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cause_n church_n great_a schism_n 1,418 5 9.7695 5 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A61590 The reformation justify'd in a sermon preached at Guild-Hall Chappel Septemb. 21, 1673, before the Lord Major and Aldermen, &c. / by Edw. Stillingfleet ... Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699. 1674 (1674) Wing S5626; ESTC R14334 23,407 58

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he_o do_v against_o st._n paul_n they_o charge_v we_o with_o bring_v in_o new_a sect_n under_o the_o pretence_n of_o reformation_n or_o with_o reject_v the_o authority_n of_o the_o present_a church_n which_o we_o be_v bind_v to_o obey_v and_o thereby_o lay_v the_o foundation_n of_o faction●nd_a ●nd_z schism_n these_o be_v heavy_a charge_n but_o they_o be_v no_o other_o than_o those_o the_o high_a priest_n and_o the_o elder_n make_v against_o st._n paul_n and_o thanks_o be_v to_o god_n his_o defence_n and_o vindication_n be_v we_o too_o for_o we_o appeal_v to_o scripture_n and_o the_o best_a and_o pure_a antiquity_n and_o desire_v to_o be_v judge_v according_a to_o these_o these_o three_o thing_n therefore_o i_o shall_v speak_v to_o before_o i_o conclude_v 1._o that_o the_o same_o reason_n which_o they_o produce_v against_o the_o reformation_n will_v have_v hold_v against_o the_o spread_a of_o christianity_n at_o first_o 2._o that_o the_o same_o defence_n which_o st._n paul_n make_v 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those_o heavy_a burden_n which_o the_o scribe_n and_o pharisee_n place_n so_o much_o of_o their_o religion_n in_o what_o ground_n be_v there_o in_o the_o law_n and_o the_o prophet_n for_o the_o pharisaical_a superstition_n and_o vow_n and_o severity_n to_o themselves_o in_o fetch_v blood_n and_o knock_v their_o head_n against_o the_o wall_n and_o different_a garb_n and_o dress_n to_o appear_v more_o holy_a unto_o man_n with_o many_o other_o custom_n of_o they_o the_o observation_n of_o which_o be_v make_v so_o great_a a_o part_n of_o the_o religion_n of_o their_o devout_a man_n and_o it_o be_v a_o strange_a thing_n they_o shall_v think_v it_o impossible_a such_o thing_n shall_v come_v in_o among_o they_o without_o great_a notice_n be_v take_v of_o it_o for_o although_o sudden_a and_o violent_a change_n may_v have_v all_o the_o circumstance_n know_v yet_o it_o be_v not_o to_o be_v expect_v in_o more_o in_o sensible_a &_o gradual_a alteration_n a_o man_n may_v tell_v when_o a_o violent_a fever_n seize_v upon_o he_o and_o inflame_v his_o blood_n but_o he_o can_v do_v so_o by_o a_o hectic_a or_o a_o consumption_n must_v he_o therefore_o believe_v himself_o well_o because_o he_o can_v tell_v the_o punctual_a time_n when_o he_o fall_v sick_a we_o may_v easy_o describe_v the_o circumstance_n of_o a_o landflood_n which_o overflow_v the_o bank_n and_o bear_v all_o before_o it_o but_o we_o can_v do_v so_o by_o the_o come_n in_o of_o the_o tide_n which_o steal_v in_o secret_o and_o insensible_o and_o no_o man_n can_v assign_v the_o place_n where_o the_o salt_n and_o fresh_a water_n first_o mix_v together_o superstition_n be_v a_o hectic_a fever_n to_o religion_n it_o by_o degree_n consume_v the_o vital_n of_o it_o but_o come_v on_o insensible_o and_o be_v not_o easy_o discover_v till_o it_o be_v hard_a to_o be_v cure_v at_o first_o it_o may_v be_v some_o devout_a but_o indiscreet_a man_n make_v way_n for_o it_o who_o love_n to_o find_v out_o some_o mode_n of_o devotion_n different_a from_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o world_n which_o be_v greedy_o embrace_v by_o such_o who_o admire_v and_o follow_v they_o this_o example_n take_v another_o begins_z and_o set_v up_o for_o a_o more_o refine_a way_n than_o the_o former_a and_o so_o the_o design_n spread_v till_o at_o last_o true_a piety_n and_o goodness_n be_v swallow_v up_o by_o superstitious_a foppery_n which_o be_v the_o most_o probable_a account_n of_o all_o the_o pharisaical_a corruption_n some_o of_o who_o observation_n may_v be_v begin_v at_o first_o with_o a_o good_a mind_n and_o by_o the_o devout_a person_n of_o that_o time_n but_o afterward_o every_o one_o that_o have_v a_o sour_a look_n and_o a_o worse_a nature_n than_o ordinary_a think_v it_o not_o enough_o to_o follow_v the_o example_n of_o other_o but_o like_o a_o great_a physician_n he_o must_v have_v his_o nostrum_n something_o of_o his_o own_o find_v out_o a_o new_a garb_n or_o ceremony_n or_o posture_n of_o devotion_n whereby_o he_o may_v be_v take_v notice_n of_o and_o admire_v for_o his_o sanctity_n thus_o that_o fardel_n of_o superstitious_a rite_n be_v gather_v up_o among_o the_o scribe_n and_o pharisee_n in_o our_o saviour_n time_n who_o he_o most_o severe_o upon_o all_o occasion_n rebuke_n for_o their_o hypocrisy_n in_o place_v so_o much_o of_o their_o religion_n in_o they_o and_o thus_o much_o for_o the_o way_n take_v by_o st._n paul_n to_o vindicate_v christianity_n from_o the_o imputation_n of_o be_v a_o new_a sect_n or_o heresy_n by_o a_o appeal_n to_o scripture_n and_o the_o best_a antiquity_n 3._o there_o remain_v only_o the_o freedom_n and_o courage_n express_v by_o he_o in_o own_v his_o religion_n notwithstanding_o these_o false_a imputation_n but_o this_o i_o confess_v unto_o thou_o that_o after_o the_o way_n which_o be_v call_v heresy_n etc._n etc._n he_o abhor_v that_o mean_a and_o base-spirited_n principle_n which_o make_v it_o lawful_a for_o man_n to_o deny_v their_o religion_n when_o it_o bring_v they_o into_o danger_n he_o study_v no_o secret_a art_n of_o compliance_n with_o his_o adversary_n to_o securehimself_n he_o do_v not_o decline_v appear_v though_o to_o the_o hazard_n of_o his_o life_n in_o so_o just_a a_o cause_n he_o value_v his_o religion_n beyond_o his_o own_o safety_n and_o regard_v not_o all_o the_o calumny_n and_o reproach_n of_o his_o enemy_n as_o long_o as_o he_o make_v this_o his_o constant_a exercise_n to_o keep_v a_o conscience_n 16._o void_a of_o offence_n both_o towards_o god_n and_o towards_o man_n and_o this_o he_o elsewhere_o say_v afford_v he_o more_o inward_a comfort_n and_o satisfaction_n than_o all_o the_o craft_n and_o policy_n in_o the_o world_n can_v give_v he_o for_o our_o rejoice_v 12._o be_v this_o say_v he_o the_o testimony_n of_o our_o conscience_n that_o in_o simplicity_n and_o godly_a sincerity_n not_o with_o fleshly_a wisdom_n but_o by_o the_o grace_n of_o god_n we_o have_v have_v our_o conversation_n in_o the_o world_n there_o be_v nothing_o inspire_v man_n with_o so_o much_o courage_n as_o integrity_n and_o uprightness_n of_o mind_n do_v and_o such_o person_n who_o have_v the_o comfort_n of_o that_o have_v not_o only_o better_a hope_n as_o to_o another_o world_n but_o ofttimes_o escape_v better_o as_o to_o this_o than_o other_o do_v for_o even_o their_o enemy_n can_v but_o esteem_v they_o whereas_o the_o fawn_a sneak_v and_o flatter_a hypocrite_n that_o will_v do_v or_o be_v any_o thing_n for_o his_o own_o advantage_n be_v despise_v by_o those_o he_o court_v hate_v by_o good_a man_n and_o at_o last_o torment_v by_o his_o own_o conscience_n for_o be_v false_a to_o god_n and_o religion_n but_o we_o may_v see_v here_o in_o st._n paul_n a_o great_a instance_n of_o true_a christian_a magnanimity_n he_o be_v sensible_a how_o great_a both_o the_o malice_n and_o quality_n of_o his_o enemy_n be_v he_o know_v he_o be_v to_o answer_v before_o a_o judge_n that_o regard_v nothing_o either_o of_o justice_n or_o religion_n yet_o he_o neither_o flatter_v his_o judge_n nor_o betray_v any_o distrust_n of_o he_o he_o do_v not_o bespatter_v his_o enemy_n nor_o discover_v any_o fear_n of_o they_o but_o with_o a_o modest_a freedom_n and_o manly_a courage_n own_v the_o main_a part_n of_o their_o accusation_n and_o effectual_o vindicate_v his_o own_o innocency_n and_o his_o religion_n together_o for_o even_o felix_n himself_o although_o a_o man_n otherwise_o very_o capable_a of_o be_v wrought_v upon_o by_o some_o way_n of_o address_n of_o which_o we_o read_v ver._n 26._o yet_o the_o high_a priest_n and_o the_o elder_n with_o their_o eloquent_a tertullus_n be_v force_v to_o return_v as_o they_o come_v and_o leave_v st._n paul_n under_o the_o name_n of_o a_o prisoner_n but_o enjoy_v the_o conveniency_n of_o liberty_n ver_fw-la 23._o i_o have_v now_o go_v through_o all_o the_o part_n of_o the_o text_n with_o a_o respect_n to_o st._n paul_n and_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o jewish_a church_n which_o be_v engage_v against_o he_o it_o may_v now_o be_v just_o expect_v that_o i_o make_v application_n of_o what_o i_o have_v say_v to_o our_o own_o state_n and_o condition_n thanks_o be_v to_o god_n we_o be_v not_o bring_v to_o such_o a_o trial_n as_o st._n paul_n be_v we_o enjoy_v the_o liberty_n of_o speak_v for_o ourselves_o and_o our_o religion_n and_o not_o only_o speak_v for_o it_o but_o profess_v and_o own_v it_o and_o may_v we_o ever_o do_v so_o but_o we_o have_v busy_a and_o restless_a adversary_n abroad_o the_o factor_n of_o the_o high_a priest_n and_o elder_n at_o rome_n who_o have_v as_o much_o spite_n and_o malice_n against_o we_o as_o ever_o those_o of_o jerusalem_n have_v against_o st._n paul_n and_o they_o have_v their_o tertullus_n too_o man_n of_o art_n and_o insinuation_n and_o who_o manage_n their_o cause_n against_o we_o just_a as_o