Selected quad for the lemma: faith_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
faith_n	catholic_n	church_n	visible_a	4,689	5	9.3932	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64246	The confession or declaration of the ministers or pastors which in the United Provinces are called Remonstrants, concerning the chief points of Christian religion; Confessio sive declaratio sententiae pastorum qui in Foederato Belgio Remonstrantes vocantur super praecipuis articulis religionis Christianae. English	Remonstrantse Broederschap.; Episcopius, Simon, 1583-1643.; Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632.	1676 (1676)	Wing T564; ESTC R10771	123,629	274

heard are gathered as it were into one body all and every of whose members have a certain mutual communion amongst one another and a spiritual communion with their one only and true Head our Lord Jesus Christ as they really are so also are they rightly called the Church of Jesus Christ. Of both which to wit the Church and the Communion thereof we say in the Apostles Creed I believe the holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints 2. For this Church is nothing else but an Assembly of men called by the Gospel and believing on Jesus Christ or at least with their mouth professing his Name and Doctrine as saving although some more some less either sincerely and purely or firmly and constantly believe on Christ or at least outwardly in words and rites profess Christ. 3. For the Church whilst it is militant here on earth is wont according to the Sacred Scripture to be considered under a twofold respect 1. As an Assembly of Men and Women truly pious and believing and that do cordially and sincerely embrace and love and with their whole heart keep and order their lives and conversations according to that saving Doctrine of Jesus Christ which they profess with their Mouth Which Assembly is visible and certainly known to God only but is invisible unto us Seeing true Faith and Piety which lie hid within the heart none but God the alone indeed searcher of the Hearts and Reins can behold them 4. But to hold the saving Doctrine of Jesus Christ is not forthwith so perfectly to know all that is every way contained in the doctrine of Christ so as to err or hesitate in no one Article at all or no Sacred History or sense of the Holy Scripture but at least well and rightly to hold or understand all that without which we cannot rightly observe and perform the Commandments of Faith and Obedince nor consequently according to the Mind and Will of God obtain eternal Salvation Therefore all those Churches which agree in the belief and profession of necessary Truth we believe that they ought to be counted for true Churches of Jesus Christ although in the mean time they differ in many other things and in some respects not inconsiderably swerve from the Truth 5. The Church is considered as it is a visible Multitude of those that publickly profess the Faith and Doctrine of Jesus Christ although haply they do not truly believe in him which as to the outward Confession of the Mouth and other manifest signs of Faith of that kind is of it self even sufficiently known and visible unto us although it appear sometimes less evidently or clearly 6. Again both may be considered either as Catholick or universal which being spread throughout the whole World comprehends or contains all Congregations together either of those who truly believe or at least profess so to do or as local or particular which is gathered in certain places by parts severally for instance at Corinth in Galatia at Ephesus c. Of which this or the other whatever it be may not only err in doctrine but also revolt from the true Faith the profession thereof yea and oftentimes also doth actually revolt from the same the Catholick Church in the mean time still remaining safe entire notwithstanding Nor indeed is there any divine promise extant whereby the sincere profession of true doctrine and a continual succession therein or an uninterrupted and uniform continuance of the continual assistance of the Holy Ghost and of the Orthodox Faith and that to be always clearly seen is promised to any certain particular Church or Congregation yea indeed rather both examples and presages of the defection of many are every where obvious or easy to meet with in the Holy Scriptures Of the Marks or Notes of a visible Church 7. Furthermore the Notes and Marks such indeed as are certain and infallible which clearly demonstrate unto us and make a Church or Christian Assembly which is already gathered by the preaching of the Word visible may be reduced unto one only general that is unto the profession of that sacred and saving doctrine which was delivered by Jesus Christ in conjunction with at least an outward keeping of the Commandments of Jesus Christ. For whereas true Faith which is given unto the saving doctrine of Jesus Christ doth as the more inward form and as it were the Soul constitute and make a true and invisible Church of Jesus Christ it is necessary doubtless that the alone profession of that true and saving Faith which we have spoken of make the same visible unto us 8. But with labour and toil either to seek or demand or to desire to shew unto others other Notes or Marks whereby those who as yet are wholly ignorant what a true Chruch of Christ is or which or what is the saving Doctrine thereof may come certainly undoubtedly to the knowledg of the true Church and consequently to the knowledg of the Truth it self is altogether vain and foolish for that so to pretend is neither necessary nor profitable nay not possible rightly or orderly to be performed So far is it from such Marks consisting in those things which the World and Fleshly reason are wont so highly to esteem to wit in Antiquity Multitude Consent Succession of persons outward Splendour of Congregations or worldly Happiness c. of which many of late do vainly boast 9. Furthermore the duty of those who belong to this visible Church doth not only consist in every particular Man's professing with his mouth and in life this saving doctrine of Christ for himself but also in Believers being united and joyned together among themselves whether they be more or fewer in their doing or performing those things which ordinarily cannot nor use to be performed but in a Society or Congregation and which render the Society or Congregation it self more Illustrious and Conspicuous 10. Which sort or kind of duties besides hearing of the Word preached and the profession of Faith already spoken of are chiefly two to wit the use of the Sacraments as they are called and the exercise of Christian discipline of which more immediately CHAP. XXIII Of the Sacraments and other Sacred Rites 1. VVHen we speak of Sacraments we understand the outward Ceremonies of the Church or those sacred and solemn Rites whereby as by foederal signs and visible seals God doth not only represent and shadow out unto us his gracious benefits especially those promised in the Covenant of the Gospel but doth also in a certain manner clearly hold forth and seal the same unto us and we again likewise do openly and publickly declare and testifie that we do embrace all the promises of God with a true firm and obedient Faith and that we will always with continual and thankful remembrance celebrate with

obtains and hath her being a true Church And if indeed such an Authority as this agrees not with the very first primitive Church it self much less ought we to believe that it belongs to any Church at this day or any indeed succeeding that first and primitive one 9. The Doctrine therefore contained in these Books is of it self altogether Authentick and indeed of Authority Divine and uncontrollable and by reason of the infallible veracity of God deserves altogether and challengeth undoubted Credit and Belief and by vertue of its autocratorical or absolute and supream Power most humble Obedience from us And whatsoever Doctrine or Tradition wants this priviledg of being of a Supream and Divine Revelation it hath not by any Right either the same or the like Authority with it much less that which either decreeth any thing else either contrary to it or diverse from it and that by an usurpt Authority or at least otherwise than is contained in writing in these Books commandeth it to be declared or being declared to be believed upon the pain and peril of the loss of Salvation since God can neither contradict himself and no Authority either Humane or Angelical ought to be equalled to the Divine 10. And now because such Divine-like Authority as this belongeth unto and agreeth with these very Books only it is therefore even withal necessary that by them alone as by Touchstones and firm and ●●ovable Rules we examine and try all Controversies and Debates in Religion and by them only to reason discourse and judg of them and so to leave them to God alone and to Jesus Christ as the only supream and infallible Judg peremptorily to be decided for we are not to think that it was any ways God's will and pleasure in the least that they should be decided by any judicial or authoritative right by any visible Judg and one ordinarily speaking in the Church sith it hath pleased him to leave us in his Word a rule only directive or to judg only directively by and not withal coactively or by way of constraint but that there ought to be an infallible Judg always speaking in the Church he hath no where signified nor hath he in his Word pointed out who he should continually be but hath expresly commanded all every one alike to search his Laws or Judgments and Statutes to try the Spirits whether they be of God yea to try all things and to hold fast that which is good and moreover hath promised to such as search into his Laws and seek the understanding of them his Grace and Holy Spirit and those who have searched the Scriptures and examined Controversies of Faith by them yea who have diligently tryed by the Rule and Square of the Scripture those things which have been spoken by the Apostles themselves he hath commended and praised them with singular Elogies 11. Therefore they who do freely give themselves or suffer to be given by others this irrefragable Authority of peremptorily deciding of Differences and Controversies of Faith or Religion either all or some either to some certain Church or Synod of Doctors or to any Society of Men whatsoever or to any single Person who also may be ungodly and profane as to a visible and speaking Judg and will have Mens Consciences h●ld and bound by this decision they build upon no firm reason much less upon any Divine Authority nay rather they are to be thought to do it against both the one and the other alike Besides that they do by this means greatly weaken and wholly void that Christian duty of searching the Scriptures of trying the Spirits of proving all things c. and withall both the necessity and advantage of pious and devout Prayers 12. For this therefore at least most weighty and withall most just cause we suffer not our selves in Controversies indeed of Religion in the sacred concerns or causes of Faith to be prest with the bare Authorities of Men suppose with the Glosses and Opinions of the Fathers as they are called the Determinations of Councils or Synods the Articles of Confessions the Placits or Opinions of Divines or the Conclusions of Universities much less with long since received Customs or with the Splendor and Number or Multitude of Men of the same Opinion or lastly Prescription of a long times continuance c. For doubtless at this turn we ought not to mind what this or the other Doctor of the Church or Assembly of Doctors though never so renowned for their supposed Learning and Sanctity nor what this or that Synod or particular Church but what he who is before all and who alone can neither deceive nor be deceived our Lord Jesus Christ hath said and prescribed in his Word 13. Nor is it strange for in these very Books is perfectly contained a full and more then sufficient Revelation of all the Mysteries of Faith especially of those which are simply necessary for all Men in general and every Man in particular to know believe hope and do for to obtain everlasting Salvation so that there is no one point no not the least requisite for the right information of Faith or of a life pleasing unto God precisely necessary to be held by any Christian which is not abundantly contained in these very Sacred Books And by things necessary unto Salvation we only understand those things without which it is utterly impossible for any Man either to obey the Commandments of Jesus Christ aright and as he ought or firmly to believe his Divine Promises and which are therefore such that without a Man 's own manifest fault they cannot be denyed unknown or called in question by him 14. Furthermore the perspicuity of the said Books although in some places especially to the unlearned and less exercised they be obscure or dark enough is so great especially in Meanings necessary to be understood unto Salvation that all that read them not only the Learned but the Ignorant also that are endued but with common Sence and Judgment may as far as is sufficient attain to the understanding of them sobeit they suffer not themselves to be blinded with Prejudice vain Confidence or other corrupt Affections but search this Scripture diligenrly and devoutly which we believe is not only lawful for all though otherwise Rude Ignorant and of the common People or Laicks but also commanded and enjoyned them of God and study to be acquainted with those phrases or manners of expression which are peculiar to the Scripture and were most clear and significant at that time wherein those Books were written and whilst the same idiom or propriety of speech yet flourished that such as these we say may from them abundantly understand all things pertaining to true Faith and Godliness not only those things which are necessary but also under the very reason of their necessity towit that