A Christian Directory, Part 3: Christian Ecclesiastics

143

James iii. 13-17.

144

1 Pet. ii. 5, 7, 9. Leg. Grotium de Imp. p. 230, 231.

145

Leg. Grotium de Imp. p. 223, 226.

146

But not denying her to be a church, unless she cast off some essential part; but so disowning her as in 2 Thess. iii.

147

Where any church retaining the purity of doctrine doth require the owning of and conforming to any unlawful or suspected practice, men may lawfully deny conformity to and communion with that church in such things, without incurring the guilt of schism. Mr. Stillingfleet. Iren. p. 117.

148

1 Sam. xv. 22; Prov. xv. 8.

149

2 John x. 11; 2 Tim. iii. 5; Rom. xvi. 17; 1 Cor. v. 11.

150

Matt. xiii. 41, 30; Jer. xv. 19; 1 Cor. xii. 23, 24.

151

See Rom. xiv. throughout; Rom. xv. 12, 5-7; Eph. iv. 4-7; 1 Pet. iii. 6; 1 Cor. xii. throughout; Phil. iii. 15, 16; Acts ii. 1, 46; iv. 32; Rom. xii. 4, 5; Psal. cxxxiii; 1 Cor. viii; 1 Tim. i. 4; James iii.

152

Peace containeth infinite blessings: it strengtheneth faith: it kindleth charity. The outward peace of the church distilleth into peace of conscience: and it turneth the writing and reading of controversies into treatises of mortification and devotion. Against procuring unity by sanguinary persecutions, see Lord Bacon, Essay iii. Surely there is no better way to stop the rising of new sects and schisms, than to reform abuses, to compound the smaller differences, to proceed mildly, and not with sanguinary persecutions, and rather to take off the principal authors by winning and advancing them, than to enrage them by violence and bitterness. Lord Bacon in his Essay lviii. Ira hominis non implet justitiam Dei. And it was a notable observation of a wise father, that those which held and persuaded pressure of consciences, were commonly interested therein themselves for their own ends. Id. Essay iii. p. 19.

153

Concil. Tolet. 4. c. 16. 28. q. 1. Ca. Judæi qui – allow separation from a Jewish husband, if after admonition he will not be a christian: and so doth Acosta and his Concil. Limens. l. 6. c. 21, and other Jesuits, and allow the marrying of another: and sure the conjugal bond is faster than that of a pastor and his flock: may not a man then change his pastor when his soul is in apparent hazard?

154

Eph. iv. 16; 1 Tim. i. 4; Rom. xv. 19; Acts ix. 31.

155

Rom. xiv. 17; 1 Tim. i. 4.

156

Rom. viii. 16; ix. 26; 1 John v. 2.

157

Quicquid ad multitudinem vergit, antipathiam continet; et quanto magis multitudo augetur, tanto et antipathia: quicquid vero ad unitatem tendit, sympathiam habet; et quanti magis ad unitatem accedit, tanto pariori sympathia augetur. Paul Scaliger, Epist. Cath. lib. iii. p. 176.

158

Eph. xiv. 13-16.

159

Phil. i. 9; 1 Thess. iv. 9; Col. ii. 2; 1 Thess. iii. 12; Phil. ii. 12; Lev. xviii. 9; 1 Pet. i. 22; 1 Thess. v. 3; Rom. xii. 9, 10; 2 Tim. i. 7; Heb. x. 24; 1 Cor. xii. 31; Gal. v. 6, 13.

160

1 John iv. 7, 8; John xiii. 35; James iii. 15; 1 John iv. 16; Gal. v. 19-22; 2 Cor. xiii. 11; 1 Tim. vi. 11; Gal. v. 14; 1 Cor. xiii; Eph. iv. 2, 15, 16; Col. i. 4.

161

See Mr. Stillingfleet, Iren. p. 119, 120. Bilson for christian subjection, p. 525.

162

Dr. H. More saith, Myst. Redempt. p. 495. l. 10. c. 2. There is scarce any church in christendom at this day that doth not obtrude, not only falsehood, but such falsehoods that will appear to any free spirit pure contradictions and impossibilities; and that with the same gravity, authority, and importunity, that they do the holy oracles of God. Now the consequents of this must needs be sad; For what knowing and conscientious man, but will be driven off, if he cannot assert the truth, without open asserting of a gross lie? Id. p. 526. And as for opinions, though some may be better than other some, yet none should exclude from the fullest enjoyments of either private or public rights; supposing there be no venom of the persecutive spirit mingled with them; but every one that professeth the faith of Christ, and believeth the Scriptures in the historical sense, &c. See Hales of Schism, p. 8.

163

In ecclesiis plus certaminum gignunt verba hominum quam Dei; magisque pugnatur fere de Apolline, Petro, et Paulo, quam de Christo: retine divina: relinque humana. Bucholcer.

164

Poetæ nunquam perturbarunt respublicas: oratores non raro. Bucholtz.

165

Acosta, l. vi. c. 23. p. 579. Nothing so much hurteth this church as a rabble of hirelings and self-seekers: for what can natural men, that scarce have the Spirit, do in the cause of God? A few in number that are excellent in virtue, will more promote the work of God. – But they that come hither being humble, and lovers of souls, taking Christ for their pattern, and bearing in their bodies his cross and death, shall most certainly find heavenly treasures, and inestimable delights. But when will this be? When men cease to be men, and to savour the things of men; and to seek and gape after the things of men. With men this is utterly impossible; but with God all things are possible: Because this is hard in the eyes of this people, shall it therefore be hard in my eyes, saith the Lord? Zech. viii. 6. pag. 580. I may say to some ministers that cry out of the schismatical disobedience of the people, as Acosta doth to those that cried out of the Indians' dulness and wickedness. It is long of the teachers. Deal with them in all possible love and tenderness, away with covetousness, lordliness, and cruelty; give them the example of an upright life, open to them the way of truth, and teach them according to their capacity, and diligently hold on in this way, whoever thou art that art a minister of the gospel, and (saith he) as ever I hope to enjoy thee, O Lord Jesu Christ, I am persuaded the harvest will he plentiful and joyful. Lib. iv. p. 433, et passim. But (saith he) we quickly cease our labours, and must presently have hasty and plenteous fruit. But the kingdom of God is not such: verily, it is not such, but, as Christ hath told us, like seed cast into the earth, which groweth up by degrees we know not how, p. 433, 434. Jerom's case is many another's: Concivit odia perditorum: oderunt eum hæretici, quia eos impugnare non desinit: oderunt clerici, quia vitam eorum insectatur et crimina. Sed plane eum boni omnes admirantur et diligunt. Posthumianus in Sulp. Severi Dialog. 1. And Dial. 2. Martinus in medio cœtu et conversatione populorum, inter clericos dissidentes, inter episcopos sævientes, cum fere quotidianis scandalis hinc atque inde premeretur, inexpugnabili tamen adversus omnia virtute fundatus stetit. – Nec tamen huic crimini miscebo populares, soli illum clerici, soli nesciunt sacerdotes, nec immerito: nosse illum invidi noluerunt: quia si virtutes illius nossent, suorum vitia cognovissent.

166

How the Jesuits have hereby distracted the church, read Mariana, et Archiepisc. Pragensis Censur. de Bull. Jesuit. et Dan. Hospital. ad Reges, &c. Aug. Ardinghelli Paradoxa Jesuitica. Galindus, Giraldus, &c. Arcana Jesuit.

167

That God above that knoweth the heart, doth discern that frail men in some of their contradictions intend the same thing, and accepteth both. L. Verul. Essay iii. p. 15.

168

Saith Cleanthes (in Laert.) The Peripateticks are like letters that sound well, but hear not themselves.

169

Yet I excuse not impiety or insufficiency in ministers. It was one of Solon's laws, Qui nequitia ac flagitiis insignis est, tribunali, publicisque suggestis arcendus est. And Gildas saith to the ungodly pastors of Britain, Apparet ergo eum qui vos sacerdotes sciens ex corde dicit, non esse eximium christianum. – Quomodo vos aliquid solvetis, ut sit solutum in cœlis, a cœlo ob scelera adempti? et immanium peccatorum funibus compediti? Qua ratione aliquid in terra ligabitis, quod supra mundum etiam ligetur, propter vosmet ipsos qui ita ligati iniquitatibus in hoc mundo tenemini, ut in cœlos nunquam ascendatis, sed in infausta tartari ergastula, non conversi in hac vita ad dominum, decidatis, Fol. ult. O inimici Dei, et non sacerdotes! O licitatores malorum, et non pontifices! Traditores, et non sanctorum apostolorum successores; impugnatores, et non Christi ministri. – p. 571. Impres. Basil.

170

Pii hominis est facere quod potest, etiamsi non faciat hoc quod est eligibilius. Bucholtz.

171

Prince Frederick of Monpelgard being instructed into a distaste of the reformed protestants, when he had been at Geneva and Helvetia, was wont to say, Genevæ et in Helvetia vidi multa de quibus nihil, pauca eorum de quibus sæpe audivi: ut Tossanus ad Pezelium referente Sculteto in Curric. p. 26.

172

Since the writing of this, I have published a book called "The cure of Church Divisions," and a "Defence of it: " which handle these things more fully.

173

Beda Hist. Eccles. lib. i. c. 26. Didicerat enim (Rex Edilburth) et a doctoribus, auctoribusque suæ salutis, servitium, Christi voluntarium, non coactitium debere esse.

174

See my "Treatise of the Lord's Day," and my "Cure of Church Divisions."

175

Eccl. v. 1-4; 1 Pet. ii. 1, 2; Prov. i. 20, to the end.

176

Psal. i. 2, 3; xii. 6, 7; xix. 7-9.

177

Acts x. 33; 1 Sam. iii. 9, 10; Prov. viii. 34; Ezek. xxxiii. 4; Psal. lxvi. 18; v. 5.

178

Dan. iv. 27; Prov. x. 29; xxviii. 9; Psal. l. 16-18; cxxv. 5; 1 Sam. xv. 22; 2 Tim. ii. 19; Matt. vii. 23; Luke xiii. 27; John x. 3, 4, 27; Eccles. v. 1-4.

179

Isa. lviii. 1-3.

180

Isa. i. 10-20.

181

Gen. iv. 7; Prov. xiv. 34; Numb. xxxii. 23.

182

James i. 22; Rom. ii. 13.

183

Ezek. vii. 19; Jer. vii. 23; xi. 4, 7; xxvi. 13; Matt. xxiii. 14; Mark xii. 40; Exod. vi. 30; Deut. vii. 12; xi. 13; xiii. 18; xv. 5; xxvi. 17; xxviii. 1; Psal. lxxi. 8-12.

184

See Mr. Rawlet's Book of Sacramental Covenanting.

185

I have said more of this since, in my "Life of Faith."

186

Heb. xi. 1.

187

Concil. Later. sub Innoc. III. Can. 3.

188

Rom. i. 7; 1 Cor. i. 2; xiv. 33; Eph. i. 8; ii. 19; iv. 12; v. 3; Rom. xv. 25, 26.

189

1 Cor. iv. 12, 13: Lam. iii. 45.

190

Angelorum vocabulum nomen est officii, non naturæ: nam sancti illi cœlestis patriæ spiritus, semper sunt spiritus, sed semper vocari angeli non possunt. Gregor.

191

Dan. iv. 13; Gen. xxxii. 1, 2; Exod. xxxii. 2; Dan. vi. 22; Acts xii. 7, 11; 1 Kings xix. 5, 6.

192

Luke i. 13, 18, 19, 26, 28; ii. 10, 13, 21; Acts x. 7, 22; xii. 8, 9; Dan. iii. 28; vi. 22; Gen. xxiv. 40.

193

1 Pet. iii. 22; Matt. xxvi. 53.

194

Rev. i. 1.

195

2 Kings vi. 17.

196

Dan. iv. 35.

197

1 Kings xxii. 19-22; 1 Thess. ii. 18.

198

Luke i. 19, 26.

199

Acts vii. 53.

200

Acts xxvii. 24; Luke i. 13, 30; ii. 10; Dan. x. 12; 2 Kings vi. 16; Gen. xvi. 9, 10; Numb. xxii. 32.

201

2 Thess. i. 7, 8; Mark viii. 38; Matt. xxv. 31.

202

Magna dignitas fidelium animarum ut unaquæque habeat ab ortu nativitatis in custodiam sui angelum deputatum: imo plures. Hieron. Luke xx. 36.

203

Heb. i. 14; Psal. ciii. 20, 21.

204

Timet angelus adorari ab humana natura, quam videt in Deo sublimatam. Gregor.

205

Simus devoti, simus grati tantis custodibus: redamemus eos quantum possumus, quantum debemus effectuose, &c. Bernard. Væ nobis si quando provocati sancti angeli peccatis et negligentiis, indignos nos judicaverint præsentia et visitatione sua, &c. Cavenda est nobis eorum offensa, et in his maxime exercendum, quibus eos novimus oblectari: hæc autem placent eis quæ in nobis invenire delectat, ut est sobrietas, castitas, &c. In quovis angulo reverentiam exhibe angelo, ne audeas illo presente, quod me vidente non auderes. Bernard.

206

1 Cor. xi. 3; xii. 12; Eph. i. 22, 23; 1 Cor. vi. 15; xii. 27.

207

Eph. iv. 4, 5; Matt. xxviii. 19, 20.

208

Eph. iv. 4, 5; 1 Cor. xii. 12; Mark xvi. 16.

209

Rom. xiv. 1, 6, 7; xv. 1, 3, 4.

210

1 Cor. xv. 1, 2, &c.; Matt. xxviii. 19, 20.

211

Rom. xiv. 3, 4.

212

Rom. vi. 1, 2, &c.

213

Eph. iv. 4, 5.

214

Tit. iii. 10; 3 John.

215

James iii. 2; Phil. iii. 15, 16; Heb. v. 1, 2.

216

Tit. iii. 10; Matt. xviii. 15.

217

Ezek. xviii. 17; Gen. xviii. 23-25.

218

1 Cor. x. 15; Acts i. 19; 1 Cor. v. 3-5; xi. 3.

219

Matt. v. 11, 12; John xvi. 2.

220

1 Cor. xii. 27-29; Eph. iv. 5-7; 1 Cor. i. 12, 13; iii. 22, 23; Eph. v. 23; iv. 15; Col. i. 18; ii. 19.

221

3 John.

222

Eph. v. 11; 1 Cor. v. 11.

223

1 Cor. xii. 12; John xiii. 35; 1 Cor. xiii. 1, 2, &c.

224

1 Cor. xii. 12; vi. 17; x. 17; Eph. iv. 3, &c.

225

Gal. iv. 11, 12.

226

Rev. iii. 8-12; ii. 10, 11; Acts xiv. 22; Tit. i. 5; Rom. xvi. 4, 16; 1 Cor. vii. 17; xi. 16; xiv. 33, 44; 2 Thess. i. 4; Rev. ii. 23.

227

1 Cor. i. 13; Rom. xvi. 17; Acts xx. 30.

228

Acts ii. 44; 1 Cor. i. 10; 1 Thess. v. 12, 13.

229

Heb. x. 25; 1 Tim. iii. 7; 3 John 12.

230

Acts xvi. 32, 34; x. 2, 22; xviii. 8; Col. iv. 15.

231

Of these things I have said so much in my "Cure of Church divisions," and in the "Defence" of it, and in the end of my "Reas. of Christ. Relig." Consect. i. and ii. that I pass them over here with the more brevity.

232

See Mr. Barton's and Bp. Hall's contest hereabouts.

233

System. Fidei.

234

Eph. iv. 6-11.

235

Matt, xxviii. 11, 20; Tit. i. 5; Acts xx. 28; xiv. 23; 1 Pet. v. 2.

236

Matt. vii. 23-25; Phil. i. 15-17; Mark ix. 40.

237

Vid. Hun. Eccl. Rom. non est christiana: et Perkins. A papist cannot go beyond a reprobate.

238

Acts i. 17; Matt. vii. 23.

239

In the time of the Arian emperors the churches refused the bishops whom the emperors imposed on them, and stuck to their own orthodox bishops; especially at Alexandria and Cæsarea, after the greatest urgency for their obedience.

240

Matt. xvi. 26; Prov. x. 32; xix. 8; Luke xii. 4.

241

Matt. xv. 14; 1 Tim. iv. 6, 16; Matt. xvi. 6; xxiv. 4. Mark iv. 24; Luke viii. 18; Matt. xxiii. 16.

242

See more of this after.

243

See also my "Reasons of Christian Religion," Cons. ii. of the interest of the church.

244

1 Cor. xii. 12, and throughout.

245

Eph. iv. 1, 5-7, 16.

246

Matt. xxviii. 19; Mark xvi. 16.

247

John xiv. 6; 1 Tim. iii. 16; vi. 3, 11; 2 Pet. i. 3.

248

Acts ii. 38, 39.

249

Cor. vi. 9, 10; Tit. iii. 3-5; Eph. ii. 1-3; Acts ii. 37, 38.

250

Matt. xxviii. 19, 20; Heb. xiii. 7, 17; 1 Thess. v. 12, 13; 1 Tim. v. 17.

251

John xx. 21; xiii. 20; Luke x. 3; Rom. x. 15; Acts xx. 28.

252

Phil. i. 15-17; Matt. vii. 22; Rom. xv. 14.

253

Eph. iv. 7, 8; 2 Tim. ii. 2; i. 5, 7; Eph. vi. 19; Col. iv. 3; 2 Cor. x. 4, 5.

254

Tit. i. 2; 2 Cor. viii. 6; 1 Cor. iv. 1, 2; Tit. i. 7.

255

2 Tim. 2; iii. 2; iv. 11; vi. 2, 3; 1 Thess. v. 12, 13.

256

Heb. xiii. 7, 17; Acts vi. 4; ix. 40; xx. 36; Mal. ii. 7; Heb. x. 11.

257

Rev. i. 6; v. 10; xx. 6; 1 Pet. ii. 5, 6.

258

Rom. i. 1; Col. iv. 12; 2 Pet. i. 1; 1 Cor. iv. 1, 2; iii. 5; 2 Cor. iii. 6; xi. 4; xi. 23; Matt. xxix. 45, 46, 48; 1 Cor. ix. 19.

259

Rom. x. 15, 16.

260

1 Tim. iii. 6, 7; Tit. i. 5, 6.

261

Acts xiii. 2; Rom. i. 1; 1 Tim. iv. 15.

262

Isa. xxxiii. 22; Jam. iv. 12.

263

Acts xiii. 2; Heb. v. 4, 10.

264

1 Thess. v. 22; Gal. ii. 4, 5, 14.

265

Ejusdem speciei vel inferioris: How then is the pope ordained or made?

266

Eph. iv. 3; 1 Cor. xii; Rom. xiv. 17, 19; 1 Cor. xiv. 33; 1 Thess. v. 12, 13; Phil. ii. 1-3; Eph. iv. 15, 16; 1 Cor. i. 10.

267

1 Cor. v.; Tit. iii. 10; 2 Thess. iii. 6, 14; 2 John 10; Rev. ii. 14, 15, 20.

268

Grotius de imperio sum. pot. circ. sacr. most solidly resolveth this question.

269

1 Pet. v. 2, 3; 2 Cor. i. 24.

270

"Catholic unity," and "the True Catholic and Church described."

271

Eph. iv. 7, 13-16; 1 Cor. xii. 28, 29; Acts xv. 17.

272

See my "Key for Catholics."

273

Matt. xxviii. 19, 20.

274

Since the writing of this, there is come forth an excellent book for Infant Baptism by Mr. Joseph Whiston, in which the grounds of my present solutions are notably cleared.

275

Mark xvi. 16; Acts ii. 37, 38; xxii. 16; 1 Cor. vi. 11; Tit. iii. 3, 5, 6; Heb. x. 22; Eph. v. 26; Rom. vi. 1, 4; Col. ii. 12; 1 Pet. iii. 21, 22; Eph. iv. 5; Acts viii. 12, 13, 16, 36, 38; ix. 18; xvi. 15, 33; xix. 5; Gal. iii. 27.

276

Acts ii. 39; Gal. iii. 22, 29; 1 Tim. iv. 8; Eph. ii. 12; 2 Tim. i. 1; Heb. iv. 1; vi. 17; ix. 15; x. 36; viii. 6; 2 Pet i. 4, 5.

277

Acts ii. 38; xxvi. 18; Luke xxiv. 47.

278

Rom. x. 9; Acts viii. 37.

279

Matt. vi. 33; Rom. viii. 28, 32, &c.

280

Deut. xxix. 10-13.

281

Matt. xxviii. 19, 20; 1 Cor. xii. 12, 13; Eph. iv. 4, 5.

282

The Spirit is not given radically or immediately to any christian, but to Christ our Head alone, and from him to us.

283

Acts xxvi. 8; 2 Tim. iv. 7; Rom. viii. 30; Gal. iv. 6.

284

Rom. viii. 9, 16, 26.

285

Mr. Whiston, p. 60, showeth, That even the promises of a new heart, &c. Ezek. xxxvi. xxxvii. &c. though they may run in the external tenor of them absolutely, yet are not absolutely absolute, but have a subordinate condition, and that is, that the parties concerned in them do faithfully use the means appointed of God in a subserviency to his working in or bestowing on them the good promised.

286

God's being a God to any individual person doth require and presuppose that they do for the present, supposing them capable, or for the future as soon as capable, take God in Christ as their God. Ibid. p. 61.

287

Eph. vi. 4, 5; Col. iii. 21; Gen. xviii. 19; Deut. vi. 6-8; xi. 18-20.

288

Second commandment. Prov. xx. 7.

289

The Holy Ghost is promised in baptism to give the child grace in his parents' and his own faithful use of the appointed means.

290

Mr. Whiston, p. 53. As Abraham as a single person in the covenant was to accept of and perform the conditions of the covenant – so as a parent he had something of duty incumbent on him with reference to his (immediate) seed; and as his faithful performance of that duty incumbent on him in his single capacity, so his performing that duty incumbent on him as a parent in reference to his seed, was absolutely necessary in order to his enjoying the good promised, with reference to himself and his seed: proved Gen. xvii. 1; xviii. 19. He proveth that the promise is conditional, and that as to the continuance of the covenant state the conditions are, 1. The parent's upright life. 2. His duty to his children well done. 3. The children's own duty as they are capable.

291

Rom. vi. 1, 4, 6, 7, &c.

292

Acts viii. 37, 38; xiii. 20-23.

293

John iii. 16-18, 36; i. 11-13.

294

2 Pet. ii. 20-23; Heb. vi. 2, 4-8; x. 26-28; 1 John i. 9, 10; James iii. 2, 3.

295

Of Acts xix. 1-5.

296

Of which before.

297

Psal. xxiii. 5; xcii. 10; Luke vii. 46; Matt. vi. 17; Amos vi. 6; Psal. lxxxix. 20; Lev. xvi. 32; Luke xvi.

298

Rev. iii. 4, 5, "They shall walk with me in white."

299

Jam. v. 14; Mark vi. 13.

300

1 Cor. xi. 16.

301

Rev. i. 6; v. 10; xx. 6; 1 Pet. ii. 5, 9.

302

See the proofs of all in my "Treatise of Confirmation."

303

Acts viii. 37, &c.; ix. 17-20, 26-28.

304

Acts ii. 1, 24, 44, 46; iv. 32; v. 12; 1 Thess. v. 12, 13; 1 Cor. xiv. 19, 23, 24, 28, 35; Acts xiv. 23; Titus i. 5; Acts xi. 26; James ii. 2.

305

1 Cor. xiv. 19, 23; Acts xi. 26, &c. as before cited.

306

Eph. i. 22, 23; v. 25, 26, &c.; iv. 4-6, 16; Heb. x. 25; 1 Cor. xiv.; Acts xiv. 23; Titus i. 5; 1 Tim. v. 17; 1 Thess. v. 12, 13; 1 Tim. iii. 3-6; 1 Pet. v. 1-3; Acts xx. 28; Phil. i. 1, 2.

307

Dr. Stillingfleet's Iren. p. 154. so p. 173. By church here I mean not a particular congregation, &c. So he granteth that, 1. The universal church, 2. Particular congregations, are of divine institution; one ex intentione primaria, and the other, as he calls it, accidentally, but yet of natural necessity.

308

Disput. of Church Gov. disp. 3.

309

Which tempteth the Erastians to deny and pull down both together, because they find one in the pastor's hands which belongeth to the magistrate, and we do not teach them to untwist and separate them.

310

1 Cor. iv. 1, 2.

311

1 Pet. v. 1-3; Matt, xxviii. 19, 20.

312

1 Thess. v. 12, 13.

313

2 Tim. iv. 1-3, 5.

314

Acts xx. 30; Heb. xiii. 7, 17, 24; 1 Thess. v. 12, 13; 1 Tim. v. 17.

315

As Bishop Bilson of Obed. useth still to distinguish them; with many others. See B. Carlton of Jurisdiction.