Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	book_n	church_n	tradition_n	5,140	5	9.1021	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52591	A Declaration of the faith and order owned and practiced in the Congregational churches in England agreed upon and consented unto by their elders and messengers in their meeting at the Savoy, October 12, 1658.	Owen, John, 1616-1683.; Nye, Philip, 1596?-1672.	1659 (1659)	Wing N1487; ESTC R16855	44,499	94

unexcusable yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and of his Will which is necessary unto salvation Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers maners to reveal himself and to declare that his Will unto his Church and afterwards for the better preserving and propagating of the truth and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh and the malice of Satan and of the world to commit the same wholly unto writing which maketh the holy Scripture to be most necessary those former ways of Gods revealing his Will unto his people being now ceased II. Under the name of the holy Scripture or the Word of God written are now contained all the Books of the Old and New Testament which are these Of the Old Testament Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes The Song of Songs Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Of the New Testament Matthew Mark Luke John The Acts of the Apostles Pauls Epistle to the Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 to Timothy 2 to Timothy To Titus To Philemon The Epistle to the Hebrews The Epistle of James The first and second Epistles of Peter The first second and third Epistles of John The Epistle of Jude The Revelation All which are given by the inspiration of God to be the Rule of Faith and Life III. The Books commonly called Apocrypha not being of Divine inspiration are no part of the Canon of the Scripture and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of then other humane writings IV. The Authority of the holy Scripture for which it ought to be believed and obeyed dependeth not upon the Testimony of any man or Church but wholly upon God who is Truth it self the Author thereof and therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God V. We may be moved and induced by the Testimony of the Church to an high and reverent esteem of the holy Scripture And the heavenliness of the Matter the efficacy of the Doctrine the majesty of the Style the consent of all the parts the scope of the whole which is to give all glory to God the full discovery it makes of the onely way of Mans Salvation the many other incomparable excellencies and the intire perfection thereof are Arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence it self to be the Word of God Yet notwithstanding our full perswasion and assurance of the infallible Truth and Divine Authority thereof is from the inward work of the holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts VI The whole Counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own Glory mans Salvation Faith and Life is either expresly set down in Scripture or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture unto which nothing at any time is to be added whether by new Revelations of the Spirit or Traditions of men Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word And that there are some circumstances concerning the Worship of God and Government of the Church common to humane actions and Societies which are to be ordered by the Light of Nature and Christian prudence according to the general Rules of the Word which are always to be observed VII All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves nor alike clear unto all yet those things which are necessary to be known believed and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other that not onely the learned but the unlearned in a due use of the ordinary means may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them VIII The Old Testament in Hebrew which was the Native Language of the People of God of old and the New Testament in Greek which at the time of writing of it was most generally known to the Nations being immediately inspired by God and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all Ages are therefore Authentical so as in all Controversies of Religion the Church is finally to appeal unto them But because these Original Tongues are not known to all the people of God who have right unto and interest in the Scriptures and are commanded in the fear of God to read and search them therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every Nation unto which they come that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all they may worship him in an acceptable maner and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope IX The infallible Rule of Interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture it self And therefore when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture which is not manifold but one it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly X. The Supreme Judge by which all controversies of Religion are to be determined and all Decrees of Councels Opinions of ancient Writers Doctrines of men and private Spirits are to be examined and in whose Sentence we are to rest can be no other but the holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit into which Scripture so delivered our Faith is finally resolved CHAP. II. Of God and of the holy Trinity THere is but one onely living and true God who is infinite in Being and Perfection a most pure Spirit invisible without body parts or passions immutable immense eternal incomprehensible almighty most wise most holy most free most absolute working all things according to the Counsel of his own immutable and most righteous Will for his own Glory most loving gracious merciful long-suffering abundant in goodness and truth forgiving iniquity transgression and sin the rewarder of them that diligently seek him and withal most just and terrible in his Judgements hating all sin and who will by no means clear the guilty II. God hath all Life Glory Goodness Blessedness in and of himself and is alone in and unto himself All-sufficient not standing in need of any Creatures which he hath made nor deriving any glory from them but onely manifesting his own glory in by unto and upon them He is the alone Fountain of all Being of whom through whom and to whom are all things and hath most Soveraign dominion over them to do by them for them or upon them whatsoever himself pleaseth In his sight all things are open and manifest his Knowledge is infinite infallible and independent upon the Creature so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain He is most holy in all his Counsels in all his Works

their proceedings We humbly conceive that WE being dissatisfied in these things as our Brethren the like liberty was intended by the honorable Houses and may be taken by us of the Congregational way without blame or grief to the spirits of those Brethren at least to resolve or rather to continue in the same resolution and practise in these matters which indeed were our practises in times of greatest opposition and before this reformation was begun And as our Brethren the Ministers of London drew up and published their opinions and apprehensions about Church-Government into an intire System so we now give the like publique account of our consciences and the rules by which we have constantly practised hitherto which we have here drawn up and do present Whereby it will appear how much or how little we differ in these things from our Presbyterian Brethren And we trust there is no just cause why any man either for our differing from the present settlement it being out of conscience and not out of contempt or our differences one from another being not wilful should charge either of us with that odious reproach of Schism And indeed if not for our differing from the State-settlement much less because we differ from our Brethren our differences being in some lesser things and circumstances onely as themselves acknowledge And let it be further considered that we have not broken from them or their Order by these differences but rather they from us and in that respect we less deserve their censure our practise being no other then what it was in our breaking from Episcopacy and long before Presbytery or any such form as now they are in was taken up by them and we will not say how probable it is that the yoke of Episcopacy had been upon our neck to this day if some such way as formerly and now is and hath been termed Schism had not with much suffering bin then practised since continued in For Novelty wherewith we are likewise both charged by the enemies of both it is true in respect of the publique and open profession either of Presbytery or Independency this Nation hath been a stranger to each way it 's possible ever since it hath been Christian though for our-selves we are able to trace the footsteps of an Independent Congregational way in the ancientest customs of the Churches as also in the writings of our soundest Protestant Divines and that which we are much satisfied in a full concurrence throughout in all the substantial parts of Church-Government with our Reverend Brethren the old Puritan non-Conformists who being instant in prayer and much sufferings prevailed with the Lord and we reap with joy what they sowed in tears Our Brethren also that are for Presbyterial subordinations profess what is of weight against Novelty for their way And now therefore seeing the Lord in whose hand is the heart of Princes hath put into the hearts of our Governors to tolerate and permit as they have done many years persons of each perswasion to enjoy their consciences though neither come up to the Rule established by Authority And that which is more to give us both protection and the same encouragement that the most devoted Conformists in those former superstitious times enjoyed yea and by a publique Law to establish this Liberty for time to come and yet further in the midst of our fears to set over us a Prince that owns this Establishment and cordially resolves to secure our Churches in the enjoyment of these Liberties if we abuse them not to the disturbance of the Civil Peace This should be a very great engagement upon the hearts of all though of different perswasions to endeavor our utmost joyntly to promove the honor and prosperity of such a Government and Governors by whatsoever means which in our Callings as Ministers of the Gospel and as Churches of Jesus Christ the Prince of peace we are any way able to as also to be peaceably disposed one towards another and with mutual toleration to love as brethren notwithstanding such differences remembring as it 's very equal we should the differences that are between Presbyterians and Independents being differences between fellow-servants and neither of them having authority given from God or man to impose their opinions one more then the other That our Governors after so solemn an establishment should thus bear with us both in our greater differences from their Rule and after this for any of us to take a fellow-servant by the throat upon the account of a lesser reckoning and nothing due to him upon it is to forget at least not to exercise that compassion and tenderness we have found where we had less ground to challenge or expect it Our prayer unto God is That whereto we have already attained we all may walk by the same rule and that wherein we are otherwise minded God would reveal it to us in his due time Books sold by John Allen at the Sun Rising in Pauls Church-yard viz. Mr. Caryls fifth Volume on the Book of Job in quarto Mr. Caryls seventh Volume on the Book of Job in quarto Bezae Novum Testamentum in folio Mr. Allens Scripture Chronology in quarto Mr. Baxters Call to the Unconverted Mr. Cotton on the Covenant intended suddenly for the Press Mr. Lukins Practice of Godliness Mr. Burgess of Original sin Pareus on the Revelation in folio Mr. Gataker against Judicial Astrology wherein he proves it to be the way and practice of Heathens and ought not to be so much as named by them that profess the Name of Christ Esay 47.12 13. Jer. 10.2 The History of the Evangelical Churches of the Valleys of Piemont containing a most exact Description of the Place and a faithful Account of the Doctrine Life and Persecutions of the ancient Inhabitants together with a most naked and punctual Relation of the late Bloody Massacre 1655. and a Narrative of all the following Transactions to 1658. justifi●d partly by divers ancient Manuscripts written many hundred years before Calvin or Luther By Samuel Morlaend Esq in folio The humbled sinner resolved what he should do to be saved or Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the onely way of Salvation by Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick in quarto The Riches of Grace displayed in the offer and tender of Salvation to poor sinners by the same Author in twelves The Fountain opened and the Water of Life flowing forth for the refreshing of thirsty sinners by the same Author quarto The Gospels Glory without prejudice to the Law shining forth in the Glory of God the Father Son and holy Ghost for the salvation of sinners by Mr. Richard Byfield in octavo A DECLARATION OF THE FAITH and ORDER Owned and practised in the CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES IN ENGLAND CHAP. I. Of the holy Scripture ALthough the Light of Nature and the Works of Creation and Providence do so far manifest the Goodness Wisdom and Power of God as to leave men

crucified and all benefits of his death the Body and Blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally in with or under the Bread or Wine yet as really but spiritually present to the Faith of Believers in that Ordinance as the Elements themselves are to their outward senses VIII All ignorant and ungodly persons as they are unfit to enjoy communion with Christ so are they unworthy of the Lords Table and cannot without great sin against him whilest they remain such partake of these holy Mysteries or be admitted thereunto yea whosoever shall receive unworthily are guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord eating and drinking Judgement to themselves CHAP. XXXI Of the state of Man after Death and of the Resurrection of the Dead THe Bodies of men after death return to dust and see corruption but their souls which neither die nor sleep having an immortal subsistence immediately return to God who gave them the souls of the righteous being then made perfect in holiness are received into the highest Heavens where they behold the face of God in light and glory waiting for the full redemption of their bodies And the souls of the wicked are cast into Hell where they remain in torment and utter darkness reserved to the Judgement of the great day Besides these two places for souls separated from their bodies the Scripture acknowledgeth none II. At the last day such as are found alive shall not die but be changed and all the dead shall be raised up with the self-same bodies and none other although with different qualities which shall be united again to their souls for ever III. The bodies of the unjust shall by the Power of Christ be raised to dishonor the bodies of the just by his Spirit unto honor and be made conformable to his own glorious Body CHAP. XXXII Of the last Judgement GOd hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the World in righteousness by Jesus Christ to whom all Power and Judgement is given of the Father in which day not onely the Apostate Angels shall be judged but likewise all persons that have lived upon earth shall appear before the Tribunal of Christ to give an account of their thoughts words and deeds and to receive according to what they have done in the body whether good or evil II. The end of Gods appointing this day is for the manifestation of the Glory of his Mercy in the eternal salvation of the Elect and of his Justice in the damnation of the Reprobate who are wicked and disobedient for then shall the righteous go into everlasting Life and receive that fulness of joy and glory with everlasting reward in the presence of the Lord but the wicked who know not God and obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ shall be cast into eternal torments and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his Power III. As Christ would have us to be certainly perswaded that there shall be a Judgement both to deter all men from sin and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity so will he have that day unknown to men that they may shake off all carnal security and be always watchful because they know not at what hour the Lord will come and may be ever prepared to say Come Lord Jesus come quickly Amen Books sold by John Allen at the Sun Rising in Pauls Church-yard viz. Mr. Caryl's fifth Volume on the Book of Job in quarto Mr. Caryl's seventh Volume on the Book of Job in quarto Beza Novum Testamentum in folio Mr. Allens Scripture Chronology in quarto Dr. Preston's Riches of Mercy in quarto Buxtorfius's Lexicon the best sort in large octavo Mr. Baxter's Call to the Unconverted Mr. Cotton on the Covenant intended suddenly for the Press Mr. Lukin's Practice of Godliness Mr. Burgess of Original sin Pareus on the Revelation in folio Mr. Gataker against Judicial Astrology wherein he proves it to be the way and practice of Heathens and ought not to be so much as named by them that profess the Name of Christ Esay 47.12 13. Jer. 10.2 OF THE INSTITUTION OF CHURCHES AND THE ORDER Appointed in them by JESUS CHRIST I. BY the appointment of the Father all Power for the Calling Institution Order or Government of the Church is invested in a Supreme and Soveraign maner in the Lord Jesus Christ as King and Head thereof II. In the execution of this Power wherewith he is so entrusted the Lord Jesus calleth out of the World unto communion with himself those that are given unto him by his Father that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience which he prescribeth to them in his Word III. Those thus called through the Ministry of the Word by his Spirit he commandeth to walk together in particular Societies or Churches for their mutual edification and the due performance of that publique Worship which he requireth of them in this world IV. To each of these Churches thus gathered according unto his minde declared in his Word he hath given all that Power and Authority which is any way needfull for their carrying on that Order in Worship and Discipline which he hath instituted for them to observe with Commands and Rules for the due and right exerting and executing of that Power V. These particular Churches thus appointed by the Authority of Christ and intrusted with power from him for the ends before expressed are each of them as unto those ends the seat of that Power which he is pleased to communicate to his Saints or Subjects in this world so that as such they receive it immediately from himself VI Besides these particular Churches there is not instituted by Christ any Church more extensive or Catholique entrusted with power for the administration of his Ordinances or the execution of any authority in his name VII A particular Church gathered and compleated according to the minde of Christ consists of Officers and Members The Lord Christ having given to his called ones united according to his appointment in Church-order Liberty and Power to choose Persons fitted by the holy Ghost for that purpose to be over them and to minister to them in the Lord VII The Members of these Churches are Saints by Calling visibly manifesting and evidencing in and by their profession and walking their obedience unto that Call of Christ who being further known to each other by their confession of the Faith wrought in them by the power of God declared by themselves or otherwise manifested do willingly consent to walk together according to the appointment of Christ giving up themselves to the Lord and to one another by the will of God in professed subjection to the Ordinances of the Gospel IX The Officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the Church so called and gathered for the peculiar administration of Ordinances and execution of Power or Duty which he intrusts them