Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	church_n	holy_a	time_n	2,975	5	3.4034	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62285	A serious inquiry into the means of an happy union, or, What reformation is necessary to prevent popery and to avert God's judgments from the nation written upon the occasion of the fast, and humbly offered to the consideration of the Parliament by William Saywell.	Saywell, William, 1643-1701.	1681 (1681)	Wing S805; ESTC R25119	28,144	52

Jerusalem again which they did set about with all cost and diligence the very Women labouring amidst the Dirt and Mortar But there came an Earthquake and violent Storm and Fire proceeded out of the Temple and consumed some of them Neither let any disbelieve this but such a one who may think upon the same reason to disbelieve other miracles of God But what is yet more wonderful and illustrious there stood a light in the heavens describing the figure of a Cross And that figure and name which was before despised by wicked men in the earth is now equally manifested unto all in heaven and is made a trophy of Gods victory over the wicked higher than all trophies These were the signs in heaven and in earth but did not the air give forth tokens and was not that fanctified with the signs of Christs passion Let them which were the spectators and privy to these miracles bring forth their garments marked with the sign of the Cross For as soon as any of ours or any strangers did relate these things or hear them related presently he saw this miracle on himself or him that stood by him that he himself had the figure of a Star upon him or else he beheld it in the garments of another exceeding the art of all Womens work or most elaborate Embroidery Which thing did so much amaze all the Beholders that they all as it were with one voice at this sign did call upon the God of the Christians and did endeavour with many praises and prayers to appease his anger And many making no longer delay went presently to the Priests at the same time that this thing happened and did use much supplication to be admitted into the Church and to be made partakers of the more perfect dispensations and were sanctified by holy Baptism Socrates in his 3d. Book and 20th Chapter does mention this same story and Melanchthon a sober Protestant Writer does put it into his Chronicon Scultetus a grave Protestant Writer relates another Apparition of the Cross in the Heavens Scultet Annal. p. 18. A. D. 1517. Anno 1517. Frederick Elector of Saxony and John his brother going to prayers on the Eve of the Nativity of our Lord with a great Attendance see above the Tower in a serene Sky a shining purple Cross very great and described with a clear Figure The Spectators stand awhile amazed at the sight Now if God Almighty had been offended with the use of the Cross it cannot be thought he would have made such miraculous representations thereof in the Heavens which must needs encourage the primitive Christians in that custom Neither if there had been none of these representations can we think a thing so universally used in the purer Ages of the Church should be superstitious For certainly some of those holy Martyrs would have discovered the Error and found out some means to have taken it away And therefore the use of the Cross can be no sufficient ground to separate from the Church of England But the People think we can pray better and preach better than the Conformists do See the peaceable design and find they edifie more under our instruction than by their own Ministers and therefore we may lawfully preach and they lawfully hear us But the Apostle says Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves but he does not say Gad up and down and hear and obey the best So that if you should teach them better yet Edification does not consist onely in Knowledge but in Obedience also and if you do instruct them in sound knowledge you must tell them they ought to hear their own Ministers and obey them and leave you and therefore you must leave off to preach also But what endless confusion must this bring into the world if Children should refuse to be instituted and yield obedience to their Parents Servants to their Masters every conceited man to his respective Teachers and Governours because he fancies another man will teach and rule him better And yet there will be as much reason for one as another neither is there the least colour for you to say or the People to pretend that your Prayers and Preaching are more for edification but the quite contrary both for the Matter and Method 1. For the Matter all the substantial Truths in the opinion of all Churches that are necessary to be known in order to Salvation are taught in our Congregations and repeated and some parts of them expounded upon every Lords Day so that both old and young have their whole duty frequently resounding in their ears And our prayers are such which they must needs confess are agreeable to Gods will and therefore if devoutly offered up will certainly find acceptance at the Throne of Grace 2. And then for the Method the very Order of our Service and the Returns of the Fasts and great Festivals are a perpetual Catechism and a constant motive to excite and quicken sober Piety and true Devotion Whereas in the way of their teaching 't is wholly left to the discretion of each Minister to teach what he will and pray how he will and what he does preach and what he has prayed neither he himself can tell nor any of the people unless they could all write Short Hand or had a Revelation from Heaven to inform them neither can they be sure in such an ex tempore way whether the Doctrine be sound which he does teach or the Prayers such as are fit to be offered up unto God Or suppose the Prayers and Preaching should be according to Gods Word yet may not the Minister easily through ignorance or forgetfulness neglect to instruct the Congregation in many duties and to offer up many prayers which are necessary to be done What pretence then can there be for greater edification The sober Instruction that has been considered and well approved of by the able men of the Nation must certainly with judicious persons be thought more tending to edification than the ex tempore and private Conceptions of any single man and very often of young Students in Divinity Their passionate Exclamations loud Noises and affected Tones and Gestures may stir up mens Fancies and make them Enthusiastical but the sober instruction and catechising and the well meditated prayers of the Church of England must make more knowing and serious Christians But how it comes about they cannot tell yet they find they are more edified and better satisfied with the Nonconformists Preaching As for their being satisfied that is no more than a Jew or a Turk or any Heretick will say who do deceive their own Souls And for their edification that will be as groundless when it is look'd into for they will be found defective in their Knowledge and short in their Obedience to the Gospel so that it will appear to be nothing but a deluded Fancy and blind Zeal which is much greater in Quakers and known