Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	church_n	discipline_n	doctrine_n	4,176	5	6.2312	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80541	A copie of tvvo vvritings sent to the Parliament. The one intituled motions for reforming of the Church of England in this present Parliament: most taken out of Irenaus Philadelphus. The other a humble petition unto the Parliament, for reforming of the Church of England: all taken out of the holy Scriptures.	Du Moulin, Lewis, 1606-1680. Motions for reforming the Church of England in this present Parliament.	1641 (1641)	Wing C6235; Thomason E238_12; ESTC R2679	18,517	27

his majestie and the PARLIAMENT to have the difference on both sides tried and examined as either that our Propositions and reasons may be given to our opposites to answer and their arguments if they will set down any to us to answer by the word of God Or that a conference may be had in writing the questions being first agreed vpon and the arguments and answers advisedly set downe till both parties have fully sayd laying aside all by-matters and so the whole exhibited to the PARLIAMEMT to judg off Or any other course which by you shall be thought meetest for the finding out of the truth by the sacred Scriptures And if this may not be granted us then our last request is for our returne out of exile and releasement out of bands and that we may be suffered in peace under his majestiss government within his dominions which we had rather then under any other whatsoever to walke in the fayth of the Gospell according to the testimony of Christ we carying our selves in all loyaltie peace godlines as becometh the faithfull subjects of the Lord. And this we hope will not be denyed seeing strangers are suffered which differ as well as we from the Hierarchy worship there established we being his majesties naturall subjects But howsoever it be wee wil not cease to pray for you And that the Lord wil be favourable to the land and take away his wrath from it Motions for Reforming of the Church of England in this present PARLIAMENT most taken out of Irenaeus a Quae. 1 ●●ether ●renaeus be a fitt man to be followed in the point of discipline seeing none of the Fathers in his time ●rote 〈◊〉 more corruptly in the thing then hee Philadelphus MOTIONERS 1. THat since the first reformation in King Edwards dayes was rather of the doctrine the of the discipline and of the rites that were palpable grosse which yet were retayned with a purpose they should be removed afterwards and for to unloose by degrees the fast hold to the Romish Church now since every Protestant is well informed of the change made in religion that whatsoever in the religion or tending to the disturbing of the peace of the Church and the maintayning of hereticall doctrines be redressed 2. That in that great worke of Reformation which is of moment and consequence farre beyond the setling of civill affaires there bee appointed by both the Houses a Committee or Convocation or meeting of 40 or 50 English Divines Men that were not of the late Convocation and such as be unpartiall learned and uncorrupt in their lives and Doctrines such as Dr. Vsher Arch. B. of Armach Dr. Williams a Quae. 2 Archb. Bb. and men conformable to the Popish Ceremonies be fit to have speciall hand in framing a setled platforme of Church government B. of Lincolne Dr. Precheaux Dr. Twisse and the like With 10 Scots Divines to which be called 8 Forraine Divines of the most learned and famous Such as Rivetus Primrose Moulin and the like who may treat and agree upon a setled plat-forme of Church Government sutable to the Monarchy of Great Brittaine which ought to be ratified and enacted by Parliament 3. That the Churches Discipline being established a Nationall Synod be convocate that may frame a Confession of Faith and reforme if need be b Quae. 3 whether such as doubt whether it be needfull to have the English Letturgie reformed be not corrupt men unfit to motion for reformatiō the English Leiturgie that without exception it bee received through out the K. Dominions to which Synod may be called a competent number of Forraine Divines However since so many have beene so earnest of late to bee in Charity with the Romane Church that they have beene uncharitable to the Reformed Churches Let Cannons be made in the Synod and an act of Parliament for Vnion with other Protestant Churches in matter of Doctrine And all the fire-brands of these late innovations in the Church that have made us a laughing stocke to the neighbour-Churches be sharply censured if not cutt of as banes of the Church Especially the first raysers of Altars Such as Heylen Pocklington and the like a) Qu 4 ●hether 〈◊〉 B● ●ting ●em 〈◊〉 ●rke de●●t ●ot m●●●eater ●ith●ent 4. That the pleasures of our late Soveraigne King Iames of blessed memorie be executed who sent his Divines to the Synod of Dort That the Church of England afterwards should be bound by the decisions made there and that Cannons be made conformable to the determinations of the Divines in that Sinod 5. If Bishops be retayned (a) Quae. 5 whether men wishing the Bb. to be retained are not herein enemies to the State and seeke to hinder reformation as it is to be wished ther be no more distance between a Bishopp and an ordinary minister that Bishops be no more called Lords that they be enjoyned to preach dilligently as the duty of their place and office is 6. That if some sit in Parliament It must be upon woll Sackes and have no more priveledge by their office and places then the Iudges the Lord Keepers Treasurers that a certayn number of deputies from the national Sinod b Quae. 6 vvhether ministers more then other private men ought to have either place or voyce in Parliament whether Bishops or others be assisting both in the higher and the lower house for delivering their advises vpon any clawes of acts that may entrench upon the Churches priuiledges or are contrary to doctrine or good manners 7 That the principall defect of our dicipline and the spring of all errors in doctrin and practise which is the want of Synods be amended and herafter all vissitations of Bishops be Synods as by right they ought to bee and according to the Antient constitutions as it appeareth by the c Quae. 7. Whether Ministers in the Apostles time used to pay any such thing Synodals which ministers pay at euery visitation and that at Synods al Parish ministers be sitting and covered and haue their voyce and the discussing of all the affaires of the diosesse and making orders which may not afterwards be altered by the Bishops but only by the nationall Metropoliticall Synods which for the the publick vnion is to be kept once every two yeares neither was the Church of la●● without Synods but in ENGLAND a Quae. 8. Whither Synods as 〈◊〉 are ●w have ●n any ●here but ●l●e that 〈◊〉 since the ●postles 〈◊〉 8. That Bishops be Censurable by the Synod whether it be provintiall or nationall b Quae. 9 ●f the mē●s of a ●tionall provin●l Synod corrupt 〈◊〉 and ●ke Ca●● a●inst the ●ith who 〈◊〉 cen●re them ●r it 9. That an other course be taken for maintaining ministers and Bish then that by tythes c Qu. 10. Whether it ●●more ●cessary ●at there ●t some ●rse ta● to have ●full ●d mini●rs then 〈◊〉 the ●tenāce ●he

termed by King Iames the English Masse and fitly so because it was culled and wicked out of the popish danghill the por●●is vile Masse Booke full of all abominations and peaced and patched together without reason or order of edefication And this being abolished our further request is that this present PARLIAMENT will take such order as that no stinted or devised formes of prayer be by any nationall Sinod imposed specially upon the ministers of the Gospel in any part of the Kings Dominions but as the Lord hath furnished them with spiritual gifts a Act. 1 24 28 1 Thes 5 17 Rom. 8 26 27 1 Tim. 7 17 Neh. 2 4 Exo 14 15 1 Pet. 2 5 even so according to their present need and occasions they may have their freedome alwayes to pray in the spirit through the helpe of the holy Ghost For if it had seemed good to the Apostles the last Pen-men of the holy Scriptures that any stinted formes or number of words should be repeated or read out of a prayer booke they would certainly haue giuen commandement for the practise thereof but we find no prescript Liturgy in their writings nor had the primitiue churches any such thing what ever the Iewes fable of Ezra and the Papists of St. Iames and St. Peter And as we like it well that this PARLIAMENT should seeke for union with other Protestant Churches in matters of true doctrine so also to accord with them in all acts of their lawful discipline and chiefly in this that they doe not force and compel people to become members of the Church but let every congregation consist of a free and voluntary people and as for such as are prophane worldly and wicked let them be kept out of the Church untill they be called of God unto repentance and faith in his promise 4. Howsoever we agree unto the Articles of the Synod of Dort in al points there treated and concluded against the Aruntians yet we se not by any warrant from the word of God that it is lawfull for the ecclesiasticall officers of many churches to meet together and by joynt authoritie to make constitutions and lawes and to impose them upon all churches b 1 Pet. 5 2 3 2 Col. 5 Iam. 3 1 Rev. 14 9 10 11 This tyranie and usurpation we beseech the Parliament to prevent and not to grant any liberty to convocations or Synods to make Ecclesiasticall Cannons for al Churches but let every particular congregation as a special prerogatiue wherwith shee is indued by Christ be free from such bondag and burden 5. Howsoever some wish that Bishops be retayned in their places yet sure we are that this PARLIAMENT shall very much glorifie the sonne of God if as plants which the Father never planted they now roote them up For since the Prophets Apostles and Evangelists were taken away from this world there are not any other lawfull Bishops or Church-Governours then Bishops or O-verseers of particular Churches a Act. 〈◊〉 28 P● 1 1. 6. And seeing they are no Ministers at all in the Church of God but haue and do vsurpe the name and seate of the ministerie Their calling being Antichristian and contrary to the word of God b 2 T● 2 3 4● 1 Pet. 1 4 I● 22 25 26 Ep● 8 11 ● 13 R● 9 3 11 17 ● 14 9 ● wee therefore most humbly beseech this present PARLIAMENT not onelie to take from them as they justly deserve all Civill authority but also to doe to them as our Saviour dealt Ioh. 2. in whipping out the buyers and sellers and money-changer For of a certayntie they might better come into the Temple then any Metropolitan or Diocesan Bishopp into the Church of God yea and had more necessary use but they had abused holie things and made it a denne of theeues 7. The principall defect of discipline and the spring of all errours in doctrine and practice is not the want of Synods but rather of the knowledg of the Scriptures For the testament of Christ shewes us no Provintiall nationall emperiall and mother like Church having sundry meetings or assemblies and speciall Pastors over the same Neither hath Christ Iesus subjected any Church or Congregation of his to any other Superiour Ecclesiasticall jurisdictinn then unto that which is with in it selfe So that if a whole Church or congregation shall erre in any matter of Faith and Religion no other Convocations Societies Combinations or Assemblies whatsoever have by any Commandement from the Lord power to censure punish or controll the same but are onely to admonish them in a brotherly way and so to leave them to the immediate judgement of Christ For Bishops therefore and Parish Ministers to come together to discusse of the affaires of the Diocesse make orders and decide and determine among themselves the cases and controverses of sundry congregations It is a practise which the Apostles never knew Syon hath not heard of it Ierusalem which is aboue will not acknowledg it but as it began with the oppressing the only lawfull politie of the Church so the use of it hitherto hath been the cruelst and most ambitious tiranny in the world And therfore the Parliamēt is humbly desired not to countenance so injurious vnjust a course but to stand earnestly zealous for the pretious liberty and priviledg of the Saints the which Christ hath purchased for them with his owne blood 8. As the Scriptures a Act. 20 28. Rom. 12.8.7 Phil. 1.1 acknowledge no other for lawful Bishops but such only as stand ministers to some particular Congregation so neither doe they acknowledge any Ecclesiasticall censure rightly pronounced against them unlesse it be done by that Church of which they are members b Mat. 18 17.18 1 Cor. 4.5.12.13 2 Thes 3.6 with Lev. 24.14.15.16 23. Iosh 7 11.25 and by which they were elected into Office As for deposition excommunicaton and the like done by Synods whether Provinciall or Nationall it is but of the Earth newly devised an addition an institution an ordinance of Kings and Princes And this needs must bee so because Christ hath not placed this power any other where but in a true visible Church Now there is no true visible Church but a particular Congregation Company or Assembly of men ordinarily joyning together in the true Worship of God As for other Convocations Synods Societies Combinations c. the Title of a visible Church is improperly and untruely attributed unto them Of this judgement are our English best Divines c D. Ames Eng. puritne Baines Dioces p 12. repl to Down Offer for conference p. 2. 9. The right course for the due maintainance of ministers is by the free and voluntary Contribution of the Church d 1 Cor. 9 7.14 Gal. 6.6 1 Thes 5.13 1 Tim. 5.15 with Pro. 3.9.10 Num. 18.8.32 Not that Parliaments or Synods should impose any certaine rate or summe upon any man how much hee should pay but this is to