Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	apostle_n	church_n	religion_n	2,366	5	5.7896	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A70635	A cloud of witnesses, or, The sufferers mirrour made up of the swanlike-songs, and other choice passages of several martyrs and confessors to the sixteenth century, in their treatises, speeches, letters, prayers, &c. in their prisons, or exiles, at the bar, or stake, &c. / collected out of the ecclesiastical histories of Eusebius, Fox, Fuller, Petrie, Scotland, and Mr. Samuel Ward's Life of faith in death, &c. and alphabetically disposed by T.M. ...	Mall, Thomas, b. 1629 or 30.; Mall, Thomas, b. 1629 or 30. Offer of farther help to suffering saints.; Ward, Samuel, 1577-1640.	1665 (1665)	Wing M330; Wing M332; ESTC R232057	171,145	273

Citi● require but of such Laws as men have ordaine● for the Church of Christ which should be now an● for ever governed by the word of God T●●● Law must-prevail We must obey God rather th●● man The example hereof we have in Dauiel 〈◊〉 the Three Children who chose rather to burn 〈◊〉 the fiery Furnace than to worship the Image th● Nebuchadnezzar had made So did the Apostle● Acts. 5. Cursed be those that make such Law● and cursed be those that with sophistry dese● them ch 5. The Authority of Gods word requireth me to pronounce this true Judgement in the case of Images that be not worshipped in the Church that their presence in the Church is against Gods Word as well as to say Sancta Maria 〈◊〉 pro nobis The old Testament saith Exod. 20. Deut. 6. Thou shalt make no Image The New saith that Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it Matth. 5. Christ therefore hath left the commandments of the old Law unto the Church in which he saith Thou shalt not make any Image Of late years Images were in the Temple and honoured with pater moster heart and mind leg and knee Now they be applied to another use to teach the people to be Lay-mens books as Damascene c. saith O blasphemous and devillish Doctrine The most perfect Churches of the Prophets Christ and his Apostles used no such mean and we ought to follow them and the Word of God writ by the Prophets and Apostles The words of Gregor ad Seren. Episcop Massil part 10. Ep. 4. should move no man though he say Quod legentibus Scriptura hoe ideotis pictura praftat cernentibus This is but Gregory's opinion Epiphanius was not of his mind He willed the occasion of ill to be taken out of the Church as Paul commandeth 1 Thes 5. This Doctor was as all men know of singular learning and vertue Again against the Authority of Gregory the Great I set the Authority of Athanasius the Great who denieth in express words the Images to be the Books of the Lay people Lactantius Firmianus crieth so out against Images that he saith there can be no true Religion where they be Tertullian judgeth the same Loved we God we would be content with the Scripture Shall not the Patriarks Prophets Christ and his Apostles suffice the Church of God What although many learned men have approved Images should their wisdome maintain any contrary to the Word of God Such as defend them have nothing but sophistical arguments to blind the people with The Scripture nor Apostles Church used none Had all Asia Africa and Europe and Gabriel the Archangel descended from Heaven approved the use of Images forasmuch as the Apostles never taught nor wrote any such thing their Authority should have no place the Word of God solely and only is to be prefer'd which forbiddeth Images ch 10. The Office of Christ to sanctifie us according to John 17. I sanctifie my self that they may be sanctified doth abrogate all other things that mans constitutions attribute any holiness unto as bewitched water c. for only Christ sanctifieth and all holiness we must attribute unto him Sactaments must be used holily yet not have this Office of Christ added to them ch 11. In the latter dayes when Christ as King was to be born the Angel decl●red the Power and Puissance of his Kingdome He shall reign over the house of Jacob and of his Kingdome there shall be no end Luke 1. Although the Commonwealth of the Church hath no certain place appointed where it shall remain as it was appointed in the old Law yet certain we be that this Kingdome of Christ remaineth upon the Earth and shall do till the Earth be burned Matth. 16.28 1 Cor. 15. Howbeit as Christ wan and obtained this Kingdome in the later dayes without shield or spear so doth he preserve it with his holy Spirit and not with carnal weapons My Kingdome is not of this world John 18. Meaning he would not reign in this world as a Prince of this world in pomp and pride but defend his people with his holy Spirit that the Devil and the World should not break their patience though many afflictions and sorrows should fight against them for the Truth 's sake Christ doth not deny to be King of the world but he meant not to reign worldlily to the hinderance and defacing of the Emperouts Dignity and Title as the Jews falsly accused him as Cyrillus l. 12. c. 10. in Johannem saith This Kingdome shall be ever perse●nted till the worlds end Isaiah the Prophet described the Church of this present life saying He will give you the bread of adversity and the water of afflictione but he will not remove thy teachers chap. 30.20 Thus the Church shall alwayes remain but in affliction I know such as favour not the Truth will interpret my words that I condemn all Princes and Kings as enemies of the Gospel because they peaceably enjoy their Kingdomes whereas I wish them alwayes so to do to the glory of God but of this one thing I will assure every Prince of the world The more sincere he is in the Cause of God the more shall be his Cross God indeed preserveth above humane reason his Ministers as he did Jacob from the hands of Esau David from Saul Daniel from the ●ons and Paul in the Ship when there was no humane hope of salvation Likewise he governeth his Church with his only Laws The only Law whereunto this Congregation is bound ist he Gosrel as Christ saith Joh. 4. The Holy Ghost shall teach you all things and brng to your remembrance all things which I have said unto you Here Christ bindeth the Apostles all the Church unto the things that he had taught them Such as teach the people to know the Commonwealth of the true Church by these signs the traditions of men and the succession of Bishops teach wrong Those two false opinions have given unto the succession of Bishops power to interpret the Scripture and power to make such Laws in the Church as it pleased them God hath given the Civil Magistrates power and authority to make such Laws for the Commonwealth as shall be agreeable with reason and not against Gods Law and likewise power to interpret the same Laws but this is not to be admitted in the Church unto whom God hath given the Gospel and interpreted the same by his only Son taught the meaning and contents thereof himself The adversaries of the Truth defend many an error under the name of the holy Church when the Church therefore is named diligently consider when the Articles they would defend were accepted of the Church by whom and who was the Author of them Leave not till the matter be brought unto the first original and most perfect Church of the Apostles If thou find by their writings that their Church used the thing that the Preacher would prove then accept it or

else not Be not amazed though they speak of never so many years nor name never so many Doctors If either the Authority of Bishops of the greater part should have power to interpret the Scripture the sentence of the Pharisees should have been prefer'd before the sentence of Zachary Simeon Elizabeth or the blessed Virgin Consider the true Church is many time but a small Congregation as Isaiah saith Unless God had left us a remnant we had been as Sodom Therefore the interpretation of the Scripture is not obligated to ordinary power nor the most part Beware of deceit when thou hearest the name of the Church The verity is then assaulted They call the Church of the Devil the holy Church many time Remember Christian Reader that the gift of interpreting the Scripture is the Light of the Holy Ghost given unto the humble and penitent person that seeketh onely to honour God and not unto those persons that claim it by title or place because be is a Bishop or followed by succession Peter o● Paul Remember therefore to examine all Doctrine by the Word of God for such as preach it aright have their infirmities and ignorance they may depart from the Truth or else build some superstition and false Doctrine upon the Gospel of Christ Superstition is to be avoided false Doctrine to be abhorred whosoever be the Author thereof Prince Magistrate or Bishop As the Apostles made answer Acts 5. We ought to obey God rather than man ch 13. The Law is necessary for a justified man to teach him with what works he should exercise his faith will and obedience unto God We may not chuse works of our own wisdome to serve him withal He would have us to be governed by his Word as David saith Thy Word is a light unto my feet And Christ In vain do they worship me by the commands of men In the second Declaration See his Declaration of the holy ten Com. of Almighty God Printed Anne 1548. pag. 8 9. Moses commandeth Deut. 4. that no man should decline from this Law neither to the right nor left hand i.e. That no man should add to or take any thing from it but simply to observe it as it is given or written to us From this right line and true rule of Gods Word man erreth divers wayes Sometimes by ignorance because he knoweth not or will not know that only the express Word of God sufficeth He holdeth with the most part and condemneth the better as it is to be seen at this present day This reason taketh place it is allowed of the most part and established by so many holy and learned Bishops therefore it is true c. Another way that leadeth from the Word of God is many times the power and authority of this world as we see by the Bishop of Rome and all his adherents who give more credit to one Charter and gift of Constantine than to the whole Bible Another erreth by mistaking of the time making his superstition far elder than it is c. One saith thus My Father believed and should I believe the contrary Pag. 11. Whereas no Law at all should be spoken of conscience but the only Word of God which never altered nor can be altered Mat. 5. Luk. 10. Psal 18.119 If Heavens and Earth made by word cannot be altered how much more the Word it self Unto which Law the conscience of man in matters of faith is bound only Pag. 13. Such as can interpret nothing will say I have an ill opinion of God in Heaven and of the superiour Powers on Earth because I damn the Disciples of the false Doctors with the Doctors and take from all Powers on Earth authority to prescribe unto their Subjects any Law touching Religion of the soul As concerning those that be seduced by false Teachers St. Luke c. 6. Ezekiel 3. and 13. judge as I do Both he that leadeth to damnation and he that is led Pag. 14. falleth into the pit Notwithstanding I believe that in the midst of darkness when all the world as far as man might judge had sworn unto the Bishop of Rome Christ had his Elect that never consented to his false Laws as it was in the time of Elias 1 Kings 19. where God saith He had preserved seven thousand that had not bowed the knee to Baal Pag. 15. As many as die before us seduced by false Teachers without repentance the Scripture condemneth As many as believed them not but trusted to the Scripture or else deceived yet repented before they died live eternally in joy and solace and are saved as John saith Rev. 13. in the blood of the Lamb. As touching the superiour Powers of the Earth it is not unknown to all men that have read and marked the Scripture that it pertaineth nothing to their Office to make any Law to govern the consciences of their Subjects in Religion but to reign over them in this case as the Word of God commandeth Pag. 16. Howbeit in their Realms they make what Laws they will and as many as they will command them to be kept as long it pleaseth them and change them at their pleasure as they shall see occasion for the wealth commodity of their Realms Unto the which superiour Powers we owe all obedience both of body and goods and likewise our daily prayer for them to Almighty God c. And as many divers Commonwealths as there be so many divers Laws there may be Howbeit all Christian Kings and Kingdomes with other Magistrates should reign by one Law and govern the Churches of their Realms solely by the Word of God Pag. 17. which is never to be changed Thus Christ commanded his Apostles to teach and their Audience to hear the things he commanded Matth. 28. Mark 16. Pag. 26. Moses prescribeth unto his Audience seven Rules wherewith he prepareth them to the receiving of the ten Commandements 1 A right perswasion of Gods word that God will undoubtedly give the good promised to the good and inflict the evil threatned against the evil Pag. 29. 2 To have a right opinion of the Magistrates and superiour Powers of the Earth to give them no more nor any less honour and reverence than the Word of God commandeth For lack of this preparative the world hath erred from the Truth this many years Men do not look what Gods Word saith but extol the authority of mans Laws preferring the decree of a general or provincial Council before the Word of God Pag. 30. 3 Another preparative is obedience both to God and man It were as good nere read the Law in case we mind not to be obedient Pag. 31. Pag. 32. Pag. 34. 4 To observe jus gentium 5 To esteem the Doctrine of the Commandments as it is worthy 6 A true and right understanding of the Law not to constrain the letter against the mind of the Text but behold alwayes the consent of the Scripture

you persecute This I dare be bold in God to speak which by his Spirit I am moved to say that God will shorten your hand of cruelty that for a time you shall not molest his Church And this shall you in short time perceive my dear Brethren to be most true for after this day in this place shall there not be any by him put to the trial of Fire and Fagot Which accordingly came to pass He was the last burnt in Swithfield Then he began to exhort his Friends to repentance Pa. 878. and to think well of them that suffered for the testimony of the Gospel The day that Mr. Holland and the rest suffered a Proclamation was made that none should be so bold as to speak to them or receive any thing of them upon pain of imprisonment Notwithstanding the people cried out desiring God to strengthen them and they prayed for the people and the restoring of his Word At length Mr. Holland embracing the Stake and the Reeds said Lord I most humbly thank thy Majesty that thou hast called me from the stake of death unto the light of thy heavenly Word and now unto the fellowship of thy Saints that I may sing and say Holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts-Lord into thy hands I commit my spirit Lord bless these thy people and save them from idolatry Hooper Mr. John Hooper in his exile writ a Declaration of Christ and his Office and a Declaration of the holy Commandments of Almighty God c. In his Epistle before his Declaration of Christ and his Office to the Duke of Somerset See his Declar. of Christ and his Office Printed at Zurick An. 1547. Because the right of every just and lawful Heir is half lost and more when his Title and Claim is unknown I have written this little Book containing what Christ is and what his Officeis that every godly man may put to his helping hand to restore him again to his Kingdome who hath fastained open and manifest wrong this many years as it appeareth by his evidence and writings the Gospel sealed with his precious blood In his Declaration ch 3. Jesus Christ in all things executed the true Office of a Bishop to whom it appertained to teach the people which was the chiefest part of the Bishops Office and most diligently and straitly commanded by God As all the Books of Moses and the Prophets teach and Christ commanded Peter John 20. and Paul all the Bishops and Priests of his time Acts 20. Christ left nothing untaught but as a good Doctor manifested unto his Audience all things necessary for the health of man John 4. He gave also his Apostles and Disciples after his resurrection commandment to preach and likewise what they should preach Go into allthe world and preach the Gospel to every creature teaching them is observe what I have commanded Matt. 28. As they did most sincerely and plainly without all glosses or additions of their own inventions and were 〈◊〉 testimon●es of the Truth and not the Authors thereof Alwayes in their Doctrine they ta●ght the thing that Christ first taught and Gods holy Spirit inspired them Gal. 1.2 Cor. 3. Holy Apostles never took upon them to be Christs V●car in the Earth nor to be his Lieutenant But said Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4. 1. And in the same Epistle the Apostle P●● biddeth the Corinthiuns to follow him in nothing but where he followed Christ chap. 11. They ministred not in the Church as though Christ was absent although his most glorious Body was departed into the Heavens above but as present that alwayes governeth his Church with his Spirit of Truth as he promised Matth. ult Behold I will 〈◊〉 with you to the end of the world In the absence of his Body he hath commended the protection and governance of his Church to the Holy Ghost one and the same God with the Father and himself It was no little pain that Christ suffered in washing away the sins of this Church therefore be will not commit the defence thereof to man It is no less glory to defend and keep the thing won by force than it is by force to obtain the victory Therefore he keepeth the defence and governance of the Church onely and solely himself in whom the Devil hath not a jot of right Though the Apostles were instructed in all truth c. they were but Ministers Servants Testimonies and Preachers of this verity and not Christ's Vicars on earth c. but only appointed to approve ●he thing to be good that God's Law commanded and that to be ill which the Word of God condemned Seeing that Christ doth govern his Church alwayes by his holy Spirit and bindeth all the Mi●isters thereof unto the sole Word of God what ●bomination is this that one Bishop of Rome c. ●hould claim to be Christ's Vicar on Earth and ●ake upon him to make any Laws in the Church of God to bind the Conscience beside the Word of God and by their Superstition and Idolatry put be Word of God out of his place All that ●●e not blinded with the smoke of Rome know the ●shop of Rome to be the Beast John describeth in ●e Apocalyps as well as the Logician knoweth that ●ibilitate distinguitur homo a caeteris animantibus ●hrists supremacy and continual presence in the ●hurch admits no Lieutenant nor general Vicar ●kewise it admitteth not the Decrees and Laws of ●en brought into the Church contrary unto the ●ord and Scripture of God which is only suf●ient to teach all verity and tru●h for the salva●n of man ch 4. This Law teacheth man sufficiently as well what he is bound to do unto God as unto the Princes of the world Row 13. 1 Pet. 2. Nothing necessary for man but in this La● it is prescribed Of what decree vocation or calling soever he be his duty is shewed unto hi m● the Scripture And in this it differeth from m●● laws because it is absolutely perfect and never 〈◊〉 be changed nothing to be added to it nor taken from it And the Church of Christ the more i● was and is burdened with mans laws the farther it is from the true and sincere verity of God● Word Though Basil Ambrose Epiphanius A●gustine Bernard and others erred not in any principle Article of the Faith yet they did inordinately and more then enough extol the Doctrine an● Tradition of men and after the death of the Apostles every Doctors time was subject to s●d Ceremonies and manners that were neither pro●fitable nor necessary Unto the writing of Scripture only and on●unto the writings of men God hath bound an● obligated his Church In this passage I admonis● the Christian Reader that I speak not of the Lu●of Magistrates and Princes that daily order ne● Laws for the preservation of their Commonuealth● as they see the necessity of their Realms or

Pag. 36. 7 To add nothing to this Law neither to take any thing from it If thou judgest that Gods Law containeth one part of such Doctrine as is necessary for mans salvation and the Bishops Laws another part thou contemnest and dishonourest the whole Law and the Giver thereof and offendest against that command Deut. 4.12 and Prov. Pag. 64. 30. Every thing that we do for the honour of God not commanded by his Word is as strange and not accepted by God as all good intentions feigned works by man and all things commanded by general Councils not expressed in the Word of God by the Patriarks Prophets Christ and the Apostles which be and ever were before God the Holy and Catholick Church Whosoever add any thing to their Laws are the Church of Antichrist Deut. 4.12 Revel 22. Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire i.e. such as he commanded not Pag. 68. Read the Commentaries of Tho. Valois and Nicol. in Aug. de Civit. Dei l. 4. and they will tell thee what superstition is if thou believe not the Scripture Superstition say they is a superfluous Religion what wayes soever it be superfluous whether it be of the superfluity of the things honoured or of the things used for Religion or of the manner in Religion This doubtless is understood by the name of Superstition from whence soever the name hath its rise whatsoever thou dost to please God Almighty if it be not commanded in his Word it is superfluous superstition Pag. 70. The purpose end and will of the second Commandment is That Gods pleasure is unto us that we do not profane or dishonour the true Religion or honour of God with superstitious Rites or Ceremonies not commanded by him I am a jealous God q. d. Pag. 77. when we two were married together for the love that I bore unto thee I gave thee certain Rules and Precepts how in all things thou mayest keep my love and good will towards thee and thou promisedst me obedience to my Commandments Exod. 19. So honour me therefore and love me as is standeth written in the Writings and Indentures written between us both I cannot suffer to be otherwise honoured than I have taught in my Tables and Testament Against obeying of Gods Laws Pa. 209. the first Sophism or carnal Objection is when men say it is no place nor time to learn or obey Gods Laws we be not in the Temple c. but in the broad world and must do as other men do and rather serve the place we be in ululare cum lapis bark with the wolf Deut. 29.30 than speak of the Scripture besides it is too dangerous a season let it pass till the world be more quiet c. This Objection Moses breaketh and proveth that the Law should be alwayes received and in every place Those that observed it in the wilderness God fed by miracle from Heaven and preserved all their apparel that it consumed not Pa. 210. nor perished in the wearing for the space of forty years A second Objection is when men put from themselves the obedience of the Law unto others saying Let the Priests c. learn and keep the Law what should a Prince Magistrate or Gentleman be so bound Youth cannot be tie● to so strait Canons it must not be so bridled c. This wicked acceptation of persons Moses destroyeth yea all saith he stand this day before the Lord your God Pa. 211. your Princes your Tribes your Elders your Officers and all men of Israel your children your wives and thy Guest c. No manner of prison is excluded from the League Pa. 212. A third is presumption when men know what is to be done yet against their knowledge presuming of Gods mercy Pa. 213. do the thing that is evil saying If I walk in the imagination of my heart and take my pleasure there is no danger c. But saith Moses the Lord will not favour such an one but then be angry and kindle his ire against him so that every curse written in this Book shall rest on him c. A fourth is Animosity Pa. 218. thus reasoning with ones self who knoweth what his last hour shall be But saith Moses Secret things belong to God but the things that God hath revealed to us and our children for ever Pa. 222. that we do all the precepts of this Law A fifth is Desperation when men think it is in vain for them to observe Gods Laws there is no hope of their salvation c. It is impossible for him to return to God and do all that God requireth c. Moses gives a remedy against this dangerous disease Pa. 224. sheweth the way to God declareth That God is fall of mercy and ready to forgive Pa. 229. c. A sixth is the pretence of Ignorance saying The Scriture the Laws of God have so many mysteries roo hard for our capacities c. Besides the Doctors brawl and chide between themselves and how should the unlearned understand it aright Who can tell saith another whether this be the true Law or not If it were the true Law of God then it should contain all verities and h●ve no deed of mans Laws Now the greatest part of Christians in name say that this Law is not sufficient except it be holp and aided by the Law of the Bishops Moses answereth and saith Pa. 230. This Law is sufficient simple and plain easie to be understood a perfect Doctrine and required of all men the Commandment that I prescribe to thee unto day is not far above thee nor put far from thee c. By which words it appeareth that God hath made his will and pleasure simple and plainly open to his people c. Yea the Law of God to do well by is written naturally in the heart of every man c. Pa. 231. though there were no law written c. mans conscience would tell him when he doth well and when ill Pa. 234. Farewell in our only and sole joy and consolation Christ Jesus This holy Exile parting with Mr. Fox Vol. 3 pag. 145. Bullinger and his friends at Zurick declared that the principal cause of his return to his own Countrey was the matter of Religion c. Be sure said he neither the nature of the Countrey nor pleasure of commodities nor newness of friends shall ever induce me to the oblivion of such friends and Benefactors and therefore you shall be sure from time to time to hear from me how it goes with me but the last news of all I shall not be able to write for there said he taking Mr. Bullinger by the hand where I shall take most pains there shall you hear of me to be burned to ashes and that shall be the last news which I shall not be able to write When he was made Bishop of Worcester and Glocester Pa. 146. the Arms allotted