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scripture_n according_a doctrine_n faith_n 2,992 5 4.9532 4 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A88892 The sacramental stumbling-block removed. Or a brief discourse concerning examination by the congregational eldership, before admittance to the sacrament. Wherein all contrary scruples are silenced : the equity and necessity of that duty vindicated, both by scripture, and undenyable arguments. Set forth for, 1. The satisfaction of the weake. 2. The information of the ignorant. 3. The conviction of the obstinate. 4. The edification of the Church of God. / by W.L. L. W. 1648 (1648) Wing L96; Thomason E425_16; ESTC R204558 31,401 51

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the_o other_o leave_v march_n 24.40_o 41._o 2._o as_o in_o the_o kingdom_n of_o heaven_n there_o be_v neither_o marry_v 12.16_o mark_v 12.16_o nor_o give_v in_o marriage_n but_o all_o be_v as_o the_o angel_n so_o the_o church_n of_o god_n on_o earth_n take_v no_o cognizance_n whether_o man_n be_v marry_v or_o single_a wife_n or_o virgin_n but_o he_o or_o she_o that_o be_v capable_a of_o church_n communion_n aught_o to_o be_v admit_v and_o must_v be_v visible_a saint_n and_o although_o never_o so_o near_o relate_v if_o not_o so_o aught_o to_o be_v shut_v out_o 3._o suppose_v a_o man_n up●●_n examination_n be_v admit_v and_o his_o wife_n respite_v for_o her_o incapacity_n a_o while_n till_o god_n shall_v enable_v she_o or_o suppose_v the_o wife_n be_v admit_v and_o her_o husband_n for_o like_a reason_n suspend_v be_v it_o not_o better_o for_o that_o party_n find_v fit_a to_o be_v admit_v and_o the_o party_n unfit_a to_o be_v debar_v then_o either_o both_o to_o be_v admit_v or_o both_o 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the_o spirit_n of_o many_o the_o arch_a enemy_n of_o church_n and_o kingdom_n be_v not_o subdue_v yet_o their_o rage_n and_o malice_n be_v so_o limit_v that_o although_o like_o the_o surge_a untamed_a wave_n they_o will_v again_o break_v out_o if_o not_o bound_v and_o their_o power_n so_o break_v that_o the_o mighty_a leviathan_n be_v now_o hold_v by_o the_o hook_n of_o god_n that_o god_n have_v also_o in_o this_o breath_n of_o time_n put_v into_o the_o heart_n of_o parliament_n and_o synod_n to_o settle_v a_o government_n in_o the_o church_n have_v lay_v a_o good_a foundation_n of_o reformation_n of_o corruption_n in_o and_o about_o the_o ordinance_n officer_n and_o administration_n thereof_o and_o for_o that_o the_o spirit_n of_o man_n be_v wonderful_o averse_a to_o this_o so_o necessary_a a_o work_n that_o although_o it_o have_v cost_v so_o much_o time_n treasure_n and_o blood_n to_o bring_v to_o this_o maturity_n yet_o glad_a they_o will_v be_v to_o bring_v religion_n to_o a_o very_a hotchpotch_n as_o appear_v by_o those_o many_o vain_a and_o needless_a scruple_n and_o stumbling-block_n which_o satan_n and_o such_o man_n be_v every_o day_n cast_v in_o to_o obstruct_v i_o have_v think_v good_a as_o in_o duty_n every_o christian_n be_v bind_v as_o much_o as_o in_o they_o lie_v to_o help_v the_o lord_n against_o the_o mighty_a and_o that_o no_o man_n that_o true_o desire_v satisfaction_n may_v miss_v of_o it_o i_o have_v endeavour_v to_o enumerate_v all_o such_o objection_n as_o have_v any_o shadow_n of_o reason_n that_o the_o ignorant_a may_v be_v inform_v the_o wilful_a convince_v and_o the_o weak_a christian_a satisfy_v that_o so_o the_o church_n may_v be_v edify_v and_o god_n glorify_v and_o that_o i_o may_v not_o be_v tedious_a i_o shall_v without_o more_o ado_n lay_v down_o these_o follow_a truth_n which_o by_o god_n grace_n i_o shall_v vindicate_v against_o all_o opposer_n that_o reformation_n of_o corruption_n in_o the_o church_n of_o god_n be_v of_o absolute_a necessity_n although_o not_o to_o the_o be_v yet_o to_o the_o well_o be_v thereof_o and_o that_o as_o well_o in_o discipline_n as_o doctrine_n that_o the_o government_n of_o the_o church_n by_o pastor_n teacher_n and_o elder_n be_v of_o divine_a institution_n that_o although_o all_o man_n ought_v to_o hear_v the_o word_n yet_o neither_o the_o ignorant_a nor_o profane_a aught_o to_o be_v admit_v to_o the_o sacrament_n of_o the_o lord_n supper_n that_o self_n examination_n although_o a_o duty_n of_o absolute_a necessity_n in_o every_o communicant_a yet_o it_o be_v not_o all_o require_v and_o that_o examination_n by_o the_o eldership_n be_v both_o ground_v upon_o scripture_n and_o good_a reason_n for_o the_o first_o that_o reformation_n of_o corruption_n in_o the_o church_n of_o god_n be_v of_o absolute_a necessity_n etc._n etc._n be_v grant_v of_o all_o therefore_o need_v no_o dispute_n only_o 1._o q._n what_o be_v mean_v by_o reformation_n a._n the_o bring_n of_o the_o church_n and_o worship_n of_o god_n to_o as_o near_o a_o conformity_n to_o the_o mind_n and_o will_n of_o god_n and_o to_o the_o primative_a institution_n as_o may_v be_v both_o by_o cast_v out_o corruption_n and_o by_o supply_n of_o defect_n in_o and_o about_o the_o ordinance_n administration_n officer_n and_o member_n thereof_o 2._o object_n be_v not_o the_o government_n of_o the_o church_n by_o bishop_n etc._n etc._n according_a to_o the_o word_n of_o god_n they_o be_v protestant_n and_o we_o enjoy_v far_o more_o peace_n in_o the_o church_n then_o now_o man_n enjoy_v then_o the_o ordinance_n without_o interruption_n and_o doubtless_o many_o thousand_o go_v to_o heaven_n by_o god_n blessing_n upon_o mean_n then_o in_o use_n a._n i_o shall_v nor_o need_v now_o to_o spend_v time_n about_o that_o argument_n of_o the_o government_n by_o bishop_n and_o their_o substitute_n abundance_n of_o satisfaction_n have_v by_o divers_a be_v give_v to_o that_o point_n true_a it_o be_v they_o be_v protestant_a bishop_n in_o point_n of_o doctrine_n if_o we_o look_v upon_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n general_o own_v but_o their_o stand_n be_v not_o of_o divine_a right_n both_o parliament_n and_o synod_n have_v long_o since_o condemn_v that_o hyrarchy_n without_o doubt_n that_o lordly_a prelacy_n over_o god_n heritage_n be_v quite_o contrary_a to_o the_o word_n of_o god_n 1_o pet._n 5.3_o neither_o be_v as_o lord_n over_o god_n heritage_n but_o be_v example_n to_o the_o flock_n it_o be_v true_a we_o enjoy_v much_o peace_n because_o the_o strong_a man_n keep_v possession_n none_o dare_v to_o question_v their_o proceed_n though_o never_o so_o impious_a but_o when_o the_o lord_n call_v they_o to_o account_v for_o their_o oppression_n and_o tyranny_n and_o that_o satan_n see_v his_o kingdom_n begin_v to_o shake_v he_o muster_v up_o all_o his_o servant_n to_o his_o support_n which_o have_v make_v our_o time_n so_o troublesome_a and_o although_o many_o by_o god_n blessing_n upon_o mean_n and_o ordinance_n then_o in_o use_n be_v save_v this_o we_o must_v attribute_v to_o the_o work_n of_o god_n spirit_n and_o to_o god_n own_v his_o own_o ordinance_n in_o the_o midst_n of_o much_o corruption_n this_o therefore_o make_v not_o at_o all_o against_o cast_v out_o abuse_v creep_v into_o the_o church_n neither_o can_v we_o expect_v so_o great_a a_o work_n as_o the_o turn_n of_o church_n and_o state_n up-side_n down_o can_v be_v do_v without_o much_o combustion_n especial_o consider_v how_o most_o man_n be_v apt_a to_o be_v lead_v by_o custom_n though_o never_o so_o corrupt_a and_o its_o a_o special_a mercy_n consider_v how_o many_o grand_a enemy_n we_o have_v have_v to_o do_v withal_o that_o god_n have_v put_v so_o timely_a a_o period_n to_o our_o old_a trouble_n i_o pray_v god_n our_o corrupt_a heart_n and_o causeless_a contention_n provoke_v he_o not_o to_o punish_v we_o yet_o seven_o time_n more_o 3._o object_n but_o be_v there_o not_o some_o that_o create_v church_n to_o themselves_o what_o think_v you_o of_o they_o a._n i_o think_v if_o they_o deny_v our_o congregation_n to_o be_v true_a church_n they_o be_v erroneous_a and_o if_o they_o do_v not_o their_o separation_n the_o more_o unlawful_a and_o i_o think_v as_o there_o be_v many_o go_v from_o we_o because_o they_o be_v not_o of_o we_o so_o many_o be_v join_v to_o other_o assembly_n because_o our_o government_n be_v so_o long_o before_o settle_v be_v too_o impatient_a to_o wait_v god_n leisure_n such_o man_n sure_o forget_v the_o israelite_n be_v forty_o year_n together_o without_o the_o passeover_n all_o the_o while_o they_o be_v in_o the_o journey_n to_o canaan_n have_v they_o but_o well_o eye_v the_o church_n they_o may_v have_v see_v it_o some_o year_n together_o in_o a_o wilderness_n of_o distraction_n but_o still_o no_o way_n to_o reformation_n and_o therefore_o ought_v rather_o to_o have_v wait_v till_o god_n have_v bring_v they_o into_o the_o desire_a land_n then_o to_o turn_v their_o back_n upon_o that_o work_n which_o fare_v the_o worse_o for_o their_o departure_n many_o thousand_o be_v go_v that_o will_v have_v they_o continue_v have_v much_o add_v to_o the_o visible_a beauty_n of_o the_o church_n who_o be_v just_o to_o be_v blame_v god_n and_o man_n look_v for_o reformation_n not_o separation_n and_o it_o be_v no_o marvel_n god_n so_o much_o confound_v their_o language_n who_o will_v be_v building_n babel_n to_o themselves_o for_o the_o second_o that_o pastor_n teacher_n elder_n etc._n etc._n 4._o object_n can_v you_o make_v it_o dppear_v that_o the_o government_n of_o the_o church_n by_o pastor_n teacher_n elder_n etc._n etc._n be_v of_o divine_a institution_n by_o the_o word_n of_o god_n a._n yea_o by_o divers_a place_n of_o scripture_n as_o 1_o tim._n 4.14_o the_o apostle_n there_o say_v neglect_v not_o the_o gift_n that_o be_v in_o you_o which_o be_v give_v with_o the_o lay_n on_o of_o the_o hand_n of_o the_o tresbytery_n again_o 1_o cor._n 12._o and_o god_n have_v set_v some_o in_o the_o church_n first_o apostle_n secundary_o prophet_n three_o teacher_n after_o that_o miracle_n than_o gift_n of_o heal_a help_v in_o government_n etc._n etc._n viz._n man_n fit_v with_o several_a gift_n suitable_a to_o the_o several_a age_n of_o the_o church_n again_o 1_o tim._n 5.17_o let_v the_o elder_n that_o rule_v well_o be_v count_v worthy_a of_o double_a honour_n especial_o they_o who_o labour_n in_o the_o word_n and_o doctrine_n likewise_o 1_o pet._n 5.1_o the_o elder_n that_o be_v among_o you_o i_o exhort_v who_o also_o be_o a_o elder_a and_o a_o witness_n of_o the_o suffering_n of_o christ_n so_o also_o rom._n 12.6_o 7_o 8._o have_v gift_n differ_v etc._n etc._n by_o all_o which_o place_n its_o apparent_a that_o the_o government_n of_o the_o church_n by_o pastor_n teacher_n elder_n etc._n etc._n be_v according_a