Selected quad for the lemma: earth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
earth_n	catholic_n	church_n	visible_a	2,907	5	9.9387	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81501	The Discipline and order of particular churches, no novelty. Proved from Scripture, reason, autiquity, and the most eminent modern divines. Or, A discourse of the church, in a scripture notion, with her extent, power and practice, tending to moderate the minds of men, toward dissenters in matters ecclesiastical, and to acquit such from the charge of innovation, faction, separation, schism, and breach of union and peace in the church, who cannot conform in many things to the rules, canons, and practices of others. / By a Lover of truth, peace, unity, and order.	Lover of truth, peace, unity, and order.	1675 (1675)	Wing D1558A; ESTC R174652	61,995	98

THE DISCIPLINE AND ORDER Of Particular CHURCHES NO NOVELTY Proved from Scripture Reason Antiquity and the most Eminent Modern DIVINES OR A Discourse of the Church in a Scripture Notion with her Extent Power and Practice tending to Moderate the Minds of Men toward Dissenters in Matters Ecclesiastical and to acquit such from the Charge of Innovation Faction Separation Schism and Breach of Union and Peace in the Church who cannot conform in many things to the Rules Canons and Practices of others By a Lover of Truth Peace Unity and Order London Printed Anno Dom. M.DC.LXXV THE DISCIPLINE AND ORDER OF Particular CHURCHES no Novelty c. THE Church of God since the days of the Gospel was and is according to Scripture-expressions either first the whole Body of Christ consisting of all the Elect See the disputation against Campion at the Tower Sep. 18. 1581. in the Morn by Tulk. and Goad as Eph. 5.23 Christ the head of the Church the Saviour of the Body ver 27. That he might present to himself a Glorious Church ver 25. Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it So Heb. 12.22 23. To the General Assembly and Church of the First born written in Heaven c. Col. 1.18 He is the Head of the Body the Church c. Dr. Carleton sometime Bishop of Chichester in his little Piece Called A Direction to know the true Church p. 3. saith That the Saints before the Law under the Law and under Grace make up the Body of Christ or Members of the Church and that this is the Catholick Church Or Secondly the Universal Visible Church or whole Visible Body of Believers upon the whole Earth at the same time as Acts 2.42 The Lord added to the Church daily Mr. Baxter Cure of Church-Divisions p. 82. Ho●ke● Eccl. Polity third Book p. 88. c. So Eph. 3.21 Vnto him be Glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all Ages Or Thirdly a particular Congregation Society or Company of Professors of the Faith of Jesus Christ usually meeting together in one place as one Body for the participation of the same Ordinances and Exercising the same Duty as a Church in Edifying one another Reynolds in his Conference with Hart Cap. 6. p. 218. saith That a Bishop in our sence is him to whom the Over-fight and charge of a particular Church is committed such as Ephesus Philippi and the seven Churches Prayer c. Such as was the Church in Jerusalem Acts 11.22 Tydings came to the Ears of the Church which was in Jerusalem and they sent forth Barnabas and others c. That this was but one Congregation is evident from Act. 15. where Paul and Barnabas and others coming from Antioch to this Church they were received by the Church first and then the Apostles and Elders The Apostles Elders and Brethren the whole Multitude were present at the Discourse of the Matter and the Epistle wrote in the name of the whole Apostles Elders and Brethren met together with one accord ver 25. Such was the Church of Antioch which was gathered together Acts 14.27 when Paul and Barnabas came and with whom they had Assembled before a whole year Acts 11.26 And were afterwards gathered together to receive and hear the Epistle Acts 15.30 Such were the Churches which the Apostles visited and ordained Elders in Acts 14.23 for they did it by suffrage Likewise the Church in Corinth 1 Cor. 1 2. Vnto the Church of God in Corinth These met in one place 1 Cor. 5. 1 Cor. 11.18.20.23 Cap. 14.23 So the Church at Cenchrea near Corinth See Smect p. 40 41. 47 58 59. Bishop Jewels Reply to Harding p. 230. And Mr. Stillingfleet quotes Pareus in Rom. 16. for this that the Church of Corinth did meet sometimes at Cenchrea because of the violence of their Enemies in Corinth Therefore also when the Apostles spake any where of the Assemblies or Societies of Believers in any one Country they call them not a Church in the singular Number or the Church of such a Country or Isle but Churches as of many in the same Country as in Judea Macedonia Galatia Asia 1 Thes 2.14 2 Cor. 8.1.18.23 24. Gal. 1.2.22 The Holy Ghost mentions seven Churches by name in Asia Rev. 1.4 Ch. 2. Ch. 3. And as to this the same Bishop Carleton in the same Book p. 2. saith That particular Churches are visible Assemblies c. and Governed by divers visible heads and proves it by Gregory Lib. 4. Epist 3. A fourth Church in Scripture Phrase cannot be found since the time that all in every Nation which fear God are accepted as the Apostle said Acts 10.34 35. Such as National Provincial Synodical c. We read not in Scripture nor in any Church History for many years after Christ of any Church distinct from these Descriptions before given Now it is to be presumed that there are none who will affirm that the first of these three Churches could possibly meet together or do any Act as a Church either in choosing Officers determining Controversies Ordering things indifferent to Edification giving Interpretations of Scriptures partaking of Ordinances and casting out of Offenders c. Or that ever any such Power was derived down from Christ upon them as a Church so to do or that he ever intended this Church when he directs any thing to be done by the Church as such because of the utter impossibility of their performance thereof as a Church part of which being already fallen asleep and part not yet born Also it may be concluded as to the second Church above described that it is utterly impossible they should at any time meet together as a Church in one Body to agree upon consent unto Act or Order any thing according to the power given to the Churches as above joyntly as such a Church or partake of Ordinances joyntly as such Nay it 's improbable if not impossible that in their Representative this Church should meet and put themselves into a capacity to Act as a Church in any of the things to be done by a Church as such Nay was there ever any such meeting of this Church None as can be found in Story Or if this were possible where have we Authority of Scripture or Primitive Practice to justifie such a Company of Representatives to call themselves a Church in this sence and to take to themselves the Power of the whole Church given to her by Jesus Christ and to call their Acts the Acts of the Church And it would be strange for any to affirm that Christ hath put the Power as to the Execution of it into the hands of a Body that can never possibly be able to Execute the Power derived upon If any number of Men would colourably make themselves the Churches Representative It is necessary they should be chosen by the whole and some one at least for every particular Church Body Society or Congregation throughout the World as the Messengers