Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	book_n	divine_a	scripture_n	2,963	5	6.0860	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50915	Of prelatical episcopacy, and vvhither it may be deduc'd from the apostolical times by vertue of those testimonies which are alledg'd to that purpose in some late treatises one whereof goes under the name of Iames, Arch-bishop of Armagh.	Milton, John, 1608-1674.	1641 (1641)	Wing M2133; ESTC R23425	13,884	28

of_o prelatical_a episcopacy_n and_o whither_o it_o may_v be_v deduce_v from_o the_o apostolical_a time_n by_o virtue_n of_o those_o testimony_n which_o be_v allege_v to_o that_o purpose_n in_o some_o late_a treatise_n one_o whereof_o go_v under_o the_o name_n of_o james_n archbishop_n of_o armagh_n london_n print_v by_o r._n o._n and_o g._n d._n for_o thomas_n underhill_n and_o be_v to_o be_v sell_v at_o the_o sign_n of_o the_o bible_n in_o wood-street_n 1641._o of_o prelatical_a episcopacy_n epyscopacy_n as_o it_o be_v take_v for_o a_o order_n in_o the_o church_n above_o a_o presbyter_n or_o as_o we_o common_o name_v he_o the_o minister_n of_o a_o congregation_n be_v either_o of_o divine_a constitution_n or_o of_o human_a if_o only_o of_o human_a we_o have_v the_o same_o human_a privilege_n that_o all_o man_n have_v ever_o have_v since_o adam_n be_v bear_v free_a and_o in_o the_o mistress_n island_n of_o all_o the_o british_a to_o retain_v this_o episcopacy_n or_o to_o remove_v it_o consult_v with_o our_o own_o occasion_n and_o convenience_n and_o for_o the_o prevention_n of_o our_o own_o danger_n and_o disquiet_v in_o what_o best_a manner_n we_o can_v devise_v without_o run_v at_o a_o loss_n as_o we_o must_v needs_o in_o those_o stale_a and_o useless_a record_n of_o either_o uncertain_a or_o unsound_a antiquity_n which_o if_o we_o hold_v fast_o to_o the_o ground_n of_o the_o reform_a church_n can_v neither_o skill_n of_o we_o nor_o we_o of_o it_o so_o oft_o as_o it_o will_v lead_v we_o to_o the_o break_a reed_n of_o tradition_n if_o it_o be_v of_o divine_a constitution_n to_o satisfy_v we_o full_o in_o that_o the_o scripture_n only_o be_v able_a it_o be_v the_o only_a book_n leave_v we_o of_o divine_a authority_n not_o in_o any_o thing_n more_o divine_a than_o in_o the_o all-sufficiency_n it_o have_v to_o furnish_v we_o as_o with_o all_o other_o spiritual_a knowledge_n so_o with_o this_o in_o particular_a set_v out_o to_o we_o a_o perfect_a man_n of_o god_n accomplish_v to_o all_o the_o good_a work_n of_o his_o charge_n through_o all_o which_o book_n can_v be_v nowhere_o either_o by_o plain_a text_n or_o solid_a reason_n find_v any_o difference_n between_o a_o bishop_n and_o a_o presbyter_n save_v that_o they_o be_v two_o name_n to_o signify_v the_o same_o order_n notwithstanding_o this_o clearness_n and_o that_o by_o all_o evidence_n of_o argument_n timothy_n and_o titus_n who_o our_o prelate_n claim_v to_o imitate_v only_o in_o the_o control_a part_n of_o their_o office_n have_v rather_o the_o vice-gerency_n of_o a_o apostleship_n commit_v to_o they_o than_o the_o ordinary_a charge_n of_o a_o bishopric_n as_o be_v 4._o man_n of_o a_o extraordinary_a call_n yet_o to_o verify_v that_o which_o saint_n paul_n foretell_v of_o succeed_a time_n when_o man_n begin_v to_o have_v itch_a ear_n than_o not_o content_v with_o the_o plentiful_a and_o wholesome_a fountain_n of_o the_o gospel_n they_o begin_v after_o their_o own_o lust_n to_o heap_v to_o themselves_o teacher_n and_o as_o if_o the_o divine_a scripture_n want_v a_o supplement_n and_o be_v to_o be_v eeked_z out_o they_o can_v think_v any_o doubt_n resolve_v and_o any_o doctrine_n confirm_v unless_o they_o run_v to_o that_o indigested_a heap_n and_o fry_v of_o author_n which_o they_o call_v antiquity_n whatsoever_o time_n or_o the_o heedless_a hand_n of_o blind_a chance_n have_v draw_v down_o from_o of_o old_a to_o this_o present_a in_o her_o huge_a dragnet_n whether_o fish_n or_o seaweed_n shell_n or_o shrubbs_n unpickt_a unchosen_a those_o be_v the_o father_n see_v therefore_o some_o man_n deep_o conversant_a in_o book_n have_v have_v so_o little_a care_n of_o late_a to_o give_v the_o world_n a_o better_a account_n of_o their_o read_n then_o by_o divulge_v needless_a tractat_v stuff_v with_o specious_a name_n of_o ignatius_n and_o polycarpus_n with_o fragment_n of_o old_a martyrology_n and_o legend_n to_o distract_v and_o stagger_v the_o multitude_n of_o credulous_a reader_n and_o mislead_v they_o from_o their_o strong_a guard_n and_o place_n of_o safety_n under_o the_o tuition_n of_o holy_a writ_n it_o come_v into_o my_o thought_n to_o persuade_v myself_o set_v all_o distance_n and_o nice_a respect_n aside_o that_o i_o can_v do_v religion_n and_o my_o country_n no_o better_a service_n for_o the_o time_n then_o do_v my_o utmost_a endeavour_n to_o recall_v the_o people_n of_o god_n from_o this_o vain_a forage_n after_o straw_n and_o to_o reduce_v they_o to_o their_o firm_a station_n under_o the_o standard_n of_o the_o gospel_n by_o make_v appear_v to_o they_o first_o the_o insufficiency_n next_o the_o inconvenience_n and_o last_o the_o impiety_n of_o these_o gay_a testimony_n that_o their_o great_a doctor_n will_v bring_v they_o to_o dote_v on_o and_o in_o perform_v this_o i_o shall_v not_o strive_v to_o be_v more_o exact_a in_o method_n then_o as_o their_o citation_n lead_v i_o first_o therefore_o concerning_o ignatius_n shall_v be_v treat_v 4._o full_o when_o the_o author_n shall_v come_v to_o insist_v upon_o some_o place_n in_o his_o epistle_n next_o to_o prove_v a_o succession_n of_o 27._o bishop_n from_o timothy_n he_o cite_v one_o leontius_n bishop_n of_o magnesia_n out_o of_o the_o 11._o act_n of_o the_o chalcedonian_a council_n this_o be_v but_o a_o obscure_a and_o single_a witness_n and_o for_o his_o faithful_a deal_n who_o shall_v commend_v he_o to_o we_o with_o this_o his_o catalogue_n of_o bishop_n what_o know_v we_o further_o of_o he_o but_o that_o he_o may_v be_v as_o factious_a and_o false_a a_o bishop_n as_o leontius_n of_o antioch_n that_o be_v a_o hundred_o year_n his_o predecessor_n for_o neither_o the_o praise_n of_o his_o wisdom_n or_o his_o virtue_n have_v leave_v he_o memorable_a to_o posterity_n but_o only_o this_o doubtful_a relation_n which_o we_o must_v take_v at_o his_o word_n and_o how_o shall_v this_o testimony_n receive_v credit_n from_o his_o word_n who_o very_a name_n have_v scarce_o be_v think_v on_o but_o for_o this_o bare_a testimony_n but_o they_o will_v say_v he_o be_v a_o member_n of_o the_o council_n and_o that_o may_v deserve_v to_o gain_v he_o credit_n with_o we_o i_o will_v not_o stand_v to_o argue_v as_o yet_o with_o fair_a allowance_n i_o may_v that_o we_o may_v as_o just_o suspect_v there_o be_v some_o bad_a and_o slippery_a man_n in_o that_o council_n as_o we_o know_v there_o be_v wont_a to_o be_v in_o our_o convocation_n nor_o shall_v i_o need_v to_o plead_v at_o this_o time_n that_o nothing_o have_v be_v more_o attempt_v nor_o with_o more_o subtlety_n bring_v about_o both_o ancient_o by_o other_o heretic_n and_o modern_o by_o papist_n then_o to_o falsify_v the_o edition_n of_o the_o counsel_n of_o which_o we_o have_v none_o but_o from_o our_o adversary_n hand_n whence_o canon_n act_n and_o whole_a spurious_a counsel_n be_v thrust_v upon_o we_o and_o hard_o it_o will_v be_v to_o prove_v in_o all_o which_o be_v legitimat_fw-la against_o the_o lawful_a rejection_n of_o a_o urgent_a and_o free_a disputer_n but_o this_o i_o purpose_v not_o to_o take_v advantage_n of_o for_o what_o avail_v it_o to_o wrangle_v about_o the_o corrupt_a edition_n of_o counsel_n when_o as_o we_o know_v that_o many_o year_n ere_o this_o time_n which_o be_v almost_o 500_o year_n after_o christ_n the_o counsel_n themselves_o be_v foul_o corrupt_v with_o ungodly_a prelatism_n and_o so_o far_o plunge_v into_o worldly_a ambition_n as_o that_o it_o stand_v they_o upon_o long_a ere_o this_o to_o uphold_v their_o now_o well-tasted_a hierarchy_n by_o what_o fair_a pretext_n soever_o they_o can_v in_o like_o manner_n as_o they_o have_v now_o learn_v to_o defend_v many_o other_o gross_a corruption_n by_o as_o ancient_a and_o suppose_v authentic_a tradition_n as_o episcopacy_n and_o what_o hope_n can_v we_o have_v of_o this_o whole_a council_n to_o warrant_v we_o a_o matter_n 400._o year_n at_o least_o above_o their_o time_n concerning_o the_o distinction_n of_o bishop_n and_o presbyter_n whenas_o we_o find_v they_o such_o blind_a judge_n of_o thing_n before_o their_o eye_n in_o their_o decree_n of_o precedency_n between_o bishop_n and_o bishop_n acknowledge_v rome_n for_o the_o apostolic_a throne_n and_o peter_n in_o that_o see_n for_o the_o rock_n the_o basis_n and_o the_o foundation_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n and_o faith_n contrary_a to_o the_o interpretation_n of_o more_o ancient_a father_n and_o therefore_o from_o a_o mistake_a text_n do_v they_o give_v to_o leo_n as_o peter_n successor_n a_o kind_n of_o pre-eminence_n above_o the_o whole_a council_n as_o euagrius_n express_v for_o now_o the_o pope_n be_v come_v to_o that_o height_n as_o to_o arrogate_v to_o himself_o by_o his_o vicar_n incompatible_a honour_n and_o yet_o have_v thus_o yield_v to_o rome_n the_o universal_a primacy_n for_o spiritual_a reason_n as_o they_o think_v they_o conclude_v their_o

the_o scripture_n god_n forbid_v but_o to_o mark_v how_o corruption_n and_o apostasy_n creep_v in_o by_o degree_n and_o to_o gather_v up_o where_o ever_o we_o find_v the_o remain_a spark_n of_o original_a truth_n wherewith_o to_o stop_v the_o mouth_n of_o our_o adversary_n and_o to_o bridle_v they_o with_o their_o own_o curb_n who_o willing_o pass_v by_o that_o which_o be_v orthodoxal_a in_o they_o and_o studious_o cull_v out_o that_o which_o be_v commentitious_a and_o best_a for_o their_o turn_n not_o weigh_v the_o father_n in_o the_o balance_n of_o scripture_n but_o scripture_n in_o the_o balance_n of_o the_o father_n if_o we_o therefore_o make_v first_o the_o gospel_n our_o rule_n and_o oracle_n shall_v take_v the_o good_a which_o we_o light_v on_o in_o the_o father_n and_o set_v it_o to_o oppose_v the_o evil_n which_o other_o man_n seek_v from_o they_o in_o this_o way_n of_o skirmish_n we_o shall_v easy_o master_v all_o superstition_n and_o false_a doctrine_n but_o if_o we_o turn_v this_o our_o discreet_a and_o wary_a usage_n of_o they_o into_o a_o blind_a devotion_n towards_o they_o and_o whatsoever_o we_o find_v write_v by_o they_o we_o both_o forsake_v our_o own_o ground_n and_o reason_n which_o lead_v we_o at_o first_o to_o part_v from_o rome_n that_o be_v to_o hold_v to_o the_o scripture_n against_o all_o antiquity_n we_o remove_v our_o cause_n into_o our_o adversary_n own_o court_n and_o take_v up_o there_o those_o cast_a principle_n which_o will_v soon_o cause_v we_o to_o solder_v up_o with_o they_o again_o in_o as_o much_o as_o believe_a antiquity_n for_o itself_o in_o any_o one_o point_n we_o bring_v a_o engagement_n upon_o ourselves_o of_o assent_v to_o all_o that_o it_o charge_v upon_o we_o for_o suppose_v we_o shall_v now_o neglect_v that_o which_o be_v clear_a in_o scripture_n that_o a_o bishop_n and_o presbyter_n be_v all_o one_o both_o in_o name_n and_o office_n and_o that_o what_o be_v do_v by_o timothy_n and_o titus_n execute_v a_o extraordinary_a place_n as_o fellow_n labourer_n with_o the_o apostle_n and_o of_o a_o universal_a charge_n in_o plant_v christianity_n through_o divers_a region_n can_v be_v draw_v into_o particular_a and_o daily_a example_n suppose_v that_o neglect_v this_o clearness_n of_o the_o text_n we_o shall_v by_o the_o uncertain_a and_o corrupt_a writing_n of_o succeed_a time_n determine_v that_o bishop_n and_o presbyter_n be_v different_a because_o we_o dare_v not_o deny_v what_o ignatius_n or_o rather_o the_o perkin_n warbeck_n of_o ignatius_n say_v than_o must_v we_o be_v constrain_v to_o take_v upon_o ourselves_o a_o thousand_o superstition_n and_o falsity_n which_o the_o papist_n will_v prove_v we_o down_o in_o from_o as_o good_a authority_n and_o as_o ancient_a as_o these_o that_o set_v a_o bishop_n above_o a_o presbyter_n and_o the_o plain_a truth_n be_v that_o when_o any_o of_o our_o man_n of_o those_o that_o be_v wed_v to_o antiquity_n come_v to_o dispute_v with_o a_o papist_n and_o leave_v the_o scripture_n put_v themselves_o without_o appeal_n to_o the_o sentence_n of_o synod_n and_o counsel_n use_v in_o the_o cause_n of_o zion_n the_o hire_a souldjary_n of_o revolt_a israel_n where_o they_o give_v the_o romanist_n one_o buff●_z they_o receive_v two_o counterbuff_v be_v it_o therefore_o but_o in_o this_o regard_n every_o true_a bishop_n shall_v be_v afraid_a to_o conquer_v in_o his_o cause_n by_o such_o authority_n as_o these_o which_o if_o we_o admit_v for_o the_o authority_n sake_n we_o open_v a_o broad_a passage_n for_o a_o multitude_n of_o doctrine_n that_o have_v no_o ground_n in_o scripture_n to_o break_v in_o upon_o we_o last_o i_o do_v not_o know_v it_o be_v undeniable_a that_o there_o be_v but_o two_o ecclesiastical_a order_n bishop_n and_o deacon_n mention_v in_o the_o gospel_n how_o it_o can_v be_v less_o than_o impiery_a to_o make_v a_o demur_n at_o that_o which_o be_v there_o so_o perspicuous_a confront_v and_o parallel_v the_o sacred_a verity_n of_o saint_n paul_n with_o the_o offall_v and_o sweep_n of_o antiquity_n that_o meet_v as_o accidental_o and_o absurd_o as_o epicurus_n his_o atom_n to_o patch_v up_o a_o leucippean_a ignatius_n incline_v rather_o to_o make_v this_o phantasm_n a_o expounder_n or_o indeed_o a_o depraver_n of_o saint_n paul_n than_o saint_n paul_n a_o examiner_n and_o discoverer_n of_o this_o impostorship_n nor_o care_v how_o slight_o they_o put_v off_o the_o verdict_n of_o holy_a text_n unsalve_v that_o say_v plain_o there_o be_v but_o two_o order_n so_o they_o maintain_v the_o reputation_n of_o their_o imaginary_a doctor_n that_o proclaim_v three_o certain_o if_o christ_n apostle_n have_v set_v down_o but_o two_o then_o according_a to_o his_o own_o word_n though_o he_o himself_o shall_v unsay_v it_o and_o not_o only_o the_o angel_n of_o smyrna_n but_o a_o angel_n from_o heaven_n shall_v bear_v we_o down_o that_o there_o be_v three_o saint_n paul_n have_v doom_v he_o twice_o let_v he_o be_v accure_v for_o christ_n have_v pronounce_v that_o no_o tittle_n of_o his_o word_n shall_v fall_v to_o the_o ground_n and_o if_o one_o jot_n be_v alterable_a it_o be_v as_o possible_a that_o all_o shall_v perish_v and_o this_o shall_v be_v our_o righteousness_n our_o ample_a warrant_n and_o strong_a assurance_n both_o now_o and_o at_o the_o last_o day_n never_o to_o be_v ashamed_a of_o against_o all_o the_o heap_a name_n of_o angel_n and_o martyr_n counsel_n and_o father_n urge_v upon_o we_o if_o we_o have_v give_v ourselves_o up_o to_o be_v teach_v by_o the_o pure_a and_o live_a precept_n of_o god_n word_n only_o which_o without_o more_o addition_n nay_o with_o a_o forbid_n of_o they_o have_v within_o itself_o the_o promise_n of_o eternal_a life_n the_o end_n of_o all_o our_o wearisome_a labour_n and_o all_o our_o sustain_a hope_n but_o if_o any_o shall_v strive_v to_o set_v up_o his_o ephod_n and_o teraphim_n of_o antiquity_n against_o the_o brightness_n and_o perfection_n of_o the_o gospel_n let_v he_o fear_v lest_o he_o and_o his_o baal_n be_v turn_v into_o bosheth_n and_o thus_o much_o may_v suffice_v to_o show_v that_o the_o pretend_a episcopacy_n can_v be_v deduce_v from_o the_o apostolical_a time_n the_o end_n 2_o tim._n 4._o pag._n 4._o 1_o tim._n 1._o 3._o pag._n 5._o p_o euseb._n l._n 6._o 〈◊〉_d page_n 8_o p._n 13._o p._n 16._o