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
A54528	Heresiography, or, A discription of the hereticks and sectaries of these latter times by E. Pagitt.	Pagitt, Ephraim, 1574 or 5-1647.	1645 (1645)	Wing P175; ESTC R2783	113,990	184

The proph●nenesse of their Sect. THis fault they finde with the Protestants of our Congregations but how they have avoyded this in their own Conventicles Mr. White Mr. Iohnson and Mr. Smith and many others will tell you whose plentifull reports of their known uncleanenesse smothered mischiefs malicious proceedings corrupt preachings communicating with known offenders bolstering of sins and willing co●nivences as they are shamefull to relate so they might well have stopt their mouthes from excepting against our communion with the prophane To use some of Mr. Whites words These that pretend such sincerity of Religion doe abound above others with all kinde of debate malice adulteries cozenage uncleannesse so that saith he that W. C. complained that hee had thought that they had been ●ll Saints but I see they are all devills These are the Assemblies to which they carry the poore soules whom they doe seduce Extracted out of a Letter of Master Whites the 20th of July I desire God to keep all people from such a Congregation where Adulteries Cozenages and Thefts are in such abundance as in the English Congregation of Amsterdam that I speak not of Brokerage of whores and other filthinesse too too bad This is true there is no Sect in Amcterdam though many in such contempt for filthy life as the English are viz. the Brownists c. The author of this Letter Master White was sued for slander by Francis Iohnson Henrie Aainsworth Francis Blakewell Daniel Studley Christopher Bowman Iane Nicolas Iudith Holder William Barbons and Thomas Bishop But after Master White had brought in witnesses before the Burgomasters who did testifie upon their Oathes and depositions confirme what Master White had written he was discharged and had charges given him by the Magistrates A briefe discovery under the hand of the Secretary and seale of the City of Amsterdam 1. Of some of the abhominations dayly practised and increased amongst the English company of the separation remaining for the present at Amsterdam in Holland 2. That they abou●d above all others with all kinde of debate malice adulteries cozenages and such other like enormities c. The testimony of the Dutch Church concerning the Brownists when as they sent their Messengers with some questions to their Eldership they received this answer from them That they did not acknowledge theirs to be an Ecclesiasticall Assembly or a la●full Church The testimony of the Magistrates of Amsterdam concernin● the Brownists both of old in their suit against Master White and now in their late suit for their meeting-house when they sought to lay their Action in the name of a Church they were repelled by the Magistrates that are members of the Dutch Church they would not receive complaint from them in the name of a Church or in the name of an Elder or a Deacon but from private men The Magistrates told them that they held them not as a Church but as a Sect. 13. Their Equivoca●ing I Might here set down their●●quivoca●ing and palliating their wickednesse as one Geoffry Wh●●acres of Master Iohnsons Congregation being found in bed with one Iudith Holder another mans wife for which matter he affirme● that he did it not to satisfie his lust but to comfort Iudith being ●ickly and to keep her warme as though hee had sought to performe a Christian duty of love and not an action of uncleannesse Again when Mr. Studley a chie●e Prophet of Mr. Iohnsons Congregation was found hidden behind a Baske● in Iudiths house he had this holy pretence that he hid himselfe to see the behavio●● of G. P. who ca● thither after him he being an Elder would be a watchfull Over-seer Again M. ● being in a whore-●●use and creeping out at a window the Elder D. S. excused ●im alledging in his def●nce the example of St. Paul A●ts 9. 25. Who was by the Disciples let down over the wal ●n a Basket Mr. Iohnson sought to cleare the uncleannesse of a man found a bed with another mans wife to dimini●h the sin distinguished between lying with a woman and in a woman And old Father Brown being reproved for beating his old wife distinguished that he did not beate her as his wife but as a curst old woman Also Da●iel Studley went about to palliate his filtinesse with his Wives Daughter ungodlily alledging the Holy Scripture Let it not be offensive to the good Reader to see a childe to vindicate the foule aspersions cast upon his Mother from whom he had his soules spirituall birth and breeding by setting forth by what manner of men his Mother-Church is scandalized 14. Blame the Conversation of our Ministers AGaine although in the Visible Church the evill ever mingled with the good and sometime the evill have chief Authority in administration of the Word and Sacraments yet forasmuch as they doe not the same in their owne name but in Christs and doe administer by his Commission and outhority we may use their Ministery both in hearing the Word of God and receiving the Sacraments neither is the effect of Christs Ordinance taken away by their wickednesse nor the grace of Gods gifts diminished from such as by faith rightly doe receive the Sacraments administred unto them The Scribes and Pharisees saith our Lord sit in Moses chaire all therefore what they bid you observe doe you but not after their works for they say and doe not 15. Except against our Ordination THey except against our Ministers because they receive their Ordination from Bishops To which I answer wee have our Ordination from Christ by Bishops and Clergie-men and for this kinde of Ordination by Bishops and Presby●ers we have the universall cons●nt the Primitive Church by St. Paul Timothy and Titus were ordained And this has been the practice of all the Christian Churche of the Universe untill the time that Anabaptists crept into the world But they will alledge that we have been ordained by Antichristian Bishops and therefore they conclude every action done by our Ministers to be Antichristian 1. To which I answer why is not the Ordination that our Fore-fathers had from Antichristian Bishops as effectuall as the Bap●isme that was administred by them to our Fore-fathers D●d ever any Reformed Church re-baptize them that were baptized by them And why should our Ministers be re-ordained mo●e then re-baptized 2. Indeed our Ministers being ordained by Bishops and that by Protestant Bishops such as Cranmer Latimer and Ridley who were holy Martyrs who renounced all Superstition what exceptions can be taken against them Neither can they find any shelter under that ●oted Te●t neglect not the gift that is in thee by the imposition of the hands of the Presbyter which learned Mr. Calvin expounds n●t of the men but of the Office following Herein Hierome Anselm● Ha●mo Lyra referring it to the gift given him and to the Bishops Pre●byters which hath been the practice of the Church of England and all