Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	babylon_n	church_n	zion_n	222	4	10.6009	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29766	Jerubbaal, or, A vindication of The sober testimony against sinful complyance from the exceptions of Mr. Tombs in answer to his Theodulia : wherein the unlawfulness of hearing the present ministers is more largely discussed and proved : the arguments produced in the sober testimony reinforced, the vanity of Mr. Tombs in his reply thereunto evinced, his sorry arguments for hearing fully answered : the inconsistency of Mr. T., his present principles and practices with passages in his former writings remarked, and manifested in an appendix hereunto annexed.	Brown, Robert.	1668 (1668)	Wing B5047; ESTC R224311	439,221	497

might rationally have inferred from hence That that upon the doing whereof relating to the Worship and Service of God of which we were treating Saints have no promise of a Blessing nor ground to expect it is not lawful for them to do for when they are attending ●pon God in his own way he hath promised to meet them and bless them Isa 64. 5. 3. What he writes of Ezekiel's being told that Israel ●ould not hearken is very frivolous and impertinent 1. He had in his going forth to act for God in that Work a promise of his presence and Blessing though Israel abode obstinate Ezek. 3. 8 9 19. 2. There were a Remnant that attended upon the Word of the Lord from his Mouth to whom God made it a blessing But he is upon second thoughts willing to wave this and denies the Minor He tells us That the Saints have a promise of a Spiritual Blessing by hearing these men while they preach the Gospel which he proves from Isa 55. 3. Luke 11. 28. Answ 1. The former place relates not at all to a meer external hearing or an outward attendment upon that Ordinance nor doth the latter but an obediential giving up our selves unto the Word of God Yet 2. they both imply an hearing according to the appointment of the Lord which if we do not but go out of his way at●ending upon a false Ministry as we have proved the present Ministery of England to be these words import not the least promise of a blessing 3. They may be as well urged to prove an attendment upon the Ministry of Rome and that upon our so doing we had ground ●o expect it He adds 2dly The experience of former times tells us that more have been converted strengthened by Conformists yea Bishops themselves than by the best of Separatists Ans 1. Of this the Animadverter is no competent Judge Reformation to civility is not Regeneration Conversion to Christ and Holiness 2. Should it be granted all that could be inferred from hence were this that God did of meer Grace honour his own Word for the conversion of sinners not that we have any ground to expect a blessing upon our attendment on that false Ministry by wh●m 't is dispensed We say in S. T. To prove a promise of a blessing upon our attendment on the present Ministers we conceive is no easie task for any to do for these Reasons 1. The blessing of the Lord is upon Sion Psal 87. 2. 78. 68. There he dwells Psal 9. 11. 74. 2. Jer. 8. 19. Isa 8. 18. Joel 3. 17 21. The presence of Christ is in the midst of his Golden Candlesticks Rev. 1. 12 13. 2. 1. 'T is his Garden in which he feedeth and dwells Cant. 6. 2. 8. 13. And we are not surer of any thing than we are of this that the Assemblies of England in their present constitution are not the Sion of God his Candlestick his Garden but a very wilderness and that Babel out of which the Lord commands his People to hasten their escape Rev. 18. 4. 2. God never promiseth a Blessing to a people waiting upon him in that way which is polluted and not of his appointment as we have proved the Worship of England to be 3. The Lord hath expresly said concerning such as run before they are sent that they shall not profit the people Jer. 23. 32. 4. He professeth that such as refuse to obey his calls to come out of Babylon shall partake of her plagues Rev. 18. 4. 5. Where the Lord is not in respect of his special presence and Grace there is no ground to expect any blessing But God is not so in the midst of the Parochial Assemblies of England Where are the Souls that are converted comforted strengthened stablished by their Ministry To which Mr. T. answers 1. The first reason is a fond application of what is said of Gods dwelling in Sion meant of his special presence there in that his Temple and Service was upon that Hill in the time of the Old Testament to the Congregational Churches exclusively to the Assemblies of England who in their present constitution are not the Sion of God Answ 1. Will Mr. T. stand to this that by the Lords dwelling in Sion we are to understand nothing more than his presence in the Temple with his people of old worshipping there This he seems immediately to retract whilst he cites the Assembly in their Annotations on Heb. 12. 22. making Mount Sion a Type of the Gospel-Church with approbation 2. That the People of Israel were Typical of the Saints in Gospel-dayes we have already demonstrated Sion was so 1st Their Assemblies are call'd the Assemblies of Mount Sion Isa 4. 5. 2dly The solemn investment of Christ into the exercise of Kingship and regal Authority over them is call'd The Lords setting his King upon Sion or over Sion the Mountain of his Holiness Psal 2. 6. 3dly Saints Believers are call'd Sion Psal 146. 10. 147. 12. 149. 2. 4thly The New-Testament Churches are call'd his Temple 2 Cor. 6. 16. with allusion to the Temple that was built upon M●unt Moriah one of the Mountains of Sion to which the true Worship of God was affixed not only in opposition to the Heathen Worship of the Nations but the Worship of the Apostatick ten Tribes under Jeroboam the infamous head of their Apostacy as to these the true Worship of God is fixed in opposition to the Antichristian worship of the Mother-Church of Rome and her Daughters 5thly Mount Sion is call'd the Holy Hill the people that Worship there an holy People evidently expressive of the qualifications of the Church-Members in the times of the Gospel as we have proved 6thly As Sion was typical of Gospel-Churches so was Babylon of false Antichristian-Churches who are her very Picture the Church of England is so as 't were easie to demonstrate That Old Babylon was given to superstiaion and self-invented-worship Jer. 50. 38. 51. 44. Isa 46. 1. bottom'd upon no better Authority than tradition and antiquity compell'd others to Uniformity in her false worship under Penal Laws and Statutes Dan. 3. 3 6. was cruel and tyrannical against the People of God Jer. 51. 25. Isa 14. 17. 47. 6. Jer. 50. 33. and would not permit them to build the Temple at Jerusalem and worship God there according to his appointment that in an●wer hereunto the false Antichristian Church or New-Babel is described as given to superstition and self-invented-worship Rev. 13. 14. 17. 5. compelling others to uniformity thereunto under Penal Laws and Statutes Rev. 13. 15 16 17. 17. 2. 18. 3 9. most cruel and tyrannical against the Saints who cannot conform to her Inventions Rev. 13. 7 10 15. 16. 6. 17. 6. 18. 24. is so evident that none can deny it So that 7thly except Mr. T. can prove the Assemblies of England in their present constitution to be Gospel-Churches they are not

the Sion of God nor to be accounted so Of this we have already spoken and shall only add Those Churches that have no answerableness to Mount Sion the Type of the true Gospel-Churches but are the very Picture of old Babylon the Type of Antichristian Churches are not the Gospel-Churches typed out by Mount Sion but the Babel out of which 't is the duty of the Lords People to flie in whom God dwels not But National-Churches are not answerable to Mount Sion but old Babel Therefore Look upon Sion consider her diligently 1. She was an Holy Mountain or Hill Psal 2. 6. 15. 1. where the holy People dwelt 2dly There was the Temple of God built according to his appointment of hewen stone ready fitted and prepared precious costly stones 2 Chron. 3. 6. 3dly There was the Worship of God managed by Officers of his own according to his own direction and appointment What more evident then that National Churches the Church of England is most unlike hereunto May it be call'd an Holy Hill rather a Mountain of Corruption Are its Members an Holy People What less A Generation of Atheists Drunkards Swearers Adulterers and Adulteresses cannot be so accounted If God's Worship managed according to his own appointment by Officers of his own in their Assemblies we have proved the contrary Are not they the very Picture of old Babylon in their self-invented Worship rigid pressing of Uniformity under Penal Laws the onely support of their Service and murdering the Children of the Lord who dissent from them All that know any thing know these things to be so Nor can they be called his Candlesticks who are not of pure Gold fashioned in all respects so near as humane frailty will admit according to the Idea and platform given forth in the Scriptures of Truth upon which account the New-Testament-Churches are so called with allusion to Exod. 25. 31. but the contrary Their matter for the most part is Reprobate Silver the very dross of the Earth and scum of the World instead of pure Gold They are formed according to the devices of men laid in a subservency to their pride arrogancy and lusts of them we have not the least print in the Scriptures nor for some Ages after as we have proved Nor can they be called his Garden being constituted of such as were never chosen and separated by him from the rest of the World in whose hearts the Fruits of Paradise are not planted as their outward deportment shews who are not dressed by him nor bring forth fruit to him who are not inclosed by his own Rules but the Canon-Law of Antichrist his professed Enemy His answer to the following Reasons hath nothing in it but what we have already considered To the Question Where are the Souls that are converted comforted strengthened stablished that are waiting at the doors of their House He Answers 1. That though there were none such yet this proves not God not to be present in them in respect of his special presence and Grace Answ 1. This I confess is to me a most strange Paradox that no Souls should be converted comforted strengthened stablished in the Parochial Assemblies of England and yet God be present there in respect of his special Presence and Grace when these things are as much the proper issues of such a presence as light and heat are of the shining of the Sun in its brightness 2. The Scriptures cited by him are impertinent 1. Because they expresly relate to the people of the Jews to whom I speak with respect to the body and bulk of them as a Church National God gave not of his special Presence and Grace at that day he had blinded them Isa 6. 9 10. John 12. 40. 2. Because notwithstanding those complaints there were some yea many converted comforted strengthened stablished Isa 49. 4. is a Prophesie of Christ Were none converted by him Isa 53. 1. John 12. 38. Rom. 10. 16. Isa 65. 2. Rom. 10. 21. Mich. 7. 1. Luke 7. 31. Mat. 23. 37. are the complaints of the Lord and his Messengers against the Church of the Jews for their obstinacy against Gospel tenders of Grace and Love but say not that God was with that Church in respect of his special Presence and Grace which had he been they had most assuredly believed and obeyed the Gospel nor do they intimate that there were none converted We read of many yea of some thousands converted by Christ and his Apostles notwithstanding these complaints What follows being an heap of impertinencies we might omit 1. We design not to beget enmity and prejudices in the minds of men against the present Ministry they themselves for the most part are the occasion hereof by their covetousness and debauchery 2. We know not any of the Churches of whom they may say you are the Seal of our Ministry 3. Our groans to the Lord are for poor England that God would shew mercy to it and give them hearts to receive the Truth in the love of it We hope he hath a great Harvest yet to reap in the midst of us and we are incessantly praying him to send forth Labourers into his Harvest Though to be plain we think not that God will use any in this work of gathering Souls to Christ who come with an Antichristian Call and the Wooden Sword of a Common-Prayer-Book and Homilie under their Arms which will never pierce so much as skin deep but such as come with a glorious Gospel-Unction upon them the great Character of Gospel-Ministers 4. He grants That a sad Spirit of withering and visible decaies are to be found upon the Auditors of the Ministers but reflects upon the Congregational Churches To which I shall only say That through the good presence of God with them things are far otherwise with them than this Animadverters words import They meet with choice Springs of Life and Royal establishments from the God of Glory the s●out of the King the Lord of Hosts is many times heard in the midst of them and they tryumph gloriously in him Sect. 4. The 12th Argument against hearing the present Ministers vindicated 'T is one step to Apostacy proved Heb. 10. 25. considered Some Reasons why persons may not hear Parochial Ministers as formerly Mr. T. his Answers to the Queries in S. T. considered His agreement with Bellarmine in the qualification of Church-Members evinced THE 12th Argument produced in S. T. for the proof of the unlawfulness of hearing the present Ministers of England is this That the doing whereof is one step to Apostacy is not lawful to be done But the hearing the present Ministers of England is one step to Apostacy Therefore To which Mr. T. adjoyns Sect. 9. 1. If the Major be understood of Apostacy from the living God and the Christian Faith it 's true if of the Congregational Principles and Practices it 's false Answ 1. The Congregational Principles and Practices we have in this Treatise in part proved to be