Selected quad for the lemma: sin_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
sin_n	believe_v	church_n	remission_n	3,695	5	9.7921	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42146	The searchers for schism search'd, or, Their pretended questions for conscience sake answered wherein is proved that those baptized congregations under laying on of hands are not guilty of schism in separating from them : shewing, in opposition to their threeforld hypothesis, that their church constitution is not true, separation from them proved lawful, the truth and authority of the doctrine about which they separate, vindicated / humbly presented to all concerned [by] J. Griffith ...	Griffith, John, 1622?-1700.	1669 (1669)	Wing G2003; ESTC R41670	59,153	128

and do not understand laying on of hands to be your duty according to the will of God to submit to 3. That if you did understand as aforesaid laying on of hands to be according to the will of God your duty you would do it 4. And you being thus qualified de●and whether you ought not to be esteemed a●●●urch of Christ These things premised we now answer 1. How can you be ignorant that laying on of hands is your duty to do when one of you and one that is esteemed eminent among you for parts and knowledge yea and one of the chief if not the alone Author of your Search did not very long since receive laying on of hands upon the same ground and to the same end we practise it giving of it first under his own hand as is still to be seen 2. Can he then be ignorant that laying on of hands is his duty to do according to the will of God when he shall submit to it as to one of the first Rudiments of Christianity Either he did submit with understanding or he offered the Sacrifice of Fools which know not what they do or did he design to deceive the Brethren that administred Prayer and laying on of hands upon him that so he might be the better able being now admitted a Member of a Congregation under laying on of hands and with the less suspition to undermine that part of the Foundation on which the House was built To say he did as Fools do would be too saucy a reflection to say he received laying on of hands designedly would proclaim that action of his rather Jesuitical than Christian and conclude him notorious for Hypocrisie 3. How can it be thought he should not understand prayer and laying on of hands to be a foundation-Principle of the Doctrine of Christ when he hath more than once in the presence of many people confess'd it so to be and at length confest it under his hand submited to the practise thereof as one of the first Rudiments to use his own terms of Christianity 4. But suppose he nor you understand not laying on of hands to be your duty according to the will of God will it follow that therefore you ought to be esteemed a Church of Christ rightly and duely constituted c. We believe that there are many that sprinkle their Children whose Confession of Sin and Profession of Faith in Christ we and you can own that you have so much Charity for that did they believe it to be the duty of Believers only to be baptized and not Children they would submit to Baptism themselves and never sprinkle no● own sprinkling of Babes more Will this give you sufficient ground to esteem them a Church of Christ You will say No And why no Because they are not baptized according to the will of God and Baptism is one Principle o● the Doctrine of Christ Heb. 6.2 Even so say we having so much Charity for some of you that did you understand laying on of hands to be your duty to submit to according to the will of God you would do it yet may you not be esteemed a right constituted Church though you have obeyed one Principle of the Doctrine of Christ more than they which sprinkle their Babes and are right in Faith and Repentance because you are not under laying on of hands which also is one Principle of Christs Doctrine Heb. 6.1 2. Ignorance will be no excuse where Knowledge may be had we may not own you a true constituted Church for your Ignorance 5. If you be ignorant that laying on of hand● is your duty to submit to where is the fault Not in God He giveth liberally and upbraidet● not Jam. 1.5 nor in his VVord that is able t● make a man wise to Salvation through faith i● Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3.15 Is it not written i● the Scriptures of Truth and hath it not bee● asserted both by preaching and printing as you your selves know and say Insomuch that the Light of this Truth had you not rejected it might have shined into your hearts long ere this day and you brought to the knowledge of the mind of Christ If they have not enlightened you who knows since no answer hath been given by you to those Books wherein Laying on of Hands hath been asserted especially * See Gods Oracle and Christs Doctrine p. 91. considering that you have been invited to answer them with a promise that the mistake and error should be acknowledged when you should prove laying on of hands to be no Principle of Christs Doctrine 6. You do not onely seem to plead ignorance but you give us to understand that you are resolved to believe do and suffer what from time to time shall be made known unto you c. further than your present attainments The words are good words it 's true but how can they agree with your practice For from before the time we departed from you down to this day you have been constant and unwearied opposers of laying on of hands speaking evil of the way disputing publickly against it and now lastly make opposition in your Questions for Conscience-sake as you pretend with scurrilous and taunting expressions as in several places doth appear which makes it not easie to be believed that if you are ignorant you desire to understand or understanding resolve to do as you say you will 7. Will resolving to do the Will of God when known in a fundamental give you the esteem of a Church of Christ rightly Constituted if you then it will give others we hope in your eyes the like esteem that are short of you in one principle of Christs Doctrine as you are of us in another and if so then ought you to esteem those in the Presbyterian and Independant way especially those of them that believe Christ died for all as you do between whom there is no fundamental difference but in Baptism of Water and that only too about the subject and manner of Baptizing and no doubt but they are as ready to attest their resolution to own and submit to Baptism as Believers or any other thing whatsoever shall from time to time be made known to them according to the will of God as you are or can be 8. And whereas you say you are not only resolved to believe and do but also to suffer c. Your actions some of you and those some none of the meanest for place and parts will rather speak the contrary witness their freeing of themselves from the yoke of Suffering by sinful swearing out-living their Testimony for Christ preferring the world and their interest therein above his righteous Cause 9. We then have cause to doubt whether you are ignorant as you insinuate and so resolved as you say but if you are we thus answer your demand That it is not any Peoples resolving to believe do and suffer what hereafter shall be made known to them c. but the knowing

and doing what is according to the Will of God that will make them a right constituted Church and Members in particular though you are or may be esteemed baptized Disciples Quest 2. Whether any other qualifications c. viz. then is set down in the first Question are required of God as pre-requisits to Church Communion and Church Membership if so shew us what those things are and where they are so required Answer 1. If we should grant as we do not that God requires no other qualification than what you mention as pre-requisits to Church Communion yet have you not found the Schism but must search nearer home for it if you intend to find it because you are not the men so qualified as you intimate you be as may well be perceived without secret search by any let but those qualifications you speak of be compared with the actions of those time after time that are of highest esteem amongst you 2. But if you were qualified as you say you are yet will not that prove you a Church whose Constitution is right for God requires laying on of hands which is one Principle of the Doctrine of Christ and one of the first rudiments of Christianity as you have confessed as pre-requisits to Church Communion But then you demand where God requires it as a pre-requisit to Church Communion We then demand of you where God requires Water Baptism as a pre-requisite to Church Communion If you shall say that Baptism is one Principle of Christs Doctrine so is laying on of Hands as well as Baptism numbred among the principles of Christs Doctrine Heb. 6.1 2. But if you shall say that there is more in the Scripture to be said for Water Baptism than there is for laying on of Hands we say if there be more said for Baptism in the Scripture than is for laying on of Hands all that is said cannot make it more than a foundation principle and so is laying on of hands 3. What if there be more said in the Scripture for Faith towards God than is for Baptism of Water as there is in many things agreeing to it yet is it no more than a foundation principle of Christs Doctrine and so is the Doctrine of Baptism Heb. 6.2 And will it then follow because there is more said in Scripture for Faith towards God than is said for the Baptism of Water that therefore Baptism is not required of God as a pre-requisite to Church Communion even so should it be granted that there is more said for Baptism in some one thing or more than is for laying on of Hands it doth not follow but that laying on of Hands being numbred by the Apostle among the foundation principles of Christs Doctrine as well as Baptism Heb. 6.2 is required of God as a pre-requisite to Church Communion and Membership as well as Baptism 4. Again where is the belief of the Resurrection of the Dead required of God as pre-requisite to Church Communion yet is that a principle of Christs Doctrine Heb. 6.2 and such a one that if not owned and believed you would not own such a People should be admitted to Church Communion and Church Membership If you should say that to deny the Resurrection is an Errour which makes Faith vain and concludes us yet in our sins we say that it is no more than a Principle of Christs Doctrine and so is laying on of Hands and yet you cannot shew where it s required of God viz. The belief of the Resurrection of the Dead as a pre-requisite to Church Communion it doth not therefore follow but that if you are so qualified as you say you are should you deny or not believe the Resurrection of the Body that you are a Church Communicable or Church Members therefore there is other qualifications than those you speak of pre-requisite to Church Membership and Communion Quest 3. If it shall be said that Churches ought to be found in the knowledge and practice of all Christs Doctrines We demand whether the knowledge and practice of all truths be indispensably necessary to the constituting of Churches and Church Members Answer 1. We say that Churches ought to be found in the knowledge of all Christs Doctrine not Doctrines and so we think will you say 2. We do not say never the more for that that the knowledge and practice of all truths is indispensably necessary to the constituting of Churches and Church Members for there are many truths Churches rightly constituted may be ignorant of but the first Principles of the Doctrine of Christ none ought to be ignorant of or without the knowledge and practice and be true constituted Churches and Church Members Quest 4. If you say the knowledge and practice of all truths is not indispensably necessary to the constituting of Churches and Church Members then we demand that you would define what truths the knowledge and practice whereof is so indispensably necessary as aforesaid and what truths and practices the ignorance of may be consistant with a true Church and Church Membership Answer 1. What truths the knowledge and practice of are indispensably necessary to the constituting of Churches and Church Members we have given you the definition of in our Answer to your 3d Question 2. Those truths of highest moment the ignorance of may be consistent with a true Church and Church Members are such as belong to the perfecting and compleating the Church and Church Members in Christ which a true Church may be ignorant of in her minority as the Hebrew Church was about many things Paul had to say hard to be uttered because they were dull of hearing and were still as Babes who are unskilful in the Word of Righteousness Heb. 5.11 12 13. 3. Those truths of less moment consistent with a true Church are washing of Feet saluting with a holy Kiss taking an Oath to end strife the matters of Apparel and such-like and who pray makes these things the Essentials of Communion though you falsly say they are so made no Congregation in England as we know of 4. Yet may the matter of Apparel give just cause of reproof when Church Members shall exceed the bounds of moderation and sobriety in their Apparel to the grieving wounding and offence of their fellow Brethren and may amount to a sin against Christ when they shall stop their ear and stiffen their necks against them that are so grieved and offended 5. There may be many things done by Churches and Church Members that are sinful which may justly deserve reproof and if not repented of may merit the censure of the Church The Angel of the Church of Pergamos was reproved for sin for having those in the Church that held the Doctrine of Balaam to eat meat sacrificed to Idols and to commit Fornication which Fornication was mixt Marriages as saith Josephus and we think his authority as good in this case as you can think Dr. Hammond's is in laying on of Hands 6. The Angel of

the Church of Pergamos is by the Spirit commanded to repent of this evil the command backed with a commination which proves that such must be put out of the Church that so hold much more such which so do 7. But laying on of Hands we do indeed make Essential to Church Communion because it is a Principle of the Doctrine of Christ as hath been proved now and heretofore and never was disproved by you except asking questions be refutation Quest 5. We demand whether there was not a Church of Christ in the world before his Ascention and whether any other qualification was then pre-requisite to Church Membership than Confession of Sins and Faith in Christ for the remission of them together with a being Baptized into his Name and walking in a holy life and conversation if you say any thing else was then required and practised as Essential to Church Membership shew us what that was and where it was so required and practised And if you say nothing else was then required and practised we demand whether the Church of Christ was wanting of any thing then that was Essential to its being whatever it might want as to its well-being If you say it wanted nothing then that was Essential to its being then we further demand how this People so continuing in Faith Baptism and Holiness of life could cease to be a Church of Christ after his Ascention though they might not come up to some of those others Truths that were afterward revealed when the Spirit was made manifest c. Answer 1. We do not find that Christ before his Ascension doth give the Name or Title of a Church to any but onely calls his Followers Disciples as we might enumerate a multitude of places in the Evangelists 2. We find that our Lord Jesus when Peter confessed that he was the Christ the Son of the Living God answered Peter and said Upon this Rock will I build my Church He doth not say I have built my Church upon this Rock but I will c. speaking in the future tense Hereafter when I do build it not that he had then built his Church but was about the work making all things ready as materials both for the Foundation and Building 3. Nor is what we say destitute of good reason for his Disciples might then confess and believe him to be the Christ but could not believe him dead risen ascended and that the Comforter was come upon which as upon ● Rock or sure Foundation Christ would build hi● Church and hath since his last Will and Testament is in force by his Death Heb. 9.16 17 for his Church now is founded upon these Basi● Christ is come and died for our Sins according to the Scriptures believing that we in dut● ought to be baptised in his Name for the Remission of them Act. 2.38 22.16 and pray with laying on of hands for the gift of the Spirit which now is come since Christ is ascended to the Father according to his promise John 16.7 to guide us into all Truth and to be with us for ever John 14.16 17. as his alone Vicar on Earth John 16.13 14 15. by which Spirit we are baptised into one body 1 Cor. 12.13 believing that as he is risen from the dead he will also raise us up at the last day John 6.40 and will come the second time sitting upon the Throne of his Glory to Judgement and to render to every man as his work shall be On all which as on a Rock or Foundation the Disciples could not be built in the time of Christs life not till after his Ascension because they were not then laid nor could not till Christ was dead risen and ascended to the Father Yet in the time of his Life as his Disciples he was diligent to instruct teach and inform them of all these things as such which should be done and accomplished in their due and appointed time viz. after he had suffered was risen and ascended to the Father But it may be objected That Christ saith Mat. 18.17 If he shall neglect to hear them tell it to the Church there Christ calls them a Church That doth not follow those being words of direction and instruction which Christ gives them by which they might be guided when they had received power from on high to proceed as a Church to censure unholy and disorderly Walkers not that they before they were endowed with that power from on high were to act as a Church to censure the impenitent no● did they as we read You may further object That Christ did break Bread with them and therefore they we● then a Church It is true Christ did before his Passion institute the Supper he brake the Bread and gave it to his Disciples but it was onely with the Twelve the rest of the Disciples being absent then doth it not follow that the Disciples we● in the capacity of a Church because the Twelve are singled out from the rest of the Disciples which shews excepting him that was lost tha● they were taken apart from the other Disciples as those that were appointed by the Lord to b● Witnesses in a more eminent way and manne● than the rest of all those things he should suffer And those whom Jesus had chosen and give● commandment to not onely by his own mouth but through the Holy Ghost also Act. 1.2 wha● they should teach others to believe and observe Mat. 28.20 Breaking Bread then at this tim● might not be solemnized as Church-communion which ought to be when the whole Body comet● together to commemorate the Body and Blood of Christ the one as broken the other shed and to shew the Lords death till he come but rather was instituted then by Christ at the feast of the Passover to shew them what they should after he was ascended do also to teach others what they should do and observe when they were endowed with power from on high and thereby were en●ighted to all things relating to Church-Power and the administration of all Church-Ordinances which until they were so impowered they were onely to wait at Jerusalem Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.4 If otherwise why should the rest of the Disciples be excluded and not called to this last Supper of the Lord If they broke Bread as a Church the rest of the Disciples had as much right to that Communion as the Twelve or else the Twelve onely were the Church and the other Disciples no part of it And if a Church why must they wait for power at Jerusalem This we humbly and modestly offer to consideration And as for the rest of your Queries and Demands which you multiply in this Question they are either removed and answered or require none further But say you further if you shall say they wanted something while Christ was among them essential to Communion then we demand whether this doth not reflect a want of care in Christ who left them so and indeed want

so fit neither as we could and do desire our Members would make choice of however not so fit as to be Church-Members at the Lord's Table Quest 12. If a People congregated upon profession of Faith Baptism and a Holy life be a Church of God and God requireth no other conditions in order to the constituting of Churches and Church-members as appears by the light of the former questions and ●our own practice and confession at some turns Then we demand whether he that first separated and those with him did not make a separation from such a Church and whether such a separation from the Communion of or disowning Communion with such a Church be not to make Divisions and Schism in the Body of Christ Answer 1. We have already shewed you that such a People no otherwise qualified than you are cannot be a Church rightly constituted and that God doth require more conditions than you have in order to the right constituting of Churches and Church-members 2. Nor doth it appear by any light your questions give that you have a true Church state for had we no other light to walk by in finding out ● right constituted Church than your questions we should be in the dark stumble and fall as many of late have done the more it 's to be ●amented 3. Nor doth it appear that you are a Church rightly constituted never the more for what some back-sliders have practised and confess● at some turns 4. You may well call them turns for tu●● they are indeed for had they not turned fro● the truth as they were taught and as they h● believed and as the Truth is in Jesus th● had never so practised and confessed as y●● say they have 5. Then he that first separated from you a● those with him did not separate from Church whose Constitution is according to t●● will of Christ 6. And then separation from you and di●owning Communion with you whose Churc● state is not true is not to make Divisions 〈◊〉 Schisms in the body For 7. The Apostle Paul after he had laid han● on the twelve he found at Ephesus went into 〈◊〉 Synagogue and spake boldly for the space of th● Months disputing and perswading the thi●● concerning the Kingdom of God Acts 19.8 8. He that separated from you and th● with him after they were under Laying o● Hands continued disputing and perswadi●● the things concerning the Kingdom of Go● for more than the space of three months The Apostle Paul when divers were hard● and believed not but spake evil of the way bef● the multitude departed from them and separa●● the Disciples vers 9. 10. So he that separated from you when ●●vers of you were hardened and believed not 〈◊〉 spake evil of that way before the multitude ●aying Laying on of hands was an invention 〈◊〉 the Devil Such a one's hands were holy and ●ould keep their heads warm with such-like as ●at departed from you and separated the ●isciples Quest 13. Whether or no to deny Communion or not to re●ive such so qualified into Communion as aforesaid doth not savour of pride singularity and uncharitableness And whether this doth not sympathize with the spirit of Diotrephes who did not ●●ly refuse to receive the Brethren but forbid those ●hat would 3 John 9. Answer 1. For those under laying on of hands to de●y Communion and not to receive such into Communion no otherwise qualified than you ●re doth not savour of pride singularity nor uncharitableness because your Church-constitution is not right 2. If so it hath no sympathy with the spirit of Diotrephes to refuse communion with you nor to forbid those that would But it may be ●ride hardness of heart and unbelief in you ● the cause you stoop not to Christ but do ●ill persist in making opposition against a Principle of his Doctrine as you have done and now do Quest 14. Whether all that maintain such a Separ●●● from any Congregations that do believe in G●● and are baptised and walk holily as aforesaid ● not guilty of Schism and the sin of Diotrep● aforementioned Answer This is much the same with the last quest●●● therefore we shall say onely this That nei● all or any which maintain a Separation from ● upon the grounds we do are guilty of Sch● or the sin of Diotrephes for we maintain ● Separation from Churches nor Church-Members rightly constituted Quest 15. Whether we who you have separated from ● denied Communion to have not used all Chris● and candid ways of Accommodation that can reasonably be thought on Have we not profess'd ● you That if we saw laying on of hands in the ● you practise it a Duty we would submit to ● Have we not also declared That we are willing ● the better finding out the Truth that you sha●● come and preach it among us Have we not ● promised that we would never preach or di● against it to avoid offending of you Nay ● we not practised this by suffering your Coun●●● Elders freely to preach among us who preache● your practice without any opposition from us ● further have not many desired to come under ● ● on of hands if you would not make it the bounds ● conditions of Communion and tie them from ●ning us or having Communion with us after●●rds Whether then to refuse Communion with 〈◊〉 after such large and loving Condescensions as ●se be not Schism greatly aggravated Answer 1. We believe you have of late used ways of ●ccommodation as you call them but whe●●er Christian and candid we have cause to ●pect When one of you shall desire hands ●●ght be imposed on him by the Elders upon ●s confession given under his own hand viz. ●●ese may therefore certifie that I do believe the Doctrine of laying on of hands mentioned Heb. 6. ● be one of the first Rudiments of Christianity ●d yet now he is one of the chief Opposers of ●t laying on of hands which he prophanely to ● no more submitted to Which how Chri●●●an and candid he therein was may easily be ●●●cerned by any 2. What if you have professed that if you 〈◊〉 laying on of hands to be a duty in the way ● practise it you would submit to it Will 〈◊〉 make your Church-state true It is more ●●n probable that those in the Presbyterian and ●●dependant way are as ready candidly to pro●●● That did they see Baptism as you and we ●●●ctise it and laying on of hands also to be ● Duty they would submit to both doth it follow that your separation and ours from t● is Schism 3. And what if you have declaired that ● are willing for the better finding out of Tr● as you pretend that some under laying o● hands should come and preach it among y●● Will that heal your sore and give you a ri● and due Church-constitution 4. And if you have promised never to pre● nor dispute against it and if you have pract●●● so by suffering some Countrey Elders freely ● preach it among