Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	bishop_n	church_n	pastor_n	3,273	5	9.0845	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50250	An heart-melting exhortation together with a cordiall consolation presented in a letter from New-England to their dear countrymen of Lancashire : which may as well concern all others in these suffering times / by Richard Mather ... and William Tompson ...	Mather, Richard, 1596-1669.; Tompson, William, d. 1666.	1650 (1650)	Wing M1273; ESTC R3673	23,412	92

and notwithstanding all his glorious profession of religion his good estimation amongst others or the good opinion that he hath or hath had of himself he will at death everlastingly perish from the glorious and saving presence of God because it is a most infallible and divine truth that must stand for ever and all flesh shall finde it so that he that hath the Sonne hath life and he that hath not the Sonne hath not life 1 Joh. 5.12 It were therefore much to be desired that there were in men such an heart as was in the Apostle Paul who having many legall priviledges and having been zealous of legall duties so that in respect of the righteousnesse of the Law he was blawelesse yet counted all these things losse for Christs sake for whom he suffered the losse of all and did judge them to be dung that he might winne Christ and might be found in him not having 〈◊〉 own righteousnesse which 〈◊〉 the Law ●ut that which 〈◊〉 by the faith of Christ even the righteousnesse which is of God by faith Phil. 3.4 5 6 7 8 9. An excellent lesson and worthy to be learned by every Christian yea a lesson that must be learned in some measure of truth by all those that must be saved For Christ himself prescribes it as the first particular to him that would be his disciple that he must deny himself Mat. 16.24 And by a mans self that must be denyed he means this self-righteousnesse as well as other things For sure it is that if ever a man must be saved he must be saved by Christ because there is not salvation in any other Act. 4.12 and if by Christ then ● man must beleeve in Christ for without faith a man can have no union nor communion with Christ nor ever please God Eph. 3.17 Heb. 11.6 And if a man have faith in Christ then Christ must be precious in his sight for unto them that have faith he is precious 1 Pet. 2.6 And if Christ be precous in any mans sight then he must loath himself in his own sight and not only cast away all the practice o● wickednesse but all trust and confidence in the filthy rag● of his own righteousnesse Isa. 64.6 that so selling all that ever he hath he may buy that most precious Pearl the Lord Iesus Christ and his righteousnesse Matth. 13.45 A Pearl of such inestimable worth and value that he is most unspeakably happy that ●ath it and of such absolute necessity that they are most wretched and accursed who ●ive and die without it Lastly to name no more particulars This is another and not the least of the sinnes for which our Countreymen should be humbled and repent in the sight of God viz. that the authority and will of Christ Jesus in Church-administrations hath been no more acknowledged and regarded For sith he is the only King and Lord and Law-giver to his Church Psal. 2. ●6 Jam. 4.12 therefore his Church and all things in his Church ought to be established and ordered according unto his appointment or if it be otherwise his royall authority is injured thereby Now if his appointment in these matters were observed then Churches for the quality of their matter should consist of none but Saints and visible beleevers Isa. 60.21 Ezek. 44.7 9. Zach. 14. ult. Ephes. 1.1 and for the quantity thereof no greater number but one Congregation 1 Cor. 14.23 Then functions and offices of ministery which are not from heaven but from men Mat. 21.25 should not be tolerated in his Church nor any of those functions and offices be wanting which the Lord Jesus hath appointed and ordained Eph. 4.11 Phil. 1.1 1 Tim. 5.17 Then none should be chosen or received unto any office in the Church but such as are qualified with gifts for their places 1 Tim. 3.2 3. c. nor should their entrance into their places be without the choice and free consent of the Church Act. 1.23 6.3 5. 14.23 and when they are entred they should execute their places with all diligence and faithfullnesse 1 Cor. 4.1 1 Tim. 5.17 and the worship which in these Churches should be performed should not be by the precepts and canons of men but according to the will and word of God with discipline administred according to the rule of Christ●Mat 18.15 16 17. In all which particulars the Lord knows there hath been great swerving from the appointment of Christ both in your Countrey and in other places of England in that prophane and vile men have been allowed for members of the Church and the signs and seals of the body and bloud of Christ prophanely administred to such whom the Scripture calleth dogges and swine Matth 7.6 Also in that besides the Congregationall Church appointed by Christ there have been Diocesan and Provinciall Churches which he appointed not and Arch-Bishops lord-Lord-Bishops Deans Chancellors and many more functions and offices in the Church which were all invented and devised by men and Pastors Teachers Elders and Deacons which he himself appointed greatly neglected and out of use Many have been admitted to the ministery which have been altogether unfit for any such weighty and sacred emploiments and obtruded upon the Congregations by Patrons and Prelates and when they have been in their places have been most negligent and unfaithfull therein not minding the glory of God nor the salvation of the peoples souls and Ecclesiasticall Discipline hath been administred by Officers and Laws and Canons and Courts and worship performed by Service-book and Ceremonies in many particulars of all which it may be truly said they are things which the Lord never commanded nor did they ever come into his heart as Jer. 7.31 But here it may be some man may say If things have been amisse in these particulars what is that to us we hope it is not our fault Such an one we would pray to consider that in many particulars the people have been willing enough yea too willing of these corruptions that have been invented and imposed by others as when the Prophets prophesied falsly and the Priests did bear rule by their means and the people loved to have it so Jer. 5.31 And where it hath been so that the people have been willing of these corruptions there the people have reason to be humbled for them though the things were first invented and imposed by others But say it had been against their mindes that such corruptions have been practised yet it should greatly grieve a godly heart to see such injury done to Christ Jesus a● that other laws besides his and other Lords besid●s him should have dominion over the people of God Isa. 26.13 and such injury done unto the Church of Christ a● that by means of these usurpations and impositions of men sh● should be bereaved of a grea● part of that spirituall liberty which was purchased for her by the price of his precious bloud and lastly it should grieve every Christian heart in