Selected quad for the lemma: hand_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
hand_n	bishop_n	church_n	presbyter_n	4,517	5	10.4419	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A05689	Cartain obseruations of that reuerend, religious and faithfull servant of God, and glorious martyr of Iesus Christ, Mr. Randal Bate, which were part of his daily meditations in the time of his sufferings, whilst he was prisoner in the gatehouse at Westminster	Bate, Randal.	1625 (1625)	STC 1580; ESTC S117192	109,500	280

the guiding and governing of the Church They are called Elders in respect of their age and office which was to govern with the Ministers and perform all private duties for the good of the congregation as necessity required as to pray w●th the sick to admonish reprou and joyn with the Minister in excommunication to ordain officers for the congregation and to provide by all good means for the outward good of the Church That these ought to be●n eve●y Congregation we hold firmly aga●●st the maintainers of this strange and uncouth discipline And it may appear first out of Math. 18 where Christs institutes what is needfull for the Church whereof this is one secondly the Church doth what it doth not confusedly but by the ministry of some thirdly the promise is made ●n binding and roosing to two or three which imposts that though the right of the keyes bee in the whole Church yet the Ministery therof is in some few selected and chosen out for that purpose Our Saviour alludes to the custome of the Iewish Synagogues wherein there were Eld●rs But howsoever this place may seem too weak at first sight to build the erection of this office upon yet the practise of the Apostles withall compared and the directions they haue left to the Church in this case will put all out of doubt to him that wrangles not for himselfe and to please men To goe along therfore in the Scripture and first the Acts of the Apostles which conta ns a type and map of the prim●tiue times and purest Chu●ches that ever were in the world ment●on these Acts 15.4 22 wh●ch place cannot be understood but of such ●u●ing Elders of the people as were amongst the ●ewes not of teaching Elders For the Apostles were as the Ministe●s and did perform all Ministeriall duties having none their Curats under th●m as Bishops had afterward For Evangelist were to accompany the Apostles in planting Churches neither ●s there any mention of any such here 2 They are d●stinguished here both from the Church called the brethren and Apostles Neither can this title be understood of Pastors because the Apostles were wont to appoint them onely when Churches were gathered and they were to leaue them as may appear Acts 14.23 Tit. 1.5 3 These here mentioned are as assistants to the Apostles governing and ordering the Churches businesse as both here and Acts 21 where they are present with the Apostles and in none other office nor use imployed but onely this Lastly Paul and Barnabas and some others came up to Ierusalem to the Apostles and Elders which had ca●e of the Discipline and Religion with them The third place is Rom. 12.8 he that rules in or with dilligence where first the Apostle distinguisheth this ruling both from the ministery of the Word and from distributing and shewing mercy Hence therfore there must be some to rule in the church 2 Men are charged according to their callings and measure of gifts received to exercise themselues for the churches good who sees not plainly that the Regiment of the church is not in one Lord Bishops hand since Bishops are not in each congregation where they rule 2 That this ought to be where the Ministry of the Word is 3 This diligence cannot be meant of a three yeares visitation nor yearly Synods wherein presentments are Rece ved what bold and impudent face once dare think so wickedly of the Apostles but of that continuall care and oversight which they should shew towards the sheep of Christ which ever need some spirituall med●cine and Phisick for their soules 4 A fourth place is 1 Cor. 12.28 where the Apostle reckons up the severall gifts and offices which God himselfe hath set and appointed in his church Apostles are chiefe then Prophets and Governments There the Apostle distinguisheth Governments from the Ministry of the word 2 Being appointed by the Lord none can remoue them but he againe 3 The Lord giues extraordinary meanes for soule and body in extraordinary times when a church is to be planted because there want ordinary means 2 to procure the more authority and respect to the church then and ever he giues sufficient 4 The Lord hath s●t government in the church which the Magistrate cannot alter 5 The church is a perfect body that hath members sufficient to uphold and m●n●ster to all its own necessities neither is this to be neglected that the holy Ghost both here and Rom. 12 sets Government after Deaconship as though hee saw how some would arise and conjoyn things severed by the Lord which to prevēt he shews these are not to be so conjoyned as though the Minister should haue all the government in his own hands but some speciall persons are to be assi●n●d wh●ch may govern the Minister themselues 5 1 Tim. 4.14 with imposition of hands of the Presbytery which is to be understood of the Colledge of Presbyters contayning these amongst others For these had a speciall hand in electing and ordaining all church-officers 2 these joyned in making decrees for the government of the church Act. 15 therfore much more in executing of them 3 Timothy was called ordinarily at first not to be an Evangelist as appears Acts 16 Paul called him to that after the Churches had witnessed of him 4 The Apostle Paul Acts 20 speaks to them amongst others that they ●●ould tend the Church and they hav ng government in their hands were to suffer no wolues to come in But because men of a contentious spirit whose greatest hopes depend upon the contrary discipline will ha●dly yeeld t●ll plain force driue them nay force of the word will not till the sword of the Magistrate compells therfore the next place is 1 Tim. 5.17 in deluding of which place many sweat much in vaine for the Apost●e being to giue direction to Timothy how to carry himselfe in the Church of God shews h m his duty towards every condition as widdows in the beginning of th s chapter next Elders and such as rule well are worthy of double honour especially such as labour in the word and doctrine which first words implyes necessarily that there were then in the Church Elders that did govern the Churches which did not labour in the word and doctrine 2 Such ought to be had in speciall account that doe rule well 3 Such as labour in the word and doct●ine ought more to be respected then they that onely governe 4 That all M●n●sters are to haue a spec●all hand in the governing of the Churches commuted to them I will not much insist upon this place more for I know some adversaries need not so much conv●ct on as to haue their h●a●ts perswaded Pray thou that readest that the Lord would perswade them to dwell in the t●nts of Shem and be content to suffer here with their brethren that th●y may ●a●gn with Christ hereafter Many adversaries will not set themselues to learn the t●●th but being drunk with selfe-concert th●nk nothing good

seats of more ambitious spirits though inferiour in gifts did challenge superior●ty by a kinde of succession 5 The dignity of the Cities and liberallity of the first Emperours did much help forward this businesse not intending any hurt For the mystery of iniquity did worke cunningly and invisibly Having removed out of thy minde what blinds many an eie now a little consider what grounds the Scripture affoords against this form of government And first that Luk. 22.24.25.26 wh●re the Disciples contending who should be greatest our Saviour remoues this conce●t by shewing them plainly they stroue for that their condition was not capable of For the k●ngs of the Gentiles and their officers haue both t●mporall authority and great Titles fitting their estate But you shall haue neither such authority one over another nor such titles but he that is greatest in gifts and respect let him arrogate no more over his brethren then if he were the least This place is plain not onely against ambition but superiority in degrees authority and titles 1 Because it is made a property incommunicable of Princes and Civill Magistrates to haue such authority 2 Because Christs Kingdom must not be like the kingdoms of earthly Princes but like Christ conversing amongst his schollers In the 27 vers hee shewes directly though we were masters yet we should be amongst them that are under us as if we were servants The first part therefore shewes their foolishnesse in desiring that which could not be given them which was indeed ambition The other reproues their desire of commanding and Lording over their fellows 2 The second Argument against Lord ruling Diocesan Bishops is from Acts 20.28 where the Apostle shewes the office and nature of an Apostolicall Bishop which is a person set over a flock by the Holy Ghost to feed that Congregation of Christ with others Heere by feeding according to the usuall manner of Scripture Discipline is meant too as may be gathered from Ezech. 34 and Ioh. 20. In which places feeding extends to all Ministeriall duties whereby the good and salvat on of the flock may be procured This place proues 1 that there should not be one alone but many which haue the care of the same flock 2 That they are all bound to tend the flock exercising discipline to the same for the Apostle speaks to all 3 Though there be difference in respect of the dispensation of their Ministery yet they are alike in respect of the generallity and extent of their charge secondly in that all are to concurre and haue their severall gifts and diligence imployed both in doctrine and discipline 1 This place upon this ground quite overthrows Diocesan ruling Bishops because they are alone 2 They haue no pa t cular flock and so by consequence are no Ministers 3 They challenge sole jurisdiction to themselues and their officers debarring all others from medling 3 A third place of Scripture 1 Pet. 5.1.2.3 Elders are to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 overseeing the state of the flock over which they are If therefore the Elder and Bishop bee all one and that the Lord hath put no d●fference b●twixt them then there ought not to be one alone which either is to arrogate the name or nature of Bishop This place is strengthened from the place fore-alledged Act. 20 where the Elders are first called Presbyteri afterwards Episcopi This is plain in Tit. 1.5 compared with the 7 vers where Elder and B●s●op are all one Where God hath appointed many to one common businesse man may not restrain it to one This is to adde to one and dimin●●h from others both which bring c●●ses upon the doers 4 Phillip 1 There were divers Bishops in one Cit●e therefore in those times one alone had not any such Diocesan Bishoprick as ours claym All that were exercised in any Ministeriall function or imployed for government are saluted by the name of Bishops Therefore it is plain one alone was not Bishop nor one more then another By which may bee shewed plainly that the Angell Revel 2 signifies the whole body of the Ministery For Metaphoricall places must be expounded by plaine places So Psal 34.8 79.2 and in many other places 5 Ephes 4.11 1 Tim. 3.1 where the Apostie describes the Ministers and Officers of Christ he hath not mentioned any such one which should haue the superiority and jurisdiction which proues firmly there ought to bee none such for no work no office Now the holy Ghost hath not assigned any such work to any 2 The Holy Ghost describeth most exactly the office of the high Priest and his garments apart from the ordinary Priests So hee would now if there had been any such order in them 3 1 Tim. 3 H●e describes the o●lice of Deacons and Widdows and would hee not these 4 The Apostle salutes in his Epistles all Orders Phil. 1.1 and there is no mention of a Diocesan Bishop 6 Argum. Discipline is in the hands of the Ministers and Elders whole Church Math. 18. Therfore not in one mans hands This place is firme for the Church is made the highest to which the last appeale is and that which rents and severs corrupt members from the body This therfore cannot be one man For Ecclesia ever signifies a company and number comming together All these places are firm and mainf●●● plainly the unlawfulnesse of any Diocesan Bishop Now follow some reasons proving the same truth that there ought not to be Diocesan Bishops Reas 1. Christ measureth out gifts to all according to the place and office they sustaine and are to discharge But no man hath gifts sufficient now to dischage this great and weighty calling to execute discipline over a whole Province That this is plain appears in that the Apostles themselues appointed in every Congregation Discipline to be executed and did not arrogate authority over the Churches but gaue charge that each Congregation should execute discipline it selfe 2 It as hard if not more difficult to execute discipline as to feed all a Diocesse or Province by teaching But who dare arrogate so much to himselfe 3 Who is there now a daies that hath an hundred times more sufficiency then an able Minister which hee must haue by proportion having so many charges under 2 It is not lawfull for man to devise a calling and office which excludes any Ordinance and Calling appointed by the Lord for that never comes from heaven But Diocesan Bishops exclude Elders that are appointed by the Lord as may appear 1 Tim. 5.17 and ●ha● more fully hereafter God willing be shewed 3 If Diocesan Bishops were from God they should haue place in the Church according to the quality of the work wherin they are exerc sed and for which they are cheifly instituted But they haue no place according to the work of Discipline vvhich is infe●●our to the M●nistery of the word as serving onely to make it effectuall whereas they hold a place aboue the most painfull Ministers of