Selected quad for the lemma: doctrine_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
doctrine_n	church_n	member_n	visible_a	2,949	5	9.1858	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B09776	The Anabaptists meribah: or, VVaters of strife. Being a reply to a late insulting pamphlet, written by Thomas Lamb, merchant, intitulled, Truth prevailing against the fiercest opposition; or, An answer to Mr. John Goodwins Water-dipping, no firm footing for church-communion. Wherein the impertinency of M. Lamb's answer, and the validity of M. Goodwin's Water-dipping, &c. are manifested by I. Price a member of the Church of Christ, whereof the said Mr. Goodwin is pastor.	Price, J., fl. 1656.	1656 (1656)	Wing P3332A; ESTC R182056	87,699	107

parts of America some to the Summer-Islands others to Holland and the low-Countries at which the Bishops were wel pleased as not doubting but they might with more ease deal with the remnant that were left behind Mr. Goodwin did often bewaile the departure of those men and resolved by Gods grace to stand it out against all the adversaries of Gods people in those times And you know he did persist in his resolutions and integrity even to the making of himself a by-word and a mock amongst them viz. then when others were fled and run away Mr. Goodwin was left to pray c. At this chiefly and mainly was Mr. Goodwin offended with Mr. Thomas Goodwin Never was he troubled at the joyning together of holy men in any parish to keep out the vitious and evil party according to their best opportunities so to do Neither did he ever refuse that ever I have heard the entertainment of godly persons though not of the parish into Church communion with him that did defire the same Nay severall persons living in severall parts of the City out of the parish were his most intimate associates even in the ordinances of Gods worship and service and in all things relating to reformation though in that parish the civill interest of the parish only excepted 3. That M. Goodwin to this day did never separate from them but hath indeed endeavoured a stricter way of reformation in and about Church-work then some though I hope good men of the said Parish would submit unto Upon which some disterences grew amongst them in all which differences it was never insisted upon by M. Goodwin that they should deny themselves to be a true Church of Christ before but that for time to come they would walk after a more visible reformed manner then they did admitting such godly persons though not dwelling in the parish as should be approved of by the honest party of that parish to enjoy after a more visible manner than formerly an equall interest and power in voting in Church affairs parish civill rights excepted I say an equall interest with those godly of the parish I remember well it was demanded by the brethren that diffented from Mr. Goodwin severall times whether Mr. Goodwin and the brethren that joyned with him would deny that they were a true Church before these differences did arise amongst them and it was never denyed but that they were a true Church though under much deformity and want of Reformation At last it was assented unto that an equall number of persons chosen by M. Goodwin on the one party and the dissenting brethren on the other party should meet and agree who how many and what manner of persons not living in the Parish should be admitted into Church-fellow-ship with them And after all things in a publick-meeting in the Parish Church or meeting place were composed by Vote and a blessed peaceable and comfortable reformation was expected the brethren formerly dissenting from M. Goodwin receded from their former agreements rent themselves away from M. Goodwin leaving him and a considerable part also of the godly party in the parish with him to go alone in their Church-Reformation For the confirmation of all which and for the muzling the mouth of scandall at or against M. Goodwin in and about the premises I have thought good here to insert the true Copy of the order of the said Parish-Vestry with other passages thereunto belonging word by word At a generall vestry holden the 12th day of May 1643. in the Parish Church of Stevens-Coleman-street London IT is agreed by generall consent that Mr. John Goodwin shall nominate six Persons of this Parish to consider of and compose the present differences between M. Goodwin and his people within the space of one month now next ensuing if it may be The persons named by Mr. Goodwin at the same Vestry were these following Coli Owen Row Mr. Mark Hildesley Doctor Paget M. Iohn Price M. VVilliam Mountag●● M. Richard Ashurst The persons named by the same Vestry for the Parish were these following Mr. Samuel Avery Mr. Andrew Kenrick Mr. Thomas Bernardiston Mr. Edward Lucas Mr. Ioseph Syblye M. Tho. Fitzwilliam And whatsoever shall be agreed by the major part of the twelve persons above named there being present an equall number of those named by both parties shall be presented to Mr. Goodwin to obtain his consent It was further agreed upon at the same time that the strangers viz. those that did not live in the said parish should be suffered to come to a publick meeting in the Parish Vestry that they might be known by face and heard in their desires that exceptions might have been made against them if there were cause and no cause to the contrary appearing they might be owned as members of the Church of Christ in that place and to have their free Votes in all things relating to the due ordering of the Church parish-interest in civill things onely excepted All which was agreed upon by full consent and at the same Vestry also a certain day was appointed for their solemn seeking of God by prayer and humiliation to be kept in the said publick meeting place to intreat the Lord for mercy for former ignorances and miscarriages in and about his publick worship and to enter into a holy covenant with the Lord to be more carefull to study the Laws of his house and Ordinances for the time to come There was also a form of an agreement concluded upon to be subscribed by all persons of the parish and that lived out of the parish who should be owned for members of the Church from that time the true copy whereof is as followeth We having lately solemnly covenanted to indeavour the Reformation of Religion in this kingdome of England in doctrine worship discipline and government according to the word of God and example of the best reformed Churches and conceiving it a thing conducible hereunto to agree and promise to walk together in all the ordinances of God as becomes those that are fellow members of a visible Church of Christ do acknowledge and choose M. John Goodwin for our Pastor About a moneth after when the day appointed as aforesaid came wherein the Resolves of the said Vestrie were to be put in exequation some of the contrary party to Mr. Goodwin receded from their former Votes and Resolutions somenting the old differences still after the said happy and general composure thereof to the great amazement grief and trouble of the rest Others met according to appointment and the duties of fasting and prayer being finished joyned together in the Covenant aforesaid and subscribed the same the number of them being about sixty persons Inhabitants of the said Parish all of them having made a good profession of Religion besides several others that were not of the Parish who joyned and subscribed also with them The party dissenting being about twelve or fourteen of the professing party in number were still

THE ANABAPTISTS MERIBAH OR VVaters of Strife BEING A Reply to a late insulting Pamphlet written by Thomas Lamb Merchant Intitulled TRUTH prevailing against the fiercest Opposition OR An Answer to Mr. John Goodwins Water-dipping no firm footing for Church-Communion WHEREIN The impertinency of M. Lamb's Answer and the validity of M. Goodwin's Water-dipping c. are manifested by I. Price a member of the Church of Christ whereof the said Mr. Goodwin is Pastor ISA I. 44.20 He feedeth on ashes a deceived heart hath turned him aside that he cannot deliver his soul nor say is there not a lye in my right hand GAL. 1.6.7 I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ LONDON Printed by T. Lock for Henry Eversden and are to be sold at his shop at the Sign of the Gray-hound in St. Pauls Church-yard 1656. THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY To the Reverend my honoured and beloved PASTOR Mr. IOHN GOODWIN and the Church of Christ walking with him in the Order of the Gospell usually meeting together in Coleman-street in London Honoured and Beloved ALthough the separations rents and divisions together with the Distempers and Distractions lately made by our Brother Lamb and some few others from and in the Church were of a very sad and dangerous import threatning not to leave one Stone of Gods Building upon another which should not be thrown down yet God whose onely prerogative it is to bring Light out of Darkness and Good out of Evill hath graciously produced a very comfortable orderly and regular settlement out of that Chaos and confusion in so much that as the false Doctrines concerning the necessity of Circumcision unto Justification as some now speak little less of Baptism and that according to their way and manner introduced by false Apostles amongst the Churches in the first plantation of the Gospel did occasion severall Epistles to be written by the Apostle Paul and others for the vindication and clearing up of the truth as it is in Iesus not only in that particular but also in many other Truths of rich and high concernment and a firm establishment of the Churches in the Doctrine of Faith towards God and love amongst the Brethren Even so these late and unhappy differences through Gods blessings and goodness have had the like success amongst you setting both Pastor and people upon a diligent and studious inquiery into and discovery of the Truth and establishing them therein So that out of this Eater hath come Meat the weak are made strong and the strong stronger they that seemed to stagger do now stand and the feet of them that stood are now established none being in such danger as formerly to be turned out of the way but those things which formerly hindred being removed out of the way Faith and love Piety and charity will as they do go on and prosper yea run and be glorified in the midst of you you did lament and mourn but your sorrow is turned into joy God hath taken away your Sackcloath and Ashes and girded you with joy and gladness The foundations of your building did seem to be removed out of their places and the pillars thereof did tremble but the Highest himself hath established you and will guide your feet in the way of truth and peace And as for our brethren have they stumbled indeed at ceremonies as the Iews did that they should fall God forbid But if through their fall establishment be unto you shal not their restoration belife from the dead And let every one of us that stand take heed least we fall If we ponder the pathes of our feet our wayes will be established Prov. 4.26 Though I am not able to add unto your spirituall stature or increase in knowledge in the business in controversie who are so richly instructed herein and that very lately by our honoured and beloved Pastor and others yet if I do but put you in minde of the things which you know after mine own wonted Dialect and plain manner being moved hereunto by some of your selves I doubt not its Christian acceptance with you and who knowes whether God may not make five loaves and two fishes I mean a little of mean fare to be as a feast of fat things unto you My hearts desire and prayer unto God for you all is that henceforth none of you may stumble and fall Isa 8.15 2 Coll 8. 2 Tim. 3.6 2 Pet. 2.3 2 Cor 11.20 and be broken and snared and taken that no man may spoyl you as sheep-stealers snatching you away from the fold or flock of Christ nor take you prisoners nor make merchandize of you nor bring you into bondage but that you may florish in the Courts of the house of our God running without weariness and walking on without fainting that it might be with you yet after many and many years to come as it was with Moses in his old age whose sight did not was dim neither was his natural strength abated that as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord so ye might walk in him rooted and built up in him and established in the faith as you have been taught that your hearts may be comforted by daily refreshings from the presence of the Lord beeing knit together yea rooted and grounded in love increasing still with the increasings of God and thriving in all riches of spirituall understanding to the perception and acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ that every one of you may be made up of God amongst his jewels and be found on the right hand of Jesus Christ among his sheep at that great day and may live and reign with him for ever and ever Amen So prayeth The meanest of you all J. Price Septemb. 24. 1655. THE ANABAPTISTS MERIBAH OR VVaters of STRIFE SECT I. THe injuries which David received from his enemies were much more tolerable then those which he suffered from his friends The lifting up of the heel of his own familiar the man whom he trusted this was a sword piercing through his soul And doubtless it was none of the least of Christs sufferings that one of his Family his society of his own Disciples should betray him into the hands of sinners That Julius Caesar should be slain by his own Son Brutus among the rest this pierced him worse then any ponyard It was Queen Elizabeths complaint that she had found Treason in Trust How unkindly unnaturally and unchristianly Mr. Mr Lambs a buse of Love Lamb in his late Book hath dealt shall I say with his old Friend nay his spiritual Father and Pastor Mr. John Goodwin whom by his own acknowledgment God hath made seventy times seven times a Messenger and Angel of light life and peace unto him is not only the observation but the very astonishment of all