Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	law_n	moral_a	precept_n	2,880	5	9.5945	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93887	Zerubbabel to Sanballat and Tobiah: or, The first part of the duply to M.S. alias Two brethren. By Adam Steuart. Whereunto is added, the judgement of the reformed churches of France, Switzerland, Geneva, &c. concerning independants, who condemne them with an unanimous consent. Published by David Steuart. March 17. 1644. Imprimatur Ja: Cranford.; Duply to M.S. alias Two brethren. Part 1	Steuart, Adam.; Steuart, David, fl. 1644.	1645 (1645)	Wing S5494; Thomason E274_14; ESTC R209896	100,836	110

the Church By their naturall estate or condition I understand either their estate of integrity as that of the good Angels who continued in their Originall purity and of the wicked who afterwards apostatized and of Adam Eve before their fall or of corruption such as is that of all mankind after our first sin By the word called here must be understood the act of vacation by Gods word either internall speaking unto Angels or mens Consciences by the light of nature or supernaturall Inspirations 1 Cor. 1.9 1 Pet. 5.10 1 Thes 2.12 and 4.7 or externall such as is the vocall and written word of God or any other externall signe presented to our outward Senses by him as 1 Jo. 1.3 2 Thes 2.4 Heb. 1.1 And therefore the Elect before they be borne and called are not properly or actually but meerly potentially and vertually members of the Church 1. For how can he be a member of the Church who is not yet in Rerum natura 2. By the same reason the Church should have been actually before the Creation of the world and before she was created from all eternity for God elected his Church from all eternity 3. Men of age should be actually members of Christs Church without Faith for they have not actually Faith by Election but by their efficacious Vocation 4. And howsoever the Decree of Predestination or Election be requisite and be the first cause of the Church and of all the members thereof and it being put all the second Causes must needs be yet makes it not them to be when it is its self but in their own time and in due season when it is put in execution by some externall act of Gods Almighties power which can not be eternal as his Decree but temporal 5. Because Gods Church is an House a Family and a City which can not be built of stones that are not or composed of Domesticks and Citizens that are not in this world 6. A man cannot be the Brother of Christ and member of his church before he be regenerate or born againe how much lesse before he be generated or born unlesse ye will say that he may have his second birth or generation before he have the first Out of this naturall estate c. here is expressed Terminus a quo et ad quem from whence and whereunto the Church or the members thereof are called Terminus a quo or from whence is from the estate of Nature pure and incorrupt not incorruptible as was that of the Angels and of man before his Fall or of corrupt nature such as hath been that of mankinde since their Fal. Terminus ad quem or whereunto they are called or which can intend is Grace in this life and supernaturall Glory in that to come By supernaturall Glory must be understood supernaturall Beatitude or felicity which is the last aym their summum bonum or greatest good and perfection whereunto they tend or which they can intend And this in respect of entire and pure or immaculate Nature is absolutely called Beatitude or Felicity but in regard of corrupt Nature Salvation for it is not a man without sin as Christ or Angels that never sinned but Adam his posterity that are said to be saved from their sins and misery whereunto by sin they are subject Means are called convenient when they are fit to effect that which by them is intended such in respect of Angels was the Law of Nature printed in their Understanding answerable to their spirituall Nature some Supernatural Precepts also for they were bound to beleeve the Trinitie answerable in Adam before his Fall was the Law and such respect to the spirituall and corporall nature whereof he was compounded as the Morall Law and some supernaturall Precepts to beleeve the Trinity c. proportionate to the end and aym viz. supernaturall glory whereunto he should tend and which he should intend And in regard of all mankind since our Fall is the Covenant of Grace and the means to fulfill it as Faith Hope and Charity The Church in this vast and large signification contains 1. in it self the company of Angels 1. because the Scripture sayes so Heb. 12.22 23. 1 Pet. 1.12 2. because they are our Fellow-servants and our Brethren Apoc. 19.10 and 22.9 they belong to one society with us 3. because the Angels are our Con-disciples in studying the Gospel with us 1 Pet. 1.12 4. Because they are Subjects with us of one Celestiall Republike and Citizens of one Celestiall City 5. Because we aspire to the same Beatitude and Felicity with them viz. to the vision of Gods face and ardent Charity 6. Because in respect of our spirituall part and the Faculties thereof our Intellect and Will we are capable of the same union with God 7. Because Christ is head of the Angels as well as of Men Col. 2.19 Eph. 4.15.8 Because he is their Creator Conservator Mediator God gathered in one all things in Christ both which are in Heaven and which are in Earth and every thing in them Eph. 1.10.9 Because the Angels adore Christ Hebr. 1.6.10 Because all things yea the Angels are subject to Christ Hebr. 1.7 2. It contains men in Heaven and in Earth for the Church in Earth and in Heaven differ onely as a man travelling and one arrived to his Port or home All these that are or shall be saved those that are already born and to be born regenerate or to be regenerate howsoever they that are not yet born or regenerate be not actually members of the Church till they be born and regenerated This Church in regard of its materiall parts integrity and quantity may be distinguished 1. into the Catholike or universall and particular Church The Catholike Church is that which before we defined composed of all the Elect Angels and Men. 2. Again it is to be observed in passing of this Word Catholike Church that it is not a term of Scripture nor was any man called a Catholike in the Apostles time if we beleeve Pacianus epist 1. Ad Sempronianum neither in their time was the Christian Faith spread Catholikely or Universally through all the World and hence many Protestants infer that the Creed I mean that of the Apostles was not framed by them Neverthelesse we have some terms in Scripture equivalent unto it as that of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb 12.23 that signifies a generall Assembly Item the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem ver 22. the Church of the first-born which are written in Heaven c. The Church then is called Vniversall 1. in respect of her Intrinsecall and Essentiall form viz. internall vertues viz. Faith Hope Charity and the Spirit of Christ which be all and the same in all the members thereof for howsoever the Church in respect of some Gifts otherwayes called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by the Schoolmen gratia gratis data is distributed by Christ unto some of her members not so much for

their own as for other mens use and salvation to be a corpus heterogeneum dissimilare an Organicall Body composed of divers parts of different names and natures one from another and from the whole Body having different functions and operations as of prophecy government of Miracles c. as a man of his head legs and arms whereof the one is not of like nature or like name with an other or with the man for the leg is not the head nor a man as the Apostle declares neverthelesse in regard of her spirituall and saving gifts as Faith Hope Charity c. wherein consists her intrinsecall form conferred upon the Elect for their own use otherwayes called by Schoolmen gratia gratum faciens Grace that makes us acceptable to God it is totum homogeneum or similare a similary Body Composed of the like parts whereof every one hath the same name and nature one with another and with the whole Body for all the members of Christ have the like Faith inclining to the like Acts of Beleef the same Mysteries and a like Charity inclining to the like Acts of love to all men and especially to the Houshold of Faith So every particular Church is a Church one as another and as the universall Church I speak here of the redeemed Church for the Church of Angels and of men before their Fall be not parts homogeneall with the redeemed Church because of their dissimulary Covenant and intrinsecall formes and vertues Item the Church may be denominated universall in regard of her extrinsecall and accidentall forme consisting 1. in the externall profession of her intrinsecall Christian vertues by confession of her Faith Hope and exercise of Charity and holinesse of life 2. In her participation of the holy Sacraments according to Gods Word 3. In her extrinsecall sound Discipline and Government which should be in every Church Againe the Church may be universall in respect of some Circumstances viz. of time place persons and Ages 1. of time because the Christian Church from her first institution by Christ till the end of the world shall never decay 2. of place not positively as if it were in all places but negatively because it is not excluded from any place as that of the old Testament limited within the confines of the Holy Land but spread through all the world Psal 19.5 Mat. 26.13 Col. 1.6.3 of Persons of all Ages Sects and Conditions for no man is excluded from the Gospell neither Iew nor Greeke neither Servant nor Freeman neither Male nor Female Gal. 3.28 2. And it may be distinguished according to her materiall or integrant parts into the Church of Angels and of men But the Scripture has very little of that of the Angels so as we may let it passe 3. That of men may be distinguished according to the state and condition thereof into that which is Militant here on earth fighting against Sathan and Triumphant and victorious in Heaven reigning eternally with God 4. The Militant according to the state thereof and Covenant is distinguished into that which was before the Fall that after the Fall The Church before the Fall was composed of Adam and Eve alone and governed by the Law of Nature and some supernaturall Precepts and called to supernaturall felicity I say composed of Adam and Eve alone viz. actually for howsoever before the creation of Eve God or Christ was his head yet could he not be his Head as of a Church 1. For a Church is a company not of the Head and one member but of the Head and many members Rom. 12.5 Eph. 1.22 23.2 Because before the Creation of the Woman there was no symbolicall Law nor Sacraments of the Covenant ordained by God as the Tree of Life 3. Because the Church is a Family a City a Kingdome which cannot consist of one member Col. 1.13 Rom. 14.17 1 Tim. 3.15 Apo. 21.2 Matth. 13.11 Item a body composed of sundry members 1 Cor. 12. a flocke 1 Pet. 5.2 which is not composed of one sheep yea after the Creation of Eve it was not a perfect or compleat Church but in fieri tending to perfection by the propagation of mankind and perfected in its fieri when it was breeding for to a perfect Church is requisite a Ruler or Rulers and some to be ruled and not one alone 2. Because the Church is a Society like to that of a Kingdom or a City which can not consist of two persons only 3. Because howsoever three may compound a Colledge yet can they not make up an Ecclesiasticall or politicall Society 4. Because in a Church there must be power of Excommunication which cannot subsist in two for if the one should Excommunicate the other the Church should perish which is repugnant to the nature of Excommunication which is not given to the destruction but to the conservation of the Church 1 Cor. 5. 5. Because it was imperfect in its ayme in respect of man for it brought no man to felicity or glory 6. Because to every Reall Church correspond some Representative Church which is a sign of the Reall and not altogether the same but there could be no representative Church before the Fall correspondent to it different from it selfe because these were but two persons not differing from themselves notwithstanding it might have been represented by an Ambassadour but not by a Church The Militant Church after the fall is that which is redeemed by Christ called in him to the forgivenesse of their sins and eternall Glory 5. This in regard of time and state is either before Christ as that of the Old Testament wherein Christ was obscurely revealed or of the New since his comming wherein he is more cleerly revealed which for this cause is called the Christian Church partly because it is since Christ partly because Christ is more visibly revealed unto her partly because he in Person revealed himselfe and his Gospel for the Law was given by Moses but Grace was given by Iesus Christ Iohn 1. The particular Church is only a part of the Universall or totall Church And as the universall is universall 1. In regard of Time which comprehends all the Churches of all times 2. Of place which comprehends the Churches of all places or through all the world 3. Or of Persons which comprehends all forts of persons so the particular is either 1. in regard of time which only comprehends in its selfe the Churches of a certaine time as that of the Old Testament which was before the comming of Christ in the flesh and that of the New which is since his comming So we call the Church Primitive that which was before our times immediatly after Christ his comming and some time after 2. Or in regard of places as when we say that a Church is Nationall which is in one Kingdome or Republick Provinciall that is in one Province and Parochiall which is confined within the limits of one Parish 3. Or in regard of Persons which

question As if I should goe about to prove that Christ according to his humane nature had a Body his due dimensions or qnantitie because all men have so But you should except Christ for so no man can prove any thing for evermore my Adversary shall except that which is in question 15. If all the people promiscuously may judge then they may judge without their Presbyters and Church-Officers But the Consequent is false E. The Antecedent from whence it is inferred is false also They will not deny the Assumption and it may be proved thus For without their Pastors and Seniors the Congregation cannot make a compleat Church the People being but one halfe thereof and their Rulers the other Besides that there may be some Cases wherein the People cannot judge alone as in point of Heresie and touching the capacitie of Ministers admitted to Preach The Consequence of the first Proposition may be proved thus For if they be all Judges and of foure hundred or five hundred foure or five or fifteen chance to be absent the rest may judge the number of those that are absent being no wayes considerable in respect of that which is present But so is the Case in the first Proposition Item Because if of the people two three or foure yea 20.30 or 40. be absent the Church-Officers with the rest will judge without them Why shall not then the People have the same power also in absence of the Church-Officers fince they have all alike power to judge viz. every man one voyce This Argument ariseth out of our Brethrens Supposition viz. that every one has power to judge and rule 16. I Would willingly aske our Brethren whether or no they thinke that an Ecclesiasticall Judgement can hold without the Peoples presence and voyces If it can hold then the peoples voycing is not absolutely needfull nor ex instituto divino For it cannot hold nor be just without that which God requires to make it just If it cannot hold without the Peoples voyces I ask againe whether all the peoples voyces be requisite or that the major part suffice If all it is impossible Morally neither see we ever almost that in a great Congregation all can meet together or if they meet together that all consent together yea nor in lesser Assemblies If the major part suffice as it must be said then can it not hold for if many be absent and of those that are present the major part surmount the lesser by 4.5.6 or 7. voyces then the lesser part may complaine that all the people were not present and so desire the businesse to be remitted to another meeting so that in conclusion no businesse should ever end unlesse all the people were present which ordinarily never or rarely falls out Item they fall into that very inconvenience which they presse so hard against their Brethren viz. that they that are absent shall be led by the nose and consent by an implicite Faith to a Judgement of Doctrine or of Discipline of great consequence for other mens judgements sake whereunto Formally they dissented For if Judgements of Consistories composed of Church-Officers alone cannot hold because then the People should be led by the nose and assent thereunto by an implicite Faith no more should the Judgement of the People in this present Case The same inconvenience or worse should fall out in voycing for if there were in the Assembly of 20000. 10000. for one part and the rest for the other Here all the rest should be led by one implicite Faith to consent against their own explicite Faith for here things are carried by pluralitie of voyces which are not weighed but accompted If only the Masters of Families or all Servants have power to voyce and if that may not procure partialities when a Father may draw his sons and servants to his opinion to voyce with him as he will 19. Besides this our Brethren must determine how many they require to accomplish the Assembly to the end that the Judgement may hold and be valeable How many for the discussion and voycing of the businesse and after it is voyced and judged how many to draw up the Sentence or Judgement for in this all Nations doe not agree neither one Senate in the Kingdome with another in another Kingdome nor one Senate in the same Kingdome with another nor one Senate with it selfe in divers times And if they determine it we pray them to draw their Determination thereof out of Gods word since they will admit of nothing concluded by naturall Reason or drawn from the Law of Nature 20. We may bring many more Reasons to shew the impossibilitie or at least the very great difficultic that is in this sort of Judicatory as the Case there should fall in many incidents as about refusing of some of the Judges some witnesses the Protestation of the nullity of the Judgement for sundry Reasons that all the Judges were not well informed of the matter some of them having given their Judgement before-hand some having promised to the party to judge so or so some of them having solicited others to judge so or so if all these Incidents should be discussed and passe by the voyces of 20000. men when should it be ended Wee might also bring other Reasons to shew how that sundry things in this Government are altogether repugnant to Ecclesiasticall Government as 21. That a man should be borne a Judge in Christs Church without any Election or Vocation to such a place But no man taketh this honour unto himselfe but he that is called of God as was Aaron Heb. 5.4 And truly there is no reason that a man yea that all men should rather be borne Judges in Gods Church then in the State 22. The Hang-man and the most ignominious persons in the world should be Judges here 23. Nothing could ever be decided for in case there were 5. or 6. divers Opinions you could decide according to none for if you followed that which had most voyces with it all the rest would voyce against it if that which had fewer they that had more would not suffer it so what ever should be said or done it should be controlled 24. We only adde Christs Command Math. 18.17 Tell it unto the Church 1. Unto the Representative Church and not to every one of the People for that should be impossible This passage our Brethren bring for them but surely it makes rather against them for Christ here establishing an Ecclesiasticall Judicatorie alludes to the order of the Jewes in their Synagogicall Judicatories and Sanedrim in Censuring of Vice and redressing of the grievances that Brethren received of Brethren in the Church for he abolishes not such Judicatories Quoad substantiam since they are grounded on the Law of Nature but quoad Circumstantias in so far as they are ordained by Moyses Captaine and the leader of the people of God or did only bind the people of the Iewes and had for Object the