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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
sense_n	find_v	scripture_n	word_n	5,978	5	4.6633	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85548	The shipwrack of all false churches: and the immutable safety and stability of the true Church of Christ. Occasioned: by Doctour Chamberlen his mistake of her, and the holy scriptures also, by syllogising words, to find out spirituall meanings, when in such cases it is the definition, not the name, by which things are truly knowne.	Graunt, John, of Bucklersbury.	1652 (1652)	Wing G1594; Thomason E674_21; ESTC R207205	29,575	28

any other title to the Doctours purpose In the second place he continues his speech to his persecuting enemies which I hope upon second thoughts he doth not understand to be his Church In the third place he graciously informs and confirms his faithfull servant Phillip in the Mystery of his Divinity as of his Humanity and that his words are the works of God but not a word in the Doctours meaning And in the 24. verse as he speaks of them that love him so he speaks of them that hate him whom to affirme to be his Church is to blaspheme her And in the last place John 5. 19 30. the Lord speaks of himselfe as distinguishable from the Father and also declareth the hypostaticall union of both Natures Humane and Divine The true meaning of these Scriptures being thus considered shewes plainly that his doctrine and their intention were at a vast distance for it is far from their meaning that the Church of Christ may play the Harlot and of pure become base and unclean because they testifie that she is so long to last and continue holy even every member of her his body as Jesus Christ her head is to be Christ who was yesterday and to day and for ever And s●ving your learning Sir this doctrine sheweth that you are still tainted with the old leaven of corrupt Popery and Arminianisme which will be more manifested when I come to shew what the true Church of Christ is indeed discovering thereby your fancie more particulerly and exactly Another conclusion that he would teach the people was That his Church was a Baptized Church and had the true marks of a true Church which is the true Preaching the Word and the true administration of the Sacraments as he calls them Here the Gentleman is at a losse also and beats the air as before and that which he saith is to as little purpose his terms not being cleared to what sense he means from their various ac●eptations But the truth is his owne meaning by Baptisme is but that which is outward that any man may bear witnesse to that is present as he affirms in page 23. So then his Baptisme is of the same nature as his Church is both carnall the inside foule as Simon Magus his heart was not right in the sight of God his estate naturall and miserable in the Gall of bitternesse and in the bond of iniquity yet washt and cleansed without Where doe you read in the Scriptures that the Churches of God true spirituall Christians did ever brag and boast of the fleshly and carnall parts of the Ordinances of the Gospel as you have done No they see those are shaddows elementary representations and say that it is not Baptism in the flesh that saves not but the Baptism of the heart the heart sprinkled from an evil conscience and the body washed with pure water by this spirituall Baptisme men are saved So also they affirm that 's not Circumcision that is in the flesh but that is Circumcision that is of the heart in the spirit and not in the Letter inward spirituall and heavenly Baptisme And this Circumcision is that which Gods Church glories in and not the outward that Divells may participate of as well as Saints But the Doctour fears not to avouch that the washing with the Old Ford or Thames water and the like places is that Baptisme which the Scripture in a speciall sense speaks of by which men are regenerated because he maketh it the true mark of the rue Church Indeed this is the opinion of the stupid obdurat hard-hearted Jews and Papists and of most carnall Protestants in which they are all alike But as the true Church of Christ is spirituall so is her Baptisme and so are her fruits and manifestations her marks and seals by which she is distinguished from all other Churches that are false as when I come to establish the truth shall be cleared But the Doctour further affirmeth that their Baptized Churches have the true Preaching of the Word and he thinks himselfe to be none of the meanest amongst the rest and therefore in the first place and in the behalf of all the Baptized Churches as he calls them we will examine his owne true Preaching of the word as he affirms in page 24. That his Church and all other Baptized Churches baptize such as shall be saved according to Mark 16. 16. because as he saith they are beleivers and repenters Again saith he they that Baptize such as confesse with their mouth the Lord Jesus and beleeve in their hearts that God hath raised him from the dead Rom. 10. baptizeth such as shall be saved But baptized Churches baptize such as confesse with their mouth the Lord Jesus and beleeve with their hearts that God raised him from the dead therefore baptized Churches baptize such as shall be saved This professed workman for want of true understanding to divide the word aright hath from his own mouth eternalized his own shame for want of a clear and true distinction in the same terms that have divers meanings And that his folly may the more be manifested we will ingeniously consider the Scriptures the first we read thus He that beleeveth and is baptized shall be saved Now to find out the true meaning hereof two terms of necessity must be opened for one and the same term admitting of divers meanings in Scripture that sense must be distinguished from all others of like nature that is properly and only intended in that place Now for the term Faith it hath divers significations in the Scripture somtimes it is referred unto God somtimes unto men when unto God then it implyeth or intendeth nothing else but the sure and certain unalterablenesse of his promise and decree If unto men then it signifieth and intendeth either the doctrine of the Gospel it selfe or their faithfulnes that declare it or else some speciall gifts which the Spirit of God indueth his servants with now of such gifts there are but three sorts that bear the name of faith Somtimes the knowledge and certain understanding of the truth of Gods word is called Faith which for distinction sake may be called and that truly The Faith of knowledge or Historicall Faith which Faith although all the Saints under the Scriptures administration of the Gospel have yet it is not peculiar to them alone but common to all perishing Christians such as the Doctours Church consisteth of and may abundantly exceed in yea even Sathan himselfe The second gift of the holy Ghost is that by which any one miraculously doth such things as causeth admiration in the beholders exceeding naturall effects and is often in holy Writ called by the name of Faith and so may be denominated Miraculous Faith But with this gift the unholy may more excell then the holy men of God for John the Baptist did no Miracle but Iudas the Traytour did many in which gift of Faith the Priests and Juglers of Rome were famous as

full of excellent Philosophy both morall and naturall Mat. 5. 6. 7. Chap. 5. and all throughout the Gospel So Paul Acts 14. 17. c. Be not offended at Philosophy which is the work and providence of God unlesse it be vaine Philosophy which is against God If any of my Syllogisms were fallacious surely you were more quick then Mr Cranford and all the Schollars there to discerne it and truly know it better then my selfe for I know of none nor meant none shew it and I shall amend it Your last Letter from John 10. 5. I confesse in all senses true and whosoever is but taught of man is but mans sheep Whether any pretend to be mine or Mr Cranfords they have nothing to boast of But if I speak the words of Christ in the power of Christ it is no more I but Jesus Christ that dwelleth in me And g then they that hear not me hear not him that sent me Thus you see how large a Letter I have written to you in love unto the truth and compassion to your soule that you may know me to be Your true Freind in the Lord Peter Chamberlen NOw the reason why I doe not answer this last Letter of the Doctours in a private way as he sent it me is because he hath so boldly and publickly wronged the truth that she hath no way to be righted and relieved but by publick reparation And if I should reprove all I know of the Gentleman both old and new some other things would fall in with my pens reprehension also But we will lay aside all these and many more till another opportunity and now proceed to the tryall of his Syllogismes THE Shipwrack of all False Churches AND The Immutable Safety and Stability of the true Church of CHRIST THE Disputes and Arguings of Dr Chamberlen March 1. 1651. which are since published and as he saith for the satisfaction of all that love the truth but tendeth wholly contrary thereunto and it is so far from being justified that it is condemned by all the Children of Wisdome as I shall shew plainly and that from his owne printed Papers gathering these three Conclusions out from amongst abundance of unsound positions vain repetitions and absurd inferences and although he hath scattered them up and down yet we will orderly reduce them and Quaerie 1. What he saith of the Church of Christ 2. Of the Ordinances And 3. Of the Ministry thereof And this shall be my method with Gods helpe 1. I will shew how the Doctour in all these particulars misseth the truth and then I will manifest and confirm the truth it selfe as the Scriptures doe determine of all and each respectively In the 20●h page of his Book of Vaine Syllogismes he hath these words Dr Chamberlen here took liberty to make a short Discourse concerning the Church which indeed is very much and large but to little purpose and therein declareth himselfe not to be acquainted with true Divinity for what are all Heathenish or carnall Christian Assemblies to the Congregation of Christs Members which are his Church or the multitudes of carnall Christians in their devotion and worship in the litterall externall Ordinances and yet notwithstanding be a sinfull Nation a people laden with iniquity a seed of evill doers children that are corrupters such as in heart have forsaken the Lord and have provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger and are gone astray backward that is have estranged alienated or separated themselves from God through their impenitency and hardnesse of heart notwithstanding all their pretence of outward sanctity in Externall Ordinances and Church Discipline where there is no such thing at all in truth and in sincerity although drawne out from others into seperated Congregations according to the traditions of mens devices filling themselves with the old wine of harisaicall righteousnesse And although among other Churches the Doctour is pleased to affirm that the Church of Christ comprehendeth all the Saints but in that he sheweth not his meaning what a Saint is he thereby cleareth not himselfe from being ignorant thereof forasmuch as Antichrist himselfe gives the Title of Saints to his ungodly Church also But if the Doctour would have edified the Congregation he should in the first place have distinguished between the true Church and all such as are false by a right definition and description of the Saints and true Church of Christ from all others that assume to take upon them her Name and yet are ignorant of her Nature which he wholly omitting hath lost his labour and rendered himselfe unwise to the Children of wisdome And for wanting better principles in his Premises he makes his conclusion as equally corrupt in these words page 21. The Church of Christ saith he is then and so long the Church of Christ as she saith and doth what Christ gave her to say and doe even as Christ himselfe By which saying he maketh the being and continuance of the Church to depend on her own obedience and for proof thereof quo●es John 7. 17. 8. 26 28. 14. 10. 24. 5. 19 20. and concludeth thus and when she saith or doth otherwise she speaketh or playeth the Harlot in that particular Which is not the doctrine of the spirit of Christ but of the spirit of Antichrist For the Doctour makes the Church to be her owne Keeper but the spirit of God saith the Lord is the shepheard and keeper of her The Spirit of Christ saith she is chast and undefiled the Doctour on the contrary affirmeth she may play the whore and be a Harlot The Spirit saith she is led into all truth that she is the ground pillar and upholder of it and so impregnable that the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against her that every member is living every stone precious But on the contrary the Doctour saith she is mutable and so changeable as that she may say and doe contrary to it that leads her that guides her that speaks in her Oh miserable doctrine and no lesse miserable are those that receive it for if the blind lead the blind they will both fall into the ditch yet the Doctour would have the people beleive he is not blind but seeth and therefore quotes many Scriptures to prove it as are before mentioned which being the letter of the Text without any exposition we will examine the meaning thereof Our Lord being at Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles the Jewes saith the Text marvelled concerning him and his Doctrine some said he was a good man others that he deceived the people but Jesus answered My doctrine is not mine but his that sent me and so adviseth them how they might have benefit by it If any man will doe his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my selfe where there is not one word of the Church of Christ for they that doe not obey his will are not his Church nor

he cannot see the Kingdome of God In which words there are four parts and the tearms therein to be distinctly considered of The first is Of whom our Lord speaks by the name man and by it he means a naturall man And secondly That this man is to be born again his meaning is not as Nicodemus at that time understood him to enter into that place of nature from whence he came forth but to be born from above by a supernaturall force power vertue and operation of the Spirit of God In the third place He speaks of the matter of the Birth and that hath two parts The first is heavenly and spirituall water meaning thereby the grace and gift of God which the holy Ghost often in the Scriptures calls by the name of water which is the Baptisme of Repentance a true turning to God The second part consisteth of another more excellent work of the Spirit which is here called the Holy Ghost but in other places by metaphoricall tearms blood and fire by which is meant the Baptisme of the Holy Ghost or Remission of sins The first part is full of spirituall grief and disconsolation the last full of heavenly comfort and consolation And lastly By seeing the Kingdome of God he means the knowing and being a member of his Church in the state of Regeneration receiving the Spirit of Adoption through which he is made the Child of God and if Children then Heirs of the everlasting Kingdome the World to come the inheritance of the Saints so then from this Scripture thus opened we are taught that Gods method and way to convert men from nature to grace to make them members of his Church is to Turne them from darknesse to light from the power of Satan to be reconciled unto God To deliver us from the power of darknesse and translate us into the Kingdome of the Son of his love And by this way and means the Lord made and constituted the true Church of Christ at Collosse as he doth all other Churches of his which were Saints and faithfull brethren in Christ And so did he likewise that famous Church at Ephesus Yee were somtimes darknesse saith the Apostle but now are yee light in the Lord walk as Children of light Mark I pray you he calls this Church these Saints these Faithfull in Christ Jesus Children of light and how came they to be so but by being Borne of God of his own will begat he them being born again of incorruptible seed the Word of God which is the Word of his Grace the New Covenant the Word of Promise the Covenant of Life the making us partakers thereof is the taking away the stony heart and in the place thereof to give his Elect a heart of flesh that is a soft tender and humble heart and in it to write his everlasting love mercy and kindnesse never to be obliterated or revoked as before is shewed For those whom he thus loves once he loves unto the end And these Children of God are those little ones the Scripture speaks of those humble ones the Lord teacheth those contrite and penitent ones that the Lord comforteth refresheth and reviveth this is his Sion his little City his desired Habitation his delightfull dwelling his Holy Mountaine And where two or three of these are gathered together in his Name where by Name we are to understand Spirit there is he in the midst of them that is it that is it that makes them his Church even his holy presence that is it that makes them his House his Tabernacle to doe his great pleasure in Earth by his Spirit as the everlasting Father and the Son doth in Heaven whose voyce not to regard is as much as not to regard the voyce of God himselfe Oh Doctour for you to compare your hay wood and stubble with the purity and excellency of this Churches mettle which is Gods building it will even so eclipse your rush light and split your hulk and shipwrack your bark for ever as never to recover and your sandy foundation will shortly cause such a fall of your foolish Church building as never to be built again And that you may repent of your ignorance of the true Church of Christ I will give you another discovery of her excellency by her pure estate and glorious condition which the Propheticall Apostle Iohn saw in a Vision and writ it for posterity in these words And a great signe appeared in Heaven a Woman cloathed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet and on her head a Crown of twelve stars And being great with Child shee cryed travelling and labouring to be delivered In which Scripture there are many things considerable 1. A matter of wonderment and admiration for the great excellency of it 2. The place where it appeared and that was in Heaven 3. What it was that appeared and that was a woman 4. Then her cloathing and apparell all over her body 5. As also what she was crown'd with on her head 6. What she trod under her feet and not only denominating all things without her but 7. what was within her also And being great with Child she cryed travelling and labouring to be delivered This precious Virgin Spouse the Lords Bride being in her condition spirituall did shine forth in her primitive estate not in any outward pomp and humane carnall glory as now in any externall forme or soft Rayment after the fashion of the multitude of gathered Churches in these dayes but in her heavenly gifts and holy vertues her chast and prudent conversation the shining of her faith love patience and moderation in all things she was such as she was the light of the world to the wonderment and admiration of all the Children that had eyes to behold her And whereas it is said She appeared in Heaven the meaning is the places where the Gospel was beleeved the truth of God and way to salvation professed as in Iudea Italy Macedonia Asia and divers other places Cities and Countries in which sense the Apostle speaks to the Church of Thessalonica For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not onely in Macedonia and Achaia but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad c. And that the Church of Christ is signified by the appellation and title of a Woman that is usuall and often the expression of the Holy Ghost in the Scriptures as The Kings Daughter The Daughter of Sion The Spouse of Christ The Lambs Wife The Mother of all the Saints c. And there is great reason for the Female Sex resembles the Church of Christ in many respects as for their fruitfulnesse for their beauty for their subjection and passivenesse and tender bowels of compassion And that she may want nothing that may tend to her full description in her whole attire to make her all glorious without as the Prophet saith The Kings Daughter is all glorious within The son of Righteousnesse even his own