Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
A55530
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An answer to a letter from a clergyman in the city, to his friend in the country containing his reasons for not reading the declaration.
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Poulton.; Halifax, George Savile, Marquis of, 1633-1695. Letter from a clergyman in the city to his friend in the country.
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1688
(1688)
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Wing P3039; ESTC R25
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16,451
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21
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censure_n of_o the_o people_n for_o read_v it_o since_o the_o business_n admit_v such_o a_o positive_a variety_n of_o opinion_n the_o loyal_a and_o obedient_a may_v read_v it_o but_o the_o scrupulous_a and_o refractory_a will_v not_o well_o then_o if_o the_o case_n be_v so_o the_o city_n clergyman_n shall_v have_v do_v well_o to_o have_v reserve_v his_o nicety_n and_o slice_a of_o signification_n to_o himself_o and_o not_o have_v go_v about_o so_o zealous_o to_o spread_v the_o infection_n of_o his_o scruple_n to_o the_o discouragement_n of_o other_o but_o he_o have_v pass_v the_o rubicon_n and_o will_v forward_o letter_n to_o return_v then_o to_o our_o argument_n if_o read_v the_o declaration_n in_o our_o church_n be_v in_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o action_n in_o the_o intention_n of_o the_o command_n in_o the_o opinion_n of_o the_o people_n a_o interpretative_a consent_n to_o it_o i_o think_v myself_o bind_v in_o conscience_n not_o to_o read_v it_o because_o i_o be_o bind_v in_o conscience_n not_o to_o approve_v it_o answer_n to_o this_o the_o loyal_a gentleman_n that_o read_v it_o reply_n that_o if_o read_v the_o declaration_n in_o their_o church_n be_v neither_o in_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o action_n nor_o in_o the_o intention_n of_o the_o command_n nor_o in_o the_o opinion_n of_o the_o people_n a_o interpretative_a consent_n to_o it_o they_o think_v themselves_o bind_v in_o conscience_n to_o read_v it_o because_o they_o be_v bind_v in_o conscience_n to_o approve_v it_o but_o say_v he_o letter_n it_o be_v against_o the_o constitution_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n which_o be_v establish_v by_o law_n and_o to_o which_o i_o have_v subscribe_v and_o therefore_o be_o bind_v in_o conscience_n to_o teach_v nothing_o contrary_a to_o it_o while_o this_o obligation_n last_v answer_n he_o must_v of_o necessity_n allow_v the_o constitution_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n to_o be_v a_o strange_a uncharitable_a constition_n that_o will_v not_o allow_v liberty_n of_o conscience_n to_o any_o but_o itself_o and_o it_o be_v his_o misfortune_n that_o he_o have_v subscribe_v to_o a_o church_n that_o want_v the_o bond_n of_o perfection_n which_o be_v the_o reason_n that_o many_o believe_v he_o mistake_v the_o constitution_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n letter_n it_o be_v to_o teach_v a_o unlimited_a and_o universal_a toleration_n which_o the_o parliament_n in_o 72._o declare_v illegal_a and_o which_o have_v be_v condemn_v by_o the_o christian_a church_n in_o all_o age_n answer_n what_o the_o parliament_n declare_v in_o 72_o signify_v nothing_o against_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n which_o all_o along_o declare_v the_o contrary_a and_o whereas_o the_o gentleman_n be_v please_v to_o say_v that_o universal_a toleration_n have_v be_v condemn_v by_o the_o christian_a church_n in_o all_o age_n there_o be_v nothing_o more_o contrary_a to_o the_o infinite_a say_n of_o the_o primitive_a father_n and_o their_o successor_n and_o that_o celebrate_a maxim_n of_o tertullian_n religionis_fw-la non_fw-la est_fw-la religionem_fw-la cogere_fw-la letter_n it_o be_v to_o teach_v my_o people_n that_o they_o need_v never_o come_v to_o church_n more_o but_o have_v my_o free_a leave_n as_o they_o have_v the_o king_n be_v to_o go_v to_o a_o conventicle_n or_o to_o mass._n answer_n this_o be_v like_a cardinal_n wolsey_n ego_fw-la &_o rex_fw-la his_o leave_n and_o the_o king_n be_v but_o they_o be_v a_o sorry_a sort_n of_o people_n that_o do_v not_o know_v already_o that_o a_o rector_n of_o a_o parish_n be_v no_o sovereign_n but_o that_o the_o people_n may_v come_v and_o go_v where_o they_o please_v without_o his_o leave_n letter_n it_o be_v to_o teach_v the_o dispense_v power_n which_o alter_v what_o have_v be_v former_o think_v the_o whole_a constitution_n of_o this_o church_n and_o kingdom_n which_o we_o dare_v not_o do_v till_o we_o have_v the_o authority_n of_o parliament_n for_o it_o answer_n it_o seem_v the_o king_n authority_n signify_v nothing_o with_o this_o city_n clergyman_n but_o if_o he_o have_v the_o authority_n of_o parliament_n for_o it_o he_o will_v stretch_v his_o conscience_n and_o read_v the_o declaration_n in_o the_o mean_a time_n the_o king_n be_v dispensive_a power_n be_v no_o business_n for_o a_o man_n in_o his_o station_n to_o meddle_v with_o nor_o be_v he_o to_o be_v such_o a_o judge_n of_o royal_a declaration_n as_o to_o be_v the_o interpreter_n of_o their_o mean_v or_o intention_n that_o power_n be_v not_o within_o the_o verge_n of_o his_o desk_n or_o pulpit_n either_o neither_o can_v the_o authority_n of_o parliament_n warrant_v any_o such_o boldness_n among_o ecclesiastic_n letter_n it_o be_v to_o recommend_v to_o our_o people_n the_o choice_n of_o such_o person_n to_o sit_v its_o parliament_n as_o shall_v take_v away_o the_o test_n and_o penal_a law_n which_o most_o of_o the_o nobility_n and_o gentry_n of_o the_o nation_n have_v declare_v their_o judgement_n against_o answer_n then_o not_o to_o read_v the_o declaration_n be_v to_o recommend_v to_o the_o people_n the_o choice_n of_o such_o person_n as_o shall_v not_o take_v away_o the_o test_n and_o penal_a law_n as_o if_o the_o people_n election_n of_o parliament_n man_n depend_v upon_o the_o recommendation_n of_o the_o city-clergyman_n but_o the_o declaration_n require_v no_o such_o officious_a recommendation_n from_o they_o and_o therefore_o the_o gentleman_n may_v have_v spare_v his_o compliment_n to_o the_o nobility_n and_o gentry_n letter_n it_o be_v to_o condemn_v all_o those_o great_a and_o worthy_a patriot_n of_o their_o country_n who_o forfeit_v the_o dear_a thing_n in_o the_o world_n to_o they_o next_o a_o good_a conscience_n viz._n the_o favour_n of_o their_o prince_n and_o a_o great_a many_o honourable_a and_o profitable_a employment_n with_o it_o rather_o than_o consent_v to_o that_o proposal_n of_o take_v away_o the_o test_n and_o penal_a law_n which_o they_o apprehend_v destructive_a to_o the_o church_n of_o england_n and_o the_o protestant_a religion_n and_o he_o who_o can_v in_o conscience_n do_v all_o this_o i_o think_v need_n scruple_n nothing_o answer_n the_o nobility_n and_o gentry_n be_v mighty_o behold_v to_o the_o city-clergyman_n for_o his_o kind_a encomium_n but_o whether_o they_o will_v have_v think_v it_o any_o condemnation_n of_o their_o resolution_n in_o reference_n to_o the_o penal_a law_n and_o test_n be_v uncertain_a for_o the_o nobility_n and_o gentry_n do_v not_o depend_v upon_o this_o gentleman_n divinity_n their_o motion_n and_o the_o circumstance_n that_o guide_v their_o action_n be_v of_o a_o high_a nature_n than_o to_o care_n for_o the_o condemnation_n of_o their_o chaplain_n however_o if_o the_o nobility_n and_o gentry_n be_v so_o kind_a to_o do_v what_o they_o do_v for_o their_o sake_n the_o city-clergyman_n have_v ill_o retaliate_v their_o favour_n to_o lay_v the_o load_n of_o his_o actual_a disobedience_n upon_o the_o shoulder_n of_o the_o nobility_n and_o gentry_n of_o the_o nation_n but_o now_o he_o be_v come_v to_o his_o effect_n and_o ill_a consequence_n for_o say_v he_o letter_n for_o let_v we_o consider_v further_o what_o the_o effect_n and_o consequence_n of_o our_o read_v the_o declaration_n be_v likely_a to_o be_v and_o i_o think_v they_o be_v matter_n of_o conscience_n too_o when_o they_o be_v evident_a and_o apparent_a this_o will_v certain_o render_v our_o person_n and_o ministry_n infinite_o contemptible_a which_o be_v against_o that_o apostolic_a canon_n let_v no_o man_n despise_v thou_o tit._n 2._o 15._o that_o be_v so_o to_o behave_v himself_o in_o his_o ministerial_a office_n as_o not_o to_o fall_v under_o contempt_n and_o therefore_o this_o oblige_v the_o conscience_n not_o to_o make_v ourselves_o ridiculous_a nor_o to_o render_v our_o ministry_n our_o counsel_n exhortation_n preach_v write_v of_o no_o effect_n which_o be_v a_o thousand_o time_n worse_o than_o be_v silence_v our_o suffering_n will_v preach_v more_o effectual_o to_o the_o people_n when_o we_o can_v speak_v to_o they_o but_o he_o who_o for_o fear_n or_o cowardice_n or_o the_o love_n of_o this_o world_n betray_v his_o church_n and_o religion_n by_o undue_a compliance_n and_o will_v certain_o be_v think_v to_o do_v so_o may_v continue_v to_o preach_v but_o to_o no_o purpose_n and_o when_o we_o have_v render_v ourselves_o ridiculous_a and_o contemptible_a we_o shall_v then_o quick_o fall_v and_o fall_v unpitied_a answer_n he_o be_v now_o wrap_v up_o in_o the_o spirit_n of_o prophecy_n what_o strange_a thing_n will_v befall_v he_o for_o read_v the_o declaration_n which_o he_o call_v a_o betray_v the_o church_n by_o undue_a compliance_n but_o the_o prophet_n mistake_v the_o point_n that_o render_v the_o ministerial_a office_n he_o mean_v ridiculous_a for_o while_o they_o keep_v to_o the_o business_n of_o sound_a doctrine_n and_o mere_o true_a divinity_n there_o be_v not_o a_o more_o profound_a or_o learned_a clergy_n in_o the_o world_n than_o