Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	answer_v	church_n	word_n	3,982	5	4.2706	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77507	The sacred and soveraigne church-remedie: or, The primitive and apostolicall way of composing ecclesiasticall differences, and establishing the churches of Christ. Wherein the authority and utility of lawfull councels and synods is asserted and vindicated, and divers of the sad controversies of the times modestly debated; first preached in the parish church of great Yarmouth, and now published for a preservative against the poyson of anti-synodall suggestions, and a preparative to the receiving of what mercy God shall please to convey unto his Church in this kingdome, through the hands of the present reverend Assembly of Divines. / By John Brinsley.	Brinsley, John, 1600-1665.	1645 (1645)	Wing B4725; Thomason E269_27; ESTC R212361	64,670	94

feeding them like a naturall mother ready upon all occasions to draw forth her breasts to give them suck Ready to contribute her best counsels and advices for their instruction and edification Bu● this was not all 3. In the third and last place here was the greatest number of Apostles and Elders ordinarily to be met with For besides those which kept an ordinarie constant residence and incumbencie there of which there were not a few for that Church being great her officers were many here was a kinde of generall Rendezvouz where both Apostles and others upon occasion were wont to meet As for Apostles how many were here present at this time it is not certaine Would we give an ear to that old counterfeit Clemens he would tell us that all the twelve how ever dispersed through the world yet at this time by a divine instinct they were brought together that they might joyne in this Councell to plead the cause of Christianitie against Jud●i●●n● But this Legend our very Adversaries of Rome though otherwise readie enough to hearken to such Traditions and willing to owne and make use of that forged A●●ho●r are ashamed o● and for this passage amongst others of the booke also And well they may In as much as one of the twelve by name 〈◊〉 the brother of John as themselves take notice of it was before this dead being put to death by Herod as you may see it Act. 12. All of them then could not be there Not to hearken to the conjectures of others who will tell us of Peter James and John b●ing there The storie here maketh mention onely of the two former besides Paul and Barnaba● the one an Apostle the other an Evangelist What Elders were here present we finde it alike uncertain but certainly as the qu●litie so the number of 〈◊〉 was very considerable Quest Why but how many soever they were it s●emeth by the Text that they were all of the Church of Hierusalem Answ. Not so This will ●●ver be proved neither doth the Text make any thing for it but rather against it Marke the words They delivered there the D●●r●es which were ordained of the Ap●stles and Elders which 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} In Jerus●l●m Not the Ap●stles and Elders of Hierusal●● So the phrase of Scripture elsewhere ru●s where it speaketh of the officers of such a place The elders of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Angel of the Church of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Rev. 2. But here the Apostles ●nd 〈◊〉 in or at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these who were assembled together there at that time Object Why but it in replied J●●es challengeth these Decrees to be their Act. 21. 25. 〈…〉 the Gentiles we have written and concluded saith he speaking to Paul concerning these Decrees Answ. We answer this James speaks not exclusively as excluding others whether persons or Churches who had any hand in that businesse certainly as for Paul whom he speaketh it to he had as maine a stroke in the debating and determining thereof as James himself and Barnabas the like besides many other Elders and Prophets and that not only of the Church of Jerusalem and Antioch but as is very probable of other Churches elswhere who were all interested in the making of these Decrees True it is a perfect list and Catalogue we have not either of the severall persons which were sent or of the severall Churches sending their delegates and messengers unto this Councell only Hierusalem and Antioch are named but in all likelyhood there were others as well as they two reasons are alleadged for the ground of this conjecture 1. Other Churches were concerned and interested in this businesse as well as Antioch viz. the Churches in Syria and Cilicia who were troubled with this doctrine and had their souls perverted as well as Antioch 2. The letters of the councell are directed to them as well as unto Antioch and binding decrees sent unto them both these you may see in the 23. 24. Verses of that 15. Chapter Now from hence we reason First de jure that of right these Churches ought to have sent their delegates and messengers about this businesse as well as the Church of Antioch according to the forenamed Maxime Quod omnes concernit c. That which concerneth all ought to be handled of all which is true being rightly understood viz. suo modo et grad● every one according to their place and order Secondly de facto it seemeth that they did so in as much as the Councell directs their Letters alike unto them by names as unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch which seemeth to import that all of them joyned in the referring of this question and cause to the determination of that Councell and so accordingly it was not by the Apostles and Elders of Hierusalem only but by the Apostles and Elders in or at Hierusalem viz. assembled there at that time but it was my promise not to insist upon this and therefore having only cle●red that scruple I shall now dismisse it and with it the second particular in the Text viz. What Paul Sylas here made delivery of 3. Passe we now to the third viz. to whom these decrees were delivered the Text answereth it As they went through the cities they delivered the Decrees unto them Unto them what to the whole cities Not so but to the churches in those Cities so the next Verse maketh it out And so were the churches established Observ. Cities and churches in phrase of Scripture are sometimes put the one for the other in that 14. of the Acts Vers 23. it is said that Paul and Barnabas ordained Elders in every church {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} church by church In the 1 Tit. Vers 5. it is said that Paul left Titus in Creet to ordaine Elders in every city {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} city by city so as these two in every church and in every city are {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} phrases adequate and equipollent used indifferently the one for the other As they went through the cities they delivered the decrees unto them i. e. to the churches in those cities Reas. The phrase will not be unfruitfull cities and churches put one for the other how so what were they alwaies of the same l●titude and extent was every whole city a church so as all that dwelt within the one were also members of the other Not so sometimes indeed it so happened that if not the universality yet the generality of a city imbraced the Gospell in an outward profession of it thus we reade of Samaria that when Philip came and preached the Gospell to them the people with one accord saith the story gave heed unto those things which he spake Act. 8. so as it is most likely that the whole city in a manner received the Gospell even as before the

Acts I will not contend but certainly take it how we will it imports an exceeding great number well nigh innumerable so I finde the word in two places translated Luk. 12. 1. it is said that there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people the word is the same {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} So againe Heb. 12. 22. we reade of an innumerable company of Angells {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} And such was the number of the believing Jewes which had joyned themselves to the Church of Jerusalem almost an innumerable company so as they could not possibly meet all together in one place to partake of the Ordinances To me it is no question they had severall Congregations Quest But were not these then severall Churches Answ. No Severall Congregations but one Church the Church of Jerusalem even as it is in a great City there may be severall Societies and companies according to severall trades and mysteries and those so many petty corporations who may have their severall Halls and their severall meetings and yet all making up but one Incorporation to which they are all subordinate because all under one and the same Government and Governours even thus may it be in the Church and in the Primitive state of it I conceive so it was In one City and the adjacent territories there may be many Congregations and yet but one Church inasmuch as they may be united by the same Lawes have communion in the same Ordinances and be linked together under the same spirituall Guides and Officers Surely in all probability thus it was at least in some of the Proto-Primitive Churches And why not now But not to wade too farre into this collaterall Controversie from which I have bound my selfe before however certainly to multiply Churches in one Towne one Citie especially to set up Churches in Churches the one extracted out of the other this hath no President no warrant no maintenance no countenance from any phrase of Scripture or practice of the Apostolicall times Object No it will be said What say we then to the Jewish Church Did not the Apostles set up Churches in that Church and those extracted out of it Answ. To this shadow of an Argument it is soon answered Here was not one Church set up in another but many set up upon the ruines of one so as the setting up of the one was the pulling down of the other Even as the Apostle saith of the two Covenants old and new The first was taken away that the second might be established Heb. 10. So was it with these two Churches that legall this Evangelicall As for the Jewish Church it was now like the Jewish legall covenant which the Apostle speaketh of Heb. 8. calling it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Antiquatum quid senes●ens a thing which was Antiquated and wax●● old {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} nigh to vanishing ready to disappeare and come to nothing so as here was onely a new edifice to be erected upon those ruines a new Church to be set up in an Evangelicall way where that Legall Church had been Now I confesse had we to deale with rigid down-right Separatists who looke upon our Churches as no true Churches of Christ but Anti-christian Synagogues fit to be dissolved and pulled down saying of them in the Edomites language Rase them rase them even to the foundation thereof then might this Argument have some colour of strength in it But otherwise where our Churches are acknowledged as true Churches in this case to set up a Church in a Church and to extract the one out of the other I say it again and I wish it may be taken notice of it is a thing which Scripture will give no warrant no president for Quest But suppose a Church be defective or corrupted in this case what shall we doe Answ. Not presently think of pulling it down and setting up another Was it not the very case of the Church of Corinth and yet we doe not read of any that went about to set up a Church in that Church under pretence of walking in a purer way but rather endeavour by all meanes to purge and reforme it This will we doe by our houses if they be foule we will sweep them if decayed and impayred though it be in some of the principals we will not presently think of pulling them down and building others out of their timbers and materialls but repayre them And thus did King Jehoash for the house of his God the Temple finding it ruinous he gave order not to pull it down and build a new one but to repayre it O that we would all of us entertaine such thoughts concerning the Church or Churches of God in this Kingdom It is a thought which God hath already put into the heart of the state of this Kingdome and what progresse and procedure is already made in the work I shall not need to tell you I hope time ere long will declare it Herein then let all our hearts close and comply with theirs every one in our places doing what we may to further so pious an undertaking in the meane time taking heed of adventuring upon new wayes which we have neither precept nor president in Scripture for What way of gathering setting up of Churches the Scripture holdeth forth unto us you may see by what hath been already said Those which embraced the faith within such a circuit within the bounds of a Citie and the adjacent Territories they were all framed together into one Christian society or Church And hence is it that Cities and Churches in phrase of Scripture are as you see put the one for the other as elsewhere so here in the Text As they went through the Cities they delivered unto them c. Quest Delivered them But what Cities what Churches were these Answ. The Text layeth it downe in indefinite words carrying with them the force of an universall viz. what ever Cities they passed thorow where there were any Churches they delivered these Decrees unto them Quest Here a scruple may arise Why should the Apostles here deliver these Decrees alike unto all the Churches where they came when as all of them did not appeare at this Councell As for Hierusalem and Antioch and the Churches of Syria and Cilicia these Decrees were proper for them in as much as they had referred both the Question and cause to the determination of that Councell and had their Agents there to deale for them But so had not some other of the Churches How then could these Decrees be obligatory and and binding unto them which they had no hand in making of or ●ss●●ting to Answ. To this it is answered that though these Decrees were not binding to them formally yet Morally and Vertually they were As for Jerusalem and Antioch and such other Churches as concurred with them in this Appeale they

the Psalme which was endited by the Holy Ghost And thus in the Text It hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us viz. to the Holy Ghost speaking to us in the Scripture So the Greek Scholiast cited by M. Cartwright expounds the place Now then what ever lawfull Councell or Synod met together in the Name of Christ shall proceed after the same manner as the Apostles here did making the Word their rule and direction grounding their determinations and decrees thereupon either upon the expresse letter of it or upon just and necessary consequences and inferences drawn from it however they may for reverence sake to that first Councell which in some respects is not to be patterned by any succeeding Synod viz. in respect of the persons of the Apostles there present men of an extraordinary function and assisted at this time no question though not with an immediate yet with a more then ordinary measure of an ordinary spirit proportionable to that highest place which they then occupied in the Church and in that Councell decline the forme of words by them used as Mr. Cartwright observes that the African Councell upon that ground as he conceives did yet without either Blasphemy or Presumption it is conceived that they may to the same effect say of their decrees that they are the minde of the Holy Ghost as well as their minde for which this patterne may bee their Warrant And thus I have as I hope sufficiently cl●ered this scruple as also answered this objection touching the extraordinary quality and immediate assistance of the Apostles in this first Councell So as this beaten Muse being now stopped and this trite evasion put by what remaines but that the conclusion should stand firme viz. That a lawfull councell or Synod being met as the Apostles and Elders in this first Councell were and proceeding after the same manner as they did may determine Church-differences and ordaine Decrees for the Churches ●o keepe Quest But how farre reacheth this Synodicall Power and in what cases may they make such Decrees Answ. In answer hereunto I shall purposely decline as much as may be all collaterall controversies as viz. whether such Synods be invested with a power of Jurisdiction reaching to the censuring of persons erroneous or scandalous I will not goe from what the Text directly leadeth me to The Decrees here delivered by Paul and Silas to the Churches we shall finde them directly concerning two things Doctrine and Practice D●ctrine whether circumcision was then necessary or no Practice whether they should then eate things offered to Idols or no c. Both these the Councell here states and determines First declaring the erroneousnesse and dangerousnesse of that opinion which some would have obtruded upon the Churches under their name viz. touching circumcision disclaiming it as none of theirs This they doe explicitly vers. 24. implicitly vers 28. Then interdicting and prohibiting them the use of som things which then were or were accounted indifferent unto them vers. 29. These two the sentence of the Councell here directly reacheth not to speake what it doth obliquely how it also reacheth the pe●sons of those who had beene the broachers of that new Doctrine whom it passeth a sharp censure upon viz. declaring and pronouncing them to be Troublers of the Church and subverters of soules vers. 24. And these two the sentence of lawfull Councells and Synods may reach they being invested with a double power the one Dogmaticall the other Directive not to speak of that corrective power the power of censures which if it bee not Formally yet Vertu●lly and Eminently it must bee conceived to bee in such Councells 1. They have a Dogmaticall or Doctrinall power in declaring of Doctrinall Truths or Errours This power I thinke will be yeelded them at all intelligent hands even by those who in other cases are most tender and jealous of allowing them any power of Jurisdiction And it is no more then what the example of the Church at Antioch leadeth us to who in a Doctrinall point of difference which could not be satisfactorily determined amongst themselves they referre it to the concurrent judgement of other Churches met together in a Synodicall way wherein finding it agreeable to Scripture and Reason they acquiesce and rest satisfied A pattern for the Churches in all succeeding ages shewing them what they are to do in like cases But to let this passe as a truth confessed by all who are not more wedded to their own private fancies and wills then either to Scripture or Reason 2. The second branch of this Synodicall power is Directive in matters of Practice Such a power we find the Councell here exercising upon the Churches regulating them as touching their practice And surely this may lawfull Synods doe lay out the Churches way for them order them in matters Ecclesiasticall ordaining Decrees touching what they are to doe or not to doe which Decrees may be imposed upon the Churches Quest But what then Hath such a Councell or Synod an absolute Legislative power to make Lawes and impose what burdens they please upon the Church Answ. Not so The power of a Councell or Synod is not Magisterial● but Minist●riall Not absolute but limited Many limitations may be assigned whereby this power is determined and bounded I will touch onely upon two 1. They may doe nothing against any law of Christ who is the onely Law-giver of his Church Here is no room for non obstante's Christs Lawes being unrepealable unalterable they may not be so much as tempered with by any particular persons nor yet by any combinations of Men or Angels 2. They may ordaine nothing but what they have a warrant from the word for A warrant either explicit or implicit either a particular or generall warrant either a particular warrant in expresse tearmes or atleast a generall warrant clearely held forth under those generall rules of Order Decencie Edification Such w●●e the decrees which the Councell here ordained They imposed nothing upon the Churches but what they had a warrant from the word for Either an expresse and particular warrant This they had for the prohibiting of for●●●●tion which being taken literally properly as I conceive by M. Bezis leave that here it must is expre●ly condemned in the word Or else a generall warrant This they had for all the rest the prohibiting of the eating of Idolothytes things offered to Idols of blood of things strangled the two latter branches of the Caremoniall Law all of them at that time in their own nature indifferent But the use of them was at the present become scandalous and offensive to the weak brethren and so tending rather to destruction then to edification Hereupon though they had no expresse word of Scripture for it yet proceeding upon that generall ground they prohibit the use of them for that time though otherwise in themselves indifferent By the same rules are other Councels and Synods to proceed And