Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	ancient_a	church_n	doctrine_n	1,896	5	6.2759	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80635	Some treasure fetched out of rubbish: or, Three short but seasonable treatises (found in an heap of scattered papers), which Providence hath reserved for their service who desire to be instructed, from the Word of God, concerning the imposition and use of significant ceremonies in the worship of God. viz. I. A discourse upon 1 Cor. 14.40. Let all things be done decently and in order. Tending to search out the truth in this question, viz. Whether it be lawful for church-governours to command indifferent decent things in the administration of God's worship? II. An enquiry, whether the church may not, in the celebration of the Sacrament, use other rites significative than those expressed in the Scripture, or add to them of her own authority? III. Three arguments, syllogistically propounded and prosecuted against the surplice: the Cross in Baptism: and kneeling in the act of receiving the Lord's Supper.	Cotton, John, 1584-1652.; Nichols, Robert, Mr.	1660 (1660)	Wing C6459; Thomason E1046_2; ESTC R208022	73,042	79

gesture being proved to be a relative adoration of God before a consecrated Creature it is of a special and peculiar nature and use and therefore ought to have a peculiar warrant from God to authorize it otherwise gestures of this kind cannot be used in Faith for these are not discernable by the light of Nature neither can the general rules of the Scripture yield ground for such When the act done is of special nature it must have a peculiar direction The Jews did not worship towards the High Priest or his Attire Exod. 12.11 Exod. 15.16 Exod. 12.11 1 Cor. 5.7 and 10.3 4. towards the Paschal Lamb the Manna the water of the Rock or their Sacrifices in that sense as they did before the Ark of the Covenant or the Mercy-seat in the Tabernacle or in the Temple although these holy things were Types of Christ Nature could not teach neither yet any general rules in the Scripture why before one rather than before another they should bow therefore for this peculiar adoration there was a special appointment Numb 21.8 When the Israelites also were stinged with fiery Serpents they looked up at the Brazen Serpent which was a Type of Christ that they might be healed but this was by special direction Now as for kneeling in the act of receiving who can shew any peculiar institution Moreover Canonical kneeling is not authorised by Gods Word nor by any general rule 1. Both maintainers and urgers of this gesture say it is indifferent and that it was so reputed by the State appears by this that in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign standing was ordained at Coventry and Northampton by vertue of her Highness Commission and kneeling abolished 2. Christ and his Apostles at the first institution of the Communion did not kneel which they would have done Matth. 26.20 26. Mar. 14.18.22 Luk. 22.14.17 Joh. 13.12 if this gesture had been divinely ratified 3. The Apostles after Christ's Resurrection delivered nothing concerning the Lords Supper but what they received of the Lord. 1 Cor. 11.23 and yet delivered the whole counsell of God Act. 20.20.27 but yet say nothing of kneeling which doubtless they would have done if it had been a divine Ordinance Kneeling is not of that antiquity to have ground or institution by the Apostles That mention which may seem to be of it in Origen Homil. 5. in divers Evang. loca is nothing the book being counterfeit Rob. Cocus in Censuram quorundam veterum Script pag. 13. Gorgonia her bowing before the Communion Table or Altar was in the night intended for Prayer Sozem. lib. 8. cap. 5. not to receive the Sacrament About the year of our Lord 157 Euseb Hist Eccles lib. 7. cap. 8 or 9. Bez. Tractar the large Vol. 3. Part. 183. De Coron milit cap. 3. Can. 20. De Spir. Sanct. cap. 27. Gentillettus exam concil Triden lib. 2. Sect. 4. pag. 44. Dr Fulk answ to Rhem. 1 Cor. 11.29 Sect. 2.4 Jewel's resp artic 8. divis 1. Zach. Urs common Chitr consid error 3. consid Bale in the Life of Honorius 3. Tho. Mort. Pret. Appeal lib. 4. cap. 29. Sect. 3. Hispin Hist Sacra part 1. lib. 4. Francis While 's answ to the Treatise called White dyed black part 2. p. 347. Perk. Idol of last times last particular c. Willet Synops contr 13. q. 4. pag. 649. edit 1614. John White 's way to the true Church Sect. 50. Num. 9. Stat. 1. Eliz. cap. 2. it may appear that Standing was used at the Communion About the year 160 Justin Martyr giveth not the least inkling of this Gesture but mentioneth the Peoples coming to the Table Tertullian who was about 180 or 200 years after Christ reports That in his time they used not to kneel at prayer upon any Lords Day or upon any other Day between Easter and Whitsuntide In the Council of Nice 327 a solemn Decree was made That none might pray kneeling but standing upon the Lords Day This continued in Basil's time if that Book was his Anno Domini 380 and was afterward confirmed by the sixth Council holden at Constantinople So that either the antient Churches never received the Sacrament on the Lords Day which is without controversy most false or they used a Gesture of greater reverence in receiving the Sacramentall Bread and Wine than they did at prayer whereof there is no likelihood or else it must be granted That they were accustomed to receive the Communion with some other Gesture than kneeling Anno 380 in Gregory Nazianzen's time the People stood at the Communion about the Table I will for brevity omit other pertinent Testimonies for this purpose which he that will may read in the Acts and Monuments in the difference between the Church of Rome that now is and the antient The sum of Paul's Doctrine delivered to the Gentiles c. Also in the Dialogue between Custom and Truth pag. 1264. Edit 1610. To draw to an end very many of our learned Worthies do affirm That odoration or bowing before the Sacrament came into use in the dayes of Honorius the third But whatsoever the Original of it was That which I have spoken sheweth that it is but a humane Tradition Seeing therefore that kneeling in the Act of receiving the Sacramentall Bread and Wine is a religious adoration of God before a consecrated Creature with respect unto it having no speciall Warrant out of the Word of God it cannot be used without sin Hitherto of the Arguments directly concluding the unlawfulness of the controverted Rites Now follow the considerations for which our request not to be urged unto conformity may seem reasonable 1. It was not the intent of the Statute by which the Ceremonies stand in force to perpetuate the use of them but onely to tolerate them out of hope of a fitter time of reformation This Law was not intended to be reversed or the benefit thereof to denyed In the Procla prefixed and set before the Book of Canons though the Proclamation of his Highness did ratify the Authority of the Bishops to make Ecclesiastical Canons as the words of that Proclamation do import most humbly desiring us to give our royal assent unto the said Canons 2. Non-conformity proceeding from fear of sinning against God Treatise of Ceremonies prefixed before the Book of Common-prayer And Stat. 1. Eliz. cap. 2. B. Bilson ag a. Apol. part 2. pag. 349. Mort. answ to the Popish demands Demand 30. is neither contempt nor scandall and therefore may be allowed favour in the eye of the Law If a bare omission of a Rite were contempt then all that use Bowling which the Law dissalloweth and do not were Caps and such Habits as the Statute enjoyneth shall be Contemners Where we dare not do we are ready without resisting to suffer and suffering is as sure a Sign of subjection as obeying In some cases the Law is satisfied by submitting a mans self to the Mulct Neither is forbearance a

institution of new rites not commanded as Achaz and Manasses building new Altars in the house of the Lord are reprehended for it And is there any wit of man that can devise how we should follow them in that kind or in general do as they did and not incurre the same rebuke As the sin of the Angels that fell and the Sodomites was one in kind though different in its special nature So is the sin of building an Altar and devising Sacramental rites in the worship of God Is it not our duty to acknowledg God so wise and gracious in the signs that he hath chosen as to hold it presumption for any man to imitare him in devising of the like Are not the Sacraments the seals of the heavenly King and can any new print be added to the seal of a King without high Treason What Master of a Family in his house What Prince in his Dominion would grant power to any one to change alter or reform any thing upon his own pleasure The signs which the Lord hath instituted for the instruction of his Church are sufficient and do better serve for the purpose than any that man can devise Therefore it is needless to forge any other yea it is a vilifying of the wisdom of God It is easie to shew that the godly Learned in all Ages have disliked the devising of new signs howsoever who men they have failed in some particulars and ignorantly gone against what in general they soundly taught He is too partiall as will not acknowledg this in the Fathers themselves who did substantially maintain the perfection of Scripture and the necessity of celebrating Divine Mysteries according to the precise institution delivered unto them and yet gave more power and vertue to vain inventions and urged the necessity of Traditions further than the Truth would permit or can stand with their own doctrine and positions truly laid down in other places of their Writings It is well known the Papists have miserably cor●upted the Simplicity of Gods Ordinances by their sinful vain and idle Ceremonies yet some sparkles of this truth doth shine amongst them Bellarmine would prove that the Jews did not only desire a corporal sign of the true God De Eccl. trimuph l. 2. c. 13. Sect. At hoc because then they had no need to make a Calf for they had a Cloud and a Pillar which did lead them better than the Calf which must be carried In this reason though weak and simple for humane vanity doth many things both needless and unlawful else had their Oyl Cream Salt Spittle Ag●us Dei never been devised this truth is contained That where God hath ordained signs profitable and sufficient for the information of his Church Si populo Ch istiano Apostoli Caeremonias vel Ritus divinitus traditos imponere noluerunt quis oro sanae mentis obtrudet illi adinventiones adinventas humanitus Confess Hel. vet cap. 27. Con● Wittemb tit de Baptis Calv. opusc pa● 59. It is needless and vain for men to devise and constitute others or more for that end and purpose Again the Ceremonies which were ordained by God himself for the information of his Church by their signification are now ceased and cannot be continued without sin and what warrant then hath any man upon his own will and pleasure to institute or ordain significant Ceremonies in the time of the Gospel When the Church was an Infant kept under the Rudiments of the Law she was to be taught onely by those shadows and figures that God prescribed And now in the brightness of the Gospel when all figures shadows vail adumbrations whether signifying things present or to come be done away Shall we think the light of reason sufficient to direct without the guidance of Scripture in m●tters of Rites and Ceremonies appropriated to the solemn Worship of God for the Instruction of his People Were the old figures taken away Whit●k de Pont. Rom. q. 7. c. 3. Art 6. Idem cont Dura l. 9. Sect. 59. p. 826. Rainold Conf. with H●rt c. 8. d. 4. p. 50. lin 30. Visin tom 2. tit de Imag. 1 Cor. 11.23 Mat. 28.19 28. Acts 10.47 Whitak cont Dur. Lib. 5. Sect. 21. l. 10. Sect. 21. l. 8. S●ct 65. that there might be place for new Were Divine abolished that Humane might succeed Well then may our Adversaries triumph over the Forces that are sent forth against their Superstitions burdensome Jewish vain and heathenish Rites and Customs Our Writers dispute thus against them We must have no other signs in Baptism than such as the Scripture warranteth They alledge that of the Apostle What I have received of the Lord that do I deliver That of our Saviour Go and Baptize teaching them to observe whatsoever I command you That of Peter Can any forbid Water that these may not be Baptized And generally the practice of Christ and his Apostles But if Cerimonies significant be lawfull which have onely Warrant or Approbation from the will or wit of Man then must all these reasons stoop to the Oyl Cream Salt Lights and Spittle in use amongst them for all these have as much reason and shew of Wisdom to Warrant them as any other can that are simply of man's devising And what Understanding or Judgment can man have of himself to discern how or by what means God will be Worshipped None at all For the Scripture testifieth that every man is brutish by his own knowledge Jer. 10.14 51 17. nor more able to discern what in this case is fit and acceptable than a blind man is to judge of Colours Isa 8.20 Jer. 8.9 that there is no light in them that speak not according to the Scripture no wisdom in them that reject the Word of the Lord There is a certain light engraven in the hearts of men by Nature whereby they know somewhat concerning God as that there is a God that he is wise just good and bountiful the Governour of all things and they discern some things pertaining to justice equity temperance honest commerce and dealing with men but they are utterly ignorant how or by what means God will be served what he will bless for the Instruction of his People We see and know by experience That is most perillous unprofitable and disallowed of God that doth best sort with our vain conceptions Carnal Observations Col. 2.23 such as Touch not taste not handle not have a shew of wisdom in voluntary Religion and carry a glorious shew of holinesse to our seeming when the Word of God discovereth them to be fruitless distastfull odious Whence grew the first contempt of God's Ordinances the pollution of holy things with carnall Customs that are according to this World and not according to godlinesse the corruptions of the Truth with manifold Superstitions and Idolatries but from a fond admiration of Rites and Customs devised by others or taken up upon our own Heads which being