Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	ancient_a	church_n	father_n	2,767	4	4.9407	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A48289	Eyaggeloigrapha. Or, Some seasonable and modest thoughts, in order to the furtherance and promoting the affairs of religion, and the gospel, especially in Wales Mainly tending to the discovery of the evills of extreams, and the spirit of errour and dissention, that hinders the success, and the begetting of a due temper and moderation of judgement, with an universall love and peace amongst us. All, rationally, materially, and very moderately handled. By J.L. Esquire.	Lewis, John, Esquire.	1659 (1659)	Wing L1840A; ESTC R218109	32,748	45

doubtless in these Ages of the Church it concerns Ministers especially to be more knowing than others In the primitive times when the State of the Church did not seem so much to require it as now how learned were they is well known insomuch that Iulian the grand enemie of Christianity thought it as his only Engine against it to forbid Christians the means of learning c. and in this so knowing an Age that even many women are held learned to have the Ministers simple and illiterate is as great a scandall to Religion as I can Imagine I deny not but learning as all good things else have been abused but to have hard thoughts against it especially upon pretence of Scripture I beseech all men of any Judgement and godlinesse to consider and that with the Apostle that the Spirit of the Lord hath diversitie of opperations in some after this manner in others after that but is the same God which worketh all in all THE CONTENTS of the First Part. 1. SOme modest Advertisements touching the Author with a short view of the progresse in the affaires of Religion and Propagation hitherto in Wales 2 Errors and Dissention the hinderance of the successe and discovery where this spirit of Dissention doth lye which is shewed to be in meer words with rules for the right understanding of words 3 Some principall words as Propagation Gospel Preaching Saints Church explicated with observations the use of the Law of Nature and right Reason as to the affaires of Religion concluding with a remarkable passage out of Sir W. Rawleigh 4 Some Texts and places of Scripture as mistaken to foment Dissention cleared and the words Superstition and Prophanenesse somewhat explained THE SECOND PART THe helps and means to advance Religion among us next to the Ministery whereof in its proper place is some face of Order and Government to be maintained up as to keep the Generality in some sense and awe of God as formerly mentioned never till these dayes did I imagine any could be against it Mr. Calvin accompts it barbarism and there reckons the Benefits of it c. And the Apostle no marvell accompts Helps Governments among the Gifts of the Spirit For the Ministers I will not for brevity sake enter into their several Qualifications and Gifts those styles and titles given them throughout the Scriptures speak their dignity as saith Calvin Quid dici possit Magnificentius and the Apostle upon the consideration of it concludes Who is sufficient for these things And without question the state and condition of Religion in these ages of the Church requires more gifts and endowments than in the Primitive Times as the knowledge of the State and History of the Church the writings and monuments of the Pillars of Religion the antient Fathers the skill in the Original Tongues and other Sciences without which I confess one may be a good Christian yet hardly can I conceive one to be an able or accomplished Minister without at least a competent Measure of them and to admit of others meerly illiterate and upon the accompt of some spiritual Notions and well-meaning men without endeavoring they should be qualified in some measure as mentioned is the high-way to disfurnish the Church of able and knowing Ministers and to bring utter scorn and contempt upon the Calling and all Religion Neither is it so in Wales as many would make believe that we are such Ignoramuses Praise be to God we have I dare say an able and knowing Gentry as ever and therefore we are to wish such a Ministery as will be able substantially to inform the judgement as with some easie similes to tickle the affections if the honour and reputation of the Ministery will be resolved to be maintained else I know who will best gain the stile of Teachers Let none hence inferre that I seem to make a gap for any unworthy scandalous Ministers to come in Those that were ejected doubtless many of them did but well deserve it yet of those I accompt some more tolerable than others as those of some lighter blemishes and dissents in judgement yet of good Abilities whereof there is store such they kissing the Rod and humbled in the sense of their former failings I could hartily wish they should be restored at least to some incouragements to exercise their Gifts and Talents in and because the Harvest is great and labourers few and that for want of a supply Gods worship and service is in hazard to suffer among us In such an exigence we should not so much stand for whom we could wish but accept of such we needs must have and give place to a Rule wise Men have sometimes to admit of an Evil rather than an Inconvenience And though haply they may want the way and gift of Preaching yet they may have those gifts that may be of other special uses to Religion If they may not be so good for the Pulpit they may be for the Presse and such services of Religion I might here start a Question whether the Tongue or Hand hath done most service to God in his Church The Apostle sayth his speech was contemptible and his letters powerfull I will not enter into the bowels of this Question but leave it to the judicious only I suppose with submission that had it not been the Pen and Writings next the Providence of God of the former ages of the Church I can hardly imagin against such strength of opposition and errors how Christian Religion and the pure truths of it could have devolved and arrived to our hands and those that have done signal services in the Church was by their pens as anciently St. Aug. c. who makes it his excuse to withdraw himself from his former profession of Rhetorick because he spent so much his breath and lungs and amongst our Moderns famous Dr. Reynolds who was held not to be so well gifted for utterance and preaching said Evangelizo manu scriptione what he could not so well with his Tongue and voiec he preached with his hand and pen So I say for such as cannot with us passe so well for preaching may at least for their other parts and abilities be at least accompted of us as the Gibeonites of old to be Hewers of wood and Drawers of water for the house of God especially such as may be very usefull to us in Wales for the Controversaries and for the translation of ancient and modern Books into the language which is something wanting of things in that kind and hath but its meer antiquity to credit it For which pains I humbly conceive they might well be accompted Members of the Ministery and be accordingly incouraged and cherished and not leave us altogether uselesse to droop and languish away in sad melancholy and penury as they doe c. neither would but that others that pretend to gifts of another accompt be but incouraged But with these one or two