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act_n church_n communion_n member_n 6,174 5 9.5242 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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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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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 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as_o to_o continue_v a_o covenant_n relation_n to_o christ_n be_v in_o this_o sense_n a_o holy_a church_n whatever_o corruption_n she_o be_v guilty_a of_o either_o in_o faith_n or_o practice_n which_o do_v not_o un-church_n she_o three_o as_o for_o what_o remain_v in_o the_o paper_n it_o have_v be_v answer_v already_o upon_o other_o occasion_n schism_n we_o confess_v be_v a_o damn_v sin_n and_o thank_v god_n that_o we_o be_v not_o guilty_a of_o it_o we_o cast_v off_o the_o roman_a yoke_n which_o christ_n never_o lay_v upon_o we_o and_o to_o deliver_v ourselves_o from_o the_o unjust_a usurpation_n of_o foreign_a church_n be_v no_o schism_n no_o more_o than_o it_o be_v rebellion_n to_o oppose_v the_o invasion_n of_o a_o foreign_a prince_n we_o reform_v our_o own_o communion_n and_o that_o be_v no_o schism_n for_o we_o have_v full_a authority_n to_o do_v it_o and_o our_o reformation_n be_v such_o that_o they_o may_v communicate_v with_o we_o though_o we_o
this_o to_o the_o purpose_n when_o the_o scripture_n express_o condemn_v the_o worship_n of_o image_n and_o give_v religious_a worship_n to_o any_o other_o be_v but_o to_o god_n only_o and_o by_o their_o own_o confession_n say_v nothing_o of_o the_o worship_n of_o saint_n and_o that_o st._n paul_n dispute_v design_o against_o prayer_n in_o a_o unknown_a tongue_n and_o that_o our_o saviour_n institute_v his_o supper_n in_o both_o kind_n and_o command_v they_o to_o drink_v of_o the_o consecrate_a cup_n as_o well_o as_o to_o eat_v the_o bread_n though_o i_o have_v a_o great_a reverence_n for_o antiquity_n yet_o if_o st._n paul_n in_o his_o day_n pronounce_v a_o anathema_n against_o angel_n themselves_o who_o shall_v preach_v any_o other_o gospel_n we_o may_v safe_o renounce_v the_o authority_n of_o any_o church_n that_o shall_v contradict_v the_o express_a command_n and_o institution_n of_o christ._n to_o conclude_v this_o argument_n be_v antiquity_n our_o only_a guide_n and_o rule_n in_o matter_n of_o faith_n and_o worship_n i_o ready_o grant_v it_o will_v be_v a_o very_a uncertain_a rule_n and_o such_o as_o neither_o the_o learned_a nor_o the_o unlearned_a can_v build_v their_o faith_n on_o for_o there_o have_v be_v great_a variety_n of_o opinion_n and_o practice_n in_o other_o age_n of_o the_o church_n especial_o since_o the_o four_o century_n from_o which_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n principal_o date_n their_o antiquity_n as_o well_o as_o in_o our_o own_o which_o show_v what_o a_o uncertain_a foundation_n the_o church_n of_o rome_n have_v for_o her_o faith_n as_o for_o all_o those_o doctrine_n and_o practice_n wherein_o she_o differ_v from_o we_o which_o have_v no_o foundation_n in_o scripture_n and_o at_o best_a a_o very_a uncertain_a one_o in_o very_o late_a antiquity_n but_o this_o do_v not_o concern_v we_o who_o prefer_v scripture_n antiquity_n before_o all_o other_o and_o own_o no_o antiquity_n in_o contradiction_n to_o the_o scripture_n which_o be_v the_o rule_n and_o foundation_n of_o our_o faith_n and_o by_o this_o we_o know_v that_o we_o neither_o retain_v too_o much_o nor_o too_o little_a because_o we_o teach_v neither_o more_o nor_o less_o than_o what_o the_o scripture_n teach_v the_o paper_n but_o it_o be_v reply_v the_o church_n of_o england_n give_v leave_v even_o to_o woman_n to_o examine_v the_o truth_n of_o what_o they_o teach_v but_o certain_o this_o be_v a_o compliment_n they_o be_v incapable_a of_o examination_n neither_o indeed_o be_v statesman_n lawyer_n the_o busy_a nor_o the_o stupid_o ignorant_a for_o if_o we_o will_v be_v judge_n ourselves_o of_o these_o matter_n what_o life_n or_o capacity_n be_v sufficient_a for_o in_o justice_n if_o i_o examine_v i_o ought_v to_o hear_v all_o the_o several_a pretender_n to_o the_o interpretation_n of_o scripture_n who_o make_v it_o their_o rule_n of_o faith_n so_o to_o examine_v those_o text_n that_o make_v against_o we_o as_o well_o as_o those_o for_o we_o and_o the_o several_a 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of_o our_o saviour_n to_o make_v it_o so_o much_o a_o art_n and_o a_o mystery_n that_o none_o but_o great_a scholar_n can_v understand_v it_o scholar_n indeed_o have_v make_v a_o art_n and_o a_o mere_a dispute_v art_n of_o it_o and_o heretic_n who_o have_v corrupt_v the_o gospel_n have_v endeavour_v by_o perverse_a comment_n to_o make_v plain_a place_n obscure_a and_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n have_v more_o countenance_v this_o pretence_n than_o any_o other_o church_n in_o the_o world_n to_o frighten_v people_n from_o read_v that_o book_n which_o be_v the_o most_o dangerous_a book_n that_o ever_o be_v write_v against_o popery_n and_o after_o all_o their_o talk_n of_o the_o obscurity_n of_o scripture_n their_o deny_v the_o people_n the_o free_a use_n of_o it_o be_v a_o plain_a confession_n that_o they_o think_v it_o too_o plain_a against_o themselves_o so_o plain_a that_o every_o ordinary_a christian_n will_v be_v able_a to_o see_v it_o but_o if_o so_o very_a few_o people_n be_v able_a to_o judge_v of_o the_o dispute_n in_o religion_n what_o course_n shall_v woman_n and_o other_o person_n who_o the_o paper_n make_v such_o incompetent_a judge_n take_v suppose_v they_o have_v be_v educate_v in_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n and_o be_v now_o assault_v by_o popish_a priest_n to_o go_v over_o to_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n must_v they_o make_v this_o change_n with_o reason_n or_o without_o it_o must_v they_o judge_v for_o themselves_o or_o forsake_v one_o church_n and_o choose_v another_o without_o judgement_n or_o can_v woman_n or_o busy_a or_o ignorant_a people_n more_o easy_o find_v out_o the_o true_a church_n and_o the_o infallible_a judge_n than_o they_o can_v read_v in_o scripture_n that_o they_o must_v worship_v none_o but_o god_n that_o they_o must_v not_o worship_v image_n and_o picture_n that_o they_o must_v pray_v to_o god_n in_o a_o know_a tongue_n and_o celebrate_v the_o supper_n of_o our_o lord_n by_o drink_v of_o the_o cup_n as_o well_o as_o by_o eat_v the_o bread_n whoever_o venture_v to_o forsake_v the_o communion_n of_o a_o church_n wherein_o he_o be_v baptize_v and_o educate_v i_o be_o sure_a aught_o to_o be_v able_a to_o judge_v whether_o he_o be_v or_o no_o and_o those_o who_o confess_v they_o be_v not_o able_a to_o judge_v aught_o to_o be_v keep_v where_o they_o be_v for_o it_o be_v safe_a to_o continue_v in_o a_o church_n without_o judgement_n than_o to_o forsake_v it_o without_o reason_n and_o judgement_n in_o the_o first_o case_n the_o providence_n of_o god_n in_o our_o birth_n and_o education_n will_v make_v some_o apology_n for_o our_o involuntary_a mistake_v but_o if_o we_o wanton_o leave_v one_o church_n and_o go_v to_o another_o without_o be_v able_a to_o judge_v of_o either_o the_o act_n be_v whole_o our_o own_o choice_n and_o if_o we_o leave_v a_o better_a for_o a_o worse_o we_o must_v take_v what_o follow_v and_o therefore_o this_o be_v the_o most_o improper_a argument_n in_o the_o world_n to_o be_v use_v by_o one_o who_o be_v waver_v between_o two_o church_n for_o if_o he_o must_v not_o use_v his_o own_o private_a judgement_n i_o can_v guess_v how_o he_o shall_v either_o choose_v or_o refuse_v those_o who_o challenge_v a_o liberty_n of_o judge_v for_o themselves_o which_o be_v the_o undoubted_a right_n of_o all_o reasonable_a creature_n may_v change_v as_o they_o see_v reason_n and_o at_o their_o own_o peril_n if_o they_o choose_v wrong_v but_o those_o who_o disclaim_v all_o right_a and_o capacity_n of_o judge_v must_v continue_v as_o they_o be_v and_o take_v their_o chance_n for_o they_o may_v as_o well_o choose_v their_o faith_n as_o their_o guide_n who_o they_o will_v in_o all_o thing_n believe_v but_o still_o the_o force_n of_o the_o objection_n be_v not_o answer_v that_o he_o who_o will_v judge_v must_v judge_v upon_o the_o whole_a matter_n and_o therefore_o must_v be_v able_a to_o know_v and_o answer_v whatever_o be_v say_v to_o the_o contrary_a which_o the_o great_a number_n of_o man_n as_o well_o as_o woman_n be_v not_o able_a to_o do_v but_o if_o this_o be_v true_a the_o great_a number_n of_o man_n as_o well_o as_o woman_n must_v never_o believe_v there_o be_v a_o god_n or_o that_o christ_n come_v from_o god_n to_o declare_v his_o will_n to_o the_o world_n for_o there_o be_v very_o few_o of_o they_o that_o ever_o hear_v or_o be_v able_a to_o answer_v the_o ten_o part_n of_o the_o argument_n of_o atheist_n and_o infidel_n against_o the_o be_v of_o a_o god_n and_o the_o christian_a religion_n and_o yet_o it_o be_v ridiculous_a to_o talk_v of_o authority_n or_o a_o judge_n of_o controversy_n in_o these_o matter_n for_o we_o must_v first_o believe_v there_o be_v a_o god_n and_o that_o christ_n come_v from_o god_n before_o we_o can_v believe_v that_o they_o have_v appoint_v a_o judge_n of_o controversy_n so_o that_o