Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	act_n	ghost_n	holy_a	9,599	5	5.7057	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86483	An examination of sundry Scriptures alleadged by our brethren, in defence of some particulars of their church-way. Humbly submitted to the sight and censure of any judicious divine: especially of such of the reverend godly-learned Assembly as vouchsafe to read it. By R. Hollingworth, M.A. of Magd. Col. Camb. Imprimatur, Ja. Cranford. Decemb. 17. 1644.	Hollingworth, Richard, 1607-1656.	1645 (1645)	Wing H2492; Thomason E24_6; ESTC R7700	24,410	32

T. to C. H. p. 8. which in the essentials of it is unchangeable and to be kept till the appearing of the Lord Christ 1 Tim. 6.13 14. It seems by the words Thou O man of God I give thee charge that thou keep this Commandment Answer viz. which immediately precedes concerning faith and holinesse in the ministery of the Word to be directed to Timothy himself or if to his successours then it it must be to the ordinary Elders for evangelists which succeeded him we know none not to the Churches for example not to the Church of Ephesus to whom Paul writes nothing of Government though in his Epistles to Timothy he writes almost of nothing else and chargeth the Elders to take heed to the Flock and look to the Wolves Act. 20.28 But if you wil needs have the words this commandment extended to this whole Epistle yea to every Precept and Example of Discipline in Gods Book you had need of good warrant for this exposition That the essentials of Discipline set down in Scripture are unchangeable I grant but whether any essentials be in controversie or how many and which they are you tell us not I am sure those things that some possibly do make essentiall are not such as holy kisse anointing with Oil washing of feet c. The differences between the Apostolike Churches and ours are observable because they justly occasion some alteration at least in externals of Discipline or Worship As first the Jewish ceremonies were then scarce dead at least not buried hence we are not bound to use unleavened bread at the Sacrament to abstain from things strangled and from blood to circumcise to purifie our selves and to shave our heads c. Matth. 26. Acts 15.20 16.3 21.21 22 23 26. 23.2 5. Secondly the civill customes of these countreys differ much from ours Hence we are not bound to lie or lean on a bed at the Sacrament Joh. 13.23 25. 21.20 to wash one anothers feet Joh. 13.5 14 15. Luke 7.38 1 Tim. 5 10. to kisse one another Acts 20.37 Mark 14.4 5. Rom. 16.6 1 Cor. 16.20 1 Thess 5.26 or to make covering of the mans head a token of dishonour 1 Cor. 11.11.4.5.7.10 Thirdly the Churches were then but in gathering from amongst Heathens and Jews Hence we want examples to convince refractory Anabaptists or Socinians of the Baptizing of Christian Infants or of any other though of riper yeers that was born of Christian parents and educated in a Christian way and was not in person a Jew or an Heathen Fourthly the Church was then under Heathenish persecuting Magistrates Hence they had no houses built for or appropriated to holy Worship they met in the night to pray preach and celebrate the Supper Ministers had no setled maintenance no Laws did compell men to keep the Sabbaths to frequent the Assemblies to submit to the Churches Discipline Christians bare no civill Offices the Magistrate did not meddle with nor protect but persecute the Church Fifthly there was then an extraordinary effusion of the holy Ghost upon the Apostles Evangelists and sundry of the Elders and people Hence there was no need of Universities nor Schools to teach Tongues and Arts Acts 2. nor of studying for Sermons nor using set Prayers or Psalms for by the Spirit they then composed both 1 Cor. 14. no looking on Bibles Printing being not then in use when the Pastour read or preached no writing Sermons c. Sixthly The Apostles had the care of all the Churches and without difference taught and baptized and ordered matters in all Churches where they came 1 Cor. 11.28 4.17 16.1 7.11 to say nothing of the Evangelists and Prophets Now we may not without presumptuous tempting of God expect such Officers but must be contented with ordinary Elders amongst whom so much of their power as God intended to be perpetuall is divided Seventhly there were then some extraordinary occasionall Precepts and Practices which binde not in ordinary as selling all to give to the poor Matth. 19.21 having all things common Acts 2.44.45 4.32 34 35. anointing the sick will Oil James 5.14 which are Apishly imitated by the Papists if not by others Finally do but publish a full Narrative of your Church-courses and practices and especially of all which you count Essentials and prove them by Scripture and I shall freely by the grace of God either consent with you or shew reason of dissenting 25. The Church or the Ministers thereof The like words are found Answ to 32 q. p. 11 15. Answ to 9 Pos p. 76 77 78. must not be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 4. and therefore the Minister must not perform a Ministeriall act to another Congregation Acts 10.28 1 Pet. 5.1 2. The Text in Peter speaketh not of the Church or of Elders more then any other man Answ nor of medling with the affairs of other Churches but with other mens matters or rather as the word implieth other mens riches or possessions whether Christians or Heathens Church-members or no and not every medling with them but such a medling as for which they suffered from the Heathens in those days Let no man suffer as a busie-bodie in other mens matters and therefore it is of no more strength against the power of a Presbytery over particular Congregations then against the power of Parliament over other Courts of Judicature The Inference supposeth that the Flocks mentioned in those two Texts were two particular Congregations which is impossible to be proved Peter bids the Elders of Pontus Galatia c. to feed the flock of God that is amongst them therefore say you the Elders of one Church of Galatia must not feed the people of another Church of Galatia A communicant must examine himself Will you thence infer that none else must examine him The Thessalonians were to know them that were over them and laboured amongst them and esteem them very highly in love for their works sake therefore they must not hear or at least not esteem highly for their works sake the Pastours of other Congregations 1 Thess 5.12 13. Taking heed to the Flock and feeding it doth include Administration of the Word and prayer as well as of Sacraments yet you hold he may notwithstanding this Text preach and pray in another Congregation The relation of Ministers and people is mutuall If the people may receive the Sacrament from one that is not their Minister then the Minister may administer it to them that are not of his Flock By vertue of Communion of Churches you may you say and you do receive known approved recommended members of another Church to the holy Communion If you may receive one why not two three four five six seven eight which it may be are the whole Congregation Where doth the Scripture allow the one and not the other You grant that Elders have a calling to ordain Elders in other Churches whereof themselves are neither Elders nor members