Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	according_a	church_n	word_n	2,678	5	4.0797	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93887	Zerubbabel to Sanballat and Tobiah: or, The first part of the duply to M.S. alias Two brethren. By Adam Steuart. Whereunto is added, the judgement of the reformed churches of France, Switzerland, Geneva, &c. concerning independants, who condemne them with an unanimous consent. Published by David Steuart. March 17. 1644. Imprimatur Ja: Cranford.; Duply to M.S. alias Two brethren. Part 1	Steuart, Adam.; Steuart, David, fl. 1644.	1645 (1645)	Wing S5494; Thomason E274_14; ESTC R209896	100,836	110

the lesser societies owe respect and depend upon the Greater as our Practise witnesses with us The Example of the Synod of Dordrecht where we had our Deputies is a famous monument of the Blessing God powers out upon Generall Assemblies We may not deny notwithstanding that the circumstances of Times and Interests of the Princes with whom the Arke of God rests admit not evermore such Meetings But in those Kingdomes that enjoy such a precious liberty it should be a most unthankefull Felony against God that men should voluntarily when there is no necessity at all deprive themselves of such an estimable Advantage Whilst as those that are in possession hereof are scrupulous to serve themselves of the occasion those that have a Restraint upon them desire this happinesse exceedingly With what joy thinke you doe the Churches of France long after the happinesse to see themselves once assembled in a Nationall Synod according to the Grant they have obtained to this purpose this yeare It must be confessed notwithstanding that some Councels a man may meet with where he shall find fewer Defenders of the Truth then Champions for Errour But we speak not but of those where the Spirit of God and his Word hold the rather and of such as use not to establish any thing contrary to those lights and perswasions which the same Spirit and the same Word doe frame within the hearts of all the Faithfull Let us therefore stay the time till God letting out the raynes to a Persecution in his just indignation deprive us of the meanes of Assemblies Colloques and Synods But as long as his good Providence grants us this Priviledge let us not make our selves unworthy of so rare an Effect of his Bounty Sir This is that which I had to say unto you from an unanimous consent of all my Collegues We pray God with all our hearts that he will looke upon Sion in much pitty that he will rouze up his Iealousie and those yearning compassionate Bowells wherewith he uses to be moved towards his Churches and that he will be pleased speedily to give us occasion to glorifie his Holy Name in your deliverance Amen Your thrice humble servant Morus Geneva the 18. of Sept. 1644. Extraict des Actes du Synode National des Eglises Reformeès de France assemblè par permission du Roy a Charanton l'an 1644 le 26 Decembre iours suivans Envoye de Paris 17 27 Ianvier 1645 4. a D. B. SVR ce qui a esté rapporté par quelques Deputèz des Provinces Maritimes que plusieurs venans de pays estrange qui s'appellent Independans parcequ'ils enseignent que chaque Eglise Particuliere se doibt gouverner par ses Propres Loix sans aucune Dependance de personne es Matieres Ecclesiastiques sans obligation a recognoistre l'authorité des Colloques Synodes pour son regime conduicte establissent leur demeure en ce Royaume y pourroyent cy apres causer de grands inconveniens s'il n'y estoit de bonne heure pourveu La Compagnie craignant que la contagion de ce venin gaignant Insensiblement ne iette la confusion le desordre entre nous iugeant la dicte Secte des Independans non seulement prejudiciable a l'Eglise de Dieu entant qu'elle tache d'y introduire la confusion ouvrant la porte a toutes sortes de singularitès extravagances ostant tout moyens dy apporter remede mais aussy tres dangereuse a l'estat ou si'elle avoit lieu il se pourroit former autant de Religions qu'il y a de Paroisses ou Assemblées Particulieres enioint a toutes les Provinces specialement aux Maritimes de prendre garde que le mal ne prenne pied es Eglises de ce Royaume afin que la paix l'uniformité tant en la Religion qu'en la Discipline y soyen inviolablement entretenues que rien ne s'introduise parmy nous qui puisse alterer en aucune maniere le service qui est deû a leur Majestez Garrissole Moderateur Basnage Adjoynt Blondel Coq Secretaires An Extract of the Acts of the Nationall Synod of the Reformed Churches of France assembled by the Kings permission at Charantoun Anno 1644. 26. Decemb. and daies following VPon what hath been reported by the Commissioners of the Matitime Provinces that divers comming from forraign countries and who goe under the name of Independents because they teach that every particular Congregation ought to be governed by its owne particular Lawes without any depending of any in Ecclesiasticall matters and without any obligation to acknowledge the Authority of Colloques or Classes and Synods for its government and conduct settling their abode in this Kingdome and hereafter they might cause here amongst us many great inconveniences if in due time there were not order taken the Assembly fearing least the contagion of this poyson gaining ground insensibly should throw trouble and disorder amongst us and judging the said Sect of Independents to be not only prejudiciall to the Church of God in so far that it endeavours to bring in Confusion opening a Gate to all kind of Singularities and Extravagancies and taking away all meanes of any remedy to the evill but also most dangerous to the State where if it had place there might as many Religions set up as there be Parishes or particular Congregations doth enjoyn to all the Provinces and particularly to the Maritimes to take heed that the evill take no foot in the Churches of this Kingdom to the end that peace and Uniformity aswell in Religion as in Discipline may be inviolably preserved and that nothing be brought in amongst us which may alter in any kind the service due unto their Majesties Garrissole Moderator Basnage Adjoynt Blondel and Coq Secretaries Sentiment de l'Eglise de France touchant l'Episcopat l'Independance extraict d'une Letttre escrite a Mr. Buchanan par quelques Pasteurs 1 NOs Eglises ont tousjours creu constanment enseignè que l'Ordre des Evesques n'est nullement de droit divin 2. Si quelques Docteurs Protestants on t employè ce terme de Divin c'est avec la mesme Improprieté le mesme abus de Language que quelques Anciens ont appellê Diuini Canones les Canons que leurs pres avoient faits qu'ils pouvoient changer ou abroger 3. Solon l'Escriture Saincte Prestre Evesque designent une mesme chargê mais a divers esgards l'un de ces noms qui semble derivé de l'age denote la gravitè convenable aux Ministres de Iesus Christ l'autre exprime leur office qui est de veiller sur le troupeau qui leur est commis 4. Il est clair comme le jour que selon l'Eseriture Prestre Evesque designent une mesme charge car il y avoit Plusieurs Evesques en une mesme ville Philippiens 1. Et de mesmes personnes sont qualifiee

of private or particular mens Iudgements The first binds and obliges them who are subject unto them the second cannot oblige any man to obedience and so I say 1. That in Questions already determined in Gods Word by his Church every man may determine as God and the Church have determined 1. Because God obliges us to determine our judgements according to the Determinations of his Word especially in things that are necessary to Salvation for the very publication of the Gospell obligeth us to assent 2. If every man determineth not according to Gods Word he sinneth 3. If particular men determine not their Iudgement according to Gods Word and because the thing beleeved is conforme to Gods Word it is not an Act of Divine Faith In these Determinations according to the Word I say that the Church Determination is publick 1. Because God hath endowed her with publick Authority to determine according to the Determination of his Word 2. Because she Iudges not by private authority as private men 3. Because Suspension from the Lords Table c. are not Acts of private but of publick Iudgement and authority This Authority of the Church is not Imperiall or Magisteriall but Ministeriall because the Ministers of the Church be nothing else but Gods Ministers or Servants and not Lords in the Church The Determinations and Iudgements of particular Persons are only particular and a Iudgement of Discretion 1. Because they proceed not from publick but from private and particular persons even when they proceed from a Minister 2. Because they have not publick authority to oblige Congregations but themselves alone 3. Their principall and intrinsecall ayme is not to be directions for others but for themselves and they doe not helpe to direct others in particular This M. S. objecteth that if A. S. determine it he anticipates upon the Assemblies Iudgement but that he must not doe so Answ I deny the Consequence 1. for the Assemblies Iudgement is publick and mine particular 2. It is already Iudged by the Church of this Kingdom that Presbyterian Discipline is not contrary to Gods Word for if it were it had never permitted it to be practised or approved in England as I have already shewed 2. To the Minor I answer That either by anticipating upon the Synods Iudgement he understandeth an anticipation by a publick Iudgement and that is impossible to me for my Iudgement is not publick but particular or by a particular Iudgement and then it is not properly an Anticipation or if he will needs have it to be so I answer that if I or any other Christian have learned any truth in Gods Word we are all bound to determine our particular Iudgements according to it Neither can the long Examination of businesses in Synods which proceedeth from Hereticks Sectaries and others their crafts malice or infirmities hinder us from determining the truths according to our particular Iudgements for if it could then whensoever any Heretick should start up and dogmatize against the first Articles of our Faith denying Gods Infinity Simplicity Perfection Eternity Immutability his Wisdome Decrees Power or Providence and his opinion were to be examined in a Synod we must begin to doubt and suspend our Iudgements as so many Pyrrhonians about all those points which already we beleeved by Faith and stand gaping for some new Determination of the Articles of our faith from Synods And so Synods should be most pernicious in making us to lose our Faith which before we had In a word we have received already the Determination and Resolution of the Independents questions in Gods Word in other Protestant Churches and the approbation of those Determinations here by the Church of England And the Discussion of them in the Synod is not to change Gods Ordinance but to give contentment unto weake Consciences if they can receive it Again If this Argument be strong I retort it against his Sect If the Quinque Ecclesian Ministers M. S. and C. C. determine these Questions as they doe in their printed Bookes here and Sermons also as we are credibly informed they also anticipate upon the Assemblies Iudgement But the First is true Ergo so must the Second also be Again Either this man with the rest of the Sectaries are minded to acquiesce to the Determination of the Synod or not If the first it is well it is more then I expect of them I pray God they deceive me if not what needeth he to sight so much for the Determination of the Synod which he is determined not to stand unto would not this seeme to be said in derifion of the Synod 2. Obj. A. S. In determining the Question taketh it out of the Assemblies hands Answ I deny the Consequence for it is in their hands by way of publick Authority publicke Iudgement and publicke Determination Now A. S. or any other particular Determination taketh not away the publick and Authoritative Determination Iudgement or Authority As for the stating of the Question this man will not permit me and consequently no particular man so much as to state it in particular and that for the same reason But if we may according to our particular Iudgement Determine it how much more may we state it since it can no waiess be Determined unlesse first it be stated Can the Synods stating and Determining the question free us of the obligation whereby we are bound to state it and Determine it according to Gods Word QUEST 4. Whether the Quinqu ' Ecclesian Ministers publish this their Apologeticall Narration seasonably yea or not against M. S. p. 24 25. c. that affirmes it I Maintaine the Negative part of the Question his Reasons are 1. Because before the publication thereof the Calumnies mistakes misapprehensions of their Opinions and many of those mists that were gathered about them or rather cast upon their Persons in their absence began by their presence againe and the blessing of God upon them in a great measure to scatter and vanish without speaking a word for themselves and cause as the five Ministers say in their Apologeticall Narration M. S. p. 24. of his Booke Answereth 1. That that scattering of mists doth but relate to the people and onely to some of them viz. Those that professe or pretend the power of godlinesse as appeareth by the precedent period A. S. Reply 1. The precedent period hath no relation to this for it endeth with a full point 2. It is not the precedent period that should interpret the subsequent but rather the subsequent that should serve for interpretation to the precedent unlesse yee put the Explication before the Text. 3. Because it is said absolutely 4. They themselves beleeve now at this present that this relateth to others as yee may see p. 15. where they speak of those who incited the State not to allow them a peaceable practise of their Conscience and of some others who did write Bookes against them whom they accuse also of mis-apprehensions and mistakes