Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	bishop_n	church_n	succession_n	1,636	5	10.2155	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65358	The saints guide, or, Christ the rule, and ruler of saints manifested by way of positions, consectaries, and queries : wherein is contayned the efficacy of acquired knowledge, the rule of Christians, the mission and maintenance of ministers, and the power of magistrates in spiritual things / by Iohn Webster ...	Webster, John, 1610-1682.	1654 (1654)	Wing W1213; ESTC R17627	36,008	50

others might more willingly receive them and their Doctrin 3. When Timethy was left at Ephesus and Titus in Creet to set things in order and ordain Elders in particular places this was but to appoint such as God had alread● called and gifted to remain at such part●cular places and to give their Testimony and witnes that they were so called which either they did by extending of the hand when divers so called and gifted were present or nominated or else that divers being proposed the believers of that Church did by extending the hand manifest which of them they desired to be over them in the Lord and then these they confirmed in those places and prayed that God might prosper them in that work To feed the flock of Christ which he hath purchased with his own bloud and these are the Pastors that should feed the flock not for filthy lucre but of a ready minde and not as being Lords over the heritages Not but that they are called before this and this but a witness from others that they are so called If it were in the power of Magistrats Academyes Presbyteryes or Churches to send forth Ministers then this would be a continual and standing power to propagate this Tribe by a way of carnal generation as that of the L●vites who were born Priests or to the right of the Priesthood and so no age or generation need be without as hath been and is practiced in the Kingdom of Babylon to this day who all claim it by Succession and a carnal way of propagation Bishops from the Pope Presbyters from them and the Independent and baptized Churches from the Presbyters so that heer would be a perpetual Ministry set up by man whether ever God sent any or not When the mystery of his Truth hath been hidden from ages and generations and is onely manifest to the Saints according to the times and seasons that the Father hath put in his own power And so all along the time of the Apostasie these Locusts have swarmed out of the bottomless pit and covered the face of the Earth to devour the Fruits thereof and would continue so still though the Father of light never sent them but the Prince of darkness Consectaryes Then for a State or Common-wealth to set up and appoint a National Ministry from any judgment of men Ministers or Churches is to take unto themselves the power wisdom and right of the Almighty and to set themselves in his Throne and so to be like the Scribes and Pharis●es thieves and robbers stealing and attributing that honour unto themseves which is due to the Lord of the Harvest who onely 〈◊〉 Labourers into his Vineyard This is but to set up a c●rnal Image of a Ministry a Picture without 〈…〉 their trust in him Then those that have entred into the Sheep-fold not by the 〈◊〉 but climbed up some other way the same are thieves and robbers and the Sheep neither know nor hear their voice nor follow them And he that cannot evidence his Calling to be immediatly from and by the Spirit of Christ both by the witness of the same Spirit in his own Breast the power and authority of the speakings of God in him and by the Seal of his Ministry the Conversion and Confirmation of Souls is nothing else but a thief and a robber a deceiver and an 〈◊〉 and nev●r was sent of God but came of himself and had 〈…〉 but from the Devil and Man Then are 〈…〉 and Commissions from men to authorize others 〈◊〉 and r●●ch vain corrupt and abominable and men that pretend to derive their power from these are 〈…〉 And if any thing be not of him it will fall of it self for that which is crooked cannot be made straight Queryes I desire to know from whence the National Ministers have their Calling or Ordination If from Man who gave him that Power and wherein consists it If from God when and how did they receive it and wherein stands the Power of it Are not they Theeves and Robbers that steal and robb Christ of his honor And do not these so when they hold that being bred in an Academy and furnishd with such Arts and Learning as are taught there and to be Ordained by Bishops Presbyters or Churches is the true Calling and Ordination of Ministers If this be not to rob God of his Honor what is it then Do these that call themselves the Ministers of the Nation seek Authority Counsel Countenance and Protection from God only that sends forth true Ministers and bids them not be afraid of those that can kill the body and can do no more but of him that can throw both body and soul into hell fire or from Men and Magistrates Why do these men if they be ordained of God and sent out in the Power of his Spirit persecute condemn and scandalize others for witnessing that there is no other Calling but what in the power of that Spirit when it is certain That no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Iesus accursed Of the wages and maintenance of Ministers That the Ministers of the Gospel have allotted and allowed them a maintenance by the Gospel Order is evident Because The Labourer is worthy of his hire and the Lord hath ordained that they which Preach the Gospel should Live of the Gospel And he that is taught in his Word should communicate to him that teacheth in all good things Gal. 6. 6. But it is as evident that this maintenance ariseth not from Tythes and Oblations as to the Levites under the Jewish Ministry Nor by the power of a compulsory Law made by a Commonwealth or Nationall Power in giving or setling a National Maintenance But from the free Gift and Contribution of those individuall persons wrought upon by that mans Ministry to whom they are to communicate their temporal things and the proportion such as God shall move their spirits to bestow Because the Jewish Ministery is now fulfilled and ended which was but the pattern of the Spiritual and now we have no other High Priest but Christ and all his people being members of his mysticall Body and stones in his spirituall Building do not pay Tithes in him who received them of Abraham in whose loyns according to the flesh Aaron and his sons were And therefore the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change also of the Law Secondly our Saviours command to his Disciples when he sent them into the World was not that they should have Lands and Livings Lordships and Dominion Tythes and Augmentations but only food and rayment and therewithall they were to be content And they were to provide neither gold nor silver nor brass in their purses nor scrip for their journey neither two coats neither shooes nor yet staves for the workman is worthy of his meat so that they were to bargain or