Selected quad for the lemma: tradition_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
tradition_n	church_n	find_v	scripture_n	3,607	5	6.0436	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81501	The Discipline and order of particular churches, no novelty. Proved from Scripture, reason, autiquity, and the most eminent modern divines. Or, A discourse of the church, in a scripture notion, with her extent, power and practice, tending to moderate the minds of men, toward dissenters in matters ecclesiastical, and to acquit such from the charge of innovation, faction, separation, schism, and breach of union and peace in the church, who cannot conform in many things to the rules, canons, and practices of others. / By a Lover of truth, peace, unity, and order.	Lover of truth, peace, unity, and order.	1675 (1675)	Wing D1558A; ESTC R174652	61,995	98

whose Ministers ●re made after another manner and imposed upon ●hem Or how can any such convinced Ones have ●o do in Congregations and Ordinances otherwise Ordered and Acting then according to this rule in faith to expect Gods presence and blessing in it how can any knowing these things without renouncing Christ as Lord and Lawgiver in his church own and subscribe to the exercise of this power by others then these Churches much more how can any so convinced enforce others to give subjection to any Usurping this power without sin against Christ Whatsoever is not of Faith is sin so that if we are found in the practice of any thing in these matters not commanded at all or of any thing commanded in other manner then is prescribed by the Law of Christ we cannot groundedly believe for a blessing there Mr. Hooler Eccles Polity in the Preface having no promise for it Nay it is sin if we do but doubt it Rom. 14.22.23 Therefore every one ought to be at liberty till he be convinced and fully perswaded in his own mind er'e he meddle with these things Secondly Surely this then justifies and commends such who being fully perswaded of the truth of the premises do endeavour to regulate their practices in all Church affairs by these rules for the Scripture saith as we have received how ought to walk and to please God so should we abound c. 1 Thes 4.1 and as Tymothy was charged to continue in the things he had learned and had been assured of knowing of whom he had learned them and that from a Child he had known the Holy Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.14 15. So are Saints in general commanded to stand fast and hold the Traditions which they have been taught by word or Epistle 2 Thess 2.15 especially when they have by reading and searching the Scriptures like the Noble Beraeans Act. 17. proved these things to be so and find that the primitive Gospel Churches practised according to this and so trying all things hold fast that which is good and stand fast in the liberty Christ hath left them for in so doing they are lesse like to erre Mark 12.24 do ye not therefore erre not knowing the Scriptures c. And if these have their foundation for their practices here they may boldly say with Paul Act. 24. after the way they call Heresie so worthy I c. believing all things that are written c. Bishop Jewel in his reply to Harding p. 111. alleadgeth these words out of Cyprian lib. 2. Epist 3. speaking of Bishops If any of my Predecessors have not followed or kept that thing which the Lord by his Example and Commandement hath Taught us he for his simplicity may be pardoned but if we wilfully offend there is no pardon for us who are already warned and instructed of the Lord Again that after God hath once opened his truth to us if then we shall continue in error c. And again in p. 144. he quotes Cyprian ad Caecil lib. 2. Epist 3. for these words It behoveth the Religion we professe and our reverence towards God and ●he very place and Office of our Priesthood to keep ●he Truths of the Lords tradition and by the Lords ●dvertisements to correct that thing that by certain ●ath been amisse that when he comes in his Glory ●nd Majesty he may find us to hold what he warn●d to keep that he taught us to do that he did All which words of his presseth an exact keeping to ●he Rules left us when we know them But if it shall be objected that the people of the Churches are unlearned and cannot understand ●criptures and thence 't is they mistake and wrest ●criptures that it is for learned Men who understand Tongues c. to give the meaning of Scriptures and that others ought to submit to their judgments herein and to practise as the learned Fathers and Doctors of the Church have done before us See Helis Serm. of the abuse of Difficult places of of Scripture Matth. 1● 10.11 For Answer hereto briefly First The Apostle by the term unlearned intends not unskilful in Tongues nor in humane learning but unskilful in the Spiritual meaning of the Holy Ghost in the Scripture We know the Gospel is hid to some to them that are lost c. though otherwise never so learned wise or great and to others it is given to know Secondly That in this sence the Scripture is not understood by the help of the greatest Art Skil of Tongues nor the largest humane Wisdome of any this can only reach the letter but by the help of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.14 The things of God are foolishness to the Natural man nor can he know them because they are spiritually understood o● discerned Now surely none will deny but that 〈◊〉 man may be very learned and wise in humane things See the Conference between Raynolds and Hart c. 2. p. 58. cap. 6. p. 2●7 and have great skill in Tongues and ye● be but a natural man still that is not having the Spirit of God by whom spiritual things are opene● to us where is the Wise where is the Scribe wher● is the Disputer of this world and God chose th● foolish things of this world to confound the wise c. that no flesh should Glory in his presence Matth. 12.7 c. 13.10 11.12 Luk. 19.41 42. Joh. 3.10 Act. 13.17 27. Act. 26.9 a● is abundantly clear in 1 Cor. 1.18 19 20.27 28 29. And this was apparent amongst the Jew● their most learned men Scribes and Pharisees chief Priest c. with all their learning and pretence to greater knowledge than the rest of th● Jews could not find out the meaning of the Prophets concerning Christ but Crucified Him and Christ said of them that they were the blind leading the blind and that they were therefore blind because they thought they did see above others although these were as confident that they were the only knowing men as the learned Doctors and Rulers of Churches of latter ages have been of themselves And the contrary on the other hand ●o 9.39 Bish Jewel's Reply to Harding p. 533. 526 Luk. 24.44 45. John 8.12 31. Joh. 6.14 Eph. 1.17 13. 1● Epist Joh. 2.27 we see men of no knowledge in Tongues c. nor much worldly Wisdom when Christ by his Spirit had opened their understanding they then understood the Scriptures And for this end amongst others was the Holy Ghost promised to the followers of Christ he himself said that such as believed should not sit in darkness but have the light of life that his Spirit should take of his and shew it to them And the Apostle saith the anointing which they should receive should teach them c. Thirdly That this Spirit of God is neither promised nor given to the learned Doctors able Schoolmen or Governours of Churches only but is promised to all believers in general and so bestowed upon all

He in the same Book called a Directi● to know the true Church p. 23. 24. 36. 37. ●● 39. 44. 46. 47. 53. See t●● Conference between Raynolds and Hart c. 2. p. 45 46. there affirms and proves 〈◊〉 many Fathers that the Scripture is the judge of ●ntroversies that we must not take what the ●urch teacheth without limitation For saith 〈◊〉 she hath a Rule to teach by the Scriptures and 〈◊〉 long as she teacheth by this she is to be heard That is a manifest sliding from the true Faith and an ●ident sign of Pride to reject any thing that is writ● or to bring in any thing which is not written ●at we should not regard this or that mans sayings 〈◊〉 seek all these things out of Scriptures Optatus l. 5. contra Parmenian Donat. Cited by Raynolds in the same Conference p. 402. from ●ich we must in nothing depart And of the Pa●sts he saith That they presume that they deal ●th simple men who may not examine their Do●ines and therefore he adviseth us lest we should 〈◊〉 deceived to look to our Rule which is the Scrip●re Now from all this we have transcribed we may conclude this Objection to be fully answere● and the Matter undenyable That other Membe● of the Church besides Learned Doctors skilled 〈◊〉 the Tongues and Governors of the Churches ma● understand the Scriptures by the help of the Spi● of God That they ought to read them a● search them for this end That God will give 〈◊〉 them his Spirit to open their Understandings a● sometimes more to those than to the Learned D●ctors That Learning and Worldly Wisdom ca●not unfold Scripture without the Spirit of Go● That it is no safe way to follow our Fathers step● no nor the Rules of Councels nor Churches a● further than they follow the Scriptures That it 〈◊〉 safe in times of dissention in Judgment to make 〈◊〉 the Scriptures That the Scripture is the Judge 〈◊〉 Controversies Now we know it is in vain f● unlearned men to read and impossible to search t● Scriptures or try Doctrines by them if M● learned in the Tongues cannot reach to understa● them or may not conceive of the sence of the● and give their Judgment of them as their ow● Rule for their own Practices And surely it is n● ground enough for any Man to believe that such thing is the truth and to expect Gods Blessing 〈◊〉 the Practice of it See Mr. Hildershams to this Lecture 59. on Joh. 4. Lect. 8. on Joh. 4. Mr. Gee in his Exposition of Rom. 18. barely upon this That Lear●ed Men Nay though very Godly Men have 〈◊〉 Interpreted such a Scripture or was of such an ●pinion about it or that the Learned Godly Me● who went before us did practice thus unless 〈◊〉 so he himself be by their Demonstrations and R●●sons clearly satisfied in his own mind that the Opinion and Practice therein is really the ve● Truth If these things be full to answer such an Objectio● ●t by Mr. Harding against the Protestants why ●t as full and suitable every way to confirm the ●swer here Offered by Protestants to the self-same ●bjection made against them by their Fellow-Bre●en If it shall be Objected further That many ●stimonies for the proving of the Premises from ●ence these conclusions are drawn are not Scrip●es but Traditions To this Answer may be ●de First That those Examples and Evidences con● with the Scriptures and therefore the ●ore heed to be given to them especially conside●●●g that these are only Matters of Practice gene●●ly owned and not contended against in those ●ys and also considering how some of these Te●●monies have remained so many hundred years un●literated against all the Endeavours of Rome and ●ers whose Interest and Practice these things op●se and who have for their Interest sake corrup● most of the Fathers and Councels to make ●●m speak as they would Secondly That they are the sayings and consent Antient and Modern Writers and Men of dif●●●ent Judgments in other things yet all accord in ●s as the Practice in those days in these things 〈◊〉 that it was by Divine Right which may add ●he weight to them But Thirdly No more will be demanded That these ●stimonies should speak for the Matter in hand ●n the Adversaries cause these and the like Au●rities to testifie against them Surely it will be ●nted that they are as forcible and may as ratio●●ly be used where it makes for as where it makes ●●ainst any position We are to keep the Ordinances and Order one delivered in the Church as they were delivered b● the Apostles and according to which the Church of God in the Primitive times did walk Be ye f●●lowers of me saith the Apostle Keep the Ordina●ces or Traditions as I have delivered the● unto you 1 Cor. 11.1 2. Therefore did he wh● the Corinthians there had erred about the Lor● Supper send them again to the first Institution 〈◊〉 regulate themselves by after he had told them their disorder said I have received of the Lo● that which I delivered unto you That the Lo● Jesus the same Night c. and so repeats aga● the whole Institution in the same Chapter ver 2● 24 25 26. forms nothing anew but repeats wh● he himself received of the Lord both for Mat● and Form Thirdly Doubtless such who fear the medli● with any other manner of Churches Ministers O●dinances or other manner of Ministration so 〈◊〉 to joyn with them or partake in them are to commended if they are confirmed by these E●dences in the truth of the Premises For the Scr●ture tells us we may not add to or diminish fr● the Rule the Lord hath set us but Obey that every thing Deut. 4.2 especially since the do● of any thing in God's Worship not commanded Hooper Epist to King Edw. so dangerous What became of Nadab and A●hu for their doing that which was not command though not forbidden in any express words 〈◊〉 there could be no warrant in God's Law Lev. 〈◊〉 1 2 3. God also complains of such Jer. 7 ● for building High-Places which he command not Therefore God did not only direct and co●mand about the Tabernacle and Temple and ev● ●art thereof but also every Tittle of the Worship ●erein and the manner and Circumstances there●bout And God takes it ill as an intrusion upon ●s prerogative Royal See Bishop Andrews upon the second commandment when Men shall presume 〈◊〉 do any thing in his Worship as a part thereof ●hich he commanded not or walk therein by any ●ther Rule than what he hath prescribed for no ●an was permitted to vary by adding or dimini●ing Mr. Stillingfleet in his Irenicum p. 6. saith ●hat whatsoever is looked upon as a part of Wor●ip if not commanded of God it is no way ac●eptable of God therefore unlawful Mat. 15.9 ●nd saith That Tertul. de Orat. Cap. 12. rejects ●l those things as superfluous and superstitious which are done without the