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	power_n	presbyter_n	2,561	5	10.5876	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A55606	A vindication of monarchy and the government long established in the Church and Kingdome of England against the pernicious assertions and tumultuous practices of the innovators during the last Parliament in the reign of Charles the I / written by Sir Robert Poyntz, Knight of the Bath.	Poyntz, Robert, Sir, 1589?-1665.	1661 (1661)	Wing P3134; ESTC R3249	140,182	162

aut minuit The Apostolical and Primitive practice rather then the late discipline and example of some reformed Churches who as much of necessity as of election are fallen for the most of them unto a form of Presbyterian discipline of which they find no use nor Character in the Primitive time And therefore they shew little candor and sincerity who so peremptorily defend this Presbyterian discipline and with detraction and detestation of Episcopal Government seeing it hath been fully proved by Learned men that the office and power of a Bishop made ever a great difference betwixt him and a Presbyter Neither can they conclude any thing for their advantage by the promiscuous use of those two names at the first at which they catch It cannot be called one and the self same order where the offices are distinct Diversi tituli praebent regulariter significationem diversi juris * Episcopetus est ordo distinctus in quantum est officium qu●ddam ad sacras actiones Aquinas Episcopa tus juxta veriorem receptiorem sententiam Canonista um Theologorum ordo est quatenus ordo dicitur officium quoddam potestas respec●u qua rundam sacrarum actionum que sacerdoti non conveniunt Conarunias variarum resolut lib. 1. c. 10. Amongst Gods selected people there was the high Priest the chief Governour of the house of the Lord. Jer. 20.1 Numb 3 32. If the offices and things are distinct it availeth little the insisting upon words and names promiscuously used There is not one and the same imposition of hands and shall not it be a distinct order in it self from whence ordination and all other orders do and ever did proceed untill of late time Neither was the office and Power of a Bishop lessened by the assistance and counsel of certain Presbyters called Senatus Ecclesiae but rather strengthened and supported by that antient and laudable course There doth not appear in Scripture any commission given to any assembly of Presbyters by our Saviour to govern the Church without a Bishop or Superiour in whom was the power of Ordination and Imposition of hands although by the antient Canons Distinctio 24. c. 6. causa 15. qu●st 7. Episcopus sine consilio Clericorum suorum Clericos non ordinet it a ut Civium conniventiam testimonium quaerat Neither is there any example in Scripture of any delegation of power of Censures or Government derived from the Apostles to any Colledge or Assembly of meer Presbyters If these men will peruse the Canons of the four first general Councils which Calvin saith Institut 4. c. 19 Et in lege Constantini Imperatoris sancimus vim legum obtinere Sanctas Ecclesiasticas regulas quae à Sanctis qu●tuor primis Cenciliis exposi a sunt Novell 131. cap. 1. distinctio 15. c. 2. libenter amplectimur reveremur they shall find enough to justifie the office and superiority of Bishops and to give them satisfaction of the necessity of that Function if wilfull ignorance and the spirit of delusion and contention doth not still prevail They cannot shew that ever any Church upon the face of the earth hath ever been ordered by their discipline untill this later age or hath not ever been under Episcopal government since the Apostles time * Exceptis Haereticis Macedonianis qui pro certo tempore non habthant Episcopum sed sub solis Presbyteriis e●ant Sosomen Eccles hist lib. 8. c. 1. Neither can they by their doctrine and manners or by any other means induce those who are in no respect behind them in learning prudence and piety to believe that they and not others have had the clearer lights and more divine inspirations Saint Paul meeting with such men saith unto them 1 Cor. 14.36 Luk. 11.35 What came the word of God out from you or came it onely unto you Take heed that the light which is in thee be not darkness CHAP. II. Of the Presbyterian Government in the Church The practice in the Primitive times Touching the election of Pastors and Ministers in the Church and their maintenance by paiment of Tythes AS they would have it granted that their Presbyterian Government is onely of Divine right so would they also have it granted that nothing is to be used in Church Government but that which hath direct and express warrant in Scripture and that all discipline and order in the Church ought to be reduced to the primary purity of the Church which is not possible in many things neither necessary or expedient in these corrupt times and latter age of the world An exact form for all Church government and discipline is not to be found expressed in the Scripture For one cause of so many general Councils in the first times and shortly after was to make Canons and Constitutions for the external Government of the Church which had not needed if such a perfect Platform had been delivered in the Scripture as these men do imagine We find of necessity Aliter in constitutà Ecclesià aliter in constituendà Some things are sit for the present which for the times past were not convenient according to the old saying Nunc aliud tempus alii pro tempore mores Cicero had just cause to be displeased with Cato who living in a corrupt State sought to have all things carried as though he had lived in Plato's Common wealth New lawes may be made but not new men neither the present manners of men altered or reduced to the old It was wisely said in the Imperial Law That the looking back too curiously into the times of old and seeking to reduce the present to that which was past erat confusionis potius quam legislationis Laws look not back they may well be made to look forward and for the future but they must of necessity be made fit for the present time which man cannot over-rule Aul. Gel. lib. 20. c. 1. Legum opportunitates medelas pro temporum moribus pro rerum publicarum generibus pro utilitate praesentium mutari atque flecti The ancient good discipline may well serve for our instruction which neither may nor can all serve for our imitation Respect is to be had unto the times of old and we are instructed by Gods word to ask of the dayes of old to remember the dayes past to ask for the old paths but not injoyned to follow them in all things Jerem. 6.16 and in all times We finde in the Scripture things of Apostolical institution changeable and not appointed for perpetuity Many offices and ministeries in the Church at first were soone changed as the electing of widows for some services the manner of instituting and ordering of Pastors and Elders not lay Elders and for the raising their maintenace which in the primitive times when the Church was in the Infancy and under Persecution before Tythes were established did rise from the free Benevolence of men who were of one