Selected quad for the lemma: judgement_n
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
|
as the pearle As for them that respect the Word as they respect an other history or never busie themselues about either knowledge faith or pâ—actâ—se From these Truth the heavenly Manna shall be taken away and chaffy Traditions which w ll damn their soulâ—s shal be sent them Thou therfore must loue the truth rather then thy cred te be content to change thy minde when the light comes buy it at any rate 8 That thou be resolute to walke in the truth Ioh. 7.17 though it cost thee all thou hast For he that hates not father mother house lands and all for Christs sake cannot be his disciple men must cast up their accounts afore what the truth will cost and resolue to giue the full price even to hate their life for Christ All must deny themselues therfore take up their crosses and follow Christ Math. 6. All that eâ—de to know and reason onely all fearfull ones that dare not follow the light darknes shall cover them they shall be l ke Pauls companions Act. 9 that heard a sound but saw not Christ neither heard what the Lord said unto him 9 That men hate the whoore of Babell throughly all her abominations Apo. 14.4 it is â—hewed who she is how dangerous a thing it is to communicate with her Apoc. 14.9.10 else how shall they come out from her Such therefore as th nk it no way so dangerous to communicate with Antichrist and are of such quiet disposition that they can well enough brook Popery shall be like the scorners that seek wisedom but shall not finde it for men must hate all vain inventiventions that will haue the truth dwell with them 10 Such as judge not of Religion and the worship of God either by the pleasing of our senses liking of our own heart or judgment of carnall reason Numb 15.39 for these are not admitted to judge of the Lord nor his wayes nothing but the Lord and that which is from him can or may judg of the Lord. As for such as seek for carnall delight rather then true edification and judge by themselues what the Lord requires and approues no marvell if they like a strangers face better then of their own husband For nature goes a whoring after mens devises and is ever fond of it own inventions Math. 15 like the Iewes that would offer up their children to Moloch but robbed the Lord of his tithes 11 Such are willing to be instructed of very babes becomming little children like eloquent Apollos that was content to be catechised by Aquilla and Priscilla men must learn the truth especially where it is practised and many Truths from them that are weaker and farre more ignorant happily â—n other things then thy selfe humâ—â—ity and wisedom dwell together Paul though he had seen Christ â—n the way he must goe to Ananias to learne further what hee should doe Act. 9. Such therfore as despise learning of any saue the great Rabbins and ancient Fathers and will not be beholding to any â—eane persâ—â—age for most difâ—â—cuit truths are like the proud Corâ—â—thians 1 Cor. 12 doubtlesse such shall goe astray with the Pharisies Ioh. 9. 12 Such as by the spirit of God in themselues understand the Scriptures in some measure and try the spirits both writings and speeches not depending upon any 1 Ioh. 4 1 Thess 5. For every man is a lyar and may erâ—e and the Church must be built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles upon the Rock Chr st Wherfore such as ground onely on mens opinions or the Traditions of the Elders are mens Disciples and God may justly deny them the knowledge of saving Truths Let all men take heed of this Popish evill of an implicite faith for it is naturall to all men it giues way to all superstition it is grosse negligence not to respect what seed is sown in thy soule And to end all remember these two things 1 That men depending on others shall ever be uncertain for men doe change and vary 2 In all times some points of Religion very needfull to be known are mysteries to the learned world hid from the wise and prudent Math. 11. 13 Receiue each truth for conscience nothing for singularity or novelty to content the state present or to please men for such are hypocrites that Christ is an offence unto For though in some things corruption be resireyned and the branches cut off for a time yet hereby corruption is dangerously nourished and more deeply lodged in the heart which will break out at last with much violence to the great discredit of the profession witnesse Iudas Saul and them that goe out of the Church in all times such hang upon the Church but are dead members neither let any thinke we desire such schollers and followers nor let the world imagine they haue gotten a great prey when they haue perverted a learned scholler For he is but as a withered branch that Christ hath cut off fit enough and for nothing else fit but to build up the Kingdom of Satan Nor let Gods servants be discouraged as though they were quite overcome when they loose a seeing Champion for his spirit that was good he leaues behind him in the Church an other shall inherit it and injoy his Talent even he that had most afore and is found most faithfull See thou be not content with a form of Religion denying the power thereof such a one as comest neere the Lord with thy lips and honourest him with thy mouth but thy heart is farre from him Such the world is full of in all ages which makes men ready to entertain will-will-worship and any devise of man if therefore thou seek not to proceed by sound judgment in Gods service doing nothing but what thou hast warrant for from the Word or coldly worship God without any zeale or chearfulnesse or without true reverence of his great Majesty and faith in Christ Never expect the Lord should manifest his will unto thee in these Truths following SECTION II. THus Christian Reader thou seest what to repent of in former times and what haue been the mayn lets and impediments of thine â—ucrease in knowledge using the meanes wherfore when thou distâ—â—tâ—â—t and scornest happily at the grounds following see thy consc ence accuse thee not in some want of preparation which doing I doubt not but we shall be of the same judgement or at least haue the same heart and mutuall loue according together For pride and prophanenesse and men-pleasing cheifly sunders the affection when thou readest set thy seâ—fe as in the presence of God to learn from him and doe not wi fully shut thine eyes against any light that shines from heaven Now that with more facility wee may passe to the severall doubts controverted I will propound through the grace of God some generall grounds from whence light may be fetched to determine all oâ— the most of thâ—se or the like questions 1 The first ground that all will-worship
wine but what they draw then selues But the Lord reveales himselfe to the humble There was never doctrine so vile but preferment and riches made â—t finde favorâ—tes Thâ—s the practâ—ce of the Church and test mony of the ancient witnesseth Ciprian Ambrose Tertullian c. By all whâ—ch may be understood Hebr. 13.17 Where obedience to their leaders is injoyned now these were Elders preaching and lay which had the government then of the Church therfore Christians are bound to subject to these 2 That of Iam. 5.14 send for the Elders of the Church may well be understood of this order of Elders being to perform many private duties specially â—f the Ministers should either be publiquely imployed or necessarily hindred 3 That Rev. 4.4 lâ—ving creatures having six wings full of eyes whâ—ch vision is of the â—â—â—bâ—e Church and fitly expounded For by wings are the helps meant which are spoken of 1 Cor. 12.28 and eyes that are within are the Elders which are as eyes for the people to see by and informing the Minister of their estate they fit him the better to speak unto the people which place so expounded is far more forcible to perâ—wade for this discipline then Apoc. 2 so expounded for Lordbishops for that exposition agrees not with the Scripture it wants all proofe of holy Wrâ—t to uphold â—t It agrees not with the practise of the Apostles who in Ephesus and Philippi set many that had the name and nature of Bishops as is plain both in Acts 20.28 and Phil 1.1 This agrees not with the word Angell who in this place signifies all that labour in word and dâ—scipline beâ—ng sent of God to the churches as the context proues in all the churches And as this poâ—nt hath testimony of Scriptures and of the Ancient so may it appear in all sound reason to be most fit for the church of Christ 1 To omit that this was in use amongst the Iewes in time of the old Testament and no way ceremoniall nor judâ—ciall but morall which the light of nature taught the Gentils after a sort in their civil government who with their Consuls had their Senate 2 Because the Apostles would not haue Ministers hindred in their study but to take heed to reading and med tatâ—on that they may by searching the Scriptures be made wâ—se to salvation and perfectly be furnished to every good work Therfore it is fitting there should be men of wisedom gravity and respect chosen to oversee the people and obserue their manners and doe lesse businesses in admonition and correctien 3 This best benefits the simplicity of the Gospell and of the Church now in the time of the new Testament where all outward pompe ceaseth which was used before in the Leviticall Priesthood to figure oâ—t Christs heavenly and wonderfull graces 4 To haue Churches so combined and consociated under one high Priest is meerly Iewish which was to signifie all ought to be subject to Christ the great high Priest who is come and alike in all if there be equall gifts All congregations are equall none having power one over an other and therfore each is to haue its Governours 5 Every congregation being a true church and so a perfect body should and must haue power to preseru it selfe by expelling and removing the dissolute and electing nâ—w officers 6 God hath given gifts unto men for this end which being so imployed bring great good and benefit to men further the Ministery keep all in good order and prevent dangers in the bâ—g nning 7 The Question being betwixt Lordbishops and these the expulsion of them is the introduction of these 8 There is no such danger in this government of corrupt on as where one man hath al in his hands he may corrupt a whole Dâ—ocesse nay Kingdom but thâ—se though evill corrupt but their own congregations 2 Here men are prone to be over-carried with antiquity the place being so eminent and the power so great but experience testifieth that where this government is used there is a more speciall blessing of God more purity and beauty in the face of these Churches wicked men are sooner found and more terrified But of this more hereafter Here one Question may be propounded that is why is not the duty of these set down in the Scriptures nor their names Answ A description of the Bishop and Presbyter is a discription of these Elders that are Bishops 1 Overseers of the flocks for these places contain rather a descript on of their sufficiency and morall part and holy conversation which ought to be in these though in a more excellent measure in the Pastors and Teachers then of the applying of them to these ministeriall duties which are proper to the Pastors This is plaine to all that considerately peruse the Texts And this answer is grounded on that 1 Tim. 5.17 where the Apostle intimats the work is an excellent work of them that rule well else why are they to haue double honour 2 Cals them by the same name that Pastors are stiled by as in the former places of Scripture If it be said their duty is not assigned the Answer is plain their office is to rule by the sword of the Spirit Word and churches censures reproofe and excommunication The rule and lawes are the word the manner is to be according to the practise of these duties in Scriptures being admonition reproof and excoÌ„munication of each wherof we haue severall and manifold examples Object 2. This brings men into base subjection which â—s not fit nor that men of state should be subject to such mean officers Answ 1 No Officer that Christ hath appointed ought to be accounted mean or bâ—se 2 It is not a subjection unto men but to the ordinance of Christ 3 Men are no more subject to these Elders then they are to be to the Ministry of the Word 4 It is nothing impairing the state or dignâ—ty of any one whatsoever for they are not to meddle w th these things but as Phisitians Surgeons seek the curing of diseases in the soules Ob. 3. If â—t be said now men are petty Popes there being none to over rule them The answer is plain here are many to rule Pastor Teacher Elder 1 These are bound strictly to the rule of the Word 2 Besides the Church may say to Archippus Take heed c. Col. 4.17 3 Other neighbour churches may ought to admonish them which if it take no place they are altogether to declare their judgment touching such a Congregation 4 The civill Magistrate is and ought to punish every congregation the leaders especially into sin and errour according to the quality and degree of their offence if they doe not conform to the right manner of worshipping God SECTION IX FRom this whâ—ch hath been shewed both against Diocesan Bishops and in just fying the wisâ—dom of God in lay Elders as they are called each may see what we are to judge of the Officers now in use amongst