Selected quad for the lemma: doctrine_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
doctrine_n	bishop_n	church_n	exposition_n	3,560	5	11.1579	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A67901	A review of the Covenant, wherein the originall, grounds, means, matter, and ends of it are examined: and out of the principles of the remonstrances, declarations, votes, orders, and ordinances of the prime covenanteers, or the firmer grounds of Scripture, law, and reason, disproved.	Langbaine, Gerard, 1609-1658.	1645 (1645)	Wing L371; ESTC R210023	90,934	119

minor make a maior part or some of the present maior part may dye or be removed or be absent or alter their opinions and so vary the sense of the Houses especially in that great businesse of Reformation in Doctrine and Government con●erning which neither the two Houses nor their assistant Divines● as themselves b confesse are yet agreed Fourthly if it shall hereafter appeare that the major part at the time of their taking and imposing this Oath did understand it in one sense and the major part at the time of declaring shall expound it in another it must be doubted in whether sense it shall be obligatory And lastly if the greater part of Lords shall declare it in one sense and the greater part of the Commons in another whose Declaration must carry it Vpon the resolution of these doubts it will appeare that many well meaning Covenan●eers whiles they laboured for such a Reformation as themselves conceived to be according to Gods Word were zealously perjured by not endeavouring it in that sense which the Houses will declare was onely intended III. This maine doubt being premi●ed which has an influence upon all the rest I shall onely mention such others as I am perswaded the chiefe Covenanteers themselves are not agreed upon Where first I conceive in the top branch of this Covenant it is not onely doubtfull wherein the Doctrine and Discipline of Scotland consists which are here sworne to be preserved but how farre the preservation of them is intended and who are meant by common Enemies Since the ancient Confession of that Church has been so much improved by moderne explanations and all these confirmed by a Nationall Oath since their Discipline is such a mystery that many of themselves are not fully agreed upon it since their first and second Book of Discipline contain severall platformes and the Contents of those foure Volumes of the Acts of Generall Assemblies ratified at Glasgow are not yet published it is a hard case that any man should be forced to sweare to preserve what no body knowes IV. Next I cannot tell where to ●ix that Character of common Enemies which Master Hend●rson obscurely paraphraseth Syrians and Babylonians c and Master Nye more expresse but not more satisfactory tells us that Popery and Prelacy are the chiefe For considering Church government in England and Ireland is by Episcopacy and that of Scotland by the Presbytery this Covenant being supposed to be taken by all the three Kingdomes it followes that neither Papists nor Prelates are enemies to both Governments who stifly maintain the one to be of Divine or Apostolicall Institution but the Separatists are common Enemies who hold a distinct Forme of Pastorall and Independent Government to be ●niversally enjoyned by the Word of God and both Episcopacy and Presbytery to be humane inventions and Antichristian V. I am sorry I should be forced to question what is meant in the next Clause by the Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government of England Whether that which has been constantly avowed by this Church and accepted for such by other Nations Or if that Government be already abolished by the Votes of both Houses if the life and soule of that Discipline be taken from it by new Expositions made upon the late Act for taking away the High Commission if that Forme of Publique Worship the Book of Common Prayer be suspended by an Order if the ancient Doctrin● be already altered in part or in whole by the extemporary Declarations of an upstart Assembly if these Declarations that Order those Expositions those Votes be indeed binding to this whole Kingdome as the Covenanteers pretend they are it will be impossible for them or any man to affirme what is now the Doctrine Worship Government and Discipline of the Kingdome of England there being no Generall Forme left in which the Kingdome is any way required or supposed to agree and the particular Formes may be as many and different as the persons and opinions of the Reformers VI Those words following According to the Word of God are in themselves very materiall and the misapplication of them is a matter of great consequence I doubt whether they ought to be restrained to the Clause immediately foregoing touching Reformation of Religion in England and Ireland or {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} they must be extended to the preservation of Religion in Scotland too and so every Covenanteer be bound to maintain that the Scotch Discipline Church Government is according to the Word of God I am confident the Scots themselves do now intend them and will hereafter expound them in this sense and I raise that confidence upon these reasons First because the Generall d Assembly that Church with the assent and concurrence of the e Lords of Secret Councell in that Kingdome have declared to our two Houses that their Kirke-Goverment by Assemblies higher and lower is jure divino and perpetuall Secondly because in that forme of this Covenant which came from Scotland the words ran thus Preservation of Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God Now upon the other part there is equall reason to believe that not onely many particular English Covenanteers as possessed with an opinion of another Government but that our Lords and Commons at Westminster do not in this point concurre with the sense of the Scots For first they f declare in answer to that Declaration of Scotland that one Forme of Church Government will hardly be obtained in all his Majesties Dominions unlesse some way might be found for a mutuall debate in framing that one Forme Whence it must be collected that the Forme they aime at is not yet framed and therefore not that which the Scots practise Secondly their reforming that draught of the Covenant agreed upon in Scotland and reducing that Clause According to the Word of God to a more proper place and swearing in their new project of Reformation to have an eye not onely to Gods Word but to the example of other Reformed Churches without any expression of or restriction to that of Scotland do perswade with me that ou●English Covenanteers do not conceive the Scotish Discipline and Kirk-Government to be according to the Word of God VII Their Vow to extirpate whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of godlinesse points at some new discovery not yet made I would be resolved who are designed for that inquisition how farre their Commission shall extend and by what rules they must pronounce what Doctrines are sound what rotten what they must take to be contrary to the power of godlinesse what not If Bishops be upon the file either because some have too much enlarged the Philacteries of their Authority or have been otherwise personally faulty or because Superiority and distinction of degrees amongst the Clergy are discovered already to be contrary to found Doctrine and the power

by the two Houses that they insist upon it twice in one lea●e of the same b Declaration Their c petitioning his Majesty to pas●e an Act for establishing a new Oath and that he would be pleased to enter into a more strict allyance with some neighbour Nations are sufficient convictions of their want of Authority in themselves either to impose a new Oath upon the Subjects of this Kingdome or to enter into a new League with those of another unlesse the consent of his Majesty be first obtained 3. I● any private Men Town City or County may lawfully take this Covenant of their own accord and free will● which is the way to ingratiate themselves the more then in other cases of the like kinde they may at any time of their own accord without any command from Superiours enter into a League of mutuall defence with other Countries and binde themselves by a solemne Oath to performance And then farewell not onely the ancient Authority of the King but that moderne Priviledge of Parliament which claimes that d no County can binde it selfe without their consent But if all the Kingdome be therefore bound to take this new Covenant because it comes to them as commanded by the two Houses though there were no Law for it before then must all our Histories be purged all our Law-bookes taught to speake another Language and all those Declarations revoked wherein the Lords and Commons of this Parliament so many e times disclaimed all power of making any new Lawes without his Majesties cons●nt CHAP. IV. The matter of the Covenant examined and proved first to be against Truth NExt to the Efficient we shall survey the materiall Cause of this Oath and allow it faire triall by the Lawes of God and the Land If it be endited upon the Text of Ieremie 4.2 It will be found guilty in the highest degree as destitute of all those conditions required to a lawfull Oath Truth Iudgement and Righteousnesse For the first though this be for the maine a Promissory Oath to the formall Truth whereof as such no more is required but that the meaning of the parties swearing be truly conformable to the words of their Oath that they truly intend to performe what they sweare yet is not the whole frame of it meerly promissory some assertions are interwoven either actuall or virtuall by way of implication which may be justly suspected for want of Truth and i● that be proved upon any one of them all the Covenanteers are ipso facto guilty of perjury I shall but point at some particulars I. Those words wherein they swear the Preservation of Religion in the Church of Scotland do imply that the Religion of that Church is in all the particulars there mentioned Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the word of God Which is justly doubtfull in some and flatly false in others 1. The Doctrine of that Church so farre as it is distinct from their opinions concerning Discipline and Government and other matters of practice I have no purpose to quarrell I acknowledge the ancient Articles of their publique confession for true but if by Doctrine they understand all the modern explanations and other doctrinall positions which have issued from their Generall As●emblies in later times I could bring more instances and more objections against the truth of these Doctrines then I know how to answer But I forbear to make the wound wider then necessity requires 2. As touching their manner of Worship if we should deny they would be hard put to it to prove those formes which they use in Marriage Baptisme the Lords Supper Publique Prayer Preaching Catechizing and other of Gods Ordinances to be according to his word 3. Much lesse their Discipline and Government by Classes and Assemblies higher and lower which they pretend to be iure divino and perpetuall Some of their ablest Scholars have acknowledged their moveable temporary Deacons not to be consonant to divine Institution And if we might be admitted to argue before equall judges we should go near to prove as much against their ruling Elders which first justled the Superintendents and since the Bishops out of that Church If they will submit to that rule the Presbytery in Scripture must submit to Episcopacy that at best was but a Delegacy under the Apostles who were in right the primitive Bishops and from whom ours challeng by undeniable succession II. When they swear the Reformation of Religion in England in Doctrine as well as Discipline according to the wo●d of God they falsly imply that our Doctrine is erroneus and not according to the word Which though it be scandalous to us is advantageous to the Covenanteers The Articles of our Church most true in themselves cannot be wire-drawne and forced to comply with their designes and therefore no wonder if they desire to have them altered They must therefore set the Diall by the Clock and seeing the present Doctrine of the Kingdome condemnes their practice and opinions they must so farre reforme it that it shall not contradict them When a new Assembly of Divines must be convented to tell the People such things are according to the word of God which all men knew to be contrary to the Law of the Land seeing the Royall assent could not be obteined to authorize a Convention of such Persons and in such an uncouth illegall way as was desired it was inavoydably necessary that the Doctrine of our Church in the 21. Article should be reformed which teacheth That Councells may not be gathered together without the commandment and will of Princes When they are resolved to extort those rights from their Soveraigne by force which he is unwilling to part with upon entreaty then 't is fit the 35. Article be reformed which confirmes the Homily against Rebellion as containing Godly and wholesome Doctrine and necessary for these times In truth never so necessary for any times as these the like whereof England never saw before When they have vowed the extirpation of Episcopall Government Root and Branch is it not high time to reforme the 32. Article which talks of Bishops Priests and Deacons much more the 36. which addes Arch-Bishops and confirmes the book of Consecration and Ordination When that Doctrine must be instilled into the people that the King is no more then the Prince of Orange or the Duke of Venice onely Maior singulis but minor universis and that when his command● and those of one or both Houses are different theirs must and ought to be obeyed as with whom the suprem power doth reside then surely a Reformation of the 37. Article is indispensably and eminently necessary by which the Subjects have been led into that dangerous and deadly Heresie that has cost so many thousand lives That the Kings Maiesty hath the chiefe power in this Realm of England unto whom the chiefe government of all not onely particular persons but Estates of this Realm whether

to obey but sweare disobedience themselves and require the like of all others if this be not what is it ●o absolve every man from that obedience which he owes under God unto his Majesty The same Authours told us at the same time g We do here declare that it is farre from our purpose or desire to let loose the golden reines of Discipline and Goverment in the Church and leave private persons or particular Congregations to take up what Forme of Divine Service they please for we hold it requisite that there should be through the whole Realme a Conformity to that Order which the Lawes enjoyne If the reines of Discipline be not now let loose amongst the Covenanteers in whose hands are they If private persons and Congregations be not at liberty what Law does restraine them If there be any new Forme and Conformity established when was it enacted Where may we finde it It will be said though they have abjured Episcopacy h yet they intend to consult with Divines about setl●ng another Forme most agreeable to Gods Word most apt to preserve peace at home and unity with Scotland If it were not against the Law of God to rob the Church of all Government as it is against the Lawes of this Kingdome to abjure the present Forme yet may it well be thought to be against common Policy to endanger the safety as we have forfeited the Peace both of Church and State by endeavouring to introduce a new Government not yet known of what stampe it is nor what effects it may produce To forsake all ancient and beaten pathes Et nova ancipitia praecolere avida plerunque fallax ambitio est Great care has been taken for the culling out of such Divines as were most likely to comply in their desires of innovation many moneths have they sat a consulting and are yet as farre from agreement as when they first met If no Forme must be setled but such as hath a concurrence of those three forementioned conditions it is probable there must never be any setled at all What is most agreeable to Gods Word next after Episcopacy may be thought not most apt to preserve peace among so many different Sects at home at least not most apt to preserve unity with Scotland The Scots are resolved their Forme and none but theirs is according to Gods Word i jure divino and perpetuall And the Members at Westminster were once of the same opinion or willing to make the Scots believe so when they told them k they concurred with their own judgement touching Church Government If so what need had they to call Divines to consult Was it to be resolved in conscience whether they might lawfully tolerate what is ●ure divino and perpetuall Or they were resolved upon the conclusion but the Divines must finde out the premises Or which is most probable they never were nor yet are nor perhaps ever will be agreed upon any one Government though they all conspire against Episcopacy as most opposite to their private Factions For if we must have no Government but such as shall please the major part of the Members at Westminster whether they consult the Assembly for fashions sake or in sincerity we are likely to have none at all When Master Speaker shall put every particular Forme to the Question the maior part by reason of distraction in affection or opinion not concurring upon any one one by one they will all be voted out of doors For example Shall the Presbyterie succeed All the Independents all those that are affected to Episcopacy all that are enamoured of any new platforme of prudentiall Government by Lay Commissioners will with one voyce cry Not content And such like for the rest whatever Forme shall be proposed there will be three to one oddes against it Till this difference be reconciled if they will not pardon I hope they may be intreated to reprieve Episcopacy and till we have either found a better which we never shall or be agreed upon another Government Contenti simus hoc Catone IV. But will extirpation of Prelacy be sufficient to glut the malice of the Covenanteers Nothing lesse there is a clause in the Covenant which is younger brother to the c● in the Canons of as large extent and more dangerous consequence For here they sweare to extirpate all other ecclesiasticall Officers depending upon that Hierarchie That is if they would speak plaine English all the Ministers in England that have been ordained or instituted by the Archbishops or Bishops or have been inducted into their charge by any Archdeacon I hope I need not yet presse the iniquity of this consequence but it is requisite I shew the truth of it And let the Countrey know that the most zealous Covenanteers in the City are composed of Brownists Anabaptists and other Brethren of the Separation who have constantly traduced the calling of our English Clergy as Antichristian l It is the 29th Article of their ancient Confession that not onely the Hierarchy but The Priests and Deacons of England ordained by Bishops are a strange and Antichristian Ministery and OFFICERS not instituted by Christs Testament nor placed in or over his Church Hence it was that when Master Ainsworth and his Company separated from Master Iohnson and his Church it grew to a Law suit betwixt them in Amsterdam who should have the house allowed them by the City for their publique meetings The Iohnsonians objected the other were Schismatickes and the Ainsworthians would needs prove those were Apostates that they had fallen from their first Faith particularly tha● they had placed over them one that was made Priest by a Lord Bishops Ordination● and had not ordained or imposed hands upon him again contrary to their 29th Article as also against the 32d Article of their Confession which testifieth that all such as have received any of those false Offices of the Lords Bishops are to giv● over and leave them The Authour of the Countermarch to Master Iames his Retreat endeavours to prove the Church of England a false Church and to deny some fundamentall points of Doctrine by this Argument because it denieth Christs Kingdome and Prophecy inasmuch as it appointeth men to prophecy to preach and administer the Sacraments by virtue of a calling which Christ hath not appointed for the calling of the Ministers of England is by the presentation of a Patron by the institution of a Lord Bishop and by the induction of an Archdeacon which are the meere inventions and devices of men Therefore the outward calling is false and humane wherefore as it was an errour fundamentall in Ieroboam's Church m that Priests were made after his devising so is it an errour fundatall and corruption essentiall to make Bishops Priests and Deacons which have a devised Office and forme of calling essentially differing from that which God left in the Church for the calling of his Officers and Ministers The Minister