Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	add_v	church_n	holy_a	2,540	5	4.7810	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90879	A voice from heaven: or, A testimony against the remainders of Antichrist yet in England: and in particular, the court of tryers for approbation of ministers. / Born by Gualter Postlethwait, pastor to a Church of Christ in Lewes in Sussex.	Postlethwaite, Walter, d. 1671.	1655 (1655)	Wing P3022; Thomason E1498_3; ESTC R208640	39,391	112

concurrence that it will not admit such a plea. Difference in the order of their concurrence we shall grant viz. that the Apostles and Elders did lead the Church in these acts but difference in nature we cannot grant If it be said that by the whole Church is meant onely the Synodical Church the reason that is given for this falls to the ground For 't is grounded on the Impossibility of the meeting of the Church of Hierusalem together in one place that hath been refuted from cleare texts of Scripture But be it that we shut out the brethren from a concurrence of the same nature with the Apostles and Elders to the making of these decrees and let our adversaries make the most of vers 6. of this chapter and vers 4. of the following chapter will they say these decrees were Authoritative and formally binding the Churches of Antioch Syria Cilicia I trow not when they have better considered of the matter according to what has been said Will they say that the Elders of a Classicall Presbytery at Ierusalem for they assert no more of the Presbytery there see Mr. Wood in the aforesaid tractate pag. 371. and the Messengers of Antioch are excluded from the decision of the controversie and Decrees here made by the text it self ch 16. 4. did exercise rule over all these Churches so far distant that could not therefore be of their combination Neither is it to be conceived but if classes were then in fashion they had their classical combinations and Presbyteries too and shall Presbyteries of the same order rule over one another It may be it will be said that the presence of the Apostles being Extraordinary Officers constituted this a Synod I answer 't is sooner said then proved The text rather represents the Apostles condescending to act with the Church then elevating the Church to act with them vers 22 25. If against what has beene said against exercise of authority by this meeting over the Churches that vers 28 of laying a burden of necessary things upon them be objected Let it be considered whether there be not as much said of the Assertion of the Pharisees vers 5. whether therebe not as much said of their Assertion vers 10. And thus you see how hard it will be to grant any more with Scripture-warrant if we should grant classical Elderships and combinations but we shall not grant these for want of instance in Scripture or any other sound ground for them For the most Numerous of Churches that we read of we have already shewed at large that it was Congregational viz. the Church at Hierusalem And I conceive that the Numerousness of the Churches we read of in Scripture called severally even the most Numerous but by the name of Church in the singular Number without the mention of any more then one company of Elders I conceive that hath occasioned the conceit of classical Churches and Elderships but without warrant from Scripture as may appeare I say from that the Holy Ghost hath been so punctual in shewing that the most numerous Churches have still met together in one place To the Church of Hierusalem we may adde that of Corinth 'T is plaine that the Apostle writes to the body of the congregation by the epither he gives them in the inscriptions of both Epistles These he hints their ordinary coming together to joyne in the same individual acts when he enjoynes them the casting out of the incestuous person When ye are gathered together to deliver such a one to Satan 1 Ep. chap. 5. vers 4 5. A like hint we have in the same Epistle chap. 14. vers 23. And here we may take notice not onely that this Numerous Church of Corinth how Numerous soever pretended to be was congregational but that this Church had and exercised the power of the Keys for neglect of exercising which she is blamed 1 Cor. 5. 2. although Paul had not before this written to manifest his determination and that the exercise of this great piece of the Power of the Keys viz. Power of excommunication I say the exercise of this Power is put upon the body of the congregation by Paul without any distinct application of his speech to the Presbyterie And in the same manner that the Power of binding is put upon them in the same manner is the Power of loosing put on them 2 Cor. 2. 6. c. without any mention of their Eldership in particular but wrapping up Elders and People together as which were both to concur in this exercise of Ecclesiastick discipline and that with a concurrence of like nature as to the substance of the matter leaving to each their due place in the body the one going before the other following in the Lord. But to return if these most numerous congregations were congregational not Classical I cannot think there were any Classical Churches except there be a Scripture produced as plain for their Classicalness as these are that I have quoted to the congregrationalness of these that I have instanced in For reason will carry any man to thinke if the most Numerous Churches were congregationall that the less Numerous were so too and nothing but a plaine Scripture can stop the course of such a reasoning And thus the whole fabrick of the Classical way falls to the ground in my Judgement Their appropriating all authority and power of exercising Ecclesiastick discipline to the Presbyterie the secluding the Presbytery of a particular congregation from such authority together with the whole course of subordinations of combinations of Churches and Elders from the Classical that is the lowest to Oecumenical that is the highest combination they can none of them shew their genealogie nor derive their Pedigree from Scripture And what difference betwixt the Episcopal and Presbyterial Government wherein does their constitution differ except in the exorbitant power of a Chair-man that the Presbyterians cut by the height of the rest of the Presbyters in the several combinations And what difference betwixt the Vniversal Church of the Papists and that of of the Presbyterians is it more then Circumstantial The Papists refer the Roote and head of the Universality to Rome the Presbyterians do not the Papists subject it unto the Pope the Presbyterians do not but unto a general Councel and some Papists plead for no more save in the interim of the general Councel Vide Ellis Vind. Cathol Pag. 16. Let it be seriously considered that the Bishop of Rome is not reckoned the Antichrist from what time he got the peaceable possession of his Universal Bishoprick with all the exorbitant Power thereunto belonging but from what Vide Cot. in Rev. 13. Pag. 36. time he aipired to and carryed it ambitiously and had it yeelded usually unto him to sway Bishops and Churches at his pleasure and from this time at least before he proceeded farther he is reckoned Antichrist and the seventh head of the Monstrous Beast Rev. 13. 1. c. That is no

A Voice from Heaven OR A TESTIMONY AGAINST The remainders of Antichrist Yet in ENGLAND And in particular the Court of Tryers For Approbation of MINISTERS Born by GUALTER POSTLETHWAIT Pastor to a Church of Christ in Lewes in Sussex LONDON Printed for Livewel Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-alley 1655. To the Saints and faithful brethren that are in England Scotland and Ireland especially to that little flock of God over which the holy Ghost hath made him overseer Gualter Postlethwaite wisheth grace mercy and peace from God our Father and from the Lord JESUS CHRIST Brethren and beloved SOme thoughts have of late more then formerly and more sadly visited my heart that I wish may prevaile more upon your hearts First the thought of the greatness the soveraignty and soveraigne perfection of God the foolishness of God is wiser then men and the weakness of God is stronger then men He is the onely Potentate the King of kings and Lord of lords and that in the most undoubted right that has made all things of nothing by the word of his mouth for himself Vaine man would be wise although he be borne like the wild asses colt he will provoke God to anger transgresse his Laws change his ordinances and breake the everlasting Covenant But who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him He that reproveth God let him answer it Do we provoke the Lord to anger are we stronger then he Adde not unto his words lest he reprove thee and thou be found a lyar The world yea the hight of the people do languish because the earth is defilled by deniations from the laws ordinances and Covenants of God 'T is mans deformitie to walke according to his own invention in any thing will prove his own destruction Can God endure to be prescribed by creatures Shall Man coin Laws for Rules of acceptable walking with God in Spiritual Civil or Ecclesiastical things It would be and is horrible impudence for any to do it All the sin and misery in the world brake in at this door viz. by hearkning to Reason against Institution 'T was Israel's sin to do that was right in their own eyes in Civils Judg. 17. 6. much more in Ecclesiasticals The Apostle held a war with reasonings and thoughts of men 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. These are no competent judges of the doctrine of God in Christ but must be overthrown Secondly the thought of the fatal miscarriages of man managing any thing by his own wisdom and strength Eve became the mother of mischief to all living by trusting to carnal Sense and Reason in judging of the tree of knowledge of good and evil The sons of God brought the Deluge on the old world by taking such wives as they chose Israel provoked God to anger with their own Inventions not onely in point of Worship but in the matters of their Commonwealth when they followed their own fancies and the Customs of men but in determining what kinde of Government to set up in the Nation and were convinced of their mistake by a signe from heaven God thundering his displeasure against them from heaven and raining tokens of his wrath upon them and the tyranny that followed was as teaching of the same God giving them such recompence of their error as was meet Gedeon would have a new way of remembering the victory by a costly Ephod and Israel went a whoring after it which thing became a snare to Gedeon and to his house Alas 't is but a shew of wisdom that is in Will-worship Col. 2. 23. and by this means men are beguiled of their reward vers 18. and righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people Prov. 14. 34. We think by our own inventions to get us glory among the Nations whilst we conform our selves to the worldly glory of their government but our way were to keep to Gods statutes and judgments without adding or diminishing then the Nations would say Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people Deut. 4. 6. Thirdly the thought of the perfection of the Scriptures They are able to make us wise unto salvation 2 Tim. 3 15. to teach us how to behave our selves in the Church 1 Tim. 3. 15. how to behave our selves in the Commonwealth David teaches the Church to pray Give the King thy judgements and thy righteousness unto the Kings Son Psal 72. 1. The Scriptures are able to make the man of God perfect throughly furnished to all good works 2 Tim. 3. 16. Therefore my beloved brethren accept no Law-giver but Jesus Christ neither in Church nor Commonwealth Let this be your profession The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver he is our King And though other Lords besides him rule over us let us b● him onely make mention of his Name that will in due time save us from devilish government in the Church when he shall give the body of the Beast to the burning flame and cast the Beast and false Prophet into the lake of fire that burns with brimstone and from all worldly government in Commonweals when the Stone cut out of the mountain shall smite on the toes of the Image Then not onely the Clay but the Iron and the Brass and the Silver the Gold-government shall be broken to pieces and be carried away like dust by the wind and no more place shall be found for them no not for the goodliest Government that ever was invented by the wit of man And till that time change of Governments will be the disease of the world whilst Crowns and Diadems are transposed from one Man and from one People to another I must say it although I delight in it considered in it self as little as others that complain of the great cry of Overturnings wherewith the world is now Alarm'd There will be overturnings till he come whose right it is Oh the stupidity of men that apprehend not Gods displeasure against the Governments of this world by the often changes that are made 'T is to be feared that this is Judiciary that God may leave Europe and the wise Nations thereof unto themselves to walk in their own counsels because they trust in and leave nothing of their own doings nor of their stubborn way whilst he passes over to America and thence to the East-Indies to set up the government of Jesus Christ amongst the Barbarous Nations The Lords word brethren is to me to you Love the Truth and Peace Let us not of a fond affection to Peace and Ease lose Truth yet in our striving for Truth let us strive lawfully or else we shall not be crowned Wherein I would have every one be wary not with a carnal but spiritual wariness walk in your Warfare by a divine Rule act from a divine Spirit keep to a divine Frame of Spirit and stand every one in his place striving for Truth I hope in what

become no ordinances are of no efficacy to do good unto the souls of men Other ordinances are circumstantially corrupted onely as Baptisme although much were added unto it as anointing crossing c. yet the essentials were retained whil'st it always was administred by washing sprinkling or dipping in water in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Now when ordinances are but circumstantially corrupted we have cause to be humbled that we have not sought God in due order as David for bringing up the Ark in a Cart that should have beene borne on the Priests shoulders but we cannot reject the ordinance no more then the Israelites could reject the Ark because it was carried in the cart of the Philistims making When 't is promised that the woman shall be nourished in the wilderness Rev. 12. 6. it must needs imply that there shall be some ordinances preserved from corruptions in their essentials and that Gods people shall be accepted in the use of them and have benefit by them yet that is no argument against coming out of the wilderness expressing as is plain the condition of the Christian world during the reigne of Antichrist when they have light and might todo it neither can it be more an argument against separation from the Images of the Beast or reliques of them then it was against separation from the beast Will any say that because Baptism was valid that was received in the Catholick Church of Rome that therefore they should not have separated from her that are called the reformed Churches Why then should any say that because Baptisme is valid and other ordinances that have retained their essentials in the Episcopal Churches and classical Churches the Images of it and in the Parochiall Vide M. Cotton in 13 Rev. Churches that are but reliques of the Image of the beast that therefore we are not to separate from them But to speak no longer in general let us come to that which is mainly drived at in this last objection viz whether this separation do not require rebaptization I am for the negative as appears by what hath been said and shall adde these arguments against rebaptization First the Scripture speakes nothin of it Jesus Christ hath left us no institution for it who yet was expected to tell us all things and this expectation owned without the least exception by our Saviour John 4. 25 26. That of the 19 of the Acts of the Apostles is all the instance that I know hath at any time been given to prove rebaptization and this Scripture has been quoted to this purpose in the fourth age after Christ by the Donatists but in my Judgement Cent. Magd. cent 4. cap. 5. pag. 377. so long abused When say they Paul found certain at Ephesus that said they were baptized with the baptisme of John he commanded them to be baptized in Christ After the same manner do our Anabaptists interpret this Scripture through mistake applying vers 5. to Luke as his relation of what Paul did whereas indeed it is to be looked on as the relation of Paul of what John did And so is to be joyned unto the former verse as one intire Speech of Paul to the Ephesine disciples To prove which Beza argues thus For says he Beza in loc the particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in all Greeke copies is read with greatest concent and necessarily answers to the particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 does by no meanes by no meanes I say suffer that we should breake the series of this speech asunder as though the first part were to be attributed to Paul and the latter part to Luke the writer And besides if there were here a rebaptization of the Disciples that had been baptized with the Baptisme of John it will be implyed that Christs Baptisme that he was baptized with being baptized of John and the Baptisme of all his members is not the same that sounds very harsh These considerations perswade me to thinke that here was no rebaptization and upon this account there was none because Paul upon deliberation findes the essentials of a Gospel-Baptism in John's Baptisme And let it be proved that any thing else was deliberated of by Paul as to the solving of the Question whether he should baptize them or no before he laid his hands on them after that their Ignorance of the gifts of the Holy Ghost brought their Baptisme into question and whether the text will afford any thing to say upon good ground for the former Baptisme of these but that they had the essentials Secondly We must either owne our Baptisme received in the Catholick visible Church of Rome the mother or in the Diocesan or National Churches the harlot-daughters and Images of that strumpet or else we must conclude that the Churches that shall be and be owned of God during the 42 months of Antichrist of which see Rev. 11. 4. shall want utterly the initiatory seal of the New Testament and of this we finde no president in Scripture that a Church should utterly want the initiatory seal of the Covenant of God neither do I finde any hint that these Churches should want it be in this case unparallel'd or know of any that pretend to any such thing that there should be a Church utterly without the initiatory Seal or else there must be an extraordinary way of reviving the lost ordinance of Baptisme in these Churches and of this I know neither promise that we should expect a second Baptist nor experience for these hundreds of years since there have been such Churches that any such have been raised up yet this must be received or the former that these Churches must want Baptisme if that be null that we have had in the Catholick visible Church of Rome or the Images of it for if receiving it in those false Churches null it every one I think will readily grant that there was not a Baptized person left in the world when the Wilderness first began to set up particular visible Churches For from the Churches rest till those Waldenses and Albigenses 't is very rare to finde a man that would acknowledge any other Churches then the beast or his Images that would acknowledge a particular visible Church as Mr. Cotton observes in his exposition of the Revelation Cent. 4. cap. 5. de Heresi● chap. 13. pag. 123 we are indeed minded of an act of Constantine by his Imperial Edict reducing all to the Catholick Church to walk in communion with her Holiness as his language is by the Centuriatores Magdeburgenses Cent. 4. pag. 315. by which Church that he meanes the Catholick visible is plain by the meanes he uses viz. the delivering up the meeting-houses or oratories to the Catholick Church as they that please may read in the place above cited Thirdly 't will be said But many Obj. 3. godly men have worshipped God Zealously in this way and do still and God has and is still