Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	faith_n	scripture_n	spirit_n	3,116	5	6.3634	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A74979	Excommunicatio excommunicata, or, A censure of the Presbyterian censures and proceedings in the Classis at Manchester wherein is modestly examined what ecclesiastical or civil function [sic] they pretend for their new and usurped power : in a discourse betwixt the ministers of that Classis, and some dissenting Christians.	Allen, Isaac, 17th cent.; Allen, Isaac, 17th cent.; Heyrick, Richard, 1600-1667.	1658 (1658)	Wing A1026A; ESTC R42720	45,307	67

as_o be_v consonant_n to_o the_o will_n of_o god_n and_o universal_a practice_n of_o primitive_a church_n etc._n etc._n in_o that_o you_o do_v here_o join_v the_o will_n of_o god_n and_o the_o universal_a practice_n of_o primitive_a church_n together_o as_o you_o join_v the_o word_n of_o god_n and_o the_o constant_a practice_n of_o the_o catholic_a church_n before_o you_o seem_v to_o we_o to_o make_v up_o the_o rule_n whereby_o we_o must_v judge_v what_o government_n it_o be_v that_o you_o pray_v may_v be_v establish_v of_o these_o two_o viz._n the_o will_n of_o god_n and_o the_o universal_a practice_n of_o primitive_a church_n or_o that_o it_o be_v the_o universal_a practice_n of_o primitive_a church_n that_o must_v be_v our_o sure_a guide_n and_o comment_n upon_o the_o word_n of_o god_n to_o tell_v we_o what_o be_v his_o will_n reveal_v these_o touch_a church_n government_n and_o discipline_n if_o this_o be_v your_o sense_n as_o we_o apprehend_v it_o be_v we_o must_v needs_o profess_v that_o herein_o we_o great_o differ_v from_o you_o as_o not_o conceive_v it_o to_o be_v sound_a and_o orthodox_n it_o be_v the_o word_n of_o god_n alone_o and_o the_o approve_a practice_n of_o the_o church_n record_v there_o whether_o it_o be_v the_o universal_a and_o constant_a practice_n of_o the_o church_n or_o no_o that_o be_v to_o be_v the_o only_a rule_n to_o judge_v by_o in_o this_o or_o any_o other_o controversy_n in_o matter_n of_o religion_n but_o yet_o admit_v for_o the_o present_a the_o rule_n you_o seem_v to_o make_v we_o shall_v desire_v to_o know_v from_o you_o what_o that_o church_n government_n be_v which_o be_v so_o consonant_a to_o the_o will_n of_o god_n and_o universal_a practice_n of_o primitive_a church_n for_o our_o own_o part_n we_o think_v it_o will_v be_v very_o hard_a for_o you_o or_o any_o other_o to_o demonstrate_v out_o of_o any_o record_n of_o antiquity_n what_o be_v the_o universal_a practice_n of_o primitive_a church_n for_o the_o whole_a space_n of_o the_o first_o 300._o year_n after_o christ_n or_o the_o great_a part_n thereof_o except_v so_o much_o as_o be_v leave_v upon_o record_n in_o the_o scripture_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n the_o monument_n of_o antiquity_n that_o concern_v those_o time_n for_o the_o great_a part_n of_o they_o be_v both_o imperfect_a and_o far_o from_o show_v we_o what_o be_v the_o universal_a practice_n of_o the_o church_n then_o though_o the_o practice_n of_o some_o church_n may_v be_v mention_v and_o likewise_o very_o questionable_a at_o least_o it_o will_v not_o be_v easy_a to_o assure_v we_o that_o some_o of_o those_o that_o go_v under_o the_o name_n of_o the_o most_o approve_a author_n of_o those_o time_n be_v neither_o spurious_a nor_o corrupt_v and_o hereupon_o it_o will_v unavoidable_o follow_v that_o we_o shall_v be_v leave_v very_o doubtful_a what_o government_n it_o be_v that_o be_v most_o consonant_a to_o the_o universal_a and_o constant_a practice_n of_o primitive_a church_n for_o that_o time_n but_o as_o touch_v the_o rule_n itself_o which_o you_o seem_v here_o to_o lay_v down_o we_o can_v close_v with_o it_o we_o do_v much_o honour_n and_o reverence_v the_o primitive_a church_n but_o yet_o we_o believe_v we_o owe_v more_o reverence_n to_o the_o scripture_n then_o to_o judge_v they_o either_o imperfect_a or_o not_o to_o have_v light_n enough_o in_o themselves_o for_o the_o resolve_v all_o doubt_n touch_v matter_n of_o faith_n or_o practice_n except_o it_o be_v first_o resolve_v what_o be_v either_o the_o concurrent_a interpretation_n of_o the_o father_n or_o the_o universal_a and_o constant_a practice_n of_o the_o church_n of_o those_o time_n beside_o that_o admit_v this_o for_o a_o rule_n that_o the_o universal_a and_o constant_a practice_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n must_v be_v that_o which_o must_v assure_v we_o what_o be_v the_o will_n of_o god_n reveal_v in_o scripture_n concern_v the_o government_n which_o he_o have_v appoint_v in_o the_o church_n our_o faith_n be_v hereupon_o resolve_v into_o a_o most_o uncertain_a ground_n and_o so_o make_v fallible_a and_o turn_v into_o opinion_n for_o what_o monument_n of_o antiquity_n beside_o the_o scripture_n can_v assure_v we_o touch_v the_o matter_n of_o fact_n therein_o contain_v that_o they_o be_v such_o indeed_o as_o they_o be_v there_o report_v to_o be_v the_o author_n of_o they_o themselves_o being_n man_n that_o be_v not_o infallible_o guide_v by_o the_o spirit_n but_o yet_o suppose_v we_o can_v be_v infallible_o assure_v which_o yet_o never_o can_v be_v what_o be_v the_o universal_a and_o constant_a practice_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n how_o shall_v that_o be_v a_o rule_n to_o assure_v we_o what_o be_v most_o consonant_a to_o the_o will_n of_o god_n when_o as_o we_o see_v not_o especial_o in_o such_o matter_n as_o be_v not_o absolute_o necessary_a to_o salvation_n errrour_n even_o as_o a_o general_n council_n itself_o be_v subject_a to_o errrour_n but_o that_o the_o universal_a practice_n of_o the_o church_n may_v in_o some_o thing_n be_v dissonant_n to_o the_o will_n of_o god_n reveal_v in_o scripture_n and_o so_o the_o universal_a practice_n of_o primitive_a church_n can_v be_v no_o certain_a rule_n to_o judge_v by_o what_o church_n government_n be_v most_o consonant_a to_o the_o will_n of_o god_n reveal_v in_o his_o word_n we_o know_v there_o be_v corruption_n in_o the_o best_a of_o man_n there_o be_v such_o hot_a contention_n betwixt_o paul_n and_o barnabas_n 2._o gal._n 2._o as_o cause_v they_o to_o part_v asunder_o peter_n so_o fail_v in_o his_o practice_n as_o that_o though_o before_o some_o come_v from_o james_n he_o do_v eat_v with_o the_o gentile_n yet_o when_o they_o be_v come_v he_o withdraw_v himself_o fear_v they_o of_o the_o circumcision_n and_o hereupon_o not_o only_o other_o jew_n dissemble_v with_o he_o but_o barnabas_n also_o be_v carry_v away_o with_o their_o dissimulation_n whence_o it_o be_v clear_a that_o the_o example_n of_o the_o best_a man_n even_o in_o those_o thing_n wherein_o they_o go_v contrary_a to_o the_o rule_n of_o god_n word_n be_v of_o a_o spread_a nature_n and_o the_o better_a the_o person_n that_o give_v the_o bad_a example_n be_v the_o great_a the_o danger_n of_o the_o more_o universal_a leaven_n nay_o we_o find_v that_o not_o only_o some_o few_o apostolical_a man_n have_v their_o fail_n but_o even_o apostolical_a primitive_a church_n do_v in_o the_o very_a face_n of_o the_o apostle_n they_o be_v yet_o alive_a make_v great_a defection_n both_o in_o regard_n of_o opinion_n and_o practice_n as_o from_o the_o example_n of_o the_o church_n of_o corinth_n galatia_n and_o the_o church_n of_o asia_n be_v manifest_a the_o apostle_n also_o tell_v we_o that_o even_o in_o his_o time_n the_o mystery_n of_o iniquity_n begin_v to_o work_v and_o in_o after_o time_n we_o know_v how_o the_o doctrine_n be_v corrupt_v what_o gross_a superstition_n creep_v into_o the_o church_n what_o domination_n be_v strive_v for_o among_o the_o pastor_n and_o bishop_n of_o the_o church_n till_o at_o length_n antichrist_n be_v get_v up_o into_o his_o seat_n unto_o which_o height_n yet_o he_o come_v not_o all_o at_o once_o but_o by_o step_n and_o degree_n beside_o it_o be_v of_o fresh_a remembrance_n that_o notwithstanding_o the_o reformation_n happy_o bring_v about_o in_o our_o own_o church_n in_o regard_n of_o doctrine_n and_o worship_n after_o those_o dismal_a marian_n time_n yet_o the_o corruption_n in_o regard_n of_o government_n continue_v such_o during_o the_o time_n of_o the_o late_a prelacy_n which_o yet_o be_v take_v away_o in_o other_o reform_a church_n that_o the_o pastor_n be_v deprive_v of_o that_o power_n of_o rule_n that_o our_o church_n acknowledge_v do_v belong_v to_o they_o of_o right_a and_o which_o do_v ancient_o belong_v to_o they_o however_o the_o exercise_n thereof_o do_v after_o grow_v into_o a_o long_a disuse_n as_o have_v be_v show_v before_o and_o 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