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	teacher_n	2,224	5	8.9443	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85173	A faithful discovery of a treacherous design of mystical Antichrist displaying Christs banners, but attempting to lay waste Scriptures, churches, Christ, faith, hope, &c. and establish paganism in England. Seasonably given in a letter to the faithful in and near to Beverley. Containing an examination of many doctrines of the people called Quakers in Yorkshire, together with a censure of their way, and several items concerning the designs of God, Satan, and men, in these things, recommended to the consideration of them who are in good earnest for Christ.	Pomroy, John.; Feake, Christopher, fl. 1645-1660.; Glisson, Paul.; Kellet, Joseph.	1653 (1653)	Wing F568; Thomason E699_13; ESTC R202092	45,783	67

not aware or observed not that it was ever since the daies of John the Baptist and that it was {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in them or among them and they knew not 2. Most true it is that where-ever the Kingdome of God comes with power and efficacy it sits down in the heart and doth subdue the thoughts wills affections and actions of Men to the Scepter of Christ But it comes near to many in the Gospel or outward message of peace though they know not the time of their visitation and again is taken away from a nation when the Gospel is taken away 3. We do indeed firmly hold against all the sonnes of formality that it is not talking of God but walking with God not the form of Godlinesse without the power that sets one further than the outward Court and that God is not worshipped in Truth if he be not worshipped in Spirit Also we hold that all the visible order and regiment of the Church as suited to the present Condition in the body is not of the substance of the Kingdom that cannot be shaken but shall cease at the second coming of Christ 4. Yet during the imperfect state of the Church as we mentioned before and the Love-conveyances from one member to another for the increase of the body there cannot be any thing trans-acted but in some form And for the standing forms of Gospel-appointments as Church-order Sacraments c. we judge them added to as appendixes of the Kingdome and they are unalterable by the wisdom or will of Man untill the appearing of Christ Their end is to testifie our blessed subjection of Jesus Christ as Banners and flags hung out to the view of the world to make known the People that own Christ crucified Also they are chanels of Spritual Grace Scripture and experience witnessing and may not be neglected under pretence of avoiding formality or present indisposednesse or dullness which many times is removed by a conscientious attendance upon these exercises Wherefore we conclude that to set up the form without the Power or the Power to jusle out the form of Godliness are both errors and is beside the Rules and practise of those Times which abounded in glorious gifts and wonderfull Grace who yet were most observant of and exactly conversant in Church order Pastors Teachers Elders c. Baptism with water the Lords Supper in the Elements Bread and Wine receiving in and casting out of visible societies by the Power of Christ binding on earth and loosing offenders when penitent continuing in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and publique Prayers and prophecyings as 1 Tim. 2. 1 12. 3. chap. 1. 8. 4. ch. 14. 5. chap. 1. 7. 9. 17. 19. 22. compared with 3. chap. 16. v. But it sufficeth not to our Adversaries to have left things in General but they also affirm that Presbyterians Independents Anabaptists and such differing forms are all in the Kingdom of Babylon and in the confusions of it TOuching which 1. It is our earnest desire that such so differing would not rigidly dwell upon their conceivments in Externals to make a breach in the Body of Christ which is but one by rejecting all though godly that are not in their way of Discipline Faith in Christ and Love to all Saints are joined together Eph. 1. 17. Col. 1. 4. 2. Yet we do abhominate those unjust aspersions of Babel-confusions cast on these effects of an inquisitive mind desiring to know the mind of the Lord which thou O vain man reproachest though thy conscience would tell thee if thou hadst not silenced it that there are many godly persons in those mentioned wayes who rest not in the form but in obedience to God as they understand exercise themselves therein having also the Power of Godliness 3. But it is observable they meddle not with Popery and Episcopacy c. for indeed these principles make all externals indifferent unlesse that they are more violent against Presbyterians Independents Anabaptists because they stand more in their light neither may Familism speak ill of its native Country and old friends We mean the Romish Antichrist Some indeed say that Pastors Teachers Elders Churches and such administrations ended with the Apostles age and that it is not for us to seek them but a more spiritual way 1. BUt its manifest Apostles were but to plant such as Apollos Timothy Titus c. came to water 1 Cor. 3. 16. Thus doth one enter into anothers labours one layeth the foundation and another buildeth thereupon v. 10. wherefore Paul according to the wisdome given to him ordered that in every Church or City where the Church was there should be Elders whose Place and work it was some to Rule well and some to labour in the Word and Doctrine Act. 14. 27. Tit. 1. 5 7 8 9 10. 2. Also we read of Teachers Ministers Churches Overseers Deacons where the Apostle of the Gentiles was not Col. 1. 7. 2 chap. 1. likewise the Angels of the seven Churches in Asia 2. and 3. of Rev. long settled And the Church in the wildernesse during the Apostacy from Primitive Peace and Purity hath witnesses that feed her 1260. Prophetical dayes or years Rev. 12. 6. 14. 3. But it is above controversie If our Lord hath given gifts to men they must imploy those Talents though they are not so eminent as in the Primitive times being according to the measure of the Gift of Christ and his Grace Eph. 4. 7. Rom. 12. 3 4 5 6. Now that the qualifications of an Overseer Elder Deacon may be found in these our daies is manifest if we consider the 1 Tim. 3. 2. c. Tit. 1. 6. as not conteining any extraordinary Grace That we must not expect them to be sent forth as the Apostles immediatly is manifest for though they are to have an open door in their own hearts Yet they are set down as such 1 That may desire the work 1 Tim. 3. 1. 2. Are called to it by the Saints and Eldership trying and approving them 1 Tim. 4. 14. 5. chap. 22. Titus 1. 5. And 3 such as are instructed for the further fitting them for their work 1 Tim. 4 6. 13 14 15. 2 Tim. 2. 2. likewise such 4 as being qualified in some measure yet through modesty or fear or other respects may be unwilling to feed the flock of God though called thereunto 1 Pet. 5. 1 2. reserving still the honour to the chief shepheard v. 4 and that this is a rule to be continued in the Church is evident 1 Tim. 3. 15. ch. 6. 14. So then though they have not these extraordinary endowments or miraculous operations it s nothing material for the Church and the doctrine needeth it not as at the beginning 2. Also that Timothy Titus and the Angels of the Churches and Elders after the Apostles never did miracles that we read of 3. Miracles also being in the last times signes of

Antichrist rather than of Christ 4. And signes being not for them that do believe but for them that believe not 1 Cor. 14. 22. 4. If the Saints have now as much need of those appointments as then nay more if we may say so then why should any seek to be loosed from their own Mercies We confess we have read and heard of seen and through Grace humbly despised the vain boastings of them who said they were perfect and were above hearing praying believing hoping speaking Great swelling words of vanity who have turned aside first from the holy Commandement and after that from the pretence of it which should awaken us to edifie one another on our most holy Faith praying in the Holy Ghost that we might not be led away with the Error of the wicked and so fall from our stedfastness It is most freely confessed that when things come to practise in this time which is neither dark nor day many doubts and questions do arise among many yet as some of us have tasted of the goodness of God in this way so we may not but acknowledge it and farther Pray until the day break and shadows flee away Turn O beloved and be as a roe or young hart on the Mountains of Divisions Surely the Doctrines of these Men which we oppose are levelled to subvert all Order Churches in whatsoever is done outwardly For they say its Babylon and all the worship and Teachers without are of the Beast and Anti-christ Judge us O Lord for why should Men in thy name rise up against thy Sonne and us for his sake 1. Rejecting thy care 2. Condemning thy Wisedom 3. And the Generation of the Just in all ages 4. To establish themselves and prepare a high-way to Paganism It is not a Pleasure to us Beloved in the Lord to open these painted Sepulcres but since we have begun we will proceed to shew yet more that you may see and wonder and beware They bid you Speak no more than you have experience of and than you live in VVE confesse it is and shall be to us for a Lamentation that the religion of very many consisteth in talking of God and Christ and Scriptures and Churches and is but a sound of words without knowledge and faith and so do rather darken than make manifest the Truth and because it is without obedience their conversations destroy their confessions And did these sayings aim at the reformation of this we should not dare to cross them but we have grounds from certain discourses personally had with some of this way to declare 1. That this is to silence you from ever mentioning the histories and prophecies of the Scripture Creation of the world Garden of Eden Adam Eve Flood Historie of the Church coming of Christ into the world the Day of Judgement Resurrection of the Body and such like which being Past or to come we can have no present experience of And some of us speaking of these Scripture Records have been blamed for speaking without experience 2. Or Secondly by this means all the Scriptures must be construed as Metaphorical in an Allegorie making the Creation an Allegorie and so the world without beginning Adam Eve the Serpent Paradise Cain Abel Seth Noah Ark Abraham Isaac Jacob Aegypt Wilderness Canaan Kings Prophets Records to be meer allegories Nay Christ his flesh and blood his life and death his Cross and Crown Scribes and Pharisees Jerusalem Herod Pilate Churches Elders Anti-christ called Babylon and Egypt c. and what not to be fulfilled in the Allegoricall construction of particular experiences But concerning Experience we are satisfied 1. That to speak without Experience in experimental affairs is to darken counsel as they do that speak onely from the hearing of the Ear Iob 38. 2. 2. But Faith is the Evidence of things not seen and a subsistence of things hoped for though its evidence be not of the nature of Sense Science Opinion or Experience being of things unseen by the sense not known from the search and rationall comprehension of Causes nor intertained from the Probable testimony of wise and holy Men nor tasted in the Presence thereof yet after a spiritual manner seen known and experienced by Faith in the Divine Testimony Wherefore having believed we also will speak of the sacred Records and gracious Prophecies which are delivered to us in the holy Scriptures of which and in which God hath caused us to trust giving us also the Earnest of the Spirit which as Josephs wagons to Iacob doth ascertain us of the Truth of the tidings And the gracious operations of the holy Spirit in our hearts from and by Scripture Truths gives us to believe the Histories and Prophecies interwoven to be also of Divine Authority 3. We do also judge the Word of Faith which is Divine Testimony to be more safe Certain and Constant ground to speak of and from than experience In this we are not for a dead Faith which is the fruit of freewill closing with the Word from the testimony of Man which leaves the mind wavering through carnal reasonings which cannot be satisfied But for a lovely Faith even the work of the Spirit with Power setling the mind on the Divine Testimony as such As for speaking no more than we live in if it intend not to stop the mouths of all those who dare not pretend to perfection and blamelessnesse but those who speak from Notion and yield not up their souls to the things which they deliver to others we testifie the same thing As for Allegories 1. We allow very many in the old Testament beside the Ceremonial Law which was a shadow of good things to come Persons Offices Places Actions Things which the Ecchoings of phrases wisely and warily observed give hints of and puts the beginning of every Allegorie into our hands as the Apostle took it in Gal. 4. from the 54. of Is 1. verse which yet must be wisely followed as Scripture Ecchos proceed to encourage yet not to impair the truth or use of the Letter and History Allegories being but accidentall thereto and a fruit of the incomprehensible wisdom of God that sets one thing to answer to another But in the New Testament although Jesus Christ spake many parables and used similitudes which he opened to his Disciples yet the Gospel Ministration properly so called not onely in the language thereof but in the Actions persons things thereof is in much plainnesse and not as Moses who had a veil upon his face but the Messias discovered himself by speaking plainly and without a Parable John 16. 29. his parables in his publique preaching being chiefly for judgement to the willfull Jews that seeing they might not see Matth. 13. 13. We gladly own Christ in us by his Spirit to crucify our flesh and raise us up in our hearts in this world and at his second comming our bodies in the resurrection to a new and spiritual life and

scope of the place and other Scriptures of the like Argument 4. The Scripture was given for doctrine reproof correction instruction which is the foundation of a variety discourse from any Scripture Method is prudential and variable according to occasion Study or meditation is duty and blessed which should in a Teacher expresse it self as in a workman that needs not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth by explication giving each word its due and by application each their portion As for Learning it is but subservient to the understanding the Letter of the Scriptures gives a more distinct utterance helps to significant words and is an advantage that equalls them to their Adversaries armed with learning against the truth But some contend against learning because they know it not as for these people we suppose had they learning as their Leaders and Abbettors beyond the Seas and in England did so would they use it to the utmost against what they oppose There be many railing and impertinent applications of Scriptures made by them which every one may see into that hath not darknesse on his right eye and we shall not mention onely remembring it s not any person or circumstance so much that is aimed at as the Ministry it self or all outward Teachers in which Argument they discover more Envy Pride Passion than in any other But be assured if the Magistrates had not a material sword as the Ministers have not their language would light as heavy on their heads and more than so In all this we plead not for the ignorant ungodly persecuting men called Ministers but do sadly bewail that after all the Petitions from the Nation Declarations of the State and Proposalls from the wise hearted there is yet any thing hinders the doing of something to purpose to withdraw the Publick incouragement from the corrupt Ministry with whom God hath a controversie Concerning that they say God is now comming to redeem his People from all their Teachers and teach them himself● We do declare our apprehensions of such approaching desolation on many things which are in high esteem among men that should they be spoken would make many ears to tingle But God will provide for the houshold of faith and send them Pastors after his own heart untill the new Jerusalem come down from Heaven which these pretend to but know not But as God is about a great and strange work so is Satan who now comes with all deceivablenesse in the Mystery of Iniquity which answers line for line with the Mystery of Godlinesse in bringing in a false Christ and false Kingdome consisting in a Righteousnesse peace and joy all false witnesse the lying Prophets strange wonders strong delusions religious Prophanenesse found amongst us in England triumphing in the abolishing of Good and evil Heaven and Hell and the transcendent speculations concerning God incarnate in all things Apparitions voices trances of and to persons manifestly deluded and bewitched with the spirit of lies Touching their seeming Mortification we advertise you that who so diligently apply themselves to the Law as they rightly advise if righteousnesse were to be sought by the Law such may find by minding their light and standing on their watch a great measure not onely of Mastery over outward Actions but a nipping of the root of evill for a season And how farr Imagination may work when the mind is wholly subjected to it and composed to a contemplative sequestration from all outward objects is partly known to them who by nature or custome are addicted to Melancholy But how far the jealous God may give up over-credulous and unbelieving Minds to sink into these deeps of strange delusions must be left to him who is just yet unsearchable in his waies yet hath given us to know what should be in the last daies Now as there hath been a black and long Parenthesis or dark space in the daies of the Apostacy or back-fliding from Primitive Purity in doctrine and Discipline and according to the Scriptures we are admonished of a happy and peaceable state of all the children of Sion after the Destruction of Babylon the Lords own cannot but rejoice in the remembrance of the Dayes of the Son of man hoping the return of them which they desired to see so long but have not seen Now being in some forwardnesse through the Judgements of God begun in the Nations they are supposing the time is now come upon which the Deceiver takes his advantage saying Lo here and lo there and when he saw that bare forms would not satisfy the children of the Kingdome he addressed himself in a more glorious and taking way saying Now are the daies of the Son of man Now hath Christ sent forth his Disciples as of old the twelve Apostles and 70 disciples without Staff Scrip or money c. See here be miracles there be multitudes flocking in Here 's the great Power of the Holy Ghost there are men falling down and saying God is among you Here is the spirit poured on the hand-maides and there upon the children But we have learned that if an Angell from Heaven bring us another Gospel Christ or Spirit let him be accursed We consider that as evill Angells suggest evil so do Angells of light good motions now Satan transformed into an Angel of Light which is an Embleme of knowledge righteousnesse innocency peace meeknesse is suggesting and helping on good motions and fair compliances with rules of right to an ill end Wherefore 1. Go not after them nor follow them lest you put your selves from under Gods protection if they come to you it is safer 2. Hold fast to the Authority of the Scriptures 3. Exercise Faith much on Jesus Christ the Mediatour 4. Have and hold a form of sound words that cannot be condemned 2 Tim. 1. 13 Tit. 2. 8. A better form of words cannot be than the words of the Wisdome of the Spirit in the Scriptures 5. Take heed of judging ordinances as unnecessary or indifferent things yet let your souls wait on God in them else if you be beguiled of the Marrow you 'l be easily perswaded to throw away the Bone 6. Give diligence to more entire communion among your selves Two are better than one 7. Whatever is offered to you from Scripture do not only examine the truth of the Doctrine but also whether it be the true meaning of that Scripture 8. Discourse not with these People about circumstances but first enquire whether you agree in the main things the Scriptures Christ Faith Resurrection of the body c. 9. Remember that if your hearts be established with Faith and in the Love of God in Christ you shall not be as little children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine 10. Consider also the End of this Generation in Germany and in many places of England We shall conclude pointing you to some serious thoughts concerning the Doctrines and practises of these people which