Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	apostle_n	call_v	holy_a	5,378	5	4.9588	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A27574	A sermon preach'd before the convocation of the Bishops and clergy of the province of Canterbury at Westminster, Novemb. the 18th, 1689 by William Beveridge ; printed in Latin by the Bishops command ; made English by J.G.	Beveridge, William, 1637-1708.; J. G., member of the Church of England.	1689 (1689)	Wing B2112; ESTC R25922	13,595	34

the Corinthian But this is contrary to the receiv'd Custom of all the Churches Ergo. Now if the Church of Corinth was not oblig'd to accommodate her self to and observe the Rites of all the other Churches this Argument of the Apostle would be of no weight For by this supposition that Church might have admitted that Rite notwithstanding 't was contrary to a Custom Universally receiv'd And therefore the major proposition wou'd be false But undoubtedly the Apostle argued rightly being divinely inspired when he penn'd these Words Which is a cogent reason because he could not deceive by the Argument nor be deceiv'd in the manner of arguing And therefore a principal reason obliges every such Provincial Church as the Corinthian was diligently to observe the Rites of the Universal For if any neglect the observance of them he is by this infallible Argument convinc'd of a grievous Error and Schism Neither is it possible for him to defend himself by any Pretence since God himself dictated this Argument to the Apostle and from thence it necessarily follows That 't is the Will of God that every Provincial Church should conform to the Universal And also that we always use this way of arguing which he has taught us to determine all Controversies of the like nature Moreover the same appears from the very nature and notion of a Church For the Church generally so called is a vast Society or Congregation of Men professing the Christian Faith in all parts of the World Whereof all Provincial Churches are so many Parts or Members Now in all such Societies every Part ought to agree with its whole And consequently the lesser with the greater Reason tells us this The Law of nature commands it and the Universal consent of Mankind judges it necessary So that if any thing enacted by the greater obliges the remaining part much more what is ordain'd by the greatest part of each Society which it ought to observe if it wou'd continue a member and enjoy the Priviledges of the same Society Which rule since it prevails in all manner of Societies ought much more in the Church which of all things should be the most Regular Accordingly Christ himself is the head of this Church called Universal who equally diffuses his Spirit thro' all its parts The Apostle in the Epistle to the Ephesians and elsewhere in many places explains this idea or notion of the Church Seeing therefore the Spirit of Christ himself is diffused thrô all the Members of this Body and both guides and governs them whatsoever is performed by these Members let it be as it ought ascrib'd to his Holy Spirit For althô each Member is able perhaps to suffer some humane affliction which yet all have done conjointly at all times it cou'd scarcely proceed from any thing less than a common if I may so say Principle of all things namely the Spirit of God which generally actuates all things And therefore it can't but be necessary to be still observ'd as much as may be by every Member The next Argument on this occasion is fetcht from the Apostolical Institution of all such Rites which are observed by the Universal Church For whatsoever the Apostles in the first institution of the Churches delivered for their observation is undoubtedly necessary to their legitimate constitution For otherwise they must have appointed something superfluous which can't be alledg'd against the Apostles considering that they have instituted nothing in the Church but what was enjoyn'd them by Heaven Which since all Christians believe they agree in nothing more than that the Apostolical Institution of the Churches is a Rule and Measure according to which every present Church is to be model'd So that no Constitution of any Church can be accounted Legitimate unless it be consonant thereto Now this being granted it follows that no particular Church is lawfully constituted unless it observes all the Rites of the Universal For whatsoever she hath observed in all ages must be of Apostolical Institution For how is it possible for any one to imagine that all the Churches dispersed over the face of the Earth shou'd every where use the same modes unless they received them together with their Faith by Apostolick Tradition 'T is very clear that the Apostles went about almost all Parts and appointed Churches where ever they came 'T is clear that they were conducted by the same Spirit And lastly 't is clear that they endeavour'd Uniformity in all Churches And therefore 't is no wonder if they have every where ordained the same Rites ' Twou'd have rather been a wonder if they had done otherwise Now if such general Rites were not by Apostolick appointment how cou'd they every where come into Chucrhes so far distant from each others Cou'd they from General Councils For that indeed remains to be spoken to For they must of necessity either be ordained by the Apostles or by Oecumenical Councils as Saint Augustin observes in his Epistle to Januarius wherein he says We preserve things not written but delivered which are indeed observ'd all the World over whereby we may understand that things recommended and decreed either by the Apostles or General Councils whose authority the Church venerates are retain'd Now we in this place speak only of such Rites as were observ'd by the Universal Church before General Councils had their being and which for this reason cou'd not be instituted by them It remains therefore that we attribute them only to Apostolical Institution according to that common rule of the same Learned Father who says That the Vniversal Church holds not what 's instituted by Councils but always retain'd which being deliver'd only by Apostolical Authority is truly believed Therefore since 't is necessary to legitimate the Constitution of every Church that the Rites instituted by the Apostles be retain'd And since all the Rites of the Universal are appointed by the Apostles themselves none can doubt but that the observing the same is necessarily requir'd to the Legal Constitution of every particular Church And this indeed is not my private Opinion but is and ever was the common Sentiment of all Christians especially the Primitive This appears from hence that in times past if any Controversy arose concerning any Ecclesiastical Rite which some peculiar Church had receiv'd 't was always customary to enquire into the Practice of the Universal and her constant usage touching that Rite and afterwards to give in their Verdict Examples are very obvious how ever I 'le chuse one for the present The Primitive Church you all know was long perplex'd with a grievous Contention concerning the time of the celebration of the Passover For the Church of Asia contended with the Jews that 't was to be celebrated on the fourteenth day after the appearance of the Moon let it fall on whatsoever Holy-day of the Week it would Now all other Churches were wont to fast and celebrate that Feast only on the day of our Lord's Resurrection This controversie

always religiously forborn let the pretence be what it will the least Alteration in these Laws For to abolish or reject what has been always and every where observ'd is not only to change an Ecclesiastick Rite but also the Church it self and render it different from all the Churches of God. Which yet never cou'd nor I hope ever will be said of our Church For truly such was the care and diligence of our Reformers whose happy memory we can never sufficiently extol and reverence such their Piety and Religion such their divinely inspir'd Prudence that thinking it as necessary to keep firm Communion with the Catholick as to recede from the Roman Church renouncing all her Superstitious Innovations they themselves religiously preserv'd whatever had been approv'd by all the Churches of God and so ordain'd it in our Church the most illustrious Image and Resemblance of the Catholick And hence 't is that our Church has always been the envy of the Roman But so great an honour to all the Reform'd Churches that I don't doubt but that they wou'd imitate her pious Examples were it in their power So that we must not impute it to them but to the necessities of time and place that they are not in all things agreeable to us Since therefore God has committed such a Church to our care and since his Vicegerent here has now given us an opportunity to prosecute all things that may tend to the peace and advantage of his Church let us employ all our powers and faculties for its accomplishment Let us leave no means unattempted to make all English-men to be of the Church of England Let us endeavour all we can to make her Faith her Worship and her Discipline if possible the wonder of the whole world and she her self perpetual by whose guidance we of this Kingdom may obtain everlasting Salvation thro' Christ till his second coming That all posterity may laud and magnifie our God for moving so religious a Prince to assemble this Sacred Synod and assigning such a preparation for it to the advantage of this our Church If this Convocation shall be so pleas'd to whose disposal all things are left But whilst we are considering of these things we call to mind the ancient Customs observ'd by all God's Churches in the calm and sedate Celebration of their Synods And let ours take example by that Let us throw off all prejudiced Opinions presumptuous Suspitions and litigious Contentions which only confound and disturb such Sacred Councils But let all be done with that agreement and consent as becomes Christians Clergy-men and more especially all us of the Church of England when we consult about the Establishment of her Peace Whatsoever we do let it be done by universal Approbation That in this we may truly say with the Apostle If any man seem to be contentious we have no such custom neither the Churches of God. But whatsoever pains we take for the good of our Church they 'l avail not unless adorn'd with good works Wherefore most Reverend Fathers in Christ and dearly beloved Brethren give me leave to beseech you in the name of Christ so to comport your selves as Becomes Fathers and Sons of so holy a Church Let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good works may glorify your Father in Heaven Let all see and admire the eminent Sanctity of the Church of England in producing men most holy By this means we shall engage not only men but God to be of our side Who alone is able to defend and for ever preserve a Church first of his own building and then restoration from all the Machinations of its enemies Let God therefore arise and his enemies be scatter'd God grant that our Church may flourish and increase daily more and more God grant that the Gates of Hell may ne're prevail against it Lastly God grant that his most holy Spirit may guide this Sacred Synod assembled in his name and lead them into all truth that whatsoever they do may end in the glory of God the good and settlement of the Universal Church and more especially this of England through our Lord Jesus Christ to whom with the Father and holy Spirit be ascrib'd all glory and honour now and evermore Amen FINIS