Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	church_n	true_a	visible_a	7,129	5	9.3865	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87828	Seven questions about the controversie betweene the Church of England, and the Separatists and Anabaptists, breifely [sic] discussed. 1. Whether is the Church of England as it now stands a true church? 2. Whether the Church of England be a right nationall church? 3. Whether are the ministers in the Church of England sent of God, and so are true ministers or not? 4. Whether is the baptisme of infants a true and lawfull baptisme or no? 5. Whether it be lawfull to be rebaptized or not? 6. Whether it is lawfull to separate from all the publike ordinances and Christian assemblies in our English church, because there are some defects in discipline, and in other things amongst us? 7. Whether is it necessarie to demolish our churches (steeple-houses as the Separatists call them,) and to build them in other places, because they were built by idolators for idolatrous worship, were abused with images, and dedicated to saints? By Immanuel Knutton, preacher of Gods word at Beeston in Nottingham shire [sic].	Knutton, Immanuel, d. 1655.	1645 (1645)	Wing K744; Thomason E25_20; ESTC R4217	31,540	40

as the Church of Corinth was in which was wanting the execution of spirituall Discipline more horrible abuses of the ordinances then in England yet Paul writes to it as to a true Church 1 Cor. 11.17 18 19 20 21 22 30. So the Churches of Galatia maintained justification by workes which we account a damnable heresie in the Romish Church at this day yet Paul called them Churches though this heresie be worse then the want of compleat Discipline and other Ceremonies in our Churches Also there wanted true Discipline amongst the Israelites and was more prophane abuses of Gods worship then is amongst us yet wee account them to have beene a true Church 1 Sam. 2.16 17 22 29. Reas 3 Because this Church of England was rightly called and constituted at the first by the preaching of the word and gratious Lawes of the Magistrate Object But it should have beene gathered onely by the word taught not by constraint from the Magistrate Ans Constraint it selfe may justly have place in the lawfull constitution or reformation of a Church witnesse 2 Chron. 33.16 2 Chron. 34.32 33. 2 Chron. 15.8 9 10 11 12 13. Magistrates may compell Infidells to here the word 2 Chron. 30. They are keepers of both tables they must abolish Idolatry and prophainnesse by command from the word and they have as good ground to cause people to attend the publike Ordinances Ob. But to beleeve is a voluntary act and must not be inforced Psal 110.3 Ans True God must sweetly and effectually perswade people to beleeve and bend their wills by his spirit the Magistrate must not compell any man to beleeve but he must compell them to attend the meanes of grace and to leave their wickednesse Luke 14.23 The guests must be compelled to come in though not to eate when they are come Compelled not by perswasions for these were the first invitations therefore by further meanes So then both Word and Sword was effectuall through Gods blessing to gather a Church in this Iland the Gospel was worthily taught in King Edwards dayes which brought 300. Martires in Queen Maries daies to the Stake and many godly professors to the succeeding times in Queene Elizabeths dayes there was great confluence of zealous Professors who spread the Gospel over the land and drew flockes of hearers to them then came a Christian Edict from the State that every man should yeeld obedience to this truth wherein they had been thus instructed it was performed by the most whose submission was an actuall profession of their faith and repentance Reas 4 Because We all in this land have entered into Covenant with God in Baptisme to serve and honour him all our dayes our Baptisme ties us as strictly to Gods service as Circumcision tied the Jewes and that our Baptisme is a right Baptisme you shall heare proved afterwards Ob. But the Church is a company of men and women called as Doctor Ames describes it now in England the most people are uncalled prophaine c. Ans There is a double calling externall and internall so the Church is either visible or invisible now many are outwardly called by the sweet invitations of the Gospel God calleth all sorts of men and men of all sorts but his inward and effectuall calling and the election of grace is but of few which is the meaning of that Mat. 22.14 Many are outwardly called to be Members of the Church visible entered thereinto by Baptisme made partakers outwardly of the word and Sacraments but few of these belong either to Gods eternall Election or are effectually called and chosen to be Members of the Church invisible So John 15 2. We are in Christ two wayes 1. By externall profession frequenting the Ordinances having a forme of godlinesse but c. these are Members of the Church visible 2. By reall implantation and these are the true spiritual Members of Christ both these our Church hath the common sort are outwardly called by the word initiated by baptisme and have a forme of Religion and are outward Members of the Church visible as truely as such were in the Jewish Church and as Judas was in Christs family and as Hypocrites are Members of any reformed Church for Hypocrites are worse then the openly prophaine Reas 5 Because This Church hath a godly and learned preaching Ministry sent of God as you shall here proved afterward and a faithfull heavenly people as any that live upon earth the Ministers are builders and the other Gods building 1 Cor. 3.9 Yet in that Church were horrible crimes incest maintained 1 Cor. 5.1.2 Some of them denied the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.12 Though we have many dumbe dogs and wicked people yet the Church receives its denomination from the better part not from the major part as an heape of wheate having much chaffe in it QVEST. II. Whether the Church of England be a right Nationall Church Answer I Affirme it is as true a nationall Church as the Jewish Church was Reas Because this Church liveth by one Law Ecclesiasticall and Civill it continues one body and every Congregation is a Member of it as amongst the Jewes they had their severall Synagogues our Church hath the Sacrament of baptisme for imitation as the Jewes had circumcision Object But wee read of no Nationall Church in the New Testament therefore there is no Nationall Church now a dayes Ans 1. If this Argument were valid to prove that there is no Nationall Church now then it may as well prove there was no Church at all before Christs comming for we cannot find the word Church in all the Old Testament God indeed called the Jewes his portion inheritance chosen people c. but never Church 2. But I add further that no Nationall Church is mentioned in the New Testament Because there was no such during the abode of Christ and his Apostles upon Earth but only particular Churches gathered by the Apostles preaching amongst the Heathen there was no King nor Potentate that imbraced the Christian Faith for 300. yeares till Constantine the great Emperour of Rome who did most zealously receive countenance and promote the progresse of the Gospel and encouraged the Ministers of it exceedingly 3. If the judgement of Mr. Brightman and some other learned Divines upon the Revelation be Orthodox and sound which I question not then Nationall Churches are spoken of and prefigured by those seven Asian Churches whom that Eagle-eyed Expositour lookt upon as Types of succeeding Churches and those Churches whom they set out to be the Counterpaine as Sardis set out the Church of Germany Laodicea our English Church Philadelphia set out the Churches of France Helvetia Suevia Geneva Holland Scotland because they live by one and the same forme of Ecclesiasticall Government and so of the rest 4. Lastly In the Old Testament are divers illustrious prophecies of Nationall Church of the Jewes when God shall convert them and bring them backe to and settle them in their owne Kingdome for the

lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world Verse 4 Then said Paul John verily baptized with the baptisme of repentance saying unto the people that they should beleeve on him which should come after him that is on Christ Jesus Paraph. Then said Paul Iohn verily as the outward Minister of Baptisme baptized you with water to the remission of sinnes together with his baptisme teaching the people that they should beleeve in that Jesus Christ which should come after him so as his baptisme was true and perfect yet such as was not accompanied attended with these miraculous gifts which now since the full glorification of Christ are bestowed upon men Verse 5 When they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Iesus Paraph. Whiles therefore Iohn taught them thus and made this holy comentary upon his said baptisme they that heard it in receiving his baptisme were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Verse 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them the holy Ghost came on them and they spake with tongues and prophesied Paraph. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them as having before beene fully and duely baptized the Holy Ghost came downe upon them in miraculous gifts and they spake with tongues and prophesied So that here is no ground for rebaptization in this place these twelve doubtlesse had received the Holy Ghost though not in that miraculous and extraordinary manner as they did after for Paul in his question saith they beleeved now to beleeve is a fruit of the Spirit Therefore the Separatists doe very ill oposing our Baptizing of Infants for in Scripture we finde no examples wherein Infants of Christian Parents were denyed baptisme but examples we find wherein they had it conferred upon them 1 Cor. 10.2 as I proved before and Lydia with all her houshould was baptized likewise wee finde no negative precept inhibiting paedobaptisme neither can it bee proved truely that Christs command Teach and Baptize c. doth exclude infants from baptisme now if their bee neither example nor precept against paedobaptisme then such as oppose it doe ill for they follow those pestilent hereticks called Annabaptists in Germany who sprung up there when the light of the Gospel first began to shine not very long since about Luthers time this their opinion being but new and upstart there is good reason they should disclaime it and be humbled for it QVEST. VI. Whether is it lawfull to separate from all the publike Ordinances and Christian assemblies in our English Church because there are some defects in Discipline and in other things amongst us Ans I Conceive it is absolutely unlawfull to relinquish Gods holy Ordinances and the Assemblies of godly Christians in this Church of England because of our mixt congregations and because of some defects in our Discipline Reas 1 Because Jesus Christ leaves us not for our defects and weakenesses but continues with us and I hope will doe for ever It appeares Christ dwells amongst us because hee hath setled his sacred word amongst us sent us many godly and learned teachers and where these are teaching the truth there is Christ Mat. 28.20 Also he hath planted his Sacraments in our Church he hath converted many soules in our land to himself by the faithfull dispensation of his Ordinances but where all this is there Christ is resident Exod. 20.24 such a Church is the spouse of Christ and whilst she holds the foundation of Religion retaining the substantiall grounds of it agreable to the analogie of faith she is spoused to Christ but if shee reject the foundation of religion she is an harlot as the Church of Rome is Revelat. 2. there Christ walkes amongst the seven golden candlestickes viz. Those seven Churches of Asia yet some of them had great defects Now till Christ leaves us it is unlawfull for them to leave us and account our Church an harlot such as do thus do through the sides of our Church wound Christ strike at him and dishonour him Luke 10.16 Reas 2 Because in separating from our Assemblies and Ordinances you prevent the exercise of many an holy duty which you might ought to have performed amongst us Heb. 10. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love good workes but some might aske how must we performe this duty he answers verse 25. not forsaking the Assembling of our selves together c. here the Apostles impugneth the supercidiousnesse of the selfe conceited Jewes who out of contempt of the Gentiles deserted the Christian Assemblies as if he had said notwithdrawing and utterly separating our selves from the assemblies of Gods people upon conceit of the peculiar rights prerogatives which God hath given the Jewes above the Gentiles and standing upon the high tearmes of difference as the manner of some is c. Reas 3 Because its the high way to the sinne against the Ghost as is very cleare Heb. 10.25.26 for such as despise and desert our Christian Assemblies and Gods holy ordinances amongst us for some defects and imperfections which doe not alienate Christ his presence love from us are in the ready way to fall to blaspheme the truth and to sinne unpardonable Mr. Paget of Amsterdam in his preface to his booke called An arrow against the Separation of the Brownists complaines of them thus It is apparent that three or foure hundred of the Brownists have brought forth more Apostate Anabaptists and Arrians sometimes in one yeare then 10000 members of the reformed Dutch Church in this City have done in ten yeares or more though tempted and compassed about with seducers as much as any other Now the Arrian heresie is fearefull and odious in the yeare 324 sprang up Arrins a Presbyter in Alexandria who denyed that the Sonne of God was begotten of the substance of the Father but said that he was a creature and that there was a time wherein the Sonne was not The Anabaptists taught that infants should not bee baptized untill they came to perfect age and can give a confession of their owne faith Next that Christ tooke not flesh and blood of the Virgin but brought it from heaven Next that God not onely revealeth his will by the written word but also by visions and dreames Next that that Church is not a true Church wherein there is any Spot or wrinckle Next that the Office of Magistrates under the New Testament is not a calling approved of God Thomas Muntzerus one of the first Fathers of this Sect made a great insurrection though the Anabaptists teach that warres are unlawfull for Christians but was overcome and beheaded in the yeare 1533. Iohannes Leidensis troubled the City of Munster but was taken and condemned to death he called himselfe King of new Ierusalem David Georgius an Anabaptist in Holland said that he was Christ the Messias and Saviour of the world Thus wee see when men disdaine the Assemblies of Saints for some defects God leaves them to