Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	according_a	church_n	doctrine_n	4,717	5	6.8021	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45303	A modest offer of some meet considerations tendered to the learned prolocvtor and to the rest of the Assembly of Divines, met at Westminster by a true lover of truth and peace.	Hall, Joseph, 1574-1656.	1644 (1644)	Wing H394; ESTC R14524	9,261	19

Pastor they have their Presbyteries consisting of severall Shrivalties which meet together in the chiefe Towne or City next to them every week also once and have there their exercise of Prophecying after which the Moderator of the said Meeting asks and gathers the judgements of all the said Pastors concerning the doctrine then delivered or of any other doubtfull point that is then and there propounded And if the said Presbyters be divided in their opinions then the Question is under an injoyned silence put over to the next Synode which is held twice a yeare unto that all the Pastors of that Quarter or Province duly resort accompanyed with their Elders The Moderator of the former Synode begins the Action then a new Moderator is chosen for the present or as it seldome falls out the last Moderator by Voices continued Any Question of doubt being proposed is either decided by that meeting or if it cannot be so done is with charge of silence reserved till the Nationall Synode or Generall Assembly which they hold every yeare once Whither come not the Pastors onely but the King himselfe or his Commissioners and some of all Orders and Degrees sufficiently authorized for the determining of any Controversie that shall arise amongst them Thus he And certainly this beares the face of a very faire and laudable course and such as deserves the approbation of all the wel-willers to that discipline But let me adde that we either have or may have in this very same state of things with some small variation in effect the same Government with us onely there wants some care and life in their execution which might without much difficulty be redressed Every parish hath or by Law ought to have their Minister ever present with them and carefully watching over them In stead then of their Pastor Elders and Deacons we have in every Parish the Minister whether a Rector or Vicar Churchwardens Questmen or Sidemen and Overseers for the Poore and in places of any eminence a Curate or Assistent to the Rector who is a Deacon at least These may and ought and in some places doe duly meet together every week on a set day in their Vestry and decide such differences as happen amongst them and may well be enjoyned to take notice of such abuses and mis-demeanours as are incident into their parish for their speedy reformation within the Verge of their owne power In stead of their Presbyteries consisting of severall pastors we have our number and combination of ministers in the divisions of our severall Deanries under which are ranged all the Ministers within that circuit Over whom the Rurall Deane as he is called is every year chosen by the said Ministers of that division as their moderator for the yeare ensuing whose office if it were carefully looked unto and reduced to the originall institution might be of singular use to Gods Church This Deanry or Presbytery consisting of severall pastors may be injoyned to meet together every moneth or oftner if it seeme fit in some city or town next unto them and may there have their exercise of prophesying as I have known it practiced in some parts of this kingdom and as it is earnestly wished and recommended by that excellently-Learned Lord Verulame late Lord Chancelour of England in his prudent Considerations and then and there may indevour to decide any doubt that may arise in their severall parishes either concerning the doctrine of their Minister or scruple in cases of conscience and may transact any publique businesse that may concerne their whole division But if any such matter or question should arise as their divided opinions cannot fully determine it may under charge of silence be put over to a more publique meeting which is the synodall assembly of the Clergy held twice a yeare under the moderation hitherto of the Archdeacon And if there the question fayle of a full determination it is or may be referred with like silence and peace to a Diocesan Synode which may be held every yeare once under the presidency of the Bishop And if yet the decision come not home it may be referred to the determining of a Provinciall Synod or yet higher to a Nationall So as in these cases of doubts or errors if men would not be wanting to themselves nothing needs to be wanting in the state we now stand in to the safety and happinesse of our Church For matter of Ordination of Ministers the former Constitutions of our Church have deeply enjoyned the presence and assistance of those who by their originall institution are the Presbyterie of the Bishop at and in the examination and allowance of the persons to be ordained requiring also the joynt-imposition of those hands which attested the sufficiency of the said Examinates not without a severe sanction of two yeares suspension of the act of Ordaining to passe upon any Bishop or Suffragane that shall be found failing in any of the particulars The qualification of those that are to be ordained is in our Canons already set forth with much caution for their age their degrees their abilities the testimonie of their holy conversation neither need I doubt to affirm that he who besides all other circumstances of education is able to give a good account of his faith in Latine according to the received Articles of the Church of England and to confirme the same by sufficient testimonies out of the holy Scripture may be thought competently fit for matter of knowledge to enter upon the first step of Deaconship which the wisdome of the Church hath according to the Apostles rule appointed not without a sufficient distance of time in way of probation to the higher order of Ministery forbidding to give both orders at once and requiring that he who is ordained Deacon shall continue a whole yeare at least in that station except upon some weighty reasons it shall seeme fit to the Bishop to contract the time limited And lest there should be any subreption in this sacred businesse it is Ordered that these Ordinations should be no other then solemne both in respect of time and place neither ought they to be nor in some places are without a publique preconization of lawfull warning affixed upon the Cathedrall Church doore where the said Ordination shall be celebrated and over and besides the charge that none shall be admitted to be a Candidate of holy Orders but he who brings sufficient testimonials of his good life and conversation under the seale of some Colledge in Cambridge or Oxford or of three or foure grave Ministers together with the subscription and testimonie of other credible persons who have known his life and behaviour by the space of three yeeres next before it is well knowne to you that before the Act of Ordination there is publique Proclamation made to the whole Assembly that if any man knowes any crime or impediment in any of the persons presented for which he ought not to be ordained that hee should come