Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	church_n	hold_v	scripture_n	3,916	5	6.2597	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28884	The pride and avarice of the clergie, viz. parsons, vicars & curats, hindering the reformation discovered in a plain and familiar dialogue between Philalethes and presbyter / by Abraham Boun, gent.	Boun, Abraham.	1650 (1650)	Wing B3836; ESTC R30307	53,217	195

Parish and not follow Sectaries and seducing teachers If these and such like were looked to and observed the Church and Common-wealth would soon bee quiet and the want of these things is the occasion of all the miseries which wee lie under as well the late Warrs as all the sad effects thereof Ph. Indeed War is an heavie judgment and I think I may truly say that the rigid Presbyterians to advance those things you have mentioned and other worldly respects and carnal ends have been the occasions thereof Pr. How can that bee Ph. By their preaching and prayings they have everie where disgraced the Parlament stirred up the people against the Armie incouraged Neuters and Malignants and put the English and Scot's Malignants in hope to finde a partie strong enough in England to destroie both Parlament and Armie Pr. I confess wee have justly complained against the Parlament and Armie becaus the one did not settle the Presbyterian-government and the other countenanced all Sectaries and Hereticks but wee did it not to the end to destroie the Parlament Ph. What ever your intents were I am sure your practice was abominable you fill'd all places with your clamors and out-cries against the Parlament and Armie as the Scotch Ministers likewise did untill you and they had conjured up more evil spirits then you could allaie And I am confident had it not been for the men of your faction who prepared the people for a new War by the courses aforesaid neither our conquered enemies at home nor the Scots durst have attempted anie more to make head against us Pr. What prejudice can the Parlament or Armie receiv by the Ministers It 's well known wee praied for them both And what can you object against our Praiers or Preaching Ph. I could fill a volume with your reproaches and evil surmises scandals disgraces calumnies and other unsavorie matter by you cast upon the Parlament and Armie in your Sermons for a taste whereof view the book called the Pulpit-Incendiarie and let anie man judg whether this did not much alienate the people's hearts from the Parlament and Armie And for your praiers for them they were for the most part like your Sermons and still in your Sermons and praiers you speak of the Armie as enemies Pr. Well it was time for the Ministers to speak and praie and deal plainly with the people when all things were grown into such confusion and disorder as they were far wors then under the Episcopal Government Ph. I do confes there were disorders but the Churches are not in so bad a condition as under the Prelacie for that Hierarchie was Antichristian Pr. I denie that it may bee som things injoined by the Prelates were Antichristian but not they as they stood in the Church of England for Antichrist wheresoever hee is described in Scripture is described by his fals doctrine and manie of our Bishops were Orthodox men free from Popish Errors and Heresies Ph. I 'le grant you they might hold fundamental truths and yet their calling bee Antichristian for who know's not that Antichrist is described as well by his power pride crueltie blasphemie hypocrisie and idolatrie as by fals Doctrine Rev. 17. 1 2 3 4 5. 18. 3. 13. 2 6 11. Ph. Well notwithstanding what you saie if Episcopacie had been lopped the abuses taken away those which were naught removed and good men put in their rooms wee had never seen these disorders and confusions for that government although but prudential as som would have it was an excellent means for staying the growth of errours and heresies in the Church Ph. Indeed that was the pretence at first but the cure was worse then the disease for it proved a heavie scourge to the Church of God and out of that egge grew the Serpent that Antichrist the head of Prelacie and I conceive that Government could never have been profitable to the Churches of Christ Pr. I will say no more of that Hierarchie seeing the same is abolished and the State hath thought fit to take it away but why is not the Church setled Ph. What do you mean by a Church in Gospell sense Pr The word CHURCH besides the general acceptation of it signifying all the Elect hath a double signification 1. It 's taken for a particular Congregation so many as may or do meet together to partake in divine Ordinances or as wee call it a Parish and so the word Church is strictly taken 2. But the word Church in a larger sens comprehends not onely such a company but also the Christians in a whole countrie as Ephesus and Achaia and so many Thousands who could not possibly meet together in one place yet they are called a Church Act. 2. 41. 21. 20. Ph. Time will not permit mee to enter into that controversie but for mine own part I am satisfied that the Churches under the Gospel are not Oecumenical National Provincial or Diocesan but * Congregational which Congregational Churches ought to consist of so many Christi●ns as may join in Christian fellowship and communion under one Pastor who ought to convers with them and know their state and condition and apply his Ministrie answerably unto them but for your greater Church and Parish Church I acknowledg none such Pr. However you think yet it is plain in that place of Act. 2. 41. 21. 20. where the Christians were many Thousands Myriads they are called the Church c. Ergò c. Ph. It 's evident the word Church applied to so many Thousands as you speak of is not to bee taken properly but tropically and so by a Synechdoche it may bee taken for many Churches or els for part of the Catholick Church which manner of speaking is usu al in a Scripture But I marvell why you should endeavou● to prove that a Church in Gospel sense should contain more Christians then can convene in one place to partake in Divine Ordinances Pr. I doe it to let you know that men of greater parts and learning may have more dignitie and superintendencie and also a greater reward and encouragement Ph. So plead the Papists and the polititians amongst the superstitious Protestants of this last age for the Prelacy and Hierarchy who affirme that the Angells of the seven Churches of Asia and Timothy and Titus who were Evangelists were Diocesan Bishops And the same argument likewise serves for maintenance of the Bishop of Rome his preheminencie above all other Bishops which I think you will not defend Pr. I will not dispute the right of Episcopal government seeing with us it 's abolished but you must admit a difference and degrees amongst Ministers and Churches or greater inconveniences will follow for the Parishes which are the particular Congregations are not all of a bigness nor equall and I think they are well divided conducing much to my purpose Ph. The Pope and his agents dealt not so equally in that point as they might have done It s true that