Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	catholic_n	church_n	particular_a	3,316	5	8.1839	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44805	The rock of ages exalted above Rome's imagined rock on which her church is builded she proved not to be the onely Church of Christ, her corrupt doctrines reproved not to be apostolick, but contrary to the true Church of Christ in the apostles dayes : also divers arguments answered which may convince the papists that they are not the true church wherein a book is also answered called A catechism against all sectaries, newly published by C.M. in the year 1661 / by Francis Howgil.	Howgill, Francis, 1618-1669.	1662 (1662)	Wing H3178; ESTC R30346	44,740	118

you more than the Nations beside And so your Church hath neither this Mark nor Sign of Holinesse Fourthly As for your Church being Catholick and Universal you want this sign also If it be One Universal comprehends all Nations like as all the World in comparison were your Church What is Germany France England Scotland and Ireland nothing What is all the Turks Dominions of your Faith And thou saist In Asia Affrica and America all is coming to an end There is that risen and arising in America which must spread over the Nations the breath of the Lord bloweth which will daily dry up the Waters which is the Seat of your Church which you so much boast of And what have you converted all the Indians nay have you not hardened their hearts against the Name of Christ because of your cruelty and unholy conversation among them So that the Name of Christ and Christian is become as odious unto them as Mahomet is unto you And so you are without this Sign as that you are the true Church Lastly That your Church is Apostolick if this be the Mark of the true Church then you are without this also for you neither Apostolick in Doctrine nor Practice your weapons are carnal theirs spiritual their Head was Christ the Light of the World your Head is visible and carnal which darkens the World they turned people from darkness to light and to the Word of Faith in their hearts and to know Christ in them to justifie them But one of your Rabbies told us lately you had no such Doctrine in the Church of Rome as Christ in you The Apostles turn'd them to the Annointing and to the Spirit to be taught by it and to be led by it into all truth and to worship in it and you turn them to Images Pictures Crucifixes Beads and Altars and so keep people in outward things which feed the sensual and corrupt part Lastly they said bodily exercise profiteth little and most of your Worship stands in observing of days meats drinks washings sprinklings Altars Tapers lighting and bearing Candles bowing creeping to the Cross turning wheeling this way and that way in all time and parts of your Worship so that there is no time left for the heart to be exercised towards God And so you are not Apostolical and so are without this true sign of being the true Church of God But I shall descend to particular things which is asserted and seems to be proved but very weakly But we can expect no Wine but such as is in the Bottle It is asserted by this Author That the Pope is the Head of the true Church in which salvation is onely to be expected And his proof he brings is this Christ hath so ordained it in saying to Peter Matth. 16. 18 19. Upon this Rock will I build my Church and Christ hath given power to him and his Successors to be a Head to rule and govern the Church and as there is an Emperor to be Head of the Empire and a King of the Kingdom so Peter and his Successors are the Head of the Church and have the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to bind and to loose and to remit and retain sinnes The Apostolick Church hath this Doctrine That Christ was given to be the Head of the Body which is the Church which is spiritual though in the World yet not of the World and the Father hath committed all power in Heaven and Earth to the Son and hath ordained him to be a Leader a Teacher and a feeder of his Flock and to be his salvation to the ends of the Earth and his glory he will not give to another But it seems the Church of Rome hath soared so high in their conceits and imaginations that they judge all this Power to be given unto the Pope Peter's Successor as they say Now we do not read of Two Heads to the One Body which is the true Church Eph. 4. 4. 15. And so this is a contrary Doctrine then that of the primitive Church and Christ who is the Head of the Body he said Lo I am with you to the end of the world And so it is the meer arrogancy and pride of the Pope to be called the Head of the Church and an intrenching Christ's Power and Prerogative and that ever Peter was called the Head of the Church we do not read and that of the 16. of Matthew is but a poor proof to prove Peter to be the Head of the Church for Christ spoke unto his Disciples ver 15. and asked them Whom say ye that I am Peter as one amongst the rest said Thou art Christ the Son of the living God and Christ said Upon this Rock will I build my Church viz. Upon him which was revealed unto Peter by the Father the Son of God which was the Rock which the Fathers eat of and drank of Christ the Rock of ages and another Foundation can none lay said the Apostle then that which is laid already Christ the Rock and Corner-stone and not Peter for Christ is unchangeable and abideth for ever and so was not Peter though Peter and the rest of the Apostles received power from Christ yet in the 22. and 23. verses of the same Chapter he was gone out of the savour and discerning and Christ said unto him Get thee behind me Satan for thou savourest not the things of God and what though it could be proved that Peter was at Rome a Pastor an Elder or a Biship who fed the Flock and did feed the Flock and so might be reckon'd as an Elder and worthy of Honor in respect of his labour and diligence in the work of Christ is the Promise so entailed to Rome or to any place that the next that succeeds in that place must needs receive the same honor when he doth not the same work which is worthy of honor neither is in the same power but this I am sure of though the Church of Rome lay claim unto Peters Bishoprick as they say yet they have not done his work And secondly If Peter was at Rome and a Pastor yet he was not a Lord for Christ reproved that when they strove which should be the greatest and said unto them The Gentiles exercise Lordship one over another but it shall not be so among you and though Peter and the rest of the Apostles who were in the power of God had that which did open into the Kingdom of God and shut out that which did defile yet this we are sure of he sold no Pardons nor Indulgences for gain and filthy lucre as many have done whom you call Peter's Successors and Christ's Vicar and Universal Bishop and visible Head but it 's manifest how the Pope became visible Head and Universal Bishop not because of any work or labour in the Doctrine of Christ or the Work of the Gospel but by means of the Roman Emperor for while the Christians were under persecution and suffering there

very fulness that filleth all things Oh gross darkness and palpable ignorance which you have led people to believe and call this Idol that Rats and Mice may eat whole Christ God and Redeemer And you have destroyed and burnt to ashes many for Hereticks who could not believe this Doctrine Therefore all people it 's time to look about you and see where you stand and what you join unto If you cannot receive this Doctrine for holy and Apostolick by the Church of Rome not worthy to live and without doubt might not if this Church had but that Authority which sometimes it hath had in England but I hope the eyes of many are open to see and detect this damnable Doctrine So what I have said in this particular may be enough to confirm them who are in any measure in the truth and to keep them back who have desires after this fornication which the Nations hath drunk too much of But I proceed to another particular but before take a word or two about the ceremonies The Author sayes That ceremonies were used by Christ at his last Supper and they excite people to their devotion during the Sacrifice but for proof you must expect none from this Author and the Scripture is silent in the thing and Ceremonies and Formalities are so far from stirring up the mind to God that they indeed draw the mind to be busied in the exercise of them from waiting upon God from worshipping him in the Spirit such Worshippers are onely accepted of him The Masse is said in Latine and the rest of Divine Service for if it were not ignorant people might easily be mistaken if these Mysteries were done in the vulgar Language and because the Scripture hath been written in Latine Greek and Hebrew and these three Languages were written upon Christ's Cross and therefore these three Nations ought to use them at their Masse and Divine Service but the Priestly Garments and Ceremonies gives enough to understand what is done at the Masse and Divine Service Ans. This looks with a bl●ck visage to be Apostolick Doctrine but however I shall search into it and examine it by the Apostles Doctrine before it be condemned It 's a good shift indeed to keep people from mistakes not to let them know what they say or do but this is contrary to the Apostles Doctrine 1 Cor. 14. 7 8 9 10 11 14 15. If a Trumpet give an uncertain sound who can prepare to Battel And except words utter'd be understood how shall it be known what is spoken If the meaning of the voice be not known unto him to whom it is spoken the speaker and the hearer are Barbarians one to the other And when one understands not what is spoken how can he be edified And all services ought to be done to edification So your Church is erred from the Apostolick Doctrine and your Masse and your Service doth not edifie at all but you are as Barbarians one to another for your Worship goes on in such a pack Road that the vulgar people would soon learn it and know it and it may be slight it if they should know the worthlesness of it and therefore the onely way you judge is to keep them in ignorance And what mysterie is there in the Masse and your Service seeing that it stands in crossings cringings and abundance of endless ceremonies and reiteration of words which are patcht up by many Authors contrary to Christ and the Apostles Doctrine But it seems the Priests garments and ceremonies gives understanding enough to the Auditors a dumb shew is enough for them like a Poppet Play to make them understand the Mysteries of your Mass an unbloody Sacrifice indeed in which there is no remission nor acceptation And here thou hast acquainted us with a Mysterie indeed Because Latine Greek and Hebrew was written by Pilate upon the cross of Christ therefore they are called Sacred Languages Sure the church of Rome hath lost both Faith and Reason Will any that hath a friend that should be crucified upon a cross and an enemy who condemn'd him should set over him words in Latine Greek and Hebrew in contempt that therefore a man should count the Crosse holy and the Language sacred as the Church of Rome doth is great ignorance and idolatry of which she is full therefore is not Apostolick nor the one true Church in which salvation is to be looked for as the Author would make people believe The next false and superstitious Doctrine which this Merchant of the Church of Rome holds forth for Apostolical is The Reliques and Images of Saints and also Prayer by the Beads by number and tale as Brick-makers sells their Brick And this the Church of Rome would put off unto us as Apostolical Doctrine The Reliques and Images of Saints are honorable in regard of the Saints which they have relation unto and God himself makes use of them for his Miracles Moses was enforced to honor the holy ground where the Angel appeared Exodus 3. and David commanded the Ark to be adored because it was God's foot-stool Psal. 99. 5. And to honor the Reliques and Images of Saints is no Idolatry for that is Idolatry to worship false gods and Christ doth not take it ill that we honor his Saints and Friends And to number our Prayers if Hail Mary be said upon Beads threescore and three times it 's because Mary lived so many years and the Prophet prayed seven times a day and Christ three times in the Garden And it 's not evil to say our Prayers by number and if five Pater Nosters be said it is in honour of the five wounds and what would there be amiss in this And it 's not Idiots that prays by Beads but Catholick Kings the Pope Cardinals and Bishops makes use of them and variety delighteth the mind and there is no better prayers then the Pater Noster Ave and the Creed Answ. The Reliques or that which remains for all the Saints and Members of the true Church of Christ to follow and to honor is To live in the same life that they lived in and to honor him who was their life by whose power they fulfilled the will of God and to walk in the same foot-steps is to honor him that was their life and them also who walked as examples of righteousness and that power by which they became examples of holiness and righteousness but for the Church of Rome to worship pieces of Cloth Dead Bones Painted Images which may as well be called the Images of Cain Ishmael Judas and all the seed of Evil-doers as well as the image of Christ or Peter Paul or Mary for any thing that they know which they have but receiv'd by story and is but as old Wives fables which Paul to Timothy reproved And hath the Church of Rome no better thing to put them in mind of the Saints life then a dead Picture or Image made by the hand of the