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	holy_a	scripture_n	6,970	5	5.7262	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80541	A copie of tvvo vvritings sent to the Parliament. The one intituled motions for reforming of the Church of England in this present Parliament: most taken out of Irenaus Philadelphus. The other a humble petition unto the Parliament, for reforming of the Church of England: all taken out of the holy Scriptures.	Du Moulin, Lewis, 1606-1680. Motions for reforming the Church of England in this present Parliament.	1641 (1641)	Wing C6235; Thomason E238_12; ESTC R2679	18,517	27

termed by King Iames the English Masse and fitly so because it was culled and wicked out of the popish danghill the por●●is vile Masse Booke full of all abominations and peaced and patched together without reason or order of edefication And this being abolished our further request is that this present PARLIAMENT will take such order as that no stinted or devised formes of prayer be by any nationall Sinod imposed specially upon the ministers of the Gospel in any part of the Kings Dominions but as the Lord hath furnished them with spiritual gifts a Act. 1 24 28 1 Thes 5 17 Rom. 8 26 27 1 Tim. 7 17 Neh. 2 4 Exo 14 15 1 Pet. 2 5 even so according to their present need and occasions they may have their freedome alwayes to pray in the spirit through the helpe of the holy Ghost For if it had seemed good to the Apostles the last Pen-men of the holy Scriptures that any stinted formes or number of words should be repeated or read out of a prayer booke they would certainly haue giuen commandement for the practise thereof but we find no prescript Liturgy in their writings nor had the primitiue churches any such thing what ever the Iewes fable of Ezra and the Papists of St. Iames and St. Peter And as we like it well that this PARLIAMENT should seeke for union with other Protestant Churches in matters of true doctrine so also to accord with them in all acts of their lawful discipline and chiefly in this that they doe not force and compel people to become members of the Church but let every congregation consist of a free and voluntary people and as for such as are prophane worldly and wicked let them be kept out of the Church untill they be called of God unto repentance and faith in his promise 4. Howsoever we agree unto the Articles of the Synod of Dort in al points there treated and concluded against the Aruntians yet we se not by any warrant from the word of God that it is lawfull for the ecclesiasticall officers of many churches to meet together and by joynt authoritie to make constitutions and lawes and to impose them upon all churches b 1 Pet. 5 2 3 2 Col. 5 Iam. 3 1 Rev. 14 9 10 11 This tyranie and usurpation we beseech the Parliament to prevent and not to grant any liberty to convocations or Synods to make Ecclesiasticall Cannons for al Churches but let every particular congregation as a special prerogatiue wherwith shee is indued by Christ be free from such bondag and burden 5. Howsoever some wish that Bishops be retayned in their places yet sure we are that this PARLIAMENT shall very much glorifie the sonne of God if as plants which the Father never planted they now roote them up For since the Prophets Apostles and Evangelists were taken away from this world there are not any other lawfull Bishops or Church-Governours then Bishops or O-verseers of particular Churches a Act. 〈◊〉 28 P● 1 1. 6. And seeing they are no Ministers at all in the Church of God but haue and do vsurpe the name and seate of the ministerie Their calling being Antichristian and contrary to the word of God b 2 T● 2 3 4● 1 Pet. 1 4 I● 22 25 26 Ep● 8 11 ● 13 R● 9 3 11 17 ● 14 9 ● wee therefore most humbly beseech this present PARLIAMENT not onelie to take from them as they justly deserve all Civill authority but also to doe to them as our Saviour dealt Ioh. 2. in whipping out the buyers and sellers and money-changer For of a certayntie they might better come into the Temple then any Metropolitan or Diocesan Bishopp into the Church of God yea and had more necessary use but they had abused holie things and made it a denne of theeues 7. The principall defect of discipline and the spring of all errours in doctrine and practice is not the want of Synods but rather of the knowledg of the Scriptures For the testament of Christ shewes us no Provintiall nationall emperiall and mother like Church having sundry meetings or assemblies and speciall Pastors over the same Neither hath Christ Iesus subjected any Church or Congregation of his to any other Superiour Ecclesiasticall jurisdictinn then unto that which is with in it selfe So that if a whole Church or congregation shall erre in any matter of Faith and Religion no other Convocations Societies Combinations or Assemblies whatsoever have by any Commandement from the Lord power to censure punish or controll the same but are onely to admonish them in a brotherly way and so to leave them to the immediate judgement of Christ For Bishops therefore and Parish Ministers to come together to discusse of the affaires of the Diocesse make orders and decide and determine among themselves the cases and controverses of sundry congregations It is a practise which the Apostles never knew Syon hath not heard of it Ierusalem which is aboue will not acknowledg it but as it began with the oppressing the only lawfull politie of the Church so the use of it hitherto hath been the cruelst and most ambitious tiranny in the world And therfore the Parliamēt is humbly desired not to countenance so injurious vnjust a course but to stand earnestly zealous for the pretious liberty and priviledg of the Saints the which Christ hath purchased for them with his owne blood 8. As the Scriptures a Act. 20 28. Rom. 12.8.7 Phil. 1.1 acknowledge no other for lawful Bishops but such only as stand ministers to some particular Congregation so neither doe they acknowledge any Ecclesiasticall censure rightly pronounced against them unlesse it be done by that Church of which they are members b Mat. 18 17.18 1 Cor. 4.5.12.13 2 Thes 3.6 with Lev. 24.14.15.16 23. Iosh 7 11.25 and by which they were elected into Office As for deposition excommunicaton and the like done by Synods whether Provinciall or Nationall it is but of the Earth newly devised an addition an institution an ordinance of Kings and Princes And this needs must bee so because Christ hath not placed this power any other where but in a true visible Church Now there is no true visible Church but a particular Congregation Company or Assembly of men ordinarily joyning together in the true Worship of God As for other Convocations Synods Societies Combinations c. the Title of a visible Church is improperly and untruely attributed unto them Of this judgement are our English best Divines c D. Ames Eng. puritne Baines Dioces p 12. repl to Down Offer for conference p. 2. 9. The right course for the due maintainance of ministers is by the free and voluntary Contribution of the Church d 1 Cor. 9 7.14 Gal. 6.6 1 Thes 5.13 1 Tim. 5.15 with Pro. 3.9.10 Num. 18.8.32 Not that Parliaments or Synods should impose any certaine rate or summe upon any man how much hee should pay but this is to