Selected quad for the lemma: law_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
law_n	moral_a	nature_n	positive_a	4,914	5	10.3383	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77726	An answer, or confutation of divers errors broached, and maintained by the seven churches of Anabaptists contained in those articles of their confession of faith propounded to the Parliament, and other grosse opinions held by them against the cleare light of the gospell. By Thomas Bakewell. Imprimatur John Downham.	Bakewell, Thomas, b. 1618 or 19.	1646 (1646)	Wing B526; Thomason E336_10; ESTC R200810	49,330	53

church would not be in so safe a condition now as it was under the Old Testament Fourthly Kings and Queens must be as nursing fathers and mothers to the Church Esay 49.22 but shall Kings and Queens have no authority about the Church when they lend their power to assist it and shall fathers and mothers have no command in relation to the Church and shall nurses have no power to feed their children Jehoshophat sent Ministers to teach in Judah and sayth the Lord Cyrus is my sheepherd then shall not he defend the Church as a sheepherd doth his flock David fed them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skilfulnesse of his hands Psal 78.72 but while the Lord looks for a man to make up the hedge Ezek. 22.30 and saith he shall be called the repairer of the breach Esay 58.12 In the meane time these men throw open the gap to the ravening lyon which shews how insufferable they are in any Christian Church yea they be but like vipers both to Church and State Fifthly Princes in Scripture are called Saviours to Sion and such are foretold to be in our dayes Obad. 21. But how can they be Saviours to our Church when they must neither command obedience nor punish those that oppose it but God commands to punish those that intise others to Idolatry Deut. 13.6 if they doe not they are guilty of other mens sins 1 Tim. 5.22 and they carry the Sword in vain Rom. 13.4 and God will have somthing against them for suffering Jezabel to seduce the servants of God and for suffering the doctrine of Baalam and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which God hates Revel 2.14 15 20. The very Heathens will punish those that oppose their Religion and shall not Christian Magistrates doe as much for the true Religion as they doe for a false Religion Sixthly We are commanded to pray for Kings and all those in authority that we may leade a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlinesse 1 Tim. 2.3 But if they have no power in relation to the Church to command obedience and to punish the opposers of it then what a vain prayer would this be but hee that rules over men must bee just and not onely so but ruling in the feare of God 2 Sam. 23.3 I know sayth the Lord that Abraham my friend will command his houshold to doe judgment and justice Gen. 18. And we must obey for conscience sake Rom. 13.7 but not bringing the conscience in obedience to mans precepts but we must obey men in conscience of obedience unto God that commands it Tit. 3.1 Then let them take heed how they despise government But then because the Magistrates power is a burthen to this man and he would fain ease himselfe of it therefore he propounded some Queries 1 Hee would know whether the whole ground of the Jews worship for matter and forme was not in plain precepts and commandements and taught them by the Prophets as they had immediately received it of the Lord to this I grant affirmatively that it was so but then hee would know whether any Ruler Governour or King of Judah either did or lawfully might set up alter or change either matter or forme of that worship and to compel the people to obey it or to inflict a penalty upon any in case of disobedience I answer negatively that no King of Judah did or ought to set up alter or change either matter or forme of Gods publike worship yet the Kings of Judah both did and ought to command obedience to that matter and to that forme of publike worship that was set up and received from the Prophets as they received it from the Lord and also they both did and ought to punish those that were disobedient to that forme that was set up by the Lord as all those Scriptures before quoted witnesse and so our Magistrates may and ought to compell obedience to the outward forme of the worship of God in relation to the Church although their power be not in the Church or over the Church but onely assistant to the Church then they may command obedience to it and punish those that despise or abuse it yet I grant they never had nor shall have power to alter the forme or matter or to add any new matter to it nor take any matter from it this belongs to Christ alone the head and King of the Church but I say again that Magistrates have power to command outward obedience to that forme that Christ hath set up neither may the matter of any ordinance be taken away or changed or new inventions of our own added to them and so for the matter of the Sacraments wee must neither take away the bread nor the wine nor add any thing else and so likewise for the persons the subject matter of the Church they must be the seed of Abraham neither may a Turke be admitted unlesse hee will leave his Turkish Religion he is not fit matter for it yet all this hinders not but Christian Magistrates may command Christians being already in the Church to obedience and to punish those that are disobedient to the Church 2 He would know whether the Jews government now under the Gospel pertain to Gentiles any more then the matter and forme of the worship and if their government why not all both the Church and State and if all whether the neglect of any be not under the curse especially so much as is under the letter of the Law I answer the Jews Government both in Church and State as it was the Judiciall Law it ought to be obeyed of none but Jews onely and as much as their Law was but ceremoniall the matter was calves and lambs and the Altar and Temple and the forme was sacrifices and divers washings c. But now Christ the King of the Church is come hee ●ath taken away much of the matter and forme of their publike worship and now all Kings and Rulers being his deputies ●●●st give their power to the Church to defend that matter and forme that Christ the King of it hath set up and appointed to be thematter and forme of it but while hee pleads for the Jews matter and forme hee smells rank of Judaisme yet it is like the Jews when they are called may have their own positive Laws for their own Common-wealth as our positive Law is the Law of England But wee are no more bound to the Jews positive laws then they are bound to our positive Laws although those are written in the Word and ours are not but besides the ceremoniall law that ended by Christ and the Judiciall law that was made particularly for Jews they had also the eternall morall law and what their Magistrates did in obedience to that our Kings and Magistrates are bound to the same as well as they and it was in obedience to that law that they commanded uniformity in publike worship and punished the disobedient and further I say that our positive laws binde our Magistrates and people as strongly being grounded on the morall law being the law of nature as the Jews positive laws

therefore hee laboured to strengthen the faith in that Doctrine onely Luke 24.37 39. John 20.27 and this doctrine of the resurrection being confirmed all other doctrines taught before were confirmed also But they say the ceremonies of Moses Law may as well continue now as that prayer of Christ for hee did as well then command them to goe and offer sacrifice as Moses had commanded Mat. 8.4 I Answer although the sacrifices of beasts did end at the death of CHRIST yet the sacrifices of prayer and praise was not then to end for praise and thanksgiving must be continually in heaven Heb. 13.15 and that of those Lepers was such a sacrifice nine of them went not at all and the tenth returned to CHRIST and gave him thanks and it was approved of him as sufficient Luke 17.16 18. so then whether they were brought to Christ by the helpe of a sacrifice or immediately it was not much materiall so that they came to him then although the sinne offering of beasts be ceased by the Sacrifice of CHRIST once for all yet the sacrifice of prayer for pardon of sin may still bee a sweet incense Psal 141.1 but they say When Christ taught them thus to pray the Law was in its full strength but now Christ hath put an end to the Law which is the strength of sin 1 Cor. 15.56 And the Law being ended sin also is ended and needs no prayer for the pardon of it I Answer The morall Law is eternally setled in heaven Psal 119.89 103.20 and sin remains in hell for they shall blaspheme God in their torments and cannot repent Revel 16.9 11. and if sinne should cease the fire would goe out for It is sin and the wrath of God that is like ariver of brimstone to it Esay 30 33. so then as in heaven is neither sin nor misery to the elect but in hell is both the reprobate and in this world all things are alike to all Eccles 9 1 2 the Soints and reprobates have both sin and miserie although in a different manner for it reigns in the one and is dying in the other but he is a lyer that saith he hath no sin 1 John 1.8 For no man liveth and sinneth not 1 King 8.48 Eccles 7.20 Then feeing as the Saints have sin they must pray for the parden of it as the best means in the world to subdue it then the godly may say this prayer But then they say the ungodly may not say this Prayer of Christ as a Prayer because they cannot call God Father I Answer although they bee none of his children by grace and adoption yet they are his children by creation thus Adam was the Son of God Luke 3.38 and so God is the Father of all things Job 38.28 and if carnall men doe pray they may obtain some temporall things as well as Ahab did by fasting 1 King 21.29 so God hears all mortall creatures Psal 104.21.145.15.147 9. Then they say carnall men ought not to say the first petition praised be thy name for they cannot doe it from the heart I Answer the best of us all when we pray if Christ did not put the incense of his merits amongst them could not be pleasing unto him Revel 9.3 and if none should praise the Lord but those that doe it with their whole heart God would have very little praise in this world when as every creature that hath breath is commanded to praise the Lord Psal 150.6 Then they say none can give God thanks but they that have received somthing of him but this I grant for what creature in heaven earth or sea that hath received nothing from God if there be none such but all have received of him somthing then let all praise him But they say for carnall men to pray Thy Kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven were to pray for their destruction but how can that be when they pray that the will of Christ were done hy man on earth as Saints and Angels doe it in heaven both chearfully and constantly in salvation rather then by suffering his will upon them in hell torments for ever Then they say that carnall men may not say Give us this day our daily bread for that is to be understood The word of God which the Saints have had and still desire but how can this be must we aske for so much of the word as may onely suffice for a day and doth the word of God consume in the using of it when not one jot of it shall fail Mat. 5. It was the loafes that Christ said was meate that perisheth John 6.26 27. Again if Christ in this petition did not teach us to pray for temporall things then how could his prayer be perfect and why would hee give thanks for meate that perisheth if he would not pray for a blessing upon it Then they say here is to be understood that Christ taught them to pray for his spirit but I say again how much of his spirit will suffice for a day and I hope they will not so blaspheme the eternall spirit of God as to say it consumes in the using of it no It is a well of living water springing up unto eternall life John 4 14. then this petition being for carnall things and not the spirit of God carnall men may pray for them and obtain them Then they say if carnall men should say forgive us as we forgive them that trespas against us in this they would seale up their own damnation because they will not forgive others Mat. 18.29 30. But what of this shall they escape damnation by not saying of it and if they cannot they had as good say it to obtain some temporall things as to be both miserable in not saying of it both here and also hereafter and besides the using well of these gifts in seeking them by prayer and giving God thanks for them is Gods way to obtain better mercies as some in asking temporall things by that prayer obtain spirituall mercies Mat. 9.2 Then they say carnall men must not say Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evill because they are never out of temptation I answer the godly are in the same condition tempted either by the world flesh or the devill continually and they cannot escape them all together except they goe out of the world 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. then must they not pray and use the meanes to escape them Then they say carnall men are temptation it selfe but I say how can that be For as they are Gods creatures they are good and not to be so called and it is but their words and deeds that tempt for their thoughts cannot neither is it all their words and deeds but some of them onely and they have a naturall conscience to oppose those words and deeds that are tempting to others and why may they not pray against them then we ought not to discourage any but rather teach

bound them although theirs was written in the Word and ours are not Thirdly He would know whether the matter and forme of the worship of God under the Gospel lies not in as plain precepts and commandements as the matter and forme of the Jews worship and whether to urge and compell men to any other be not sin Here I shall first grant that the matter and forme now is in as plain precepts and commandements as the Jewes was and to compell men to any other is sin But here lies not our controversie for our Magistrates neither command other things then CHRIST hath appointed to bee the subject matter of the Church although themselves most abominably brought a Cat to the Sacrament Neither doe wee admit Infidels or Turks unlesse they leave their Religion and become Christians neither doe wee take away the bread or the wine or change them or add any thing else to them not doe we take away or change any other ordinance but themselves have cast away much of the subject matter of the Church being esteemed of them but as reprobates although many of them be the deare children of GOD unlesse they please then humours and they have cast away the Ordinance of singing of Psalmes and all family instructions admonitions prayers watchings over one another in love and building up one another in faith Thus they have almost cast a●●y both matter and forme of the true visible Church when as they cannot ta●e us as wanting any Ordinance nor of having any supersluous of our own devising Then if Magistrates should command any other matter or forme they would sinne in to doing yet it will not follow that when Magistrates command the same that CHRIST hath set up that then they should sinne The Lord said to Moses ' The Magistrate gather the people together both men women and children and the stranger that is within the gates that they may heare and that they may learne and feare the LORD thy GOD and observe to doe all the words of this Law Deut. 31.12 and saith Christ compell them to come in that my house may be filled Luke 14.23 then I hope it will not trouble your consciences to be compelled to heare the word which is the onely way to know the Covenant between God and Christ in our nature and when it is known it will bereceived They that know thy name will trust in thee Psal 9.10 yet the Magistrates will not command you to believe they are not Lords of your faith but they may be helpers of your joy but saith is the gift of GOD the Magistrate onely commands to come to the paths of wisdoms doors that we may be blessed Prov. 8.33 this is the way to come in to the Covenant of Christ the Lord of the Church and when this is done we need not make another Covenant with the members as they d●e at New England and if they were in Covenant with Christ as they pretend the members neede not make such soldering for a Christian hath right to all Churches as well as to one Church and needs not way● for the members ad●mttance although their Lordly pride besuch while they pretend humility that they will not allow of it Lastly he would know whether any people under heaven have power to frame the outward government of the Church so perfectly that it shall neither have sin nor failing in it i● not then saith he where is there power to command obedience to that which is sinful I answer It is true none have power to frame such a government that hath neither sin nor failings in it therefore the Parliament doth not take upon them to frame any government for the Church because as I said before their power is not in the Church nor over the Church but in relation to the Church as lending their power to assist it therefore they have called the assembly of Divines to search the Scripture to see what government Christ hath appointed for his Church who is the Lord and King of it then there businesse is onely to search this our and then the Parlinment by a positive Law of the Land will command that this government shall be observed and no other but when all the Assembly or the greatest part shall conclude upon one way of government and the Parliament hath established that Government by a Law of the Kingdom then I say although there shall be some failings in it yet it being as neer the rule as all our Divines upon diligent search can finde out and the Parlian●ent hath made it a Statute to bee observed it must bee obeyed and all those Scriptures and Reasons before alledged serve to confirme it and those that will not doe the Law of GOD and the Law of the King let judgement be executed speedily upon him whether it be to death or banishment confiscation of goods or imprisonment Ezra 7.25 26. and then it will be but a weake excuse to renounce a positive Law of the Land upon this ground saying It is not perfect without sin or failing therefore I will not obey it by this argument they may renounce all our Laws and Magistrates for no humane Ordinance nor Magistrate can be without sin or failing then by their argument both must be cast away and so live like sons of Belial without any government but this shews how unsufferable that faction is to be among Christians But suppose they should have free leave to frame their own government what they would have upon condition it should be confirmed by an act of Parliament I am confident they would not agree to have it done because they all seeke to have a gap open to turne to what Heresie they please This also shews how unsufferable they be amongst us But suppose they were willing to have such a government established as they should like of then I would know why a whole assembly of faithfull learned wise godly and pious men should be denyed that which they will grant to a few and some of them factious and others hereticall nay why will they not grant our Assembly so much as they grant to one single man who setteth up what government he pleaseth and they all freely obey him when he aymes at his own ends to gather Churches that he may vent his Heresie and faction which is a thing to be abhorred of all godly Christians being more enslaved to him then ever they were to the Prelates if they had but eyes ●o see it The meane time all may see how these men despise the Magistrates power in relation to the Church when they command obedience to it or punish the opposers of it FINIS