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A04766 Ouranognōsia. Heauenly knowledge A manuduction to theologie. Written in Latin by Barthol. Keckerm. done into English by T.V. Mr. of Arts. Keckermann, Bartholomäus, ca. 1571-1608 or 9.; Vicars, Thomas, d. 1638.; Vicars, Thomas, d. 1638. Briefe direction how to examine our selues before we go to the Lords table. 1622 (1622) STC 14896; ESTC S103956 89,591 228

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the Apocryphall VVhat is the first proprietie of the holy Scripture The first proprietie is that it deriues all its authority from God alone not from the assembly of godly men which is called the Church How prooue you this I prooue it by these reasons first the testimony of God hath not any authoritie from men The Scripture is the testimony of God alone Ergo It hath none authority from men yea the most holy men that be and consequently not from the Church which is nothing else but a company of godly and sanctified men The force and pith of the argument you shall find 1. Ioh. 5. If we receiue the witnesse of men the testimony of God certainely is greater Secondly that must needs be before the Scripture in naturall order of which the authoritie of the Scripture dependeth But the Church is not before the Word of God Ergo. The Maior proposition is euident because that which dependeth of another must needs come after that on which it dependeth The Minor is thus prooued That which is gathered gouerned regenerated by the Word or by the Scripture that is in order after the Scripture But the Ch. Ergo. The Maior is plaine the Minor is prooued by 1. Pet. 1.23 VVee are regenerated borne a new by the word of God Iames 1.18 Hee hath begotten vs by the word of truth Ioh. 17.20 VVhich by their word shall belieue in me Thirdly the foundation of any building depends not on the roofe or vpper roomes which are built vpon the foundation but contrarily those same vpper roomes and the roofe depend vpon the foundation but the Word of God is the foundation Ergo. The Maior is plaine in it selfe The Minor is confirmed by that Ephes. 2.20 You are built vpon the foundations of the Prophets and Apostles The Papists obiect to vs that place 1. Tim. 3.15 VVhere the Church is said to be the pillar and ground of truth Whereto we answer that this argument is sophisticall or a fallacie commonly called a Dicto secundum quid ad dictum simpliciter For the Church is not called the piller and ground of truth in regard of it selfe but in regard of Christ the head who is that corner stone And further it is so called in regard it is the keeper of the Scripture forsomuch as God hath made the Church onely to haue to doe with the treasurie of his Word and in the Church as on the pillar and doore of his house or pallace he hangeth those holy Tables which euery man must go thither to reade No otherwise then the Magistrate hangeth vp on pillars and gates of his Court Tables containing in them his Lawes and Decrees to the end that his subiects may there reade them as in a publike place Lastly the Church is called the Pillar of truth in this respect because that God vseth the testimony of the Church as his instrument and meanes for the proposing teaching and expounding of the holy Scripture vnto men for the Ministers of the Church are the conseruers of truth and the interpreters of the Scriptures yet not so as if the authority of the Scripture did depend on them but because God vseth them as his seruants and Ministers to propound and to beate into the memories of men his holy Scripture euen as a Prince vseth a Cryer for the promulgation of his lawes vnto his subiects And here take this similitude with you a man goeth to the Vniuersitie as vnto the very shop and store-house of learning yet herevpon it followeth not that the truth of that learning we are taught there in the Vniuersitie doth depend on the authoritie of the Vniuersity Besides this must also bee obserued that whatsoeuer the Papists say touching the authoritie of the Church aboue the Scripture doth nothing at all profit them but that they manifestly begge the point in question whilest they thus argue The Church hath authoritie aboue the Scriptures The Pope of Rome is the Church Ergo. For suppose wee grant them their Maior which notwithstanding is false as wee haue manifestly prooued yet they are neuer able to proue their Minor as shal be showne anon more distinctly VVhat is the second propriety of the Word of God or the holy Scripture That it be entire perfect and sufficient to saluation which is proued by that Ioh. 20.30 Many other signes did Iesus which are not written in this Booke but these things are written that you may belieue that Iesus is the Christ that Sonne of God and that you belieuing might haue life by his name Out of which place I thus reason That which is so written that by it wee may belieue in Christ Iesus and so obtaine eternall life that I say is sufficient to life eternall But the Scripture is so written Ergo. Againe thence I thus argue The holy Scripture was written to this end that wee might belieue in the Sonne of God and get eternall life Ergo Whatsoeuer Word is not written profiteth or auaileth vs nothing to faith and to eternal life which must diligently be noted against the errour of the Papists which say there are two words of God the one written the other vnwritten vpon which pretence they will needs obtrude vnto vs Traditions which they call Apostolicall the Decrees of the Popes and the custome of the Church Of which the Councell of Trent in the fourth sessiō thus speaketh VVhosoeuer doth not with like affection of mind reuerence the Traditions of the Church as he doth the holy Scriptures let him be accursed But against these Traditions first note the sufficiency of the Scriptures Secondly this argument The Traditions of the Church either agree with the holy writ or they dissent from it If they be consonant to it then they say the selfe same thing the Scripture saith and so they are Scripture for that ought not in all reason to be done by moe which may be performed by fewer Or they dissent from the Scripture as all the traditions of the Popes as namely that tradition whereby the Cup in the Lords Supper is prohibited to be administred vnto the lay people and such like And if they disagree with the Scripture they cannot fill vp the Scripture for that which is repugnant to any thing doth not fil vp but rather quite ouerthrow it Another testimony of the perfection of the holy Scripture is most manifest in the 2. Tim. 3.6 The whole Scripture is giuen by inspiration from God and is profitable to teach to reproue to correct to instruct that the man of God may be perfect and perfectly instructed to euery good worke From whence wee may frame these arguments First the Scripture is a totum an entire thing Ergo it is perfect for a totum is that which wanteth no necessary parts Secondly that which sufficeth vs for doctrin for reproof for correction and instruction that is full and compleate for there is none that can shew any thing besides wherunto the
vnto men but vnto God Therefore the holy Ghost is God Another place is 1. Cor. 2.10 The Spirit searcheth all things euen the profound things of God And the verse following For who knoweth the things c. Whence we may thus reason whosoeuer knoweth the secrets the profound secrets of God or which is all one whosoeuer is omniscient is God but the holy Ghost is Omniscient Ergo. The Maior is euident the Minor is expressely in the Text. Secondly whatsoeuer is in God is God but the holy Ghost is in God Ergo. The Proposition is of certaine truth for that God who is a most simple essence voyd of all difference and composition cannot consist of any thing which is not God The assumption is in the text vers 10. where it is said As the reasonable soule is in man that is of the essence of man so the holy Spirit is in God Hitherto may that testimony 1. Cor. 3.16 be referred Know yee not that ye are the Temple of God and that the holy Spirit dwelleth in you where the latter words do expound the former for it is all one as if the Apostle had said Know ye not that yee are the Temple of God seeing that the holy Ghost dwelleth in you who is God But if the aduersaries say that the spirit is nothing else saue the effects and gifts of God they are most manifestly confuted and confounded by the words of the Scripture 1. Cor. 12.4 5 6. There are diuersities of gifts but the same spirit there are diuersities of ministrations but the same Lord c. And verse 11 All these gifts worketh that one and selfe same spirit distributing c. Whence ariseth this argument He that distributeth a gift is not himselfe that gift that is distributed but the holy Ghost is the distributer of all those gifts Ergo. The Proposition is cleare enough The Assumption is plaine in the text where it is said that the spirit worketh and distributeth all those gifts Another argument out of the same text may be this He that is endued with a will he cannot be a bare vertue or accidēt but is a substāce subsisting by it self but the holy Ghost c. Ergo. The Maior is cleare for whosoeuer willeth he vnderstādeth and whosoeuer willeth and vnderstandeth he must be a substance by it selfe subsisting The Minor is clearely set down in the text where it is said The Spirit distributeth to euery one as he will I haue heard the doctrine concerning God tell me now besides what the holy Scripture is It is that testimony and witnesse which God hath giuen to Mankind as touching his owne nature and will and as touching those things which appertaine to the saluation of man How is the holy Scripture diuided Three manner of waies first by reason of the time wherein it was reuealed secondly by reason of that authority it hath in prouing thirdly by reason of the matter which it handleth How is the Scripture diuided in respect of the time wherein it was reuealed Into the Old and New Testament The old Testament therefore is that part of the Scripture which God reuealed to the first of mankind and people of the Iewes which liued vntill the Ministery of Christ which he reuealed I say by the Prophets as by his Scribes and Notaries But the New Testament is called that part of the Scripture which God hath reuealed to mankind after the birth of Christ by the Euangelists and Apostles as by his Pen men or Notaries How is the Scripture diuided in respect of that authoritie it hath in prouing So it is diuided into the bookes which are Canonicall and those which are not Canonicall but Apocryphall Which do you call the Canonicall Books Those which are of vndoubted authoritie in prouing the Articles of Faith or which are the square and rule of our faith for Canonical is deriued from Canon which signifieth as much as a rule or square Of what sort are the Canonicall books Of two sorts either of the old or of the new Testament VVhich bookes of the old Testament are Canonicall The Canonicall Scripture of the old Testament is deuided into foure rancks the first containeth the fiue Bookes of Moses the second those Bookes which are called Historicall as these Ioshua Iudges Ruth the two Bookes of Samuel the two Bookes of Kings the two Bookes of the Chronicles the Books of Esdras Nehemiah Ester The third Bookes which are written in verse which are called Poeticall as these Iob the Psalmes of Dauid the Prouerbs of Salomon Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs the fourth comprehendeth the Prophets which are either greater Prophets in number foure or lesser to wit twelue Which Books of the new Testament are Canonicall The Canonicall Scriptures of the new Testament is diuided into the history of the Euangelists the Acts of the Apostles the Apostles Epistles and the Prophecy or Reuelation of Iohn Which are called Apocryphall or not Canonicall Which are not of infallible truth and authority in prouing the Articles of faith consequently which are not the rule and square of our beliefe but containe precepts of life and historicall instructions Which are those Apochriphall Books Among the Books of the old Testament as wee haue before said there are some found not to bee Canonicall such as the Booke of Tobias Iudith Wisdome which falsely is ascribed to Salomon Ecclesiasticus or Syracides the third and fourth books of Esdras all the bookes of the Maccabees Baruch with Ieremy his Epistle the Prayer of Manasses the fragments of Ester the additions to Daniel as is the Song of the three Children the Historie of Susanna the Historie of Bell and the Dragon None of all these bookes are to bee found in the Hebrew tongue in which Language onely God would haue the bookes of the old Testament to be written neither were they written by the Prophets or any person immediately called of God Neither doth Christ the Euangelists or the Apostles cite them at any time and to conclude there be many vntruths in them Wherefore when the Papists vrge any thing out of these bookes against vs we must answer that those bookes containe not the infallible Word of God and consequently that they haue no firme force or validity in prouing How is the Scripture diuided in respect of the matter it handleth Into the Law and the Gospell for that part of Gods word is called the Law wherein wee are taught what we ought to doe but the Gosspell is that part of Gods Word wherein we are taught what wee ought to belieue and consequently wherein we haue the remission of our sinnes promised vs by faith in Christ. I haue heard sufficiently touching the diuision of the Word of God I pray you also instruct mee in the proprieties of it That will I willingly do so I first admonish you that hereafter wee shal alwaies take the holy Scripture for the Canonicall bookes only and not at all for
it what a disgracefull thing had it been and vnworthy a Bishop to forsake his brother and his owne companion Bellarm. saith that Peter was at that time gone abroad to visit the Churches But we answer that it was not meete that he should go away then when hee should haue assisted his brother but should rather haue put off the visitation vnto some other time which hee would haue done doubtlesse if he had been at Rome Againe I say that Bellarm coines that answer of his because he neither backs it with any place of Scripture nor of any Historian but speaketh it out of his owne braine III. This may be concluded by the circumstance of time for they say that Peter was 25 yeares at Rome and 7 yeares at Antiocheia which he make 32 yeares and yet they say that Peter was crucified at Rome vnder Nero and that hee came to Rome the 2 of Claudius the Emperour Now Claudius raigned but 13 yeares and Nero 13 so that both their Regiments lasted but 26 yeares how then could Peter come the 2 of Claudius and continue 27 yeares Bishop of Rome and yet be crucified vnder Nero. IV. We say that Eusebius and Hierome who are of that opinion do not agree with themselues yea and Hierome especially manifestly contradicts himself For when as hee in one place had said that Peter was crucified vnder Nero afterward expounding those words of Christ Matt. 23. Luke 11 Behold I send vnto you Prophets c. Flatly affirmes that Peter was crucified by the Iewes at Ierusalem When the Ancients therefore are opposite vnto themselues hereby it may appeare that they knew not certainely in this point and consequently how much we are to detest the impudency of the Popes which set downe for certainty that Peter was Bishop of Rome The fifth errour is that they inferre the Pope of Rome to be Peters successour for first there is no sure ground to euince that Peter was euer at Rome how then could the Pope of Rome succeede Peter Secondly if wee grant this to the Papists out of pitty that Peter was at Rome yet it doth not follow that the Pope of Rome was Peters successour for the Turke also hath his seate at Constantinople notwithstanding it doth not follow that the Turke is the lawfull Emperour of the East or of Greece the Emperours before hauing their lawfull residency and abode at Constantinople for the place makes not the succession lawfull but two things there bee which make lawfull succession first the power giuen of God secondly the imitation of the Predecessors in life and manners As Cyprian saith in a certaine place and after him Ambrose and Hierome True succession is succession in doctrine and hee cannot bee said lawfully to hold the Chaire of Peter who holdeth not the doctrine of Peter But neither of these the Pope of Rome hath first whence will hee proue that God hath giuen him that power to sit at Rome as the Monarch of the Church surely he cannot bring so much as one letter out of the Scripture of God to proue this nay Christ enioyned the contrary to his Disciples to wit that one of them should not desire to bee aboue another 2. The true succession which is in doctrine the Pope of Rome hath not for if the Decrees of the Pope and the Epistles of Peter be compared together there will appeare as great difference betwixt them as betwixt light and darknes yea we are about to proue by and by that the Pope of Rome is the Ringleader of idolaters so farre is he off from being Peters successor in doctrine Which bee the Members of the Church They be all the faithfull which do belieue in Christ vnto eternall life for they all are vnited to Christ euen as the members of our body vnto their head They are vnited I say by the holy Spirit who produceth such like motions in them as are in the humane nature of Christ assumed that is he maketh that the faithful become partakers of the Sacerdotall Propheticall and Regall power which is in Christ. About which matter Peter epist. 2. c. 2. v. 9. speaketh most sweetly You are a chosen generation a royall Priesthood a holy Nation a people whom God hath chosen as peculiar to himselfe that the virtues of him might be manifest who hath called you out of darknes into his admirable light See concerning this most comfortable doctrine to wit the vnion of the members with Christ the Head in the Syst. of Diuinitie pag. 376. What sorts be the members of Christ They be of two sorts the Ministers of the Word and the hearers Here the Papists challenge vs that wee haue no lawfull Ministers in the Church and by consequence that there be no lawfull sheepe because say they where there are no lawfull and true Pastors and Shepheards there can be there no lawful or true sheepe But wee deny the Antecedent where they say that in our Churches there bee no lawfull Pastors because he is a right Pastor who rightly and lawfully executes his charge which is don by the pure preaching of the word the administration of the Sacraments But say they from whom had your Luther and Caluin their callings We answere That we depend not on Caluin and Luther but of the Prophets themselues and the Apostles As for Luther and Caluin they were neither Prophets nor Apostles but if they would know what kind of calling Caluins and Luther his was we answere It was ordinarie for Luther by the publike authoritie of the Vniuersitie at Witenberg was created Doctor of Diuinity and so was hee called to teach by an ordinary vocation Yea but the Vniuersity at Witenberg it was Papisticall Answere True it was so at that time yet it called Luther to the sincere preaching of the Gospell For the Papists themselues say not that when Luther was called by them to teach that he was called to teach heresies but to teach the Truth Therefore when afterwards he taught the truth he taught it being ordinarily called thereunto although he taught it not according to the Popes mind and his Bishops Yea but hee taught errou●s of Papistrie before I answer that that fault of Luther made not his vocation voyd the same we say of Zwinglius Caluin and others which were created by Bishops where notwithstanding it must bee considered that vnto that ordinarie calling there was somewhat extraordinary adioined to wit in that God set forth and adorned those first Ministers of the dostrine of the Gospel with a singular vertue to discouer the terrible abominations of Poperie for the rest of our Ministers which haue and yet doe teach in the Reformed Church they were called ordinarily by them who haue authoritie and as yet to this day are so called Now I much desire to heare of the proprieties of the Church first tel me what kinds be the proprieties of the Church of They bee of two kinds some of them doe notifie and point out