Selected quad for the lemma: sense_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
sense_n church_n faith_n true_a 7,319 5 5.4231 4 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A70556 A briefe or generall reply, unto Mr. Knuttons answers unto the VII. questions, about the controversie betwen the Church of England, and the separatist and anabaptist briefly discussed. By John Mabbatt. Mabbatt, John. 1645 (1645) Wing M112; ESTC R223722 35,933 39

There is 1 snippet containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

and the Resolution of the Question as far off as when Mr. Knutton began to resolve them for any thing in his Answers so that the truth in the Question in the port of them stands firme and undeniable and the strength of his opposition against you languisheth in its owne weakenesse will but occasion more courage and double resolution unto you in the Truth and that way of God which by some may bee called the way of heresy yet so saith the Apostle worship I the God of my Fathers beleeving all things in the Law and the Prophets Act. 24.14 15. which that you may so doe in the true Knowledge and Holinesse according unto God I shall pray Yours in CHRIST JESVS John Mabbatt QVESTION THE FIRST Whether is the Church of England as it now stands a true Church F. I Premize this that in this Church is much defect in Discipline and in the execution of it in comparison of other Reformed Churches who in this far exceed it the second Part of the Answer is I affirme it is a true Church yea the Spowse of Christ R. In the first part of the Answer nothing is said for the Church of England except it be in way of deniall to which there need be little replie to it The second part of the Answer is a positive affirmation it is a true Church yea the Spowse of Christ but upon what ground proof or reason he is too short to demonstrate They of the Church of Rome will give as positive an affirmation that their Church is a true Church yea the Spowse of Christ Though she be a Harlot therefore a bare affirmation to be such must not be taken 2 Pet. 2.18 here is neither ground nor proof to make good this affirmation therefore if any thing be pretended it is in the following reason F. Because the Church of England hath the matter and form of a true Church the matter of a Church are men and women in a right logicall sense matter which is one of the causes hath this property it is Passive for Action is from the Forme which is called the beginning of doing as matter is of suffering so are men by nature in the internall and reall worke of Grace in conversion passive Such matter the Church of England hath it hath also the forme of a Church the forme of a thing in strict logicall sense is a chief cause which actuates the matter and perfects it it is a constituting cause now the forme or constituting cause of a Church is faith which brings it into relation to Christ this forme our Church hath it hath many true Beleevers R. This argument cannot justifie the Church of England to be a true Church 1. Because what this Argument affirmes to maintaine it so is no more then may be affirmed of the Church of Rome 2. Because it denies all visible Apostolicall Churches as they were planted by the Apostles in the Primative times which may appeare as follows First it grants what it affirmes may be in the Church of Rome thus the matter and forme he expresseth to be the matter and forme of a Church be there the matter saith hee in a right Logicall sense is men and women but men and women are the matter of the Church of Rome ergo the matter is in Rome which is one of the Causes that hath this property it is passive so are men by rature in the internall and reall worke of grace in conversion so is it with all men and women in Rome and in all the World it hath also the forme of a Church which forme hee thus explaines the forme of a thing in strict Logicall sense is a chief cause which actuates the matter and perfects it as he saith action is from the forme which is called the beginning of doing but the Church of Rome hath a forme as a chief cause which actuates the matter and perfects it and is a constituting cause to it which is here proved 2 Thes 2.9.10 Revel 13.4 5.12.13.14.15.16.17 F. Now the forme or constituting Cause of a Church is faith which brings it into Relation to Christ R. Which I denie Faith alone is not a forme or Constituting cause of a Church for what ever is essentiall to the being of the Church of Christ is essentiall to be in the Church considered in its constitution Ephes 2.19 20 21 22. 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5. and for what he affirmes of Faith that it should be a forme or constituting cause of a Church in being in relation to Christ is false there may be such in the Church of Rome have Faith and stand in relation to Christ Revel 18.4 ergo there is faith in some of the Church of Rome that brings it into relation to Christ and is a constituting cause of her to be his Church and Spowse whom hee hath disclaimed and to be a harlot and the mother of whoredomes Rev. 17.5 Therefore for him to say because here is some have Faith and many true Beleevers in the Church of England and this their faith brings it into relation to Christ this forme our Church hath it is no more then may be said of Rome and this doth not make neither one nor the other a true Church 2. This Argument denies all visible Apostolicall Churches as they were planted by the Apostles in the Primitive times First the matter of the Church in the Apostles times were Saints by calling 1 Cor. 1.2 Secondly not simply as men and women but such men and women as professed Faith and Repentance at the least Act. 2.41 3. Now men and women are in the worke of Conversion meerly passive but as they are matter for the Church of Christ they are more then meerly passive not dead stones but living stones because that you have tasted that the Lord is gracious to whom comming as a living Stone yee also as living stones be made a spirituall house 1 Pet. 2.3.4.5 The forme or Constituting cause of a Church is faith which brings it into relation to Christ if he would say any thing in this Argument it is in these words Yet how contrary it is to stand with the Primitive Church may plainly appeare 1. It denies the visibility of Christs Church because the Argument cannot hold but with reference only unto the Church of Christ misticall for Beleevers in all ages places and people by reason of their union and Faith in Christ are called his body Ephes 1.23 and thus they are of his body yet visibly not his Church 2. Faith cannot be onely a forme or constituting cause of the visible Church because first Faith may as well be a forme or constituting cause as well to perticular persons to be a Church of Christ for he hath the same Faith brings him into this relation unto Christ as doth the faith of more and makes him a member of his body mistically yet not his Church visibly For the Scripture never gives the name of Church to one person no