Selected quad for the lemma: word_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
word_n	apostle_n	church_n	elder_n	3,592	5	9.6069	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65878	The popish informer reprehended for his false information against the Quakers meeting in reply to ... An answer to a seditious libel, as he most falsly terms the late innocent declaration from the people of God, called, Quakers, against all seditious conventicles, &c. (wherein their innocency is cleared, and herein vindicated) : unto which is annexed, a brief recital of some accusations cast upon the said people, by one H. Thorndike, one of the prebends of Westminster, in his book entituled, A discourse of the forbearance, or the penalties which a due reformation requires.	Whitehead, George, 1636?-1723.	1670 (1670)	Wing W1946; ESTC R20124	15,096	24

thereof which is rank Popery tending to encourage Popery and to bege● People into an implicit faith and acceptance of unwritten Traditions from those he counts Governours of the Church but herein he hath plainly opposed the Protestants high esteem and preferment of the holy-Scriptures And his instance of the Apostle The rest will I set in order when I come will make nothing for his purpose to bring dissenters under all the unscriptural Impositions and Ceremonies of these he calls Governours of the Church whether he means the Pope his Cardinals Bishops and Clergy he hath not told us or whether he means some oth●● 〈◊〉 kin to them in their Traditions But herein he has but 〈◊〉 begged the Question as if he took it for granted that conscientious Dissenters must presently upon his bare word believe that these Imposers he now pleads for are in the same Power and Authority and Example with the Apostles and Ministers of Christ in former dayes but Dissenters must have a better demonstration then this mans bare word for it or the Persecution and Cruelty he would instigate to but he has greatly erred in these matters for the true Church had one Head and Law-giver even Christ and wherein the true Ministers and Elders thereof did give directions either for ordering affairs or to follow them It was not from a meer imposition nor outward force nor yet as Lords over Gods Heritage neither to have dominion over their Faith but in the unity of the Spirit of Life as Fellow-Helpers in Christ and as being manifest by the powerful evidence of his Spirit even in their Consciences so said the Apostle Be ye Followers of me as dear Children even as I am of Christ Now such Children as he begot into the Faith knew it their duty to follow him as they knew him a Follower of Christ but this is no ground for either the Pope or his Clergy or any that are popish in their unwritten Traditions to impose them or force them upon such as are none of their Children for that is but a meer usurpation at most and but Antichristian Inform. Honour the King but this you preach against Answ. This is an absolute Slander for the Fear of God to which the true Honour of Kings is joyned we have alwayes owned and preacht up desiring that the Fear of God might not be slighted nor such wicked actions pollutions and corruptions committed in the Nations as do both greatly provoke God and dishonour the King and Government True Honour is a substantial thing not consisting in feigned complements nor deform'd cringes Inform. The best Language he to wit the King can get from you is Thou and Thee as if he were your Fellow this error of yours c. Answ. Is Thou and Thee such bad dishonourable Language Why dost thou then use thee and thou to God in thy Prayers if thou hast so much Religion to pray at all But hast thou not herein accused the Prophets and Apostles with ill Language and with dishonouring Kings and Rulers by using Thou and Thee when they spoke particularly for was it not the Language of Moses to Pharoah who was a King The Lord God hath sent Me unto Thee saying Let my People go that they may serve me but hitherto Thou wouldst not hear And Exod. 7. 16. And how long wilt Thou refuse to humble thy self before me let my People go that they may serve me Chap. 10. 3. And did not the Prophet Nathan say to King David Thou art the man 2. Sam. 12. 7. And did not the three Children answer Nebucadnezar the King Be it known unto Thee O King that we will not serve Thy gods nor worship the golden image which Thou hast set up Dan. 3. 16 17 18. And did not Paul use the word Thee to King Agrippa Act. 26. 2 3. But if this Informer had but remembred his Accidence and the difference between Singular and Plural he need not have counted Thee and Thou to one such ill Language Inform. Serve none else but him who hath called you from a Worldly to a Spiritual Imployment This is the meaning he gives to the words Call no man Master c. Answ. If true Ministers must only serve Christ who hath called them then Christs Followers are not to be imposed upon at mens wills or discretions so called but to obey and follow Christ who is their Leader Master and Governour and this breaks the neck of this Accusers stuff against Quakers Inform. The next thing that belongs to Caesar is Tribute we shall not deny but that you pay Taxes because you are compelled c. Answ. Our paying Taxes is not from compulsion or wrath but for Conscience sake our end and intent therein being honest and reasonable as in the sight of God for the upholding of Government for the execution of Justice and Righteousness our desires being that Rulers might be a terror to Evildoers and a praise to them that do well for the preservation of men in their respective Proprieties Rights and Liberties so that in our paying our Dues we have a Testimony for God and may with a good Conscience clame our Rights and Liberties as men and ought also to have our Freedom as Christians whilst we give to God his Due and to Caesar his Due which neither this Accuser nor all the Devils Agents besides can justly detect us in though to prove that we do not give to God those things due to him he goes on thus Inform. Here you fail what hath been once dedicated to God and set apart for the Maintenance of his Service and Worship doth belong to God Answ. This doth belong is a false Assertion for those many ordinances of Divine Service under the Law with the Sacrifices Offerings divers Washings and many Shaddows which belonged to the outward Tabernacle and Temple have been dedicated for the Service of God in their time which now are ended in Christ as the Tythes are which were given to the Priests for their service at the Tabernacle Numbers 18 which had an end the substance of all being Manifest in Christ. Inform. God hath assigned this payment to his Ministers They that wait at the Alter should live of the Alter and they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel so that whosoever refuseth to pay Tythes to the Ministers doth not give to God the things that belong to God Answ. Here he grosly perverts that Scripture 1 Cor. 9. 13. 14. rendering it as if living of the Gospel were in the same manner of the Priests living of the Alter under the Law whereas at the Altar they pertook of both Tythes and Offerings must they therfore live upon Tythes and Offerings under the Gospel where is then the difference between Law and Gospel and how are Offerings ended under the Gospel and a tenth part of the Tythes of the Children of Israel was to be offered up a heave-Offering unto the Lord Num. 18. 26 27 28 29. But as for the