Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	believe_v	holy_a	scripture_n	6,955	5	5.9774	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77724	A publick disputation sundry dayes at Killingworth in Warwick-shire, betwixt John Bryan, doctor in divinity (minister at Coventry) and John Onley, pastor of a church at Lawford. Upon this question, whether the parishes of this nation generally be true churches. Wherin are nine arguments alleged in proof of the affirmative of the question, with the answer of I. O. thereunto, together with Doctor B. Reply. Also an addition of ten arguments more in further proof of the question, with an answer adjoyned in disproof thereof. Published by both their consents, as appears by the ensuing epistles.	Bryan, John, d. 1676.; Onley, John.	1655 (1655)	Wing B5245; Thomason E823_9; ESTC R207672	61,370	75

to confirm this are at large related 2. Though Popish Apostacy did afterward for many Ages overspread all the Churches in England yet they believe God still reserved a remnant for whose sakes he preserved the holy Scriptures amongst them and baptism in the name of the Trinity only and when God of his rich grace was pleased to stir up the Spirit of King Edward the sixth and Queene Elizabeth to cast off the Pope c. though at first some Sbires and sundry Parishes stood out against that Reformation for a time yet afterwards they generally received the Articles of Religion agreed upon Anno 1562. which are published and consented to by all the Ministers endowed with the silent consent also of the People and Subscription of the hands of the chief of them containing the Marrow and Summe of the Oracles of God which are the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Eloquia Dei concredited only to the Church We doe therefore acknowledge that where the People doe with common and mutuall consent gather into setled Congregations every Lords day as in England they do to hear and teach this Doctrin and doe profess their subjection thereunto and doe bind themselves and their Children as in Baptism they doe to continue therein that such Congregations are true Churches much more you may read in their Treatise of Church Covenant in their Answer to the eleventh Objection where they shew that if Christian Congregations in England were at the first combined by Covenant the Eternity of Gods Covenant is such that it is not the Interposition of many Corruptions that may arise in after-time that can disanull the same c. That Objection also that the Members of our Parishionall Assemblies were not brought in by their own voluntary profession but by the Authority and Proclamation of the Prince as also that Rome and the Assemblies of Papists may go for true Churches also you shall find there very fully answered The Name of Parish I perceive all along is stumbled at as Popish as are the names of Parsons Vicars and Curats which is the main if not the only Reason why some of you cast off both the English Churches and Ministers and yet the thing signified by the name is owned by Scripture and upon that account Mr. Hollingworth proves Parishes to be of Divine Right to whom I formerly referr'd you and reason it self evinceth it most expedient for the better performance of those duties which arise from Church-Membership that the Members should cohabit or dwell as neer together as conveniently they may It 's falsely charged upon as that we hold Parish Precincts give a man right or make him matter fit for a visible Congregation but the Question is of a Nation or City Christian whether the bounds of Parishes discreetly measured may not rationally be fixed as most expedient for Religious Meetings seeing all cannot meet in one place and if the Members of a Parish be visible Saints you will not say it is not lawfull to limit the Congregation unto such read the Review formerly cited and that our Congregations generally consist of such though not in your yet in a Scripture sense hath been in part and shall be more fully proved In your Answer to the first Branch I see nothing worth replying to 1. The World out of which this Nation when made Christian was called every mans Eyes but yours easily see 2. Many Members of the best Churches retain the lusts of the World in their hearts and 3 May be deadly Enemies one to another bite and devour one another yea and be Enemies to their faithfull Ministers for telling them the truth and yet the effects of Gospel gathering seen well enough To the second branch 1. You say we retain the Constitution which we had from Popery which is very false for we rejected Popery embraced Gods holy truths and joyned together in true worship and so were Matter and Form distant far enough from Popish Rulers you mean we retain the same Parish bounds which Papists left us to which sufficient hath been spoken 2. You deny the Command of the Magistrate assisting the publick Preaching of the Gospel to be a means appointed and approved of God for the gathering or recalling of a back-slided People That the Magistrates duty is to command yea and compell men that have forsaken their God and the true Faith to return again to God I proved by the approved examples of the good Kings undor the old Testament which you throw off very lightly as if old-Testament-Proofs were of no force whereas the Apostle expresly teacheth that the Gospel Churches are built upon the Prophets as well as the Apostles Ephes 2. 20. And that I may farther convince you of your Errour and Folly in slighting these Examples 1. You cannot but grant that what these good Kings did was by vertue of divine warrant Deut. 13. 5-11 17. 2. Exod. 22. 20. 2. It will thus appear that these Rules and Patterns are binding under the New Testament 1. Because we find no Repeal of these Precepts no Prohibition of these Practises 2. This Power is of Common and Naturall Equity and that which is answerable to the Morall Law binds under the Gospel 3 This Power was established and exercised upon Morall grounds and for Moral ends Deut 13. 5. 11. 4. We find this very thing prophesied of the times of the New Testament Es 49. 23. Zech. 13. 3. 5. The Apostle makes Rulers a terrour to evill works and Revengers to execute wrath upon Evil Doers without limitation or exception and you will not deny transgressions of the first Table to be evill works Moreover you cannot but remember that it is a Gospel-expression Compel them to come in Your first Argument from the Apostles gathering Churches without the Magistrates help there being no Christian Magistrate proves the Power of God who can make his Word alone Effectual but it proves not that had there been Christian Magistrates they ought not to have aided by their authority or that the Apostles would not have called for their assistance The consequence of your second Argument is absurd If I have Bread and Water to preserve my life must I not make use of these because I want those other means which God hath appointed and which when he sees good he will add to these to make my life more comfortable Your conclusion of this Answer is a triumph before the victory My following Argument which you say will melt like Snow before the Sun may make a floud which will sweep away your refuge of lyes James 3. 14 15. Those Assemblies wherein Christ dwells by the special presence Arg. 4. Dr. B. of his Grace are true visible Churches but Christ dwells in the Parochial Assemblies of England by the special presence of his Grace Ergo the Parochial Assemblies of England are true visible Churches The Major proved Rev. 1. 12 13 Psal 132 13 14. Exod. 25. 31. 1 Tim. 3. 15. 2 Cor. 6. 16. The

all Ordained by the good ones as you were not the case is not a whit the better seeing they Ordained not by goodness but by Office which was alike in them all Secondly you say if they were Antichristian it makes not your calling null and the reason that you gave as I remember was that some things may be wanting in the worship of God and yet not all null as you instanced I answer You hold Ordination Essential to preaching so as a man may not preach without it now the Office of the Bishop being false and they in that office Antichristian having never received call to that Office from Christ or his Church but originally from the Devill how these can by that Office make a true Minister of Christ conferring that power to another that they were never possest of themselves is a mystery This is not only a want of some but all things whereby the work should be lawfully performed Evident you say it is that your Administrators are set apart c. And that such only may Baptize Mat. 28. 18 19. to that I answer That an Ordination you have it 's true but it 's performed by such as have no authority from Christ for what they doe Neither yet doe they do it according to Christs Order as I have already proved in answer to the 5. Argument whereunto I refer the Reader being unwilling needlesly to multiply words and how you shall be able to justifie your Call manner of Entrance c. against those exceptions when I see it published for before I must not by our agreement I shall in Convenient time give the world and you an account of the strength or weakness thereof and that such may Baptize whom Christ Authorizes in Matth. 28. I grant but that Christ Authorizes only Ministers in office by Ordination if you was such as you are not I utterly deny for that text holds forth the plain contrary as presently shall be shewed Now for your Call where you make so many intricat turnings and needless tautologies many of your Quaeres being for substance one I shall first shew by what means and how we had our Call to the performance of this Ordinance and then shall answer what of yours that makes against and what is in yours not contradictory to the thing in hand when rightly shewed shall be left as not materiall thus The mystery of iniquity from the Apostles time beginning to 2 Thess 2. 7. work and after their death more and more to creep into the Church and so far prevailed by degrees through the subtilty of the Devill that the pure Lawes of Jesus came to be eaten out and the inventions of man came in their room so far prevailing till the Lord Christs Prophetical Regal and Priestly offices were justled out and cunningly undermined till at last the man of sin did get into the Temple of God shewing himself that he was God Verse 4. revenging the contempt of his wickedness and making spoil of the precious Saints of Jesus that testified against his Abomination till they were drunk with the blood of the Saints that ceased not to cry How long Lord holy and true c. then were the Inhabitants of Rev. 6. 10. the earth made drunck with the wine of her fornication and all the world wondered after this Beast in so much that she began to Chap. 17. 2. say in her heart I sit a Queen and I am no Widow c. thus being at her pitch of glory darkness ye thick darkness and a dismal Chap. 18. 17. gloomy night was spred over the world for the neglect of keeping close to the Word of Truth the Lord suffered an Eclipse by the interposition of mans inventions betwixt his truth and their sight to darken the world till his pleasures was to appear and then like the appearing of the day darkness and the clouds of Ignorance began to dissipate and he by the brightness of his coming did reveal by degrees the mysterie of iniquity and sweetly Vers 2. 8. enlighten his servants in the knowledge of his Truth by that infallible Word the Scriptures of Truth helping them by his Spirit to a right understanding thereof and by degrees giving forth the knowledge of his will each age receiving more than other as Waldenses Wickliff Hus Luther c. still more and more increasing till it was by some seen not immediatly hence here is an answer to your first demand neither yet mediatly by the help of men hence an answer to the second by means of the Scripture the Spirit of the Lord helping to a right understanding thereof that they had been cheated of that blessed though much despised Ordinance of Baptism and a contrary intruded in its room that was right neither in the Subject Manner nor End and these people seeing it their duty to practize it and knowing of it to be the will of Christ that it should be performed Resolved upon the work to reassume this Ordinance Now the Call to the knowledge of it was thus The Spirit of the Lord inlighting by means of the Scripture to the understanding of his Will They Call to the practice of it thus A company of believes assembled in the Name of Christ willing to follow him in the way of his Ordinances revealed in his Word and yet seeing their want of a personall succession and yet knowing it their duty and the will of Christ it should be performed did appoint one that was unbaptized to reassume and set again on foot this Ordinance of Christ And if any one question the lawfulness of this further than I shall have occasion to vindicate it from such exceptions as here make against it I refer him to a Treatise intituled A way to Zion sought out where all that are willing to see may First from abominable damnable absurdities that will follow if the Saints in light though they want a personal succession of this Ordinance seeing themselves deprived of this or any other Ordinance may not take it up without a Lineal succession Secondly from Scripture plainly proved where all that will not wilfully shut their eyes may see Now what of yours seemingly makes against this is first If you should say you had your Call from a Church ungathered you would proclaim your Calling Antichristian from your own principles and your selves Schismaticks by separating from a true Ministery Answer Let the reasons wherefore we judge you false Ministers in relation to the external Call which we are now only speaking of be briefly laid down and also the grounds of our reassuming this Ordinance and then let the Judicious judge whether upon the Judgement that is given of the first the like may be given upon the latter upon the same Principles We judge you false First because the very Original of your Call came from the Devill he sending the Pope the Pope the Bishops the Bishops you and seeing you still retain and stand Ministers by

only the Baptism of John verse 25. who were not Ministers in office publickly which work hath had the approbation of God by accompanying these men in this work with his holy Spirit making their preaching effectual to the conversion of Souls Therefore all who have gifts enabling them to preach publickly may by a Scripture example and the approbation of God concerning that thing The Consequence I think no man will deny that ownes the Scripture as a rule of direction for us to follow The Antecedent is evident in both branches First Acts 8. 1. they i. e. the Church were all scattered and they thus scattered went every where preaching● verse 4. which preaching was approved of by God in accompanying them in this work by his Spirit Acts 11. 21. But to this you object First that we cannot prove but that they were Officers I Answer That we can evidently first it is said they were all scattered and all thus scattered preach'd Now all men know all a Church is not Officers but to this you object The word All signifies not every one Answer true but where the Scripture sayes All except such as it excepts with what forehead dare any man say the contrary It is in effect as much as to say the Apostle said not true evident it is Philip preached Acts 8. Object Philip was an Evangelist Answ True by gift in that he brought the glad tidings of Remission of sins by the Blood of Jesus to the soules of sinners but both he and Stephen Acts 7. by Office were Deacons Acts 6. 5. by which office they had no more to do to Preach than any Disciple Object Saul entred into every house haling men and women c. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial therefore not all scattered Answ There is never a syllable in the Text that proves this was in Jerusalem but it might be in other places whither they fled for refuge and for the burial of Stephen that was before they were scattered for the persecution arose about the stoning of Stephen Acts 11. 19. But the last shelter that you are forc'd to fly to from the cleer Countenance of this Text is that this was extraordinary as Davids eating that bread in time of hunger that at other times was unlawfull Yet necessity might justifie the action to this I Reply that some things in case of necessity may be done that at other times are unlawfull and that necessity justifies the action I grant but now there is not the like Connexion betwixt persecution and preaching as is betwixt hunger and bread a man in ex●reme hungar cannot well forbear bread but a man in time of persecution may forbear preaching was it lawfull for these men to preach it could not be persecution that could make it lawfull what though they were persecuted a thousand times they might hold their tongues for all tha was it unlawfull for them to have done it nay rather of the two it tyed them to hold their peace being persecuted for what they preach'd Thus it appeares that all that can preach may and such who can by preaching convert a soul to Jesus may Baptize him so converted though no Minister in office And whereas you say no man can be a lawfull Administrator unless Elected c. That 's apparently false for both Philip Acts 8. 38. and Ananias Acts 9. 18. Baptized and were never Elected to that work See but the natural face of your assertion No man can be a lawfull Administrator unless elected to that authority by Baptized persons But neither Ananias or Philip were elected so Ergo. Neither of these were lawfull Administrators the Major's your own the Minor is evident Philip a Deacon Ananias a disciple Thus your assertions cast dirt in the face of the Scripture Now for the inference that you say is drawn that we have no Mission c. I answer I never yet heard any man from such questions draw such inference had you but done me that favour to have told me who they were I should have been ready to answer them I have cause to suspect from whom it comes and I fear themselves are the men to whom every part of that result may with ease be applyed but seeing you say you make no such inference I am willing to let it pass it being you only I deal with Thus having answered this which you have most spoken to I shall expedite an answer to the rest of your Arguments which it seemes you make less account of in that to some you have endevoured to add a little proof and to some none at all If the separated societies be not true Churches then our Assemblies Arg. 11. Dr. B. are for certain it is Christ hath some true Churches amongst us and the only question is whether the Parochial or separated Congregations but you are not true Churches which I prove by an Argument of your own Those Churches that are not righly gathered are no true Churches but your Churches are not rightly gathered The Minor I prove thus The way of gathering your Churches hath no warrant in Scripture Ergo. I put you upon producing one precept or president in all the Scripture of gathering Churches out of Societies that hold and profess the fundamental verities 2. Those Churches that rob Gods people of their right are no true Churches but so do yours for you take away Church-membership from the Infant Children of Believers in denying the Sacrament of Initiation appointed for Gospel-Churches which was granted them under the former administration and is no where repealed but confirmed rather Rom. 11. Acts 2. 39. 3. Your Churches want a right form Ergo. The consequence is cleer because form gives being The antecedent is certain because an express Covenant is no where made the right form of a visible Church If this be the right form then why are not Popish Churches true there being such a Covenant between Popish Priests and people If by separated societies you mean all that are separated from you Answ J. O. the consequence may be good otherwise not There not being fulness enough in the division If you mean all I deny the Minor both of the first and also of the second framed to prove it and also the Consequence of the third and after all the result is you put us too no proof that we are no true Churches we are not rightly gathered the way of our gathering hath no warrant in Scripture and that this is so I put you to prove that it hath This is the pittifullest proof that ever I heard man make had I undertook to prove your Churches false and after three Arguments drawn such a Conclusion you would even have hist at it sure your schooles never taught you thus to dispute I had thought you had ingaged to proove Sir prove that you the Parishes of England generally hold and profess the fundamentall verities Secondly That it is unlawfull to separate from a people so professing c.