Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	apostle_n	church_n	great_a	2,465	5	3.0819	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96941	A modell of the government of the church under the gospel, by presbyters, proved out of the holy scriptures, to be that one, onely uniform government of the universall visible church, and of all nationall, provinciall, classicall and congregationall churches: which is according to the will and appointment of Jesus Christ. Which may serve to stay such as are doubting, with hope of full satisfaction, and clear demonstration of this truth, shortly to be made by the reverend Assembly of Divines. / Composed by a Presbyterian minister of the city of London, and approved by divers of his learned brethren, and at their request published.	Walker, George, 1581?-1651.	1646 (1646)	Wing W362; Thomason E342_3; ESTC R200927	24,926	36

preaching of the same word and doctrine which they wrote and preached Thirdly Although the Pastours and Teachers which succeed the Apostles are unable to work miracles and to write infallible Scriptures and give unchangeable rules to all Churches as the Apostles did because they have not such extraordinary gifts and calling Yet in things which are in the power of ordinary Presbyters and Pastours as meeting many together in Synods and Presbyteriall Assemblies to decide and determine controversies according to the Scriptures it is a thing as easy and ordinary for them wherein to imitate them as for many Lords and Commons to meet in a Parliament to remove grievances in the Common-wealth And certainly so farre as God makes us able we are bound to follow their practice and examples Fourthly The more extraordinary gifts that the Apostles had the lesse need they had to meet in Synods and Assemblies either all or divers of them together Paul and Barnabas had an infallible spirit and did dispute against the errour at Antioch and condemned it by as infallible a sentence as the Apostles did at Jerusalem And yet for a paterne to all succeeding Churches and to make the judgement and determination of more authority in all Churches of beleeving Jews and Gentiles and to shew the unity of spirit and uniformity of doctrine and discipline among them all an appeal was made to a generall Synod of all the Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem And therefore the necessary use and reason of such Synods and Classicall Presbyteries being still the same in all ages And ordinary Ministers of Christ having more need of common help and assistance because many eies see more then one and many heads consulting together will better search out the truth and true sense of Scripture in doubtfull matters and of great concernment The objection doth make more for the confirmation of the doctrine to wit that the practice and examples of the Apostles in the manner of governing the Church is of divine authority and ought to be esteemed the will and appointment of Christ 7. Now out of these points plainly proved by cleer texts of holy Scripture We may easily raise a perfect definition or description of that Government partly Ecclesiasticall which Christ as King of his Church hath set up therein namely this That it is the exercise of power and authority in matters spirituall which concern the salvation of souls given by Christ to the Pastours and Elders of his Church for the gathering building up and well ordering of it and for the perfecting of the Saints the members thereof For the confirmation of this definition in every part and member of it we have expresse words of holy Scripture First the Commission which Christ the supream Lord gave to his Apostles and to their successours in all ages to the end of the world was not only by preaching the Gospel to make men Disciples but also to open the kingdom of Heaven and by Baptisme to admit beleevers and Disciples into it and to teach them to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them Matth. 28. 19 20. But to shut out unbeleevers as being under damnation and in the kingdom of Satan Mark 16. 16. And that by this Commission not only power and authority was given them to propound the word by way of doctrine but also to use the rod of discipline and to correct and censure all such as were offenders untractable and puffed up the Apostle Paul sheweth 1 Cor. 4. 20 21. Where he saith that when he cometh to Corinth he will know not the speech of them that are puffed up but the power For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power even to use the rod of correction and sharp censure as the next words shew viz. What will you Shall I come to you with a rod or in love and in the spirit of meeknes And what this rod is the next chapter immediatly declares in which he gives them a charge In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to excommunicate in their solemne Assembly the incestuous person And 2 Cor. 10. 8. and Chap. 13. 10. He doth plainly affirm that to him and his fellow-Ministers the Lord hath given power and authority even to use sharpnesse Secondly That this power is not carnall nor exercised about worldly matters but is spirituall and mighty through God exercised in pulling down the strong holds of sin and Satan casting down imaginations and every high thing which exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ The Apostle affirms 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. Thirdly This power and authority is given to be exercised for edification not for destruction as the Apostle teacheth 2 Cor. 10. 8. 13. 10. even for the perfecting of the Saints and for the edifying of the body of Christ Ephes. 4. 12. Fourthly The exercise of this power and authority is uniform and the waies of it the same in all Churches No supreme Magistrate hath power to alter it it is not to be usurped nor contended for by any to whom God hath not given abilities nor called thereunto It belongs to the Pastours and Teachers who have a calling to expound publikely the Word and law of Christ and to their assisting Elders who are fit to judge accordingly For such the Apostles appointed to be their successours and not civill Magistrates which were not known in the Church till many years after the days of the Apostles And to the Apostles and their successours the Lord Christ gave this power to rule his Church and it continued in their hands in all the Apostolicall Churches The same waies which the great Apostle of the Gentiles observed himself he taught in every Church every where 1 Cor. 4 17. and so he ordained in all Churches 1 Cor. 7. 17. And when any swerved from the institution of Christ in the use of the ordinances and contended for forms and fashions differing from the common rule and custom The Apostle reproved and blamed them as appears 1 Cor. 11. 16 17. The Pastours Elders and Teachers who labour in the Word and Doctrine and watch for the souls of the people and by the holy Ghost are made overseers over the flock are the Governours and rule over them in the Lord and they ought to submit themselves to be ruled and guided by them as being the stewards of Gods house his Church and dispensers of the mysteries of Christ as these places following do shew Act. 20. 28. Take heed to your selves and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God And 1 Cor. 4. 1. Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God And 1 Thes. 5. 12. We beseech you brethren to know them that labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you And to esteem them very highly in love

in the Scriptures before named Math. 28. 19. 20. Mark 16. 15. John 20. 23. and in other places where the exercise of the power of the Keyes of the kingdome of heaven which was given to Peter as the mouth of the rest Math. 16. 19. is also given in common to them all as they were the Church representative and stood in the place of all Pastours and Teachers to the end of the world In so much as if any two or three of them were gathered together in his Name he promised to be in the midst of them Mat. 18. 17. 18. 20. and Joh. 20. 23. And as the Lord Christ gave this power to the Apostles so they exercised it sometimes in common all together in the generall Assembly of the Disciples Brethren and Elders as Act. 1. 15. in the election of an Apostle in the place of Iudas and Act. 6. 2. about the election and Ordination of the seven Deacons and Act. 15 6. about the deciding of a great controversie concerning Circumcision and other legall rites not to be imposed on the believing Gentiles And sometimes two or three of them as Peter and Iohn when they were sent to Samaria to confirme the Church there Act. 8 14. And Barnabas and others who were sent to confirme the first Church called Christian at Antioch Act. 11. 22. 23. And Paul and Barnabas and Silas in ordaining Elders in every Church by them converted to Christ Act. 14. 23. But yet they altogether and everie one or two by themselves exercised and commended to the Evangelists and Presbyters by them ordained the same uniforme government and the same way in Christ both for Doctrine and Discipline So the great Apostle of the Gentiles plainly testifieth 1 Cor. 4 17. writing thus for this cause have I sent to you Timotheus who is my beloved sonne and faithfull in the Lord who shall bring you into remembrance of my waies which be in Christ as I teach every where in every Church and 1 Cor. 7. 17. So ordain I in all Churches And he who had the care of all the Churches as he saith 2 Cor. 11. 28. keeps them to the same custome as is implied 2 Cor. 11. 16. where speaking of new fashions for which some are ready to contend he saith If any man seem to be contentious we have no such custome nor the Churches of God 6. Now this ministeriall uniforme government setled by Christ and his Apostles in all Churches Nationall and Provinciall and Classicall in every Circuit as it was in the hands of the Pastours Presbyters and overseers so it was Aristocraticall But as the whole Church and multitude of believers had liberty in elections to nominate such as they found most fit to be overseers and officers and orderly to give their approbation of the Acts of the Elderships so it is in some part Democraticall As we see in the election of the seven Deacons Act. 6. The twelve Apostles appointed that seven men of honest report and full of the holy Ghost should be ordained The multitude chose them and set them before the Apostles who ordained them with prayer and imposition of hands So also Act. 15. The Apostles and Elders came together to consider of a matter and to decide a Controversie brought unto them from the Church of Antioch vers. 6. Peter and Iames debated the businesse and gave the sentence together with the Elders and all the brethren even the whole Church approved the sentence given by Iames and thereupon a decree was framed in the name of them all vers. 23. And in the ordaining of Presbyters in everie Church Act 14. 23. As the Apostles Paul and Barnabas with Silas prayed and layd on their hands so the people holding up their hands approved the election and ordination These examples and these practices of Church government in Synods and greater Presbyteries performed by men who had received instructions from Christs owne mouth and were inspired and moved there unto by the holy Ghost and the reason of them still standing in force they do shew that such Synods and acts of Church-Government are according to the will and appointment of Christ and are usefull and necessary to the end of the world And all Churches ought to conforme unto this speciall Government Ob. But some do object that the Apostles were men of extraordinary gifts and calling and had an infallible assistance of the holy Ghost which did lead them into all truth and could do in their Synods and Assemblies things which ordinarie Pastours and teachers cannot do they could say It seemed good to the holy Ghost and to us and could take upon them the care and oversight of all Churches But now it is well if one or two of the wisest Ministers can teach or rule one particular Congregation It is too much for them to meddle with the common Government of many particular Churches And therefore the examples of the Apostolicall Churches do not binde the Churches of these times Ans. To this I answer First that it was necessary that the Apostles and Evangelists should be extraordinarily called inspired and assisted by the holy Ghost that he might lead them into all truth and call to their remembrance all things whatsoever Christ had taught them and commanded them to be observed in all Churches to the end of the world otherwise they could not have been the infallible penmen of the Scriptures which are the certain rule both of Doctrine and Discipline Neither could their example and practice have been an heavenly paterne of Divine Authority to all succeding ages But after the publishing of the Gospell by them to all the world and their writing of the holy Scriptures and leaving them recorded for a sure rule of teaching and ruling to all Christian Churches there is no more need of any such extraordinary calling and gifts in their Successours but ordinary Pastours and Teachers by the ordinary light and direction of the holy Ghost who hath made them Overseers over the Church may be as able to exercise Discipline and censures as to preach and propound sound and saving Doctrine in the Church out of the holy Scriptures of the Apostles which are as plain a rule and as certain a direction for ruling as they are for preaching And to confirm us in this assurance we have the promise of Christ that he will be with his Ministers in all ages to the end of the world as he was with his Apostles not only in teaching and Baptizing people but also making them observers of all things whatsoever he had commanded Matth. 28. 20. Secondly This objection is of no more force against the imitation of the Apostles in their practice and acts of Church Government in Synods and greater-Presbyteries then it is against preaching their doctrine contained in their writings For they were men of extraordinary calling and gifts in teaching as well as in ruling And if that be a good reason against ruling after their example It is so also against