Selected quad for the lemma: rest_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
rest_n	bishop_n	church_n	presbyter_n	2,348	5	10.4986	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51052	The case of the accommodation lately proposed by the Bishop of Dumblane to the non-conforming ministers examined wherein also the antient Prostasia, or, Episcopus Præses is considered, and the Solemne League and Covenant occasionally vindicat : together with a copy of the two letters herein reviewed : vvhereunto also is subjoined an appendix in ansvver to a narrative of the issue of the treaty anent accommodation.	McWard, Robert, 1633?-1687.	1671 (1671)	Wing M231; ESTC R5121	109,669	138

obligation and in that seem invincibly perswaded● it is very pertinent if true to declare the consistencie of the present government even with that obligation 'T is answered these insinuations of irregularity and violence being only general without so much as a condescendencie let be any verification I might very justly neglect them but being made by a person who after being eye witnes to the courses which he reproacheth did both take the Covenant himself and administrat it to others and now notwithstanding that all the cavillations and objections of adversaries have been answered without reply hath under his hand renounced it I can not pas●e them without ●ome admiration of such inconscionable insolence of which ● do hereby defye the Author to acquit himself by any rational and probable instance● we ●ave indeed heard the proud calumnies of prevailing Adversaries but seing these are certain truths viz. ● That this Landbeing in the beginning lawfully ingaged in the National Covenant did upon the occasion of the ensuing and growing defections and novations very justly both renew and explaine their ingagements and also censure such who by refusing their assent did evidently declare their apostasie 2. That not only the communion of Saints but the very force of that obligement of constant defence and adherence contained in the National did so constrain us to make the League and Covenant as the visibly neces●ary mean for that end and without which conjunction the prelatick partie in England which had twice from thence perfidiously attac●qued us prevailing there had in all probabilitie overwhelmed us that the refusal of this second Covenant by any who had taken the first could not but be construed a breach thereof and expose them to condigne punishment 3. That the countenance and confirmation of Authority being demanded and unjustly refused to that for preservation and maintenance whereof Government it self was set up can not in reason make the deed so done for want thereof unlawful And 4. That the sufferings of recusants in our former times were either for the merit or number of the delinquents very small and inconsiderable and have been by the renversings and persecution● of these la●e times so many degrees exceeded that it is ashame for any person of ingenuity by accusing the past and owning the present to shew such partialitie These I say being certain truths and so fully held out by several writings on our side it is impossible but the same being duely perpended all the vapour of this smoak must instantly evanish But in the next place comes the Authors kindnesse and charitie to relieve such who labour under an apprehended inconsistencie of these their Oaths with this fixed Presidencie in prosecution hereof he sayeth That if men would have the patience to inquire this our Episcopacie will be found not to be the same with that abjured for that is the government of Bishops absolutly by themselves and their Delegates Chancellours Archdeacons c. As it is expressed in the Article was on purpose expressed ●o difference that frame from other forms of Episcopacie particularly from that which is exercised by Bishops joyntly with Presbyters in Presbyteries and Synods which is now used in this Church And here I might again take notice of the grossness of this mistake supposing our present Church-government because forsooth it is not exercised by Chancellours Archdeacons and the rest expressed in the second Article of the Covenant therefore not to be that which was abjured but a distinct from managed by Bishops joyntly with Presbyters● whereas it is evident as the Sun-light that our Parliament did not only in preparation to the late change make void the obligation of our Covenants and all the Acts and Authority of former Parliaments whereby Episcopacie had been abrogate But also restore and redintegrat the estate of Bishops to a more full injoyment of Church power and prerogatives then formerly was granted unto them yea unto the sole possession and exercise thereof under his Majesty above all that their Predecessors did ever acclaim As both from the Act of Restitution and the consequent practices of our Bishops I have already plainly evinced that so it is beyond all controversie that the same Episcopacy abjured what ever it was was by our late Parliament again restored But Secondly admi●ting that our present frame were in esse such as it is represented or at least by the proposal of Accommodation offered As the mistake or rather wilfull error of this passage doth borrow its colour and pre●ext from the second Article of the Covenant obliging us to the extirpation of Poperie and Prelacie that is to say c. according to the description there set down so the thing obvious to be observed for clearing thereof is that in order to our case in Scotland it is not the obligation of this second Article to extirpate that we are principally and in the first place to regard but it is the positive ingagement of the first binding as to Scotland to preserve and as to England and Ireland to reforme that is in a manner the key of the whole in as much as by the Church of Scotland and to endeavour the se●lement of the Church of England the second Article is manifestly subjoined by way of execution viz. that for attaining the ends of the first we should endeavour the extirpation of all things therein either generally or specially enumerat which two Articles the one to preserve the then constitution of our Church with so great contendings lately reformed from this corruption amongst others of the Bishops their constant Moderatiship and the othe● to extirpate every thing found to be contrary to sound doctrine and the Power of Godlinesse as Episcopacy in all its degrees had been by our Church declared to be doth certainly make up an obligation most directly opposite to and inconsistent with this Presidencie re-obtruded Thirdly If thir luk-warm Conciliators were as mindful to pay their vows to the most High as they are bold to devour that which is holy and after vows to make inquiry in place of this impertinent wresting and misapplication of these obligements in the League and Covenant which do more properly concerne the at-that-time-unsetled Estate of England and Ireland then the established condition of the Church of Scotland as we shall immediatly hear they would rather consider their own and our obligations by the National Covenant and how in that day of our distresse and wrestlings from under the yoke of Prelacie we swore unto the Lord to defend that Reformation whereunto we attained and constantly to reject and labour against all these Novations and corruptions from which we were then delivered Under which Head of Novations and Corruptions I am assured that every considerat person will so easily perceive this Presidencie and Moderatorship o● Bishops to have been abjured that he will almost as much wonder at the heedlesse expositions of our Adversaries put upon these Covenants as pity the sin of their

more allow the Angels representing the Pastors then the Stars signifying the same thing nay or the Candlesticks the Churches to be taken for single persons But for further clearing of all these and like objections I referr the Reader to the many Authors by whom these things are more fully handled These grounds then being all undoubtedl● Scriptural with what confidence can it be demanded where doth the Scripture hold out a paritie among Ministers Or how can it be affirmed that the Episcopus Praeses contended for specially with his necessary presence in Ordination as we will afterwards hear is not contrary but agreeable to the word of God By all which it appears that as our Presbyterian paritie is plainly warranted both by general Gospel-rules and very expresse instances contained in Scripture So the apparent lawfulness of any other form of mans devising can be no justification thereof But it is objected If this ground be rejected how will we maintain or where will we finde an expresse command or rule for our own model of Kirk-sessions Presbyteries Syonds Provincial and National with a Commission of the Kirk in their several dependencies and subordinations and the changing of the moderator in these meetings excepting that only of the Kirk-sessions wherein the Minister doth constantly moderat for without this expresse Kule a Bishop or fixed President may very well consist with that frame which we conten● for And it is really and actually so at this present in this Church In answering this objection I must begin with its latter part which is so directly contradicted by the present constitution both in its legal establishment and known exercise as I have already proven that I marvel how it could escape any person of ordinary understanding As for the main thing objected having from the Scripture asserted the warrant of our parity its difficulty is easily satisfied for seeing that by Divine institution the Church is erected into one Society and officers in an equal parity for its oversight and Government thereto appointed And seeing that in every concession the things natural and proper to what is conceded must be understood to be therein imported the libertie and power of common counsel together with the subordination of the parts to the whole do thence necessarily result The premisses of which argument being so consistently composed of Scripture and reason thereon dependent I need not here enlarge in any explication Sure I am he who duely perpendeth these uncontrovertible Scripture-truths That the Church is gathered into one body that the Apostles together the Pastors and Elders together are incharged with its oversight and rule that the Spirit of the Prophets is subject unto the Prophets and that where two or three are gathered together in the Lords Name there he is in the midst of them It is impossible he should remain doubtful of the Divine warrant and authority of our meetings Conforme to which truths and principles we not only finde in the Acts of the Apostles the Church governed by common counsel but the same Meetings and Councels inspired and directed by that humilitie love and harmonie that no more then a chair man for the time no sixed moderator can therein be discerned If these grounds were not both solidly and evidently conclusive of all necessarie for me to prove I might easily without either worming or straining as our moderatists phrase it adduce and make out from Scripture precedents more exactly correspondent to our formes But seeing the right and Priviledge of common Counsel for Government in order both to the whole and certain of the parts● is by Scripture-practi●e obviously held forth its extension to all the parts and their ●ubordination to the whole doth so naturally and necessarily ●ollow tha● I judge it superfluous to engadge my self further into our adversaries scrupulous quiblings Now as for the Commission of the Kirk whereof Scripture warrant is also required seeing we do not hold it to be an ordinarie Church-judicatorie but do only regard it as a delegation from the preceeding National-assembly elicit by extraordinary exigences and precisely accountable to the next ensuing It s right is so certainly parallel to that of every Committee appointed by any meeting for dispatch that unlesse it were alledged that this power of commissionating is by Scripture inhibite it must of necessity be understood to be founded in the same warrant with the Assemblies from which it doth flow receive its con●irmation I contend not but our observance in practice might have had its own failings in this point but seeing the excesse in this matter if any was did probably flow from the mistake of a suppo●sed expediencie the evidence of its warrant and right use by such and error in fact cannot at all be impugned But the ministers their being constantly moderators in Kirk-sessions among the Elders joyned with them for Discipline is that wich our adversaries do urge as a great advantage for proving the lawfulness of the fixed Moderator in Presbyteries and Synods and our inconsequence in denying the same In the fond conceit of which argument it hath been and is so frequently by them inculcat that here is a Presbyter having a fixed presidencie among presbyters that I am sure it may ●ustly nauseat or move to laughter any indifferent observer To begin therefore with this childish emphasis taken from the terme Presbyter and the calling of the minister and parochial-elders both of them presbyters such indeed they are but seeing the scripture doth warrant the office of our Ruling Elder also attributeth several other names to Ministers agreeable to the main labour and to these Parochial Elders only that of Presbyters or Elders and yet on the other hand the classical Assemblies principally consisting of Ministers are commonly called Presbyteries If use for distinction hath appropriat to these Parochial-elders the name of Elders rather then that of Presbyters what folly is it to think that a contrary usurpation of names can be of any import or wherefore do not our adversaries if they have such a complaisance for these conceits tell us further what a qstrange thing it is to see a Presbyterie for so a Kirck-session may well be termed consisting only of one Minister and all the rest Laiks as they speak and withal reflect upon these more pungent retorsions nearer Home viz. that in their way a Bishop pretends to a-Superiority or presidencie over many Bishops and a single Presbyter must have the preheminence over his Fellow-presbyters But leaving these fopperies and taking words according to the determination of custome in such cases in answer to what is material in the objection I say 1. That where there are two Ministers in a parish they moderat in the Session by turnes 2 Where the Session doth consist of one Minister both a preaing and a ruling Elder and the other Elders of the Congregation who are but his helpers in discipline his different quality with the double honour allowed to him by the