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state_n body_n church_n power_n 1,332 5 5.0841 4 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A59819 A discourse concerning the nature, unity, and communion of the Catholick Church wherein most of the controversies relating to the church are briefly and plainly stated / by William Sherlock. Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707. 1688 (1688) Wing S3291; ESTC R25626 35,974 70

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the_o suffering_n of_o his_o natural_a body_n extend_v no_o far_o than_o his_o mystical_a body_n and_o therefore_o christ_n be_v say_v to_o have_v reconcile_v both_o jew_n and_o gentile_n to_o god_n in_o one_o body_n by_o the_o cross_n 2._o ephes._n 16._o that_o be_v he_o have_v reconcile_v all_o both_o jew_n and_o gentile_n who_o by_o faith_n and_o baptism_n be_v unite_v in_o his_o one_o mystical_a body_n to_o god_n by_o his_o suffering_n on_o the_o cross._n so_o that_o we_o be_v not_o the_o body_n of_o christ_n and_o can_v be_v say_v to_o be_v the_o purchase_n of_o his_o blood_n till_o we_o be_v unite_v to_o he_o by_o covenant_n this_o we_o may_v learn_v from_o that_o analogy_n there_o be_v between_o the_o law_n and_o the_o gospel_n the_o legal_a sacrifice_n especial_o that_o great_a sacrifice_n on_o the_o day_n of_o expiation_n be_v typical_o of_o the_o sacrifice_n of_o christ_n and_o the_o carnal_a israel_n be_v a_o type_n of_o the_o spiritual_a israel_n or_o of_o the_o christian_a 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do_v not_o reckon_v they_o as_o he_o and_o therefore_o the_o description_n and_o character_n of_o the_o church_n in_o scripture_n be_v such_o as_o belong_v only_o to_o live_a member_n to_o those_o who_o be_v renew_v and_o sanctify_a and_o quicken_v by_o the_o divine_a spirit_n but_o yet_o they_o do_v belong_v to_o christ_n mystical_a body_n though_o they_o be_v in_o it_o only_o as_o a_o dead_a branch_n be_v in_o the_o vine_n but_o how_o can_v the_o church_n on_o earth_n and_o the_o church_n in_o heaven_n be_v one_o church_n and_o one_o body_n if_o the_o church_n on_o earth_n have_v such_o corrupt_a and_o rot_a member_n in_o it_o for_o the_o church_n in_o heaven_n have_v none_o but_o live_v and_o holy_a member_n i_o answer_v the_o same_o covenant_n make_v they_o the_o same_o church_n and_o the_o same_o body_n of_o christ_n and_o that_o there_o be_v bad_a man_n in_o the_o church_n on_o earth_n and_o none_o but_o saint_n in_o heaven_n do_v not_o prove_v that_o they_o be_v two_o church_n 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spirit_n which_o be_v a_o state_n of_o perfect_a and_o absolute_a subjection_n to_o he_o and_o therefore_o can_v have_v no_o authority_n to_o alter_v the_o faith_n to_o make_v a_o new_a creed_n or_o a_o new_a gospel_n which_o will_v be_v to_o have_v power_n over_o christ_n not_o to_o be_v subject_a to_o he_o to_o be_v sure_a unless_o we_o will_v grant_v this_o authority_n to_o every_o particular_a christian_a the_o catholic_n church_n can_v have_v it_o which_o be_v only_o the_o whole_a multitude_n of_o particular_a christian_n who_o be_v unite_v single_o to_o christ_n and_o make_v one_o body_n in_o he_o and_o therefore_o be_v not_o such_o a_o body_n as_o can_v make_v a_o new_a faith_n and_o new_a law_n but_o be_v make_v one_o body_n by_o embrace_v the_o same_o faith_n which_o they_o must_v receive_v from_o christ_n but_o have_v no_o authority_n to_o make_v because_o their_o receive_v this_o faith_n unite_v they_o into_o one_o body_n in_o christ_n and_o they_o continue_v one_o body_n 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christian_a bishop_n and_o pastor_n have_v no_o such_o authority_n either_o to_o make_v or_o to_o declare_v article_n of_o faith_n as_o can_v oblige_v all_o christian_n to_o believe_v it_o mere_o upon_o their_o definition_n and_o declaration_n it_o be_v their_o office_n to_o preach_v the_o gospel_n to_o convince_v and_o persuade_v gainsayer_n by_o scripture_n and_o reason_n which_o oblige_v all_o christian_n diligent_o and_o impartial_o to_o attend_v to_o their_o instruction_n but_o yet_o leave_v every_o man_n at_o liberty_n to_o judge_v whether_o they_o preach_v the_o gospel_n of_o christ_n or_o their_o own_o invention_n 2_o that_o the_o catholic_n church_n have_v no_o authority_n be_v evident_a from_o this_o also_o that_o it_o have_v no_o visible_a tribunal_n wherein_o to_o exercise_v this_o authority_n for_o the_o catholic_n church_n be_v nothing_o else_o but_o the_o whole_a company_n or_o multitude_n of_o individual_a christian_n who_o be_v all_o single_o unite_v to_o christ_n
make_v to_o the_o church_n do_v not_o belong_v to_o the_o bishop_n of_o the_o church_n as_o that_o the_o gate_n of_o hell_n shall_v not_o prevail_v against_o it_o which_o certain_o prove_v that_o the_o church_n shall_v never_o total_o fail_v but_o do_v not_o prove_v that_o the_o bishop_n or_o any_o bishop_n of_o the_o church_n shall_v be_v infallible_a for_o the_o bishop_n be_v not_o the_o church_n there_o be_v distinct_a promise_n to_o the_o church_n and_o to_o the_o pastor_n and_o minister_n of_o it_o and_o they_o ought_v to_o be_v keep_v distinct_a which_o will_v put_v a_o end_n to_o a_o great_a many_o controversy_n between_o we_o and_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n thus_o if_o st._n paul_n in_o his_o epistle_n to_o timothy_n 1_o tim._n 3._o 15._o call_v the_o church_n the_o pillar_n and_o ground_n of_o truth_n whatever_o that_o signify_v it_o belong_v to_o the_o church_n or_o to_o the_o company_n of_o the_o faithful_a not_o mere_o to_o the_o pastor_n and_o bishop_n of_o it_o and_o therefore_o the_o infallibility_n of_o the_o pope_n or_o general_n council_n can_v never_o be_v prove_v from_o it_o though_o the_o pillar_n and_o ground_n of_o truth_n shall_v signify_v infallibility_n thus_o whatever_o authority_n pope_n or_o general_a council_n may_v challenge_v in_o matter_n of_o faith_n yet_o if_o they_o decree_v any_o thing_n contrary_a to_o the_o common_a faith_n of_o christian_n their_o decree_n be_v not_o the_o faith_n of_o the_o church_n but_o the_o faith_n of_o pope_n and_o general_a council_n who_o be_v not_o the_o church_n though_o they_o be_v the_o governor_n of_o it_o and_o yet_o under_o this_o venerable_a name_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n every_o pack_v conventicle_n challenge_v a_o indisputable_a authority_n to_o its_o decree_n 2._o nay_o as_o bishop_n be_v not_o the_o catholic_n church_n so_o neither_o be_v they_o the_o representatives_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n much_o less_o be_v any_o one_o bishop_n the_o whole_a catholic_n church_n virtual_a the_o office_n of_o a_o bishop_n be_v not_o to_o represent_v but_o to_o govern_v the_o church_n and_o therefore_o bishop_n be_v not_o the_o church_n representative_n by_o institution_n no_o more_o than_o the_o king_n be_v the_o representative_a of_o his_o kingdom_n how_o then_o do_v they_o come_v to_o be_v the_o church_n representative_n do_v all_o the_o christian_n in_o the_o world_n who_o be_v the_o catholic_n church_n ever_o intrust_v they_o with_o this_o power_n do_v they_o ever_o resign_v up_o their_o faith_n into_o the_o hand_n of_o their_o bishop_n this_o never_o be_v do_v and_o yet_o no_o man_n have_v a_o representative_a but_o by_o his_o own_o consent_n and_o if_o it_o can_v be_v do_v bishop_n than_o must_v sit_v in_o council_n not_o only_o as_o bishop_n but_o as_o lay_v representative_n if_o two_o such_o different_a capacity_n be_v not_o inconsistent_a and_o yet_o bishop_n have_v challenge_v this_o authority_n only_o as_o bishop_n and_o exclude_v the_o laity_n nay_o presbyter_n themselves_o from_o any_o vote_n and_o therefore_o such_o council_n of_o bishop_n who_o act_v only_o as_o bishop_n can_v not_o be_v the_o representative_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n in_o matter_n of_o discipline_n and_o government_n bishop_n act_n not_o as_o representative_n but_o governor_n of_o the_o church_n by_o that_o authority_n which_o they_o have_v receive_v not_o from_o the_o people_n but_o from_o christ_n and_o their_o decree_n and_o constitution_n about_o such_o matter_n have_v a_o sacred_a and_o venerable_a authority_n when_o they_o do_v not_o contradict_v any_o divine_a law_n and_o institution_n but_o bishop_n have_v no_o authority_n over_o the_o faith_n of_o the_o church_n nay_o the_o church_n herself_o have_v no_o authority_n to_o alter_v the_o faith_n and_o therefore_o can_v give_v no_o such_o authority_n to_o her_o bishop_n however_o if_o she_o can_v she_o never_o do_v and_o therefore_o no_o council_n of_o bishop_n can_v be_v the_o church-representative_a in_o define_v article_n of_o faith._n as_o bishop_n be_v the_o supreme_a pastor_n and_o teacher_n of_o the_o church_n they_o may_v declare_v what_o the_o faith_n be_v and_o agree_v what_o doctrine_n shall_v be_v teach_v in_o their_o church_n and_o consent_n to_o censure_v and_o excommunicate_v those_o who_o will_v not_o profess_v to_o believe_v as_o they_o do_v but_o if_o they_o make_v any_o decree_v contrary_a to_o the_o common_a faith_n of_o christian_n no_o christian_a be_v bind_v to_o believe_v they_o nor_o be_v ever_o the_o worse_a for_o their_o anathema_n and_o excommunication_n and_o it_o be_v a_o ridiculous_a thing_n for_o they_o to_o call_v this_o the_o faith_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n which_o be_v only_o the_o decree_n and_o definition_n of_o some_o bishop_n in_o it_o who_o be_v far_o enough_o from_o be_v the_o catholic_n church_n and_o this_o i_o think_v sufficient_o prove_v that_o the_o most_o general_a council_n that_o ever_o be_v may_v err_v and_o yet_o the_o catholic_n church_n not_o err_v for_o bishop_n be_v not_o the_o catholic_n church_n nor_o so_o much_o as_o the_o representative_n of_o it_o and_o therefore_o can_v it_o be_v prove_v that_o the_o catholic_n church_n can_v not_o err_v this_o will_v not_o prove_v the_o infallibility_n of_o a_o general_n council_n which_o be_v not_o the_o church_n for_o the_o faith_n may_v still_o be_v preserve_v pure_a and_o uncorrupt_a among_o private_a christian_n even_o when_o general_a council_n err_v 3_o i_o observe_v far_o that_o the_o whole_a catholic_n church_n on_o earth_n be_v not_o one_o organise_v body_n for_o it_o be_v only_o the_o whole_a company_n of_o the_o faithful_a and_o no_o ecclesiastical_a minister_n or_o pastor_n belong_v to_o the_o definition_n of_o it_o and_o yet_o unless_o some_o ecumenical_a pastor_n be_v essential_a to_o the_o notion_n and_o definition_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n it_o can_v be_v one_o organise_v body_n the_o catholic_n church_n indeed_o be_v organise_v by_o part_n that_o be_v the_o whole_a company_n of_o the_o faithful_a be_v distribute_v into_o particular_a body_n under_o the_o government_n of_o particular_a bishop_n which_o make_v a_o particular_a church_n and_o be_v essential_a to_o the_o definition_n of_o it_o of_o which_o more_o present_o but_o the_o catholic_n church_n itself_o be_v the_o whole_a company_n of_o the_o faithful_a who_o be_v unite_v in_o one_o body_n to_o christ_n only_o who_o be_v the_o only_a head_n of_o his_o church_n now_o hence_o it_o evident_o follow_v 1._o that_o no_o organise_v church_n can_v be_v the_o catholic_n church_n nor_o the_o bishop_n of_o it_o a_o ecumenical_a pastor_n because_o the_o catholic_n church_n be_v not_o organise_v but_o every_o organise_v church_n be_v a_o particular_a church_n which_o show_v how_o vain_a the_o pretence_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n be_v to_o be_v the_o catholic_n church_n and_o of_o the_o pope_n of_o rome_n to_o be_v the_o universal_a bishop_n 2._o it_o as_o evident_o follow_v that_o there_o neither_o be_v nor_o can_v be_v any_o visible_a tribunal_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n which_o shall_v be_v the_o centre_n of_o catholic_n communion_n and_o have_v authority_n over_o all_o particular_a church_n in_o matter_n of_o faith_n and_o worship_n and_o government_n for_o the_o catholic_n church_n be_v no_o organise_v body_n it_o have_v no_o authority_n and_o can_v have_v no_o tribunal_n 1._o it_o have_v no_o authority_n for_o the_o whole_a company_n of_o the_o faithful_a which_o be_v the_o true_a notion_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n be_v the_o mystical_a body_n of_o christ_n and_o in_o subjection_n to_o he_o as_o a_o wife_n be_v subject_a to_o her_o husband_n the_o catholic_n church_n be_v make_v up_o of_o particular_a and_o individual_a christian_n who_o be_v all_o immediate_o unite_v to_o christ_n their_o head_n and_o be_v make_v one_o in_o he_o and_o though_o bishop_n as_o the_o minister_n of_o christ_n have_v receive_v authority_n from_o he_o to_o govern_v the_o church_n which_o they_o exercise_v in_o particular_a church_n over_o which_o they_o be_v place_v yet_o as_o member_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n they_o be_v not_o consider_v as_o bishop_n but_o as_o private_a christian_n for_o it_o be_v not_o their_o authority_n in_o the_o church_n but_o their_o union_n to_o christ_n which_o make_v they_o member_n of_o his_o body_n and_o thus_o they_o be_v unite_v to_o christ_n no_o otherwise_o then_o all_o other_o private_a christian_n be_v now_o if_o the_o chatholick_a church_n be_v only_o a_o company_n of_o private_a and_o particular_a christian_n unite_v immediate_o to_o christ_n and_o make_v one_o body_n in_o he_o the_o catholic_n church_n have_v no_o more_o authority_n than_o particular_a christian_n have_v which_o be_v none_o at_o all_o the_o catholic_n church_n be_v unite_v to_o christ_n by_o a_o belief_n of_o his_o gospel_n obedience_n to_o his_o law_n and_o a_o participation_n of_o his_o