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

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88870	The bramble berry: or, A briefe discourse touching participating in mixt assemblies at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, wherein is most full and cleare satisfaction given to every weak and doubting Christian, both by testimony out of Gods Word, and many invincible reasons and arguments for that purpose, grounded upon the same, wherein is first principally discussed and resolved these three maine questions following: I. Whether the Congregationall assemblies in England be true churches of Jesus Christ, yea or no? 2. Whether it be lawfull to participate at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper among carnall and prophane men? 3. Whether the admitting of ungodly men to the table of the Lord be sufficient warrant for ministers to desist the publike administration of the Sacrament, or for particular members to decline it, or separate themselves? Secondarily, briefe and satisfactory answers given to all the principall places of Scripture alleadged to maintaine a separation from our church assemblies, besides their arguments and allegations sufficiently resolved: set forth for the benefit of the tender conscience. By W. L. a faithfull petitioner and carefull practitioner for the peace and welfare of the church and people of God.	W. L., a faithful petitioner and careful practitioner for the peace and welfare of the church and people of God.	1643 (1643)	Wing L84; Thomason E56_8; ESTC R413	53,887	63

be guilty of the body and bloud of Christ as every ungodly man is for no man in the state of grace and salvation c. yet they hold that Gods people can be guilty seeing Christ crucified by wicked men at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper are guilty c. Their Argument should therefore have runne thus They that either crucifie Christ or joyne with them that doe crucifie him are guilty of the body and bloud of Christ But wicked men at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper doe crucifie Christ and Gods people in comming to the Sacrament with them doe joyne with them therefore they are both guilty of the body and bloud of Christ This Argument for the major and minor 1 Cor. 11.27.29 may be granted with some caution but the assumption is false for grant that wicked men in the Sacrament doe crucifie the Lord Christ it is onely to themselves and they are themselves guilty of the body and bloud of Christ wee may grant also that those that joyne with them doe also crucifie Christ and so become guilty of c. but with this exception or caution following There is a twofold joyning with wicked men And both these wayes 1. With their persons 1. Voluntarily 2. Accidentally or Occasionally 2. In their actions 1. Voluntarily 2. Accidentally or Occasionally A man may come in the company of a wicked man and yet not joyne with him if accidentally a man by reason of his businesse in his generall or particular calling or the like nay a man may voluntarily be in the company of a wicked man being lawfully called to it as in common and publike meetings either concerning Church or Common-wealth and yet not guilty of his evill actions that which makes a man guilty of another mans actions is approving them consenting to them voluntary joyning in the action with them not every comming into their company and being with them accidentally or occasionally as for example a wicked man and a godly man come to heare the Word it is both their duties so to doe if the wicked man shall purposely come to insnare the Minister to cut a Purse to doe some other mischiefe if the godly man have no such end or intent if he show his dislike of it exhort him and reprove him for it and use all lawfull wayes and meanes to reclaime him How can he be guilty of joyning with him so in the Sacrament it is the duty of the godly man to receive the Sacrament upon due preparation if wicked men will thrust themselves in to that sacred Ordinance without preparation he that comes as he ought showing his dislike of this abuse labouring by seasonable exhortation or reproofe or information to reforme the abuse and in case authority doe not reforme it if he mourne for it and pray against it how can this man be said to joyne with that wicked man Nay the one eates and drinkes the body and bloud of Christ to salvation the other crucifies Christ afresh to his owne damnation therefore I conclude that Argument thus that which a man utterly dislikes condemnes is humbled for prayes against labours to reforme to the utmost of his ability cannot be accounted that mans guilt but Gods people c. doe utterly dislike c. the sinfull approachings of wicked men to the Lords Table mourne for it pray against it therefore c. the sinnes of another man must not make me decline my duty but it is my duty to prepare examine and receive the Sacrament therefore the sinnes of wicked men comming to it is no reason for me to decline or separate from it the principall part of the duty lies in selfe-examination 1 Cor. 11.28 not so much in examination of others Object Gods people doe not doe their duty herein true peradventure they pray against it and are humbled for it but they doe not their best indeavour by reproofe exhortation and information either to reclaime such or to have them cast out Answ So farre as they fall short of their duty herein they sinne but if they should totally neglect this duty of exhorting reproving praying against mourning for c. which it is impossible for any godly man to doe yet this would not warrant them to separate for this were but the adding one sinne to another Againe suppose the party offending be not capable of admonition or will not reforme then you will say we must tell it to the Church now suppose the guides Temporall and Ecclesiasticall to whom the matter must be brought be so corrupt that they would countenance the offendor and punish the complainant establish the disorder rather then redresse it What shall the innocent then doe must he complaine to his undoing or leave his standing in the Church as unlawfull because he cannot doe the duties which God calleth for at his hands the Shepheards of Israel were many times blinde ignorant vitious robbers hirelings vaine persons so the Scribes and Pharisees if the Disciples or the faithfull should have sought to them for Reformation of abuses in the Church what could have beene expected 1 Cor. 3.10 2 Cor. 11.13 Gal. 1.6 the Corinthian Pastors we know built hay and stubble upon the foundation Paul had laid amongst them were false Apostles deceitfull workers in Galatia the Pastors troubled the Church with corrupt Doctrine in the seven Churches of Asia all the Angels were reprehended and so our Bishops Ministers and Magistrates were all so corrupted that no man durst complaine of abuses in the Church nay nor himselfe with safety discharge his owne duty what should the faithfull doe depart from the Ordinances of grace while God is pleased to dwell among them or neglect the duty God hath called them to and so partake in other mens sinnes the Congregation it selfe divided or remisse the greatest part the worst so that the best cannot be held among them truth cannot take place such division and dissention was in the Church of Corinth that the house of Cloe was constrained to complaine to the Apostle most of them so puffed up in the case of the incestuous person that it had beene vaine for the better sort to have sought the casting him out had not the Apostle sharply reproved them their abusive comming to the Lords Table was generall so that the better sort might grieve at it but could not reforme it in this case the faithfull cannot tell the Church for that it is divided 1 Cor. 1.11 1 Cor. 5.1.2 and as in our times the greatest part holding the worst side depart they must not for the Lord is in the Church and Ordinances and they must not leave them till the Lord forsakes them what remaines then but that with mercifull affections they dislike reprove and correct as much as in them lieth what they finde amisse what they cannot amend indure and suffer patiently and in loving sort lament and bewaile till God doe correct and amend it or make way for their inlargement and

there be many such prophane wretches that thrust themselves into the Assemblies yet the Lord hath his number of chosen ones that both professe and practise obedience to the Gospel for whose sake the Ordinances are continued and the presence of God in them so that the uneven walking of wicked men doth neither take away the benefit of the Ordinances from the godly nor give a nullity to the Church 5. This also is that that will leave them one day without excuse that they sinned in a Land of uprightnesse in the middest of so much light and of enjoyment of so much means and also aggravate their sin that they have presumptuously laid claime to the Ordinances of God and have beene negligent and carelesse to walke sutable hereby they in the Sacrament eate and drinke to their owne damnation and become guilty of the body and bloud of the Lord Christ in trampling his sacred bloud under their feete and crucifying to themselves the Lord of life Object The Church of the Jewes was a true Church and so the Church of Corinth and the rest named they were a people in Covenant with God rightly constituted and there was never a nationall Church since the Jewes were rejected Mr Bal●●●●● ●rounds o● Sep pag. 1●● Ans Religion ever since the fal is all one in substance thogh different in the dispensation and the Church one and the same though different in its manner of government and measure of its gifts fitted to the severall ages thereof the mysteries are varied according to the times but the faith whereby we live is the same in all ages and as God is unchangeable so is the Covenant unchangeable that excepted which was peculiar to the manner of dispensation the confederates and members of the Church one and the same by Gods approbation and so the common nature and essence of all true Churches and essentiall constitution from the beginning to the end of the world In all ages of the Church the members thereof ought to be holy and Saints or they shall not be approved by God Psal 50.5.16 they are Saints who have made a Covenant with God by way of Sacrifice the wicked have nothing to doe with the Covenant the end of the calling of the Church is holinesse to the glory of God at all times and is true in all ages Gen 4.26 Luke 20.26 Mat. 5.16 1 Pet. 2.12 Acts 2.47 And they which are unanswerable to this end or cleane contrary affected they are not called into Covenant or communion with God if in one age of a Church the Scripture ascribe not holinesse to a people for some few sake if the rest be unholy and prophane it ascribes it not to them in any age If in one state of the Church uncleane persons doe pollute Lev. 14.46 4● Hag. 2.12.13 14. 1 Cor. 5 6 7 and unhallow cleane persons and things as a little Leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe this must hold true in every age in its proportion And therefore if ignorant unwise impenitent uncircumcised in hear● and life rebellious and stiffenecked in course and conversation might be in externall Covenant with God and in that respect a separate and holy chosen people with whom the people of God might hold externall communion in the Ordinances of worship then it is lawfull for Christians to partake in the Ordinances of Gods worship though scandalous livers be admitted with whom in partaking we have onely externall communion for if the scandalous were in Covenant in the Jewish Church they may be so now if communion with the wicked defile now it defiled then Lev. 19.17 if the godly might communicate then because they could not cast them out even so may they now if the faithfull be bound now to reprove their delinquent brother and not suffer sinne to rest upon him the same duty concerned them in former times If the Sacraments be now available and of use according to Covenant and promise which God hath made to the faithfull and their seede and no otherwise Gen. 17 7.2●.4 as indeed the Sacraments are all one in the common nature so are they in their use onely available to the children of the Covenant at all times If it be contrary to the maine ends for which the Lord calleth and gathereth a Church and preserveth it upon the earth that wicked and ungodly should be received into Covenant or permitted to continue in the externall society of the faithfull Jer. 5.31 Jer. 9.2.3 Esa 57.3 1.4 it was unlawfull in the Jewish Church as well as now in Christian Churches And therefore if the Church of the Jewes notwithstanding all that hath beene said were the true Church of God when it was corrupt in doctrine manners officers ordinances of worship when the teachers were dumb Dogges Jer. 11.14 Esa 50.1 Jer. 3.11.2.13.11 blinde guides the Prophets prophesied lies the Priests received gifts and the people rebellious adulterous oppressours an assembly of rebels when the Priesthood was bought and sold the Temple defiled the Law corrupted with false glosses and made voyde with sinfull Traditions when errour heresie idolatry oppression stubbornnesse and all manner of sinne was rise among them If for all this they continued the Lords visible flocke and the Lord owned them for his people and the Prophets and faithfull held externall communion with them in the Ordinances of God then the Covenant of God is not disanulled with his people nor the Church unchurched though ignorant profane persons are tolerated in the Assembly nor the godly defiled because scandalous persons are suffered to communicate Besides I would faine know what may be said of the Church of the Jewes in defence of it under the Law that may not in a more ample and large sense be spoken in justification of the Christian Assemblies under the Gospel First for the Covenant made betweene God and them chusing them from other nations to place his name among them and making Covenant with them to be their God and they his people all was upon condition of faith and obedience and this Covenant was made with them onely but the Covenant under the Gospel betweene God and his people is of a farre larger extent reaching to all Nations neither is his presence limited to any one particular place or people as then it was Esa 55.1.2 3 4 5.7 Joel 2.32 John 4.20 21 22 23 24. nor his worship consists of so many burdensome Rites and Ceremonies and legall performances the dispensation of the Covenants and of the worship of God differ but the condition is all one made and built upon faith and obedience as then it was though they by faith saw the Lord Christ yet to come in types figures and shadowes we behold him in his word by faith already come having finished the worke of our redemption and now abides in the Heavens to make intercession for his people God cals people now to him by the Word and by the Spirit

power in the Church should know a man to be a grosse hypocrite they ought to be as shye and carefull to cast him out as a common drunkard or adulterer 2. It is necessarily implied and more By the example of all Apostolike Churches who had all of them corrupt members and corruptions in them in Doctrinein Discipline yet I never read of any that were beleeving that ever separated or had any toleration so to doe indeed the Apostle saith they went out from us because they were not of us 1 Joh. 2 1● if they had beene of us they would have continued with us false hearted professors fell off and departed but no believer no Saint separated I speake now no more how they were corrupted both the Church of the Jewes Corinth Galatia and the seven Churches of Asia of that heretofore in Corinth there was that abuse that I never saw in our Assemblies the Sacrament given to a drunkard in his drunkennesse as we see the text is there plaine for it Some came hungry some drunke or drunkards have a little more shame though they be drunke weeke after weeke and day after day yet when they come to the Lords table they will be some body for shame they will not then be drunke if they were I thinke none would be so madde as to give the Sacrament to them The second thing considerable is to shew the lawfulnesse of joyning in mixt Assemblies the premises considered with those cautions formerly delivered and it will appeare lawfull if we consider these particulars ensuing First As I have said no place or part of Gods word doth forbid it for though some places of Scripture have some semblance that way yet when I come to that particular to answer them it will appeare otherwayes Secondly As we have proved we have Gods command for it as the former instance of Christ and the Apostle Paul Thirdly The example of Gods people in all ages see Elkanah and Hannah under the law See the Jewes also in the Prophets time none decline the publike assemblies of Gods worship ordinances and people though as hath beene largely proved both Priest and people were corrupt in Doctrine and Discipline yea also in their conversations See this also in the Apostolike Churches before alledged Fourthly It is our duty to come to the ordinances if we would have benefit by them Heb. 10.25 the Apostle exhorts to this duty and reproved them that did forsake the Assembly Fifthly The sinnes of others are not charged upon us if we come duly prepared and as we ought to doe Sixthly The errors of the governours of the Church are not made over to particular members no more then the sins of Elies sons was upon Elkanab and Hannah or the rest of Gods people Seventhly The uses ends and effects of the ordinances are obtained in mixt assemblies which are such as these following 1. To strengthen our faith and other graces 2. To renew our Covenant with God 3. To commemorate the death of our Lord Jesus Christ all which may be attained notwithstanding the presence of wicked men at the ordinances Eighthly We cannot as hath beene proved be said to joyne with wicked men in the ordinances though we be present with them the premises considered Ninthly My owne preparation and examination makes me worthy and capable of the ordinances the sinfullnesse and unpreparednesse of others makes me not uncapable To the pure all things are pure Tit. 1.15 but unto them that are defiled and unbeleeving nothing is pure but even their mindes and consciences are defiled Tenthly It is one thing for a man to joyne himselfe with a congregation of Idolaters in their Idolatrous worships and wages another thing for a prophane man to joyne himselfe nay rather thrust himselfe among Gods people exercised in and about the ordinances of God Eleventhly No example in Scripture of any that ever separated from the publike assemblies of Gods worship I stand not now to prove whether our assemblies are so because of that heretofore 12. That which sometimes and in some respect may be unlawfull in some other respect becomes lawfull 1 Cor. 5 9.10 11. 2 Thes 3.14 as Davids eating the shewbread in case of necessity So I am commanded not to eate with an inordinate brother but rather then I will starve for food I may eate with him I ought not to have to doe with wicked men at all if I could avoyd it but if my calling compell me I am permitted now if the necessity of the body alter the case and make things lawfull that are otherwayes unlawfull much more the necessity of the soule now we know there is a necessity laid upon Gods people either to partake in mixt assemblies at the Sacrament or they cannot enjoy the benefit of the ordinances Rom. 8.35 the food and nourishment of the Soule unlesse they will separate which they have no warrant for Eph. 3.17 Joh. 6.56 1 Joh. 4.13 13. Nothing can separate betweene Christ the head and the beleeving Christian Christ dwells in the beleever and the beleever in Christ therefore it is neither man nor devill death sinne nor hell can separate them much lesse the company of prophane men that thrust themselves amongst Gods people in the Sacrament 14. Had it beene unlawfull absolutely to participate in mixt assemblies either our Lord Christ or the Apostle would have laid a prohibition upon it for there is nothing of absolute necessity for a Christian man to know and practice tending to life and salvation but it is revealed in the word of God by precept or example nor no fundamentall error but it is also therein forbidden 15. Exek 18.14 God is just and he punishes not one man for the sinnes of another unlesse he make them his by consenting to them and liking or approving them which none of Gods people doe by the sinnes of wicked men in the Sacrament The soule that sinneth shall die 1 Cor. 5.4 5. 16. It is agreeable to the rule to cast out the offender but not for the innocent to cast out themselves there is no rule for that 1 Cor. 6.14 17. Unbeleevers thrusting in themselves gives them no fellowship with the Saints for they can have no fellowship with them 18. Errors in discipline nay in many points of doctrine take not away the use of fundamentalls nor the essentialls of a Church 19. He that is cast out of the Church is delivered up to Satan though he be cast out against his will what becomes then of those that cast out themselves consider truely unlesse God have more care to preserve them from the snares of Satan then they bewray herein they would become a very prey to the devill 20. That exposition of Scripture which is unreasonable is false but to say the Apostle would have us not at all to company with wicked men in the Sacrament or that we should deprive our selves of the meanes of life and salvation and of the