Selected quad for the lemma: power_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
power_n	authority_n	bishop_n	presbyter_n	4,112	5	10.2023	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A25206	An exercitation on the historical relation, Matth. 15, 1--9, Mark 7, 1--13, concerning eating with unwashen hands by way of appendix or supplement to the discourse concerning indifferencies ...	Alsop, Vincent, 1629 or 30-1703.	1680 (1680)	Wing A2909; ESTC R19152	16,898	44

of the Council and persons in and of Authority I have been the more full in this point because Grotius in loc thinks that these Elders here mentioned though they were learned and wise men and so possibly might be Members of the Sanhedrim upon that account yet that the mention made of 'em here does not relate to any such capacity they were in but only as celebrated Teachers who were not only famous in their Generations but were had in great veneration and esteem in after-times and their judgements and dogmes were of great authority And so Beza takes 'em too only for the ancient Doctors and not for persons in authority But even Grotius himself elsewhere viz. in Acts 4. 5. gives this account of 'em Seniores idem quod Senatores consules vrbium Elders are the same with the Senate or Court of Aldermen or at least Common-council-men and ' Burgesses of Cities And the places forementioned do most evidently and undeniably evince that they were persons in authority and members of the Sankedrim as I said before or great Council of the Nation And therefore Sect. 9. 2 They were the proper Judges of Ecclesiastical affairs to whose cognisance matters of Religion did appertain Hi doctrina religionis to●…ius obtinebant arcem inquisitionem proinde censuramque doctrinarum sibi arrogabant Commoti igitur samâ crebrescente de Jesu emiserunt è suis quosdam sicut etiam Marc. 3. 22. qui observarent quid doceret quidque faceret in Galileà Jesus novus ille Doctor ab iosis nec missus nec probatus saith Brugensis And particularly It was the peculiar priviledge of those Doctors who were Members of the great Council to frame such Decrees Constitutions or Traditions This I gather from that passage of the Targum on Eccles. 12. 12. where it is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Translation in our Polyglot Bible renders Magistri Sanhedrim scil ductores viarum as if 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were to be taken according to the proper signification of the word from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ambulavit whereas it is most usually taken in the Metaphorical sense for Consuctudo ratio mos ritus judicium and among the Rabbins and Talmudists it signisies saith Buxtorf Constitutio juris sententia decisio traditio decisa usu ac consuetudine recepta approbata secundum quod incedendum vivendum Lex Talm. in voc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and accordingly it is to be rendred here Doctores synedrii qui sunt Domini consuetudinum sive constitutionum juridicarum The Doctors of the Council who are the grand Masters of Traditions And hence 3 We may easily imagine the reason why the Scribes and Pharisees here were so much conçern'd at this neglect of the Disciples viz. because their own Copy-hold was toucht and their own authority lay at stake inasmuch as they were the Successors of these Elders so that the slight that was put upon the one redounded to the disparagement of the other Non mirum Scribas violatione traditionum seniorum cito offensos fuisse quod co ipsorum authoritas elevari videretur qui jam Seniorum locum tenerent illorum successores institutorum propagatorcs saith Brugensis Hence Christ calls 'em your Traditions So then The Elders here meant were such as lived in former times who were persons of great Dignity and Authority to whose cognisance matters of Religion did appertain and to whom it belonged to belonged to form and frame these Constitutions or Traditions Where by the way you may take notice and that you may take the more and better notice of it know That it is the Observation of the prodigiously learned Dr. Stillingfleet That the word Elder or Presbyter according to the common use of it has a higher Character and is of more excellent import than the word Bishop the former noting Dignity and Authority as has been show'd the latter only matter of Duty Charge Trouble and Business His words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a name importing Duty more than Honour and not a Title above Presbyter but rather used by way of diminution and qualification of the power implied in the name Presbyter Iren. p. 286. But this by the by Thus you see Who these Elders were 2 The next thing to be spoken unto is to show What the Traditions of these Elders were And here I shall consider 1 their Nature 2 Original 3 Validity or what stress they laid upon 'em Sect. 10. First What a Tradition is A Tradition in general is something delivered from one to another and it is twofold Di-vine and Humane 1 Divine which is either matters of Doctrine delivered either by God himself or some immediately inspired by him and so both the Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Noun 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are used concerning the points of Christianity Thus the Apostle Paul received from God and delivered to the Church the Doctrine of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper 1 Cor. 11. 23. and of Christ's Death and Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. 3. yea the whol●… Doctrine of the Gospel in general is a Tradition delivered or conveyed to us Rom. 6. 17. 2 Thes. 2. 15. Jude 3. Again Divine Traditions respect matters of Practice also and these are Constitutions or Ordinances appointed by God or some immediately inspired by him for the use of the Church as the word seems to be taken 1 Cor. 11. 2. Now I praise you Brethren that you remember me in all things and keep the Ordinances Margin Traditions as I have delivered them to you And more plainly 2 Thes. 3. 6. 2 Humane called here Traditions of the Elders your Traditions v. 3 6. your own Traditions Mark 7. 9. the Traditions of men Mark 7. 8. Col. 2 8. and of the Fathers Gal. 1. 14. And these likewise are either Doctrinal concerning some points of Doctrine as Matth. 5. 21 c. and therefore are called expresly the Doctrine of the Pkarisees and of the Sadducees Matth. 16. 12. Concerning which Grotius observes That that which the Greek Philosophers called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ here calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Doctrine Instruction Article or point of Faith or else they are Practical being customs and external observances invented by men and delivered from hand to hand from Father to Son and such Traditions were these here of the Elders and those Col. 2. 20 21. And these are the Traditions under Consideration Now such a Tradition is an Ordinance Institution Canon Constitution Resolution Decision or Determination of their Forefathers the Governours of the Church delivered down from one to another enjoyning the observation of such and such Rites Ceremonies or Practices The former of these sorts viz. Divine Traditions are the Rule and Ground of our Faith Worship and Obedience The latter Humane do naturally produce Superstition and Will-worship and of this sort there were multitudes upon all occasions so that the whole Talmud is little

houses Mark 2. 16. conversed with all sorts of men to Proselyte 'em Mat. 25. 15. and conferred ordinarily with Christ and his Disciples as here and elsewhere Nor 2 in refraining the publick assemblies and places of publick worship for Luke 6. 6 7. there were Pharisees in the Synagogue at publick worship But Positively In respect of a singularity of Holiness and Devotion which they pretended unto and took upon them to have above others They 'd seem to transcend the Rule of the State-Religion and common Devotion of the Nation to be in a higher Form than others and to strain a note above Ela in the scale of Holiness and that in these two things especially 1 In extream ceremoniousness as in frequent washings large Phylacteries c. and 2 in extraordinary devotion as in long Prayers much show of Fastings tithing Mint c. 3 Scribes and Pharisees joyn'd together They were both of them as has been said the great Preachers and Professors of the Law and here as frequently elsewhere they joyn together to oppose and oppress Christ and his Disciples and go hand in hand that what they cannot effect by single strength they may obtain by their united forces Scribes was a title of Function and Pharisee of Devotion the one were pretenders to more than ordinary strictness in Religion the other valued themselves upon the score of their learning And thus under the Banners and Colours of pretended devotion and learning they fight against Christ. 4 From Jerusalem 1 Not of the ordinary and common sort such as did belong to every Synagogue in inferior Cities but of the chief City Jerusalem and such were likely of the ablest and bitterest of them and did excell the other Rusticks in learning and craft and perhaps in malice too 2 They came a great way Christ was now in the land of Gennesarct Matth. 14. 34. Mark 6. 53. which was a great way from Jerusalem near a hundred miles as I find by the Map whereby we see what pains wicked men will take to oppose Christ and create trouble to his Disciples and Servants Sect. 5. From all which particulars it is obvious to observe That corrupt Church-men in high places are the old great sticklers for humane inventions and ceremonious observances These great Rabbies of the first magnitude who shone with the greatest outward splendor were the great Engines to withdraw the people from Christ and the chief Supporters and Pillars of their old Mumpsimus customs And so all along None greater Enemies ●…o pure spiritual Gospel-worship than Ceremony-mongers and superstitious Zealots Luther had no sorer opposites out of Ale-houses and Brothel-houses than he had out of Religious Houses as they called them None more dangerously wound Religion than they who before men would seem the most zealous Patrons and Promoters of it It 's often seen that the more learned the more lewd Wickedness is thereby armed with weapons both for Offence and Defence Unsanctified Learning or learned wickedness is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Aristotle speaks It is like a Sword in a mad-mans hand which enables him to cast about sirebrands arrows and death as it is Prov. 26. 18. Hence Philosophers are called by the Fathers Haereticorum Patriarchae the ringleaders and Captains of such as fight against Christ. 2. Sect. 6. The Accused immediately and directly the Disciples Why do thy Disciples transgress c. but secretly and collaterally Christ himself they shoot at him through the others sides and seem to insinuate as if he were to be blamed for teaching 'em no better and suffering 'em to walk so disorderly without reproving 'em for it Thus they dealt also Matth. 9. 14. Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft but thy disciples fast not But I shall insist no further upon this but hasten to that which I chiefly aim at which is the two following Points viz. The Accusation it self and the Defence 3. Sect. 7. The Accusation it self or the Practice or Usage concerning which the Contest and Dispute arose which is In General a Transgression of the Tradition of the Elders or Disobedience to the Injunctions of Authority Particularly Eating with unwashen hands The former relates to the Authority enjoyning The latter is the Practice enjoyned As to the former the General I shall consider 1 Who these Elders were 2 What was a Tradition of the Elders Sect. 8. First Who these Elders were The word Elders in its primary and original sense relates to Age and denotes either such as lived a great while even till they came to be old or such as lived a great while ago those of former times as Deut. 32. 7. Heb. 11. 2. and so 't is the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 5. 21. and thence it 's derived to signifie most commonly both Dignity and Authority and so we find both in Hebrew Greek Latin and English to name no more the words importing Age or Eldership viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Senatus Aldermen do denote both Honour and Power And 1 This sense is very frequent both in the Old and New Testament I shall mention but a few places of the chief as Deut. 22. 15. the Elders of City in the gate the place of Judicature And they are sometimes called Elders of the people i. e. such who had authority over the people as Elders of a City are they that are in power in that City Thus Matth. 26. 3. Then assembled together the chief Priests and Scribes and Elders of the people So c. 27. 1. When the morning was come all the chief Priests and Elders of the people took counsel c. Hence they are commonly joyned with Rulers as 2 King 10. 1. Jehu wrote letters to the Rulers of Jezreel and to the Elders Act. 4. 8. Ye Rulers and Elders of Israel and they are very frequently joyn'd with chief Priests and Scribes and Pharisees and then the distinction that was between them I conceive may be stated thus As they were distinguisht from the Pricsts they seem to be Lay-men as we call 'em and as distinguisht from Scribes they were such as were not brought up wholly in the study of the Law or at least did not make that their Profession but were some of the Nobility and Gentry admitted to be Members of the Sanhedrim as is most evident from these places following Acts 22. 5. The High Priest doth bear me witness with all the estate of the Elders from whom also I received letters unto the brethren and went to Damascus to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem for to be punisht and c. 24. 1. Ananias the High Priest descended with the Elders who informed the Governour against Paul Matth. 26. 59. Now the chief Priests and Elders and all the Council sought false witness against Jesus c. Mark 15. 1. The chief Priests held a consultation with the Elders and Scribes and the Whole Council So that nothing is more clear than that they were Members