of Gods People are in their judgement there is the greatest measure of his spirit and to such Assemblies principally and to their votes are made all those gratious promises I neede not coate the places concerning Christs spirit and presence I mean to such a Multitude not of Men only but of purged and visible believers The other I presume both from grounds of Scripture and reason will grant that could the votes of all the reputed and received Members of Christ of their severall Churches be joyntly taken and in one place they must be accepted and are but as the vote of one great Congregation which though it have an increase of Ministers and Elders yet according to a true difinition for essence is a Church and that more eminently though not more truely then the particular Congregations of whom it consists even as an Assembly made up of many Families called by the * Apostle Churches of God is more excellent then its subdivisions But that I may make good by Scripture this incorporating of Churches conjuncture and union of votes I shall remember you of those three chiefe proofes and lights of Church Governmrnt both for Doctrine and manners The first shewes the Primitive and Apostolique way of ending controversies in Doctrine by the summoning of that great Assembly of the members of the Churches of Ierusalem and Iudea of which Churches read Acts. 11. 1. and Galat 1. 22. Therefore called a Multitude Acts. 15. 12. in which the Apostles although indued with an infallible spirit and the Elders of the Churches did not alone vote and decree matters though that in many cases wherein the People consents such votes may be and are necessary expedient lawfull but the whole Church verse 22. which compar'd with Acts. 2. verse 41. Wherein three thousand are said to be converted and with Acts. 4. verse 4. Wherein five thousand were by one Sermon converted clearely demonstrates that this Assembly was composed of many Congregations as further appeares from the Apostles teaching and preaching in every house Acts. 5. 42. How else could eight thousand Men besides Women and Children be taught and edified The like is proved from the election and choise of the seaven Deacons by the vote of the Multitude Acts. 6. 5. Where the Apostles and Elders also were present yea those whom the holy Ghost Acts. 2. 47. Calls a Church in a Nationall respect he calls Churches Acts. 9. 31. In a Congregationall consideration And lastly in Corinth there more then probably appears to be many * Congregations else whence or where were these discentions and divisions some saying I am of Paul others I am of Apollo of Cephas 1. Cor. 1. 12. All the Members of which were commanded to meete in one Assembly for the excommunication of the incestuous person 1. Cor. 5. 4. Where note they were to meete to whom the Epistle was directed who are admonished to mourn But the Epistle and exhortation was directed to the whole Church of Corinth and not to the Elders only ergo the whole Congregation when they shall desire it have a right to vote and censure Having thus fully proved by Scripture that in Cities and Provinces and consequently in Kingdoms the Members of particular Congregations may and were by command to meete for the deciding of any great difference yea the Apostles though of an infallible spirit did not contradict but give both approbation and institution to that liberty I shall with humblest submission offer this following Proposition as a right and fit medium of reconciliation That in all great scisms and heresies over spreading whole Churches if the breach cannot be made up by advice argument and subordinate discipline either Congregationall or Presbiteriall an appeale be made to a Generall Assembly who after the stating disputing and voting such points in difference together with the merrit of the offence the recusant Church or Churches notwithstanding continuing unsatisfied that then the Assembly adjourne that sessions for three moneths in which time the Assembly members of each Congregation to be ordered after fasting and prayer to state the Question and declare the Arguments and Judgement of the generall Assembly to their particular Churches and so accordingly at that meeting receive and bring up each Churches vote and sentence with the number because of the disproportion of Parishes sum'd up of those that affirme and those that discent that so at the next Session the Question may be decided and concluded by the Major vote both of Churches and Members which Scripture way will not only by a religious Policy from time to time discover the temper pulse inclination of the whole Kingdome and consequently administer a great help and direction to Government but will give full satisfaction to all unlesse to obstinate heritickes as being the judgement and vote even by the Poale of all the visible and individuall Christians of the Kingdome politically united as in one Congregation yea the disobedient wil be left without excuse and justly liable to their sentence of excommunication But put the Question a considerable number of the Churches in the Kingdome give in their vote with a new opinion hazarding a rent and division in the Nation I answer that upon so sad an occasion our Church in imitation of the ancient callings of Generall Counsels upon the over flowing of heresie ought to desire the judgement and assistance and that by additionall votes if it may be of all the reformed Churches in the world which comes neerest to the judgement of the holy Catholicke Church the body of Christ to which he hath promised his presence and spirit of truth to the end and therefore must as to each particular State or Church though not infallibly yet prudentially end and conclude by obedience either active or passive the discenting Churches whom the civill Magistrate after the Churches excommunication is to order by banishment or lesser punishment according as their doctrines shal be more or lesse prejudiciall to the State wherein they live Which since they suffer as evill doers is as to that Common-wealth a civill and necessary act of preservative Justice not an inforcing of Conscience or persecution Thus fervently beseeching the blessing of the all-wise God upon my poore and weake indeavours trusting that in the bowells of love and charity I have in sincerity and plainnesse declared unto you the mind of Christ in all humility I conclude The unworthiest of the servants of the Lord Iesus J. H. FINIS Imprimatur Joseph Carill Gen. 25. 22. Malach. 1. 3 Gen. 45. 24. Eph. 4. 4 5 6 Rom. 12. 1. 1 Cor. 13. 4. Galat. 5. 22. Math. 11. 29. John 13. 34 35. 1 Cor. 6. 5 6. 7. 10. Math. 24. 12. Vers 7. 10. Vers. 11. and 24. Vers. 26. and 24. Vers. 27. Gal. 1. 8. 2 Cor. 11. 13. Rev. 11. 15. Eph. 4. 14. Eph. 4. 3. 1 Cor. 3. 11. Rom. 14. 23. * Heb. 6. 1. 2. * Psal. 11. 3. 1 Cor. 3. 12. Gal. 5. 1. 13. * 1 Joh. 2. 9. 1. * Jam. 1. 16. 1 Cor. 14. 34. 1 Tim. 2. 11. 1 Cor. 5. 11. 2 Cor. 6. 14. 17. Ephes. 2. 21. Joh. 17. 21. Exod. 2. 13. Gen. 13. 8. Mat. 11. 25. * Colos 4. 15. Rom. 16. 5. * Compare Rom. 16. 16. with the postscript of that Epistle Acts 1. 15. 23. Act. 21. 22. Math. 28. 20 2. Chro. 15. verse 12. 13. 14. Matthew 18 verse 17.