Selected quad for the lemma: saint_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
saint_n	bishop_n	church_n	deacon_n	1,417	5	10.6336	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41505	A discourse about ceremonies, church-government and liturgy humbly offered to the consideration of the convocation / by J.G.G.	Gailhard, J. (Jean)	1696 (1696)	Wing G120; ESTC R25091	108,929	160

be the better for it or else they would not do it nay they think it to be no Church till it be done for till then there is in it no preaching at least no administring of Sacraments yet both they administer in private Houses Other things there are as churching of Women after the Jewish Way of Purification as we keep a Day about it for the blessed Virgin which God never required at our Hands nor she ever desired but all is our Fancy after the Pattern of Popery there are also the private Communion private Baptism Burial of the Dead at Sea there was also a Form about healing or touching for the King 's Evil a Popish Foppery too but now quite out all which we omit speaking to having things enough besides to discourse upon so we must proceed to a second general Head namely the Discipline of the Church Of Church-Government THUS having spoken of Ceremonies we must now say something of the Government of the Church which is much after that of Rome Triplicat art whitak cap. 9. Hierarch Anachrys lib. 2. pag. 45. in the manner of Hierarcy by Archbishops Bishops Archdeacons Deans and Chapters then Chancellours Commissaries Officials c. These have been the Steps for Popes to ascend upon that Throne of Iniquity which they now sit upon these are of Man's Invention whether or not the Design was good I shall not dispute but certainly it hath proved fatal Staplet and Scalting Two of the great Champions of Rome both highly commend and in it do much approve of our Constitution and Practice Those Offices in the Church which are of God's Institution we have them named in Scripture Eph. 4.11 and 1 Cor. 12.28 God gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers The Apostles were universal Preachers of the Gospel immediately called by Christ who wrought Miracles and were infallible in Doctrine The Prophets did interpret and expound Scriptures by a Divine Light having the Gift of Tongues and of things to come The Evangelists were the Writers of the History of the Gospel inspired of God or else Preachers of the Gospel called by the Apostles and attended on them in their Journeys Pastors also called Bishops that is Overseers were Ministers settled in certain Churches to teach and govern them The Doctors or Teachers were Successors of Prophets whose Office it was to explain Scriptures and vindicate them from the Errours of Hereticks The Apostles instituted Elders or Presbyters for that 's the true Signification of the Word who also are called Bishops though not always some being only to rule the Church others also to preach Men chosen by the Church endued with Gifts and Authority above others who with the Pastors took care of the publick Doctrine administred Ecclesiastical Discipline and in the Churches Name were taken up with the Vocation of Ministers Acts 6. There were also Deacons to take care of the poor to visit the sick to maintain Hospitality and sometimes to preach the Word These are all the Offices in the Church we have in the Word of God for all are reduced under these Heads No Lord Pastour and Ministerial Pastour no Bishop of Bishop or Arch-bishop that is Prince Bishop no Deacon of Deacon or Archdeacon This is contrary to the Rule of Christ so expresly forbidding his Disciples to affect any thing of Dominion or Superiority of one over another and indeed those Offices named in that to the Ephesians are sufficient for the Church as 't is said in the 12th Verse for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ All besides this is of a Humane Superstructure Rectors Curates Vicars c. are Names Things and Limbs of the Roman Church most of the hyerarchical Officers are not for these good Ends. Now Bishops which answer to Watchmen Pastors Ezech. 23.27 and Elders in God's Word are but for one and the same Office We see it clearly out of that place of Scripture where 't is written how St. Paul sent for the Elders of the Church of Ephesus to come to him to Miletus in the Charge he giveth them he saith Act. 20.17 82. Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the Flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God In this Text we have the three Names given to the same Persons those he sent for and speaks to are called Elders God made them Overseers v. 17. for that 's the Sgnification of the Word in the Original and what in other places of Scripture is translated Bishops is here rendered by the Word Overseers though in the Greek the Word be the very same and amongst the Translators was debated whether or not in this Place it should be Englished by the Word Bishop but upon Consideration that it might prejudice the Difference they make between Bishop and Pastor or Elder they made use of the Word Overseer which could not be taken notice of by those that understand no Greek this by the by then these Elders of the Church of Ephesus the Holy Ghost had made Bishops them he charged to seed the Church and do the Office of Pastors so that in the 28th Verse Pastors and Bishops are but one and the same and here by the way I shall make this general Observation how in the Exposition of a Text three things are chiefly to be taken notice of first The true Signification of the Word in the Original secondly The Scope of the Author in the Place Thirdly The Analogy of Faith and Relation to other Places of Scripture The first I have spoken of the second here is a Charge of St. Paul for those Elders to perform their Duty of overseeing and feeding their Flock 1 Pet. 5.1 2. which St. Peter asserts also to be the Duty of Elders whereof he owns himself to be one The third is the Analogy of this Place with others as that which Paul writes to Titus For this cause I lest thee in Greet that thou shouldest ordain Elders in every City Tit. 1.5 6 7. If any be blameless c. for a Bishop must be blameless In the 5 Verse he calls Elders and in the 7. Bishops the same Persons This is the divine Bishop of a divine Institution for as to the Diocesian Bishop 't is but an Humane and Prudential Institution and there is no such thing known in Scripture as it appears out of that Place to the Philippians St. Paul directs the Epistle to all the Saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi Chap. 1.1 with the Bishops and Deacons out of which Place after Jerome we may say that Philippi is one Town in Macedonia and as now Bishops are reckoned there is but one not many of one Town or City but here are Bishops of the plural Number of Philippi therefore the Pastors and Elders of the Place are meaned which also

confirmeth it to be the same Office as we said but just now out of Acts 20. 'T is a thing I here have no mind to discuss Mr. Clarckson of primitive Episcop one having lately done it so well where he clearly shews how Bishops were but Ministers of Parishes as formerly Cardinals were but Priests of Parishes in Rome and to this very Day every Cardinal assoon as he is made hath with that Dignity the Title of one Parish or other in or about Rome What is said of Timothy and Titus being Bishops one of Ephesus the other of Creet is amongst some a vulgar Error grounded upon the Subscriptions of the second Epistle to the former and of the onely Epistle to the later But those do not belong to the Epistles but are Additions to them long after the Time when they had been written they are no Part of those holy Writings as it appeareth out of the Subscription of that to Titus where is a Mistake of the Place which St. Paul could not commit and is confuted out of the 12th Verse of the last Chapter where St. Paul desires him to be diligent to come to him to Nicopolis for I have determined there to winter if the Epistle had been written from Nicopolis as 't is said in the Subscription he would have said I determined here to winter as of a Place where he was and not there as of a Place where he was not at that Time when the Epistle was written The Truth is both Timothy and Titus were Evangelists who went with him in his Journeys and when he had formed a Church he left one to set things in order whilest he was gone to preach the Gospel in some other Place as to Timothy 't is clear when he exhorteth him to do the Work of an Evangelist 2 Tim. 4.5 therefore in his Epistles to them he chargeth exhorteth and doth direct them how to carry on the Work he had set them upon during his Absence and then come to him when and where he appointed them Here I shall not enter into a long Discussion only in few Words shall say how after holy Scripture the antient orthodox Doctors as Austin Jerome Ambrose and some of the Papists as Hugo Cardinal Anselm Lumbard Cusan Johan Parisens and others whose Words upon occasion we can produce hold the Distinction between Diocesian Bishops and other Ministers Elders or Pastors not to be jure divino but only jure positivo or Humane Right hence all Ministers by Decrees of ancient Councils ought to have Voices both deliberative and decisive in Councils as Gratian Duraren Gentilet exam Cone Trid. Pag. 216. and Gentiles do declare this last alledging the Councils of Nice Calcedon and Carthage and others Hierom's Words are well known and very remarkable In Tit. 1. Idem est ergo presbiter qui Episcopus Episcopi noverint se magis consuerudine quam c. The Elder is therefore the same as the Bishop and before there were in the Church Divisions through the Devil's Instigation and some said I am of Paul others I am of Apollo and others I am of Cephas Churches were governed by the common Consent of the Elders If any one thinks it is only our Opinion and not of Scripture that the Bishops and Elders are but one and the same and that one is a Name of Age the other of Office let him but read the Apostle's Words to the Philippians Paul and Timotheus the Servants of Jesus Christ to all the Saints which are in Philippi with the Bishops and Deacons Let the Bishops know that they are greater than the Elders more by Custom than by the Lord's Institution and that in common they ought to govern the Church And to Evagrius so upon these Matters Cyprian is to be consulted who declares how from the Beginning of his being made Bishop he resolved to do nothing without the Advice of the Elders and the Consent of the People Every Plant saith our blessed Saviour which my Heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up Matth. 15.13 to be understood not only of Persons but also of Doctrines but now we speak of Persons The Lord Jesus declareth by himself how every true Commission must come from the same Hand I am come in my Father's Name John 5.43 and when he gives his Disciples their Commission he mentions by Vertue of what thus as my Father hath sent me so do I send you John 20.21 The Commission is originally from the Father and by the Son to the Disciples thence derivatively to others any other Commission is wrong so void and null This same Commission gives an equal Power to all and is of the same Extent for one as for the other wherefore let Prelates shew their Commission of Authority over their Fellow-ministers sure we are their Commission is not for but against it Luke 22.25 26. If they pretend to any other we say 't is not right but null and is insignificant Nothing of that Lording Office in the Place where ordinary and extraordinary Offices of God's Appointment are named Eph. 4.11 A poor Woman can say that when the Messiah cometh which is called Christ he will tell us all things John 4.25 yet he never spake of such Offices of Superiority as Lords Bishops Archbishops c. He is our Lord and Master yet gives us a wonderful Example of Humility John 13.13 14 15. elsewhere he bids us to learn of him but what To domineer over others or to be high above Fellow-servants or to assume Names or things of Superiority no such thing but Meekness of Humility for I am meek and lowly of Heart Matth. 11.29 Wherefore let Prelates be satisfied with the Rank which civil Authority hath given them as to an outward Respect but not to stretch out their Commission beyond Bounds lest they give cause to renew the Complaint of King Frederigo of Spain An. 1300. Episcopi Ceremonias c. As for Ceremonies saith he and such things as do serve to the advancing of the vain Glory of the Prelacy the Bishops take solemn Care for the promoting of these but of the Government of Souls and their eternal Salvation they are the very Plagues c. But we must leave off the Discourse about Diocesian Bishops and shall not meddle with it any further However let them not wholly engross to themselves all Jurisdiction and Ordination the whole Ecclesiastical Power and the sole Right of Ordination whereof the laying on of Hands which is an essential Part of it is called the laying on of the Hands of the Presbitery 1 Tim. 4.14 which is a collective Body not of one but of many so that for a Bishop wholly to arrogate it to himself is a great Abuse so 't is though one or two more be called if it be done pro formâ and for Fashion sake which is an owning that that thing ought really to be so though it be otherwise like one who is made to sign a