Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	head_n	king_n	supreme_a	4,443	5	9.1068	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36444	Martyrion Christianon, or, A Christian and sober testimony against sinfull complyance wherein the unlawfulness of hearing the present ministers of England is clearly demonstrated, severall weighty queries proposed, objections impartially weighed in the ballance of the sanctuary and found wanting / by Christophilus Antichristomachus.	Douglas, Thomas, fl. 1661.	1664 (1664)	Wing D2039; ESTC R26734	81,925	102

Psal 110. 3. Act. 2. 40 41 47. 19. 9. 2 Cor. 6. 14 17. 9. 13. 9. That Women may administer the Sacrament of Baptism contrary to 1 Cor. 14. 34. 1 Tim. 2. 12. Matth. 28. 18 19 20. Ephes 4. 11. 10. That the Lord's Supper is to be received kneeling which is directly opposit to the practice of Christ in the first institution thereof Mark 14. 18 22 23. and positive precept as being what hath an appearance of evil in it being a gesture used by the Papists in the adoration of their Breaden-god 1 Thes 5. 22. as also to the practise of the Churches of Christ for several hundred years after to the time of the invention and introduction of the Popish Breaden-god Not to mention its contrariety to the judgment and practise of most of the reformed Churches if not all at this day What should I mention the Constitutions and Canons before pointed to wherein 't is forbidden to any to preach not licensed by the Bishops thereunto to Marry or eat Flesh at certain times with many more of the like nature all directly contrary to the Soveraign Edicts of Christ and some of them evident characters of the last dayes Apostates 1 Tim. 4. 3. from whom Saints are warned by the Lord to turn aside ver 5. These we have produced carry an undeniable evidence with them that the present Ministers of England do own submit and subscribe to Orders and Ordinances that are contrary to the revelation of Christ and therefore deny his Propheticall and Kingly Office To all that hath hitherto been offered in this matter we shall yet adde as a further demonstration of the truth we are in the disquisition of Argument 3. Those that acknowledge another Head over the Church beside Christ deny his Prophetical and Kingly Office but the present Misters of England do own and acknowledge another Head over the Church beside Christ Therefore If the assertion of another King in England that as the Head thereof hath power of making and giving forth Laws to the free-born subjects therein be a denyal of his Kingly Authority as no doubt it is the major or first Proposition cannot be denied If Christ be the alone King of his Church as such he is its alone Head Lawgiver If he hath not by any Statute-Law established any other Headship in and over his Church to act in the holy things of God from and under him besides himself who sees not the assertion of such an Headship carries with it a contempt and denial of his Authority if there be any such Headship of the institution of Christ let us know when and where it was instituted whether such a Dominion and Soveraignty over the Subjects of his Kingdom with respect to Worship be granted by them to any of the Sons of men absolutely or conditionally if the first then must the Church it seems be governed by persons casting off the Yoak of Christ trampling upon his Royal Commands and Edicts for so it 's possible it may fall out those that attain this Headship may do as it 's evident many Popes of Rome the great Pretenders hereunto have done If the second let one iota be produced from the Scripture of the institution of such an Headship with the conditions annexed thereunto and we shall be so far from denying of it that we shall chearfully pay whatever respect homage or duty by the Laws of God or man may righteously be expected from us But this will not we humbly conceive in hast be performed and that because 1. The Scripture makes mention of no other Head in and over the Church but Christ Eph. 1. 22. 5. 23 29. 2 Cor. 11. 2. 2. If there be any other Head he must be either within or without the Church The latter will not be affirmed Christ had not sure so little respect unto his Flock as to appoint Wolves and Lions to be their Governours and Guides in matters Ecclesiastical nor can the former for all in the Church are Brethren have no dominion or authority over each others Faith or Conscience Luke 22. 25. 3. If any other be Head of the Church but Christ then is the Church the Body of some others besides Christ but this is absurd and false not to say impious and blasphemous 4. There was no Head of the Church in the Apostles dayes but Christ 5. If any be Head of the Church beside Christ they either have their Headship from an original right seated in themselves or by donation from Christ To assert the first were no less than blasphemy if the second let them shew when and where and how they came to be invested in such a right and this controversie will be at an end 6. He that is asserted in Scripture to be the Head of the Church is said to govern feed and nourish it to Eternal life is her Spouse and Husband 2 Cor. 11. 2. In which sense none of the sons of men one or other can be the Head thereof and yet of any other Head the Scripture is wholly silent But of this matter thus far It cannot by any sober person be denied but an owning of a visible Head over the Church having power of making and giving forth Laws with respect to Worship such an Headship not being of the Institution of Christ must needs be a denial of his Soveraign Authority and Power That the present Ministers of England do own and submit to such an Headship is undeniable witness their Subscription Oath Conformity in Worship to Laws and Edicts made and given forth by the sons of men as Heads and Governours of the Church which are not onely forraign to but as hath been already demonstrated lift up themselves in opposition against the Royal Institutions of Christ This being matter of fact the Individuals charged herewith must either acquit themselves by a denial of what they are impleaded as guilty or prove that what they do is not criminous but lawful to be done The former being too notoriously known to admit of a denial 't is the latter must be insisted on what is therein offered is nextly to be considered This is that some say Obj. 1. That they acknowledge another Head besides Christ cannot indeed be denied but the Headship owned and acknowledged by them is an Headship only under Christ To which we answer Answ 1. But this Headship is either of Christ's Appointment or 't is not if it be let it be shewn where it was instituted by him and as we said this controversie is at an end if it be not the Assertion of such an Headship even in subordination to Christ over his Churches as such hinders not but persons owning submitting thereunto are guilty of denying the Kingly Office of Christ 2. The Headship pleaded for by the Church of Rome is no other 3. 'T is not so as is pretended they own an Headship that is not in all things subordinate to Christ having a Law-making and Law-giving Power touching

Church of Geneva That the Hierarchie is devilish Confusion stablished as it were in despight of God and to the mocking and reproach of all Christian Religion The Seekers of Reformation in Queen Elizabeths time speak fully hereunto 2 Adm. to Parl. We have an Antichristian and Popish ordering of Priests strange from the Word of God never heard of in the Primative Church taken out of the Popes shop to the destruction of Gods Kingdome The names and offices of Arch-Bishops Arch-Deacons Lord-Bishops c. are together with their Government drawn out of the Popes shop Antichristian Devilish and contrary to the Scriptures Parsons Vicars Parish-Priests are birds of the same feather to whom might be added many others Object One stone of offence must be removed out of our way ere we pass on further it is this Though Lord Bishops are Antichristian yet it doth not follow that the Office and Ministry derived from them is so For they are also Presbyters and ordain as Presbyters Answ Give me leave to say That were not men resolved to say any thing that they might be thought to have somewhat to say we had not heard of this Objection For 1. That they act in the capacity of Presbyters in the matter of Ordination is false 1. Contrary to their own avowed principles their Lordships think it too great a debasement to be degraded from their Lordly Dignity to so mean an Office 2. Contrary to the known Law of the Land by which they receive power to act therein in which they are known and owned onely in the capacity of Lord-Bishops 3. Contrary to their late practice whereby they have sufficiently declared the nullity of a Ministerial Office received from the hands of a Presbyterie in thrusting out of doors several hundreds of Ministers so ordained Strange that it should be pleaded they act as Presbyters in the matter of Ordination and yet they themselves judge a Presbyterian-Ordination invalid But 2. What if this should be granted it would avail nothing except it can be proved that they are and act as Presbyters of the Institution of Christ which these being only in a particular institued Church of Christ will never be to the worlds end Thus far of the third Argument CHAP. IV. A fourth Argument proving the unlawfulness of hearing the present Ministers of England A twofold denial of the Offices of Christ asserted That the present Ministers deny his Kingly and Prophetical Office proved from their Non-conformity to the Orders and Ordinances appointed by Christ for his House Several Institutions of Christ remarked Their Non-Conformity thereunto manifested An Objection answered Argument 4. THose that oppugn or deny any of the Offices of Jesus Christ are not to be heard but separated from but the present Ministers of England oppugn and deny some of the Offices of Jesus Christ Therefore Before we come to clear the several parts of this Argument we shall crave liberty breifly to premise First That there is a twofold denying or oppugning of the Offices of Christ 1. Verbal and Professional Such was and is that of the Jews the Papists are not guilty hereof in words they own preach up plead for all the Offices of Christ as much as any So do also the present Ministers of England This is not then the denial of the Offices of Christ we implede them as guilty of 2. Real and actual when persons do that which enwraps in the bowels of it an impugning and denial of the Offices of Christ This the Romish Synagogue are eminently guilty of So are the present Ministers of England as shall we doubt not be clearly demonstrated in its proper place Secondly That a Verbal Professional acknowledgement of the Offices of Christ is nothing when contradicted in practice This the Apostle avowedly asserts in respect of the knowledge of God Tit. 1. 16. They profess they know God but in works they deny him And may congruously enough be applied to the matter in hand This as applied to the Combination and Synagogue of Rome some of themselves have long since acknowledged Whilst they profess Christ to be King and submit not to the Laws he hath prescribed in his Word they make him an Idol and put a Scepter of reed in his hand So some of their own But I interrogate What if a man should with the greatest earnestness profess and in the height of a confident Spirit aver That he were Born again of God Washed Sanctified in the Blood of Christ and by the Spirit of the Lord that he did receive and own Christ as his King and Lawgiver when I see this man at the same time walking in a way of Rebellion against Christ in open contempt and defiance of his Laws and Government subjecting to the Yoak of other Lords and Lawgivers Shall his Plea be admitted surely no! Quid verba audiam cum facta videam T is long since decided by Christ That False-Prophets are to be descried Not by their words they may speak like Angels cry Hail Master kiss him yet be False Prophets yea Judasses to him but by their fruits Let them profess a thousand times over That they own all the Offices of Christ if they are in the mean while found in the practise of those things that are inconsistent with the truth of such a Profession they are really Deniers and Opposers of the Offices of Christ This is that then we affirm in this matter 1. That those that do really oppose any of the Offices of Christ are not to be heard but separated from This carrying a brightness along with it that is sufficient to convince all except such whose eyes the god of this world hath blinded that its original is from God we shall take for granted will not be denied by a Professing Enlightened People though otherwise it were easie to multiply Arguments for its demonstration 1. To oppose Christ in any of his Offices bespeaks such as are guilty thereof to be Antichrists 1 John 2. 22. and 4. 2 3. 2 John 7. of the same mind with us herein is learned Beza upon the forecited Scriptures and none will surely be so inconsiderate not to say worse as to assert It 's lawful to attend upon the Ministry of Antichrist 2. To hear such is to strengthen and encourage them in that their denial of and opposition unto the Offices of Christ and thereby become partakers with them in their sin The thought of which cannot but be grievous to the poor Lambs of Christ. But this will not be denied 'T is the second thing may sound harsh in the ears of some as did some Sayings of Christ but if Truth where God shall give the seeing eye and hearing eare 't will be received viz. 2. That the present Ministers of England do oppose and deny some of the Offices of Christ viz. His Kingly and Prophetical Office which we come now to the proof of Argument 1. Those that hearken not to the Revelation Christ hath made and as Supream Lord and

walk by and therefore really disown the Kingly and Prophetical Office of Christ But perhaps to these things some may say These are but small matters good men differ amongst themselves herein To which we answer 1. That they are part of the Instituted Worship of God the Orders he hath left his Children to conform to hath already been proved to say that any part of the instituted Worship of Christ is a small matter is no small derogation to the Wisdom of the Lawgiver that gave it forth 2. What if it should appear that as small as these things seem to be they are the great Grounds of the late Controversies of God pleaded with Fire and Sword in most of the Europaean Kingdoms this may perhaps a little stay sober persons from so rash a conclusion that these are small matters A serious review of the late Contests of God in the Nations with the consideration of the Grounds and Rise of them will to persons of sobriety sufficiently evince the truth of the Suggestion 3. As small matters as these have been severely punished by the Lord he is a jealous God and stands upon Punctilio's if I may so call them in his Worship hence is that expression Ye cannot serve the Lord for he is a jealous God Josh 24. 19. What should I mention the case of Vzziah 2 Chr. 26. 16. of Corah Dathan and Abiram Numb 16. of Uzzah whose sin lay meerly in whose judgment was singly upon this foot of account his not seeking the Lord after the due order 1 Chron. 15. 13. God commands that when the Ark was removed it should be covered by the Priests that no hand touch it that it be carried upon mens shoulders Numb 4. 11 15. which Order was violated when they brought it from the house of Abinadab 't was Uncovered and upon a Cart after the manner of the Egyptians 1 Sam. 8. 7. for which breach of Order Vzzah is struck dead 4. As small matters as these when once commanded by the Lord are of that force as not only to deface the wel-being but to overturn the true-being of the Worship of God Take one pregnant instance herein The Lord commanded the Israelites by Moses to bring their Sacrifices to the place that he should chuse and offer them there which in it self was but a circumstance of place yet all the Sacrifices offered elsewhere were a stink in the nostrils of God and not accounted by him as any Worship performed unto him 5. But the Objection is altogether impertinent we are not debating the greatness of the sin but the truth of what is charged upon the present Ministers of England what we have mentioned are either the Appointments of Christ or they are not if they are as hath been proved the present Ministers conform to them or they do not if they do not as nothing more sure they conform not to the Orders and Ordinances Christ hath left his People to walk by which is the thing in debate and therefore really deny his Kingly and Prophetical Office As for what is added that good men differ amongst themselves in this matter it 's of no more weight than what went before for 1. 'T is not at all to the business in hand 2. 'T is possible good men may for a while do that which really enwraps in the bowels of it a denial of the Offices of Christ We shall not deny but some of the Ministers of England may be so in the account of God 3. That good men differ is an Argument of their Ignorance and Darkness which though in some cases it excuses a tanto yet not a toto it may alter the degree never the nature of the sin 4. 'T is false that good men pressing after Reformation and the restitution of the Worship of God according to the Primitive Pattern do differ touching the substance of the things instanc'd in Were but the pride and passion of mens spirits a little more allaied and they disentangled more from their selfish interests a greater harmony would appear amongst them in these matters But 5ly as was said The particulars instanc'd in are commanded by Christ or they are not if they are as hath been proved doth it in the least discharge persons that conform not to them from the charge they are impleded as guilty viz. Non-conformity to the Laws of Christ that good men differ in these matters i. e. some good men transgress the Laws of Christ which is sure no part of their goodness nor any warrant to justifie me in the doing of what may strengthen their hands in such a Non-conformity CHAP. V. A second Argument demonstrating that the present Ministers of England deny the Prophetical and Kingly Office of Christ That they own submit and subscribe to Orders and Ordinances that are not of Christ's revealing proved by the induction of 14 Particulars An Objection answered That they own Laws and Institutions contrary to the Institutions of Christ proved by the induction of 10 Particulars A 3d Argument proving their denial of the Offices of Christ produced That there is no other Head of the Church but Christ proved Objections answered THat the Ministers of England deny the Kingly and Prophetical Offices of Christ and therefore are not to be heard but separated from hath been asserted and by one Argument proved in the foregoing Chapter To the further evidence whereof a few things more are to be offered in this Argument 2. Those who own submit and subscribe to Orders and Ordinances which not only are not of Christ's revealing but contrary thereunto do really deny and oppose the Prophetical and Kingly Office of Christ But the present Ministers of England do own submit and subscribe to Orders and Ordinances that are not only not of Christ's revealing but contrary thereunto Therefore The major or first Proposition is beyond exception If an owning submitting and subscribing to Orders and Ordinances that are not onely not of Christ's revealing but contrary thereunto be not a denial of his Kingly and Prophetical Office I must profess I know not what is Suppose the Chief Magistrate or Magistrates of a Nation should give forth a Declaration of their will touching this or that other concern were not persons Non-conformity thereunto supposing it to be what lies within the verge of their Authority and power to command and may righteously be exacted of them whose Conformity is thereunto required a silent opposition of their Authority but should any presume to give forth Laws of their own without the least stamp of Authority upon them yea contrary unto the Statutes and Declarations of their Governours would not all conclude that these persons and their Abettors were guilty of Rebellion against their Rulers and did really deny the lawfulness of their Authority This is the present case if men shall be found traversing paths in the possession and practice of Orders and Constitutions that are forreign to the Edicts of Christ yea contrary thereunto shall we not as