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
A91309	Truth triumphing over falshood, antiquity over novelty. Or, The first part of a just and seasonable vindication of the undoubted ecclesiasticall iurisdiction, right, legislative, coercive power of Christian emperors, kings, magistrates, parliaments, in all matters of religion, church-government, discipline, ceremonies, manners: summoning of, presiding, moderating in councells, synods; and ratifying their canons, determinations, decrees: as likewise of lay-mens right both to sit and vote in councells; ... In refutation of Mr. Iohn Goodwins Innocencies Triumph: my deare brother Burtons Vindication of churches, commonly called Independent: and of all anti-monarchicall, anti-Parliamentall, anti-synodicall, and anarchicall paradoxes of papists, prelates, Anabaptists, Arminians, Socinians, Brownists, or Independents: whose old and new objections to the contrary, are here fully answered. / By William Prynne, of Lincolnes Inne, Esquire.	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1645 (1645)	Wing P4115; Thomason E259_1; ESTC R212479	202,789	171

That every particular Church now consisting of visible Saints is under Christ as the SOLE Head King Governour Law-giver of it and so is subject to no other jurisdiction then that of Christ his Spirit his Word We hold that every particular Church is under Christs Government as the SOLE Head King Lord Governour thereof That it is a spirituall House whose only builder and Governour is Christ and not man A spirituall Kingdome whose only King is Christ and not man A spirituall Republique whose only Law-giver is Christ and not man A spirituall Corporation whose only head is Christ and not man That no man nor power on earth hath a Kingly power over this Kingdome That no earthly Law-givers may give Lawes to this Kingdome or Republique That no man may claime or exercise a head-ship over this body That no man can or ought to take the Government of this Communion of Saints That men may not appoint limit constitute what Congregations of all sorts they please to be Churches of Christ as Nations and Parishes That Christ is King over every mans conscience so that no power on earth may sit with him in this his Thror c. yea so as no human power not Law may intermeddle to prescribe rules for the Government or formes of this Church of Christ That the Children of those Parents who will not thus acknowledge Christ to be their only King and Law-giver and are ashamed or afraid to be thus in Covenant with Christ in the Independents way as their King are not to be baptized such Parents not being within the Covenant A very hard and uncharitable censure of all Churches Persons who are not Independent That Christ is the ONLY Potentate Law-giver Lord King Governour over Churches and not men Not Councells or Senates That this is Christs Royall Prerogative which is incommunicable to ANY or All the powers on earth That Christ hath not delegated his Kingly Office to any Princes Magistrates PARLIAMENTS to set up any forme of Worship of Church-Government who have no authority to make Lawes to rule or binde any particular Churches and if they make any such they shall be apt to transgresse them but yet men must take heed how they punish them for that transgression with any enseresciderdum or Club-law This is the summe and oft repeted Argument of my deare Brothers Booke To give a satisfactory Answer to this Objection I shall first demand of my dear Brother what he meanes by this frequently incultated assertion That every particular Church is under Christ as the only Head King Lawgiver Lord and Governour thereof c. and that none ought to have any power rule or Jurisdiction in the Church but Christ alone If he intends that he is the only immediate HEAD KING Law-giver and Governour as he clearely doth I desire some solid scripture proofes for it since he produceth none to evince it the rather because it is quite contrary to sundry expres Texts which stile Kings Majestrates Ministers Heigher powers Rulers Overseers Fathers Nursing Fathers Pastors of over their Churches people flocks who are ever enjoyned to obey submit unto them yea Rulers of the Templ Congregation Church Rulers Chife Rulers of the Synagogu ●ay sometimes Gods sitting upon Gods throne to whom men must yeeld obedience for the Lords sake as to Gods Christs Vicegerents and Embassadours Yea Brother your selfe informe us out of Scripture pag. 51. That the members of Christs body are Superiour and inferiour as Pastors Teachers Teaching and RVLING Elders Helps GOVERNMENTS Bishops or OVERSEERS c. If Christ then be the onely Head King Ruler Shephard Governour of his Church and none else in that sense you object what will become of these Pastors Ruling-Elders Governours Overseers which you averre Christ hath fixed in his Churches What will become of those Independent Ministers who take upon them like absolute kings Popes Lawgivers to erect gather new Chruches of their own forming and prescribe both Lawes Rules Covenants to them which Christ never made Brother you must expunge the 1 Tim. 5. 17 Let the Elders that RULE well be counted worthy of double honour Rom. 13. 1. Let every soule BEE SVBIECT to the HIGHER POWERS c. even for CONSCIENCE SAKE Tit. 3. 1. Put them in minde to be subject to Principalities and Powers to obey Magistrates c. Heb. 12. 17. Obey them that have THE RULE OVER YOU and SVBMIT your selves for they watch for your soules as they that must give an account c. Remember Salute all them that have the RVLE OVER YOV Acts 20. 28. Take heed to the floke over which the Holy Ghost hath made you OVERSEERS or Bishops to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his bloud Rom. 12. 8. HE that RVLETH let him do it with diligence 2 Chron. 9. 8. Blessed be the Lord thy God who delighted in thee to set thee VPON HIS THRONE to BE KING FOR THE LORD THY GOD c. with infinite other Texts yea the very names of Kings Princes Governours Elders Rulers Magistrates Overseers Bishops Teachers Fathers Pastors Masters c. out of the Bible and all Christian States Churches if you will make Christ alone the only immediate King Ruler Governour Lawgiver of his Church in the sence you here object it and that no person nor humane power whatsoever hath or ought to have any rule power or jurisdiction in or over the Churches people of God But if you meane no more but that Christ is the onely supreame Head King Lord Governour Lawgiver Pastor and Ruler of his Church and that all other Kings Princes Magistrates Rulers Pastors Ministers Governours are subordinate unto him as to the King of Kings Lord of Lords and chiefe Shepheard of his flock● your proposition is true but your conclusion miserably false that therfore there are no subordinate Kings Magistrates Rulers Pastors Governours Lawgivers under him to rule governe order instruct direct his Churches and people which the forequoted Texts your owne experience reason and the whole world will contradict Secondly I shall demand of my Brother how he proves all his forementioned Paradoxes concerning Christ and the Church in the sense he propounds them Or that his own or other Independent Churches lately gathered erected by no other but by men and consederated by a new Covenant framed by men not Christ to be built governed ordered onely by Christ and not men to be the spirituall Kingdome of Christ c. whole onely King Governour Head is Christ and not man Or in what Text he can shew me any particular Independent Church stiled Christs spirituall Kingdom and Republike I find it prophesied Revl 11. 15. That when the seventh Angel foundeth The KINGDOMES of this World which must be meant of Nationall Churches which you deny not of Particular Congregations which are no such Kingdoms shall become the Kingdomes of the Lord and of his Christ That all the

breach of Gods Laws with temporall punishments yet by this Gods Lawes become not temporall and unobligatory to the conscience So God on the other side may and doth 〈◊〉 the violation of just humane Lawes with spirituall and eternall punishments Majestrates being but his Vicegerents Deputies and the contempt of their just Lawes a contempt of God himselfe Therefore the Argument holds not The 5th Objection is this that the conscience only respects God therefore nothing can binde it but Gods owne Law which is spirituall I Answer That the conscience respects as well men as God Act. 24. 16 therefore the just Lawes of men as I have proved as well as of God 2ly The conscience looks upon the just Laws and precepts of men not meerly as human Lawes but as proceeding from the Ministers and Vicegerents of God himselfe whom they represent and whom God himselfe frequently enjoynes us to obey The 6th Is this No one man and by consequence not all mens consciences in the world may or can Iudge another mans conscience who standeth or falleth 〈◊〉 his owne Master Rom. 14. 4. 16. Ergo they cannot make Lawes to binde the conscience I Answer first that this text speakes only of privat Christians Judging one another in things indifferent as meates holy dayes c. when and where there is neither law of God nor man inhibiting the free use or refusall of them at the whole Chapter manifests Therefore it makes nothing against necessary ecclesiastical● Laws Canons obliging men to obedience even in point of conscience 2ly The Apostle expresly concludes in this very Chap. v. 14. to 23. That in case of giving scandal and offence to weak Brethren we ought to abstaine from the very use of lawful indifferent things even out of conscience of the scandall hurt don thereby not simply of the things themselves though there be no law of God or man restraining or altering the indifferency or lawfulnes thereof that without any impeachment of Christian liberty Therefore when necessary or convenient things meerly indifferent in their nature are enjoyned by Superiors just Laws or inconvenient indifferent things prohibited for the publick good or peace they ought much more to be submitted to without impeachment of christian liberty out of Conscience of the Law and scandall which would follow the volation thereof and in obedience to the generall Law of God which commands obedience to such Lawes The 7. Objection is this There is one Lawgiver which is able to save and to destroy to wit God● who art thou that judgest another Iam. 4. 12. Ergo none can make laws to bind the conscience but God I answer 1. that there is but one supream absolut Lawgiver which is God Is 33. 2. wch excluds not subordinat ones 2ly The Apostle saith not that there is ONLY one law-giver that can save and destroy neither will the words infallibly conclude there is but one such since humane law-givers can make Lawes to save or destroy the lives bodyes and Estates of men as appeares by Scripture and the Lawes of all Nations though not their Soules as they are meare humane Lawes but only collaterally as the wilful contempts and violations of them are sins breaches of the very law of God prescribing obedience to those Lawes in which sence they may secondarily destroy the very soules of men Thirdly This Text takes not away the power of making necessary temp●rall or Ecclesiasticall Laws for then no such Lawes could possibly be made by any But the meaning of the Apostle is this That onely God the Supreame Law-giver is able by his Law to make any indifferent lawfull thing necessary or unlawfull in it selfe in point of Religion or conscience and to change the meere indifferency of it into a thing simply good or evil and not humane Law-givers Therefore we should not judge or condemne one another in the use or neglect of those things which God himselfe hath left indifferent where there is no circumstance of scandall or contempt of humane Lawes to engage us to use or not to use them But it reacheth not to such humane Lawes Civill or Ecclesiasticall which command or prohibit things agreeable to the rules of Gods Word or things necessary and expedient for Order Decency Peace avoyding of scandall and other mischiefes which Lawes as Doctor Willet himselfe who makes this objection affirmes do binde the conscience notwithstanding this objected Text. And thus much for my Brothers first generall Objection His second is this That the Scripture holds forth and Christ in the New-Testament presoribes and layes down unto us but ONLY ONE and that a most compleat and exact forme of Church government and Discipline which ought not to be altered or varied from in the least title being a part of the Gospel and must be BUT ONE and THE SAME in all Nations Churches in all ages throughout the World precisely observed by all Churches without the least variation That the Independent way alone is this divine unalterable Evangelicall platforme Therefore nor King nor Parliament though assisted with a Synod of most pious and learned orthodox Divines justly may or can of right make any Ecclesiasticall binding Lawes for the government or Discipline of the Churches of Christ within their Jurisdictions it being indeed a meere adding to the Word of God prohibited under a curse Deut. 4. 2. c. 12. 22. Prov. 30. 6. Rev. 22. 18 19. Thus my deare Brother and other Independents Argue with more confidence than evidence of Scripture To which I answer first That though Christ and his Apostles have instituted in the Gospel all necessary Church-Officers as Evangelical Bishops Elders Ministers Deacons Pastors Teachers c. and likewise given some general rules for the Government and Discipline of his Church yet he hath neither instituted nor prescribed any such unalterable compleat exact forme of Church-government and Discipline in all ages and Churches in the New Testament as is pretended by many not evidenced by any My reasons are these First Because no such exact and punctuall platforme is or can be clearly demonstrated to us nor discovered by us in the Scripture upon most diligent scrutiny Quod non lego non credo hath alwayes been reputed a solid Argument in matters of Divinity and divine institutions The Apostle Heb. 7. 13. 14. argues thus negatively even in the point of Christs Priesthood because Moses spake nothing of the Tribe of Iudah concerning Priesthood And God himselfe argues thus Deut. 9. 12. 15. Ye saw no manner of similitude therefore ye shall make no likenesse or image of me I may safely argue negatively in like sort The Scripture speaks nothing of such an exact universall Platforme and we see no image or similitude of it in the Gospel Therefore there is no such Secondly Independents have been frequently pressed to shew us any such exactform of Church-government instituted and generally prescribed to all ages

to abate this windy tumour consider with themselves that all their greatnesses piled together in a generall or Nationall Synod though steepled with the Popes owne Chaire and three-forked Miter cannot so much as treat of debate dispute determine any Church-affaires much lesse constitute or promulge any new Ecclesiasticall Lawes Canons Articles Ceremonies Rites c. without the previous licence and permission of those temporall Princes and Powers that summon them nor yet exercise any manner of Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction whatsoever more then the poorest Vicar and Curate breathing that is a Minister lawfully ordained without the Kings Letters Patents or Commission authorizing them which erected their Bishopricks Diocesse and Episcopall jurisdiction at the first and must still support them else they will fall to utter ruine and then all their pretended claimes and crackt title of jus divinum with all Independents Anabaptists Brownists Anti-monarchicall Anti-parliamentall fancies concerning the jurisdiction and authority of their Independent Congregations opposite to the premises will vanish into ayre If any deeme the premised power of Christian Princes and Civill Magistrates in limiting Synods and Councels thus to be derogatorie to the lawfull authority of Bishops Ministers Synods or Independent Churches Ianswer that it is not so forthese ensuing reasons First because the chiefe care of preserving the purity of Gods Worship Ordinances Religion the Churches peace prosperity and of suppressing all heresies errours schismes corruptions superstitions contrary thereunto is committed to Christian Princes and supreme temporall Magistrates both by the Lawes of God the constant acknowledgment use practice constitutions lawes canons of all Christian Empires Kingdomes Councels Synods in all ages and the Coronation-Oaths of all Emperours Kings Princes in the Christian World which oblige them to discharge this trust as the subsequent Sections will abundantly manifest Therefore the power of directing Synods Councels in debating matters of controversie making Lawes Canons c. concerning all or any of the premises and the confirming of them ought principally to belong to them Secondly because Christian Emperours Kings Princes are the supreme heads and Governours under Christ in and over all Ecclesiasticall persons Assemblies Synods Councels Churches within their owne Dominions as well as temporall and our Kings of England are declared to be such by severall Acts of Parliament by the Oaths of supremacy and Allegeance which all ought to take within their respective Dominions Therefore they ought of right to direct and order all manner of proceedings in such Ecclesiasticall Assemblies Synods it being the duty and just right of every Naturall and Politicke head to direct the members as of the head of the family to regulate and direct the family wife c. by way of authority or jurisdiction not they the head Thirdly because the Bishops and Clergy of our owne and other Realmes have no Legislative power or other Ecclesiasticall authority vested in them by the Word of God but onely to preach the Word administer the Sacraments and to binde or loose mens sinnes declaratively by preaching or applying the Gospel to them according as they finde them penitent or obstinate in their sinfull courses and no more of other Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction then what is derived to them by our Kings and the Lawes of this our Realme as is resolved in these expresse termes by the Statute of 37. H. 8. c. 17. The Arch-bishops Bishops Arch-deacons and other Ecclesiasticall persons of this Realme have no manner of Iurisdiction Ecclesiasticall but by under and from the Kings royall Majestie the onely and undoubtea supreme head of the Church of England and Ireland to whom by holy Scripture all authority and power is wholly given to heare and determine all manner of causes Ecclesiasticall and to correct all vice and sinne whatsoever and to such persons as his Majestie shall appoint thereunto And by the Statute of 1. Ed. 6. c. 2. in these words That all jurisdiction spirituall is derived and deducted from the Kings Majestie to all Bishops and Ecclesiasticall persons within England and Ireland as supreme head of these Churches and Realmes of England and Ireland and so instly acknowledged by the Clergie of the said Realmes and that all Courts Ecclesiasticall within the said two Realmes be kept by no other power or authority either forraigne or within the Realme but by the authority of his most Excellent Majesty whereupon it enacts That all their Processe shall issue out under the Kings Seale and in his Name and Stile as in Writs originall and judiciall at the common Law with which sundry other Acts of Parliament concurre Now the Kings and Lawes of this our Realme have given the Clergie assembled in Councels Synods and Convocations no other but such a limited power and authority as is expressed in the fore-cited Statutes of 25. H. 3. c. 19. 27. H. 8. c. 15. and mentioned in the premises Therefore they neither can challenge nor pretend to claime any other but such a limited and confined authority the rather because they are assembled to such meetings as our Assembly is now onely as advisers and assistants not as Judges or Law-givers Therefore the keeping of them to the fore-mentioned limits can neither be an infringement or eclipsing of their just priviledges or Christian liberty Fourthly because every particular Christian is to try the spirits doctrines and determinations of Ministers by the Scriptures whether they are of God or not and to beware yea judge of false Teachers doctrines and no wayes to receive them as the Marginall Texts abundantly evidence and all Orthodox Divines assert Much more then are Christian Princes the chief Defenders of the Christian faith to judge and determine of them therefore to give particular directions to and in all Synods Councels how to proceed and what to treat of for suppressing false Teachers Heresies Schisms Errours advancing Religion Truth unity and sincerity of Gods Worship within their territories and Churches Fifthly because every soule as well Bishops Ministers and all other Ecclesiasticall persons as temporall subjects is and ought to be subject to Christian Princes and the highest temporall powers who are to provide for their spirituall as well as their temporall welfare Therefore they ought to be regulated and directed by them when assembled by their Writs in Councels or Synods for their spirituall good SECT 3. Of Confirming Ratifying the Canons Decrees and Resolutions of Councells Synods by Christian Princes Peers Parliaments before they become valid or obligatory Of the Presence and Power of Christian Princes Nobles and other Lay-men in Councells That many or most Councells Synods in ancient and latter times especially in England were in truth meere Parliaments wherein Christian Princes Nobles Senators and Lay-men met and voted as well as Bishops and other Ecclesiasticall persons And that no Canons Lawes Articles concerning Gods Worship Religion Church-Government Ceremonies were ever lawfully prescribed or imposed on any Subjects of our Realme but

direct Scriptures and fundamentall Truths never formerly questioned They nullifie and slight Examples of the Old Testament in all things that make against them and yet cry them up againe when they make for them especially in the point of their Church Covenant which they confesse hath no ground at all in the New Testament but onely in the Jewish Church under the Old Which yet they will not admit a sufficient Proofe of a Nationall Church Seventhly They intricate gain-say things which are cleare take things for granted that are either false or doubtfull confound things in generalities which they should distinguish deny things that are apparently true yea which is worst of any not only affirming but beleeving most things with a reserve according to their present light to the posture of their present Judgement as they are yet informed with a liberty of altering or varying to morrow from what they affirme or beleeve to day upon new light discovered Which is in truth to bring a meere Skepticisme into Religion to play fast and loose with God and our owne Consciences to doubt all things firmely beleeve nothing to set up Opinion in the Throne and Place of Faith and in conclusion to introduce flat Atheisme Eightly They refuse Church-Communion with those who are not of their Way and Churches excluding them from the Lords Table and their very Children from Baptisme in their Churches if they submit not to their Covenant and Way judging them all professed Enemies to the Kingdome and Government of Christ and so visibly without the Covenant of Grace though never so Pious or Religious Ninthly Their very Principles teach disobedience to Parliaments Synods Princes Magistrates and all other Superiors in all their just Lawes and Commands which concerne the Church or Religion dissolve all Relations all Subordinations and humane Society it selfe as I have here fully manifested Tenthly They exceedingly magnifie their owne Way Ministers Writers Opinions Conceits despising and under-valuing all others in a kind of Pharisaicall manner not deeming them worthy their Church-Communion Eleventhly They have high conceits of their owne transcendent holinesse and under pretext of being more pious pure living more holily and serving God more exactly than others they doe without sufficient Grounds quite sever from all other Churches just like Popish Monkes Hermites Anchorites Nunnes Jesuites and other Religious Orders who separate themselves from others under this very pretence of being more holy and living more devout than others Twelfthly They pretend themselves the greatest Enemies of all others to Papists Arminians Anabaptists Socinians Sectaries and yet concurre with them in their Opinions Practices Policies fighting against us with their very weapons Of all which I thought good to advertise thee kind Reader lest thy good opinion of the Piety and dignity of their Persons worthy all due honour and respect should make thee swallow downe their dangerous Principles and Opinions without strict examination Whereas good mens Errors are most infectious pernicious and so more carefully to be observed avoyded How farre they have swerved from Verity and Antiquity in sundry Particulars how fallacious and weake their principle Proofes and Arguments are I have here in part discovered and shall in due time if God say Amen put a Period to the other Part which is yet behinde In the mean time beseeching God to prosper these my impotent Endeavours to thine and the publike good which I have principally published for the satisfaction of the Learned and such who most seduce the Ignorant I shall dismisse thee with this wholesome Councell of God himselfe Ephes 4. 14 15 16. Henceforth be no more Children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lye in wait to deceive But speaking the truth in love grow up into him in all things which is the Head even Christ From whom the whole Body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth according to the effectuall working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the Body unto the edifying of it selfe in love Farewell Errata Faults escaped in some Copies pag. 5. lin 14. read Regis p. 22. l. 24. Constitutions r. Consistories p. 25. l. 21. premissis p. 61. l. 12. actaque p. 65. l. 32. necesse l. 34. receptat r. refrixerat l. 46. dele to p. 69. l. 5. Turlstan p. 75. l. 31. inhibit l. 34. resist desist p. 85. l. 22. the. p. 26. l. 31. ch 1. p. 101. l. 1. servus l. 12. universa p. 108. l. 9. issue p. 169. informe p. 116. l. 36. Ministers masters p. 120. l. 9. 35. l. 24. with his his owne p. 135. l. 45. clear p. 131. l. 22. Fourthly Fifthly l. 31. Foure Five Margin p. 66. l. 21. 22. r. Incarnationis Anno. p. 119. l. 1. Rom. 13. 1. p. 124. l. 3. 11. r. 18. Truth triumphing over Falshood Antiquity over Novelty c. AS it is an unspeakable griefe and corrosive to my very soule to enter into publike contestations with any of my Christian brethren who professe the selfe-same faith together with me so it would be a far greater heart-breaking and much sorer affliction to my spirit to behold upstart groundlesse Errours triumphantly insulting over ancient orthodox Verities and dragging them captives after their domineering chariots This makes me once more take up the Sword and Buckler not of Polemicall School-divinity but Historicall Antiquity to encounter those Adverse forces which have taken up offensive armes and waged open warre in many new-printed Pamphlets against the lawfull Jurisdiction and soveraign authority of Christian Princes Magistrates Parliaments assisted with the advice of Reverend Synods and Councels in matters of Religion church-government Ecclesiasticall Lawes Canons Discipline all which through Gods assistance I hope totally to rout and dissipate in such sort that they shall never be able to make head againe by this short suddain onset which I have yet neither vacancy nor time sufficient through the multitude of other publike avocations to prosecute to the full I shall marshall my subitane collections of this nature under distinct Positive propositions which I shall propound and prosecute in order Sect. 1. Of the power of summoning Councels and Synods 1 FIrst I affirm that the right and authority of calling or summoning Ecclesiasticall Assemblies Councells Synods whether Generall Nationall or Provinciall to settle matters of Religion Worship Church-government or constitute Ecclesiasticall Lawes belongs not to Bishops Ministers or private Independent Congregations but to Princes or supreme temporall Magistrates and Powers This Proposition militating both against Papists Brownists Anabaptists and some Independents I shall ratifie by Scripture and historicall presidents in all ages as well forraigne as domestick with brevitie and perspicuitie 1. For Scripture-presidents and Authorities we have Precepts to and Presidents of Moses the prime civill-Magistrate among the Israelites Num. 10. ● 3 4. c. 8. 9. c. 20. 8 10. Exod. 35. 1 4.