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	paul_n	timothy_n	1,948	5	11.2588	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57068	The tabernacle of God with men, or, The visible church reformed a discourse of the matter and discipline of the visible church, tending to reformation / by Richard Resbury ...	Resbury, Richard, 1607-1674.	1649 (1649)	Wing R1136A; ESTC R32282	56,135	82

had for ordaining some among them to be their Ministers it were not worth the having but withall it being impossible to be had the call and confirmation of the Church is sufficient as Beza pleads for the first Reformers in Acts 14.23 But further for clearing this scruple we lay down CHAP. VIII The sixth Instruction That Bishops in office above Presbyters are no Church-officers of divine institution it is pleaded by Jerome from Scripture and the highest Gospel-antiquity THere is a Divine Bishop one and the same with a Presbyter or a Pastor or Teacher of a Congregation and Elder labouring in the Word and Doctrine there is an humane Bishop one that pleads his office to be above the Presbyters or Pastors office and two things he challengeth above the Presbyter 1. Power of Ordination 2. Power of Jurisdiction Jerome a learned Father famous about 390 yeeres after Christ in his Epistle to Evagrius and in his Commentary upon the Epistle to Titus speaks clearly to this question both from Scripture and from the first Gospel antiquity I have therefore thought fit to translate that Epistle and thence to observe his Arguments from Scripture as likewise what he produceth from antiquity that we might at once give double light to this question knowing well that where antiquity is used against the Scripture it is nothing worth but whereit stands fair with the Scripture it may be a secondary confirmation of the true meaning of Scripture to the impartial enquiter after truth and an argument fully in force against the adversary pretending antiquity for his Error This Epistle is directed against a certaine person who would have a Deacon to be above a Presbyter against whom thus Jerome We read in Isaiah the fool will speak folly I hear of one who hath broken forth into so great folly that he would prefer Deacons before Presbyters that is before Bishops For when the Apostle teacheth clearly that Presbyters are the same with Bishops who may endure that the servant of tables and widowes should lift up himselfe swollen above them by whose prayers the body and blood of Christ is consecrate Seekest thou authority Heare the Testimony Paul and Timothy Phil. 1. the Servants of Jesus Christ to all the Saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi with the Bishops and Deacons Acts 20. Wilt thou another example In the Acts of the Apostles thus Paul writes to the Ministers Sacerdotes of one Church Take heed to your selves and to the whole flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you Bishops for it is the same word here that every otherwhere is translated Bishops that yee might rule the Church of the Lord so he reads it which he hath purchased with his owne blood And that no man may contentiously wrangle that there were many Bishops in one Church hear yet another testimony by which it is most manifestly proved Tit. 1. that a Bishop and Presbyter are one and the same For this end I left thee in Creet that thou mightest redresse the things that were wanting that thou mighest appoint Presbyters in every City as I have also commanded thee If any man be without blame the husband of one wife have faithful children 1 Tim. 4. not accused of riot or disobedient for it behooves a Bishop to be without blame as the Steward of God And to Timothy Neglect not the grace which is in thee which was given thee by prophecy with the laying on of hands of the Presbytery But Peter likewise in his first Epistle saith 1 Pet. 5. The Elders or Presbyters which are among you I intreat who am your fellow-Elder and a witnesse of the suffrings of Christ and also a partaker of glory to come which is to be revealed that yee rule the flock of Christ and oversee it not of necessity but willingly according to God which in the Greek is more significantly exprest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishoping that is overseeing them from whence the name of Bishop is drawne Do the testimonies of these so great men seem small to thee let the Gospel-trumpet sound the Son of thunder whom Jesus loved so much who drunk the flowing streams of doctrine out of his Saviours breast The Presbyter to the elect Lady and to her children whom I love in the truth And in another Epistle The Presbyter to the wel-beloved Caius whom I love in the truth Hitherto Ierome Here we have both clearly affirmed and strongly confirmed that a Bishop in office above a Presbyter is no where to be found in Scripture but Bishop and Presbyter are two names of one and the same office so that whatsoever belongs to any Bishop by vertue of his office the same belongs to every Presbyter as he is a Presbyter For clearing both his affirmation and confirmation we must observe that in his time the custome of the Church had obtained that some were single Presbyters others so Presbyters as withall Bishops challenging above single Presbyters the Power of Ordination at the least themselves likewise ordained not by single Presbyters as they called them but by Bishops and it is pleaded by the Advocates of Episcopacy at this day that the Apostles before their death ordained severall Bishops in office above Presbyters as formerly we laid down over the Churches in severall cities and these Bishops in continuall succession ordained others neither can a Bishop be ordained by Presbyters nor a presbyter without a Bishop at least ordinarily Against this Jerome pleads taxing the great errour of them that would preferre a Deacon to a Presbyter That it is all one to preferre him to a Bishop for according to Scripture the one is neither greater nor lesse then the other neither is there any such distinction of single Presbyter from the Bishop but they are one and the same and this he saith the Apostle teacheth clearly and having affirmed this he proves it by many Arguments 1. From the granted operation belonging to the Presbyters office as such and therefore to every Presbyter which is to consecrate the body and bloud of Christ Where is the highest officiall operation there is the highest office but in the hands of every Presbyter is the highest officiall operation for we may not thinke that either imposition of hands in Ordination or passing sentence in excommunication are acts of higher nature then consecrating the elements in the Supper and this belongs to every Presbyter by vertue of his office therefore in the hands of every Presbyter is the highest office The like Argument we have 1 Tim. 5.17 Those acts which are most worthy of honour are the highest but such is labouring in the word and doctrine belonging to every minister of the word compared with ruling challenged by the Bishop 2. Argument from the two first testimonies Phil. 1.1 and Acts 20. Of Bishops above Presbyters there is but one belongs to a city But here are many to one city to Philippi to Ephesus and these were one and the same

THE Tabernacle OF GOD with MEN OR The Visible Church Reformed A Discourse of the Matter and Discipline of the Visible Church tending to REFORMATION By Richard Resbury Minister of the Word in Oundle in Northamptonshire London Printed in the yeare 1649. The Preface to the Reader Reader THere are many interests in this active age contended for the Soveraign interest the Kings Prerogative the State interest the Priviledges of Parliament the popular interest the Subjects Liberty there is one above all these to be heeded the interest of the Church as more excellent those civil this spiritual those the interests of men as men in their severall stations this the interest of the Saints as Saints those making for a politicall this for a spirituall those for a momentany this for eternall happinesse this the interest of Christ himselfe who is head of his Church aswell according to her visible and ministeriall as her invisible and saving state and therfore he alone it is who appoints her officers administrations lawes priviledges liberties in the grand charter of his word none of which may the highest upon earth without crimen laesae Majestatis attempt against the Crown of Christ to violate Neither is this onely excellent above the rest but most advantageous to them It is not onely the piety but the true policy of Kings Parliaments and people to give due heed to the setling of this which setled truly settles all theirs surely and beautifully Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed yee Judges of the earth Kisse the Son Nay the obtaining of the kingdome of Christ in the world in all its claims shall renew the face of the whole Creation and make a new heaven and a new earth It hath been my endeavour in the integrity of my heart so far as I have obtained mercy to discern that deceitful piece to enquire into the true state and order of the visible Church of Christ and if I may to bring something if but a little Goats haire towards the setting up of the Sanctuary One thing I have labour'd I hope not unuseful to bring down the enquiry particularly to our condition in this Nation that we might distinctly consider what after so many engagements to the Lord by his great works for us by our solemn Covenant with him lies upon us to practise No more Only I have if thou beest faithfull thy prayers if ingenuous thine indulgence where thou shalt finde slips Thine in the service of the Gospel RIC. RESBURY The Heads of this ensuing Discourse are these eight Propositions or Instructions following I. THe true matter of the visible Church is visible Saints onely II. Discipline is an Ordinance of Christ for ordering the visible Church in her several Congregations III. To the people of the Church it belongs by Divine right to chuse their officers IV. Christ hath committed the power of Discipline not to the Officers alone but to the Church that is to the Officers with the brotherhood V. There is a Church-power formally distinct from the Civil VI. That Bishops in office above Presbyters are no Church officers of divine institution it is pleaded by Jerome from Scripture and the highest Gospel-antiquity VII To a particular Congregation of visible Saints furnished with Officers it belongs to exercise all parts of Discipline within it selfe VIII To a Congregation of visible Saints not yet possest of Officers it belongs to possesse themselves of them The Tabernacle of God with Men. OR The Visible Church Reformed CHAP. I. The first Instruction The true Matter of the Visible Church is visible Saints onely BY visible Saints we understand with Bucer those in whose conversation the necessary Signes of regeneration appear For clearing this 1. We do not mean that the regeneration of the Person can be certainly concluded from such a conversation as we here require because the heart within may not be answerable therefore an hypocrite not discerned may be the true matter of the visible Church 2. But our meaning is that the conversation must be such as if the heart be answerable it is certaine the Person is regenerate To cleare this further by instance Not only such as are commonly granted scandalous are here shut out in whose conversation as sin reignes so in their heart for ought that may appeare at the least but such also as we commonly call meerly civill honest men because though their hearts be answerable to their conversation yer are they strangers to regeneration the Proposition thus cleared we come to Arguments to confirme it 1. To be visibly of the Church is to be visibly Abrahams seed to be visibly Abrahams seed is to be visibly of his faith and to be visibly Christ's Gal. 3.29 Abrahams flesh was to the Jewes the visible bond of the Covenant but to the Proselytes and to the Gentile Churches not his flesh but his faith 2. To be visibly of the Church is to be such in the sight of men as they are in the sight of God who shall indeed be saved and therefore visibly beleevers and holy the people of all the promises of all the Priviledges of the Gospel therefore a justified a sanctified people a people adopted a people of Communion with God and Christ a people of new obedience a spirituall people c. 3. To be the visible Church of God is to be visibly his Temple visibly an habitation for himselfe by his spirit Ephes 2.21 22. but such are only they who are visibly regenerate The Temple was built of old of polisht stones and costly timber it received only the clean the visible Church now is his visible Temple made up of lively stones into a spirituall house 1 Pet. 2.5 to abide apart from the unclean that the presence of God may fill this Temple of his 2 Cor. 6.16 17. 4. From the end of the visible Church which is that God might have an holy people separate from the world enjoying all Ordinances performing in severall Congregations all solemn worship to him glorifying his name by the light of good works c. but only such as are visibly regenerate are in any measure fitted for these ends wicked men quite contrarily affected therefore as he is in no wise to be owned for a Minister of the Church who is no way fitted for the ends of the ministery but is manifestly contrary thereto so neither are they to be owned for members of the Church who are qualified contrary to the ends of Church-Communion 5. From Scripture-patterne who were they that were received by the Baptist and by the Apostles Such as being wrought upon by the word preacht to an holy Profession forsaking false religions confessing their sins professing their faith and repentance desired to be solemnly received and that when the Profession of Christian Religion exposed to great temptations in the world 1. For the Baptist Mat. 3.6 it is a mean conceit at the best to think such a Confession then served the turne as was palpably a