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	rome_n	2,013	5	6.8164	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50916	Of reformation touching chvrch-discipline in England, and the cavses that hitherto have hindred it two bookes, written to a freind [sic]	Milton, John, 1608-1674.	1641 (1641)	Wing M2134; ESTC R17896	44,575	96

displeasing to the people then to have in-acted that no Bishop should be chosen without his will so long did this right remain to the people in the midst of other palpable corruptions Now for Episcopall dignity what it was see out of Ignatius who in his Epistle to those of Trallis confesseth that the Presbyters are his fellow Counsellers and fellow benchers And Cyprian in many places as in the 6. 41. 52. Epist. speaking of Presbyters calls them his Compresbyters as if he deem'd himself no other whenas by the same place it appeares he was a Bishop he calls them Brethren but that will be thought his meeknesse yea but the Presbyters and Deacons writing to him think they doe him honour enough when they phrase him no higher then Brother Cyprian and deare Cyprian in the 26. Epist. For their Authority 't is evident not to have bin single but depending on the counsel of the Presbyters as from 〈◊〉 was ere while alledg'd and the same Cyprian acknowledges as much in the 6 Epist. and addes therto that he had determin'd from his entrance into the Office of Bishop to doe nothing without the consent of his people and so in the 31. Epist for it were tedious to course through all his writings which are so full of the like assertions insomuch that ev'n in the womb and center of Apostacy Rome it selfe there yet remains a glimps of this truth for the Pope himselfe as a learned English writer notes well performeth all E●…clesiasticall jurisdiction as in Consistory amongst his Cardinals which were originally but the Parish Priests of Rome Thus then did the Spirit of unity and meeknesse inspire and animate every joynt and sinew of the mysticall body but now the gravest and worthiest Minister atrue Bishop of his fold shall be revil'd and ruffl'd by an insulting and only-Canon-wise Prelate as if he were some slight paltry companion and the people of God redeem'd and wash'd with Christs blood and dignify'd with so many glorious titles of Saints and sons in the Gospel are now no better reputed then impure ethnicks and lay dogs stones Pillars and Crucifixes have now the honour and the almes due to Christs living members the Table of Communion now become a Table of separation stands like an exalted platforme upon the brow of the quire fortifi'd with bulwark ●…and barricado to keep off the profane touch of the Laicks whilst the obscene and surfered Priest scruples not to paw and mammock the sacramentall bread as familiarly as his Tavern Bisket And thus the people vilifi'd and rejected by them give over the earnest study of vertue and godlinesse as a thing of greater purity then they need and the search of divine knowledge as a mystery too high for their capacity's and only for Church-men to meddle with which is that the Prelates desire that when they have brought us back to Popish blindnesse we might commit to their dispose the whole managing of our salvation for they think it was never faire world with them since that time But he that will mould a modern Bishop into a primitive must yeeld him to be elected by the popular voyce undiocest unrevenu'd unlorded and leave him nothing but brotherly equality matchles temperance frequent fasting incessant prayer and preaching continual watchings and labours in his Ministery which what a rich bootie it would be what a plump endowment to the many-benefice-gaping mouth of a Prelate what a relish it would give to his canary-sucking and swan-eating palat let old Bishop Mountain judge for me How little therfore those ancient times make for moderne Bishops hath bin plainly discours'd but let them make for them as much as they will yet why we ought not stand to their arbitrement shall now appeare by a threefold corruption which will be found upon them times were spreadingly infected men of those times fouly tainted writings of those men dangerously adulterated These Positions are to be made good out of those times witnessing of themselves First Ignatius in his early dayes testifies to the Churches of Asia that even then Heresies were sprung up and rife every where as Eusebius relates in his 3. Book 35. chap. after the Greek number And Hegesippus a grave Church writer of prime Antiquity affirms in the same Book of Euseb. c. 32. that while the Apostles were on earth the depravers of doctrine did but lurk but they once gon with open forehead they durst preach down the truth with falsities yea those that are reckon'd for orthodox began to make sad and shamefull rents in the Church about the trivial celebration of Feasts not agreeing when to keep Easter day which controversie grew so hot that Victor the Bishop of Rome Excommunicated all the Churches of Asia for no other cause and was worthily therof reprov'd by Irenaeus For can any sound Theologer think that these great Fathers understood what was Gospel or what was Excommunication doubtlesse that which led the good men into fraud and error was that they attended more to the neer tradition of what they heard the Apostles somtimes did then to what they had left written not considering that many things which they did were by the Apostles themselves profest to be done only for the present and of meer indulgence to some scrupulous converts of the Circumcision but what they writ was of firm decree to all future ages Look but a century lower in the 1. cap. of Eusebius 8. Book What a universal tetter of impurity had invenom'd every part order and degree of the Church to omit the lay herd which will be little regarded those that seem'd to be our Pastors saith he overturning the Law of Gods worship burnt in contentions one towards another and incresing in hatred and bitternes outragiously sought to uphold Lordship and command as it were a tyranny Stay but a little magnanimous Bishops suppresse your aspiring thoughts for there is nothing wanting but Constantine to reigne and then Tyranny her selfe shall give up all her cittadels into your hands and count ye thence forward her trustiest agents Such were these that must be call'd the ancientest and most virgin times between Christ and Constantine Nor was this general contagion in their actions and not in their writings who is ignorant of the foul errors the ridiculous wresting of Scripture the Heresies the vanities thick sown through the volums of Justin Mar●…yr Clemens Origen 〈◊〉 and others of eldest time Who would think him fit to write an Apology for Christian Faith to the Roman Senat that would tell them how of the Angels which he must needs mean those in Gen. call'd the Sons of God mixing with Women were begotten the Devills as good Justin Martyr in his Apology told them But more indignation would it move to any Christian that shall read Tertullian terming S. Paul a novice and raw in grace for reproving S. Peter at Antioch worthy to be blam'd if we beleeve the Epistle to the Galatians perhaps from this hint the blasphemous