Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	call_v	church_n	place_n	2,073	5	4.2692	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85387	Cata-baptism: or new baptism, waxing old, and ready to vanish away. In two parts. The former containes LVIII. considerations, (with their respective proofs, and consectaries) pregnant for the healing of the common scruples touching the subject of baptism, and manner of baptizing. The latter, contains an answer to a discours against infant-baptism, published not long since by W.A. under the title of, Some baptismall abuses brielfy discovered, &c. In both, sundry things, not formerly insisted on, are discovered and discussed. / By J.G. a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.	Goodwin, John, 1594?-1665.	1655 (1655)	Wing G1155; Thomason E849_1; ESTC R207377	373,602	521

names through pride that they think him a railer that doth but name their faults and they look to be stroaked and smoothed and reverented whilest they speak most wickedly so did the Popish Bishops when they were condemning the Martyrs a Plain Scripture proofs for Infants Church-membership c. Page 201. This strain of spirit in the men we speak of fully sympathizeth with the observation of a learned man which giveth us to understand that the way of Ana-baptism seldome or never prospers or thrives but only when it is indulged countenanced and made much of especially by the Powers of this world whereas the Truth on the other hand hath flourished most under opposition and persecution from the world But so critically and capriciously tender are these men over their way that they judge it criminal in those that shall call it Anabaptism or by any other name then Anti-pedo-baptism by which it seems Mr Tombs hath baptized it as it were to amuze the common sort of people and to put it out of their reach so much as to name it amongst them But though Anti-pedo-baptism be a name of a sufficient length yet is it too short in signification for that practise or way on which Mr Tombs like a Parens ●ustricus hath imposed it For whereas there are two grand errors or evils in this way the one an opposing the baptizing of children the other a second baptizing of those baptized already the Name Anti-pedo-baptism expresseth it only by the former and so is but a kind of half-name to it Whereas the word Anabaptism although it formally signifieth only the latter yet it doth withal connotare or implicitly import the former also For he that perswadeth to re-baptize at age consequently perswadeth that Baptism in Infancy is or was a nullity and so a practise not warrantable Therefore Ana-baptism of the two is not only a word of a more easie and ready pronunciation a word by reason of the long accustomed use of it in the Baptismal controversies more passable with men but more commensureably significant also of that practise or way which is sufficiently known amongst us by this name and super-sufficiently otherwise Besides though it should be supposed that the word Anabaptism is not a name or tearm so properly at first imposed on their way yet the use and end of names and words being to convey things from one mans minde and understanding to anothers the word we speak of best performing this service in reference to the matter or thing signified by it ought not to be stumbled at or excepted against unless men desire that it should not be understood when their way is spoken either for or against Loquendum ut vulgus sentiendum ut sapientes was an old rule and I know no sufficient reason why it should be antiquated or cashiered and some wise men have said that in civil affairs malum benè positum non debet moveri When Mr Fisher with his fellow-subscribers in their late representation stile themselves the baptized Churches of the Nation no man can tell by the signification or import of the word Baptized what Churches they mean onely by the importune assuming and arrogant appropriating of the word to themselves the meaning of the men may be conjectured For in calling themselves and their Churches The baptized Churches in this Nation they represent and call in effect all the rest of the Churches of Christ in the Nation by the odious and reproachful Epithites of Pagan and Heathen Yea the truth is that the expression as it is arrogant in the highest and swelling with vanity so it is very exasperating and provoking to all sorts of people in the Nation and enough to alarm both Magistrate and people to stand upon their guard and to await the consequence of so bloody and threatening a charge But the very self same spirit which wrought so effectually in the Donatists of old worketh at no whit a lower rate in these men For they importunely affirmed that the Churches of Christ and true Baptism was amongst them onely and not to be found in all the world besides a Donatistae volebant latitudinē regni Christi coarctare in Angulum Affricae ita ut extra sectam suam quae obtinuerat in Africa negarent esse uspiam Christianos Musc in Mat. 8. 11. Donatistae à multis Patribus ab Augustino praesertim coarguuntur quod Ecclesiā Catholicā in angulū Africae ad se contrax●●sent affirman●es alibi Ecclesiā non r●periri Pet. Mart. L●c. Clas 4. c. 6. § 6. Donatus capitis sui somnium sequutus solùm Christi Ecclesiam in Africa esse dicebat neque usqùam alibi nisi ist●i● veram esse baptismum cujus vesanie multi adhaerentes magnam cal●mit 〈…〉 Africanis Ecclesiis attulerunt quum impii crud les homines non minus ferro quàm impiis v●cibus circunq●aque in obsistentes desaevirent Prat●olus de Haeresibus pag. 149. Item dicere soletis quod nos Christi baptismum non habeamus quòd praeter vestram communionem nusquam sit August Epist 172. Ad Crispinum Donatistam But whereas both in the front and in the rere of this their representation they give the preheminence to their Messengers a kind of Officer of their own for such they seem to make them and which Christ when he Ascended up on high never gave Eph. 4. 11. 12. above their Elders the Elder being an Officer given and appointed by Christ do they not prefer the Officers of their own Election above the Officers of Christ We read onely of two for expositors generally make their number no more who are stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apostles Legates or Messengers of the Churches when as now a considerable part of the world was planted with Christian Churches where as Mr Fisher and his salute us mith a greater number of their Messengers then Elders and name unto us no fewer then thirteen belonging to I know not how few of their Churches Besides it cannot be proved that these Messengers though the Apostle as Musculus upon the place well hinteth for modesty sake d●th not insist upon his Apostolique Authority or term them his Messengers but cast's honour upon the Churches calling them their Messengers yet it cannot I say be proved that the Churches did by any power or Authority vested in them erect such a kind of ordinary or standing Officer amongst them as a Messenger is especially that should be more honourable then their Elders and Teachers Officers expresly given and appointed by Christ or that they ever met together about the business of such a choyce It is much more probable that the Apostle himself according to the emergent exigencies of the affairs of the Churches with which upon occasion he conversed did commend unto them the two persons termed by him the Messengers of the Churches which are s●pposed to have been Barnabas and Luke to serve them in the nature of Messengers or Internuncii