Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	apostle_n	bishop_n	presbyter_n	3,386	5	10.4987	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61148	The history of the Church of Scotland, beginning in the year of our Lord 203 and continued to the end of the reign of King James the VI of ever blessed memory wherein are described the progress of Christianity, the persecutions and interruptions of it, the foundation of churches, the erecting of bishopricks, the building and endowing monasteries, and other religious places, the succession of bishops in their sees, the reformation of religion, and the frequent disturbances of that nation by wars, conspiracies, tumults, schisms : together with great variety of other matters, both ecclesiasticall and politicall / written by John Spotswood ...	Spottiswood, John, 1565-1639.; Duppa, Brian, 1588-1662.	1655 (1655)	Wing S5022; ESTC R17108	916,071	584

of the 20 chap. of the Acts whereby he took occasion to prove out of the Scriptures and Fathers the supremacy of Bishops above Presbyters and to shew the inconveniencies of Parity in the Church with the confusion arising from the same Dr. Buckridge Bishop of Rochester took for his text the Precept of the Apostle Omnis anima c Rom. 13. 1. where falling to speak of the Kings supremacy in causes Ecclesiasticall he did handle that point both soundly and learnedly to the satisfaction of all the hearers only it grieved the Scots Ministers to hear the Pope and Presbyterie so often equalled in their opposition to soveraign Princes Dr. Andrews Bishop of Chichester followed who choosed for his text the first verses of the 10 chapter of Numbers confirming thirdly the power of Kings in Convocating Synods and Councells The fourth was Dr. King Bishop of London he took for his theam the 11 verse of the 8 chapter of Canticles and thereupon discoursing of the Office of Presbyters did prove lay Elders to have no place nor office in the Church and the late device to be without all warrant of Precept or example either in Scripture or in Antiquity This course his Majesty took as conceiving that some of the Ministers should be moved by force of reason to quit their opinions and give place to the truth but that seldome happeneth where the minde is prepossessed with prejudice either against person or matter The first audience was at Hampton the 22 of September at which● besides the Bishops and Ministers from Scotland were present the Earls of Dunbarre Argile Glencarne Sir Thomas Hamilton Advocate and Sir Alexander Straiton Of the English Dr. Montague Dean of the Charpell was only admitted to stay There the King declaring the purpose for which he had called them spake a few words to this effect That having left the Church of Scotland in peace at his parting forth of it he did now hear of great disturbances in the same whereof he desired to understand the true cause and to have their advice how the same might best be removed This being said he the errand in generall for which I have called you I should be glad to hear your opinions touching that meeting at Aberdene where an handfull of Ministers in contempt of my authority and against the discharge given them did assemble and though they were neither a sufficient number nor the accustomed order kept they would take upon them to call it a generall Assembly and have since proudly maintained it by declining my Councell and such other means as they pleased to use The rather I would hear your minds because I am informed that divers Ministers doe justifie that meeting and in their publick preachings commend these brethren as persons distressed which in effect is to proclaim me a tyrant and Persecutor Mr. Iames Melvill answering first said that there was no such discharge given to those Ministers that met at Aberdene as was alledged adjuring Sir Alexander Straiton who was said to have given the charge to declare in his Majesties presence how that matter was carried As to the absence of Moderator and Clerk he said that none of these were essentiall parts of an Assembly and that the Moderator absenting himself of purpose and the Clerk refusing to serve the brethren convened might lawfully create others in their places so as the Ministers having warrant to convene from the word of God and from his Majesties laws as also coming thither by direction of their Presbyteries he could not in his conscience condemne them Well then said the King I shall desire you to answer me three things that I will ask First if it be lawfull to pray publickly for persons convicted by the lawfull Iudge as persons being in distress and aflicted 2 Whether I may not being a Christian King by my authority royall convocate and prorogue and desert for just and necessary causes known to myself any Assemblies or meetings within my Dominions 3 Whether or not may I by my authority-call and convene before me and my Councell whatsoever person or persons Civil or Ecclesiastial for whatsoever offences committed by them in whatsoever place within my Dominions and if I may not take cognition of the offence and give sontence therein And further whether or not are all my subjects being cited to answer before me and my Councell obliged to compeir and acknowledge me or them for judges in these offences Mr. Iames answering said that the questions were weighty and craved a great deliberation wherefore he would humbly entreat his Majesty to grant them a time to conferre and advise together that they might all give one direct answer This desire granted they were commanded to advise and meet together that night and be ready to answer the next day At this meeting the Earls of Salisbury and Northampton with divers of the English Clergy were present The Ministers desiring to have the meeting more private requested the Earl of Dumbarre to move the King therein and that none but Scotsmen should be present fearing as they said that some unseemly words might escape them But this was denied and they warned to speak with that respect which became subjects It was believed that the King should have begun with the questions proponed in the former meeting but his Majesty taking another course required them to declare one by one their judgements touching Aberdene Assembly The Bishops being first askt did all condemn the meeting as turbulent factious and unlawfull Mr. Andrew Melvill then being enquired made answer That he could not condemn the Assembly being a private man that he came into England upon his Majesties letter without any Commission from the Church of Scotland and though he had Commission in dicta causa and not hearing what they could say for themselves he could not give his judgement Sentence he said was given against them in a justice Court how justly he did remit that to the great Judge but for himself he would say as our Saviour did in another case Quis me constituit judicem Mr. Iames Balfoure being next asked Did pray his Majesty not to press him with any answer for that he knew nothing would be well taken that proceeded from his mouth and that Mr. Andrew had answered his minde sufficiently Mr. Iames Melvill without giving a direct answer began to tell That since● his coming to London he had received divers letters and with them a Petition that should have been presented to the late Parliament in behalf of the warded Ministers which he was desired to offer unto his Majesty and as he thought the Petition would make all their mindes known The King taking the Petition and falling to read the same willed the Advocate to goe on and receive the answer of the rest And as the Advocate was questioning Mr. William Scot and urging him with a distinct answer for he used many circumlocutions according to

of Englands friendship And in her own Kingdome the late troubles not being fully appeased they considered her peril would be great and that she should be cast in many difficulties yet finding her own mind to incline that way and hoping to have her more subject to their counsels whilest she lived at home then if she remained in France they resolved to give way to her return and to provide a fleet for her safe transport Lord Iames at his coming though he was advertised of the conclusion taken yet dissembling his knowledge thereof did signify the great desire that the subjects had to enjoy her presence and their longing for her return using the best reasons he could to perswade her unto it Hereby she was much confirmed in her purpose and after a day or two imparting to him her resolution willed him to return with diligence and making advertisement of her journey take care that nothing should be attempted against the pacification made at Leth before her coming In March following there arrived at Leth one Noalius a Senator of Burdeaux bringing a Commission from the King that had now succeeded his brother whereby three things were craved First that the old league betwixt France and Scotland should be renewed Secondly that the late confederacie with England should be dissolved Thirdly that the Churchmen should be restored to their places from which they had been thrust The Councel not willing to medle with matters of that importance delayed his answer to the Convention appointed in May at which time Lord Iames returned he had audience and answer given him to this effect That the Scots were no way conscious to themselves of any breach of the ancient league but contrariwise the French had broken to them seeking of late 〈◊〉 deprive them of their ancient liberties and under the profession of friendship to bring them into a miserable servitude That they could not violate the contract made with England except they would 〈◊〉 accompted of all men living the most ingrate for having received the greatest 〈◊〉 and benefit at the hands of the English which one neighbour Nation could possibly 〈◊〉 another if they should requite them with such ingratitude they would bring upon themselves a perpetual and everlasting shame And for repairing the Churchmen in their places they said that they did not acknowledge those whom they so styled to be Office-bearers in the Church and that Scotland having renounced the Pope would maintain no longer his Priests and vassals Noalius dismissed with this answer the Earls of Morton and Glencarn who a little before this time were returned from England did relate the good acceptance they received from the Queen and the promises she made to assist them in the defence of the liberties of the Kingdome if they should stand in need at any time of her help which was heard with great content They had been trusted with a more private businesse this was to try if the Queen might be pleased to take the Earl of Arrane to her husband and that way to unite the Kingdomes in a more firm amity But to this she did in fair terms answer That she was not as yet wearied of the single life and professing her self adepted to the Noblemans good affection said that if she should try her kindnesse in any other matter he should find his love not ill bestowed The Earl took the repulse more patiently because of the French Kings death and trusting he should gain the favour of his own Queen whom he greatly affected but of this he was likewise disappointed as we will hear IN the Convention kept at Edinburgh in Ianuary preceding a form of Church-policy was presented and desired to be ratified Because this will fall to be often mentioned and serveth to the clearing of many questions which were afterward agitated in the Church I thought meet word by word here to insert the same that the Reader may see what were the grounds laid down at first for the Government of the Church so we shall the better decerne of the changes that followed The first Head of Doctrine SEeing that Christ Iesus is he whom God the Father hath commended onely to be heard and followed of his sheep we judge it necessary that his Gospel be truly and openly preached in every Church and Assembly of this Realm and that all Doctrine repugning to the same be utterly suppressed as damnable to mans salvation The Explication of the first Head Lest that upon this our generality ungodly men take occasion to cavill this we adde for explication By preaching of the Gospel we understand not only the Scriptures of the New Testament but also the Old to wit the Law the Prophets and Histories in which Christ Iesus is no lesse contained in figure then we have him now expressed in vertue And therefore with the Apostle we affirm that all Scripture inspired of God is profitable to instruct to reprove and to exhort In which books of Old and New Testaments we affirm that all things necessary for the instruction of the Church and to make the man of God perfect are contained and sufficiently expressed By the contrary Doctrine we understand whatsoever men by Lawes Councels or Constitutions have imposed upon the consciences of men without the expresse Commandment of Gods word such as are the vowes of chastity forswearing of marriage binding of men and women to a several and disguised apparel to the superstitious observing of Fasting-dayes difference of meats for conscience sake prayer for the dead and keeping of Holy dayes of certain Saints commanded by man such as be all these the Papists have invented as the Feasts so as they term them of the Apostles Martyrs Virgins of Christmas Circumcision Epiphany Purification and other said Feasts of our Lady which things because in the Scriptures of God they neither have commandment nor assurance we judge them utterly to be abolished from this Realm Affirming further that the obstinate maintainers and teachers of such abominations ought not to escape the punishment of the Civil Magistrate The second head of Sacraments TO Christ Iesus his holy Gospel truly preached of necessity it is that his holy Sacraments be annexed and truly ministred as seals and visible confirmations of the spiritual promises contained in the words These Sacraments are two to wit Baptisme and the holy Supper of the Lord Iesus which are then rightly ministred when by a lawful Minister the people before the administration of the same are plainly instructed and put in mind of Gods free grace and mercy offered unto the penitent in Christ Iesus when Gods promises are rehearsed the end and use of the Sacraments preached and declared in such a language as the people do understand when also to them nothing is added and from them nothing diminished and in their administration all things done according to the institution of the Lord Iesus and practice of his holy Apostles And albeit the order of Geneva which now

is used in some of our Churches is sufficient to instruct the diligent Reader how that both these Sacraments may be rightly ministred yet for an uniformity to be kept we thought good to adde this as superabundant In Baptisme we acknowledge nothing to be used except the element of water only and that the word and declaration of the promises as we said before ought to precede therefore whosoever presumeth in Baptisme to use oyle salt wax spittle conjuration and crossing as they accuse the institution of Christ of imperfection for it was void of all these inventions so for altering Christs perfect Ordinance they ought to be severely punished The table of the Lord is then most rightly ministred when it approacheth most nigh to Christs own action But plain it is that at the Supper Christ Iesus sate with his Disciples and therefore do we judge that sitting at table is most convenient to that holy action that Bread and Wine ought to be given distribution of the same made that the Bread should be taken and eaten and likewise that all should drink of the Cup with declaration what both the one and the other is For touching the damnable errour of the Papists who defraud the people of the Cup of the Lords blood their errour is so manifest as it needeth no confutation That the Minister break the bread and distribute the same to those that be next unto him commanding the rest every one with reverence and sobriety to break with other we think it neerest to Christs action and to the perfect practice of the Apostles as we reade in Saint Paul During which action we think it necessary that some comfortable places of Scripture be read which may bring in minde the death of the Lord Iesus and the benefit of the same for seeing in that Action we ought chiefly to remember the Lords death we judge the Scriptures making mention of the same most apt to stir up our dull minds then and at all times The Ministers at their discretion may appoint the places to be read as they think good but what times we think most convenient for ministration of the one and other Sacrament shall be declared when we come to the policy of the Church The third head touching the abolishing of Idolatry AS we require Christ Iesus to be truly preached and his holy Sacraments rightly ministred so we can not cease to require Idolatry with all monuments and places of the same as Abbeys Chappels Monkeries Friers Nunneries Chantries Cathedrall Churches Chanonries Colledges other then presently are Parish Churches or Schools to be utterly suppressed in all places of this Realm Palaces Mansions and dwelling houses with their Orchards and Gardens onely excepted As also we desire that no persons of what estate or condition soever they be be permitted to use idolatrous service for that wheresoever idolatry is maintained if so it may be suppressed the wrath of God shall reigne both upon the blinde and obstinate idolaters and those that negligently suffer the same By Idolatrie we understand the Masse invocation of Saints adoration of Images and the keeping and retaining of the same finally all honouring of God not contained in his holy word The fourth head concerning Ministers and their lawfull Election IN a Church reformed or tending to reformation none ought to presume either to preach or yet minister the Sacraments untill they be called orderly to the same Ordinary vocation consisteth in Election Examination and Admission and because the election of Ministers in Papistry hath been altogether abused we think expedient to intreat of it more largely It appertaineth to the people and to every severall congregation to elect their Minister and in case they be found negligent therein the space of fourty dayes the best reformed Church to wit the Church of the Superintendent with his councell may present unto them a man that they judge apt to feed the flock of Christ Iesus who must be examined as well in life and manners as in doctrine and knowledge That this may be done with more exact diligence the persons who are to be examined must be commanded to appear before men of soundest judgement remaining in some principall town next adjacent unto them As they that be in Fife Angus Mernis or Stratherne to present themselves in St. Andrewes those that be in Lothian Mers or Tivio●dale in Edinburgh and likewise those that be in other countries must resort to the best reformed Cities and Towns that is to the Town of the Superintendent where first in the Schools or failing thereof in open assembly and before the congregation they must give declaration of their gifts utterance and knowledge by interpreting some place of Scripture to be appointed by the Ministery which being ended the person that is presented or that offereth himself to the service of the Church must be examined by the Ministers and Elders of the Church openly before all that list to hear in all the chief points that be now in controversie betwixt us and the Papists Anabaptists Arrians and other such enemies to the Christian Religion In which if he be sound and able to perswade by wholsome Doctrine and to convince the gain-sayers then must he be directed to the Church and Congregation where he would serve that there in open audience of the flock he may preach and deliver his knowledge in the Article of Justification the Offices of Christ Iesus the number effect and use of the Sacraments and finally the whole Religion which hereto fore hath been corrupted by Papists If his Doctrine be found wholsome and able to instruct the simple and if the Church can justly reprehend nothing in his life doctrine or utterance then we judge the Church which before was destitute unreasonable if they refuse him whom the Church doth offer and that they should be compelled by the censure of the Councell and Church to receive the person appointed and approved by the judgement of the Godly and Learned unless that the same Church hath presented a man better or as well qualified to examination before that the foresaid triall was taken of the person presented by the Councell of the whole Church As for example the Councell of the Church presents a man unto a Church to be their Minister not knowing that they are otherwise provided in the mean time the Church hath another sufficient in their judgment for that charge whom they present to the learned Ministers and next reformed Church to be examined In this case the presentation of the people to whom he should be appointed Pastor must be pre●erred to the presentation of the Councell or greater Church unless the person presented by the inferiour Church be judged unable for the regiment by the learned For this is alwayes to be avoyded that no man be intruded or thrust in upon any congregation But this liberty with all care must be reserved for every severall Church to have their voices and suffrages in election of their Ministers