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	part_n	true_a	3,915	5	5.1797	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09952	The iudgement of a most reuerend and learned man from beyond the seas concerning a threefold order of bishops, with a declaration of certaine other waightie points, concerning the discipline and gouernement of the Church.	Bèze, Théodore de, 1519-1605.; Fielde, John, d. 1588.	1585 (1585)	STC 2021; ESTC S120819	15,412	46

comprehend the decidyng of them in vnfallible and plaine heads as by certayne rules like as it was done profitably in those right approoued Councels both Oecumenie perticulars against the blasphemy of the heretikes and the malipertnesse of the disordered And where as there come many questions in the seignories especially when there is dealing about mariages though there cannot be certaine rules set downe touching them out of the worde of God yet so neere as may be rules drawn out of the comparing of the scriptures are to be set downe after which they may be decided yet is neither any thing takē from the word of God by the puttyng to of this so it be rightly done But this is rather an interpretation of the worde of God a declaring how one foloweth vpon another Agayne where the substance both of doctrine and ecclesiasticall discipline abideth whole and vnchangeable yet must the outward circumstances of the order needs be changed for the same reason of the person places abideth not alwayes For we see the Apostles loue feastes taken away the decrees touching bloud and that which was strangled The gouernors of the church are to prouide also that all may haue intelligence at what tyme place it is expedient for any thing to be done in the Church yet so as the doctrine it selfe vnder which we also comprehend the ordaining of the sacramēts abide whole as God hath set it downe Further that in setting down the lawes of this order there be set down nothing foolish or vnprofitable much lesse any of the old customes retained which either is already stained with superstition or which may easily make a way to superstition Lastly that in all these there be a great regard of simplicitie and that the church be not loaded with a multitude of rules And for the auoyding of the diuersitie of rites it is necessary that these Canons as in olde tyme they called them be set downe in their generall counsels that any thing in the same land may be chaunged according to the tyme. But whatsoeuer shall be set downe in those counsels is to be established by the authoritie of the kings Christian maiestie as next after God the keper and defender of the churches The fourth question Whether the papistes are to be excommunicate as Apostates or vtter fallers away or to be punished with some smaller punishment To the fourth question We see not what sword of excommunication may be drawen out against those men who though they were set into the church by no vaine baptisme yet neuer entred into the fellowship of the pure church Yea the doores are alwayes to stand opē that they may come to heare the word of God and they are carefully to be allured thether if at any tyme as the Apostle saith they may repent and get out of the snare of the deuill of whom they are holden captiue But if any shal be thought to sinne in an open contempt our iudgement is that it ought wholy to bee put ouer to the christiā magistrate We thinke that it beseemeth a Christian magistrate to deale much by lenitie in the matter of religiō towards his subiects not being troublesome sectaries such as of knowledge blaspheme The fift question For what cause may any be excommunicated As put case one kill a man saying he did it by chaunce or of some necessitie for his owne safetie and is redy to be iudged about that matter not yet accused either of the king or of the neighbours of him that is killed Whether may the Church make inquirie of the fact whether it wer done of trecherie or by chance or of necessity compell the manslear to professe repentance openly in the church or to excommunicate him if he refuse To the fift question No man earnestly repenting is to be excommunicate but after repentaunce rather ought to bee receiued And the cause of excommunication ought to be most waighty a publike offence seing that onely the extremitie of the diseases must haue extreme remedies Yet may such men after the thing be knowen be suspended from receiuyng the Lordes supper they were woont to cal such mē restrained for whom this is thought to be a necessary remedy that for the great nes of their offence they may be an example to others or that their repentāce doth stand in need of triall As for the present question If the magistrate put in minde of his duety doe winke at such faults and yet it be probable that none is rashly accused Wee thinke that the Eldership may call him forth and there as the matter shal require to exhort him to the acknowledging of the offence which if ye shall deny he is to be left to the iudgement of God neither are the Elders to proceede any further in the hearing of witnesses The sixt question Where as in the former age much wealth hath bene giuen by princes and many other to the bishops monasteries c. vnder the name of almes so great riches seeme rather to hurt the bishops then to do them good and monasteries in the church and common wealth are vnprofitable what yet should become of such goods which were once consecrate to the church For seeing the Bishops and ministers haue sufficient of their tithes whereof they may liue well and honestly can the prince with the consent of the states of the kingdome turne the residue eyther to his priuate vse or the good of the commō wealth especially seeyng such goods do consist not onely in tithes but of possessions both in the country the city Which question seeing it seemeth to bee rather ciuil then ecclesiasticall I purposed not to trouble you in this point But whereas many both learned godly amōgst vs are of this minde that those thinges which haue bene once vowed to holy vses cannot be giuen to prophane vses though they be publike I could not but mention the matter vnto you To the sixt question Cōcerning the goods of the church First of all we suppose great heed ought to be taken that none do staine himself with handling the church goods For if God hath taken reuenge of such sacrileges euen amongst the very idolaters what trow we will his iudgement be against thē which haue spoiled his churches and haue prophaned the thinges which were set a parte for his true worship Moreouer it is euident that this turneth greatly to the reproch of the name of God and of his holy gospel as thogh forsooth papistry hath ben abandoned not for the loue of the truth but to rob the church of her goods and as though new theeues haue entered in the roume of the olde Nowe euen as aboundaunce doth ouerwhelme the Church so it is to be feared least she be brought into great straights by want whilest many now a daies are no lesse sparyng and niggardly in vpholding the true ministerie then heretofore kinges and princes themselues haue beene ouerlauishyng we thinke it needefull to keepe a meane in this poynte which so wee take will be the best if first a view be taken of the daily expences which are necessary to be made then if somwhat be laid vp for many thinges extraordinary wheras no iust reckoning can be made and both of these be accounted not sparingly or slenderly but bountifully and liberally seeyng that the Church by the goodnes of God hath plenty Therfore that number is to bee made of parishes and pastors which may very well suffise the people and euery one is to haue an honest liuing allowed Order also is to be taken for the elders who are to assist the pastors that they may conueniently discharge their duety It would be also iniurious that the widowes and childrē of the pastors which are dead should be brought to beggery who in a care of their calling were constrained to lay aside the care of prouiding for their familie Schooles also and vniuersities seing they are the Seminary of the church are not the least part of the care thereof Care also is to bee had of almes houses hospitals of churches that they be kept in reparations and new builded if need require Last of all as I say before seeyng the churches haue plenty order must be taken what shal be brought into the Church treasury yeerely from whēce may be fetched that which may suffise in tyme of warre or famine least then it be to seeke when it should be in a readinesse When all these things shall faithfully frankly be brought by supputation into one summe still yeerely Good and sufficient men are to take order for their collecting such a way as shall be without trouble or strife That which shall be found to be ouerplus is not to be lauished out with other publike reuenues but to be layed vp by it selfe for these are of an other nature though not alwayes gottē after the honestest sort by the couetous priests and we thinke that it may be taken bestowed for the seruice of the kingdome when the publike necessitie thereof doth require it especially if the people be so much the more eased