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	receive_v	tradition_n	3,358	5	9.1377	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17412	Sermons upon the ten first verses of the third chapter of the first Epistle of S. Peter Being the last that were preached by the late faithfull and painfull minister of Gods word, Nicolas Byfield. Wherein method, sense, doctrine, and vse, is, with great varietie of matter, profitably handled; and sundry heads of divinitie largely discussed. Published since the authors death by William Gouge.	Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622.; Gouge, William, 1578-1653.	1626 (1626)	STC 4235; ESTC S107153	186,240	252

give men up to delusions and to beleeve lies 2. Thes. 2. 3 Vaine glory the very desire to be some-body and to excell others makes some Christians gladly to receive or bring in different opinions 1. Cor. 4.8 Phil. 2.3 Gal. 5.26 4 Over much trust upon the judgments of some men they esteeme when they respect some Ministers so much as to be of their opinion though their consciences be not enformed of any sound reason from the word of God for it This estimation of men above that is written hath deceived many 1. Cor. 3.21 4.6 5 Respect of earthly things Some men teach and professe to hold opinions of dissenting sometimes meerely for advantage to their estates either to get maintenance or preferment in the world by it Tit. 1.10.11 Rom. 16.19 20. 6 Prejudice is the roote of dissenting many times as the Gentiles would not abide yeelding to ceremonies out of very dislike of the Iewes and the Iewes would not understand the needlesnesse of their ceremonies out of very contempt of the Gentiles and so the strength of faction on both sides kept them from agreeing 7 Heaping up of Teachers disorderly when Christians are so diseased with humour and so hard to bee pleased with sound doctrine that they hunt up and downe to heare all sorts of men it many times prooves hurtfull in this respect that they get infection from the different humours of the many Teachers they heare Disordered hearing in this respect breeds as a surfet of the inward regard of sound doctrine so a great aptnesse to receive divers and strange doctrines 2. Tim. 4.3 4. 8 The contempt of their godly Teachers and want of sound affection to them To them I say that have a charge over their soules whom they ought to obey And this is the more vile as some Christians order the matter because of their hypocrisie in magnifying the judgement or gifts of Teachers that are absent and have not the charge of their soules and abusing the due respect of their owne Teachers which is yet more vile if this injury be done to such as were their fathers in Christ. Thus of the use for reproofe By the limitation given before from other expresse Scriptures wee learne so to understand this doctrine of unity as it excludes all unity of opinion or practise with such Churches or particular persons as hold doctrines against the foundation of Christian religion so as wee must never agree with them As for instance Wee may not without the damnation of our soules be of one minde with the Church of Rome for there are many things which they beleeve and practise which we must in no case joyne with them in and it is impossible to reconcile us to them unless they change their minds I will instance indivers things wherein wee cannot without losing Christ be of one minde as 1 In opinion of merite of workes for thereby we make the Gospell or Doctrine of Gods grace of none effect and the promise of God voide which is to deny the very grounds of Christian Religion Gal. 5.3 Rom. 4.14 11.6 2 In the opinion of worshipping Saints and Angels for the Apostle saith expressely that they that doe so hold not the head and so cannot be true members of Christ. Col. 2.18 19. 3 In their Polatry in making and worshipping of Images and almost infinite superstitions contrary to the second Commandement expressely and so as wee are commanded to get out of this spirituall Babel in respect of her spirituall fornications 4 In their doctrine of Traditions for they teach that Traditions that are not agreeable to Scripture yet are to be received if they be delivered by the Church in equall authoritie with the Scriptures If wee be of one minde with them herein we cannot escape Gods eternall curse as these Scriptures shew Gal 1.8 Rev. 22 18. 5 In their doctrine of perfection for they teach a man may perfectly keepe the Law of God No this is so dangerous an errour that the Apostle saith there is no truth in the man that holds it 1. Iohn 1.8 10. I omit the rehearsall of other differences Thus of the first vertue The second vertue charge upon Christians is compassion one towards another Have compassion one of another The word signifies such a fellow-feeling or sympathie that makes us like affected as if we were in their case The doctrine then is cleer That we ought to have a sympathie one towards another this is a singular vertue In handling of which point I will observe these things 1 The Proofes of it from other Scripture 2 The Explication of the sense shewing in what things we should be like affected 3 The Reasons of it 4 The Vses 1 The Proofes are very pregnant and full in these other Scriptures Rom. 12.4 15. Heb. 13.3 2 For the Explication this sympathy is to be exprest both in the case of the evills of others and in the case of the good of others In the case of the evills of others we ought to be tenderly affected towards them both in respect of their sufferings troubles griefes and crosses Heb. 13.3 10.34 Ioh 30.25 whether they be inward or outward as also in respect of their falling by infirmities when it proves a griefe and affliction to them Gal. 6.1 Iude 22.2 Cor. 11.29 So likewise in the case of the prosperity of others wee ought to rejoice with them that rejoice and bee affected as if the blessing had been ours Rom. 12.15 3 The Reasons are manifest First because hereby wee prove our selves to be fellow members in the mysticall body of Christ which is to be doubted if this sympathy be not in us in some measure 1. Cor. 12.12 25 26. Secondly because hereby wee shew our selves conformable and like to Christ our Head who excelled in this vertue Heb. 4.15 Mat. 25.40 Thirdly because that which is the case of others now may bee our case hereafter as the Apostle shewes in the case of temptation Gal. 6 1. Fourthly a reason may be drawne from the excellency of the grace It excells almes and outward workes of mercy for when a man gives an almes hee gives somewhat without himselfe but when wee shew compassion we relieve another by somewhat that is within our selves and from our selves And lastly the coherence shewes that this may be a meanes to keepe us from trouble our selves The use may be first to import the miserie of living in this world This life must needes be a vale of teares when we have not only occasion of sorrow many wayes for our own estates but also such varietie of occasions of sorrow from the condition of others deere unto us Neyther is our case the better but the worse if we doe not sorrow with others Secondly this may greatly humble all sorts of men for their Apathie or want of care or feeling or sympathie in the distresses of others and the rather now when whole Churches are in great distresse Amos 6.6

to the use I must put you in minde of a limitation that concernes this doctrine We must be of one minde but then it must be according to Christ Iesus Rom. 15.5 that is this consent in judgement must be in the truth and in such truth especially as may further the edification of the mysticall body of Christ else agreement in judgement is a conspiracie rather than unitie The use may be both for instruction and reproofe for instruction and so we should all be affected with a great estimation of unitie in judgement and strive by all meanes to attaine to it and keepe our selves so all of us that we do live in unitie with the Church of God Now that wee may doe thus 1 We should beseech the God of patience and consolation to give us to be like minded even to worke in us the unity he requires of us Rom. 15 5. 2 We must take heed of private interpretations Men should with much feare and jelousie heare or reade of such opinions or interpretations of Stripture as have no authors but some one or few men Of such authors of doctrines wee should say with the Apostle What came the word of God out from you or came it unto you only 2. Cor. 14.36 Especially men must take heed of receiving opinions from meere private persons that are not Ministers of Gospell for I suppose it cannot be shewed from any place of Scripture that ever anie truth was revealed to or by a private man that was unknowne to all the Teachers of the Church yea if the authors of diverse and strange doctrines be Ministers yet that rule of the Apostle should hold that the spirits of the Prophets should be subject to the Prophets Such doctrines as may not be approved by the grave and godly learned that are eminent in the Church must not be broached 1. Cor. 14.32 And this rule hath one thing more in it viz. that men should not expresse difference of opinion without open and manifest Scripture Avoide doubtfull disputations Rom. 14.1 Esa. 8. 3 A great respect must be had to the Churches peace so as such doctrines as are likely to breed eyther scandall or division in the Church are eyther not to be received or not uttered except in some speciall case Yea moderate Christians that make conscience of unity should hold themselves in conscience bound to be affraid to depart from the judgment of the Church in which they live unlesse it bee when doctrine is brought in with great demonstration to the Conscience To preserve the unity of the spirit we must haue great respect to the bond of peace Rom. 14.19 1. Cor. 14.33 Eph. 4.3 We must greatly reverence the forme of doctrine in the Church where wee live Rom. 6.17 4 That wee may be of one minde every Christian must be sure to know the truth which is given to the Churches and to make himselfe fully perswaded in his mind about such truths as are fundamentally necessarie to salvation 2. Tim. 1.13 5 Private Christians in receiving opinions should have great respect unto such Teachers as have beene their fathers in Christ God hath bound them to a speciall reverence towards them which they should shew by reverencing their judgements more than any other men in meet comparison 1. Cor. 4.15.16 11.1.2.4.5 Phil. 3.15.17 6 To preserve a further unity it should be the care of such as have gifts of knowledge and utterance to helpe forwards such as are weake in judgement to comfort the feeble minded left they being neglected become a prey to deceivers of mindes 1. Thes. 5.14 and to warne such as are not of the same minde Philip. chap. 4. Lastly wee should marke such as cause divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine which wee have learned and avoide them Rom. 16.17 18. The second use may be for the reproofe of multitudes of Christians in all places that offend greatly against this Doctrine by their dissenting in opinions without due respect of the former rules There is almost no Congregation in the kingdome but is disquieted with this sinne yea many times the glory of such as professe religion is greatly obscured by this sinne and the sincerity of religion much exposed to contempt and the prophane reproach of the wicked And this sinne is the greater 1 When men not onely bring in new opinions but also bring them in with an opinion that they are more holy and more spirituall than such as receive them not or resist them 1. Cor. 14.37 2 When the opinions are meerely new and unheard of before in the Christian world 3 When they are brought in by private persons that goe from house to house to inferre upon others the singularity of their conceits 4 When themselves are doubtfull inwardly of the truth of what they affirme and are not fully perswaded but doubt both waies and yet take to that side that differs from the generall judgement of the Churches Rom. 14.5 1. Tim. 1.6.7 5 When men urge their dissenting so violently that a Schisme is made in the Church or Christians are divided from the exercise of brotherly love and mutuall fellowship 1. Cor. 1.10.11 6 When men are vaine talkers will have all the words and by their good wills will talke of nothing else and so hinder edification in profitable doctrine and such as is out of question Tit. 1.10 11. and when men lust to be contentious and are like Salamanders that live alwaies in the fire and know no zeale without contention 1. Cor. 11.16 7 When men differ in judgment in the very points of foundation and erre against such truths as must be beleeved to salvation 8 If men be so light headed and variable that they are tossed to and fro and carried about with every winde of doctrine sometimes of one opinion and shortly after of another especially when men are so new fangled as in every place to receive almost any doctrine that is new and diverse Eph. 4.14 9 When men quarrell so earnestly about things of lesse moment contrary to the custome of the Churches as about praying or prophecying bare or covered or about eating the Sacrament full or fasting 1. Cor. 11. or about such indifferent things as may be used or not used with Christian liberty Rom. 14. or about Genealogies 1. Tim. 1.4 and such like And that this reproofe may enter the more deepely upon the hearts of some Christians it will be profitable to consider of the ill causes of dissenting which are these and such like 1 Ignorance of the Scripture if they had more true knowledge they would not disagree And this ignorance yea somtimes palpable ignorance may bee found in some that thinke themselves to have more knowledge and to be more spirituall than a multitude of those from whom they disagree Mat. 22.1 Tim. 1.7 6. 1. Cor. 14.37 38. 2 Want of love to those sound truths that more concerne sanctification causeth God in his justice sometimes to

overmuch at the monstrous abominations in opinion or life that are found amongst the wicked of the world and in false Churches A second Doctrine I observe from hence is That we ought to be rightly ordered in our minds as well as any other part of our soules or lives Yea the minde is to bee looked to in the first place Hence it is that in our regeneration our minds are especially renewed Rom. 12.2 and God requires to bee served with our mindes Mat. 22.37 Yea as God is an eternall minde so the service of the minde is most proper for God And besides our mindes give lawes to our lives and therefore if the minde be not good the life must needs bee evill The happinesse of the whole man depends upon the minde and therefore the Apostle reckons the impurity of the minde and conscience to be the worst impurity can befall a man Tit. 1.15 and the same Apostle makes it a signe of a man whose end is damnation to have his mind taken up and wholly bent to earthly things Phil. 3.19 This point may serve first to shew the wofull estate of such persons as have ill and unsound mindes And the minde is unsound when it is corrupt or putrified with ill opinions concerning either faith or manners 2. Tim. 3.8 1. Cor. 11.3 and when it is blinded with ignorance 2. Cor. 4.4 ● for without knowledge the minde cannot bee good Prov. 19.2 and it is a divellish mischiefe to have darkenesse in our mindes as that place in the Corinth shewes The minde is also unfound and in wofull taking when it is taken up with vile thoughts and contemplative wickednesse Rom. 1.21 Eph. 4.17 and when men have double minds Iam. 4.7 or wavering minds Iam. 1.7 And therefore one of the highest curses God inflicts upon men with whom he is angry is to plague them in their mindes either with a reprobate minde Rom. 1.28 or with a desperate minde Secondly this Doctrine shewes what harmefull creatures deceivers of mindes are they doe more mischiefe than such as deceive men in their estates or poyson mens bodies Tit. 1.10 Thirdly this should teach all carefull Christians to gird up the loynes of their mindes 1. Pet. 1.13 and to labour to get a sound minde 2. Tim. 1.7 and in particular to get the unity of minde which the Apostle here requires And so I come to the third point The third Doctrine then which I observe out of these words is That all true Christians are bound in a speciall manner to strive to be all of one minde which in this place is meant of unity and agreement in judgment and matter of beliefe in the points of Religion This is urged in divers Scriptures as 1. Cor. 1.10 2. Cor. 13.11 Phil. 2.2 Rom. 15. 5. and this was the great glory of the first christian Church that all the multitude were of one heart and one soule Act. 4. 32. There are many reasons to perswade us hereunto 1 From the nature of this agreement It is as it were one of the bonds of the mysticall union for though it bee not the principall one for that is the Spirit of Christ yet it is a speciall one it is like the veines and sinewes which tye the bodie together to breake this unity is to cut asunder the very veines and sinewes of the mysticall body of Christ 1. Cor. 1.10 2 From the equity and comelinesse of it Wee have but one God one Father one Baptisme one Spirit one Hope and therefore should have but one Faith Eph. 4.4.3.5 3 From the good effects of this unity for first it will make us the fitter to praise God and doe him service with the greater encouragement and comfort as wee may see Rom. 15.5 Secondly it will make us ever eate our meat with more gladnesse and singlenesse and quietnesse of heart Act. 2.46 Thirdly it will winne us the more favour and honour amongst the people as we reade in the example of those first Christians Act. 2.47 yea in the end of that verse we may gather that it is a great advantage for the conversion of others when they see us agree so well together and further it will be a singular joy to our Teachers to see us agree and to be all of one minde and to serve God with one shoulder as the Prophet Zephany speaketh Phil. 2.2 yea it wil be a signe to us that we are true Christians and have found true comfort in Christ and in brotherly love and that we have fellowship by the Spirit in the body of Christ and that we have right bowels and mercie unto others Phil. 2.1 2. 4 From the ill effects of dissenting Two of them may be gathered from the coherence in this place for first it is implyed That if Christians agree not in opinions they will hardly practise the foure other vertues here named towards the persons with whom they dissent they will not love them as brethren heartily nor be so pittifull to them in distresse nor so mercifull to helpe them if they be in need nor so courteous and kinde to them Secondly if this first rule be transgressed it is verie probable they will bring trouble upon themselves and that eyther in their consciences or in their estates It may be observed that all the while a man is in contention about his diverse or strange opinions in which he dissents he is not so quiet in himselfe nor enjoyes not firme rest and peace in his owne heart and conscience And experience shewes that many both Ministers and private Christians have brought a great deale of trouble upon their estates by dissenting Now out of other Scriptures we may observe diverse other ill effects of diversities in opinions as first it breedes confusion in the Church as the Apostle shewes ● Cor. 14.32 33. Secondly it breedes division and schisme 1. Cor. 1.10 When men begin to broach new opinions Schismes begins in the roote of it though it may bee a long time before it come to the full growth Thirdly it much disquieteth the hearts and heads of manie weake Christians in which respect Paul wished they were cut off that troubled the Galathians chap. 5. Fourthly it not only troubles Christians but many times workes still in them as it proves the subverting of their soules as the Apostles shew in the case of difference about the ceremoniall Law Act. 15.24 Ehes. 4.14 2. Tim. 2.14 16 17. Fiftly it drives men many times into diverse acts of hypocrisie or passion or pride or such vices as are contrarie to singlenesse of heart Acts 2.46 Sixtly it breedes many times strange censuring the authors of new opinions censuring of others as if because they received not their doctrine they were not spirituall enough but too carnally minded and that they were farre behinde them in knowledge as we may gather 1. Cor. 14.36 37. Thus the false Teachers vilified Saint Paul and the Apostles Thus of the motives to unitie in judgement Before I come