Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A27412
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A disswasive from error much increased a perswasive to order much decayed / by Joseph Bentham.
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Bentham, Joseph, 1594?-1671.
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1669
(1669)
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Wing B1909; ESTC R25276
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73,061
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94
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deprive our selves of that joy comfort and good we might receive by Christian unity and order Since therefore God is the Author of good agreement and order since we are all of the same family and houshold of God since we are fellow members of the same body fellow stones of the same building and fellow-soldiers of the same band since we have the same Father God the same Mother the Church the same enemies weapons cause and expect the same crown since in Christs Kingdom lambs Isa 11. 6. and wolves agree Labour we for peace and to uphold in this house in this Kingdom fold and family unity and order In contentions therefore deal like neighbours in State business like subjects in other mens sins like Christians in all humane things as just men and in all we do be careful to observe order 1. That all things may be done decently and in order lay aside pride passion prejudice and pragmatical dealing in things out of our Calling for when meer Mechanicks from the anvile thimble needle yea from tinkering and tapstering presume to sit in Moses chair to be dictators and reformers It is sure against order and a cause of much disorder 2. That all things may be done decently and in order by no means have a prejudicate opinion against the Governours of the Church I mean the Bishops they having been therein in and since the Apostles times St. James at Jerusalem St. Peter at Antioch St. Mark at Alexandria c. And after them such Worthies of the Church St. Augustine Bishop of Hippo Chrysostom of Constantinople Ambrose of Millain Cyprian of Carthage c. Fulgentius Palladius and Finan Bishops in Scotland before Antichrist three Luther pag. 41. British Bishops at the famous Councel of Nice Aristobuluâ— one of the seventy Disciples as we are informed a Bishop in Britain And of the nine and twenty Clergy men Mantyrs in Queen Maries dayes five were Bishops and one Arch-Deacon Such hath been the Government of the Church in and since the Apostles time and if some have been faulty personal faults may not annihilate needful functions 3. That all things may be done decently and in order let us better esteem of things appointed by our Church for unity edification and order and not causelesly run into factions and fraternities scandalous to the Gospel dangerous to our selves Obj. 1 Some I know will say to obey and observe order in things commanded by authority is against conscience Answ That Magistrates have power to command is cleer Rom. 13. 1. Surely then they may make Laws they being called powers surely such receive force from God they being ordained of God surely such bind since we must be subject v. 5. and surely violaters sin since resisters receive damnation v. 2. Obj. 2 But I am perswaded that such and such particulars are unlawful 1. If the thing commanded is simply unlawful as to worship Answ the golden image if the thing it self is lawful yet obedience to that lawful thing to some puts upon a necessity of sinning as when single life lawful to some is imposed to such who have not the gift of continency If indifferents are commanded as necessary as meritorious and as the substantials of Religion such commands lose their force yet not so but all commands of Magistrates wanting authority of the Word ought not to be disobeyed with scandal and contempt Even Heathen persecuting Kings had such authority from God that Christians were to pray for them and obey 1 Tim. â— 1 2. them commanding things lawful actively commanding things unlawful passively 2. You say you are perswaded they are unlawful this makes them not to be so If there is no rule from the word for their unlawfulness there is no place for your disobedience but the command to obey is sufficient warrant to obey It is a great mistake to swallow Camels sins and to scruple at matters indifferent not once pretended to be against the word they being also commanded by authority and that such we are to obey upon no better grounds than such they are contrary to our fancy humour opinion or Christian liberty as pretended for Christian liberty consists in freedom from sin from the curse of the Law from the wrath of God the yoak of Mosaical rites and an obligation There is a glorious liberty which is celestial in heaven Rom. 8. 21. On earth there is a liberty temporal 1 Cor. 10. 29. This liberty is best when â—ffence is neither given nor taken There is a liberty spiritual Joh. 8. 36. which consists in deliverance from evil from sin from the punishment of the Law Rom. 8. 1. Col. 3. 13. from the strict observation of the Law which saith do and live freedom in respect of God to have free access to serve him in the Name of Christ Rom. 5. 2. To serve him without fear in righteousness and holiness Luk. 1. 74. and freedom in respect of the creatures to use or not to use our dominion lost by Adam it being restored by Christ so that all are ours 1 Cor. 3. 22. all being pure to the pure Rom. 14. 14. There is also a carnal liberty to swear to lye to slander to serve God when and how men list to shun Gods Ordinances and publick Meetings and this is a liberty stood for by some whereas this is no Christian liberty but a dissolute licentiousness for notwithstanding our liberty we must pay debts and perform duties to whom debts or duties belong Scripture mentions a good a cleer a pure a purged a weak an evil and a feared conscience If the conscience for which men plead liberty loves divisions which God hates it is but a bad conscience of conscience to the things indifferent as substantials As for liberty of conscience so much desired of some who know not what they desire I could shew how John Becold Nicholas Stock Mancer and others pleaded for and obtained the desired liberty but having power in their hands they would not grant the same to others And sure we may remember how some would not grant it to others who are now most desirous of it themselves But who I pray should have liberty of conscience Sure I am it is not agreed upon by those who have written earnestly for the same Some would have it granted to all conscientious men only but who are they some not to such who sin against the light of nature and reason and here will be some doubt And some would have it granted to all men in all Nations whereas if to all what confusion if to some only what dissension Concerning things indifferent as such things are which I may lawfully do or use as I may forbear from or drink wine ale beer or water I may cloath my self with woollen or linnen I may use the gestures of sitting standing kneeling so long as I am at liberty for a Christian is sometimes to moderate his liberty in the use of things indifferent of which there