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act_n christian_a church_n communion_n 4,472 5 10.2516 5 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A59812 A discourse concerning a judge of controversies in matters of religion being an answer to some papers asserting the necessity of such a judge : with an address to wavering protestants, shewing what little reason they have to think of any change of their religion : written for the private satisfaction of some scrupulous persons, and now published for common use : with a preface concerning the nature of certainty and infallibility. Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707. 1686 (1686) Wing S3285; ESTC R8167 73,491 104

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have_v set_v up_o a_o distinct_a and_o separate_a communion_n but_o that_o they_o unchurch_v the_o catholic_n church_n and_o therefore_o rebaptise_v those_o who_o have_v be_v baptize_v in_o the_o catholic_n communion_n as_o if_o they_o have_v be_v infidel_n before_o so_o that_o if_o there_o be_v any_o true_a church_n in_o the_o world_n beside_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n the_o church_n of_o rome_n must_v necessary_o be_v schismatical_a because_o she_o unchurche_n all_o other_o church_n but_o herself_o and_o therefore_o can_v have_v no_o degree_n of_o communion_n with_o they_o as_o with_o christian_a church_n whereas_o we_o own_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n herself_o to_o be_v a_o true_a though_o a_o very_a corrupt_a church_n and_o therefore_o maintain_v some_o degree_n of_o communion_n with_o she_o five_o for_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o if_o any_o particular_a church_n do_v teach_v any_o erroneous_a doctrine_n we_o must_v not_o maintain_v communion_n with_o she_o in_o her_o error_n for_o no_o man_n be_v bind_v to_o believe_v that_o which_o be_v false_a but_o then_o we_o must_v distinguish_v between_o error_n for_o a_o church_n may_v be_v guilty_a of_o some_o speculative_a error_n which_o may_v do_v no_o great_a hurt_n to_o common_a christianity_n and_o then_o we_o may_v very_o safe_o communicate_v with_o that_o church_n if_o they_o do_v not_o impose_v on_o we_o the_o belief_n of_o those_o error_n which_o few_o church_n do_v but_o upon_o their_o own_o immediate_a member_n except_v the_o church_n of_o rome_n as_o for_o instance_n the_o lutheran_n doctrine_n of_o consubstantiation_n be_v as_o false_a and_o groundless_a though_o not_o altogether_o as_o absurd_a as_o the_o popish_a doctrine_n of_o transubstantiation_n but_o yet_o i_o will_v make_v no_o scruple_n of_o communicate_v with_o a_o lutheran_n church_n where_o i_o may_v do_v it_o without_o profess_v my_o belief_n of_o consubstantiation_n and_o upon_o these_o principle_n the_o lutheran_n and_o calvinist_n 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and_o the_o like_a have_v be_v think_v a_o just_a reason_n in_o the_o apostle_n day_n to_o deny_v communion_n to_o all_o those_o church_n which_o reject_v they_o the_o church_n of_o england_n be_v in_o communion_n with_o all_o those_o church_n from_o the_o apostle_n day_n till_o now_o who_o never_o own_v nor_o impose_v those_o doctrine_n and_o practice_n for_o which_o we_o now_o separate_a from_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n as_o necessary_a term_n of_o communion_n which_o upon_o inquiry_n will_v be_v find_v a_o much_o more_o catholic_n communion_n then_o that_o of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n for_o we_o communicate_v with_o more_o age_n and_o with_o more_o church_n than_o they_o do_v the_o church_n of_o rome_n as_o now_o constitute_v in_o all_o its_o part_n and_o proportion_n be_v no_o old_a than_o the_o council_n of_o trent_n which_o be_v some_o time_n since_o luther_n that_o we_o may_v with_o more_o reason_n ask_v they_o where_o their_o church_n be_v before_o the_o council_n of_o 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their_o mind_n hence_o our_o saviour_n attribute_n the_o infidelity_n of_o the_o scribe_n and_o pharisee_n to_o their_o pride_n and_o covetousness_n and_o such_o like_a evil_a cause_n and_o require_v a_o honest_a and_o teachable_a mind_n to_o prepare_v and_o dispose_v man_n to_o receive_v the_o gospel_n such_o he_o call_v his_o sheep_n you_o believe_v not_o because_o you_o be_v not_o of_o my_o sheep_n as_o i_o say_v unto_o you_o my_o sheep_n hear_v my_o voice_n and_o i_o know_v they_o and_o they_o follow_v i_o john_n 10._o 26_o 27._o now_o if_o this_o be_v all_o the_o evidence_n he_o have_v afford_v the_o world_n of_o his_o own_o be_v the_o messiah_n which_o be_v the_o very_a foundation_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n the_o superstructure_n can_v be_v more_o firm_a and_o certain_a than_o the_o foundation_n be_v and_o therefore_o the_o same_o kind_n of_o evidence_n which_o christ_n think_v sufficient_a to_o prove_v himself_o to_o be_v the_o messiah_n must_v be_v sufficient_a also_o 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infallible_a which_o there_o be_v no_o need_n of_o to_o carry_v man_n to_o heaven_n yet_o it_o preserve_v they_o from_o all_o great_a and_o fatal_a mistake_v now_o i_o will_v desire_v any_o man_n to_o tell_v i_o what_o need_v there_o have_v be_v of_o the_o internal_a illumination_n of_o the_o spirit_n to_o direct_v we_o in_o our_o inquiry_n after_o truth_n if_o christ_n have_v provide_v such_o a_o external_a infallible_a mean_n as_o a_o judge_n of_o controversy_n and_o though_o honest_a man_n be_v not_o infallible_a yet_o they_o have_v this_o security_n as_o to_o their_o speculative_a mistake_v which_o have_v no_o ill_a influence_n upon_o their_o life_n that_o the_o mercy_n of_o god_n do_v as_o well_o extend_v to_o the_o infirmity_n of_o our_o understanding_n as_o of_o our_o wi_n for_o if_o a_o involuntary_a ignorance_n will_v be_v some_o excuse_n even_o to_o bad_a man_n to_o lessen_v their_o punishment_n much_o more_o may_v we_o presume_v it_o will_v excuse_v good_a men._n to_o 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