Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	good_a	king_n	prince_n	3,500	5	5.4628	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09026	The grounds of diuinitie plainely discouering the mysteries of Christian religion, propounded familiarly in diuers questions and answeres: substantially proued by scriptures; expounded faithfully, according to the writings of the best diuines, and euidently applyed by profitable vses, for the helpe and benefite of the vnlearned which desire knowledge. To the which is prefixed a very profitable treatise, containing an exhortation to the study of the word, with singular directions for the hearing and reading of the same. By Elnathan Parr minister of the word, at Palgraue in Suffolke.; Grounds of divinitie.	Parr, Elnathan, d. 1622.	1614 (1614)	STC 19314; ESTC S103147	128,560	328

of his Apparrell and outward shape Thus the Church on Earth is said to be Inuisible in regarde of the inward essentiall forme which is sanctity which cannot be seene with mans eie Hebr. 12.14 1. Ioh. 2.19 2. Tim. 2.19 Rom. 2.29 or Visible either in regard of the particular companies professing Christ or in regard of the outward forme which is the ministery of the Word and Sacraments by the which it is visible becauss these being the means whereby it is gathered and gouerned are visible Vse Examine how thou standest in the visible Church for many are called but few are chosen and many are in the visible which are not of the inuisible as the Lées are in the Vessell which are not wine nor of the wine It is not enough to be in Gods field vnlesse we be good corne not enough that we be in the body vnlesse we be members For if wee be wennes and spottes we must be purged and scowred off not enough to be in Gods floore vnlesse we be good Corne For hee will gather the Corne into his Barne but the Chaffe hee will burne with vnquenchable fire so not enough that thou arte among the Saints vnlesse thou be a Saint For C ham was in the Arke Saul among the Prophets Iudas among the Apostles and yet these are damned So thou mayst be baptized and ioined to the visible company of the faithfull yet if thou want the Spirit which quickens al the true members of Christs body to holinesse and righteousnesse of life thou art but a withered branch to be cut off and cast into the fire Looke therefore to thy standing Question What call you the Inuisible Church Ans It is the vniuersity of the Elect and Regenerate Rom. 2.29 which doe at any time or in any place professe and truely haue faith and conuersion to God Quest What is the visible Church Ans It is a company embracing and enioying the Ministery of the Word and Sacraments Mat. 28.19 Ephes 4 11 and professing the Gospel Quest What are the true notes of a true visible Church Ans The true proper and essentiall notes of a true Church are two namely The pure and incorrupt Ministerie and profession of the Word and Mat. 28.19 Act. 2.42 46. Ephe. 5.25 26. The lawfull Administration of the Sacraments to the which some adde Discipline Explic. Vnto those Scriptures in the answere which shew that the lawfull vse of the Word and Sacraments are the two genuine notes of a true Church because the Primitiue Church is so in them described You may adde concerning the Word these Iohn 8.31 and 10.27 and 14.23 1. Corint 4.15 Ephes 2.20 1. Tim. 3.15 And of the Sacraments these 1. Corin. 20.16 and 12.13 So that wheresoeuer there is a Company preaching and professing that Iesus Christ the Sonne of Marie is the Sonne of GOD Christ the Lord by whom onely and alone they séeke to be saued that Company is a true visible Church though there be many corruptions in the same Simon Magus was by Baptisme receiued into the Visible Church Acts 8.13 for an outward profession of Christ in word And the Corinthians were a true church euen then when they abounded with grosse corruptions as Paul denyeth not in his Epistles written vnto them These notes haue their degrées the more pure they are the more pure is the Church which hath them the lesse pure they are the lesse pure is a Church to bee accounted and where they are not all or wholely adulterated there either is no Church or a very corrupt one Now though Discipline be allowed and necessarily required to the well being of a Church yet a Company holding Christ and maintaining the Scriptures though they should want Discipline are a true though a defectiue Church It is the duty of the Church to vse Discipline but as a wife ceaseth not to be a true wife for the neglect of houshold gouernement so long as she kéepeth the mariage oath to herhusband vnbroken so a Church ceaseth not to be a true Church for some saults or neglects so long as she acknowledgeth her head Christ according to the Word Vse Withdraw not thy selfe from the fellowship of the Churches of God and if thou hast depraued the Church of England and separated from it repent of thy rash and vncharitable censures Remember what great things God hath done for the Church thou despisest and spit not in her face that hath brought thée forth to Christ Remember that God hath alwaies preserued a séed of Christ in our land euer since the first conuersion therof from Heathenisme which as a little leauen lay a long time hid in thrée peckes of meale as our Sauiour speaketh till at the last by the hand of a King Henry 8. it began to sowre the whole lumpe And after him remember how God raised him vp a Iosias to finish his fathers beginnings Afterward Edward 6. how it was watered with the bloud of as famous Martyrs as euer the world saw Then thinke how God miraculously preserued and gaue a Quéene to nurse this Church labouring Queene Elizabeth and almost fainting vnder afflictions yea such a Quéene as he neuer stablished in the Throne of any Kingdome since the day of Adams Creation And then consider how that when we reckoned that all our happinesse had béene ended and expected nothing but dissipation fire sword bloud and the ruine of Church and Common-wealth euen then the Lord beyond all expectation sent amongst vs a most tender Father our most gratious Soueraigne King IAMES whom God long preserue vnmatchable for mildnesse of Gouernment Vigilancy care for the good of all his subiects déepnesse of iudgement soundnesse of Religion and together with many other blessings whereby we are blessed in him for incomparable learning hauing to the admiration of the world with his Owne Pen defended and aduanced the truth And if thou standest vpon a right constitution remember that the replanters of the Gospell here were Kings and Princes and not without the preaching of the word Remember that the people of the land were not conuerted from Heathenisme by them as such which had no knowledge of Christ but from Papisme vnder which they had some knowledge of him Remember that if the Church were not rightly constituted by Quéene Elizabeth neither was it by King Henry the eighth and King Edward the sixth and so thou wrongest the ashes of the Martyrs as if they were not Martyrs of Christ but of Antichrist And say that there was something wanting in the first constitution cannot God forgiue it Nay hath he not forgiuen it How darest thou say the contrary Remember these things stay thy tongue from reuiling Israel and thy foot from withdrawing thy selfe from the people of God If thou wouldst haue Discipline we are not without it though without that of thy deuising If thou wouldst haue the preaching of the Word we haue it I may boldly say as soundly and powerfully

name of Christ that is by his authority according to his commandement yea this to be in force in all Churches euen which are vnder Christian Magistrates for otherwise doth the ciuill Magistrate punish otherwise the Church The Church aimeth at the repentance of the offender the ciuill Magistrate at the execution of iustice The Church procéedeth not to excommunication where the delinquent repenteth obeyeth The ciuil Magistrate notwithstanding the repentance of the party executeth the law as Ioshua notwithstanding the confession of Achan Ioshua 7. caused him to be destroyed Vse 1. All such whom it concernes to deale in Ecclesiasticall censures ought to beware of all filthy lucre faithfully discharge that which is cōmitted vnto thē to censure them which are prophane accordingly for the glory of God the good of the Church the repentance of them which offend and the furthering of their owne accounts at the last day Vse 2. Art thou prophane a drunkard a blasphemer an vsurer a breaker of the sabaoth c. deseruest thou to be stricken with the thunderbolt of excommunication yet escapest by thy purse or otherwaies yet know thou whatsoeuer thou art that although either through the corruption of them which excecute the same Discipline thou continuest in the fellowship of the Church yet in the account of the Lord thou art excluded from all spiritual priuiledges of the Church till thou repent not being worthy to sit among the dogs of the flocke as one may say the lesse thou answerest for here through the silence of the lawes the more thou hast to answere before Iesus Christ at the day of Iudgement Q. You seeme to say that where there is a Christian ciuill Magistrate there the Church ought to expect his consent and by his authority make Constitutions and Canons Do you then thinke that the Clergie or Church-men are subiect to the Ciuill Magistrate Ans Yes verily do I and so God plainly teacheth in his word Rom. 13.1 Tit. 3.1 1. Pet. 2.13 14.15 Let euery soule be subiect c. Whether Apostle Prophet or Bishop Q. What is the ciuill Magistracy or Gouernment Ans It is an ordinance of God for the good of men whereby they are gouerned by good lawes both Diuine and humane that publike peace may be preserued Rom. 13.4 Pro. 8.15 Dan. 2.21 Ioh. 19.11 the good maintained the euill punished the worship and glory of God set forth Q. What is the office of the ciuil Magistrate Ans The office of the supreme Magistrate is to keepe and maintaine both the Tables of the morall law Deu. 17.18 19. 2. Chro. 19 6. and to minister right iudgment iustice to his subiects Q. What is the power of the superior Magistrate Ans In things diuine it is limited by the word but in humane things and ciuill it is wonderfull large as namely to command all his subiects in matters concerning the publike good of all or the priuate good of some To compell all orders Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill to do their duties to punish the stubborne To command the bodies and goods of his subiects in matters lawfull To exact Tribute Custome Subsidies Taxes Tenthes c. for the maintaining of his honour and magnificence and for the bearing of the publike charge To make and confirme lawes for the ciuill policy of his Iurisdiction Iob. 34.18 Eccles 8.3 4. Dan. 5.19 and to define all matters and causes by the same And in a word the Ciuill supreme Magistrate is in all causes and ouer all persons as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill supreme Gouernour next vnder Christ 1. Sam. 15.14 as also in the examples of the good Kings of Iudah appeareth Q. What is the duty of Subiects Ans The duty of subiects may be referrred to these heads 1. Pet. 2.18 Rom. 13.1 Tit. 3.1 1. Tim. 2.1 2. Ier. 29.7 Pro. 24.21.22 Rom. 13.6 1. Reuerence 2. Obedience 3. Piety 4. Faithfulnesse 5. Thankfulnesse Expl. One of the greatest blessings which God hath giuen to men is Order and Gouernment without which through confusion all things would soone come to ruine For as a Ship without a Pilot so is a Company or Society of men without a King or other lawfull Magistrate Therefore it was well said of Tacitus That it is better to haue an euill Prince then none And of S. Chrysostome It is better to haue a Tyrant then no Gouernour And the Scripture maketh mention that the state of the people of Israel was neuer worse while they were a free people then when they were without continual Gouernours Yea Nature euen in reasonlesse bruite creatures acknowledgeth Order Gouernment as in the Bées c. This great benefite came from the Lord as all other good things The prime care of the Soueraigne Magistrate must be to maintaine the first Table of the Law Kissing the Sonne and doing homage vnto Christ and therefore to maintaine the true worship of God and to forbid and vtterly to extirpate the contrary And yet this so to be vnderstood the through the necessity of dangerous times he may suffer such as are superstitious and do erre that some Common-wealth and Religion may be had rather then none at all It belongs to the Prince to sée the the true Doctrine be taught but to administer the same teach it in publique it belongs to Ministers and Ecclesiasticall persons It belongs to his Authority to appoint ordinary iudgements Ecclesiasticall to maintaine Schooles Vniuersities c. wherby fit Bishops Ministers may beset ouer the Flock of Christ to make lawes whereby such Pastors Teachers may be directed corrected suspended depriued as matters shall require It is his Authority which may call and moderate Prouincionall Nationall Generall Syneds appoint Fasts c. Yea he ought to punish Heretickes Idolaters Blasphemers c. as well as Murtherers Théeues c. and to do all things which may further the Spirituall good of his Subiects and to take away the contrary Rom. 13.4 For he beareth not the Sword in vaine So Moses appointed the worship of God prescribed it to Aaron Dauid disposed the Ministery of the Tabernacle called a Conuocation or Synode for the bringing of the Arke Salomon dedicated the Temple deposed Abiathar Iehoshaphat commanded the Priests and Elders to visite the Churches and to restore the worship of God As also did other good Kings of Iudah as appeareth in their Stories which they did not onely of Piety but euen of Office So also haue Christian Emperours called Ccuncels moderated Controuersies of Religion aduanced good Bishops repressed bad and made Lawes concerning Bishops Ministers holy things for the welfare of the Church and the glory of God For the Magistrate is the Father of the Common-wealth yea Esay saith Esa 49.23 That Kings Queens are nursing Fathers and Mothers of the Church Constantine the Great said the the Bishops were Ouer-seers in the Church and Hee a Bishop or Ouer-seer out