Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	church_n	communion_n	separate_v	1,835	5	9.4254	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42146	The searchers for schism search'd, or, Their pretended questions for conscience sake answered wherein is proved that those baptized congregations under laying on of hands are not guilty of schism in separating from them : shewing, in opposition to their threeforld hypothesis, that their church constitution is not true, separation from them proved lawful, the truth and authority of the doctrine about which they separate, vindicated / humbly presented to all concerned [by] J. Griffith ...	Griffith, John, 1622?-1700.	1669 (1669)	Wing G2003; ESTC R41670	59,153	128

by no rule can be refused but ought to be maintained and held with you 5. But we say whatever some have practised and professedly agreed that you are not Churches nor Church Members rightly constituted because you have not yet laid all the principles of the foundation but are wanting in some one if not more of the first rudiments of Christianity as you have confessed laying on of Hands to be We therefore refuse Communion with you by the above-mentioned rules in our Answer to your 8th Question Quest 11. But if you shall deny you have so owned them then we demand whether you that are under laying on of Hands do not daily receive such into your Communion that have been converted and baptized by those not under laying on of Hands without taking an account of their Faith or baptizing them again If it shall be answered you do so receive them because they had confessed their Faith and were baptized before then we demand whether such as you so receive were converted by or made their confession to and received their baptism from the Church or the World If you say they were the Church how dare you separate from them you own to be Gods Church though less perfect If you say they were the World they made their confession to and did receive their baptism from then shew us whenever God intrusted the world with or otherwise how the world came by a power to take a Confession of Faith and to administer a lawful Baptism If you shall say they that Baptized them you so receive were neither the Church nor the World then shew us a middle state of men that are intrusted with the lawful and due Administration of Gods Ordinances that are neither the Church nor the World if not doth not this practice of yours declare you own those for a Church of Christ that are not under laying on of Hands c. Answer 1. We confess that we which are under laying on of hands have received to laying on of hands and then to Communion some from you not under laying on of hands nor did we take account of their Faith nor baptize them again because we were satisfied in both not inquiring who converted them thinking that not material so they were converted 2. To your next demand we say They were neither Baptized by the Church nor the World but by Disciples and therefore we dare to separate from you though not from them that God owns for his Church though they should be less perfect 3. To your third demand we say Men and Women may be converted and baptized and yet they that convert and baptize them neither the Church nor the World 4. Philip Asts 8. converted and baptized the Samaritans and the Eunuch but Philip was neither the Church nor the World But you will say Philip was a Member and a Deacon of the true Church 't is true he was but then Apollos who taught diligently the things of the Lord at Ephesus and elsewhere and it s beyond a supposition to say the twelve Disciples Acts 19. were baptized by him but if not by him by some other whose attainments were no more than his and he if he did not baptize them might as lawfully as teach the things of the Lord and by as good authority might Baptize them as they that did if he did not and he was neither the Church nor a Member rightly Constituted for he at that time knew only the Baptism o● John Acts 18.25 5. So the Men and Women Philip Baptized at Samaria were not a Church complete in their constitution though they had confessed their sins believed and were baptized but were thereby made materials fit and framed ready to be put into the Building which the Apostles Peter and John were sent by the rest of the Apostles from Jerusalem to do who prayed and laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost Acts 8.14 then were they all Baptized by one Spirit into one Body according to 1 Cor. 12.13 before which they were not a Church nor Church-members according to right and true Church-constitution nor were they the World because they were Believers baptized So in like manner the twelve Disciples Paul found it Ephesus Acts 19. were not a Church because they were not baptized by that one Spirit into one Body nor were they and Apollo's the World because they were Believers baptized they are said to be Disciples Acts 19.1 6. Then is there a middle-state of men that were neither the Church nor the World that were entrusted with the lawful due Administrations of some of God's Ordinances as Apollos who taught and baptized or if he did not baptize yet some other did no more authorized than he and if one might lawfully an hundred might by the same rule that were in no other capacity than he 7. Then doth not our practice in receiving some that you have converted and baptized as afore declare we own you for Churches that are not under laying on of hands 8. And whereas you again demand Whether it was not agreed on at a general Meeting of Elders That such as believe and are baptized were in the account of the Scripture to be estimated a Church We say we know of no general Meeting of Elders where any such thing was ever agreed though we are apt enough to believe that at a meeting of some Elders there have been such non-scriptural agreements made 9. But such agreements you speak of make work for Repentance let them be made by whom they will and well may it be said of those Elders that make such agreements as was once said of the Hebrew Church they have need that one teach them again which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God Heb. 5.12 10. And to your demand Whether it hath not been permitted by and practised among us that those which are under laying on of Hands may and do lawfully marry with those that are not under laying on of Hands We say it hath been so permitted and practised and since from thence you demand Whether this was not and is not esteemed by us a marrying in the Church and in the Lord We say that it is not a marrying in the Church though we say it may be a marrying in the Lord since Believers baptized may be out of the World and in the Lord though not a right and true Church-state constituted according to the pattern Christ appointed The Samaritans that believed and were baptized and Apollos and those twelve Disciples mentioned afore were in the Lord yet not a Church as hath been shewed Thus you see we do not own you a Church in the Lord therefore you may spare your last demand Whether it be not prodigiously absurd to own you a Church in the Lord till we do own you a Church in the Lord and yet deny you a Church in the Lord. And whereas you say you have Members fi● to make us husband wives Truly not

the Church of Pergamos is by the Spirit commanded to repent of this evil the command backed with a commination which proves that such must be put out of the Church that so hold much more such which so do 7. But laying on of Hands we do indeed make Essential to Church Communion because it is a Principle of the Doctrine of Christ as hath been proved now and heretofore and never was disproved by you except asking questions be refutation Quest 5. We demand whether there was not a Church of Christ in the world before his Ascention and whether any other qualification was then pre-requisite to Church Membership than Confession of Sins and Faith in Christ for the remission of them together with a being Baptized into his Name and walking in a holy life and conversation if you say any thing else was then required and practised as Essential to Church Membership shew us what that was and where it was so required and practised And if you say nothing else was then required and practised we demand whether the Church of Christ was wanting of any thing then that was Essential to its being whatever it might want as to its well-being If you say it wanted nothing then that was Essential to its being then we further demand how this People so continuing in Faith Baptism and Holiness of life could cease to be a Church of Christ after his Ascention though they might not come up to some of those others Truths that were afterward revealed when the Spirit was made manifest c. Answer 1. We do not find that Christ before his Ascension doth give the Name or Title of a Church to any but onely calls his Followers Disciples as we might enumerate a multitude of places in the Evangelists 2. We find that our Lord Jesus when Peter confessed that he was the Christ the Son of the Living God answered Peter and said Upon this Rock will I build my Church He doth not say I have built my Church upon this Rock but I will c. speaking in the future tense Hereafter when I do build it not that he had then built his Church but was about the work making all things ready as materials both for the Foundation and Building 3. Nor is what we say destitute of good reason for his Disciples might then confess and believe him to be the Christ but could not believe him dead risen ascended and that the Comforter was come upon which as upon ● Rock or sure Foundation Christ would build hi● Church and hath since his last Will and Testament is in force by his Death Heb. 9.16 17 for his Church now is founded upon these Basi● Christ is come and died for our Sins according to the Scriptures believing that we in dut● ought to be baptised in his Name for the Remission of them Act. 2.38 22.16 and pray with laying on of hands for the gift of the Spirit which now is come since Christ is ascended to the Father according to his promise John 16.7 to guide us into all Truth and to be with us for ever John 14.16 17. as his alone Vicar on Earth John 16.13 14 15. by which Spirit we are baptised into one body 1 Cor. 12.13 believing that as he is risen from the dead he will also raise us up at the last day John 6.40 and will come the second time sitting upon the Throne of his Glory to Judgement and to render to every man as his work shall be On all which as on a Rock or Foundation the Disciples could not be built in the time of Christs life not till after his Ascension because they were not then laid nor could not till Christ was dead risen and ascended to the Father Yet in the time of his Life as his Disciples he was diligent to instruct teach and inform them of all these things as such which should be done and accomplished in their due and appointed time viz. after he had suffered was risen and ascended to the Father But it may be objected That Christ saith Mat. 18.17 If he shall neglect to hear them tell it to the Church there Christ calls them a Church That doth not follow those being words of direction and instruction which Christ gives them by which they might be guided when they had received power from on high to proceed as a Church to censure unholy and disorderly Walkers not that they before they were endowed with that power from on high were to act as a Church to censure the impenitent no● did they as we read You may further object That Christ did break Bread with them and therefore they we● then a Church It is true Christ did before his Passion institute the Supper he brake the Bread and gave it to his Disciples but it was onely with the Twelve the rest of the Disciples being absent then doth it not follow that the Disciples we● in the capacity of a Church because the Twelve are singled out from the rest of the Disciples which shews excepting him that was lost tha● they were taken apart from the other Disciples as those that were appointed by the Lord to b● Witnesses in a more eminent way and manne● than the rest of all those things he should suffer And those whom Jesus had chosen and give● commandment to not onely by his own mouth but through the Holy Ghost also Act. 1.2 wha● they should teach others to believe and observe Mat. 28.20 Breaking Bread then at this tim● might not be solemnized as Church-communion which ought to be when the whole Body comet● together to commemorate the Body and Blood of Christ the one as broken the other shed and to shew the Lords death till he come but rather was instituted then by Christ at the feast of the Passover to shew them what they should after he was ascended do also to teach others what they should do and observe when they were endowed with power from on high and thereby were en●ighted to all things relating to Church-Power and the administration of all Church-Ordinances which until they were so impowered they were onely to wait at Jerusalem Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.4 If otherwise why should the rest of the Disciples be excluded and not called to this last Supper of the Lord If they broke Bread as a Church the rest of the Disciples had as much right to that Communion as the Twelve or else the Twelve onely were the Church and the other Disciples no part of it And if a Church why must they wait for power at Jerusalem This we humbly and modestly offer to consideration And as for the rest of your Queries and Demands which you multiply in this Question they are either removed and answered or require none further But say you further if you shall say they wanted something while Christ was among them essential to Communion then we demand whether this doth not reflect a want of care in Christ who left them so and indeed want

of God be good if it be received with thanks-giving and such-like being an Error not essential to Church-communion to break Communion with a Church of Christ for some such single Error may be a wounding to the weak and a hardening to the wicked and may keep many out of the Church that would come in and give occasion of going out to many th●y are in and such Divisions from a true Church may be an in-let to Atheism and Infidelity and ought to be eschewed by all Christians as great reproaches to Christian Religion and all this Errors in Fundamentals c. will do The end of the Questions grounded upon the first Hypothesis the second follows with their Answers Quest 18. But if it shall be said as some of you have Preached and Printed that laying on of Hands is essential to Church-communion and that those that are not under it have not God and are not in Communion with God it is demanded where are the Scriptures that either prove it essential to Communion and that those that are not under it have not Communion with God Answer 1. We have not only said but still do say that laying on of Hands is essential to Church-communion and that those who transgress against Christs Doctrine of which Doctrine laying on of Hands is a Principle as hath been confessed by you to be in these words viz. One of the first Rudiments of Christianity hath not Communion with God as his Church hath especially you who have made such wicked and absurd opposition against it as you have done See our Answer to the 12th Question 2. Whereas you demand where the Scriptures are that prove laying on of Hands to be essential to communion we say they are in Heb. 6. Acts 8.19 But if you mean where are the Scriptures that in terminis will say so we demand where are the Scriptures that in so many words will prove Baptism of Water the Resurrection of the Dead eternal Judgment to be essential to Communion every one of which you make an essential thereof if you deceive us not and if they why not laying on of Hands which is as truly as either of them a Foundation Principle of Christs Doctrine 3. And since you demand where are the Scriptures that prove those that are not under laying on of Hands have not Communion with God we tell you once again that the Scriptures proving such transgressors as you have been who have both blasphemed and prophaned that sacred Appointment of the Lords which is a Foundation Principle of his Doctrine have not Communion with God as his Church are in 2 Joh. 9. Joh. 14.24 Acts 3.22 23. with many more in the New Testament Quest 19. If it shall be said as some of you have Printed and said That they that are not under laying on of Hands have not God because they transgress and not abide in the Doctrine of Christ according to 2 Joh. 9. We demand whether this be not vain Philosophy and whether by the same reason we may not unchurch all the Churches that ever were in the world Might it not be said of the Church of the Hebrews that they had not God because they had not an acquaintance with and so consequently did not abide in all the Doctrine of Christ relating to his Priestly Office and whether those many things that the Author had to say concerning Christs high Priesthood where the Doctrine of Christ and Christs Oracles or the Authors own inventions if they were Christs Oracles or sayings which they could not receive because they were dull of hearing then they did transgress them or why doth the Author find fault with them And if they did transgress his sayings and Oracles and yet were a Church and still in communion and are call'd Babes in Christ how dare you say they that abide not in all Christs sayings have not God Did not the Churches in Asia transgress and might it not be said of them that they did not abide in all Christs Doctrine when Ephesus left her first love when Pergamos retained those in communion that held the Doctrine of Balaam and the Nicholaitans and the Church of Sardis kept their communion with those that had defiled their garments and the Laodiceans are charged with Luke-warmness and with being self-conceited and so are the Church of Corinth in suffering the incestuous person for which they ought by Christs Doctrine to have been humbled we demand where the Scriptures do declare these to be no Churches or incommunicable though in many things they did transgress the sayings and did not continue or abide in all the Doctrines and Oracles of God but if for all these they were still owned as Churches how then dare you say of them or of any that should fail like them that they are no Churches and have not communion with God because they abide not in all his Doctrine May not we rather turn the edge of that Argument upon your selves thus They that God owns for Churches you sin in disowning but God owns those for Churches that fail and come short of many things that Christ taught them therefore you sin in disowning them Answer 1. We say again as some of us have Printed and said That you who have transgressed at such a rate as you have done and still do against the Doctrine of Christ have not God as his Church according to 2 Joh. 9. nor is this vain Philosophy as you vainly enquire but sound words and wholsome Doctrine which some of you will find to your sorrow in the day of account if you repent not 2. Nor can any Church rightly constituted be unchurched by this reason Because Churches rightly constituted do not transgress against the Doctrine of Christ but continue in it and have both the Father and the Son nor can it be said of the Hebrew Church that they had not God because they understood not all those things hard to be uttered relating to the Priestly Office of Christ because they had laid all the Principles of Christs Doctrine Heb. 5.12 and 6.1 2. which you have not and continued in them Act. 2.42 which you do not Their fault for which the Apostle blames them was their slack and slow growth for the time they had been a Church built upon the Rock Christ and the Foundation-Principles of his Doctrine by which neglect they became dull of hearing and were yet but as Babes unskilful in the Word of Righteousness and therefore he exhorts them to go on to perfection Heb. 6.1 that they might redeem their lost time and avoid the danger they stood in of falling away from what they were partakers of their danger being such that if they should still continue slothful and negligent and not go on to perfection they would at length fall from and not continue in the Doctrine of Christ on which they were built which if they did there was no renewing them by repentance 3. And indeed those things of which they were ignorant were