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	part_n	visible_a	4,373	5	9.1099	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88157	An answer to nine arguments. Written by T. B. Wherein is plainly from the scriptures shewed, the weaknesse of his arguments, whereby he undertakes to prove both the Church and Ministry of England true; as likewise describing the nature and properties of a true Church and Ministry. Written long since by that faithfull servant of God and his countrey, John Lilburne Lieftenant [sic] Collonell: and now published for further good, by a well-willer to him and the truth.	Lilburne, John, 1614?-1657.	1645 (1645)	Wing L2081; Thomason E25_7; ESTC R212845	46,842	48

my Sorrow for you to see you who are so mighty a Champian as you boast your selfe to be to reason so shallowly and ungroundedly for if your Argument be true then all the Nations under Heaven are true visible Churches of Christ for it is not possible that the Heathenest Nation in the World should runne out of Gods Voyce and Call Psal 139.7.8.9 For saith Dauid If I ascend up into Heaven thou art there if I make my Bed in Hell behold thou art there if I take the Wings of the Morning and dwell in the uttermost part of the Sea even there shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand shall hold me if I say surely the darknes shall cover me even the night shall be light about me yea the darknes hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darknes and the light are both alike to thee And also see Amos. 9.1.2.3 Where you may also read that no place can hide a people from Gods presence or call so that I say no place can exempt a people from Gods voyce but wheresoever they are he can find them out and by his Judgements laid upon a Nation or Peeple whether they be Pagans Heathens and Infidels that professedly serve and worship Idols and nothing else or whether they be a Nation of seeming Christians as England is no more like the Samaritanes that professe the Worship of the true God and yet serve their Idols 2. King 17.32.33 yet take them in which sence you will I say they are within the Voyce and call of God and by his Judgements and Plagues laid upon them for their sinnes he calls them to Repentance that so they might not perish but be saved as the Apostle Paull in the first of the Romans doth largly prove Vers 18.19 and so forward So that by your Argment all the Nations under Heaven are visible Churches of Christ for I thus frame my Argument according to your owne grounds All the Nations of the Earth that are within the Voyce and call of God calling them to Faith and Repentance that so they may be saved are true Churches But all the Pagan and Heathen Notions in the World are within the Voyce and call of God as I have already proved Ergo. They are true visible Churches Deny any part of the Argument if you can and prove against it But for the proofe of your Argument you cite Math. 20.16 where it is said Many are called but few chosen the first part of the words Many are called you say but doe not prove that we are to understand them of the visible Church which are called to the outward preaching of the word to which I answere and say you are not an Oracle of God that we must beleeve your sayings without ground for you bring no proofe for what you say but your owne bare Affirmations but if you will be an Oraclo it is but a lying Oracle and not of Gods you say they are called to the outward preaching of the Word it seemes to me that you will have all the people in a Nation that are within Gods call to be Preachers and then what shall become of all your Preists for if this be not your meaning I know not what you drive at but for that place of Scripture many are called but few are chosen I understand it thus many there was that heard the Word of God and seemingly professed it as they that came to Johns Baptisme and Herod that reformed many things and those many great multitudes that Christ preached unto many of which made an outward profession of him for a time but it was but for the loaves as he himselfe doth witnesse John 6.26.27 so here are many called to the outward profession of the Gospell but saith the Text few are chosen that is to say ehough there be many that make a formall profession of Christ and have the ouiside of Christianity yet few are they that are chosen either to Christs glorious kingdome with his father or are chosen and admitted as visible members and Subjects in his visible Church or Kingdome which in Scripture hath many and divers names as Syon Jerusalem his holy Mountaine the Lords holy place the kingdome of Heaven Psal 54.7.147.12 Fsa 62.6.65.9.11 Psal 68.17.33.46.4 Mat. 20.1 Rev. 21.1.10 this exposition of the place I plainly prove from Christs preaching to so many as he did the most of which for a time did outwardly prosesse him yet all those great multitudes that he preached unto and wrought Miracles amongst at his death there was but an hundred and twenty that entered into communion to worship him in a visible Church Acts 1.15 and in the second of the Acts Peter preached to a great multitude of people yet that multitude were not members of a true visible Church neither before he preached to them nor after but only so many of them as declared and manifested faith which were to the Number of three Thowsand and they were added or joyned to the Church and the Apostle commands them to save or seperate themselves from the rest of the multitude which he preached unto seing they did not peleeve nor were never the better for his preaching saying Save your selves from thes untoward Generatron Vers 40.41 For the Lord would not have them to joyne Riffe Raffe and all sorts of people to the Church to whom the Word was preached but only those that declared the worke of Grace to be wrought in their hearts therefore the Spirit of God saith The Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved Now though I grant the Kingdome of England is within the Voyce and call of God calling the people thereof to Repentance that so they may be saved yet I grant no more then what all the Nations under Heaven are therefore you cannot conclude from this Ground that the Church of England is a true Church of Christ seing the Whol Nation good or bad wicked or righteous godly or ungodly have all one and the same Priviledge by virtue of their being professed Membees of your Ch. therefore from that which hath been said I frame this Argument That the true visible Church of Christ under the Gospell doeth not consist of all sorts and kinds of people to whom the word of God is preached but only to such persons who by their outward Conversation may be judged to be true Beleevers Esay 4.3.35.8.9.10.51.11 Rom. 1.7 1. Cor. 1.7 Rev. 22.14 But the Church of England is not made up nor doeth not consist of true Beleevers that is to say Saints by calling and practice but of all sorts and kinds of wicked persons as Witches Sorcerers Whoremungers Drunkards Idolaters Swearers Blasphemers all sorts of Prophane Lewd Wicked livers Ergo It is no true Church of Christ but a false and Antichristian Church of Antichrists 2. Cor. 6.9.10 Rev. 9.20.21 and 13.8.16.17 and 21.27 and 22.15 Both the Proposition and Assumption I have already strongly proved

which the Theife was hanged was a true church for there he had salvation the apprehension of Gods love his assurance of his enterance into the Kingdome of glory as fully as ever any in the ch of En. had and also it will follow that the Chariot in which the Eunuch rode Acts 8. was a true ch for there he came to the knowledg of his salvation the apprehension of the true love of God in Christ also you know God by his almighty power saved Daniel the three children alive even in the Lyons den and in the hot burning furnace and because God by his power did this shall I therefore goe cast my false into the fire and among the Lyons say they have no power to burne me or kill me but I am safe enough because God preserved Daniel and the three children alive in the like condition every wise man would conclude surely I were out of my wits So you see how erronious rotten insufficient unsound all your grounds arguments are in the lying downe of which you run with your deceitfull Logike like a blind horse in a mill about about and still come to the same place where you begun never in the least prove any thing you say by the authority of the word of God nor yet by any grounded reason but ruly your false affirmations for the wind that comes out of you mouth is so weak and feeble that it will scarce blow away a straw if it lie in your way And then in the last place you bring an Arg. in the necke of this being of the same nature with the former and it is this That because Latimer Hooper Bradford with many others were martyrs in your ch and were saved ss●… by the judgment of charity not infalibly wee may judge were saved and knew the corruptions of your church and yet did not separate away from it therefore it is a true Church and need not be separated from seeing men may be saved in it Truly I must confesse unto you I am almost weary with answering your paultery old rotten mouldy stuffe and you are such a novice in the misteries of God and godlynesse and the Kingdome of his Son Jesus Christ not understanding what you say or affirme nor bow to prove an Argument that I am almost loath any more to contend with you in regard the victory in overcomeing you will be so poore and meane and your wares are such paltery and peplary commodities that I am even tyred with lookeing upon them and turning them over but yet for all this I will a litle reply to this your last Argument but I hope you do not hold that maxime in the Church of Rome extra ecclesia nulla salus that is out of the Church no salvation if you doe it is most erronious for I have proved it and the whole New Testament doth declare it that it is possible for a man to be saved though he be a member of no visible Church yea and that some that are joyned to a false Church may be saved but yet if they may be so it is no ground for their staying or abiding there for God cals and commands all his people to be separated from the World and all false churches 2 Cor. 6.16.17.18 Rev. 18.4 but it seemes by your reasoning you hold that if a man get salvation and get to heaven and so get his own ends served let Gods glory goe a begging and lye at the stake a bleeding for all you but truly such a servant deserves no wages but rather punishent for alas man this is but selfe seeking at the best in which a man can have no spirituall comfort and joy But God would have his people to joy and rejoyc in walking in his wayes and sing and be merry and be of a chearefull countenance as it doth become the heires of the Crowne of glory and he would have them not only as it were creep into Heaven but to strive and labour to have an abundant enterane thereinto 1 Pet. 19.10.11 but by your reasoning you would have them never be merry joyfull nor chearfull for in false wayes there is no peace nor comfort Esa 59 8 9.11 Mal. 2.2 but live like forlorne men destitute of all comfort hanging downe their heads like bulrushes and so dishonour their God and their Christ in the eyes of the men of the world who will glory and triumph over them as though there were not that sweetnes beautifulnes amiablenes fulnes satisfaction and contednes in the enjoying of God in his Son Christ that might make them walke with merry counterances chearfull hearts and reioycing soules as it becomes the Sons and heires of the King of glory disdaining contemning and lightly esteeming the base and empty moth eaten contents of this present world and to have their affections crucified to it and it to them and though they be in the world yet to walke as those whose conversation is already in Heaven longing and desiring to be dissolved to be with Christ which is best of all Away man Christ hath no need of such unserviceable selfe seeking servants as you on are to weare his glorious and rich Livery and let me tell you God never sent his sonne Christ to save us for that end to live at ease and delight as we lift or in the fashion of the World but that we should glorifie him in being unlike to the World in our lives and conversation by an unblameable walking in all his wayes labouring and endeavouring to yeild obedience to all his Lawes and commaunds not suffering our hearts to be possessed with base feares of the world nor be in love with the things thereof but that wee should hold forth the profession of the purity of his truth and Gospell without feare before the eyes of the world and though wee suffer persecution affliction and tribulation for it that wee should joy and rejoce in it and esteem it our Crown and happines that the Lord counts us worthy to suffer for his sake And truly let me tell you he that seekes but his own ends and so that he could be but saved cares for no more not regarding or takeing thought what becomes of Gods glory honour and praise it is an evident and demonstrable signe that that man doth not belong to God nor never shall be heire of glory John 14.23.24 25.8.14 1 John 3.8.10 2.9 Rev. 12.11 14.4 And what if Latimer and the rest of the martyrs had communion with the Church of England is that a sufficient ground that therefore wee must not separate away from it I hope not for what if God winked at their blindnes darkenes and ignorance yet now let me say with Paul that in truth he will have all his people to come to the knowledge of his truth and wayes Acts 17.20 because he hath appoynted a day wherein he will shortly judge that great scarlet whore of Rome and all her

pleasure loosenes of life and conversation no none such are fit to be there and if any such creepe in thither us it is possible they may they ought to be cast out from them 1 Cor. 5.13 But affirmatively in the second place I answer That I enter into it First in obedience to Gods command Es● 26.20 who hath commanded and enjoyned me and all his faithfull people to become Citizens of his City and members of his visible church there to worship him Syon the beauty of holynes according to his owne Lawes and appoyntment Againe I enter into a true Church estate to honour and glorifie my God who hath passed by so many thousands as he hath done and left them in their sins and yet hath chosen me freely before the foundation of the world was laid out of the riches and abundance of his grace and through and for his Son Christ my Saviours sake by whose blood my soule is washed and cleansed from all my sins and pollutions and presented spoiles and blameles before his and my heavenly father by which I am made fit being an beir of glory to partake with him in eternall glory in the never ending Kingdome of glory with unspeakable grace mercy and favour ties and binds me to walke uprightly and is blameable without feare or selfe respects in all his wayes and commaunds and with all my strength and might to set forth his prasie and to honour and glorifie his great and holy name which is done by my publike and open professing of the purity of his truth and walking inoffensibly and unreproveable in all his pathes endeavouring to the utmost of my power being assisted with his renuing spirit who is the worker of all my workes in me and for me to yeild willing and cheerfull obedience to all his Lawes commaunds by the doing of which light doth shine so before men that they may see my good workes and so glorifie my father which is in heaven Also by this I become a witnesse bearer against the world leaving them without the least excuse before God in the day of their great accon●nt in that I esteem the enjoying of God in his Christ above all earthly favours riches the sweetnes of which makes me with wilingnes and cheerfulnes freely willingly to part with all worldly treasures delights pleasures aed with rejoyceing glorying to suffer persecution tribulation and all sorte of affliction for the enjoying of him and yet though I professe the truth of God amongst the men of the world and doe so highly prize it and esteem it worthy the loosing of my life for it yet they neither doe nor will imbrace it has despise and reject it which makes their sin inexousable Also I enter into a true church estate as into a speaciall place of shelter and resume Esa 4.5.6 where God in an espeaciall manner hath promised to be a shielder defender of me from harmes and dangers which when I see are I may presse him with the makeing good of his promise who in especiall manner hath promised to be an hiding place to his people walking here in his wayes whereas though I be his yet if I walke in false wayes and have communion with false Assemblyes which it is possible for Gods owne people to doe then am I without all promise of protection peace and comfort for God is terrible and dreadfull out of his holy place or in false wayes or in wayes of our owne invention we shall neither find nor know prace Esa 29.13 50.10 59.8.10.11 he hath threatned to curse those blessings that are got therein Mal. 2.2 for the vine thereof is as the vine af Sodom of the feilds of Gomorah their grapes are grapos of gall and their clusters are bitter their wine is the poyson of Draggans and the cruell venome of Aspes Deut 32.32.33 but his visible Ch. or Kingdom is his City walled Rev. 21 which he will save protect his vineyard fenced Esa 5. which he will keep Esa 27.3 his Garden enclosed which he will preserve his Spring shut up which he will de end his fountaine sealed which he will not suffer to be be broaken open Can. 4.2 his body pelitique over which he ●s Head Ephes 1.22 and therefore bearing a a tender love to the members thereof Ephes 5.23.25.30 he will not suffer them to be wronged but will defend them from their enemies and keep them in the midst of all afflictions Esa 43.1.2 41.10.11.14 54.17 Heb. 13.5.6 Also I enter into a true Ch. estate there to find Gods espeaciall presence which he hath promised therein Psal 0.11 4.6.4.5.68.16 Jer. 8.3 Rev. 21.3.22.23 and that I might grow increase in grace which he hath promised there Ps 132.13.14.15.16 133.3 Jer. 8. for he hath said he will water it every moment Esa 27.3 that so his people may become fruitfull and grow ●d like tall Cedars in Lebanon Lastly I enter into it that I might draw more to my God and gaine more and more spirituall fellowship and communion with him and that I might make my election salvation sure that so an enterance abundantly may be administred unto me to enter into the everlasting Kingdome of our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ 9 Pet. 1.10.11 and that so I may walke comfortably irejoyceingly cheerfully as it doth become one vnited to the Lord of glory in the professing of whom alone so much riches treasure comfort rejoyceing and unspeakeable joy is to be found had that a beleiver may spend largely plentifully all his dayes upon and live like a King and be never able to exhaust it And those are my reasons amongst many others Wherfore though God hath manfested his love and kindnes unto me in his son yet I desire according to my duty to enter into a visible Church as a visible christian there publikely in the eyes of his people to worship and serve hem only according to his owne Lawes without any mans inventions whatsoever But now to say a litle to that which followeth your Arguments and so I will conclude You desire to let your Freind know there have been known wicked men in a true Ch. and therefore though in the Ch. of Eng. there be all sorts of wicked men yet Gods people may have communion with them because there were wicked men in the Ch. of the Jewes and the Corinthes And this is that you labour to prove let me tell you you might have saved your selfe a great deale of paines for the Separation de confessi acknowledg that there hath been wicked men and also corruptions in a true Ch. and that still may so fall out that yet in may be so and yet not the essence of it destroyed but what get you by this for this will not serve turne to warrant communion with the Ch. of Eng. in regard I groundedly absolutely deny that either the Ch. of Eng. is or ever was a true Ch.