Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	call_v	church_n	holy_a	2,804	5	4.7314	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A31087	Certain proposals humbly offered, for the preservation & continuance of the truly reformed Protestant religion, in these three kingdomes of England, Scotland and Ireland by a professor of the said truly reformed Protestant religion ...	J. B.	1674 (1674)	Wing B96; ESTC R11223	33,531	39

CERTAIN PROPOSALS Humbly Offered FOR THE PRESERVATION CONTINUANCE Of the truly Reformed PROTESTANT RELIGION In these Three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland By a Professor of the said Truly Reformed Protestant-Religion and greatly solicitous for the preservation of it Printed in the Year 1674. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Christian Reader VVHen I seriously consider the present State of the truly Reformed Protestant Religion as abroad throughout the whole European world so particularly here at home in these three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland my heart is sad within me and my Spirit even fails to think what dark and dismal things are coming upon us and therefore for the better easing of my own mind and the declaring of a willingness at least to do something if possible for the preventing of what I fear I have adventured to publish this ensuing Treatise which though there be not one word in it that as I humbly conceive can give any just ground of offence to any true Protestant of whatsoever Rank or Quality or of whatsoever Party whether Conformist or Nonconformist yet times of Trading for Books as well as for other Commodities being very dead and discouraging I find none are willing to adventure upon the charge of printing this small Copy else it had come out long since At last therefore rather than it should lie stifled in the birth any longer and my labour and the end of it should be wholly lost I have made hard shift thus to obstetricate and bring it forth at my own Charge Money doth not at all abound with me but the quite contrary having divers both unavoidable and expensive cares upon me yet such is the vehemency of my desire to use the utmost endeavour that lies in me for the service of Christ even beyond my poor capacity and for the good of my Native Countrey that I have devoted this Impression so much of it as turns not to any account towards my reimbursement to be freely given to such as will but vouchsafe to read it and when they have done propagate it into good hands though they should not be willing themselves to spare a small piece of Silver to purchase it Perhaps the Lord will be pleased to accept and bless my Design therein it may be he will smile upon it and render it some way profitable to the end for which it is intended in the hope whereof I rest and however it succeds shall quiet my self in this that I have done my endeavour in the sight of God and mine own Conscience to serve thè Generation wherein I live And so having thus far expressed my care and solicitude for the next Age and hereby made thee a witness of it I subscribe my self what I truly am Thine and my Countreys most affectionately earnest Well-wisher and Servant in Christ J. B. Certain Proposals humbly offered for the Preservation and Continuance of the truly Reformed Protestant Religion down to succeeding Ages HOw deplorable a case the truly Reformed Protestant Religion now is in partly from the power and prevalency of Popery Arminianism Socinianism Quakerism an Hotch-potch of all the rest and many other dangerous Errors and Superstitions partly by reason of the Death of great numbers of the most Learned Pious Zealous Faithful and Painful Ministers in these Kingdomes partly from the want of a due care to provide such as may succeed them in after-Ages by such a liberal Education of the Youth of the present Age as might fit them for that Service and lastly by the general and universal Prophaneness that every where spreads it self among us I say how deplorable a case the said truly Reformed Protestant Religion is now in by the means aforesaid and some others that might be added would fill up a huge Volumn to declare a Work which I shall not here undertake but shall rather apply my self humbly to propound such wayes and means as by the Blessing of God may revive and restore the said Protestant Religion out of that deplorable state in which it seems now to lie bleeding as it were to death and in some places almost ready to give up the Ghost But among many Proposals which I had prepared and intended to have offered I have singled out only these three viz. First That an hearty Vnion at least in Love and Affection between all Dissenting Parties in matters of Church-Government that are otherwise sound and orthodox in the Doctrinals and holy Practicks of the right Reformed Protestant Religion be heartily endeavoured Now this will be found principally among four sorts of Protestant-Professors in England the Episcopal Presbyterian Congregational and such of the moderate and sober-minded Anabaptists so called as differ only in the point of Infant-Baptism I name the Episcopal-Protestant-Professor with the other three because I know some of them to be men of eminent Learning and Piety and in all the main Points of Protestantism very sound Thousands I doubt not both Ministers and People of the Church of England so called are of the same Judgment and Practice with our famously Holy and Learned Bishop Vsher published in his excellent Book entituled The Sum and Substance of Christian-Religion And why should not both Presbyterians Catapaedobaptists and Congregational men so I had rather style them than by the odious Name of Independents have as real and hearty good will to these as to any other Was not the Blood of Christ shed for them Was not Heaven founded as much for them as for any For such of them I mean as are under the same Spirit of True Faith and Repentance which the Gospel requires in all that shall be saved As for joyning with them in Matters of Worship where Conscience is not satisfied I by no means perswade any to it I cannot do it my self yet I truly love many that do because I am bound in Charity to think they follow their Light whilst I see them otherwise walking in an uniform Tenour of Holiness both within doors and without throughout the whole course of their Lives The other three namely the Presbyterian Antipedobaptists and Congregational if they do but keep close to their own declared Judgments on each side that is That none be admitted into their Churches that in a true Gospel-sence are ignorant and scandalous for by that those that discern not the Lord's Body are ignorant and those that live not holily are scandalous I see no reason but salvis utrinque principiis they may allow each others to be the true Churches of Christ Both sides prove their Ministry to be from Christ and to have the Essentials of an Institution in it one Party making the Formality of his External Call to consist in the Election of the People only with a solemn Dedication to their Work by Fasting and Prayer the other Party granting this to be requisite but withal requiring the addition of Hands imposed by a Presbytery which by the former is not esteemed necessary And then for Synods both