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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	according_a	church_n	scripture_n	3,690	5	6.1129	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45123	An answer to Dr. Stillingfleet's sermon, by some nonconformists, being the peaceable design renewed wherein the imputation of schism wherewith the doctor hath charged the nonconformists meetings, is removed, their nonconformity justified, and materials for union drawn up together, which will heal both parties.	Humfrey, John, 1621-1719.; Lobb, Stephen, d. 1699.	1680 (1680)	Wing H3668; ESTC R22261	36,018	45

is true there is one instance from Antiquity out of Athanasius of some persons with Ischryas among them whom they would not allow according as these hold to be Ministers because one Coluthus that ordained them was only a Presbyter Unto which may be added the Story of the purblind Bishop in the Hispaline Council Circa An. 656 But we answer in the sense as we remember of Dr. Field on the Church It is one thing what they judged according to their Ecclesiastical Canons and another what we ought to judge according to the Word of God The Scripture makes no difference between Bishop and Presbyter the Superiority and Inferiority arising after in the Church And when we are made Christs Ministers and put in office by him according to his Word how shall that Authority be vacated for something wanting only in the Constitutions of Men Here is a matter of Infinite wrong which the opinion of these Men does us It takes away the Office Christ hath given us and holds it null If it was a grievous thing in the late times to put one of these Ministers out of his Place only what is it to put so many of us out of our Office There is no Person almost of Spirit but will be ready to part with his life as soon as the Honour he holds from the King and shall not the Ordained Minister maintain the Right which he holds from Christ When so many eminent Predecessors to these Bishops and other defenders of this Church have maintained Presbyterian Ordination When the Reformed Churches abroad have no other When the Case was such as that there was no other to be had here in the late times When not we alone then are concerned only in the wrong but our Lord and Master whose cause is it and whose business we are to do and the Souls of so many people We cannot but appeal to the Higher Powers in a matter of so great right and wrong as this is For we are contented to have revised and judged whether the Diocesan Bishop be distinguishedly named in Christs Charter for Ordination as he is in the Canons of Men Or when we have been ordained already as Timothy by the laying on of the hands of Presbytery whether the Lawn be de Essentia to the Ceremony and the Hands avail nothing without the Sleeves on The next thing is the Declaration I A. B. do here declare my unfained assent and consent to all and every thing contained and prescribed in and by the Book Entituled The Book of Common Prayer and the Form of Ordaining Bishops Priests and Deacons That is Assent to all and every thing contained in and Consent to every thing prescribed by these Books Sirs There was a time when that the Nation had the hopeful Overture of a Concord between the Sober of two parties and the Hearts of Most men were in preparation to receive it But alas Instead of such a Gracious and Blessed Issue as was expected we have here the streight Injunction of an Assent and Consent to all Conformity and every thing of it new and old to be approved and obeyed or else one part of the Ministry must be immediately turn'd out How can those now whose Judgments are and have been still for Moderation between both Opinions in times before as now be able to come over to one side altogether on such Terms as these How can these we say make so short a turn as this without the Hazard of some sprain to their Consciences if they do it We cannot tell you perhaps nor are willing to declare the impression which we have upon our Spirits against a going back from that more Spiritual Plain and Simply zealous Service of Almighty God in the way we were in and Reformation we sought unto that Something we are not used to and fear To wit unto a form of worship and Discipline that carrying a countenance of both but being rather only a kind of Idols of them doth seem to us by the shew pomp and complement of the things it contains not to undermine the Life Power and Efficacy of one and the other We cannot tell you perhaps what hath moved us so much from within against an ingulphing with this Generation whether fear of Popery returning on us or aliquid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But we will produce Two or Three Instances a piece against Assent and against Consent to that which is injoyned that we may approve our selves to the Consciences of all as well as our own in refusing this Declaration For our Assent In the Athanasian Creed we find this passage Which Faith except every one does keep whole without doubt he shall perish everlastingly One of the Articles of this Creed is this The Holy Ghost is of the Father and the Son In this Article we know the Greek Church hath differed from the Latin and held That the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father only If we give our Assent then to every thing or passage contained in this Book we must believe the Greek Church undoubtedly Damned And what if some of the Non-conformists as well as of Connformists do believe it not impossible but that some Heathen may be saved What if they cannot think otherwise in regard to the Goodness of God but that whosoever he was or is that walk'd or walks up to his Light in sincerity with a general Repentance for his unseen Errors must by vertue of the Covenant made with Adam faln and Noah no less than the Jews were by the same confirmed with Abraham be in a state of acceptation with God conceiving but both alike for ought they see were ignorant of their Redemption by the Blood of Christ or the means how their Peace was made with him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We have shewn before that Christ is the first begotten of God the Divine Reason Wisdom or Word whereof the whole kind of Mentor the whole stock of Mankind do partake and whosoever lives according to Reason are Christians though they be accounted Heathen or without God such as Socrates Heraclitus and the like Justin Martyr in his second Apology for the Christians We do not day we receive this nor deny it We are though ready to say what was Luthers saying We hope God will be merciful to such a one as Cicero but our duty is to abide by the Word And yet cannot this little Candor it self be used if we must be forced to declare that whosoever believes not the Athanasian Creed must undoubtedly perish Not that other Nonconformists generally make any scruple in this But what do those sober and learned Doctors of the Church think of it who have a name given them upon this account that though they hold some things that agree not with her Articles or Homilies yet they can conform to them or have a Latitude to do it I A. B. do declare my unfained Assent and Consent to every thing contained in the Book of Common Prayer and yet

Laws may be made and Old repealed without alteration of the Constitution but not without Alteration of Government because Government takes in both the Administration and the Constitution Let us suppose therefore the word Government confined only to the Constitution There is the Constitution of the Government in the State which is a Legal Monarchy and this indeed we are so far bound from endeavouring to alter as we think it is not alterable by the King himself and Parliament because the Supream Power for the Administration must be supposed in all Communities to be derived from and held by the Constitution But as for Government in the Church we are to know and acknowledge that the Constitution hereof it self is but a Law of the Administration in reference to the State And consequently when all Laws for the Administration are liable to the Regulation of Parliaments the great Question will remain How those Men who are Presbyterian or In dependent in their Judgment and think Episcopacy against the Scripture can be abridged the Endeavour only afore-mentioned which consists but in choosing Representatives and doing no more than the Constitution allows in order to the Prosecution of what they think themselves obliged to in Conscience both by Oath and the word of God Is not the foundation Liberty of the whole People and our selves with them here in danger Judge ye that are Wise And what an Anointed Plot have we had here on the Nation that an Allegiance in effect should be sworn to the Bishops as well as to the King by such Impositions For the Words then or Form we wonder at this Rigour in the Compiler That a Man must swear not to endeavour any Alteration Had it not been enough to be engaged not to endeavour the Alteration of the Substance of our Government Episcopacy in the Church and Monarchy in the State but it must be not any Alteration It were well we were so absolutely Perfect And again must they not at any time endeavour any Alteration What if Times should turn and we be in a Confusion as we were or any the like Chance or Change come Must these Men be bound up that they cannot endeavour to reduce back this Government that we have No not the King and Bishops if the Iniquity of the Times should put them out for they have sworn they will not at any time endeavour any Alteration in Church or State Sirs The Matter of this Obligation being against the Fundamental Freedom of the Subject and Parliament and the Words you see so ensnaring and that against the Duty all owe to the Publick Good we offer it to you to consider in the first place whether this last part be according to Righteousness For the middle of the Oath Here is a Position of taking Arms by the Kings authority against any Commissionated by him which must be sworn to as abhor'd and traiterous There is now a Case in the mouths of all the understanding Refusers of the Oath and Subscription Suppose some Writ sued out and comes to the Sheriffs hands and suppose some to oppose the Execution by the Kings Personal Command or Commission and he thereupon raises the posse Comitatus upon them We will ask here whether the Sheriff acts not herein by the Kings Authority We think it cannot be denyed By the Kings Authority is all one as by the Law And when he can act so against any for all their Commission and the Law will bear him out how is this position in this case traiterous and to be ahor'd For our parts we do resolutely believe that it was not ever the intent of the Parliament in this Oath the Subscription as to the Major part we may be bold to advance the personal will or Commission of the King above Law which were to make his power Despotical and not Royal. Non est Rex says Bracton ubi dominatur voluntas non Lex He is no King that Governs by his will and not by the Law And how this position indefinitly without exception of this Case at least must be sworn to as altogether Traiterous ☞ we are to learn What if any should come with a Commission under the Seal to raise Money without an Act of Parliament and by vertue of such Commission shall seize our Goods rifle our Houses ' and Ravish our Wives May not the People or our inferior Magistrates or the Sheriff for the County withstand such violence May not the Constable alone by a Warrant from the Justice to keep the Peace raise the Neighbour-hood and do it If he may or the Sheriff may it must be in the Name of the King or by Authority of the Law and then is there some Case or Cases where Arms or Force may be raised by the Authority of the King against such as are Commissionated by him though never against his own Sacred Person Suppose again that Papists or Fanaticks should either by Power or Suprise at any time get the King into their hands as the Duke of Guise once dealt with the French King and prevail with him for fear of his life to grant Commissions under his Hand and Seal destructive to the Church and State must the Nation be remediless in this Case and so the King and Kingdom ruin'd by these Commissions Nay what security hath the Nation that a Lord Keeper may not prove Traytor to his King and Countrey If we may suppose such a thing possible what if such a Lord Keeper should under the Broad Seal grant Commissions to disband his Majesties Life-Guard deliver up the Navy or Sea Port Towns seize the Tower or places or strength in what a condition were the King and Kingdom brought if the Subjects hands be bound up by an Oath not to resist or take Arms against the Execution of such Commissions Suppose but so long as till they understand his design for by that time the whole Nation may be past recovery We are offended at the sense and stand amaze at the Horror of those sad Comsequences into which the Imposition of such like Tests or Injunctions as these if not timely retrenched may lead our Posterity The Courts of Law can avoid the Kings Charters or Commissions which are passed against Law For the King is subject to the Law and sworn to maintain it Judge Jenkens in his Works p. 48. As for the Form then of the Words I abhor this Traiterous Position They are harsh The word Abhor especially is a word of Interest and Passion A cooler word as I disown or disallow might have served Some of the most Grave as Calamy particularly were much offended at that word A man may say a thing is unlawful in his Conscience when he cannot say according to the Truth I Abhor it There is never a Gentleman in the Land but may swear truly That he believes it unlawful to company with any other Woman as his own Wife but if each one was put to swear he Abhors it we suppose some Sons

divers Livings But when Jesus Christ the great Master or the Vineyard does command their labour and that they fe●d the Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made them Overseers there is no such priviledge to be urged but in the nature of the thing it is void There is no Custom no Right no Law if the King Lords and Commons if the whole World should agree to make it that can be of force against the Gospel Nulla datur potestas ad malum There are few of you who are Protestants in either Houses without jealousie that the Romanists were borrowing an Helve for their Hatchet out of the Wood of the Fanaticks and that if they came to obtain their purpose it is not hard to conjecture which Trees were like to go down one after another As those men of the Church therefore are so willing you should do something for the security of your Religion and them it is meet that they should be ready to contribute to it That they who preach the Gospel to others should be perswaded to put the great duty of it which is self-abrenuntiation into practise themselves For that man is not fit to be a Minister of Christ or admitted into his Vineyard at all that does not look more to his Work than to his Penny and seeks not the welfare of Jerusalem above his advancement and had not rather convert one Soul than get two Livings and have a Prebend to spare According to what every mans mind is most upon in his Sphear the publick Interest or his own such is his value more or less However this be whether they are willing or not there is a universale eminens dominium in the Supreme Legislative Authority that puts an end to all Cavll if there arise any de jure privatorum And we will conclude with this That whatsoever things are therefore substantially profitable for the Community and are retarded only by the interest of private persons these are things most truly worthy the Consultation of Parliament God Almighty keep alive the true English publick Spirit God preserve the Protestant Religion and the Person of the King God prosper an accommodation We of the Kings Party says Judge Jenkins did and do detest all Grievances of the People as much as any men living In his Lex Terrae It is a certain truth This Kingdom without an Act of Oblivion and a meet regard had to tender consciences will unavoidably be ruined In the Armies Indempnity I say again That without a Gracious general Pardon from His Majesty and a favour able regard had to tender Consciences there will be neither Truth nor Peace in the Land nor any man secure of any thing that he hath In his Cordial for the good People of London And again in His Declaration for Tryals of Treasons and all Capital Crimes to be by a Jury They that love this Common-wealth will use all means to procure an Act of Oblivion and tender Consciences a just and reasonable satisfaction else we must all perish first or last A Bill Exemplified to the Purpose of these Sheets WHereas there are many Jealousies risen about Popery which makes it even necessary to the Peace of the Nation that the Protestant Interest be united and strengthned by all good and lawful Means And to this end there being this one proper Expedient to wit the removing the Occasioa of Divisions which several Persons do find to themselves in those late Injunctions which yet were intended to the same purpose of Concord in the Nation Be it Enacted That an Explanation of these Impositions and such Alleviations be allowed to the tenderly Considerate and peaceably Scrupulous as follows In the Act of Vniformity By the Declaration of Assent and Consent to all Things and every Thing contained in and prescribed by the Two Books Of Common-Prayer and of Ordering Priests and Deacons we understand not that these Books are in every minute particular infallible or free from that Defect which is incident to all Human Composure but that they are in the main Contents to be sincerely approved and used And we do therefore allow this Declaration to be sufficient if it be made to the use of the Book in the Ordinary Constant Lords-Day Service notwithstanding any Exceptions some may have against some Things in the By-Offices and Occasional-Service the Rubrick and otherwise And for the Ceremonies which are made and have been always and on all hands held to be only indifferent Things we think fit that they be left to the Consciences and Prudence of Ministers and People every where excepting the Cathedrals to use them or forbear them as they judge it most meet for their own and others Edification Provided that if any Person will have his Child Baptized with the Sign of the Cross or stands upon any thing else hitherto required by the Service-Book if the Minister himself scruple the Performance he shall have always some Assistant or Curate ready to do it These Materials were provided during the sitting of that Parliament which passed the Act of Uniformity and other the like Rigorous Acts and are therefore drawn up in the Form of an Explanatory Bill because it was supposed they were not like to Repeal their own Acts though they might be got to Interpret them But now we have a New Parliament and that after another also Dissolved we may expect quicker work Yet will the proposing these Things still to view have their use both for repressing such as have said The Non-conformists know not what they would have and setting some Measure to our own Desires and the Parliaments Condescensions about the same In the same Act By those Words in the Subscription that It is not lawful to take Arms against the King upon any Pretence whatsoever we intend no new or strange Thing but the rightful Maintenance only of the King's Authority against Rebellion according to the common Determination of Learned Writers in the Case of Subjection to Princes By the Words I abhor the Position of taking Arms by the Authority of the King against any Commissionated by him we never thought of Advancing the Arbitrary Commissions of the King above Law but by those Commissionated by him we understand such as are Legally Commissionated and in the Legal Pursuit of such Commission By the Clause which follows that requires a Renunciation of all Endeavour of any Alteration of Government in the Church or State we never meant to deny any Free-Born Subject his Right of Choosing Parliament-Men or Acting in his Place for the Common Good any way according to Law but that he shall Renounce all such Endeavour as is Seditious or not warranted by the Constitution of the Nation and particularly such an Endeavour as was Assumed in the late Times without and against the Consent of the King And for the rest of the Subscription which is enjoyned but to the Year 1682. Be it enacted that it cease presently and be no longer enjoyned Our Reasons for