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	profession_n	visible_a	2,188	5	9.1158	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47777	The parasynagogue paragorized, or, A parenetical confutation of the epidemical error which asserteth, separation from parochial church-communion : demonstrating their practice, who on the Lords day neglect the publick exercises of divine worship in their parochial congregations, and frequent (cæteris paribus) other churches, to be anti-scriptural / by John Lesly ...	Lesly, John, d. 1657.	1655 (1655)	Wing L1171; ESTC R11754	60,778	214

believed Ours is an Affirmative Hooker Eccles Politic. l. 2. Sect. 6. which they yeild may be proved theirs is a Negative which they say cannot be proved We then have the better of it there is hope of proof on our side theirs is desperate But though I might desire them to prove their Practice by Scripture yet because with Tertullian Contra Hermog c. 22. I adore the fulnesse of the Scripture I will shew their practise who on the Lords Day neglect the publick exercises of Divine Worship in their determined Parochial Congregations and frequent cateris paribus other Churches to be Anti-scriptural Thus § 2. First all are to joyn themselves to a visible Church either Formally to be a member thereof or Materially by confessing the Faith of the true visible Church when God offereth occasion 1 Because we ought to be ready to give an answer or confession to every one that asketh 1 Pet. 3.15 2 Because he who denyeth Christ before men him also will Christ deny before his Father and the holy Angels Mat. 10.33 3 Because Christ hath promised his presence to his Churches as he walked in the midst of the golden candlesticks Rev. 2.1 4 Because Faith cometh by hearing a sent Preacher Rom. 10.24 5 Because separation from a visible Church is condemned Hebr. 10.24 Jude 19. 1 John 2.19 6 Because the godly ever esteemed it a rich favor of God to lay hold on the skirt of a Jew that is to have any communion Zech. 8.3 Psal 27.4 et 42.1 c et 63.1 2. even as a door-keeper in the House of 〈◊〉 God and have desired it exceedingly and complained of the want thereof Psal 84.1 2 10. § 3 Yet if any die without the Church having faith in Christ and want opportunity to confesse him before men as repenting at the hour of death their salvation is sure because they are within the Church So is that Maxime to be taken Cam. de Ecc. p. 272. in sol Extra Ecclesiam non est Salas None can be saved who are every way without tho Church Visible and Invisible as all perished who were not in Noahs Ark. Mr. Blake Cov. cap. 30 in sinc As for those who deny any being of a Church universal visible I would learn of them into what particular Church the Eunuch was received and by Baptism actually and solemnly admitted or whether he was still no Church-member but an alien and stranger to the Commonwealth of Israel not admitted to the Church And to what particular Congregation the Prophets Apostles and Evangelists joyned themselves by Covenant § 4 There is then a necessity of joyning our selves to some particular visible Church but it is not Necessitas medii sed praecepti It is not such a necessity that all are damned who are not within some visible Church August For Augustine truly saith There be many Wolves within the Church and many Sheep without But if the Lord offer opportunity all are obliged by his Commandment of confessing Christ before men to joyn themselvs to some Visible-church for all Denying is Idolatry Tert. de Idolol c. 22. in Tertullians judgment And he denyeth Christ that is not with him or for him So our Saviour teacheth Luke 11.23 He that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth that is He that declareth not himself to be on my side is against me There are no Neuters for there is no man but he is either Christs or Satans Eng. Annot on Mat. 12.30 As in war he that sighteth not for his Prince is an enemy As they which are to gather in their Masters harvest if they neglect it are scatterers and destroyers so they that will not defend Christs honor at least professe and confesse it wherein they can betray his cause and are enemies Yet there is a fellowship with the visible church internal of hidden Believers In the Romish Babel this is sufficient for salvation Necessitate medii Rutherford Due Right of Presbytery c. 5. Sect 5. p. 78 But they want opportunity to joyne themselves to the reformed visible churches yet do they sin in the want of profession of the Truth and in not witnessing against the Antichrist which is answerable to an adjoyning themselves to a visible church And so those who do not profess the faith of the true visible church the Lord affording opportunity deny Christ before men And this external fellowship is necessary to all Necessitate Praecepti though the Lord graciously pardon this as an infirmity in his own who for fear of cruel persecution often dare not confesse Christ CHAP. V. We are bound to Hearing in our own determined Congregations Necessitate Praecepti § 1. SEcondly Howsoever we be not bound unto hearing in our own Congregations Necessitate Medii as if Gods grace were tyed to the Meanes this way Yet Necessitate Praecepti we are if we consider Gods Commandment In no other way can we expect the Lords ordinary presence promise and acceptance See Heb. 13.17 1 Thess 5.12 It is a curse to be as Sheep having no shepherd Matth. 9.36 that is scattered abroad not knowing where to get food and exposed to many Seducers Ps 119.176 Jer. 50.17 Zach. 13.7 as people without a Pastor The●… 〈◊〉 ●●deed a Scattering enforc● 〈…〉 men are driven by viol● 〈…〉 God 's service but that is not the scattering meant by our Saviour but a voluntary straying when people are not willing only but love to wander as Jer. 14.10 a wandring out of self-will not a corporal but a spiritual straying by which men of themselves wander from God Psal 58.3 and go astray from the way of Truth and Life from those wayes and courses that God hath prescribed them in his Word and directed them unto by his Spirit as they Psal 14.3 § 2. It is the Duty of all conscientious Christians to set themselves under some particular Minister as their Pastor and to hear him constantly Ames de Consc l. 4. c. 24. quaes 1 Dr. Ames proves that this Ordinance of the Lord is the Duty of all Christians namely to settle themselves under some one particular Pastor and to joyne themselvs to a determined or particular Church 1 Because it is Christs institution Matth. 18.17 in which there is a necessity Non Praecepti tantum sed Medii He addeth five Reasons more which for brovitice sake I omit 2. Because every Flock must be under an Overseer Acts 20.28 18.23 If we be the flock of Christ we must have a shepherd who shall feed us in Christs stead 3 Because our perfection and edification dependeth ordinarily upon our particular Teacher to which end Pastors were given Eph. 4.11 12. and particular Guides as Philip to the Eunuch 4. Because Pastors are to preach constantly 2 Tim. 4 2. especially on the Lords Day they should not omit to preach Forenoon and Afternoon Ames de Consc l. 4. c. 33. quaest 4. Dr. Ames