Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	according_a	church_n	prove_v	2,572	5	5.9942	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A04026	Informations, or a protestation, and a treatise from Scotland Seconded with D. Reignoldes his letter to Sir Francis Knollis. And Sir Francis Knollis his speach in Parliament. All suggesting the vsurpation of papal bishops.	Knollys, Francis, Sir, d. 1643.; Rainolds, John, 1549-1607.; Simson, Patrick, 1556-1618.	1608 (1608)	STC 14084; ESTC S107421	32,696	102

writers As for the new obtruded Lord Bishops to the Kirk of this Realme we haue not heard much of their reasoning as yet for their part only shreuding them selfe by authority and arme of man whence they alledge Donation with power c. To the quhilk albeit many things may be replyed yet we answer thus only with the Apostle The weapons of our warfaire are not carnall 2 Cor 10. 4. The abuse present practise the more is to be lamē ted that such injquity is done in so great light of the Gospell after long profession of the same that in place of light men should imbrace darknes loue the honor of the world more thā the honor of Christ Iesus not onely comming against the truth but also against their owne profession avoument having preached and practised the true Christian Discipline by Ministers and Elders according to the word and Institution of Christ opponing them selfes alwayes unto Antichristiā authority practise of Papal Bishops Is not this to begine in the spirit end in the flesh And who hath bewitched you so Now for conclusion seeyng holy scripture practise of the Apostolicall and Primitiue Kirk and Christian Kirkes in succeeding times the learned sincere Antiquitie both in Councells and by writing with all reformed Kirkes every where truely professing the Gospell with the best of the leater writers of our time Forrain within this Yle stand on our side for Kirk governement by Ministers assisting Elders according to the word against the Governement of Lord Bishops their authority practis in the Kirk of Christ we being I say compassed with such great cloud of witnesses let us hold fast the true profession of Doctrine Discipline according to the word without wavering or halting praying continually That the God of our Lord lesus Christ the Father of glory might giue unto us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the acknow ledgment of him strenthned with all might throw his glorious power that we being like mindit having the same loue being of one accord and of the same iudgment we may doe that which is pleasant and acceptable in his sight through Christ to whom be praise for ever and ever Amen DOCTOR REIGNOLDS HIS LETTER TO SIR FRAVNcis Knollis concerning Doctor Bancrofts Sermon at Paules crosse 9. Feb 1588. In the Parliament time ALbeit Right Honorable I take greater comforte in labouring to discover and overthrow the Errors of Iesuites and Papists enemyes of Religion thā of the Ministers of Christ yet seeing it hath pleased your Honor to requyer me to shew mine opinion of some thinges which certeine of these men mainteyne stand in I thought it my duty by the example of Levie who sayd of his Father and Mother I regard them not nor acknowledged he his brethren to declare the truth without respect of persons Of the two poynts therfore in Doctor Bancrofts Sermon which your Honor mentioneth one is concernning that he seemeth to avouch The superioritie which Bishops haue among us over the Clergie to be Gods owne Ordinance though not by expresse words yet by necessary consequence In that he affir meth their opiniō who oppugne that that superiority to be Heresie Wherin I must confesse he hath committed an oversight in my judgment and himselfe I thinke if he be advertised ther of will acknowledge it For having said first that Aerius affirmeth that ther was no differēce by the word of God betwixt a Preist and a Bishop and afterward that Martin and his companions do mainteine this opinion of Aerius he addeth that Aerius persisting therein was condemned for an heretike by the generall consent of the whole Church and likwise that Martins and all his companions opini on hath herein been condemned for heresie Touching Martine if any man behaue himselfe otherwayes than in discretion and charitie he ought let the blame be layd where the fault is I defend him not but if by the way he utter a truth mingled with whatsoever else it is not reason that that which is of God should be cōdemned for that which is of man no more thá the doctrine of the resurrection should be reproved because and held by the Pharises Wherefore removing the odious name of Martin from that which in sincerity and loue is to be dealt with it appeareth by the aforesayd words of D. Bancroft that he avoucheth the Superiority which Bishops haue over the Cleargie to be of Gods owne ordinance For he improveth the impugners of it as holding with Aerius that there is no difference by the word of God betwixt a Preist and a Bishop which he could not doe with reason unlesse he himselfe appro ved the Bishops superiority as established by Gods word and he addeth that their opinion who gayne say it is Heresie wherof it insueth he thinke it contrary to Gods word sith Heresy is an error repugnant to the truth of the word of God as according to the Scriptures our owne Church doth teach us Now the Argumēts which he bringeth to proue it an heresy are partely overweake partly untrue overweake that he beginneth with out of Epiphanius untrue that he adjoyneth of the general consent of the Church For though Epiphanius do say that Aerius his assertion is full of solly yet he disproveth not the reason which Aerius stood on out of the scriptures nay he dealeth so in seeking to disproue it that Bellarmine the Iesuite though desirous to make the best of Epiphanius whose opinion herein he mainteyneth against the Protestants yet is forced to confesse that Epiphanius his ans wer is not all of the wisest nor any way can fit the text As for the generall consent of the whole Church which D. Bācrost saith condemned that opinion of Aerius for an Heresy and himselfe for an Heretike because he persisted in it that is a large speach but what proofe hath he that the whole Church did so It ap peareth he saith in Epiphanius It doth not and the contrary appeareth by S. Ierome and sondry others who lived some in the same time som after Epiphanius even S. Austin himself though D. Bancroft cite him as bearing witnes therof likewise I grant S. Austin in his booke of heresies ascribeth this to Aerius for one that he sayd Presbiterum ab episcopo nulla differentia de beri discerni but it is one thing to say there ought to be no difference betwixt the which Aerius saying condemned the Churches order yea made a schisme therein and so is censured by S. Austen counting it an heresie as in Epiphaus he tooke it recorded himselfe as he witnesseth not knowing how farre the name of Heresie should be stretched another thing to say that by the word of God there is no difference betwixt them but by the order and custome of the Church which S. Austen sayth in effect himselfe so farre was he

Cor 4 1. furnished from aboue with giftes Eph 4 8. Rom 12 6. 1. Pet 4. 10. calling Rom 10. 15. Heb. 5 4 and power Ioh 20 21 22 23. according to the prescription of Scripture as sayd is For Kirk Governement are set out in the word of God 1 The persons to whō is given the charge of rule and Governement 2. Their Calling 3. Their Giftes 4. Their Office power distinctly their power junctly and manner thereof Which all by the grace of God shall clearely be demonstrate by onely Scripture The persons are Extraordinary and Ordinar Extraordinary as Apostles Prophets Evangelists whose offices serving for a time haue ceassed As for the persons Ordinar we shall finde their institution with their Offices expressed in these places 1 Tim. 3 2. Tit 1. 5 6. 7. Act. 6 3. 4. 14. 23. 20. 17. 28. etc Eph 4 11. Rom 6. 7. 8. 1. Cor 12. 5. 8. 1 Pet 5. 2. 3. 2. Tim 4. 2. Heb 13 17. 2 Cor 5. 20. Vocation or calling is common to all the office bearers Ministers with in the Kirke quhilk is a lawfull way whereby persons graced with meete giftes are admitted to a spirituall office of one certaine flocke and Congregation Here three things are necessary First without lawfull calling let none presume to this honor to exercise any spirituall Function or Ministerie Rom 10. 15 Heb. 5. 4 Math. 9. 38 Secondly let no man presume to clime up by intrusion or to enter in any other way than by the Dore Ioh 10. 1. Thirdly none ought to enter in without inward testimony of giftes graces and good conscience before God of whō for whose service is the calling Isa ó 67. 8. 9. Ier 1. 6. 9. Math 10 1. Ioh 20 22. 23. This Ordinar lawfull calling consisteth of two partes Election Ordination Election is the lawfull choyse of the person graced with meete giftes for the office wherunto he is called Election should be after triell Act 1 21. 22 et 6● 1. Tim 3. 10. By free choyse and at the judgment of the Church Act 1. 21 23. et 6. 3. 5. et 14 23. The Ceremonies therof by Humiliation fasting and Prayer Act 1. 24. et 14. 23. Ordination is the seperating and designing of that person chosen unto the Office of the Ministerie Act 13. 2. Likewise to be used with fasting and prayer by imposition of handes of the Presbyterie Act 13. 3. et 14. 23. 1. Tim. 4. 14. et 5. 22. Their giftes properties and cōditions in Doctrine manners are distinctly set downe limited in scripture prescriving what man every one must be The Pastor must be apt to Teach and exhort Deut 33. 12. Mal 2. 7. Rom 12. 8. 1. Cor 12. 8. 1. Tim 3. 2. no young Scholer 1 Tim 3. 6. able to devide the word aright 2. Tim 2. 15. holding fast the faithfull word Tit 1. 9. able to exhorte rebuke reproue by wholsome doctrine 2 Tim 4. 2. In māners he must be a lover of goodnes Tit 1. 8. wise righteous holy temperate in his life unreprovable of good report c 1 Tim 3. 2. 3. 4. 7. Tit 1. 6. 7. 8. The Doctor or Teacher likewise must be apt to Teach Mal 2 7 Rom 12 7. 1 Cor 12 8. and to deliver sound and wholesome doctrine according to the word Tit 1. 9. mightie in the scripture Act 18. 24. able to revince the gaine sayers c Act 6 9 10. Tit 1 9. The name of Elder in scripture is used diversly sometime for the name of age 1. Tim 5 1. Sometime for Office 1 Tim 5. 17. 19. Iam. 514. againe signifiyng office somtime largely it comprehendeth Pastors Doctors and those that are called morespecially Presbyters Seniors or Elders Act. 14. 23. 1. Tim. 5. 17. 1. Pet. 5. 1. Here speaking of Elders particularly we vnderstand those that labour in the oversight of the manners of the people whom the Apostle calleth Presidents and Governours Rom 12. 8. 1 Cor 12 18. Then Elders must be men of wisedome knowledge sound judgment endued with the spirit of God Num 11. 25. Deut. 1. 13. able to discerne vigilant and diligent in overseing Act. 20. 28. Rom 12. 8. Sober gentle modest loving temperate c 1. Tim 3. et 5. The Deacons must be men of good report keeping the Mistery of faith in a pure conscience indued also with the ho ly Ghost Graue Temperat not given to excesse of filthy lucre Act 16. 3. 1. Tim 3. 8. 9. 12. 13. This farre concerning their giftes and properties their office care function charge is severally set out in Scripture as followes The Pastor should feede the sheep of Christ Iesus in greene and wholsome pastures of the word sheewing them the waters and way to life Psal 23. 1. 2. Deut 33 10. Rom 12 8. Ioh. 21. 15. Act 20 28. 1. Pet 5 1. c having continuall care to watch over the soules of these which they must giue an accompt of Heb 13. 17. discerning the diseases ap plying the word according to every disease and every time and occurrant danger Ezech. 33. et 34. chapt praying and blessing and sealing up to the faithfull the promises of God by the Sacraments loving cherishing and defending the flocke from ravenous beasts Ioh 10. 11. 12. The Office of an Teacher or Doctor hath been mentioned before whose cheife and speciall charge is to Teach playne pure and sound Doctrine preserving knowledge resisting error building upon the only true ground stone which is Christ Iesus Gold silver and pretious stones c. 1 Cor 3. 11. 12. et 1. 17. 12. 8. 1. Tim 4. 16. et 6. 20. Eph 2 20. Heb 6. 1. 1. Pet 2. 2. The Elder or Presbyter his office and distinct charge before also was mentioned their cheife care is to be readie assistants according to the ordinance of God to the Pastors Teachers helping to beare their burding caring for the weil quietnes peace and good order in the Kirke taking heed to themselues the people 2. Chron 19. 8. Act 20. 17. 28. and 21. 18. Rom 12. 8. 1. Pet 5. 2. 1. Cor 12. 28. The Office of the Deacon is to collect the benevolence of the faithfull and faithfully to distribute the same according to the necessitie of the Saints by the direction of the Kirk Act 6. 3. Rom. 12. 8. This much anent the offices and ministeries institute and prescrived by Christ in his word which albeit be diverse distinct both in giftes functi ons yet they as members of one Body serue for the use of the Sainctes and edification of the body of Christ. Rom 12 4 5 c Eph 4 11 12. 13 16. 1. Cor 12 7. 12 25. Vnto these Office-bearers and Governours Christ hath given also a certaine limitate power to be exercised by them according to the word in his Kirk A power severally Math 16. 19. 20. Rom 12. 3. 6. 7. 8. and a power joyntly with Paritie

one Kirk alone but over many in one or moe Dioceses quhilk injquity hath flowed also frō the Antichrist of Rome and thence is derived to the Orders of his Cleargie Archbishopes Bishops Arch-Deanes Deanes c. setting up by the devise of Satan ane Hierarchie that is a Spirituall principalitie in the Kirke of God overthrowing altogither the Ordināce of Christ Iesus in ordering his Kirke officers whairof hath bene spoken more at large in the first Treatise and in place thereof intruding upon the Kirk Satanicall and Antichristian devises and Traditions whereupon this conclusion groweth like unto the former Whosoever leaving the Institution of Christ expressed in his word vsurpe spirituall authoritie and iurisdiction togither with civil power in the Kirk They communicate with Antichrist and their usurpation is Antichristian But Papal Bishops and Prelates practise this Antichristian iniquitie against the Institution of Christ his word Therefore they communicate with the Antichrist and the practise and usurpation is Antichristian The Assumption we haue to proue Quhilk is playne by scripture expresly condemning in Ministers of the word both civil power as we heard before and spirituall authority or power aboue the rest of the Ministers and disposers of the word as inferiors to thē Quhilk we proue as followes 1. Christ comming into the world taking upō him the shape or forme of ane servant Philip. 2. 7. witnesseth that he as Minister of the Gospell cam not to be served but to serue Math 20 28. and no servant is aboue his Master Math 10. 24. 2. Christ recommending to his Disciples humilitie with Paritie and equa litie expresly forbiddeth among them Superioritie or Domination Math 20. 25. etc. and 23. 8. 11. Marke 10. 43. etc. Luc. 22. 25. etc. 3. Christ giveth unto his Apostles Disciples alike the Keyes of the kingdome of heaven and they resaue alike power Math 18. 18. Ioh 20. 23. 4. The Disciples and Apostles observing their Masters command equall themselues not one clayming superioritie or Primacie aboue the rest but all professing equalitie call them selfe servantes 2. Cor 4. 5. Ministers and Dispensators 1 Cor 4. ver 1. 5. Messengers 2 Cor 5. 20. etc. And no place there is to be foūd whair they are called Princes Lords or by any such name soūding to superiority or dominatiō in any wise 5. The practise of the Apostles sending by like authoritie Peter and Iohn as Messengers and erand bearers to Samaria Act 8. 14. Quhilk the Apostles wald never haue cōmanded if Christ had not given them a like power neither Peter whom some make to be Prince of the Apostles would haue obeyed if Christ had given him Primacie or Superioritie aboue the rest 6. Peter himselfe disclaiming all such Primacie and Superioritie equaleth himselfe with the Ministers Elders of Kirke calling himselfe fellow Elder 1. Pet 5 1. expresly forbidding Ministers and Elders to take domination as Lords aboue the heritage of God ver 3. 7. The Apostle Iohn sharply cheeketh and rebooketh Diotrephes clayming to him prioritie or preferment aboue the rest Iohn Epist. 3. ver 9 10. 8. Against the spirituall superioritie of Papal Bischops doe serue all those places afore cited wherein the name power office properties and dueties of a Bishope are communicate with Pastors Teachers and Elders Act 20. 17. 1. Pet 5. 2. Phil 1. 1. Tit 1. 5. 7. 1 Tim 3. 2. 3. 4. c. Quhilk places are plane pithie sufficient alone to overthrowe pretended prioritie of Papal Bishopps Praelates c. With scripture agreeth learned and sinceire Antiquity in ancient Christian Kirkes wherof we shall bring a few for exemple speaking most clerely in this purpose Cyprian lib de simplicit praelat The office of a Bishop is one and vndivided parte whereof is absolutly held of every Bishop Idem Cypr lib. Epist 3. Every Bishop doth rule and governe his owne portion of the Lords flocke being to give an account of his doings to God Athanasius Epist. ad Liberium Episcop Romanum All the blessed Apostles were indued with the fellowship of equall honour and power Chrysost Hom 43. in Math What Bishop soever shall desire primacy in earth shall finde confusion in heaven and he who shall covet to be first shall not be in the nūber of Christ his servantes Hieron in Epist ad Evagrium Where soever a Bishop shall be either at Rome or Evgubium or Constantinoble or Rhegium he is of the same worth and of the same preisthood Idem ad Tit cap 1. After the age of the Apostles one of the Bishops was set aboue the rest whom they peculiarly called a Bishop But this was rather by custome than by the truth of the Lords disposing That it may further appeare even by Hierom himselfe that the usurpation of Papal Bishops prevayled by custome against the truth marke well what he writeth vpon Heb 13. 17. viz He divideth the care of the Kirke equally amongst many In saying obey them that are set over you Besides these and others a fore cited against the authority practise of Papall Bishops many mo testimonyes may be drawne out of the same Fathers and Doctors with others also of the same judgmēt quhilk are alledged be menteners of Christian Discipline against authority of Papal Bishops as out of Cyprian lib3 Epist 10. 14. 27. Tertullian de Ieiun August lib 19. cap 19. de Civitate Dei Item lib de opere Monach Hierom ad Oceanum et in Tit 1. Ambrose lib Epist 5. et 33. Chrysost hom 2 in epist ad Philip Hilar adver Constan. Nazian orat ad Maxim Bernard de consid lib 2. ad Evgenium Papam For this same purpose are alledged some testimonies of Councels as Carthage Chalcedon Constan c. Siclik against the authority and prac tise of Papal Bishops do witnes all Protestant Kirkes in France Helvetia Polonia Hungaria Bohemia c. and in any Nation truly professing the Gospel in all the world onely England excepted And among the late writers the most learned and notable professors defenders of the truth against the Romāe Antichrist all writing against the Lordly usurpation of Civil and spirituall power in Ecclesiasticall persons as may be seene by their severall writtings Lastly out of English writers evē some of them of the other side matter may be fetched against the Lordship of Papal Bishops Iewel in defen Apolog adversus Harding page 714. D Bilson in his Booke in quarto page 126. D Bridges of the Prince Supremacy page 926. M. Elmar Bishop of London in his book printed at Straesborogh See a Petition directed to Her Maiestie pa. 7. 8. 9. quhilk we bring to proue rheir consent and witnessing unto the truth Although as Cyprian sayth Humane testimonies are not to be expected when Divine suffrages goe before Cyprian Epist 5. lib 2. As for objections in the contrary what can be moved to moue any of the simplest against such cleare light of holy scripture and so many testimo nies of Divine