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 true_a 2,421 5 5.1957 4 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
B05064 A modest answer to Dr. Stillingfleet's Irenicum: by a learned pen. Rule, Gilbert, 1629?-1701. 1680 (1680) Wing R2223; ESTC R203177 121,671 175

There are 2 snippets containing the selected quad. | View original text

soon_o after_o it_o begin_v to_o appear_v and_o when_o some_o have_v thus_o miscarry_v and_o other_o stick_v to_o the_o apostolical_a frame_n of_o thing_n this_o may_v quick_o breed_v a_o diversity_n 3._o it_o will_v easy_o appear_v to_o any_o who_o read_v this_o chap._n that_o all_o the_o author_n discourse_n tend_v to_o prove_v that_o the_o ancient_a church_n think_v not_o episcopacy_n to_o be_v jure_fw-la divino_fw-la let_v they_o who_o be_v concern_v answer_v he_o in_o this_o if_o they_o can_v i_o be_o convince_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o what_o he_o say_v but_o let_v we_o take_v a_o short_a view_n of_o the_o ground_n on_o which_o he_o establish_v what_o he_o assert_v in_o this_o chap._n sect._n 2._o the_o first_o be_v that_o the_o extent_n of_o the_o power_n of_o church-officer_n do_v increase_v mere_o from_o the_o enlargement_n of_o the_o bound_n of_o church_n which_o he_o make_v out_o in_o 4_o step_n or_o period_n the_o first_o be_v when_o church_n be_v the_o same_o with_o christian_n in_o a_o whole_a city_n and_o here_o he_o handle_v 3_o thing_n first_o he_o show_v that_o the_o primitive_a constitution_n of_o church_n be_v in_o a_o society_n of_o christian_n in_o the_o same_o city_n where_o he_o will_v have_v the_o name_n church_n in_o scripture_n to_o be_v only_o give_v to_o that_o not_o to_o a_o particular_a congregation_n meet_v in_o one_o place_n i_o do_v not_o deny_v but_o the_o name_n be_v give_v as_o he_o say_v because_o of_o that_o confederacy_n in_o discipline_n among_o divers_a congregation_n in_o one_o city_n yet_o neither_o the_o name_n nor_o the_o nature_n of_o a_o church_n must_v be_v deny_v to_o a_o single_a congregation_n for_o a_o church_n in_o scripture-language_n be_v a_o company_n meet_v together_o to_o serve_v god_n now_o this_o agree_v well_o to_o a_o single_a congregation_n see_v in_o it_o not_o only_a word_n and_o sacrament_n be_v administer_v but_o also_o discipline_n be_v exercise_v as_o shall_v anon_o appear_v all_o that_o he_o say_v prove_v the_o former_a use_n of_o the_o word_n but_o nothing_o against_o this_o latter_a 2._o he_o speak_v of_o the_o government_n of_o these_o church_n p._n 352._o and_o that_o 1._o before_o parish_n or_o distinct_a congregation_n be_v settle_v 2._o after_o they_o be_v settle_v about_o which_o he_o large_o dispute_v when_o it_o begin_v which_o be_v not_o to_o our_o purpose_n in_o both_o case_n he_o say_v they_o be_v rule_v in_o common_a and_o p._n 354._o that_o it_o be_v a_o weak_a conceit_n to_o think_v that_o after_o the_o settle_n of_o congregation_n every_o one_o have_v a_o distinct_a presbytery_n to_o rule_v it_o and_o p._n 356._o this_o crumble_a say_v he_o of_o church-power_n into_o every_o congregation_n be_v a_o thing_n absolute_o disow_v by_o the_o great_a and_o most_o learned_a patron_n of_o presbytery_n beyond_o the_o sea_n as_o may_v be_v see_v in_o calv._n beza_n salmasius_n blondel_n gerson_n bucer_n and_o other_o i_o do_v ready_o yield_v to_o he_o that_o it_o be_v most_o probable_a that_o in_o time_n of_o persecution_n particular_a congregation_n can_v not_o be_v soon_o settle_v and_o that_o then_o where_o there_o be_v in_o one_o city_n more_o christian_n than_o can_v meet_v in_o one_o place_n they_o be_v rule_v only_o in_o common_a yea_o and_o have_v their_o meeting_n for_o worship_n occasional_o as_o they_o can_v also_o we_o grant_v that_o when_o congregation_n be_v settle_v the_o several_a congregration_n in_o one_o city_n be_v rule_v by_o one_o common_a presbytery_n make_v up_o of_o the_o officer_n of_o they_o all_o but_o that_o they_o have_v not_o their_o distinct_a presbyter_n that_o rule_v they_o several_o in_o subordination_n to_o this_o superior_a presbyter_n we_o utter_o deny_v and_o i_o look_v upon_o it_o as_o a_o too_o supercilious_a assertion_n to_o call_v this_o a_o weak_a conceit_n see_v it_o be_v well_o know_v that_o it_o have_v be_v the_o judgement_n of_o man_n with_o who_o for_o ability_n i_o think_v mr._n still_o modesty_n will_v not_o suffer_v he_o to_o compare_v himself_o but_o what_o ever_o be_v of_o the_o ability_n of_o they_o who_o own_o it_o there_o be_v reason_n for_o it_o so_o weighty_a as_o may_v excuse_v it_o from_o weakness_n which_o be_v this_o single_a congregation_n meet_v ordinary_o together_o for_o the_o worship_n of_o god_n can_v but_o have_v many_o affair_n that_o do_v only_o concern_v they_o not_o the_o other_o church_n or_o congregation_n in_o the_o same_o city_n as_o admission_n or_o exclusion_n of_o their_o member_n from_o the_o lord_n supper_n rebuke_v they_o consult_v about_o the_o time_n and_o order_n of_o their_o administration_n etc._n etc._n it_o be_v very_o unfit_a to_o bring_v all_o these_o thing_n in_o prima_fw-la instantia_fw-la to_o the_o presbytery_n that_o rule_v in_o common_a this_o i_o confirm_v out_o of_o what_o himself_o have_v write_v p._n 368._o he_o say_v that_o country_n church_n have_v their_o own_o ruler_n who_o rule_v they_o though_o with_o subordination_n to_o those_o in_o the_o city_n be_v there_o not_o the_o same_o reason_n why_o particular_a congregation_n though_o in_o city_n shall_v have_v their_o ruler_n it_o be_v as_o real_o inconvenient_a to_o bring_v every_o matter_n of_o a_o city-congregation_n at_o the_o first_o hand_n to_o the_o common_a presbyter_n as_o it_o be_v to_o bring_v the_o matter_n of_o a_o country_n parish_n to_o it_o yet_o we_o acknowledge_v that_o it_o be_v to_o be_v order_v according_a as_o it_o conduce_v most_o to_o the_o good_a of_o the_o church_n neither_o if_o we_o shall_v yield_v all_o that_o he_o say_v be_v it_o any_o thing_n against_o the_o divine_a right_n of_o parity_n what_o he_o say_v of_o these_o worthy_a divine_n disow_v this_o power_n of_o particular_a congregation_n we_o have_v cause_n to_o suspend_v our_o belief_n of_o it_o till_o he_o bring_v some_o testimony_n of_o their_o own_o writing_n to_o prove_v it_o which_o he_o have_v not_o so_o much_o as_o essaid_a it_o be_v like_a they_o be_v against_o independent_a power_n of_o particular_a congregation_n not_o their_o subordinate_a power_n for_o the_o testimony_n that_o he_o bring_v they_o prove_v no_o more_o than_o what_o we_o have_v grant_v viz._n that_o the_o congregation_n be_v rule_v in_o common_a not_o that_o they_o have_v no_o particular_a government_n in_o each_o of_o they_o as_o any_o may_v easy_o see_v by_o consider_v they_o neither_o be_v it_o any_o wonder_n that_o the_o record_n of_o antiquity_n speak_v of_o the_o act_n of_o those_o great_a not_o of_o the_o lesser_a and_o congregational_a presbytery_n see_v matter_n come_v before_o the_o latter_a be_v of_o so_o private_a concernment_n such_o as_o use_v not_o often_o to_o be_v so_o much_o take_v notice_n of_o the_o 3d_o thing_n he_o speak_v of_o in_o this_o first_o step_n of_o the_o growth_n of_o church_n be_v what_o relation_n the_o church_n in_o several_a city_n have_v one_o to_o another_o and_o to_o the_o lesser_a city_n that_o be_v under_o they_o and_o here_o he_o maintain_v that_o metropolitan_o be_v not_o of_o divine_a right_n to_o which_o we_o agree_v i_o add_v that_o in_o the_o first_o and_o more_o pure_a primitive_a time_n they_o have_v no_o be_v at_o all_o as_o be_v clear_o make_v out_o by_o diocl._n altar_n damasc_n c._n 2._o where_o he_o show_v that_o justine_n and_o ireneus_fw-la have_v nothing_o of_o the_o different_a degree_n of_o bishop_n and_o that_o cyprian_a in_o the_o middle_n of_o the_o three_o century_n do_v often_o assert_v their_o parity_n the_o second_o step_n be_v p._n 368._o when_o church_n take_v in_o the_o village_n and_o territory_n adjoin_v to_o that_o city_n he_o say_v that_o the_o city-presbyter_n do_v preach_v in_o these_o place_n and_o adjoin_v the_o convert_v to_o the_o city-church_n till_o after_o when_o they_o be_v increase_v in_o village_n they_o get_v peculiar_a officer_n set_v over_o they_o who_o do_v rule_v they_o yet_o with_o subordination_n to_o the_o city-church_n this_o last_o i_o only_a dislike_n neither_o do_v i_o see_v it_o prove_v by_o he_o for_o the_o title_n of_o matrix_fw-la ecclesia_fw-la et_fw-la cathedra_fw-la principalis_fw-la signify_v no_o more_o but_o a_o great_a dignity_n and_o primacy_n of_o order_n not_o of_o jurisdiction_n what_o he_o say_v of_o that_o eulogy_n send_v abroad_o consecrate_v piece_n of_o bread_n do_v not_o prove_v the_o point_n and_o also_o it_o be_v a_o superstitious_a custom_n the_o bad_a improvement_n of_o it_o appear_v in_o the_o papish_a adoration_n of_o their_o hostia_fw-la his_o next_o step_n be_v p._n 372._o when_o church_n do_v associate_v in_o one_o province_n where_o he_o speak_v of_o provincial_a synod_n once_o a_o year_n and_o show_v that_o no_o bishop_n have_v power_n over_o another_o but_o that_o their_o honour_n depend_v on_o their_o see_z thence_o he_o come_v to_o the_o last_o step_n when_o the_o
be_v that_o the_o place_n of_o scripture_n most_o in_o controversy_n about_o the_o form_n of_o government_n may_v be_v without_o any_o incongruity_n understand_v of_o either_o of_o the_o different_a form_n which_o he_o make_v out_o by_o go_v through_o the_o several_a place_n the_o first_o be_v act_v 11.30_o where_o it_o be_v say_v that_o the_o relief_n for_o the_o brethren_n of_o judea_n be_v send_v to_o the_o elder_n there_o be_v nothing_o here_o say_v he_o to_o show_v whether_o there_o be_v the_o local_a elder_n of_o jerusalem_n or_o the_o bishop_n of_o the_o several_a church_n of_o judea_n answ_n i_o wonder_v why_o he_o shall_v have_v bring_v this_o as_o the_o first_o or_o as_o one_o of_o these_o few_o scripture_n that_o he_o undertake_v to_o answer_v for_o the_o most_o part_n of_o the_o most_o pungent_a scripture_n against_o his_o design_n he_o do_v not_o so_o much_o as_o mention_v for_o i_o think_v it_o be_v very_o little_o insist_v on_o by_o either_o party_n nor_o can_v i_o remember_v that_o i_o have_v meet_v with_o it_o as_o bring_v to_o prove_v either_o parity_n or_o imparity_n yet_o i_o do_v not_o doubt_v but_o at_o least_o some_o probability_n may_v be_v hence_o bring_v that_o the_o apostolic_a church_n be_v govern_v by_o the_o parity_n of_o elder_n for_o which_o i_o lay_v down_o brief_o these_o ground_n first_o the_o elder_n here_o speak_v of_o be_v the_o governor_n of_o the_o church_n this_o he_o do_v not_o deny_v two_o they_o be_v the_o governor_n of_o the_o church_n of_o jerusalem_n this_o he_o say_v be_v not_o sure_a for_o they_o may_v be_v the_o bishop_n of_o the_o church_n of_o judea_n but_o against_o this_o i_o argue_v 1._o it_o be_v not_o enough_o to_o say_v they_o may_v be_v but_o what_o ground_n be_v there_o to_o think_v that_o they_o be_v the_o bishop_n of_o judea_n we_o bring_v probable_a ground_n for_o what_o we_o assert_v but_o what_o can_v be_v say_v for_o the_o contrary_a it_o be_v a_o bold_a way_n of_o expound_v scriture_n to_o say_v such_o a_o sense_n it_o may_v have_v when_o there_o be_v no_o ground_n to_o think_v that_o it_o have_v such_o a_o sense_n but_o some_o ground_n to_o the_o contrary_n 2._o however_o the_o relief_n ought_v to_o be_v send_v to_o all_o the_o church_n of_o judea_n yet_o it_o be_v deliver_v at_o jerusalem_n to_o be_v send_v abroad_o for_o it_o be_v deliver_v to_o these_o elder_n by_o barnabas_n and_o paul_n who_o it_o be_v not_o like_a they_o send_v through_o the_o several_a church_n of_o judea_n it_o be_v speak_v of_o as_o one_o single_a act_n of_o they_o deliver_v the_o other_o to_o a_o company_n of_o elder_n meet_v together_o now_o it_o be_v not_o imaginable_a that_o all_o the_o bishop_n of_o judea_n be_v meet_v together_o on_o this_o occasion_n for_o what_o need_v such_o a_o convention_n for_o receive_v alm_n yea_o we_o have_v no_o ground_n to_o think_v that_o it_o be_v so_o natural_a to_o they_o beforehand_o as_o that_o they_o can_v meet_v about_o it_o neither_o have_v that_o conceit_n of_o some_o any_o probability_n that_o these_o bishop_n do_v reside_v at_o jerusalem_n such_o man_n do_v not_o begin_v so_o soon_o to_o slight_v their_o particular_a charge_n but_o of_o this_o after_o these_o elder_n than_o be_v the_o elder_n of_o jerusalem_n 3._o we_o find_v a_o company_n of_o elder_n ordinary_o at_o jerusalem_n not_o only_o act_n 15.6_o which_o may_v be_v upon_o the_o solemn_a occasion_n of_o the_o council_n but_o act._n 21.18_o that_o these_o be_v the_o elder_n of_o judea_n come_v up_o with_o their_o flock_n to_o keep_v the_o feast_n of_o pentecost_n as_o mr._n still_o guess_v be_v a_o most_o irrational_a conceit_n for_o though_o many_o of_o the_o jew_n be_v zealous_a of_o the_o law_n shall_v we_o think_v that_o the_o apostle_n have_v set_v teacher_n over_o they_o who_o be_v no_o better_o instruct_v in_o the_o gospel_n than_o so_o and_o beside_o these_o believe_a jew_n ver_fw-la 20_o who_o be_v say_v to_o be_v zealous_a of_o the_o law_n can_v neither_o be_v prove_v to_o have_v be_v then_o present_a at_o jerusalem_n for_o they_o may_v hear_v of_o paul_n condescendency_n to_o their_o custom_n though_o they_o be_v not_o there_o neither_o that_o they_o be_v those_o of_o the_o country_n of_o judea_n they_o may_v be_v of_o jerusalem_n itself_o but_o i_o incline_v rather_o to_o the_o first_o now_o we_o find_v not_o any_o other_o company_n of_o all_o the_o elder_n of_o judea_n meet_v in_o one_o place_n these_o be_v then_o the_o elder_n of_o jerusalem_n 4._o it_o be_v then_o observe_v both_o by_o the_o ordinary_a gloss_n and_o by_o lyra_n in_o loc_n that_o this_o famine_n be_v main_o like_a to_o be_v in_o jerusalem_n the_o believer_n there_o be_v spoil_v of_o their_o movable_a good_n in_o the_o persecution_n about_o stephen_n and_o therefore_o this_o relief_n be_v chief_o to_o they_o ergo_fw-la they_o be_v the_o elder_n of_o jerusalem_n which_o here_o receive_v it_o now_o from_o these_o ground_n it_o easy_o follow_v what_o we_o intend_v viz._n if_o there_o be_v a_o company_n of_o elder_n who_o be_v ruler_n of_o the_o church_n at_o jerusalem_n then_o this_o church_n of_o the_o rest_n there_o be_v the_o same_o reason_n be_v not_o govern_v by_o a_o bishop_n but_o by_o presbyter_n act_v in_o parity_n it_o be_v strange_a if_o the_o elder_n of_o the_o church_n shall_v be_v speak_v of_o and_o no_o notice_n take_v of_o my_o lord_n bishop_n if_o there_o be_v any_o such_o person_n in_o such_o a_o matter_n sect._n 13._o the_o second_o place_n be_v act._n 14.23_o when_o they_o have_v ordain_v they_o elder_n in_o every_o church_n to_o which_o he_o join_v the_o 3d_o tit._n 1.5_o that_o thou_o shall_v ordain_v elder_n in_o every_o city_n of_o which_o place_n he_o say_v that_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d and_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d signify_v no_o more_o but_o ecclesiatim_fw-la and_o oppidatim_fw-la so_o that_o the_o place_n may_v well_o be_v understand_v of_o ordain_v one_o elder_a in_o every_o church_n and_o city_n or_o of_o more_o but_o do_v not_o determine_v whether_o one_o or_o more_o be_v ordain_v in_o they_o but_o grant_v all_o that_o he_o allege_v a_o strong_a argument_n for_o our_o purpose_n may_v be_v bring_v from_o these_o place_n thus_o there_o be_v at_o least_o in_o every_o church_n one_o elder_a in_o the_o apostle_n time_n and_o such_o a_o elder_a as_o be_v also_o a_o bishop_n and_o have_v govern_v power_n over_o the_o church_n as_o appear_v by_o compare_v vers_n 7._o of_o tit._n 2._o with_o this_o vers_n 5._o but_o there_o can_v not_o be_v in_o every_o church_n a_o diocesan_n bishop_n rule_v over_o presbyter_n for_o one_o of_o these_o be_v over_o many_o church_n ergo._n the_o church_n be_v then_o govern_v by_o the_o elder_n of_o the_o several_a church_n act_v in_o parity_n for_o if_o every_o church_n have_v its_o elder_a or_o elder_n and_o these_o all_o be_v ruler_n than_o the_o rule_n be_v not_o in_o the_o hand_n of_o one_o superior_a over_o many_o church_n nothing_o can_v be_v question_v in_o this_o argument_n except_o it_o be_v say_v that_o every_o church_n here_o be_v not_o every_o congregational_a but_o diocesan_n church_n but_o this_o can_v in_o no_o wise_n be_v for_o there_o be_v a_o necessity_n of_o a_o elder_a or_o elder_n in_o every_o congregational_a church_n for_o the_o people_n instruction_n if_o these_o than_o do_v rule_v the_o church_n be_v rule_v by_o the_o elder_n of_o congregational_a church_n the_o next_o place_n be_v act_n 20.17_o and_o from_o miletus_n paul_n send_v and_o call_v the_o elder_n of_o the_o church_n these_o say_v we_o be_v elder_n of_o the_o church_n of_o ephesus_n to_o who_o in_o common_a paul_n commit_v the_o rule_n of_o the_o church_n vers_fw-la 28._o not_o to_o one_o bishop_n over_o the_o rest_n so_o that_o church_n be_v govern_v by_o parity_n of_o elder_n to_o this_o place_n he_o answer_v by_o show_v some_o probability_n for_o both_o meaning_n viz._n that_o these_o be_v the_o elder_n of_o ephesus_n and_o that_o they_o be_v the_o bishop_n of_o asia_n but_o take_v no_o pain_n to_o answer_v what_o be_v say_v on_o either_o hand_n only_o conclude_v that_o because_o there_o be_v probability_n on_o both_o hand_n there_o be_v no_o fix_a truth_n on_o either_o which_o be_v most_o detestable_a scepticism_n for_o if_o there_o be_v argument_n for_o both_o part_n sure_a both_o can_v be_v true_a see_v they_o be_v contradictory_n neither_o can_v both_o be_v false_a for_o the_o same_o reason_n for_o contradictoriarum_fw-la altera_fw-la semper_fw-la est_fw-la vera_fw-la altera_fw-la semper_fw-la est_fw-la falsa_fw-la than_o it_o be_v his_o part_n either_o to_o show_v that_o neither_o of_o the_o argument_n prove_v any_o thing_n by_o answer_v to_o they_o or_o to_o hold_v to_o