Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	apostle_n	church_n	true_a	1,505	5	5.2874	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44805	The rock of ages exalted above Rome's imagined rock on which her church is builded she proved not to be the onely Church of Christ, her corrupt doctrines reproved not to be apostolick, but contrary to the true Church of Christ in the apostles dayes : also divers arguments answered which may convince the papists that they are not the true church wherein a book is also answered called A catechism against all sectaries, newly published by C.M. in the year 1661 / by Francis Howgil.	Howgill, Francis, 1618-1669.	1662 (1662)	Wing H3178; ESTC R30346	44,740	118

divers others as about your Lent your fasts feasts and invented holy-dayes which the true Church of Christ did not allow of but you have brought those things in as Apostolical and excommunicated all the rest that would not bow unto you As for example about the Feast of Easter the time when it should be celebrated though Victor the Bishop of Rome excommunicated all the Eastern Churches because they did not accord with Rome Euseb Lib. 5. cap. 23. At which Iraeneus Bishop of Lyons in France sharply reproved him ibid. cap. 23 So in many more things which I shall not now stand neither to trouble my self nor the Reader which the church of Rome hath departed in her practice from the primitive Church as you may see farther in a Book entituled The Glory of the true church discovered Published by F. H. And whereas the Author desires to be satisfied by what General Councils she was ever condemned or which of the Fathers wrote against her or 3dly By what Authority she was otherwise approved Ans. Because the Author is so confident in his assertions as though they were unanswerable I return this short answer which if I hear any more from the Author may be amplified For instance In the year 287. there was a Council of Bishops called at Sinvis●● where the Pope was condemned which your Church hath taught could not err for sacrificing to Idols At a Council held at Carthage decreed That Clergy men should not meddle with temporal affairs At a Council held at Valentia in France a Decree was made that Priests should not marry and these were called Christians and some of Rome's Visible Universal Church And this was again reproved and condemned in the first Council held at Tolledo in Spain they decreed that Priests should marry And now Rome look to thy unity Again at a Council held at Caesar Augusta accursed all them that eat not the Sacrament in the Church but the church of Rome hath decreed that it may be kept and ready to carry abroad to sick people and upon other occasions out of the Church At a general Council at Constantinople decreed That Mary shall be called the Mother of God as though God were generated by natural generation which is Blasphemy The Council of Armenium decreed for the Armenians That Christ was not God The Council of Chalcedon which was one of the four Councils that Pope Gregory compared to the four Gospels and that their Decrees were sure and certain as the Scripture yet Pope Leo did not stick to condemn it and all of them as unadvised viz. the whole Council So Councils have erred as is evident and that which some have decreed for Apostolick Doctrine since the Apostles dayes other Councils have condemned as Heresie though called Christians as well as the Church of Rome and yet they have condemned that which some Councils did allow So the Pope hath erred the Councils have erred as is manifest in what I have said that I shall not trouble my Reader in large things which I could and might do upon another occasion if I hear any more from the Church of Rome 2. By what Authority she viz. the church of Rome is reproved In short Leo the fourth Bishop of Rome made void the the acts of Adrian Bishop of Rome Stephanus made void and abrogated the Decrees of Formesus and Sabian Christ's Vicars so called commanded that Pope Gregory another Vicar so called his Writings and Decrees should be burned And all these before-mentioned did say and the Church of Rome holds it as such that they were Peter's Successors So here one Father or Head of the church as they reckon the Bishop of Rome hath confounded another 3. The Nicene council determined That Images were not onely to be placed in the churches but also worshipped and the then Pope said that Images were lay-mens Calenders The Latterane council under Julius did repeal the Decrees of the Pissan council The Bazil council decreed that a council was above the Pope but the Latteran council decreed that the Pope was above the council that he that should think otherwise should be counted a Heretick Yet the Bazil council aforesaid decreed that they that judged that a council was not above the Pope were Hereticks And yet the Church of Rome layes claim to visibility and universality over all the World and yet one as distinct from another as black is to white and is as unsuitable as Snow is in Summer or Rain in Harvest One word more and I have done Boniface the eighth a great Father of the Church of Rome and a Pope That no man in the World can be saved unless he be subject to the Roman Church like this Author And Pope Paschal thus said That no Council could make Laws for the Church of Rome And so much of General Councils and of the confusion of the Church of Rome a few words more of Synods and I have done 1. Bernardus saith the Church of Rome was polluted with many Superstitions that the Bishops were biters of the Sheep rather than true Shepherds Sometimes saith he I have admired that there should be a Traytor among the twelve Disciples but now I much more wonder that among so great a company of Bishops and Prelates one upright Disciple cannot be found Apop Chr. Lib. 13 p. 260. Gregorius Theologus who lived about three hundred years after Christ did determine never to come more at Councils or Synods Because saith he there comes more evil than good out of them for the contention and ambitiousnesse of the Bishops is above measure said he Anno 300. D. Paraeus said Often hath the Truth suffered wrong in Synods because all that were assembled agreed in one error so that Truth came to be passed by with silence Iren. pag. 57. Again Gregorius Nazianzius used to say That he never had seen any good end of any Council or Synod Vide Inst. Clav. 4. Lib. 9. cap. 11. And some Synods have said That remedy was not to be expected from the Clergy who were the cause of the Disease Anno 1616. So the Author saith Whose company did the Church of Rome leave And from whom did she go forth And where was the Church that she did forsake that she should be counted Heretical and Schismatical I say She left the company and society of the Primitive Church in Christ's and the Apostles days and she went forth from the rest of the Churches that were planted as I instanced The Church of Rome in the year 193 did excommunicate all the Eastern Churches And where was the true Church that she did forsake saith the Author Not onely one I say but many to wit The Doctrine that the Apostles had laid down and preach'd at Antioch at Philippi at Corinth at Ephesus and the rest of the Churches of Asia And so the Church of Rome is proved to be an Apostate in the Apostacy in Heresie in Schism so that there is an absolute defection from the Life and Power of God which was manifested in the Apostles dayes and therefore the church of Rome is not the true Church What I have said as to the Doctrines and Grounds which have been laid down by the Author I shall refer it and the answer unto Gods Witnesse in every man's Conscience and if I hear any more of the Author his great Boasts or ambitious challenges which may reach to all that do dissent from the Church of Rome as to be Hereticks I shall engage in the strength of the Lord to vindicate the Truth however opposed and shall further if God permit be ready to give a more large and full answer unto the Doctrines and Practices and Worship of the Church of Rome and prove them to be contrary to the Scriptures and the Apostolick Doctrine and the Faith that was once delivered unto the Saints So in what I have said I hope may convince the Authour of his vain assertions and them that are enclined towards Babylon it may put a stop to that which would too readily close with every thing which goes under the name of ANTIQUITIE But in what I have said upon the whole matter I hope will be sufficient unto all who read with a single Eye without prejudice and unto such I say The Lord give them an Understanding that they may see and discern the way which leadeth to Life and Felicity from that which leadeth to the Chambers of Death and the pathes that take hold on destruction FINIS

kept holy to the Lord by him that witnesses the work of Redemption and this is according to the Apostolick Doctrine and if because of example the Christians whom you are pleased to stile Sectaries do observe the first day of the week in the Power of God for his Worship then they are as much if not more to be heard than you and have as much solid reason on their side as you and thou must not think to carry the matter on with such frivolous arguments as this to advance Mysterie Babylon for this is a a knowing age blessed be the Lord wherein the wisdom of God is revealed and that which comprehendeth all shadows types dayes times years meats drinks washings and other figures they are all seen over and he is come and manifest which is Head of the true Church and not the Pope who was is and is to come life it self truth it self power strength and everlasting satisfaction to thousands and ten thousands who have believed and to a numberless number which are yet to be gathered into God's sheep-●old and into the narrow way of Christ which will deny and doth deny upon good grounds and infallible Testimony from the Eternal Spirit that the Church of Rome is either in whole or in part any part of the true Church of Christ. And seeing this valiant Champion hath made so fair a proffer that all their Priests Jesuits and Catholicks over all the world will turn to the Sectaries way as he calls them if they can but get a clear and satisfactory resolution to the following doubts Answ. I am one which do acknowledge my self to be reckoned by him as a Sectarian yet as a Sectarian is reckoned by the true Church of God in the Primitive time in the Apostles and Christ's dayes I do not reckon my self as such and that I am a Minister of the Everlasting Gospel I dare not deny seeing a necessity is laid upon me to acknowledge the same yet herein I do not glory but in him who hath called me for the work sake and I know the Teaching of Christ Jesus and his Doctrine and no other thing this many years have I published but that which I received of the Lord and from him by his Spirit which is according to the true Faith and Godliness which was in the Primitive Church before ever Rome did lay claim to be the onely true Catholick Church excluding all others but her self to be in the way that leads to salvation I which am as one amongst many thousands which God hath manifested his mind unto shal answer in clearness and according to Apostolick Doctrine and the manifestation of his Spirit but when I have so done I am afraid this Champion with the rest of the Priests and Jesuits and the rest of the Catholicks over the World wil hardly own his Challenge or consess that Doubts are answered yet however if it satisfie but one of a thousand I have my reward and shal put it to tryal The first thing the Author who it seems knows the mind of the Church of Rome in all things both as to Doctrine and Practice vvhich they do allovv of and the contrary they vvil deny he knovvs to the full or else he vvould never sure have made such a bold challenge The first thing that they vvould be resolved in is Whether any can clearly shew that any Teachers Doctors or Ministers are sent of the Almighty God to preach and reform the Roman Catholick Church and that they are not some who say the Lord saith when the Lord hath not spoken unto them neither sent them Ezek 13. 2. Ans. What the Roman Church and their Members will take for a satisfactory resolution as to themselves I somewhat question and do doubt the resolving of the most but however by the same commandment that the Apostles did evidence their commission that they were sent to reform the Church of the Jews and also them that had made defection from the Faith amongst the Gentiles this may be shown 1. The Apostles of Christ Jesus did declare their commission which they had received from Christ and for other proof they sought none amongst them that were auditors or hearers but the witness and testimony of God unto which they desired to be approved in the sight of God 2. They shewed the Jews that they held the types and the figures but did not receive or believe him who was the substance in whom they all ended they were sent to bear testimony to the true Light that lighteth every one that cometh into the World and to preach down dayes times months years fasts feasts sabbaths circumcision temples and offerings the priesthood and the sacrifice which were but to continue until th time of reformation and the bringing in of a better hope by which they drew nigh unto God and had an accesse unto him and they declared their Commission against a voluntary humility and worshipping of Angels all which things the Church of Rome do stick in and vindicate for Apostolick Doctrine and many more things which the Church of Rome is run into contrary to the true Church of Christ and therefore had need of Reformation So that which is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles and practice of the primitive Church in the first hundred years is in the apostacy but Rome is in many practices and doctrines contrary to the true Church therefore needs reforming And so God hath manifested himself in this his day of Power and hath discovered the Church of Rome to be contrary in doctrine and practice to the true Spouse of Christ and hath stirned up and moved many by his Power and Spirit to preach the everlasting gospel and to declare also against the defection of the Church of Rome and her apostatizing from the Faith and they are not of those whom the Prophets spoke of which ran and the Lord sent them not for them were the false prophets in Israel and they were manifest by their fruits of which there are great store in Rome who are manifest by their fruits and they are such as are in Cain's way who would kill and such as are seekers of gain from their quarter and such as take the Jews tythes and these the Lord never sent to be Teachers or Ministers to bring to the knowledge of Christ but we deny all these things and your Church in the very ground and foundation and know that it will be swept away when the Beast is taken alive upon which your Church now rides then shall you see that that which you long put off among people as Apostolick Doctrine will not be received any more neither traditions nor inventions of men for the Worship of God The second doubt which the Author would be resolved in is Whether we can make good what Luther and Calvin with all Protestants have boasted that they would do to reform convincingly one of the silliest Roman Catholicks that is and to begin do it