Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	world_n	write_v	year_n	1,737	5	4.5984	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61586	Proposals tender'd to the consideration of both Houses of Parliament for uniting the Protestant interest for the present, and preventing divisions for the future together with the declaration of K. Charles II, concerning ecclesiastical affairs, and some proposals of terms of union between the Church of England and dissenters / long since published by the Reverend Dean of S. Pauls.	Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.; Charles II, King of England, 1630-1685.; England and Wales. Sovereign (1660-1685 : Charles II). Declaration to all his loving subjects of his kingdom of England and dominion of Wales concerning ecclesiastical affairs.	1689 (1689)	Wing S5621; ESTC R8098	25,861	37

PROPOSALS Tender'd to the Consideration of Both HOUSES of PARLIAMENT For Uniting the Protestant Interest for the Present And preventing Divisions for the Future Together with the DECLARATION OF K. CHARLES II. Concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs And some Proposals of TERMS of UNION BETWEEN THE Church of England AND DISSENTERS Long since published By the Reverend Dean of S. Pauls LONDON Printed for Henry Clark and sold by the Book-sellers of London and Westminster M DC LXXX IX Humble and Modest PROPOSALS For Uniting the Protestant Interest I Doubt not but every Pious and Sober Protestant of this Nation cannot but be heartily troubled to observe those passionate Differences and unchristian Dissentions which daily increase among Brethren who are united in one and the same Doctrin of their Religion and reformed from the Errors and Superstitions of the Church of Rome Upon the due Consideration of which every one who wisheth Peace and Prosperity to the Kingdom he lives in ought to consider what should be the Occasion of those unhappy and ruinous Divisions we have so long suffered under and to offer probable means for composing them As to their first Rise I doubt not but they ow their Original to the different manner of the Reformation and the establishing of the Orders which each Church did think fit and convenient for it self as the Reverend and Pious Mr. Hooker acquaints us which were so peremptorily established under that high commanding Form which rendered them to the People as things everlastingly required by the Law of that Lord of Lords against whose Statutes there is no Exception to be taken by which means it came to pass that one Church could not but accuse and condemn another of Disobedience to the Will of Christ in those things where manifest Difference was between them Whereas the self-same Orders allowed but yet established in more wary and suspense manner as being to stand in Force till God should give the Opportunity of some General Conference what might be best for them afterwards to do This I say had both prevented all occasion of just dislike which others might take and reserved a greater Liberty unto the Authors themselves of entring into farther Consultation afterwards which though never so necessary they could easily now admit without some fear of Derogation from their Credit And therefore that which once they had done they became for ever after resolute to maintain Now if we consider the shortness of that time wherein our first Reformation continued under Edward the Sixth and the Persecution in Queen Mary's reign which forced many Pious and Learned Clergymen of the Church of England to flee into Foreign Countries as Zurick Embden Basil Strasburg Frankford Geneva c. for the Preservation of their Religion and Lives where they frequently conversed with those Eminent Divines who were the great Reformers there 't is no Wonder that some of them should return better pleased with their Discipline than their own especially considering that several of them had intimate Acquaintance and Conversation with one of the Reformers whom the Reverend Mr. Hooker thought incomparably the wisest Man Man that ever the French Church did enjoy since the Hour it enjoyed him In Queen Elizabeth's King Iames and K. Charles the First 's Reigns 't is well known how our Differences increased until that unhappy War broke out by which the Non-conforming Interest prevailed so that the Presbyterian Discipline was endeavoured to be fixed as the established Form of Government in this Nation our Universities Preachers Writings Education c. were generally modelled thereto by which means the greatest number of the trading part of the Kingdom several of the Gentry and some few of the Nobility observing the Precepts and Practices Lifes and Deaths of many of that Clergy to be Pious and Exemplary joyned with them of this or the like Perswasion Since which time it pleasing God to restore King Charles II. the Parliament thought it convenient to establish the same Discipline which our first Reformers judged prudential and that as the Dissenters do complain upon stricter Subscriptions than formerly not abating or laying aside any of those Ceremonies which have been matters of dispute and contention betwixt them and the Church of England ever since our blessed Reformation from Popery and Superstition Upon which account many of the Non-conforming Divines laid down their Livings and the old Controversies began afresh to be revived and so are like to be continued until we be either ruined by Popery or healed by Moderation which is the only Salve to cure the Churches Wounds and that admirable Remedy formerly proposed to the wisdom of Superiours by the Reverend Dr. Stillingfleet who having highly commended the prudence and temper of the French Churches in composing their publick Forms of Prayer that they were so far from inserting any thing controversial into them that Papists themselves would use them And saith he the same temper was used by our Reformers in the composing our Liturgy in reference to the Papists to whom they had an especial Eye as being the only Party then appearing whom they desired to draw into their Communion by coming as near them as they well and safely could And certainly those holy Men who did seek by any means to draw in others at such a distance from their Principles as the Papists were did never intend by what they did for that end to exclude any truly tender Consciences from their Communion That which they laid as a Bait for them was never intended by them as a Hook for those of their own Profession But the same or greater Reason which made them at that time yield so far to them then would now have perswaded them to alter and lay aside those things which yield matter of offence to any of the same Profession with themselves now For surely none will be so uncharitable toward those of his own Profession as not to think there is as much reason to yield in compliance with them as with the Papists And it cannot but be looked upon as a Token of God's severe displeasure against us if any though unreasonable Proposals of Peace between us and the Papists should meet with such entertainment among many and yet any fair offers of Vnion and Accomodation among our selves be so coldly embraced and entertained Thus far our Reverend and Learned Dean of Pauls delivered his Opinion as to these matters of Dispute near thirty Years a-gone before the Laws were established against Dissenters And in his Book Entituled The unreasonableness of Separation wrote twenty years after the former He hath given the World such a Testimony of his real Kindness to Dissenters notwithstanding his hard usuage from them and of his sincere and hearty desire to heal our unhappy Breaches and unite our unchristian Divisions as will for ever consecrate his Memory to posterity Upon these and some other like Considerations I should humbly propose to the Wisdom of this present Parliament some probable means