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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
authority_n bishop_n church_n jurisdiction_n 5,357 5 9.3309 5 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A33899 A brief essay concerning the independency of church-power Collier, Jeremy, 1650-1726. 1692 (1692) Wing C5244; ESTC R16602 9,933 18

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have_v entrust_v it_o with_o lest_o of_o all_o can_v we_o imagine_v he_o will_v build_v it_o upon_o a_o sandy_a foundation_n and_o make_v it_o depend_v upon_o the_o arbitrary_a power_n of_o its_o enemy_n our_o saviour_n foresee_v that_o all_o the_o prince_n of_o the_o world_n will_v disbelieve_v and_o many_o of_o they_o persecute_v his_o doctrine_n for_o several_a age_n together_o and_o therefore_o will_v be_v very_o improper_a person_n to_o have_v be_v trust_v with_o the_o sovereign_a administration_n of_o ecclesiastical_a affair_n have_v the_o government_n of_o the_o church_n be_v derive_v from_o they_o or_o depend_v upon_o their_o allowance_n christianity_n have_v be_v a_o very_a short_a live_v religion_n and_o never_o out-grown_a its_o infancy_n in_o this_o case_n the_o public_a assembly_n ordination_n sacrament_n and_o discipline_n must_v have_v lie_v at_o the_o mercy_n of_o unbeliever_n and_o the_o clergy_n ought_v not_o to_o have_v execute_v their_o function_n nor_o take_v care_n of_o their_o flock_n unless_o the_o civil_a magistrate_n will_v have_v give_v they_o leave_v for_o if_o the_o spiritual_a supremacy_n be_v the_o right_n of_o prince_n though_o they_o may_v possible_o abuse_v the_o management_n of_o this_o prerogative_n yet_o it_o ought_v to_o lie_v absolute_o at_o their_o disposal_n and_o under_o their_o regulation_n and_o for_o any_o person_n to_o meddle_v in_o ecclesiastical_a matter_n without_o a_o commission_n from_o they_o but_o especial_o against_o their_o command_n will_v be_v a_o open_a violation_n of_o their_o right_n which_o no_o man_n ought_v to_o be_v guilty_a of_o though_o for_o the_o support_n of_o the_o best_a religion_n because_o we_o ought_v not_o to_o do_v ill_o that_o good_a may_v come_v of_o it_o and_o since_o no_o society_n can_v subsist_v without_o government_n and_o discipline_n if_o the_o bishop_n can_v exercise_v no_o spiritual_a authority_n without_o a_o lay-permission_n it_o will_v be_v in_o the_o civil_a magistrate_n 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unaltered_a however_o let_v we_o put_v the_o case_n for_o we_o may_v suppose_v any_o thing_n that_o the_o deprive_v authority_n be_v itself_o defective_a
and_o illegal_a and_o no_o less_o a_o breach_n of_o the_o constitution_n than_o a_o encroachment_n upon_o the_o church_n suppose_v far_o that_o the_o public_a prayer_n be_v stuff_v with_o immoral_a petition_n that_o god_n be_v make_v a_o party_n to_o injustice_n and_o invoke_v to_o prosper_v that_o which_o he_o have_v threaten_v to_o punish_v such_o singular_a mixture_n as_o these_o must_v give_v the_o service_n a_o very_a ill_a complexion_n and_o make_v devotion_n look_v like_o a_o solemn_a iniquity_n to_o say_v we_o dont_fw-fr join_v in_o the_o exceptionable_a petition_n be_v no_o answer_n first_o because_o the_o notion_n of_o communion_n the_o prayer_n in_o their_o form_n and_o rubric_n suppose_v the_o contrary_n second_o if_o we_o may_v join_v in_o communion_n where_o some_o part_n of_o the_o worship_n be_v sinful_a then_o by_o parity_n of_o reason_n we_o may_v communicate_v with_o all_o sort_n of_o christian_n and_o not_o only_o so_o but_o with_o jew_n and_o mahometan_n because_o all_o these_o division_n of_o religion_n acknowledge_v the_o same_o god_n and_o have_v many_o thing_n which_o be_v pious_a and_o commendable_a in_o their_o worship_n but_o this_o part_n of_o the_o argument_n have_v receive_v satisfaction_n from_o a_o good_a hand_n already_o need_v not_o be_v pursue_v any_o far_o i_o shall_v therefore_o make_v two_o or_o three_o remark_n and_o so_o conclude_v first_o this_o spiritual_a independency_n of_o the_o church_n can_v give_v no_o just_a ground_n of_o jealousy_n to_o the_o state_n prince_n need_v not_o to_o be_v awaken_v into_o any_o suspicion_n of_o be_v disturb_v in_o their_o administration_n or_o have_v any_o part_n of_o their_o prerogative_n wrest_v from_o they_o this_o privilege_n pretend_v to_o no_o temporal_a jurisdiction_n but_o leave_v all_o the_o branch_n of_o justice_n and_o property_n to_o the_o civil_a magistrate_n it_o never_o offer_v to_o support_v itself_o by_o violence_n but_o give_v up_o seditious_a churchman_n to_o the_o correction_n of_o the_o state_n as_o well_o as_o other_o it_o allow_v no_o liberty_n to_o dethrone_v prince_n for_o misfortune_n of_o belief_n it_o teach_v no_o man_n to_o be_v false_a and_o treacherous_a for_o the_o sake_n of_o religion_n nor_o find_v any_o merit_n upon_o ingratitude_n and_o rebellion_n in_o short_a this_o authority_n relate_v only_o to_o conscience_n and_o though_o it_o may_v challenge_v obedience_n within_o a_o proper_a compass_n and_o the_o contempt_n of_o it_o will_v be_v deep_o revenge_v hereafter_o yet_o since_o there_o be_v no_o force_n claim_v for_o the_o execution_n of_o its_o censure_n it_o must_v be_v perfect_o inoffensive_a here_o second_o since_o even_o the_o inferior_a clergy_n be_v with_o respect_n to_o their_o spiritual_a authority_n independent_a of_o prince_n certain_o private_a person_n though_o never_o so_o considerable_a shall_v allow_v they_o the_o same_o advantage_n churchman_n we_o see_v have_v their_o authority_n from_o god_n and_o be_v therefore_o his_o minister_n not_o the_o people_n the_o branch_n of_o their_o office_n such_o as_o instruction_n absolution_n and_o blessing_n imply_v super-intendency_a and_o power_n and_o ought_v not_o to_o come_v under_o a_o servile_a character_n for_o as_o on_o the_o one_o side_n it_o be_v a_o fault_n to_o grow_v vain_a upon_o their_o relation_n to_o neglect_v the_o mean_a christian_n or_o as_o the_o apostle_n speak_v to_o be_v have_v themselves_o as_o lord_n over_o god_n heritage_n 1_o s._n pet._n 5._o 3._o so_o it_o be_v no_o less_o on_o the_o other_o to_o prostitute_v their_o function_n to_o greatness_n and_o make_v themselves_o servant_n to_o ceremony_n and_o state_n and_o without_o doubt_n they_o may_v find_v other_o way_n of_o pay_v a_o due_a regard_n to_o person_n without_o make_v themselves_o and_o religion_n ridiculous_a neither_o will_v the_o consideration_n of_o money_n or_o entertainment_n degrade_v their_o character_n and_o make_v they_o belong_v to_o those_o of_o who_o they_o receive_v it_o for_o money_n be_v give_v to_o parent_n to_o prince_n and_o to_o god_n himself_o and_o therefore_o do_v not_o always_o suppose_v subjection_n in_o the_o receiver_n when_o micah_n contract_v with_o the_o levite_n to_o perform_v the_o office_n of_o religion_n in_o his_o family_n he_o be_v far_o from_o think_v he_o entertain_v a_o servant_n as_o we_o may_v see_v judge_n 17._o 10._o dwell_v with_o i_o and_o be_v unto_o i_o a_o father_n and_o a_o priest_n and_o i_o will_v give_v thou_o ten_o shekel_n of_o silver_n etc._n etc._n and_o as_o for_o the_o obligation_n st._n paul_n think_v there_o be_v a_o fair_a equivalent_a return_v as_o we_o may_v perceive_v by_o his_o question_n if_o we_o have_v sow●_n unto_o you_o spiritual_a thing_n be_v it_o a_o great_a thing_n if_o we_o shall_v reap_v your_o carnal_a thing_n 1_o cor._n 9_o 11._o indeed_o the_o notion_n of_o a_o priest_n suppose_v a_o peculiar_a and_o incommunicable_a relation_n to_o god_n almighty_a and_o in_o this_o sense_n natural_a as_o well_o as_o reveal_v religion_n have_v understand_v it_o the_o roman_a emperor_n though_o they_o be_v vain_a enough_o yet_o never_o pretend_v to_o have_v priest_n belong_v to_o they_o till_o they_o be_v dead_a and_o deify_v and_o if_o any_o be_v so_o extravagant_a as_o to_o exceed_v the_o pride_n of_o a_o heathen_a emperor_n though_o in_o charity_n we_o ought_v to_o pray_v for_o they_o yet_o i_o be_o afraid_a it_o be_v to_o little_a purpose_n to_o pray_v with_o they_o three_o the_o clergy_n ought_v to_o form_v assembly_n for_o the_o service_n of_o god_n since_o our_o late_a brethren_n have_v dispossess_v we_o of_o our_o own_o church_n and_o make_v it_o impracticable_a to_o come_v to_o they_o since_o violence_n have_v remove_v we_o from_o the_o one_o and_o schism_n from_o the_o other_o since_o we_o be_v banish_v the_o holy_a ground_n and_o drive_v from_o the_o place_n where_o god_n honour_n use_v to_o dwell_v since_o we_o can_v perform_v his_o worship_n with_o those_o circumstance_n of_o advantage_n with_o that_o magnificence_n and_o solemnity_n which_o be_v to_o be_v wish_v let_v we_o carry_v the_o opportunity_n as_o far_o as_o it_o will_v reach_v and_o do_v our_o duty_n in_o the_o best_a manner_n we_o can_v god_n as_o the_o scripture_n speak_v be_v not_o confine_v to_o temple_n make_v with_o hand_n in_o a_o state_n of_o hardship_n necessity_n and_o devotion_n may_v consecrate_v and_o the_o primitive_a upper-room_n will_v not_o be_v unacceptable_a above_o all_o thing_n let_v we_o take_v care_n not_o to_o neglect_v the_o service_n of_o god_n lest_o we_o grow_v indifferent_a to_o all_o religion_n and_o by_o avoid_v schism_n sink_v into_o profaneness_n it_o be_v not_o the_o danger_n of_o suffer_v will_v excuse_v we_o for_o it_o be_v in_o a_o time_n of_o persecution_n when_o the_o apostle_n charge_v the_o hebrew_n not_o to_o forsake_v the_o assemble_v themselves_o together_o heb._n 10._o 25._o many_o be_v the_o advantage_n of_o public_a worship_n above_o that_o which_o be_v perform_v in_o private_a by_o the_o former_a we_o pay_v a_o more_o solemn_a homage_n to_o god_n and_o make_v a_o more_o open_a acknowledgement_n of_o our_o dependency_n in_o our_o joint_n and_o uniform_a petition_n we_o declare_v the_o harmony_n of_o our_o judgement_n and_o the_o extent_n of_o our_o charity_n and_o that_o we_o be_v willing_a to_o assist_v each_o other_o at_o the_o throne_n of_o grace_n beside_o the_o occasion_n of_o come_v and_o the_o example_n of_o those_o that_o come_v be_v not_o without_o their_o advantage_n these_o circumstance_n be_v apt_a to_o keep_v up_o attention_n and_o improve_v good_a disposition_n and_o make_v we_o more_o affect_v with_o the_o impression_n of_o religion_n far_o by_o our_o unite_a prayer_n we_o may_v hope_v for_o a_o great_a support_n from_o heaven_n than_o from_o single_a and_o solitary_a devotion_n it_o be_v upon_o assembly_n that_o the_o miraculous_a gift_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n be_v bestow_v as_o we_o may_v learn_v from_o several_a place_n of_o scripture_n act_v 2._o 2._o 4._o 31._o 10._o 44._o and_o though_o since_o our_o religion_n have_v be_v full_o confirm_v these_o extraordinary_a assistance_n have_v be_v withdraw_v yet_o when_o we_o meet_v in_o obedience_n to_o god_n command_n when_o we_o serve_v he_o with_o the_o great_a reverence_n and_o resolution_n we_o may_v reasonable_o expect_v a_o proportionable_a blessing_n and_o as_o the_o public_a service_n be_v more_o beneficial_a so_o the_o use_n of_o they_o can_v never_o be_v more_o necessary_a than_o when_o the_o church_n lie_v under_o disorder_n and_o distress_n when_o atheism_n grow_v upon_o we_o when_o virtue_n seem_v ready_a to_o expire_v and_o the_o faithful_a fall_n from_o among_o the_o child_n of_o man_n when_o temptation_n have_v the_o great_a weight_n and_o perseverance_n be_v press_v and_o we_o can_v maintain_v our_o innocency_n without_o more_o than_o ordinary_a difficulty_n then_o be_v the_o proper_a time_n to_o call_v in_o all_o the_o aid_n of_o religion_n and_o to_o put_v our_o devotion_n in_o the_o b●st_a posture_n of_o advantage_n upon_o such_o a_o melancholy_a occasion_n we_o have_v need_n if_o ever_o to_o unite_v our_o prayer_n and_o frequent_v the_o sacrament_n and_o fortify_v our_o mind_n with_o all_o the_o support_v of_o mutual_a and_o supernatural_a assistance_n to_o stand_v off_o from_o danger_n and_o confine_v ourselves_o to_o the_o number_n of_o security_n and_o be_v fright_v from_o public_a communion_n look_n like_o the_o conduct_n of_o a_o army_n that_o disband_n at_o the_o approach_n of_o a_o enemy_n the_o honour_n of_o god_n and_o the_o good_a of_o the_o church_n be_v without_o doubt_n best_o promote_v by_o a_o open_a profession_n by_o resolution_n and_o religious_a bravery_n those_o who_o thus_o distinguish_v themselves_o carry_v light_a and_o heat_n in_o their_o example_n they_o awaken_v inquiry_n and_o encourage_v imitation_n and_o transfuse_v a_o spirit_n of_o greatness_n into_o other_o now_o the_o interest_n of_o another_o world_n all_o christian_n grant_v to_o be_v incomparable_o the_o great_a and_o where_o there_o be_v no_o proportion_n in_o the_o value_n one_o will_v think_v there_o shall_v be_v no_o difficulty_n in_o the_o choice_n let_v nothing_o therefore_o discourage_v we_o in_o our_o duty_n for_o whatever_o worldly_a inconvenience_n may_v happen_v we_o may_v be_v assure_v of_o the_o divine_a protection_n and_o beside_o the_o future_a reward_n of_o constancy_n and_o patience_n we_o shall_v have_v the_o present_a satisfaction_n of_o suffer_v for_o the_o best_a cause_n and_o the_o best_a communion_n print_a in_o the_o year_n 1692._o