Selected quad for the lemma: england_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A88108
|
A brief plat-form of that government which is called Presbyterial. By William Ley minister of the Word at Charlwood in Surrey.
|
Ley, William, b. 1620 or 21.
|
1648
(1648)
|
Wing L1887; Thomason E457_1; ESTC R204958
|
18,562
|
30
|
Presbyter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 5. who am also an Elder Paul 1 Tim. 4.14 bid's Timothie neglect not the gift which was given by imposition of hands not of Episcopacie but Presbyterie * Totum hoc magis ex consue tudine quà m ex dispositionis veritate Hieron Ep. ad Evang. et Com. in Tit. Hierom tell 's us that the distinction of Bishops and Presbyters is of small use of different Order rather then Authoritie Like power to that which a Super-intendent or Prolocutor hath in a Synod or an Assemblie all this whatsoever Authoritie they usurp is more out of custom then Divine ordination And as for Lay-Elders if I may so style them Ambrose expounding these words rebuke not an Elder Doctorum desidiâ aut magis superbiâ Ambr. Tom. 5. on 1 Ep. Tim. cap. 5. complaine's that the Ecclesiastical jurisdiction-of knowing causes was degenerated from the Primitive use and devolved upon the Ministers First saith hee the Synagogue after that the Church had Elders without whose counsel nothing was don in the Church by what sort of means it went out of use I know not whether by the idleness or rather the pride of the Doctors Tertullian Mox praesident probati quique seniores Tertul. utì Grotius in in Matth 18. as Grotius recite's his words on his Comment on Matth. 18. Wee go into the Congregation there are exhortations praiers chastisements and anon approved Elders take their place Cyprian saith I received writeings from the Presbyters Donatus Honatus and Cardius but alone could not rescribe since I determined from the beginning of my Office to do nothing of mine own head without the consent of the * Sine consensu plebis nibil c. Cypr. l. 3. Ep. 10. in fine people Eusebius also lastly record's that Natalius who was seduced by Asclepiodotus having seen his Errors Euseb Eccles Hist lib. 5. besought the Church with waterish eyes and wet cheeks to compassionate and pardon him For further satisfaction in this particular notable is that confession which was ingenuously acknowledged by Episcopacie it self for as Mr M. relate's in his explication of the Covenant the Arch-bishops Bishops and whole Clergie of England declared to King Henrie the 8th and subscribed it with their own hands that PRELACIE was but a HUMANE POLITICK DEVICE of the FATHERS 2. It is Pure The Scepter of Christs Kingdom is a righteous Scepter it vindicate's the Word from irreverence and contempt hedgeth in the Sacrament from prophanation and promiscuousness while Spiritual railes keep back notorious offenders that Christ may not the second time bee betraied into the hands of Sinners with this the Church would bee as foul as Augea's Stable it would bee with Austin Porcorum hara colluvies rabidorum Canum a Swine-stie a companie of mad dogs or as Christ saith a meer den of Theeves 2. It is Spiritual both in respect of the Office Officers 1. Of the Office which consist's 1. In Admonition 1 Thes 5.14 2. Rebuke Luc. 17.4 3. In Censure Matt. 18.19 Joh. 20.21 Tit. 3.10 2. Of the Officers which are 1. Pastors Eph. 4.11 2. Elders Acts 14.23 1 Tim. 5.3 3. Deacons 1 Tim. 3.8 4ly It is safe for there bee two things which extremely hazard the Church 1. Want of the Lord's Supper which Christ commanded to have often in remembrance of him 2. Fals Brethren who lye in wait to seduce Gal. 5.12 the tolerateing whereof was dangerous to Galatia Pergamus and Thiatyra But som may say can not the Lord's Supper bee administred without Government Yes but if the people press in as profanely to the Table as the Tavern not so much hungring after Christ as the Elements that is not to discern the Lord's bodie or surcharged with surfetting or drunkenness as in Paul's time or with wrath and malice as in our times are these worthie to receive are the Seales Seales of life or of death to such and where there are many such will they bee staved off by a Minister alone without thoughts not onely of disdain but of revenge For my part I am resolved on the negative and lest any should think it to bee Juvenilis Calor a flash rather of youth then of maturity let him read what Chrysostom and Calvin determine in the like kinde Chrysostom saith it is neither Diadem nor Purple Major his nobis est poteflas Chrys Hom. in Matth. nor Magistrate shall move mee to give the Sacrament to an ungodly Person wee have more Power in the Church then they Juravi mihi potiù staâ—â—tumesse mâ—rtem oppetere quà m ut sâ—cram Dominî Caeuam c. Cal. Epist ad Virct p. 164. Besides the example of Theodosius the Emperor excommunicated by him for his slaughter at Thessalonica fully declare's it Calvin that famous Divine who is by Zanchius called Galliae Apostolus the Apostle of France saith I have sworn I have determined rather to die then so vilely to profane the holy Supper of the Lord as by giving it to unworthie Members 5. †Hac disciplinâ adeò nemo eximâ—batur ut principes quoque unà cum plebeis ad eum ferendam subjicerent Cal. Instit It is Impartial Ministers and Elders are subjected to the Government as well as others the Judges themselvs are subject to judgment as Trajan nobly spake in the Knighting of a Souldier If I do well use this sword for mee if not against mee the Government is for the prais of all that do wel for the discouragement of those that do evill 6. It is Aristocratical I call it so not in respect of * Christum si respexeris Monarchia dicitur nam ipse est Rex noster qui sanguine sue Ecclesiam acquisivit Sunt verò in Ecclesiâ qui legatione funguntur Presbyteri Doctores alii qui praesunt quorum respectu meritò potest dici Aristocratia Pet. Maryr loc com Class 3. lib. 5. pag. 783. Christ who is a Monarchical head but 1. in respect of us who are Ministerial Officers Councels and Parliaments are Aristocratical 2. by way of opposition to all Papal and Lordly preheminence counting with Gregorie in his Epist to Maurice the Emperor that hee that name's himself universal Bishop is the forerunner of Antichrist Let the best men bee ruleing-Elders and the best Ministers Preaching-Elders and this will produce the best effects Thus honored Gentlemen Patriots and Magistrates I have endeavored a little to possess you with a candid Interpretation of the present Government and to blow your zeal to an higher flame If the caus bee God's leave the success to him do but look on and stand still if you dare not advance and go forward and see the work of the Lord over in it and by it God is never wanting to his Church if shee bee not wanting to him and her self Wee complain of sins and corruptions and crie out O the times but as fondly as the Mother of her childe which will not use the
A BRIEF PLAT-FORM OF THAT GOVERNMENT Which is called PRESBYTERIAL By WILLIAM LEY Minister of the Word at Charlwood in SURREY Volumus eum qui beatus sit tutum inexpugnabilem munitum non ut parvo metu praeditus sed ut nullo ut enim Innocens is dicitur non qui leviter nocet sed qui nihil nocet Sic sine metu is habendus non qui parùm metuit sed qui omnino metu vacat Cic. Tusc Quaest Si salvis hominibus queam jugulare vitia videres quantus sim futurus Carnifex Eras Epist lib 19. pag. 603. Nostri sine Cruce CHRISTUM quaerunt adversarii propter Anti-Christum mille Cruces subeunt Bucer Ep. ad Calv. Perfidae Ignaviae esse arbitror quamdiu hanc personam sustineo non acriter ad extremum usque certare pro sanctâ legitimâ disciplinâ Calv. Ep. ad Tigur Minist Gideon said unto them I will not rule over you neither shall my Son rule over you The Lord shall rule over you Jud. 9.23 LONDON Printed by William Du-gard and are to be sold by Nathanaël Brooks at the Sign of the Angel in Corn-hill 1648. To the right Worshipfull and Reverend Gentlemen and Ministers of the Classis at RIE-GATE in the Countie of SURREY Right Worshipful and Reverend IT hath pleased Divine Providence first to wean mee from my Native Countrie then from the World and now lastly from my self So that I who am naturally of an infirm and crazie Constitution subject to compliance with the stream and to turn with the Heliotropium am supernaturally elevated above common principles Spiritually engaged to plead for Christ even in such Malignant times wherein Christ is opposed in his Name Person Offices Word and Works when most men rather wag their heads against him then truly vail their bonnets and bow their knee before him There have been times wherein this Subject might have fallen into the bosom of Nurses but now it is like to fall into the hands of Step-dames PRESBYTERIE is counted Marah though indeed shee bee a Naomi and every man will crie up the Diana of Licentiousness not becaus it is a right way but the common Rode both for Libertines and Atheists Elijah John Baptist Luther had their times which though perilous to themselvs yet they accepted as advantageous to their Master and Paul consulted with the Spirit and Faith while Flesh and Blood would have made him a Renegado to Christ and the Gospel But so weak are wee that there is need of reasons to whet our Zeal as well as examples to strengthen it let us consider that not onely the Caus but also the Success is God's Ieremie and Luther died in their beds while Balaam the fals Prophet die's by the sword and Tecelius die's wounded with grief by his own Partie Moreover it is a considerable truth that God look's not onely at the substance of the dutie but at the circumstances that attend it and that hee delight 's in Adverbs more then in Neuns and love 's bene better then bonum it self Therefore though it bee well taken that Christians follow Christ when all men crie Hosanna yet it is most seasonable when all men crie Crucifie though it bee most sweet to follow Christ when the Crown is on his temples yet it is most meet to follow him when the Cross is on his back It is good to own Christ on Mount Calvarie as well as Mount Tabor when hee is spit upon by an adulterous generation Mark 8.38 as Moses and Paul did the first whereof preferred the reward of Christ above the Treasures of Egypt the other was not ashamed of the preaching of the Gospel when all men cast shame upon it Romans 1.16 This Kingdom is too like Israel in blessing and in barrenness and therefore may bee called Jidsreel disperdendi à Deo divided scattered ruined by the Lord rather to bee styled Jezrelites then true Israelites as Jacob and Nathanaël were God had given us a wise zealous active glorious Parliament but mee think's the beauty and splendor fade's as a woman doth after many throwes and as the body doth after many aguish Paroxisms no doubt all this for our sins Mee think 's the Scene begin's to change the Scale which ere while was lowest now mount's to a considerable height and all this too for our iniquities But I had rather discuss the Cure then the Diseas Two things must recover England and two things must preserv it 1. The recovering consist's in intire repenting and reforming 2. The preservation 1. In the holy Union of King with Parliament 2. In wholly and entire submission to the Government of Christ Now our Lord Jesus Christ hath a four-fold Government 1. Internal that of the Spirit 2. External 1. Preaching the Word 2. Administration of the Sacraments 3. Ecclesiastical Discipline which is the present subject now in hand And for the opening whereof I have don my endeavor in this ensuing Compendium and have made bold to dedicate it to you who are the Right Worshipful and most Reverend Elders of the Classical Assemblie Magistrates and Ministers are the duo magna Luminaria which two great Lights God made to protect and govern his Church as the Sun and the Moon to govern the World how happie shall the Church bee in so noble and sacred a conjunction no less beautiful then Tirzah no less terrible then an Armie with Banners The causes which first engaged mee to write was no supposition of abilitie in my self Hoc tantūm scio me nîl scire Soc. but first I desired to extract an Epitome of the Government for my private satisfaction then I faw it necessarie to give answer to som scruples of wise and wel-affected persons under mine own charge unto which this present Treatise hath som relation and lastly I perceived which was the main motive that the greatest obstacle why it was not generally embraced was not becaus it wanted splendor in it self but becaus men wanted eies and illumination It was Ignorance made the Norvegian the first time hee saw Roses not dare to touch them for fear of burning his fingers and it is no less ignorance that make's common people fear a Government Must wee say they com to the touch-stone just like little children afraid of Goblins in the dark therefore they often turn and return with Solomon's door upon the hinges before they can either bar their hearts against it or set them open courteously to give it entertainment Such as these must learn by example and by experience Your's Noble Patriots and Magistrates will do much you are the great wheels must set the lesser on gate Give mee leave a little to withdraw the curtain that stand's before it and it will discover it self amiable to you upon an exact survey I shall onely mark unto you six particulars 1. It is a Primitive 2. Pure 3. Spiritual 4. Safe 5. Prudential 6. Aristocratical Government 1. It is Primitive Peter call's himself not a Bishop but a