Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	ancient_a	church_n	time_n	1,721	5	3.2471	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A75377	An account of the methods and motives of the late union and submission to the assembly offered and subscribed by Mr. Thomas Lining, Mr. Allexander Sheilds, Mr. William Boyd		1691 (1691)	Wing A324B; ESTC R229748	40,969	47

union_n and_o communion_n until_o those_o that_o remain_v shall_v be_v reform_v and_o the_o former_a condemn_v but_o rather_o think_v it_o expedient_a to_o unite_n that_o they_o may_v be_v the_o soonner_fw-fr reform_a as_o it_o be_v more_o probable_a we_o may_v soon_o obtain_v a_o reformation_n of_o the_o present_a and_o a_o condemnation_n of_o past_a corruption_n in_o a_o unite_a way_n then_o in_o a_o divide_a way_n it_o be_v foolish_a to_o expect_v the_o church_n can_v be_v settle_v without_o corruption_n all_o at_o once_o in_o one_o day_n or_o one_o year_n but_o must_v crave_v time_n as_o the_o build_n of_o solomon_n temple_n and_o the_o second_o temple_n after_o the_o babylonish_n captivity_n which_o be_v not_o accomplish_v in_o several_a year_n nor_o can_v it_o be_v plant_v over_o again_o all_o at_o once_o no_o more_o then_o in_o joshuas_n day_n or_o the_o judge_n or_o in_o the_o time_n of_o the_o reform_a king_n of_o judah_n until_o the_o canaanite_n &_o other_o enemy_n be_v subdue_v nor_o can_v it_o be_v purge_v total_o altogether_o but_o gradual_o lest_o it_o be_v in_o hazard_n of_o a_o superpurgation_n 3._o it_o be_v ever_o our_o judgement_n that_o division_n be_v a_o great_a misery_n and_o when_o unnecessary_a and_o unseasonable_a a_o great_a sin_n and_o even_o when_o we_o can_v not_o avoid_v it_o we_o be_v weary_a of_o it_o and_o long_v and_o pray_v for_o a_o time_n of_o heal_a and_o a_o opportunity_n of_o bring_v it_o to_o a_o close_a but_o if_o ever_o there_o be_v a_o time_n when_o division_n be_v a_o misery_n and_o a_o sin_n because_o unnecessary_a and_o unseasonable_a now_o it_o be_v and_o if_o ever_o there_o be_v a_o opportunity_n of_o heal_a now_o there_o be_v when_o the_o cause_n and_o occasion_n of_o our_o division_n be_v remove_v and_o antiquate_v when_o the_o object_n of_o they_o be_v so_o far_o alter_v that_o the_o providence_n of_o this_o day_n call_v and_o encourage_v all_o divide_a party_n among_o presbyterian_o to_o contend_v together_o for_o the_o common_a reformation_n against_o the_o common_a adversary_n when_o the_o sad_a effect_n of_o they_o have_v make_v all_o the_o godly_a weary_a of_o they_o and_o the_o future_a effect_n of_o their_o continuance_n at_o this_o time_n more_o to_o be_v fear_v then_o ever_o when_o the_o wicked_a contrivance_n of_o enemy_n to_o divide_v and_o destroy_v the_o church_n and_o hinder_v its_o reformation_n be_v so_o many_o and_o mighty_a when_o error_n and_o ignorance_n make_v the_o people_n a_o prey_n be_v so_o abound_v when_o also_o the_o proper_a remedy_n of_o they_o be_v now_o in_o our_o offer_n have_v a_o nail_n grant_v to_o we_o in_o the_o holy_a place_n to_o set_v up_o the_o house_n of_o our_o god_n and_o to_o repair_v the_o desolation_n thereof_o by_o access_n to_o assembly_n and_o when_o thing_n be_v now_o come_v so_o such_o a_o chock_n and_o crisis_n that_o if_o there_o be_v not_o present_a application_n of_o the_o remedy_n and_o some_o endeavour_n use_v for_o union_n now_o in_o the_o tide_n of_o it_o the_o breach_n in_o all_o probability_n will_v grow_v wide_a and_o more_o incurable_a when_o we_o consider_v both_o the_o mercy_n of_o the_o time_n the_o matter_n of_o praise_n bring_v forth_o so_o many_o considerable_a advantage_n to_o the_o cause_n and_o our_o selus_fw-la we_o can_v not_o but_o think_v ourselves_o call_v to_o another_o work_n than_o break_v what_o god_n be_v heal_v and_o retard_v the_o work_n by_o our_o division_n and_o when_o we_o consider_v the_o misery_n of_o the_o time_n and_o matter_n of_o mourn_a the_o past_a and_o present_a cause_n and_o effect_n of_o the_o lord_n anger_n burn_v up_o &_o like_v to_o consume_v this_o church_n and_o kingdom_n we_o can_v not_o but_o see_v other_o work_n shape_v out_o to_o we_o than_o this_o bite_a and_o devour_v one_o another_o when_o the_o lord_n in_o his_o holy_a judgement_n &_o the_o antichristian_a party_n in_o their_o wicked_a design_n be_v threaten_v to_o devout_a we_o all_o 4._o we_o be_v always_o of_o the_o opinion_n that_o holy_a union_n be_v a_o necessary_a duty_n and_o comfortable_a blessing_n be_v so_o frequent_o command_v commend_v promise_v and_o pray_v for_o as_o a_o blessing_n and_o the_o want_n of_o it_o threaten_v and_o lament_v as_o a_o misery_n in_o scripture_n and_o as_o we_o always_o pray_v for_o it_o and_o long_v for_o it_o and_o bemoan_v the_o miss_n of_o it_o so_o we_o always_o desire_v that_o it_o shall_v be_v and_o wait_v until_o we_o obtain_v access_n to_o get_v it_o qualify_v as_o the_o scripture_n require_v it_o that_o it_o may_v be_v both_o happy_a &_o holy_a and_o as_o aaron_n precious_a ointment_n that_o run_v down_o to_o the_o skirt_n of_o his_o garment_n compose_v according_a to_o divine_a art_n make_v up_o not_o of_o carnal_a and_o corrupt_a politic_n in_o a_o sinful_a confederacy_n or_o conspiracy_n for_o defection_n but_o compose_v of_o gospel_n simple_n by_o the_o wisdom_n which_o be_v from_o above_o first_o pure_a then_o peaceable_a that_o it_o may_v be_v in_o the_o lord_n and_o for_o the_o lord_n in_o truth_n and_o holiness_n have_v pure_a love_n for_o its_o motive_n bond_n and_o beauty_n christ_n for_o its_o foundation_n and_o his_o word_n for_o its_o rule_n but_o tho'_o we_o can_v not_o get_v every_o thing_n in_o this_o present_a union_n that_o may_v make_v it_o comfortable_a and_o acceptable_a to_o all_o nor_o every_o thing_n remove_v that_o be_v gravaminous_a and_o impair_v its_o comfort_n yet_o we_o know_v nothing_o in_o the_o matter_n of_o it_o which_o be_v offensive_a upon_o the_o account_n of_o its_o sinfulness_n for_o it_o will_v abide_v the_o trial_n of_o these_o repuired_a qualification_n it_o be_v not_o a_o union_n of_o confederacy_n in_o compliance_n with_o wicked_a usurpation_n but_o in_o subjection_n to_o the_o church_n intrinsic_a power_n and_o in_o the_o use_n and_o enjoyment_n of_o the_o church_n liberty_n it_o be_v not_o a_o union_n of_o conspiracy_n in_o deformation_n but_o in_o endeavour_n to_o promote_v reformation_n it_o be_v not_o a_o union_n in_o or_o with_o or_o under_o prelacy_n supremacy_n or_o tyranny_n indulgence_n or_o toleration_n etc._n etc._n but_o in_o and_z with_o and_o under_o presbyterial_a government_n which_o be_v a_o holy_a ordinance_n of_o christ_n it_o be_v not_o a_o union_n that_o obstruct_v any_o duty_n forego_v any_o truth_n or_o involve_v we_o in_o any_o sin_n it_o be_v not_o a_o union_n with_o sin_n tho'_o it_o be_v of_o sinner_n with_o sinner_n now_o mutual_o return_v to_o their_o common_a duty_n all_o the_o common_a rule_n of_o approven_v union_n agree_v in_o this_o there_o be_v no_o ground_n of_o division_n stand_v which_o can_v warrant_v a_o breach_n if_o there_o have_v be_v none_o before_o and_o therefore_o there_o be_v no_o ground_n to_o continue_v it_o in_o the_o present_a circumstance_n there_o be_v nothing_o in_o it_o to_o involve_v we_o in_o the_o guilt_n of_o past_a or_o present_a sin_n of_o the_o time_n there_o be_v nothing_o in_o it_o oblige_v we_o to_o condemn_v duty_n or_o justify_v sin_n or_o restrain_v we_o from_o any_o duty_n we_o be_v call_v to_o we_o be_v neither_o require_v to_o justify_v defection_n nor_o to_o condemn_v our_o testimony_n against_o they_o nor_o to_o subscribe_v to_o any_o sinful_a imposition_n in_o the_o term_n of_o communion_n put_v we_o in_o hazard_n of_o partake_v with_o any_o sin_n on_o the_o contrare_fw-la we_o be_v allow_v to_o exhibit_v our_o remonstrance_n and_o testimony_n against_o all_o the_o past_a or_o present_a corruption_n stumble_v to_o we_o and_o no_o other_o basis_n be_v state_v whereupon_o we_o unite_v but_o the_o word_n of_o god_n confession_n of_o faith_n book_n of_o discipline_n act_n of_o general_a assembly_n national_a and_o solemn_a covenant_n and_o the_o whole_a contexture_n of_o the_o ancient_a order_n of_o this_o church_n 5._o we_o always_o think_v indeed_o a_o testimony_n be_v needful_a against_o all_o the_o defection_n of_o the_o time_n and_o that_o this_o be_v not_o to_o be_v recede_v from_o nor_o bury_v in_o oblivion_n we_o be_v of_o the_o same_o mind_n still_o and_o if_o union_n can_v not_o have_v be_v obtain_v on_o any_o other_o term_n than_o such_o as_o impose_v the_o recede_a from_o or_o condemn_v of_o our_o former_a testimony_n against_o defection_n we_o will_v neither_o have_v seek_v it_o nor_o embrace_v it_o but_o as_o the_o particular_a testimony_n of_o every_o time_n in_o several_a respect_n must_v change_v with_o the_o time_n according_a as_o the_o enemy_n of_o truth_n change_v their_o assault_n &_o weapon_n against_o it_o and_o defection_n from_o it_o perversion_n of_o it_o and_o contradiction_n to_o it_o do_v vary_v and_o as_o it_o can_v never_o be_v bury_v so_o long_o as_o all_o truth_n and_o duty_n be_v witness_v for_o and_o error_n and_o sin_n be_v witness_v against_o by_o we_o in_o our_o respective_a station_n and_o nothing_o be_v condemn_v by_o we_o that_o be_v approve_v before_o nor_o approve_v that_o be_v condemn_v before_o and_o there_o be_v no_o engagement_n to_o forebear_v any_o duty_n so_o have_v be_v allow_v to_o exhibit_v our_o testimony_n to_o a_o assembly_n in_o a_o more_o public_a manner_n than_o ever_o we_o have_v access_n before_o and_o be_v not_o require_v nor_o resolve_v to_o alter_v the_o matter_n of_o our_o testimony_n only_o the_o manner_n of_o it_o by_o separation_n we_o think_v our_o present_a union_n and_o submission_n be_v so_o far_o from_o bury_v our_o testimony_n against_o defection_n that_o it_o tend_v much_o for_o its_o honour_n to_o give_v occasion_n of_o record_v it_o that_o such_o a_o people_n continue_v it_o always_o under_o all_o discouragement_n and_o difficulty_n while_o deffection_n stand_v but_o as_o soon_o as_o ever_o they_o find_v themselves_o in_o any_o capacity_n to_o join_v with_o the_o ministry_n without_o sin_n they_o have_v such_o respect_n to_o the_o ordinance_n and_o the_o peace_n of_o the_o church_n that_o they_o will_v no_o long_o separate_a notwithstanding_o all_o former_a provocation_n on_o the_o other_o hand_n we_o think_v to_o continue_v division_n and_o separtion_n at_o the_o time_n will_v tend_v rather_o to_o the_o scandal_n and_o reproach_n of_o all_o our_o former_a witnessing_n than_o to_o the_o strengthen_n of_o the_o same_o for_o it_o may_v verify_v what_o use_v to_o be_v allege_v against_o we_o that_o we_o maintain_v such_o principle_n as_o will_v dissolve_v all_o union_n &_o order_n in_o the_o world_n the_o best_a confutation_n of_o which_o reproach_n be_v now_o to_o make_v the_o contrare_fw-la appear_v by_o union_n as_o soon_o as_o ever_o we_o have_v gor_o a_o fond_a for_o it_o which_o now_o there_o be_v when_o we_o have_v all_o one_o common_a testimony_n against_o papery_n prelacy_n erastianisme_n tyranny_n and_o schism_n and_o every_o thing_n contrary_a to_o sound_v doctrine_n and_o the_o power_n of_o godliness_n peace_n be_v within_o jerusalem_n wall_n and_o prosperity_n within_o her_o palace_n finis_fw-la