Selected quad for the lemma: grace_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A78118
|
Certain queries, propounded to the churches of Christ; and all that fear God, and love the appearing of King Jesus
|
Barber, Edward, d. 1674?
|
1650
(1650)
|
Wing B692A; ESTC R230844
|
19,314
|
16
|
some Prophet and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers And whether as the false church is rejected and the true erected the false Ministerie be not to be forsaken and the true received and consequently false Baptisme renounced and the true assumed According to Ier. 51.6 to the 10. The Lord hath brought forth our righteousnesse come and let us declare in Zion the Work of the Lord our God And 2 Cor. 6.17 Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch no unclean thing and I will receive you compared with Revelat. 18.4 Come out of her my people pertake not of her sinnes and that ye receive not of her plagues Quere 17. Whether Abraham had not a carnall or temporall covenant made to his carnall seed the Promise being of carnall or temporall things sealed to them with a carnall seal Gen. 17.13 Also a second or new covenant made with him and his Spirituall seed concerning spirituall things even the kingdome of grace and glory Hebrews 8.7 to the 12 whereof the Holy spirit of Promise is the seal And thus as I conceive things are proportionable Two covenants Gal. 4.24 Two seeds verse 23 Ishmael of Abraham and Hagar which typed the carnall seed And Isaac of Abraham and Sarah which typed the Spirituall seed These had likewise two Seales Circumcision Gen. 17.11 and the Holy spirit of promise 2 Corinth 1.22 Ephesians 1.13 1 John 4.13 But now under the Gospell the carnall Commandement together with the subject is done away by the crosse of Christ 2 Coloss 14. Blotting out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nayling it to his crosse And infteed thereof we have a spirituall covenant typed by the carnall Also the Spiritual seal the Holy spirit of Promise signified by the carnall seal likewise a Spirituall Infant a new born Babe in Christ in whom Christ typed by the male is newly formed signified by the carnall Infant These had also two states and conditions promised the naturall seed the Land of Canaan Genesis 17.8 but the Spirituall seed the Kingdome of Heaven Genesis 17.19 Romans 9.7 8. Galatians 3.7 8 9. Romans 2.7 Mark 10.30 And whether the Admission of Children to Baptisme and so into Church-fellowship by anothers faith either Parents or Godfathers and Godmothers as they call them be not contrary to the Scriptures Which cleerly shewes that men are saved by their own faith and not by the faith of others Habakuk 2.4 Romans 1.17 Hebrews 10.38 John 1.12 13. and 3.3.5 2 Cor. 5.16 17. Quere 18. Whether it may not be said of Infants sprinkling as at the mariage of England and Scotland Where every one is charged to examine themselves as they will answer at the day of judgement If they know any cause why they may not lawfully be joyned together then to speak Because such as are joyned together otherwise then Gods Word doth allow are not joyned together by God neither is their Matrimonie lawfull So of Infants Baptisme or Sprinkling it may be said That those that are baptised or rather sprinkled otherwise then Gods Word doth command Matthew 28.19 20 were never baptised into CHRIST Galathians chapter the third verse twenty seven Neither is their Baptisme lawfull Ephesians chapter four verses four and five There is one Body and one Spirit even as yee are called in one hope of your Calling one LORD one Faith one Baptisme Quer. 19. Whether under the Gospel the Church and Civill state bee not two distinct things as bodies or corporations Independant of themselves by Gods divine ordination as is largely shewen by Master Hancoke in the three Kingly Estates Or Light for the Ignorant That is the civill state the true Ecclesiastacall State and the false Eclesiastical state whether the 3 part or civil state which was noted in speech between Mr Selden and Master Grimstone to be but Iure Humane having power from God only over our Estates Liberties lives and that which is externall as is noted by Luther and therefore are called Fathers of our flesh Heb. 12.9 have any authothority from God to settle Religion which is Iure Divino And setled already by the Parliament of Heaven with a curse denounced against all that adde or diminish and therefore not to be altered but by the same authority and Parliament of Heaven by which it was enacted Mat 28.18 19 20. Revel 22.18.19 Qu. 20. Whether it be not a Humane Invention and not Gods Ordinance for one to go up into a pulpit and there speake an houre or more and deliver what he please without questioning by any of the Assembly though never so erronious or judging by them whose due it is or adding if truth or whether these Scriptures prove not the contrary Act. 13.16 17.11 1 Cor 14.31 32. For ye may all prophesie one by one that all may learne and all may be comforted and the spirits of the prophets are subiect to the prophets for God is not author of confusion but of peace as in all the Churches of the Saints And Pet. 14.10 As every man hath received the gift even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God And as every member that hath any gift is to administer the same for Gods Glory and the peoples good so the power of determinig is onely in the particular Church where it is done they being the freeest Independent body under heaven whose power resteth in the body not in the Officers Mat. 18.20 and 28.20 Act. 1.21 to the 26. Quer. 21. Whether the servants of Christ are not to preach by vertue of a gift given Ephes 4.8.11 being called thereunto by the Church of which they are members as Acts 13.3 And not by arts learned at the Universitie or Authority gotten from Bishops or any others And whether those priests that hinder beleevers from exercising those gifts or those books from printing which are plainly proved by Scriptures be not a part of the Four angels Revel 7.1 that hold the four winds that they should not blowe upon the earth which causeth separation when men may not deliver truth nor contradict errours the Word of God being as David saith Psal 39.3 Like a fire within the breast of his Disciples they beinig as the Lawvers that take away the key of knowledge and enter not in themselves but hinder those that are entring Luke 1152. Quere 22. Whether it can be properly said that the Ministers of Englang doe convert any to the faith of Christ and obedience of thegospel by their preaching seeing they take it for granted before they sprinkle the Infant that it is regenerate and borne Anew whereas before it was the Childe of wrath but the godfathers having profest repentance and faith and desired baptisme or having one of the parents a beleever as they now say the Minister saith he receivs the childe into the congregation of Christ
CERTAIN QUERIES PROPOVNDED To the Churches of Christ and all that fear God and love the appearing of King JESUS QVERIE 1. WHether there be not sufficient in the Bible as it is translated into English for Believers under the Gospell to prove their Faith and Order or Church-fellowship by without any tradition of men as Matth. 20.28 teaching them to observe whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alway even to the end of the world according to Tim. 2 3.14 15 16 17. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them And 〈◊〉 form a childe thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good workes Compared with Rev. 22.18 19. Q 2. Whether Christ Jesus hath not given as plain and perspicuous a rule under the Gospel to Believers in all their Administrations to the end of the world as Moses did to the Jews under the Law Deut. 4.2 Isa 8.20 Jer. 6.16 Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them you think to have eternall life and them are they that testifie of me compared with Ephes 4 8.11 to the 14. Quer. 3. Whether any thing may be brought into the worship of God for matter or form that is not exprest in the Gospell or the Epistle of the Apostles seeing the Jewes were required so strict obedience under the Law as it was given of God by Moses Deut 12.32 What thing soever I command you to observe do it thou shalt not adde thereto nor diminish from it compared with Pro. 30.6 But believers much more under the Gospell as given by Christ Heb. 1.1 to the 4. and 2.1 to the 5. and 3.1 to the 4. and 10.28 29. He that despised Moses Law died without mercie under two or three witnesses Of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Sonne of God and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an un-holy thing and hath done despight unto the spirit of Grace Quer. 4. Whether actuall Believers confessing sins and professing faith with desire of the Ordnance be not the true subject of Baptisme or Dipping And the right form Dipping or Burying in water not Sprinkling with water it being not according to the rule and institution of Christ and the primitive Churches practice Mat. 28 19 20. Acts 2.37 38. and 8.12 13. But when they believed Philip preaching to them the Kingdome of God and the name of Jesus Christ they were all dipt both men and women compared with verses 36 and 37. Rom. 6.4 Coll. 2.10 And this is performed in shew by Godfathers and Godmothers commanding the Priest to dip the childe as is cleer in the Rubrick And whether the Administrator be not to go down into the water as Philip with the Eunuch Acts 3.38 and Iohn with Jesus Matth. 3.16 Quer. 5. Whether repentance and faith with desire of dipping be not of necessitie to be required according to the former Scriptures and declared in the Catechisme set forth by authoritie of every one that is baptised And whether there be not the same ground for Common Prayer Surplice and the rest as for sprinkling of Infants Quer. 6. Whether Christ commanded or the Disciples and Apostles ever practised the dipping much lesse the sprinkling of Infants of eight dayes old or the like or when or by whom it was first invented which we finde to be one Fidus a Priest and confirmed by Pope Innocentius about 300 years after Christ And whether such as seek to uphold it by Scripture be not those false accusers Paul speaks of 2 Tim. 3.3 In that they pretend Scripture for it when both the Church of Rome Councels and Fathers as they call them confesse it to be but a Tradition And whether the Inventers and upholders declare not themselves worse then Balam Numb 22.18 who being sent for by Balack to curse the people of God and so to be raised to great promotion answered If Balack would give me his house full of silver and gold I cannot go beyond the Word of the Lord my God to do lesse or more Quer. 7. Whether every one that looks for life and salvation by Christ and professe faith in him be not bound to partake of that one Baptisme Eph. 4.4 5 and not content themselves with any inventions of men For as Eliah said 1 Kings 18.21 how long halt ye between two opinions if God be God follow him if Baal be God follow him So say I if Dipping actuall Believers be Gods Ordinance obey and imbrace it If Sprinkling Infants be according to Christs institution prove it by the Scripture and continue it For as the Apostle saith if he or an Angell bring any other doctrine then what they have received or above what is written let him be accursed Gal 189. 1 Cor. 46. Quer. 8. Whether every particular Church of Christ or Assembly of Saints in the order of the Gospell have not power from him their Head to receive in deal with or cast out their own Members by the onely Lawes Keyes or Statutes of him their King and Law-giver according to Is 33.22 The Church of Ierusalem Corinth or the Churches of Galatia for Iames 4.12 there is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy Acts 2.41 46 1 Cor. 5 4 5. Quer 9. Whether Religion be to be forced or compelled by any paenall Laws and Statutes Or if these Scriptures prove not the contrary Psal 18.43 and 110.3 Math. 10.1 to the 16 and 20.1 to the 10 and 28.19 Mark 16.15 16. 2 Cor. 10.3 4 5. 2 Tim. 2.24 25. And whether the Civill Magistrate in forcing the conscience fulfils not these Scriptures in giving their power and Kingdome to the Beast Revel 17 12 to the 18. And whether as was said by Christ Matth. 23.32 to the 36 Fill yee up the measure of the Fathers ye serpents ye generation of Vipers how can ye escape the damnation of hell wherefore behold I send unto you Prophets and wise men and Scribes and some of them ye shall kill and crucifie and some of them shall ye scourge in the Synagogues and persecute them from Citie to Citie that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth from the bloud of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barakias whom ye slew between the Temple and the Altar So whether the bloud imprisonments banishments deaths and persecutions of what kinde soever that hath been spilt of any of the Saints that hath witnessed for the truth since Christs death our Abel shal not be required of the Kingdomes and States where they have suffered According to Isa 43.4 and