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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
book_n authority_n church_n council_n 1,729 5 6.6396 4 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A48243 The letter writ by the last Assembly General of the Clergy of France to the Protestants, inviting them to return to their communion together with the methods proposed by them for their conviction / translated into English, and examined by Gilbert Burnet. Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.; Catholic Church. Assemblée générale du clergé de France. 1683 (1683) Wing L1759; ESTC R2185 82,200 210

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when_o the_o power_n of_o the_o church_n be_v use_v not_o to_o edification_n but_o to_o destruction_n than_o the_o obligation_n to_o obedience_n be_v not_o to_o be_v too_o far_o extend_v and_o as_o in_o law_n that_o oblige_v subject_n to_o obey_v inferior_a magistrate_n a_o tacit_a exception_n be_v to_o be_v suppose_v in_o case_n they_o shall_v become_v guilty_a of_o treason_n so_o there_o must_v be_v suppose_v likewise_o in_o this_o case_n the_o like_a exception_n in_o case_n a_o synod_n depose_v a_o bishop_n or_o a_o bishop_n censure_v his_o clergy_n for_o assert_v the_o true_a faith_n and_o as_o a_o separation_n from_o a_o uncorrupted_a church_n be_v a_o very_a great_a wickedness_n so_o the_o separate_n from_o a_o corrupt_a church_n in_o who_o communion_n we_o can_v continue_v without_o be_v pollute_v in_o it_o be_v but_o a_o part_n of_o that_o care_n which_o we_o ought_v to_o have_v of_o our_o own_o salvation_n the_o fifteen_o method_n to_o all_o the_o former_a method_n a_o fifteen_o may_v be_v add_v by_o let_v our_o p._n reform_v see_v that_o many_o article_n be_v to_o be_v find_v in_o their_o confession_n of_o faith_n in_o their_o catechism_n in_o the_o article_n of_o their_o discipline_n in_o the_o decision_n of_o their_o synod_n and_o in_o the_o book_n of_o their_o chief_a minister_n who_o have_v write_v upon_o the_o controversy_n from_o which_o argument_n may_v be_v draw_v against_o they_o to_o prove_v the_o truth_n of_o our_o belief_n even_o by_o their_o own_o confession_n for_o example_n their_o discipline_n allow_v the_o communion_n in_o one_o kind_n only_o to_o such_o as_o can_v drink_v wine_n from_o which_o one_o may_v infer_v that_o the_o communion_n under_o both_o kind_n be_v not_o a_o article_n of_o necessity_n and_o that_o they_o be_v in_o the_o wrong_n to_o allege_v that_o as_o they_o do_v to_o be_v a_o lawful_a ground_n for_o their_o separation_n the_o minister_n dailée_n and_o many_o other_o confess_v that_o in_o the_o time_n of_o s._n gregory_n nazianzen_n s._n chrysostome_n and_o s._n jerome_n the_o invocation_n of_o saint_n be_v receive_v in_o the_o church_n john_n forbes_n add_v to_o this_o that_o the_o tradition_n of_o the_o church_n be_v uniform_a concern_v prayer_n for_o the_o dead_a and_o since_o he_o deny_v that_o the_o book_n of_o the_o maccabee_n be_v canonical_a he_o say_v the_o scripture_n speak_v nothing_o of_o it_o but_o without_o engage_v into_o the_o difficulty_n concern_v the_o book_n of_o the_o maccabee_n in_o which_o they_o have_v no_o more_o reason_n on_o their_o side_n than_o in_o the_o rest_n it_o be_v easy_a to_o conclude_v from_o their_o own_o principle_n that_o it_o be_v no_o way_n to_o be_v allow_v to_o separate_v themselves_o for_o matter_n that_o according_a to_o themselves_o be_v establish_v by_o so_o great_a a_o authority_n and_o so_o constant_a a_o union_n of_o all_o age_n remark_n 1._o it_o be_v not_o a_o equal_a way_n of_o proceed_v to_o object_v to_o the_o protestant_n what_o some_o particular_a writer_n have_v say_v or_o to_o strain_v inference_n too_o far_o at_o a_o time_n when_o the_o celebrate_a book_n of_o the_o bishop_n of_o meaux_n be_v in_o such_o high_a esteem_n the_o chief_a design_n o●_n which_o be_v to_o set_v aside_o all_o the_o indiscretion_n of_o particular_a writer_n and_o to_o put_v the_o best_a colour_n on_o thing_n that_o be_v possible_a now_o tradition_n be_v of_o such_o authority_n among_o they_o whatsoever_o pass_v down_o through_o many_o of_o their_o approve_a writer_n have_v a_o much_o great_a strength_n against_o they_o than_o it_o can_v be_v pretend_v to_o have_v against_o we_o and_o therefore_o though_o particular_a writer_n or_o whole_a synod_n shall_v have_v write_v or_o decree_v any_o thing_n against_o the_o common_a doctrine_n of_o the_o reform_a they_o ought_v not_o to_o object_n that_o to_o we_o if_o they_o will_v allow_v we_o the_o same_o liberty_n that_o they_o assume_v to_o themselves_o 2._o it_o be_v not_o a_o consequence_n become_v so_o great_a a_o assembly_n to_o infer_v that_o because_o in_o some_o few_o extraordinary_a case_n the_o general_a rule_n of_o god_n desire_v mercy_n and_o not_o sacrifice_n be_v carry_v so_o far_o as_o to_o give_v weak_a person_n so_o much_o of_o the_o sacrament_n as_o they_o can_v receive_v and_o not_o to_o deny_v that_o to_o they_o because_o a_o natural_a aversion_n m●kes_v they_o incapable_a of_o receive_v the_o wine_n that_o therefore_o a_o church_n may_v in_o opposition_n to_o christ_n express_a command_n drink_v you_o all_o of_o it_o and_o the_o constant_a practice_n of_o thirteen_o century_n take_v this_o away_o it_o be_v not_o of_o necessity_n for_o salvation_n that_o every_o one_o drink_v the_o cup_n but_o it_o be_v of_o necessity_n to_o the_o purity_n of_o a_o church_n that_o she_o shall_v observe_v our_o saviour_n precept_n 3._o it_o be_v confess_v that_o some_o father_n use_v the_o invocation_n of_o saint_n yet_o that_o be_v but_o a_o matter_n of_o fact_n it_o be_v of_o no_o consequence_n for_o the_o decision_n of_o any_o point_n of_o doctrine_n for_o we_o find_v our_o doctrine_n only_o on_o the_o word_n of_o god_n and_o ●ot_n on_o the_o practice_n of_o man_n how_o eminent_a soever_o they_o may_v otherwise_o be_v but_o in_o relation_n to_o these_o father_n these_o thing_n be_v to_o be_v observe_v 1._o they_o live_v in_o the_o end_n of_o the_o four_o century_n so_o this_o be_v no_o competent_a proof_n for_o a_o oral_a tradition_n or_o conveyance_n of_o this_o doctrine_n down_o from_o the_o apostle_n day_n 2._o figure_n and_o bold_a discourse_n in_o panegyric_n be_v rather_o to_o be_v consider_v as_o rapture_n and_o flight_n of_o warm_a affection_n than_o as_o compose_v and_o serious_a devotion_n therefore_o such_o address_n as_o occur_v in_o their_o funeral_n oration_n be_v rather_o high_a strain_n of_o a_o dare_a rhetoric_n than_o instruction_n for_o other_o since_o in_o their_o exposition_n on_o scripture_n or_o other_o treatise_n of_o devotion_n they_o do_v not_o handle_v these_o thing_n by_o way_n of_o direction_n or_o advice_n john_n forbes_n be_v mis-cited_n for_o william_n forbes_n bishop_n of_o edinburgh_n john_n be_v not_o of_o such_o yield_a principle_n it_o be_v true_a william_n though_o he_o be_v a_o man_n eminent_o learned_a and_o of_o a_o most_o exemplary_a life_n yet_o he_o be_v possess_v with_o that_o same_o weakness_n under_o which_o grotius_n and_o some_o other_o great_a man_n have_v labour_v of_o think_v that_o a_o reconciliation_n with_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n may_v be_v obtain_v by_o a_o accommodation_n on_o both_o side_n and_o this_o flow_a in_o he_o from_o a_o excellent_a temper_n of_o soul_n he_o be_v to_o be_v excuse_v if_o that_o carry_v he_o in_o many_o thing_n too_o far_o but_o he_o be_v a_o writer_n that_o have_v be_v tax_v by_o all_o man_n as_o one_o that_o have_v particular_a notion_n and_o we_o may_v object_n erasmus_n to_o those_o of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n as_o well_o as_o they_o may_v argue_v against_o we_o from_o bishop_n forbes_n 5._o if_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n use_v only_o a_o general_n commemoration_n of_o the_o dead_a with_o wish_n for_o the_o complete_n their_o happiness_n by_o a_o speedy_a resurrection_n and_o go_v no_o further_o we_o may_v perhaps_o differ_v in_o opinion_n with_o they_o about_o the_o fitness_n of_o this_o but_o we_o will_v not_o break_v communion_n with_o they_o for_o it_o but_o when_o they_o have_v set_v up_o such_o a_o merchandise_n in_o the_o house_n of_o god_n for_o redeem_v soul_n out_o of_o purgatory_n and_o say_v mass_n for_o they_o this_o be_v that_o we_o except_v to_o as_o a_o disgrace_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n and_o as_o a_o high_a profanation_n of_o the_o holy_a sacrament_n and_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o the_o father_n consider_v the_o commemoration_n of_o the_o dead_a rather_o as_o a_o respect_n do_v to_o their_o memory_n and_o a_o honourable_a remembrance_n of_o they_o than_o as_o a_o thing_n that_o be_v any_o way_n useful_a to_o they_o in_o the_o other_o state_n which_o may_v appear_v by_o this_o single_a instance_n 34._o s._n cyprian_n be_v so_o much_o offend_v at_o a_o presbyter_n when_o it_o appear_v after_o his_o death_n that_o he_o have_v leave_v another_o presbyter_n guardian_n of_o his_o child_n that_o he_o give_v order_n that_o no_o mention_n shall_v be_v make_v of_o he_o in_o the_o commemoration_n of_o the_o dead_a that_o be_v use_v in_o the_o holy_a eucharist_n because_o by_o the_o roman_a law_n such_o as_o be_v leave_v guardian_n be_v under_o some_o obligation_n to_o undertake_v the_o trust_n and_o that_o saint_n think_v such_o a_o trust_n may_v prove_v so_o great_a a_o distraction_n to_o a_o man_n that_o be_v dedicate_v to_o the_o holy_a ministry_n that_o no_o honour_n ought_v to_o be_v do_v to_o the_o memory_n
of_o he_o that_o have_v so_o leave_v it_o by_o his_o will._n certain_o if_o that_o commemoration_n be_v believe_v to_o be_v of_o any_o advantage_n to_o the_o dead_a this_o have_v be_v a_o unreasonable_a piece_n of_o cruelty_n in_o he_o to_o deny_v a_o presbyter_n that_o comfort_n for_o so_o small_a a_o fault_n and_o therefore_o we_o may_v well_o infer_v from_o hence_o that_o by_o this_o remembrance_n and_o the_o thanksgiving_n they_o offer_v to_o god_n for_o such_o as_o have_v die_v in_o the_o faith_n they_o intend_v only_o so_o far_o to_o celebrate_v their_o memory_n as_o to_o encourage_v other_o to_o imitate_v those_o pattern_n they_o have_v set_v they_o 6._o i_o shall_v not_o engage_v in_o any_o dispute_n concern_v the_o canonicalness_n of_o the_o book_n of_o the_o maccabee_n only_o as_o this_o general_a prejudice_n lie_v against_o all_o the_o book_n call_v apocryphal_a that_o the_o council_n at_o laodicea_n which_o be_v the_o first_o that_o reckon_v up_o the_o cannon_n of_o the_o scripture_n do_v not_o name_v they_o so_o as_o to_o the_o book_n of_o the_o maccabee_n it_o be_v hard_o to_o imagine_v that_o one_o who_o profess_v that_o he_o be_v but_o a_o abridger_n of_o jason_n five_o book_n and_o give_v we_o a_o large_a account_n of_o the_o difference_n between_o a_o copious_a history_n and_o a_o abridgement_n can_v be_v a_o inspire_a writer_n the_o sixteen_o method_n to_o conclude_v one_o may_v solid_o confute_v our_o innovator_n by_o the_o contradiction_n that_o be_v in_o their_o article_n of_o faith_n show_v ●hem_n the_o change_n that_o they_o have_v make_v in_o the_o ausburg_n confession_n as_o also_o in_o all_o the_o different_a exposition_n of_o their_o faith_n which_o they_o have_v receive_v and_o authorize_v since_o that_o time_n which_o show_v that_o their_o faith_n be_v uncertain_a prescription_n and_o waver_a can_v have_v the_o character_n of_o divine_a revelation_n which_o be_v certain_a and_o constant_a there_o be_v nothing_o but_o the_o faith_n that_o admit_v of_o no_o reformation_n tertullian_n make_v use_v of_o this_o argument_n in_o many_o of_o his_o book_n and_o hilary_n handle_v it_o excellent_o well_o against_o the_o emperor_n constantius_n upon_o the_o occasion_n of_o the_o new_a symbol_n which_o the_o arian_n publish_v every_o day_n change_v their_o faith_n continual_o while_o the_o catholic_n church_n continue_v firm_a to_o that_o of_o nice_n one_o may_v likewise_o use_v another_o method_n which_o be_v to_o make_v it_o appear_v that_o there_o be_v a_o conformity_n between_o the_o roman_a and_o greek_a church_n in_o the_o chief_a article_n of_o faith_n that_o be_v in_o dispute_n between_o we_o and_o the_o p._n reform_a and_o that_o in_o these_o the_o roman_a church_n do_v likewise_o agree_v with_o those_o society_n which_o separate_v themselves_o from_o the_o church_n for_o error_n which_o the_o p._n reform_a condemn_v with_o she_o such_o as_o the_o nestorian_n and_o eutychian_o to_o these_o method_n it_o will_v be_v necessary_a to_o add_v particular_a conference_n solid_a write_n sermon_n and_o mission_n and_o to_o use_v all_o these_o mean_n with_o a_o spirit_n of_o charity_n without_o bitterness_n and_o above_o all_o without_o injury_n remember_v that_o excellent_a say_n of_o s._n augustine_n salubr●or_fw-la i_o do_v not_o endeavour_v to_o reproach_v those_o against_o who_o i_o dispute_v that_o i_o may_v seem_v to_o have_v the_o better_a of_o they_o but_o that_o i_o may_v become_v sound_a by_o convince_a they_o of_o their_o error_n and_o follow_v the_o canon_n of_o the_o council_n of_o africa_n that_o appoint_v that_o though_o the_o donatist_n be_v cut_v off_o from_o the_o church_n of_o god_n by_o their_o schism_n yet_o they_o shall_v be_v gentle_o deal_v with_o that_o so_o correct_v they_o with_o meekness_n as_o the_o apostle_n say_v god_n may_v give_v they_o the_o grace_n of_o repentance_n to_o know_v the_o truth_n and_o to_o retire_v themselves_o out_o of_o the_o snare_n of_o the_o devil_n in_o which_o they_o be_v take_v captive_n remark_n 1._o if_o we_o do_v pretend_v that_o the_o first_o reformer_n or_o those_o who_o draw_v the_o ausburg_n confession_n be_v inspire_v of_o god_n in_o compile_v what_o they_o write_v there_o be_v some_o force_n in_o this_o discourse_n but_o since_o we_o build_v upon_o this_o principle_n that_o the_o scripture_n be_v the_o only_a ground_n on_o which_o we_o find_v our_o faith_n then_o if_o any_o person_n how_o much_o soever_o we_o may_v honour_v his_o memory_n on_o all_o other_o account_n have_v misunderstand_v that_o we_o do_v not_o depart_v from_o our_o principle_n when_o we_o forsake_v he_o and_o follow_v that_o which_o appear_v to_o be_v plain_o deliver_v in_o the_o scripture_n 2._o we_o free_o acknowledge_v that_o the_o faith_n admit_v of_o no_o reformation_n and_o that_o we_o can_v make_v neither_o more_o nor_o less_o of_o it_o than_o we_o find_v in_o the_o scripture_n but_o if_o any_o church_n have_v bring_v in_o many_o error_n we_o do_v not_o think_v it_o a_o reform_v the_o faith_n to_o throw_v these_o out_o the_o faith_n be_v still_o the_o same_o that_o it_o be_v when_o the_o apostle_n first_o deliver_v it_o to_o the_o church_n nor_o be_v it_o the_o faith_n but_o the_o church_n that_o be_v pretend_v to_o be_v reform_v and_o if_o after_o a_o long_a night_n of_o darkness_n and_o corruption_n those_o that_o begin_v to_o see_v better_a do_v not_o at_o first_o discover_v every_o thing_n or_o if_o some_o of_o the_o prejudices_fw-la of_o their_o education_n and_o their_o former_a opinion_n do_v still_o hang_v about_o they_o so_o that_o other_o who_o come_v after_o they_o see_v further_a and_o more_o clear_o this_o only_o prove_v that_o they_o be_v subject_a to_o the_o infirmity_n of_o the_o humane_a nature_n and_o that_o they_o be_v not_o immediate_o inspire_v of_o god_n which_o be_v never_o pretend_v 3._o great_a difference_n be_v to_o be_v make_v between_o article_n of_o faith_n and_o theological_a truth_n the_o former_a consist_v of_o those_o thing_n that_o be_v the_o ingredient_n of_o our_o baptismal_a vow_n and_o be_v indeed_o part_n of_o the_o new_a covenant_n which_o may_v be_v reduce_v to_o the_o creed_n and_o the_o ten_o commandment_n the_o other_o be_v opinion_n relate_v to_o these_o which_o though_o they_o be_v found_v on_o scripture_n yet_o have_v not_o that_o influence_n either_o on_o our_o heart_n or_o life_n that_o they_o make_v we_o either_o much_o better_a or_o much_o worse_o among_o these_o we_o reckon_v the_o explanation_n of_o the_o presence_n of_o christ_n in_o the_o sacrament_n and_o the_o influence_n of_o the_o divine_a grace_n upon_o our_o wi_n if_o some_o of_o the_o confession_n of_o faith_n among_o the_o protestant_n differ_v much_o in_o these_o matter_n that_o be_v not_o concern_v article_n of_o faith_n but_o theological_a truth_n in_o which_o great_a allowance_n be_v to_o be_v make_v for_o difference_n of_o opinion_n and_o as_o particular_a church_n ought_v not_o to_o proceed_v too_o hasty_o to_o decision_n in_o matter_n that_o be_v just_o disputable_a so_o the_o rigorous_a impose_v of_o those_o severe_a definition_n on_o the_o conscience_n of_o other_o by_o oath_n and_o subscription_n and_o more_o particular_o all_o rigour_n in_o the_o prosecution_n of_o those_o that_o differ_v in_o opinion_n be_v both_o disagree_v to_o the_o mildness_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n and_o to_o the_o character_n of_o churchman_n and_o in_o particular_a to_o the_o principle_n upon_o which_o the_o reformation_n be_v found_v 4._o as_o for_o the_o greek_a church_n together_o with_o the_o other_o society_n in_o the_o east_n we_o do_v not_o deny_v that_o many_o of_o those_o corruption_n for_o which_o we_o condemn_v the_o church_n of_o rome_n be_v among_o they_o which_o only_o prove_v that_o the_o begin_n of_o these_o be_v elder_a than_o the_o nine_o or_o ten_o century_n in_o which_o those_o church_n begin_v to_o divide_v such_o be_v the_o worship_v of_o image_n the_o pray_v to_o saint_n and_o some_o other_o abuse_n 5._o to_o this_o it_o must_v be_v add_v that_o for_o diverse_a age_n the_o oppression_n under_o which_o those_o church_n have_v fall_v and_o the_o great_a ignorance_n that_o have_v overspread_v they_o have_v be●n_o such_o that_o no_o wonder_n if_o those_o greek_n that_o have_v be_v breed_v up_o in_o the_o state_n of_o the_o roman_a communion_n and_o so_o be_v leaven_v with_o their_o opinion_n have_v find_v it_o no_o hard_a task_n to_o impose_v upon_o their_o weak_a and_o corrupt_a countryman_n whatsoever_o opinion_n they_o have_v in_o charge_n to_o infuse_v into_o they_o so_o that_o we_o may_v rather_o wonder_v to_o find_v that_o all_o those_o abuse_n for_o which_o we_o complain_v of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n be_v not_o among_o they_o than_o that_o some_o have_v get_v foot_v there_o 6._o but_o after_o all_o this_o the_o main_a thing_n upon_o