Selected quad for the lemma: power_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
power_n	church_n	order_n	presbyter_n	3,469	5	9.9598	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A70969	The reasons presented by the Dissenting Brethren against certain propositions concerning presbyteriall government and the proofs of them voted by the Assembly of Divines, sitting by authority of Parliament, at Westminster : together with the Answer of the Assembly of Divines to those reasons of dissent.	Westminster Assembly; Westminster Assembly (1643-1652). Answer of the Assembly of Divines to the reasons of the Dissenting Brethren.; Westminster Assembly (1643-1652). Papers given in to the Honorable Committee of Lords and Commons.; Westminster Assembly (1643-1652). Dissenting Brethren. Papers and answers of the Dissenting Brethren.	1648 (1648)	Wing R581; Wing P295; ESTC R5818	4,476	12

PAPERS Given in to the HONORABLE COMMITTEE OF LORDS and COMMONS And Assembly of Divines with the Commissioners of Scotland FOR ACCOMMODATION 1644. By a SUB-COMMITTEE of Divines of the Assembly and Dissenting Brethren London Printed Anno Dom. 1648. An Order of the House of Commons for A Committee of Accommodation Septemb. 13. 1644. THat the Committee of Lords and Commons appointed to treat with the Commissioners of Scotland and the Committee of the Assembly Do take into consideration the differences of the opinions of the members of the Assembly in point of Church-government and to indeavour an union if it be possible And in case that cannot be done to indeavour the finding out some way how far tender consciences who cannot in all things submit to the same Rule which shall be established may be borne with according to the Word and as may stand with the publike peace That so the proceedings of the Assembly may not be so much retarded This honourable Committee met according to the Order Septemb. 20. following THe appointment of the Order Being That the differences of opinions of the members of the Assembly in point of Church Government be taken into consideration The honourable Committee appointed a SUB-COMMITTEE of six of the Members of the Assembly Mr Marshall Mr. Hearle Master Vines Dr. Temple Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Nye two of the dissenting brethren To consider of the differences of opinions in the Assembly in point of Church-Government And to bring in what might be matter for that grand Committee to consider of In pursuance of this the said sub-Committee met who stiled themselves the sub-Committee of AGREEMENTS And after the Preface declaring their mutuall confidence to agree in one Confession of Faith and in One Directory of publique worship c. They prepared severall Propositions concerning the Government of particular Congregations and Ordination c. Declaring how farre in practicall principles they did agree therein together with the different practices which each according to their principles desired October 11. 1644. The honourable Committee met againe At which the sub-Committee presented the Propositions they had prepared declaring they had further to bring in concerning Classes and Synods And what might be the way of accommodation for the dissenting brethren to enjoy Congregations amongst us according to their principles All which though they had met many dayes was not as then perfected Therefore the honourable Committee did remit back to the said sub-Committee the Propositions then brought in to be further explained and as much as might to be perfected against the next meeting adjourning that Committee untill Tuesday October 15. When these Propositions that follow were brought in by the sub-Committee as containing both a fuller explication and the best way to accommodate their own and their brethrens principles in a practique way which was the end of that honourable Committee both for Congregations and Synods and the government thereof October 15. 1644. The honourable Committee of Lords Commons Divines of the Assembly with the Scotch-Commissioners met And these Propositions were read by Master Vines who was the Chaire-man of that sub-Committee A Vote was past in the Committee to take them into consideration But that debate was not entred upon because it was the earnest desire of some that the Rule should first be made compleate by the Assembly and the Houses And there was a Cessation put upon the honourable Committee herein by the honourable House of Commons untill their further pleasure Let the Reader take notice that in what particulàrs the dissenting brethren do differ from the Propositions of the rest of the SUB-COMMITTEE or do expresse their desires a part from them there is a differing Character put in the Printing of them for the discerning thereof and that in other things wherein they expresse not any difference or further explanation they agreed to them The PROPOSITIONS were as followeth At the Sub-Committee of Agreements IN confidence that we shall jointly agree in one Confession of Faith and in one Directory of the Publick worship of God with the help of a Preface we come according to our order to points of Government and therein do agree as followeth 1. That a particular congregation having such officers as the word of God holds out both for preaching and governing is a Church that hath power in all Ecclesiasticall affairs which do only concern it selfe 2. That these forementioned officers are to be so many in numb er in every such congregation as that three or two at the least may agree together in every act of government By two at the least we mean preaching or governing officers But some of the Committee do hold that a preaching Presbyter should concurre in the sentence of excommunication and suspension 3. That these officers have power in those things which are voted by the Assembly to be due unto them and in suspension and excommunication Some of the Committee meaning that the major part of the officers have power to do it the congregation not opposing it in which case of opposition they hold fit that the officers do suspend the act Others of the Committee saying that the Major part of the Officers have power to do it if the Major part of the Brethren do consent unto it by their Votes so as the negative lies in the major part either of the Officers or Brethren And as for Ordination we all hōld that where there are two preaching Presbyters at least such a Presbytery may ordaine their own Elders But some of the Committee do further say that where there are two ruling Elders at least they have power of ordaining Elders for that congregation and in case there be no Elders as at the first in Ecclesia constituenda then the choice of Elders by the people with approbation of the neighbouring Ministers with fasting and prayer may suffice 4. That the Elders of the congregation shall advise with the Classis in all cases of Excommunication before they proceed to it and the Classis hath power to heare and determine yet so as the power of the Congregation be not concluded thereby in matter of Excommunication But some of the Committee do say that in whatsoever case they find difficult either in excommunication or in any other administration of their power they shall first advise with some company or Classis of neighbour Ministers as at the end of the foure following Propositions afterwards 5. For the associating of Churches let there be in every County of this Kingdome a certain number of select godly and able Ministers of the word within that County to he are and determine the causes and differences in every congregation within the same and let there be a certain number of select Church-governours assistant unto them the first choyce of these to be made by the Parliament in such a way as they shall determine and such number to have power of election from time to time of any Minister or Church-governour into any

place among them that is void by death or otherwise 6. The Ministers and Ruling-governors of every congregation within that County so associated shall have power to debate and vote in that meeting from time to time in such cases as pertain to that particular congregation except such of them as are complained of or are parties in question 7. A certain number of the aforesaid Ministers and Ruling-governours as do dwell near together in the same Deanery or division of that County and who may with conveniency more frequently meet together shall have power to heare and determine the causes and differences within the severall congregations of that precinct 8. Let Nationall Assemblies of Ministers and others be chosen from time to time according as shal be appointed by the Parliament as the necessity of the Churches affairs shall require To the fifth sixth seventh and eighth the whole Committee doth ascent onely some of them doe desire that the effect of that which hereafter followeth may for explanation sake be inserted viz. That the Elders and Brethren of each Congregation in case they find any thing too hard for themselves or have any controversie among themselves may have liberty to advise with any of those select Elders and others in the Province jointly or apart or with the Elders of any other Churches for the determining and composing the controversie or resolving of that difficulty and in case they cannot be satisfied then to have recourse also to the advice and help of that Classis unto which they appertain to solve and determine it 9 That the members of particular congregations do cohabit and live together within certain bounds and precincts of a parish under preaching and governing Officers unto which so far as it concerns the meer bounding of congregations some of the Committee do desire that these provisions may be added 1. That they may have liberty to dwell in another Parish if the consent of the Minister of that other parish be procured 2. For Countrey villages that the limits be extended to take in from some one parish immediately adjoyning We having weighed our Brethrens Principles do find no probability of accommodation for them ordinarily to enjoy congregations unlesse when it shall happen in a parish that the Minister cannot administer the Sacraments to all in the Parish whom possibly the neighbour Ministers or the Classis may judge fit to be admitted such persons shall have power to procure to themselves the Sacraments either by the help of a neighbour Minister or some other provision be made by a proportionable allowance out of the Tythes of the parish according to the wisedome of the State Whereunto our Brethren adde as followeth Or otherwise if in a parish it happen that there be a considerable number of such as cannot partake in the ordinances with the Minister and people there they shall have liberty to dispose of themselves as a distinct Church and to choose a Minister or Ministers at their own charge to be maintained to be their Pastor If such a liberty shall seem in the wisedome of this honourable Committee to be prejudiciall to the peace of the Church as not to be permitted we humbly desire the doctrinall principles wherein we differ about Church-government may be taken into serious confideration and some other way of accommodation in practice thought upon as shall seem fit to this honourable Committee Concerning Classes and Synods 1. At these meetings let them pray expound scripture resolve difficult cases of conscience and preach the word 2. They may dogmatically declare what the will of Christ is in such cases as are before them And this judgment of theirs ought to be received with reverence and obligation as from an ordinance of Christ Some of the Brethren though assenting yet are bold to adde hereunto that the judgment of any other of those Elders in the province or elsewhere advised with they doe in like manner looke at as the ordinance of Christ and to have the like obligation in them 3. If the doctrine or practise of any particular congregation be erroneous hurtfull or destructive to holinesse or the peace of that or other congregations they are bound to give account thereof to the Classis or Synod Some of the Brethren adde to this That the ground of this obligation to give account to the Classis or Synod is their being offended or their Churches scandalized thereat 4. The Classis or Synod may examine admonish and in case of obstinacy declare against that congregation or any particular member in it as the nature and degree of that offence shall require Some of the Brethren assent to such proceedings as towards a Church offending and scandalizing of them but adde That no such examination admonition in any Classis or Assembly be extended to any particular person in that Church but unto the Church it selfe for not putting forth the power that Christ hath given them for reforming him 5. The Classis or Synod may judge touching any person who deserves excommunication and may charge the severall congregationall Presbyteries whom it concernes to do it 6. We conceive that in case the particular Eldership refuse to doe their duty the Classis may and ought not onely to withdraw communion from them but also when need is exercise the sentence of excommunication themselves Instead of this sixth Proposition some of the Brethren do insert this In case the aforesaid particular Churches and Elderships offending shall refuse to submit to this course that then the Classis or Synod are to acquaint their congregations respectively and so withdraw from them denying Church-Communion and fellowship with them 7. In case of appeale if it appeare to the Classis that the sentence was unjust they may judge that the particular Presbytery ought to reverse it and in case they obstinately refuse to do it the Classis may reverse it Others of the Brethren only say that they are to proceed as in the former Article 8. The Classis or Synod have power to ordaine Ministers for such congregations as have not a sufficient presbytery in them and let all congregations associated first advise with the Classis and take their assistance before they ordain a Minister Some of the Brethren do referre themselves for this to the last clause in the third Proposition delivered in