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	know_v	write_v	3,089	5	5.4567	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A92183	For G.P. or the author of a little book entituled, Just measures, in an epistle, &c. and to all approvers thereof; with a postscript and a few words to the yearly meeting in London.	Raunce, John, 17th cent.	1692 (1692)	Wing R321; ESTC R182373	4,198	1

For G. P. Or the Author of a little Book entituled Just Measures in an Epistle c. and to all the Approvers thereof with a Postscript and a few Words to the Yearly Meeting in London Friend G. P. IF I had known as certainly where to find thee as I may suppose who thou art then I would not have appeared to seek after thee in this manner for I am persuaded I may conclude Thou art one of those very Persons that knoweth better Things than thou practisest and it is contrary to thy Knowledg to busie thy self about such Fallible Things as are of late Days crept into the Church among many of which I shall at this Time take notice of what thou hast given me an occasion to consider in a little Book subscribed as by an Author G. P. and entituled Just Measures in an Epistle of Peace and Love to such Professors of Truth as are under any Dissatisfaction about the Present Order practised in the Church of Christ I cannot better begin than with one of the Scriptures thou dost in Page 19. recommend To Read and Mark the Bent and Force of the Apostle's Spirit as in Romans in many Places so in Chapter xvi Verse 17 and 18. Now I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause Divisions and Offences contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own Bellies and by good Words and fair Speeches deceive the Hearts of the Simple Consider this and do as in Pages 18 19 20. Upon a Serious Consideration of what thou hast pressed us unto thou hast taken such Measures as are not for Peace as too many others do which are like-minded with thee against us For we are conscienciously concerned to shew our Dissatisfaction against your so earnestly pressing us for a Conformity to such unscriptural Orders as we have no Faith in to be subject to in your Way and Manner of imposing upon Peoples Consciences contrary to their Faith for we look upon them as Innovations and are certainly persuaded they will in a little Time appear to be but the Inventions of Men. It is a good Saying that's mentioned Colloss 3. 15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body and be you thankful Thou hadst been a happy Person and the Aprovers of thy Work if they had so walked among their Brethren Though we are bid in Page 20. Lay down every Mark or Ensign of Difference or Separation Now let G. P. and all his Approvers consider What are the proper Marks or Ensigns of Difference or Separation Next let us find out the Parties who practise or give the Marks or Ensigns of Difference for a Separation And to the first we have sufficiently in our Account from Wickham made it known And it is also in most Meetings when we appear as Persons concerned in a Publick Testimony where some of you are present then it is very apparent what those Marks or Ensigns of Difference are which tend to a Separation viz. Your unbecoming Striving in Meetings to keep us from having any Liberty or Time to offer our Gifts and to clear our Conscience in the Things of God whererein we are concerned Also your Unchristian Behaviour towards us by sitting in an uncomly Manner when we are upon our Knees to the Lord in that holy Duty As for the Second Thing Concerning the Persons that practise these Marks and Ensigns of Difference which lead to a Separation thou and many of you know in your own Consciences It is them that talk so much of Good Orders and practise so little And whereas we are bid to dispose our Minds to a returning State and frighten not our selves as in Page 20. c. Now we certainly know thou and them thou callest thy Brethren have and would impose upon us the Observation of a Woman's Meeting distinct from the Men But a distinct Woman's Meeting on a Religious account or Business as about the Government of the Church concerning Order or Discipline separate from the Men as it is practised about Marriages we look upon as an Innovation and imposing upon our Consciences that which we have no Faith to receive And here as in other Things thou dost not take Just Measures where thou bidst us as in Page 11. take Notice of our own Concessions where we allow Meetings of Care in general and do not deny the Women absolutely their Share among the Men. It is very true we do allow Meetings of Care in general where Men and Women being met together as Things offer and as Occasions do require we take Care to do those Things which are for the well-being of our Societies and that every thing may be done according to Truth and in the Fear of God and as we have published in our Account from Wickham so we practise But all this maketh nothing for such a distinct Woman's Meeting from the Men where you would have all Marriages first proposed c. And here again thou dost not make Just Measure when in so many Pages thou dost mak it thy Business as it were to insinuate the Necessity and Usefulness of a distinct Woman's Meeting as Pages 3 5 7 8 9 10 11. And yet notwithstanding all thou hast said about it thou tells us among other Things in Pages 5 and 7. There is no need of an Act of Faith or other Exercises of Conscience than to be ready to every good Word and Work And further when thou hast used many Words about the Matter before-mentioned thou tells us again it can be no Imposition as before is expressed because as thou sayest It is no Matter of Faith nor Practice of Worship as in Page 7 c. Although it be no Matter of Faith to thee and them that set it up and press others to it Yet it is a matter of Faith to us you would impose upon contrary to our Conscience For as the Apostle saith Rom. 14. 23. Whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin And to make short when thou givest thy Sense upon the whole Matter as in Page 9 and 10. Thy Measures are very unjust concerning us where thousayest Our Dissent tended to the breach of Brotherly Love and Unity in the Church but it is well known your Unchristian Behaviour was the cause of our Dissent And for further Answer to G. P. and to all the Approvers of his Work I return what W. P. hath written in his Book called An Address to Protestants and it is desired that G. P. and all others concerned would consider what he hath said against Imposition as from Page the 140. to Page the 150. and in many other Places but especially in Page 144. are these Words But an Imposing Church bears Witness of herself and will be both Party and Judg it requires Assent without Evidence and Faith without Proof therefore false Christian Religion ought to be carried on