Selected quad for the lemma: opinion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
opinion_n	bishop_n	call_v	presbyter_n	718	5	10.7016	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49329	Look unto Jesus, or, An ascent to the Holy Mount to see Jesus Christ in his glory whereby the active and contemplative believer may have the eyes of his understanding more inlightned to behold in some measure the eternity and immutability of the Lord Jesus Christ ... : at the end of the book is an appendix, shewing the certainty of the calling of the Jews / written by Edward Lane.	Lane, Edward, 1605-1685.	1663 (1663)	Wing L332; ESTC R25446	348,301	421

and authority above all others to be blameless as the Stewards of God not self-willed c. From whence I collect that the office of BISHOP and Presbyter are not one and the same Some Objections possibly will be made against this interpretation also but let judicious and sober-minded men judge whether they be of such weight so as to carry the Apostles sense against it I confess great is the confidence that hath been built upon this imaginary Identity from whence hath sprung much trouble to the Church of God and none have exceeded therein so much above measure as those persons who with a strange kinde of affectation called themselves by that Uncouth name of Smectymnuus For they led on with this Errour that BISHOP and Presbyter are one and the same take upon them to tax the Apostles reasoning as inconsequential and his demand as they call it Unjust unless he subscribe to their opinion Which censure they are likewise pleased to stretch out further by a similitude according to their fancy If a Chancellour say they in one of our Vniversities should give order to his Vice-Chancellour to admit none to the degree of a Bachelour in arts but such as were able to preach or keep a Divinity-Act for Bachelours in Divinity must be so what reason or equity were in this So if Paul leaving Titus in Crete should give order to him not to admit any to be an Elder but one thus and thus qualified because a Bishop must be so Had a Bishop been an Order or Calling distinct from or superiour to a Presbyter and not the same this had been no more rational or equal then the former Thus They. But the sense of the Apostle being rendred as before which for ought that I can see may very well be so Their similitude or somewhat alike unto it may be retorted upon them in this manner If a Chancellour in one of our Universities should give order to his Vice-Chancellour to admit none to the degree of a Bachelour in Divinity but such as were learned in the Scriptures of good report and of a grave and sober conversation for Doctours in Divinity who are to be taken out of that lower degree must be so there would be both reason and equity in such a Command so when the Apostle gives order to Titus not to admit any to be a Presbyter but one that is blameless because a BISHOP who is to be chosen out of the Presbytery must be so I hope the Divine spirit of this Doctor gentium may pass without control and not have an imputation of irrationality any more put upon him though it be affirmed as the truth is that the office of a BISHOP is here distinguished by him from that of a Presbyter and made Superiour unto it Let none now think of me that because of this my free manner of writing I have design'd thereby to make way for a Polemical dispute with some persons of note that are contrary minded in this case they would mistake me much that should judge so of me I am not willing to be reckoned among the disputers of this world And I do confess my self the unfittest of many upon sundry accounts for such an undertaking besides there hath been too much wrangling already among us Animosities have encreased to the great decay of brotherly-Love in the management of this controversy occasioned chiefly by this pretended Identity Jam. 1.20 But the wrath of man saith the Apostle worketh not the Righteousness of God And what have all the Jehu-like sallies and furious heats of the adversaries of Episcopacy at length produced What I say whereby Gods name may be honoured or his Church edified Is not the shame of their nakedness made bare to the view of all men Oh that God would now give repentance unto all those that are conscious to themselves of a guilt herein Even those very persons that I mentioned before who were the Ring leaders in this difference have reason sadly to lay it to heart if they be yet living who had they but followed that Counsel themselves which they gave unto that Reverend BISHOP with whom they did contend their offense had not been so great viz. To have written more cautiously and to have given less scope to their luxuriant pen for as they did let it run into causeless aggravations it did certainly bring too great a scandal upon Religion and made good their adversaries charge against them But since things that are past cannot be wholly recalled Oh that they would give glory to God in confessing their Errour and endeavour to repair again those breaches which their inadvertency hath made by a publick retractation They are men that pretend much to tenderness of Conscience and therefore I presume are not of that proud Cardinal's spirit who confessed there was need enough to reform the abuses of the Romish-Church but he could not endure that Luther a poor beggarly Friar as he call'd him should give the first Onset unto it I hope better things of these men as to this case in their capacity and that they will not disdain for this once to receive a word of Exhortation from one that is least esteemed in the Church because they know well that the more inconsiderable the person is as to his outward estate that gives them an advice of such concernment as this they may the more magnifie God's name in a ready consenting thereunto But to return to our purpose I have here offered my conceptions in the expounding of this Scripture which hath been so much controverted of late humbly presenting them to the judgment of the Church not knowing that ever yet any expositour Antient or Modern hath rendred the sense of it so before If the glory of God may hereby be advanced and the Churches peace promoted I have my aime and it shall be the Crown of my rejoycing to my dying day But as to the Objection that hath thus let out my thoughts so far towards this subject I will be confident that either of these interpretations that are here given will sooner be received by those that are wise and moderate then our adversaries wrest which hath hitherto created so much trouble unto us The result will be this Episcopal Government is warranted by the word of God therefore it is no superstition to have it reestablished in our Church nor no transgression of the Law of Christ to yield subjection unto it And now to finish this matter whereas there hath been a Cry made Away with Superstition and Away with Idolatry Away made Away with Superstition and Away with Idolatry Away with Liturgy and Away with Bishops we may clearly see by what is here written that this clamour is altogether causeless Poor people that are thus wosully deluded the Lord pitie them and the Lord forgive them for they know not what they say Much more reason surely is there to cry out with a shout Blessed be God for Liturgy and Episcopacy whereby we

the Lord Jesus Christ in order to the preservation of his Creatures A Doctrine it is that is profitable for Conviction for Encouragement and Instruction For conviction of many sinful practises too frequently appearing in these times to the great dishonour of Christ and his Government over the World and for the encouragement and instruction of all the faithful people of God who desire to walk worthy of that preservation which they enjoy under his Government First then this plainly layeth open the gross blindness that hath come upon many who notwithstanding think they see clearly When men will freely acknowledge this great Jehovah the Lord of all to be the sole Fountain of Being unto all Creatures both in Heaven and in Earth And yet in the several changes and revolutions that come upon the World have their thoughts fixed upon second Causes or such it may be as they have framed to themselves not at all regarding the work of the Lord nor the operation of his hands as if he were now no more then a mean Spectatour and had nothing to do in the various Transactions of his Creatures about him How impiously do some after the manner of the Heathen ascribe unto Fortune that good or ill success which attends upon their undertakings It was my good fortune saith one Si fortuna volet fies de Rhetore Conful si volet haec eadem fies de Consule Rhetor that brought me to this Honour to this Estate wherein now I am It was my hard hap saith another that I met with such a cross and that I am fallen into this misery even as the Poet once said If Fortune Will thou may'st of Poor be Consul made And if that will thou must unto thy former Trade This you 'l say is not as becometh Christians but behold yet more Abominations some there are yea too many who when they go about a matter of any great Import either to free themselves from some sad disaster as they call it or to enterprize a Design which they conceive may be for their advantage will usually like unto Heathens for the Scripture notes it as a part of their Infidelity consult with Astrologers a sort of people who if they will keep themselves within their own Sphere would have the Approbation of all that are wise but being excentrick they are the very Pest of a Common-wealth and when the success appeareth their Stars forsooth must be Idoliz'd as the cause of that which doth befal them And how unworthy alas is this of that Faith which we do profess But behold yet greater Abominations It is an Abomination souc'd in the very dregs of Heathenism when people will in time of any loss danger or distress of what kind soever it be not look up to him who is and alwaies was the great Preserver of men and upholdeth all things by the Word of his Power but consult with Witches and Conjurers for a supply and preservation And this alas is too commonly found amongst those that call themselves Christians As for the Heathen they were not ordinarily wont unless it were the ruder sort in plain down-right terms Acheronta movere Ab Aves Aspiciendo that is to seek to the Devil for help They had their Auspicium which was by flying of Birds to divine of their successes And they had their Aruspicium by looking into the Entrails of Beasts appointed for Sacrifice Ab Aras Inspiciendo Ezek. 21.21 to the same purpose as it is said of the King of Babylon that he looked into the Liver Ezek. 21.21 when he took up a Divination for Jerusalem They had also their Tripudium taking a conjecture of what should befall them by the rebounding of Corn thrown upon the ground to Chickens Quasi terripudium seu terripavium from whence the Southsayer was called Pullarius And their Augurium which was a Prediction from the chirping or chattering of Birds as also by the founds and voices which they heard they knew not whence Ab Avium Garritu All which and many more though abominable enough yet were not so bad as knowingly and willingly to seek for a remedy or supply so directly from the Devil which they do that consult with those who they are assured have for such ends and purposes made a compact with him To all whom it may be said is it because there is not a Divine Providence that ordereth and governeth the World nor a power in Heaven to help and to deliver Or rather is it not because you are faithless and have no confidence in this great Preserver of men that you betake your selves to the Devil and his Angels for help A most wicked and Atheistical Generation who deny the Lord that bought them and run a whoring after Satan to worship him with a most execrable Idolatry For it may well be said such persons they revolt from God to the Devil howsoever they plaister up their impiety with untempered Mortar as that they seek Gods help though by the means of the Magician But terrible is that threatning which the Lord hath denounced against these wretched people Lev. 20.6 The Soul that turueth after such as have familiar Spirits and after Wizzards to go a whoring after them I will even set my face against that Soul and will cut him off from among my people Bishop King upon Jonas Add unto this that common foolish Opinion as a reverend Bishop of our times hath well observed and I shall render it in his own words If ever Tempest arise more then common experience hath enured us unto especially with the havock and loss either of life or limb in our Selves our Cattel or Housings forthwith the judgment is given as if the Lord of Heaven and Earth were fallen asleep and minded nothing there is doubtless some Conjuring And what then is Conjuring A pestilent commistion convention stipulation betwixt men and Devils Men and Devils what are they Look upon the Sorcerers of Egypt for the one they cryed in the smallest Plague that was sent and past their cunning to remove this is the finger of God their power is limited therefore Look upon the Martyrings of Job for the other for though the Circuit of Satan be very large even to the compassing of the whole earth to and fro yet he hath his daies assigned him to stand before the presence of God for the renewing of his Commission And besides Oviculam unam auferre non potuit He could not take one poor sheep from Job till the Lord had given him leave saying Put forth thine hand Nor enter into the Herd of Swine Matt. 8. without Christ's permission To conclude therefore with the same learned Writer Whether Men or Devils be ministerial Workers in these Actions all cometh from him who is the Judge of all as from the higher Supreme Cause whose Judgments executed thereby no man can either fully comprehend or reprehend justly He professeth no less of himself Es 45.7 Es