Selected quad for the lemma: word_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
word_n	bishop_n	call_v	presbyter_n	3,889	5	10.6948	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96168	A brief narration of the practices of the churches in New-England. Written in private to one that desired information therein; by an inhabitant there, a friend to truth and peace. Published according to order.	Weld, Thomas, 1590?-1662.	1645 (1645)	Wing W1263; Thomason E298_20; ESTC R200239	15,892	20

the Elders and the godly ablest brethren also are wont all this time to repaire to him in private if it may be to set on the Churches censure and to further the working thereof and the Church also before they proceed to further censure doe call him before them once and againe usually to see if the Ordinance in any measure be effectuall upon him All the while that brother and so any other delinquent member though not so fame proceeded against by the Church as he is stands thus offensive in the Churches eyes he presumes not to communicate * Though he be admitted to hearing and prayer Cotton way of Churches pag. 93. 1 Chron. 28. 1 Cor. 11.28 Hag. 2.13 14. Levit. 22.3 4. Agreeably to Mat. 5.23 24. or if he does presume he is dehorted and prohibited to eate of the holy bread amongst the prepared and invited guests of Christ as not having by examination prepared himselfe as all such are commanded to doe and for feare he should defile it as the uncleane under the Law did such holy flesh as they touched for looke as the Priest that was uncleane though he was not degraded from his Priesthood yet suspended during the time of his uncleannesse from medling with the holy sacrifice so we deale and that according to God with this uncleane member and this also wee use as a further meanes to procure his humiliation when he shall see himselfe through his owne fault barred from the enjoyment of this holy priviledge and must now fit and mourne as the Leper under defilement being barred from communicating at the Table of Christ among the holy Saints of God which he was wont to enjoy with freedome and comfort But if neither the one nor the other publique or private meanes are able no not at last to overcome his hard heart and bring him to sound humiliation for his sinne then we judge it full time to use the last and forest meanes of cure that Christ hath ordained in his Church even to out off the gangren'd member 1 Cor. 5.6 7. Gal. 5.9 that the whole body be not infected by it and to purge away the leaven lest the whole lumpe be thereby leavened and for this wee doe not send to any externall authoritie out of that particular Church whereof the offender is whether Bishop or Classis because wee conceive it more then Paul himselfe 1 Cor. 5.4 See Willets Synopsis edit 1634. p. 286. 1 Cor. 5.3 4. 1 Tim. 5.21 who had more authoritie from Christ then all the Bishops Presbyters in the world dare undertake who did but informe direct and stirre up the Churches to doe it but did not doe it himselfe but wee freely use the libertie and authoritie which the Lord himselfe hath given us and doth charge us to use in such cases as these namely all the Churches doe solemnly meet together and if it be an open and knowne sinne all the Congregation that they may see the Churches impartiall severitie against sin in her own members and having set the delinquent before us and having set out his ●inne in the latitude and aggravations of it the Pastor or Elder having propounded it to the Church and they having testified their consents as before for his admission so now for his expulsion he solemnly in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the whole Church delivers up that man unto Satan 1 Cor. 5.4 for the destruction of the flesh and the saving of his spirit in the day of the Lord Jesus Which dreadfull sentence being with much feare and trembling and yet with much power and dread denounced against him hee labours to set home the terrors of it upon his conscience and doth charge him though hee hath abused all other ordinances yet to make use of this as being the last means which Christ will use towards him for his recovery and withall warnes him to depart from the Assembly and the fellowship of the people of God 2 Thes 3.14 and withall directs and charges the Brethren that they so walk towards him that hee may be ashamed and humbled that what in them lies they should not hinder but further the working of that ordinance upon his soule And though our proceedings in censure be thus slow and graduall as we have expressed See Cottons Way of churches in New-England p. 92. 1 Cor. 5.11 Matth. 18.15 against sins of a lesser nature and lesse notorious were not so much the nature and quality of sin it self as the impenitency of the delinquent hath called for the sharpe censure according to the rule of Christ Matth. 18.15 16. yet for sins very scandalous and notorious wee go more quick and roundly to work against the offender and stay not to admonish once and again and then pause to see how the plaster works before we use the salve but unlesse speedy and very eminent repentance which is early stept in to prevent which possibly may call to us as a voyce from heaven to Abraham Gen. 22.10 11 12. to stay our hand wee presently without any more ado meet together and give up that man to Satan according to that other rule of Paul 1 Cor. 5.45.7.11 When we have thus cast him out of the church wee have not withall cast him out of our hearts and care but still attend the cure of his soule Matth. 9.2 2 Thes 3.6.14 by looking to the God of all grace and mercy on his behalf doing by him as they did by the Palsie-man carry him to Christ when happily hee wants strength to go of himself by following him with private admonition to help the physick the better to work Lev. 26.39.40 And if we discern his uncircumcised heart is humbled and that hee accept of the punishment of his iniquity and confesse that as God hath walked contrary to him so hee hath walked contrary to God and is ready to judge himself before the Lord and his people 2 Cor. 1.7.8 2.6 to 9. taking shame to himself and giving glory to God in a word when we see Gods end is attained and the cure of his soule effected then as before wee called for no externall power from Bishops or other Presbyters to bind him so now wee need no licence nor commission from any to loose him but the church her self only 2 Cor. 2.6 to 9 as shee had liberty according to the rule of the Gospel to take him in and to cast him out so now to absolve and release him from all the censure who all being met in Christs name and perswading themselves that as Christ unloosed him in heaven 2 Cor. 2.7 8. so it is their duty to unloose on earth and so their vote being called for by the Pastor or Elder and testified by themselves hee is as the Leper by the Priest of old in the Law pronounced clean and so they as Paul exhorts the Corinthians to do they forgive him they comfort him they renue their