Selected quad for the lemma: word_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
word_n	contain_v	scripture_n	tradition_n	3,414	5	9.4390	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81501	The Discipline and order of particular churches, no novelty. Proved from Scripture, reason, autiquity, and the most eminent modern divines. Or, A discourse of the church, in a scripture notion, with her extent, power and practice, tending to moderate the minds of men, toward dissenters in matters ecclesiastical, and to acquit such from the charge of innovation, faction, separation, schism, and breach of union and peace in the church, who cannot conform in many things to the rules, canons, and practices of others. / By a Lover of truth, peace, unity, and order.	Lover of truth, peace, unity, and order.	1675 (1675)	Wing D1558A; ESTC R174652	61,995	98

his Offence then much more may a whole Society and the Officers of it declare such a one to be avoyded both in Religious and Fami● civil Society which saith he is the formal ●ture of Excommunication Thus Mr. Stilling● Lodgeth this Power in every Society or Chu● joyned together by mutual consent over every 〈◊〉 that consented by the unquestioned practice● the Churches Nature of Societies and the v● Law of Nature To these Churches for the most part the E●stles were directed which the Apostles wrote es●●cially when they wrote to any as a Church as 〈◊〉 the Corinthians Thessalonians c. And w●● they wrote to more than one Congregation tho● in the same Countrey they directed them to 〈◊〉 Churches in the Plural Number as the Epistl● the Galatians So the Epistle to the Churche● Asia otherwise they wrote in general to all 〈◊〉 Saints 2 Cor. 8.19 23. 1 Cor. 16.3 Act. 14.26.27 Act. 15.30 Colos 4.16 17. 1 Thes 5.27 or all in such a Country and not to a● Church as such And to these Churches that 〈◊〉 The whole Body of each of them Officers and P●ple all Church-Affairs were Directed Th● Churches as such sent Messengers c. app●ved of such to be sent to them by their Lette● and as a Church Received Letters 〈◊〉 assembled together to read them to agree 〈◊〉 things that concerned the Church as the Chu● in Antioch Jerusalem and others So after 〈◊〉 Apostles days Ignatius Polycarpus and others w● wrote Epistles to Churches as such directed th● to such particular Churches and to the whole ●dy of them and makes mention of their Minist● in the Body of their Epistles as most of the Ap●stles did in theirs See the Epistles of Polycarp●● and Ignatius at large Yea the Emperors the●selves when they had any thing to write to a● Church as such about any thing that did conce●● them as a Church as in the Matters of election of ●●nisters or restoring them again after banishment ●●ey wrote to the whole people of the Church as ●●seb and Socrat testifie See the Epist record● Euseb of the life of Constantine lib. 3. cap. ● p. 52. 53 Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 2. p. 252. 253. p. 18. p. 268. 269. So that by this we have herein before set forth ●hough but a part of what is Extant to the same ●rpose it may be judged somewhat clear that ●●rticular Churches have this power by Divine ●●ght unlesse it can be proved by better evidences ●hat it is placed by Divine authority elsewhere or ●at this power is given to none at all which we ●●nk none will suppose If therefore any have ●rested this power from these Churches and invest● any other there with and continue the same by ●●ce of Humane Lawes and so hold the People in ●bjection thereunto It will be necessary good ●arrant of Scripture be shewed for it or else it ●ay be said of such as once it was said of the Scribes ●d Pharisees Math. 15.1 2 3 4 5 6. It is ●ritten ye shall do so and so But you say no it ●all be thus and thus as we may there see at large ●d as Christ there concludes against them he ●d In vain do ye worship teaching for Doctrines ●e Commandements of men Or if men should be 〈◊〉 Mr. Stillingfleets mind in the generall That there ●no forme of government of Divine right Or of ●e Bishop of Gloucester his mind in this particular ●hat the Peoples electing power was not a Divine ●●ght Yet let these judge of it so farre as the same ●ersons agree the Contrary in the same Book And ●st Mr. Stillingfleet in p. 199. averrs that all essen●lls of Church Government are contained in Scripture clearly That essentials are such things th● are necessary to the preservation of such a Socie● as the Church From which words of his may 〈◊〉 gathered That he grants here in a few word what he seems to bend his whole discourse again● For whatsoever is clearly contained in Scriptu● is of Divine authority all that is necessary for t● preservation of a Church-Society is therein c●tained therefore Church-Government yea 〈◊〉 very forme of it being necessary to Church p●servation or else there needs no talke about it 〈◊〉 not necessary and contained in the whole of it 〈◊〉 Scripture is certain and of Divine right And y● if men will not believe that this doth follow th● he intends thereby the forme should be include but that he would distinguish here Then let the persons allow but that which Mr. Stillingfl●●● grants afterwards in the same book p. 417. whi● is this That that forme of Church-Governme● which comes nearest to Apostolicall practice is t● best and tends most to the advantage of the pea● and unity of the Church of God That this for● is to be gathered from Scripture and Antiquit● Whence wee inferre if then that be best and m●● for the Churches peace and unity which com● nearest the Apostolick practice c. And this G●vernment and order we have before endeavour● to evince be sufficiently proved to be nearest t● Apostolicall practice and gathered to be so fro● Scripture and Antiquity Then at least it is t● best forme of Government in the Church and m● for the Churches unity and peace And so for t● Bishops mind about Election of Ministers I● men who will be of this Judgment against the D●vine right of the people in this matter also be swa●●ed by him to believe what he saith further about it ●his words were before recited That this was derived upon the people from rules of Christian equity and society and had admirable effects as we have fully set down under that particular head of the Churches power in choosing their own Ministers look over his Words in p. 27. of his Apol. whence in brief may be observed That except any other way of choosing them than by these Congregations as before be derived from the same rules and have the same good effects or it cannot be proved that those rules and effects are equally good with these at least Then it follows that that way of making Ministers by the particular Churches Election is the best and most for the Churches and also for the Ministers advantage The Excellency of those Rules and the Desireableness of those Ends still remaining and the contrary effects from a contrary practice being apparent and the rules whence this latter way came in can hardly be made out to be of equall worth with the rules from whence the former was derived Well then if these premises be true and cannot be disproved by better evidences and authorities We shall offer to consideration these things First Why should any judge evil of those who own and practise according to this Or how in●eed can any convinced of these things joyn ●hemselves to or have to do with any Church or Congregation denying these things or opposing ●hem or giving up this power to others and cast●ng off their duty up on others and

whose Ministers ●re made after another manner and imposed upon ●hem Or how can any such convinced Ones have ●o do in Congregations and Ordinances otherwise Ordered and Acting then according to this rule in faith to expect Gods presence and blessing in it how can any knowing these things without renouncing Christ as Lord and Lawgiver in his church own and subscribe to the exercise of this power by others then these Churches much more how can any so convinced enforce others to give subjection to any Usurping this power without sin against Christ Whatsoever is not of Faith is sin so that if we are found in the practice of any thing in these matters not commanded at all or of any thing commanded in other manner then is prescribed by the Law of Christ we cannot groundedly believe for a blessing there Mr. Hooler Eccles Polity in the Preface having no promise for it Nay it is sin if we do but doubt it Rom. 14.22.23 Therefore every one ought to be at liberty till he be convinced and fully perswaded in his own mind er'e he meddle with these things Secondly Surely this then justifies and commends such who being fully perswaded of the truth of the premises do endeavour to regulate their practices in all Church affairs by these rules for the Scripture saith as we have received how ought to walk and to please God so should we abound c. 1 Thes 4.1 and as Tymothy was charged to continue in the things he had learned and had been assured of knowing of whom he had learned them and that from a Child he had known the Holy Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.14 15. So are Saints in general commanded to stand fast and hold the Traditions which they have been taught by word or Epistle 2 Thess 2.15 especially when they have by reading and searching the Scriptures like the Noble Beraeans Act. 17. proved these things to be so and find that the primitive Gospel Churches practised according to this and so trying all things hold fast that which is good and stand fast in the liberty Christ hath left them for in so doing they are lesse like to erre Mark 12.24 do ye not therefore erre not knowing the Scriptures c. And if these have their foundation for their practices here they may boldly say with Paul Act. 24. after the way they call Heresie so worthy I c. believing all things that are written c. Bishop Jewel in his reply to Harding p. 111. alleadgeth these words out of Cyprian lib. 2. Epist 3. speaking of Bishops If any of my Predecessors have not followed or kept that thing which the Lord by his Example and Commandement hath Taught us he for his simplicity may be pardoned but if we wilfully offend there is no pardon for us who are already warned and instructed of the Lord Again that after God hath once opened his truth to us if then we shall continue in error c. And again in p. 144. he quotes Cyprian ad Caecil lib. 2. Epist 3. for these words It behoveth the Religion we professe and our reverence towards God and ●he very place and Office of our Priesthood to keep ●he Truths of the Lords tradition and by the Lords ●dvertisements to correct that thing that by certain ●ath been amisse that when he comes in his Glory ●nd Majesty he may find us to hold what he warn●d to keep that he taught us to do that he did All which words of his presseth an exact keeping to ●he Rules left us when we know them But if it shall be objected that the people of the Churches are unlearned and cannot understand ●criptures and thence 't is they mistake and wrest ●criptures that it is for learned Men who understand Tongues c. to give the meaning of Scriptures and that others ought to submit to their judgments herein and to practise as the learned Fathers and Doctors of the Church have done before us See Helis Serm. of the abuse of Difficult places of of Scripture Matth. 1● 10.11 For Answer hereto briefly First The Apostle by the term unlearned intends not unskilful in Tongues nor in humane learning but unskilful in the Spiritual meaning of the Holy Ghost in the Scripture We know the Gospel is hid to some to them that are lost c. though otherwise never so learned wise or great and to others it is given to know Secondly That in this sence the Scripture is not understood by the help of the greatest Art Skil of Tongues nor the largest humane Wisdome of any this can only reach the letter but by the help of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.14 The things of God are foolishness to the Natural man nor can he know them because they are spiritually understood o● discerned Now surely none will deny but that 〈◊〉 man may be very learned and wise in humane things See the Conference between Raynolds and Hart c. 2. p. 58. cap. 6. p. 2●7 and have great skill in Tongues and ye● be but a natural man still that is not having the Spirit of God by whom spiritual things are opene● to us where is the Wise where is the Scribe wher● is the Disputer of this world and God chose th● foolish things of this world to confound the wise c. that no flesh should Glory in his presence Matth. 12.7 c. 13.10 11.12 Luk. 19.41 42. Joh. 3.10 Act. 13.17 27. Act. 26.9 a● is abundantly clear in 1 Cor. 1.18 19 20.27 28 29. And this was apparent amongst the Jew● their most learned men Scribes and Pharisees chief Priest c. with all their learning and pretence to greater knowledge than the rest of th● Jews could not find out the meaning of the Prophets concerning Christ but Crucified Him and Christ said of them that they were the blind leading the blind and that they were therefore blind because they thought they did see above others although these were as confident that they were the only knowing men as the learned Doctors and Rulers of Churches of latter ages have been of themselves And the contrary on the other hand ●o 9.39 Bish Jewel's Reply to Harding p. 533. 526 Luk. 24.44 45. John 8.12 31. Joh. 6.14 Eph. 1.17 13. 1● Epist Joh. 2.27 we see men of no knowledge in Tongues c. nor much worldly Wisdom when Christ by his Spirit had opened their understanding they then understood the Scriptures And for this end amongst others was the Holy Ghost promised to the followers of Christ he himself said that such as believed should not sit in darkness but have the light of life that his Spirit should take of his and shew it to them And the Apostle saith the anointing which they should receive should teach them c. Thirdly That this Spirit of God is neither promised nor given to the learned Doctors able Schoolmen or Governours of Churches only but is promised to all believers in general and so bestowed upon all