Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	authority_n	church_n	interpretation_n	4,397	5	10.0901	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A92864	Scripture a perfect rule for church-government delivered in a sermon at Margarets Westminster, before sundry of the House of Commons. By William Seigwich [sic] minister in Farnham in Essex. Published according to order.	Sedgwick, William, 1609 or 10-1669?	1643 (1643)	Wing S2388; Thomason E79_21; ESTC R12112	29,267	42

now we must expect a rule proportionable Yea these must continue till the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that aetas constans that full stature 〈…〉 19. for the Church hath no old age but in Heaven there will be an eternall externall glorious way of worship If Christ had left humane reason his deputy to ordaine ceremonies in the Church the condition of the Church under the Gospel had beene more slavish then the Church under the Law for one ceremony of mans is worse then ten of Gods man's darken and oppresse the truth Gods illustrate and cleare it but God hath promised our condition should be more ingenuous Gal. 4.7 Christ should shew but little love to the dearely beloved of his soule to subiect her to humane inventions The Philosopher accounted the committing of a Common-wealth to man a committing of it to beasts in regard of their passions but the committing of it to Lawes he esteemed it a committing it to God and the Lawes And shall we thinke that Christ will leave his Spouse his body his beloved his Church where a Heathen would not leave a City If this were not true that Christ had laid downe an exact rule the Church would never know her load never attaine a setled estate For if there were a liberty for men to adde it were a duty too and so every High-priest in his time would be carefull to contribute something to the Churches benefit and so though Christ lay no other burthen Rev ● ●4 yet man might and would If Christ have not prescribed a forme there will arise divisions varieties inconformities for men would all set up their owne way One Bishop require one thing and another forbid it We shall never have peace so long as this Jezabel of humane power in spirituall things and her whoredomes remaine If this be denied Scripture will receive a blow for Lawes stand while they stand together their power is in their authority which is wounded when any one of them is violated And we see by experience that those that deny the Scriptures to be the rule of discipline have robd them of much of their authority in other things if not of all for they set their owne feet upon the neck of Scriptures and will tie them to speake not their owne but the Churches interpretation Humane traditions will make the commandements of God of none effect Matth. 15.6 wherever they are planted and suffered they will draw much honour from the holy Scriptures The contrary opinion derogates from the wisdome of Christ that he should not see what would be good for the Church or if he saw it that he should not communicate it Many arguments more might we bring to induce you to beleeve it let these be sufficient it is not a new truth but a banished one returned and a truth of very great consequence Till Christ be restored to this his lost dignity hee will never rise nor Antichrist fall Vse 2 Secondly Christ hath left a rule for his worship in all things here is worke for you that God hath called to the weeding of his garden the Church to pull up every plant that our heavenly Father hath not planted I speake to you whom God hath honoured with a power and I hope blest with a will to doe it I know you are not ignorant that there are many things yet standing that never came into Gods mind to command his Church It is an act of greatest mercie to ease consciences of these burdens humane impositions in divine things God doth now with you as with Saint John Rev. 11.1 He puts a reed into your hand to mesure the Temple he gives you the Scripture a right measure lay it to the worke and the outer court all humane inventions cast it out to the Gentiles send them home to Rome from whence they came What is not agreeable to this rule reject it as having no light in it Try all things Isa 8.20 and hold fast that which is good separate the precious from the vile and know in your worke the rule of innovations is not mans Law but Gods all substructions and additions to Christs rule are truly innovations against them must your zeale burne Doe as Hezekiah did 2 Chron ●9 command the Levites to carry all the filth out of the Temple Gather them that are faith full and charge them as Constantinus Magnus did them of the Nicene Councell Deposit â omni hostili discordiâ literarum divinitus inspiratarum c. that they should resolve all things in question by the word of God To move you to this consider It exceedingly provokes the wrath of God to see humane inventions stand by his owne he cannot endure Priests and Sacrifices not commanded The idolatry threatned and so often punisht in the Jewes was but false rites of worship which yet caused warre in their gates sold them into the hands of their enemies Especially he hates any new order of Priesthood not enjoyned by himselfe It was no lesse then death under the Law for any man to presse upon the Priests office without a call from God Num. 18.3.7 and he hath executed what he threatned Looke upon the examples of his displeasure in Vazah and the men of Bethshemesh 1 Chron. 13 7.10 And is not the office as sacred now as ever yea the ministration is more glorious and therefore every intrusion more dangeous Num. 4.5.15 Yea if particular acts were so grievous and punishable how much more a standing office which was never ordained of God and Aaron whose rodde never budded that never had the Vrim and Thummim put upon him They have made a breach in Israel and if they be not broken off we may feare God will make a greater Things set up by man set up another Gospel we see it by wofull experience in this Kingdome Ga● 1. Hundreds of congregations are constituted by humane Lawes and looke after no more for their Religion then Canon an Law To be a Minister is required no more but observance of Canon and to be a Christian it is enough if he be regular and observe the commands of the Church neither will ever men look for a b●tter till this be pull'd downe They make men distast the pure streames of divine truth Humane institutions are carnall easie such as reach not the heart and therefore much desired and doted upon being our owne and sutable to our natures The power of Religion the spirituall things of God are above us and require more of us to performe them and therefore loathed by carnall hearts therefore remove these as enemies of Christ secretly drawing the hearts of the people from him None such opposers of Christ as these Samaritans who have mixtures of their owne They beget a thirst after more of them A little Leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe Cal. 5.9 these left behind beget a desire of eating of Romes flesh-pots You will never stop all passages of returning to