Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	authority_n	believe_v	church_n	3,588	5	5.7037	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96976	Meditations upon the marks of the true Church of Christ: or, Motives of credibility in behalf of the true religion: and, the easiest way to finde it out. / By H.W.	H. W.; Wilkinson, Henry, 1610-1675,	1655 (1655)	Wing W36A; Thomason E1666_1; ESTC R208388	95,687	283

Other things are onely necessarily to be known and expresly to be believed necessitate proecepti that is by reason of a precept obliging thereunto such are the Creed the Ten Commandements and those of the Church our Lords Prayer and the Sacraments Now lgnorance or want of actuall belief of these is not inconsistent with salvation though negligence in that point is seldom without sin The Negative precept of Faith is of a sarre different nature from the affirmative and obligeth all Christians not to deny or disbelieve any one point of Faith sufficiently proposed by the Church as a truth revealed by God This admits no limitation or latitude the affirmative precept ariseth from the material Points or Objects from which also as they are more or lesse necessary to be expresly known and believed ariseth that distinction of them into points Fundamental and not Fundamental but the negativeprecept is taken from the formal Object which is the infallible testimony of God revealing which being the same in allpoints it makes all fundamentalls a like and here the forementioned distinction hath no place Hence may be inferred what a misery it is to deny or disbelieve any one point which the Church proposeth as a revealed truth It belongs undoubtedly to the goodness of Gods providence over his Church and m●ns souls to leave us some infallible means by which we may know clearly and infallibly what he hath revealed and what points we are to believe First because otherwise men would be perpetually perplexed full of frights and fears and alwaies doubtful what were revealed and to be believed what not Secondly God commands us to belive under pain of damnation therefore to disbelieve any one Proposall of the Church is dangerous because a disbeliever of even any one point is neerer incurring that dreadfull sentence than he who disbelieves nothing The Tenents of Roman Catholikes are affirmative those of Sectaries are almost all negative and consequently not acts of belief Hence also they are in greater danger of that Sentence above mentioned were not that also a hard sentence and repugnant to the sweet mercy of God unlesse he should by some means declare unto usplainly and clearly what particulars we were to believe under so dreadful a penalty The scripture so obscure in many places so subject to various Interpretations and one of the things which are to be believed it self cannot be this easie means for it hath never yet nor can possibly end the many main Controverfies about points of Faith so long in agitation This is a Demonstration therefore that the Churches living and clear voice must do the deed What She sayes is true is so O what a misery and madnes is it then to disbelieve or deny any one point that she propounds as a divine Revelation One point alone denied makes an Heretick divests that soul and deprives it of all divine Faith For the proposition of the Church being of the same authority in that as in all the rest either She is to be believed in all or in none and as he that is guilty of the breach of one Commandement is guilty of all for he violates that supream legislative power of God so he that denies giving credit to one proposition of the Church denies her Authority and is guilty of all the rest What he believes then is upon some humane ground and with humane Faith Domine ad quemibimus To whom Lord shall we have recourse in our doubts of Faith Dic Eccleiae Tell the Church hear her The least deviation in matter of Faith is dangerous but easily avoidable if you will hear her She was of some years growth when the Scriptures were not in being and that these were divine dictates not forged fables we had it upon trust from her Why then is not her word taken in all other points as well as in that mainly Fundamental one What strange inconsequence is this to believe her to be an Infallible Propounder in some particulars but not so in others The Third Meditation which is Of Christs true Church The first Point COnsider first that as there is a God whose existency and operations all men may read in the pages of the Elements and in the great Volume of the Universe whose creation and conservation are a Physicall demonstration of a deity to which may be added moral arguments as the opinion and consent of all Nations and of all the wise ones of the world prodigious miracles apparitions of spirits prophecies heathenish oracles sudden and unheard of punishments and the like which have made all excepting some Atheists co 〈…〉 ed believers that there is a God 〈…〉 this is a Patent verity so also is 〈◊〉 which came out of the golden mouth of Saint Chrysostome to wit Siest Deus est colendus if there be a God as it is undoubtedly true there is then he is to be Worshipped nature hath made a great connexion betwixt these two the conspiring consent of all Nations not onely the civillized but even the most barbarout exhibited some kinde of Worship to their Gods the Heathens had their Temples the Jews Synagogues and the Christians have their Churches for that end Consider secondly that as the want or neglect of divine Worship inclines to Atheisme so by this may be gathered what in all likelihood will at leng●h become of these modern sects in our Nation once so religious From the Protestants their form of Worship is taken away by Act of Parliament others will have none and the rest will not somuch as have Churches O Times O Tragedies what will this come to but down right Atheisme unlesse they repent and return to that Mother Church from which they had their first tincture of Christianity which Jesus for thy mercies sake effect The second Point Consider first how that the Son of God descended from heaven and invested himself with humane nature thereby to work that great work of mans eternal salvation but by what means and after what manner One drop of his deified blood was a more than sufficient ransome for the whole World any one of those theandrical actions of his was a sufficient summe for the purchase of eternal felicity for all mankind for what end then was it that he spent all the moments which were contained in thirty three years so preciously Why did he shed every drop even till water issued out of his sacred side of that his royall blood The holy Doctours will tell us that he did this for two ends in order to us First to make himself a perfect Prototypon for man to imitate of all perfection by the long exercise of all virtues of which he left so many and so rare examples The second was that he might Found a Church adorn it with all the requisites proprieties and priviledges which might beseem such a Church of such a Founder and that he might leave in it the infinite treasures of his merits to be dispenced out by the Pastors of

the Holy Fathers in all points this truth hath been of purpose moved at large by many learned writers nor can Sectaries instance any one particular thing w ch the Roman Catholicks now hold as a point of faith which was not held by the Holy Fathers yea every particular point is granted even by Protestants themselves to have been the Doctrine or practice of the holy Fathers 3. Going out or separation is specified in the Scripture and by the holy Fathers as a note of novelty and heresie now certain it is that Sectaries could never assign any known time in which the Church of Rome went out and separated it self from any Society of Christians antienter than it self and this they grant which is a signe it is the antiontest of all Churches still and the only true 4. Of all sects of Hereticke the beginning of them withall the notable circumstances is known set down by writers No known beginning since the Apostles time of this Roman Religion which now is extant was ever mentioned by any authour whatsoever nor can be and this the very Adverfaries grant which is a sign that it is the most antient of all Religions and the very same which was established in Rome by the Apostles 5. since all Sectaries grant that the Romane Religion remained truly Catholick and Orthodox for many hundred years after the Apostles time it is and must be granted by all to be still the same unlesse evidence and that convincing can be brought in against it out of good and warrantable authours when Rome lost its true Religion in what point it did erre against its former true faith who taught that false saith first and what number adheard to it at first who stood in opposition against it who condemned it and what body of people stuck still to the true Religion for Christs true Church was still visible somewhere and to what countrey or town did any of them repair for Rome stood still for the Pope and he in it to exercise the true Religion in certain it is that most of all these circumstances would have been most exactly recorded if any such thing had happened that the Vicar of Christ should promulge an Heresie to be believed by the whole Church and that the true Church should lose its true faith which had been the greatest change and strangest point of news that ever the world had heard of since Christs time and no one Authour at least recount the circumst-nces of that great wonder is plainly incredible especially since the particular points and passages of all other heresies yea of all considerable points of news done in any Nation are alwayes commended to posterity by some Writers at least by some one the deep silence of all kinde of Authors in this businesse till Luthers time condemns this wretched Apostata and all that band against the Church of Rome upon that ungrounded and impious supposition of deadly sin of schisme of Hesie and obligeth all whom invincible ignorance excuseth not under pain of the same sins to return to the communion of the Church of Rome again Ponder further the antiquity and consequently the verity of the Roman Church upon this ground She was once in possession yea for many ages of the honourable title of being the most ancient and true Church Now this is her most just plea she hath still possession and melior est conditio possidentis of what her adversaries once her children grant was long hers by right Now by what law surely neither by the civill nor natural can she be thrust out of possession since her adversaries who are the Plaintiffs in this unjust action can prove nothing against her Deniall serves the Defendant the other must positively prove that which they can never prove Ponder lastly the Antiquity of the Roman Catholick Religion from the common sense or consent of all people from which arose that phrase of the Vulgar sort calling it the old Religion All these considerations questionless convince that the Roman Catholicks are the most antient and consequently the true Religion for here the one infers the other Si hi tacuerint lapides clamabunt if these arguments proclaim not with a voice loud enough the antiquity of the Roman Religion the very stones will speak in its behalf all ancient monuments even Gravestones and Church Windows all Abbies Collegies Churches and Chappels of which many lye buried in their own ruines for this Religions sake and crosses now groveling upon the ground for their too much favouring the antient Religion are strong witnesses of this truth Thou therefore that art wavering and carried about with every winde of doctrine harken to what the ancient of daies sayes to the of this ancient Religion Stand in the wayes and see and inquire of the old paths which is the good way and walk therein The third Point To understand the better that none but Roman Catholicks can justly pretend Apostolick antiquity consider first that rule which S. Hierom gives as a touch stone to try heresies by to reduce an heresie to its first beginning is to confute it this is it and it is well grounded in reason and Saint Irenaeus before him used the same rule and by it confuted the Valentineans and Marcionists Consider secondly this other proof of heresies novelty and salshood to wit going out and separation the scriptures make going out a distinctive mark of Hereticks Saint John speaking of Hereticks sayes They went out from us 1 Jo. 2. 19. Saint Jude sayes These are they which segregate themselves Jud. 19. Saint Paul sayes Out of our own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after themselves Act. 20. 30. And the Apostles together in Councel said We have heard that certain going forth from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls Act. 15. 24. And our Saviour gave us all his expresse admonition against being seduced by Hereticks in these words Go ye not out Mat. 24. 26. So that going out is a badge or character of an Heretick and Novelist Hence inser that since Berengarius Waldo Wyckliffe Hus Luther Carolstadius Peter Maryr Bucer Oecolampadius Ochinus Zuinglius Calvin and Beza who had all been originally Rom●n Catholicks went out from that Church they are convicted to be Novelists Hereticks and Schismaticks and since both their going out of the Church of Rome is confessed by all and easily made manifest even by this alone their heresies are easily reduced to their first beginnings and consequently according to Saint Hieromes rule confuted As for Luther who led the Van of all these troups of modern Sectaries he in the year 1517. went out of the Church of Rome and began a new sect and in the year 1529. he and his adherent● gave to themselves their own posterity the name of Protestants a name never heard of before the occasion of the imposition of that new name was taken by their protesting

hath got the better in fine all injustices and outrages would be committed and no malefactours punished without a living judge and that such an one as from whose sentence there is no appeal Now if these instances prove as they do most effectually the requisitnesse of a living judge for the upholding of all true civill judicature and government much more is a living judge necessary in ecclesiasticall in which matters of Faith and Religion and consequently of eternal moment are to be tryed The second Point To understand how easie and efficacious means the true Church of Christ hath for the composing of Controversies Consider first that it belongs to the divine providence which extends it selfe to a care over every the least individuum of the most contemptible species amongst natural things not to let his Church want any thing of those which are required ad melius esse much more to supply it with what 's absolutely necessary as means clear and easie for the judging of Controversies is Secondly what perfection the Jewish Synagogue had in this kinde that à fortiori is to be supposed in Christs Church for it was but the handmaid this the Spouse if the shaddow this the Sun if the type this the reall thing prefigured if it had a living judge an infallible judge who was to shew the truth of judgment and a judge to whose final sentence that people was to stand upon pain of death shall the Church of Christ in which the most weighty controversies of divine Faith and eternal salvation are raised every foot by Hereticks want such means Assuredly no. Consider thirdly the many Texts of Scripture yea and as clear in the confirmation of this as of any point whatsoever by which the Church of Christ is impowred with an infallible authority for deciding Controversies even of the highest nature All power is given to me in heaven and in earth goe ye therefore and teach all Nations Mat. 28. in which words the emphasis of that particle theresore intimateth that a powerfull Commission was given them and consequently of teaching without danger of erring and that it was not given to them onely but also to their successors the ensuing words Behold I am with you alwayes even unto the end of the world Luke 10. Convince He that beareth you beareth me and be that despiseth you despiseth me If he will not hear the Church let him be to thee as a heathen and Publican Matt. 18.17 Our Saviour sayes of his Church that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it Mat. 16. And he sayes in most significant words that the holy Ghost shall teach the Church all truth Jo. 16. O divine spirit since you cannot but perform what our Saviour promised this teaching of the Church all truth what do they deserve that accuse it of truth And indeed either the verity of Christs promise or the fidelity of the holy Ghosts performance is questioned when the true Churches Infallible Authority is doubted of or its erring avouched The third Point Consider now that since the true Church of Christ where ever it be now hath his infallible power of resolving all doubts in matters of Faith as the forementioned places of scripture besides many more confirm and since some one of the various religions now extant in the world must be Christs true Church and have this power for still there is a Church and it the Ground and Pillar of Truth Tim. 1.3 let us see what Church sympathizeth best or rather is as some one must be identified with Christs true Church in this point and by good consequence in all others First therefore this infallible judge and composer of all controversies in Christs Church formerly could be no other than either the head of it or some representative body of the Church or both joyntly together no other means of having a living judge can more probably yea or possibly be affigned for all the mombers of the church men women children cannot be collected together into one consult we see also that a Parliament in w ch some one is president above the is the representative body of a Kingdom or Common wealth and what it being a law full one acts is the act of the whole Nation we know more over that in the primitive Church this judge was no other but such an one as is here intended to wit the chief pastor and head of the Church or a General Councel or both and by such a judge was Arius condemned to wit by the Councel of Nice in which Hosius Bishop of Corduba in Spain was Presidentin the place of Pope Silvester who sent him and confirmed the acts of that Councel So was Macedonius condemned in the first Councel of Constantinople So Nestorius in the Ephesine Councel so Eutiches in the Councel of Calcedon so in all suceeding ages Controversies as they rise were decided and Hereticks condemned after the foresaid manner therefore that living judge so necessary must be such an one Consider secondly that the same praxis hath alwayes been held in the Roman Church and is held still eighteen general Councels have been called and confirmed by the supream Bishops or Popes of Rome the first whereof was the Nicene Councel and the last the Councel of Trent in which sate six Cardinalls four Legates three Patriarks thirty two Archbishops and Bishops two hundred and twenty eight besides Abbots Generals of Religious orders and a great number of divines sent by such Bishops as for infirmity or other just reasons could not be present And that this Councell was not of as great Authority as any of the first four were can never be proved all that can be urged against this Councell must be grounded upon that false and ungrounded but dreadfull fince all Sectaries venter their salvation upon on the same supposition that the Roman Church hath fallen from the true and Primitive Faith Prove this your supposition you miserable men which you could never yet prove or be converted or loose your souls of which you run a most desperate hazard by forsaking that Church which is acknowledged by your selves to have been once the true Church meerly upon Luthers hare word that it hath lost the true faith Consider thirdly that since there is no other Church now in the world but the Roman Church which holds the same way and manner of deciding controversies which the Primitivs church held nay nor hath any means to procure such a judge for want of a head to call and confirm a Generall Councel and Bishops to consult enact and see that the inferiour Pastours put in execution what was enacted Hence it follows that the Roman Church is the onely true Church of Christ The fourth Point Consider lastly that since Sectaries reject the authority of the Popes nor can have General Councels and consequently no living judge they must fly either to scripture alone or to the private spirit As for the scripture first it cannot perform the Office