four_o discourse_n deliver_v to_o the_o clergy_n of_o the_o diocese_n of_o sarum_n concern_v i._o the_o truth_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n ii_o the_o divinity_n and_o death_n of_o christ._n iii_o the_o infallibility_n and_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n iv._o the_o obligation_n to_o continue_v in_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n by_o the_o right_n reverend_a father_n in_o god_n gilbert_n lord_n bishop_n of_o sarum_n london_n print_v for_o richard_n chiswell_n at_o the_o rose_n and_o crown_n in_o st._n paul_n churchyard_n mdcxciv_o imprimatur_fw-la jo._n cant_n jan._n 22._o 1693_o 4._o to_o the_o clergy_n of_o the_o diocese_n of_o sarum_n my_o reverend_n and_o dear_a brethren_n these_o discourse_n be_v at_o first_o prepare_v for_o you_o and_o be_v deliver_v to_o you_o among_o a_o great_a many_o more_o on_o other_o subject_n on_o several_a occasion_n they_o be_v so_o well_o receive_v by_o you_o that_o many_o of_o you_o desire_v that_o you_o may_v have_v they_o copy_v out_o for_o a_o more_o last_a use_n this_o have_v set_v i_o on_o publish_v these_o that_o follow_v they_o relate_v to_o four_o different_a sort_n of_o man_n with_o who_o you_o may_v be_v engage_v the_o first_o be_v against_o atheist_n and_o libertine_n who_o grow_v to_o be_v so_o bold_a and_o insolent_a that_o it_o be_v of_o the_o last_o importance_n that_o you_o shall_v be_v well_o furnish_v with_o answer_n to_o those_o objection_n with_o which_o they_o make_v the_o great_a noise_n this_o be_v the_o pest_n of_o the_o age_n we_o live_v in_o the_o most_o dangerous_a as_o well_o as_o the_o most_o contagious_a of_o all_o other_o it_o strike_v at_o all_o and_o corrupt_v the_o whole_a man_n as_o well_o as_o it_o dissolve_v all_o the_o bound_n of_o nature_n and_o society_n this_o promise_v such_o a_o indemnity_n and_o give_v so_o entire_a a_o liberty_n that_o deprave_a inclination_n and_o affection_n will_v be_v always_o of_o its_o side_n and_o it_o have_v some_o specious_a thing_n to_o 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of_o christianity_n concern_v the_o person_n and_o suffering_n of_o jesus_n christ_n their_o doctrine_n give_v so_o different_a a_o view_n of_o this_o religion_n in_o its_o most_o important_a head_n that_o either_o we_o have_v be_v guilty_a of_o a_o most_o irreligious_a profanation_n in_o esteem_v one_o to_o be_v god_n and_o give_v he_o all_o the_o acknowledgement_n and_o adoration_n that_o belong_v to_o the_o great_a and_o eternal_a god_n who_o yet_o be_v a_o mere_a creature_n or_o they_o must_v be_v no_o less_o guilty_a who_o if_o he_o be_v the_o great_a and_o the_o true_a god_n do_v look_v on_o he_o only_o as_o a_o creature_n and_o yet_o offer_v he_o all_o divine_a honour_n and_o worship_n and_o if_o his_o death_n be_v only_o a_o pattern_n or_o any_o thing_n else_o than_o a_o true_a propitiatory_a sacrifice_n than_o we_o who_o look_v on_o it_o as_o our_o propitiation_n and_o redemption_n who_o claim_n and_o trust_v to_o it_o as_o our_o ransom_n and_o atonement_n do_v very_o 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be_v infallible_a without_o specify_v which_o of_o these_o be_v the_o infallible_a one_o there_o be_v some_o thing_n that_o look_v so_o extravagant_a that_o real_o it_o be_v a_o absurd_a thing_n to_o suppose_v they_o of_o which_o this_o seem_v to_o be_v evident_o one_o that_o god_n shall_v have_v leave_v a_o infallibility_n to_o his_o church_n and_o not_o have_v declare_v with_o who_o this_o the_o great_a of_o all_o trust_n to_o which_o probable_o many_o will_v pretend_v be_v lodge_v so_o that_o this_o which_o be_v the_o general_a doctrine_n of_o the_o whole_a roman_a communion_n have_v a_o absurdity_n in_o it_o that_o can_v be_v reconcile_v to_o common_a sense_n and_o reason_n many_o among_o they_o put_v it_o in_o the_o whole_a diffusive_a body_n of_o all_o christian_n to_o which_o purpose_n the_o word_n of_o vincentius_n lirinensis_n be_v perpetual_o repeat_v but_o after_o all_o this_o be_v only_o to_o abuse_v people_n for_o if_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o church_n in_o all_o place_n 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be_v urge_v that_o the_o book_n of_o the_o scripture_n can_v be_v of_o use_n to_o we_o if_o there_o be_v not_o in_o the_o church_n a_o live_a speak_a judge_n to_o declare_v their_o true_a sense_n now_o this_o be_v rather_o more_o necessary_a with_o relation_n to_o the_o decree_n of_o council_n which_o as_o they_o be_v write_n as_o well_o as_o the_o scripture_n so_o they_o be_v much_o more_o voluminous_a and_o more_o artificial_o contrive_v and_o couch_v need_v a_o commentary_n much_o more_o than_o a_o few_o plain_a and_o simple_a write_n which_o make_v up_o the_o new_a testament_n if_o then_o the_o council_n must_v be_v expound_v there_o must_v be_v according_a to_o their_o main_a reason_n a_o infallibility_n lodge_v somewere_v else_o to_o give_v their_o sense_n and_o the_o necessity_n of_o this_o have_v appear_v evident_o since_o the_o time_n of_o the_o council_n of_o trent_n for_o both_o upon_o the_o article_n of_o divine_a grace_n and_o upon_o their_o sacrament_n of_o penance_n 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enlarge_v their_o papal_a authority_n as_o to_o government_n do_v it_o what_o out_o of_o a_o respect_n to_o st._n peter_n and_o st._n paul_n who_o they_o believe_v found_v that_o church_n and_o suffer_v martyrdom_n in_o it_o and_o what_o or_o most_o chief_o out_o of_o their_o regard_n to_o the_o dignity_n of_o that_o city_n it_o be_v the_o head_n of_o the_o empire_n under_o which_o they_o live_v and_o this_o appear_v by_o their_o give_v the_o same_o privilege_n to_o constantinople_n when_o it_o become_v the_o imperial_a city_n which_o be_v make_v second_o to_o the_o other_o and_o equal_a to_o it_o except_o only_o in_o order_n and_o rank_n but_o as_o for_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n though_o still_o the_o regard_n to_o st._n peter_n go_v far_o yet_o when_o liberius_n subscribe_v to_o semiarianism_n it_o be_v never_o pretend_v that_o his_o authority_n have_v in_o any_o thing_n alter_v the_o case_n which_o must_v have_v be_v urge_v if_o he_o have_v be_v believe_v infallible_a the_o case_n of_o honorius_n do_v full_o discover_v the_o sense_n of_o the_o church_n in_o the_o six_o century_n concern_v their_o infallibility_n he_o be_v condemn_v as_o a_o monothelite_n by_o a_o general_n council_n which_o be_v confirm_v by_o several_a pope_n who_o do_v by_o name_n condemn_v he_o now_o we_o be_v not_o a_o whit_n concern_v in_o his_o cause_n and_o condemnation_n whether_o it_o be_v just_a or_o not_o and_o whether_o it_o be_v upon_o a_o due_a examination_n or_o not_o it_o be_v enough_o for_o we_o that_o a_o general_n council_n as_o well_o as_o several_a pope_n in_o that_o age_n have_v never_o dream_v of_o infallibility_n otherwise_o they_o can_v not_o have_v condemn_v he_o or_o believe_v he_o capable_a of_o heresy_n this_o may_v be_v bring_v down_o to_o many_o late_a instance_n in_o which_o several_a pope_n have_v be_v charge_v with_o heresy_n one_o shall_v suffice_v they_o have_v pretend_v to_o a_o authority_n from_o christ_n to_o depose_v king_n and_o to_o transfer_v their_o dominion_n to_o other_o this_o they_o have_v not_o only_o do_v by_o force_n and_o violence_n but_o by_o many_o solemn_a decision_n in_o which_o this_o authority_n have_v be_v claim_v as_o found_v on_o several_a passage_n of_o scripture_n not_o forget_v those_o in_o the_o beginning_n not_o in_o the_o beginning_n do_v god_n create_v and_o the_o great_a light_n that_o rule_v the_o day_n these_o with_o many_o more_o they_o have_v urge_v both_o from_o the_o old_a and_o new_a testament_n this_o they_o do_v with_o the_o utmost_a pomp_n of_o solemn_a declaration_n and_o upon_o this_o head_n they_o fill_v the_o world_n with_o war_n some_o few_o writ_n against_o these_o pretension_n but_o the_o pope_n stand_v to_o they_o and_o carry_v they_o on_o in_o a_o course_n of_o five_o or_o six_o century_n with_o all_o possible_a vigour_n and_o during_o those_o age_n this_o doctrine_n grow_v to_o be_v universal_o receive_v by_o the_o learned_a and_o unlearned_a by_o all_o the_o university_n all_o the_o divine_n canonist_n and_o casuist_n not_o one_o single_a person_n dare_v to_o oppose_v so_o strong_a a_o current_n so_o that_o cardinal_n perron_n be_v in_o the_o right_n when_o he_o affirm_v that_o this_o be_v the_o doctrine_n universal_o receive_v in_o the_o church_n for_o the_o last_o six_o century_n without_o contradiction_n before_o calvin_n day_n and_o those_o few_o that_o seem_v to_o write_v against_o it_o dare_v only_o oppose_v the_o pope_n direct_a power_n in_o temporal_n as_o the_o superior_a lord_n to_o who_o king_n be_v but_o vassal_n but_o dare_v not_o contradict_v his_o authority_n over_o they_o in_o case_n of_o heresy_n this_o then_o be_v so_o public_a and_o uncontested_a a_o point_n as_o it_o shake_v the_o authority_n of_o oral_a tradition_n and_o show_v how_o doctrine_n even_o in_o point_n in_o which_o man_n interest_n do_v strong_o oppose_v they_o can_v get_v into_o the_o church_n though_o not_o derive_v down_o from_o the_o apostle_n so_o it_o total_o destroy_v the_o pope_n pretension_n to_o infallibility_n in_o the_o opinion_n of_o all_o such_o as_o think_v this_o to_o be_v simple_o unlawful_a and_o that_o it_o subvert_v the_o order_n which_o god_n have_v settle_v in_o the_o world_n for_o there_o be_v not_o any_o one_o fact_n in_o history_n that_o can_v be_v less_o contest_v than_o that_o the_o pope_n have_v assume_v this_o authority_n and_o that_o they_o have_v vouch_v divine_a warrant_n for_o it_o to_o this_o also_o we_o may_v well_o add_v another_o train_n of_o difficulty_n about_o the_o right_a to_o choose_v this_o pope_n in_o who_o it_o be_v vest_v what_o number_n be_v necessary_a for_o a_o canonical_a election_n and_o how_o far_o simony_n void_v it_o and_o who_o be_v the_o competent_a judge_n of_o the_o simony_n or_o in_o the_o case_n of_o different_a election_n who_o shall_v judge_v which_o of_o
one_o another_o in_o such_o case_n the_o one_o be_v not_o to_o set_v a_o stumbling-block_n or_o a_o occasion_n to_o fall_v in_o another_o man_n way_n 13._o that_o be_v not_o to_o use_v our_o liberty_n in_o such_o instance_n or_o on_o such_o occasion_n as_o may_v draw_v other_o man_n to_o act_v in_o imitation_n of_o we_o against_o their_o own_o conscience_n this_o be_v the_o true_a notion_n of_o give_v scandal_n or_o the_o lay_v a_o trap_n in_o the_o way_n of_o another_o by_o which_o he_o may_v fall_v or_o be_v catch_v and_o this_o every_o man_n be_v to_o avoid_v when_o it_o be_v free_a for_o he_o to_o act_v or_o not_o as_o he_o please_v for_o in_o that_o case_n only_o he_o be_v under_o this_o obligation_n and_o caution_n since_o otherwise_o if_o he_o be_v determine_v by_o any_o law_n divine_a or_o humane_a he_o must_v go_v on_o and_o do_v his_o duty_n without_o consider_v what_o consequence_n may_v happen_v upon_o it_o for_o which_o he_o be_v not_o accountable_a since_o he_o be_v not_o 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pleasure_n and_o all_o the_o ritual_n of_o the_o church_n be_v in_o the_o power_n of_o every_o age_n to_o alter_v or_o continue_v they_o as_o they_o shall_v see_v cause_n but_o till_o they_o be_v alter_v they_o bind_v not_o by_o reason_n of_o any_o authority_n that_o former_a age_n have_v over_o the_o present_a but_o because_o the_o present_a age_n by_o not_o repeal_n former_a rule_n and_o canon_n do_v tacit_o and_o interpretative_o confirm_v and_o renew_v they_o for_o if_o the_o pastor_n of_o the_o present_a age_n in_o concurrence_n with_o and_o a_o due_a subordination_n to_o the_o civil_a power_n have_v a_o authority_n to_o make_v law_n or_o canon_n in_o such_o matter_n they_o have_v likewise_o a_o power_n to_o continue_v such_o as_o be_v make_v in_o any_o former_a age_n and_o they_o be_v presume_v and_o in_o law_n take_v to_o do_v that_o till_o they_o repeal_v they_o i_o have_v now_o go_v through_o the_o general_a plea_n that_o be_v bring_v against_o our_o constitution_n from_o general_a topic_n and_o have_v i_o hope_v show_v that_o there_o be_v no_o force_n in_o any_o part_n of_o it_o i_o come_v next_o to_o consider_v such_o thing_n as_o be_v object_v more_o special_o to_o several_a particular_n in_o our_o constitution_n they_o except_z to_o the_o government_n of_o the_o church_n because_o of_o the_o different_a rank_n of_o bishop_n priest_n and_o deacon_n whereas_o the_o scripture_n use_v bishop_n and_o priest_n so_o promiscuous_o that_o from_o thence_o it_o seem_v reasonable_a to_o infer_v that_o they_o be_v one_o and_o the_o same_o function_n and_o that_o there_o ought_v to_o be_v but_o two_o rank_n bishop_n and_o diacon_n in_o the_o church_n but_o those_o who_o object_n this_o have_v real_o among_o they_o but_o one_o function_n and_o order_n since_o they_o have_v no_o diacon_n in_o the_o sense_n of_o st._n paul_n epistle_n who_o be_v a_o degree_n of_o man_n dedicate_v to_o the_o service_n of_o god_n out_o of_o which_o as_o any_o serve_v well_o in_o it_o they_o be_v advance_v to_o a_o superior_a degree_n and_o be_v ever_o esteem_v a_o sacred_a order_n of_o men._n there_o be_v none_o such_o among_o those_o who_o urge_v this_o matter_n against_o we_o the_o promiscuous_a use_n of_o name_n do_v not_o prove_v the_o office_n the_o same_o the_o apostle_n be_v call_v sometime_o deacon_n or_o minister_n and_o so_o be_v their_o companion_n in_o labour_n for_o the_o term_n diacon_n 25._o signify_v any_o one_o that_o minister_v it_o be_v not_o then_o appropriate_v to_o the_o low_a order_n no_o more_o than_o presbyter_n be_v to_o the_o second_o for_o the_o apostle_n call_v themselves_o sometime_o deacon_n so_o that_o from_o hence_o a_o argument_n may_v be_v draw_v as_o well_o to_o prove_v that_o deacon_n be_v equal_a in_o rank_a to_o the_o high_a order_n of_o bishop_n we_o plain_o see_v that_o god_n settle_v three_o order_n of_o officer_n in_o the_o jewish_a temple_n we_o see_v also_o in_o their_o synagogue_n that_o there_o be_v three_o different_a rank_n take_v probable_o from_o the_o model_n of_o the_o temple_n 3.2_o we_o see_v our_o saviour_n choose_v twelve_o apostle_n and_o afterward_o seventy_o disciple_n have_v in_o that_o no_o doubt_n a_o regard_n both_o to_o the_o number_n of_o their_o tribe_n and_o of_o their_o sanhedrin_n we_o plain_o see_v that_o during_o the_o apostle_n life_n the_o govern_n and_o order_v of_o the_o church_n be_v in_o they_o yet_o they_o constitute_v some_o in_o their_o name_n to_o govern_v a_o large_a extent_n of_o church_n and_o by_o their_o epistle_n to_o these_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o the_o power_n of_o govern_v those_o church_n and_o of_o ordain_v new_a officer_n in_o they_o belong_v to_o they_o they_o be_v the_o person_n to_o who_o that_o trust_n be_v commit_v with_o solemn_a charge_n give_v they_o for_o it_o by_o the_o apostle_n we_o plain_o see_v two_o distinct_a order_n of_o bishop_n and_o deacon_n as_o two_o sacred_a function_n that_o be_v to_o labour_v in_o the_o work_n of_o the_o gospel_n and_o we_o find_v by_o the_o short_a epistle_n in_o the_o beginning_n of_o the_o revelation_n that_o there_o be_v one_o man_n who_o have_v the_o immediate_a charge_n of_o those_o church_n to_o who_o every_o thing_n relate_v to_o they_o be_v address_v as_o to_o a_o person_n that_o be_v accountable_a for_o the_o rest_n and_o that_o by_o consequence_n must_v be_v suppose_v to_o have_v a_o authority_n over_o they_o we_o see_v immediate_o after_o the_o day_n of_o the_o apostle_n that_o all_o the_o church_n be_v cast_v into_o one_o mould_n of_o bishop_n priest_n and_o diacon_n this_o take_a place_n every_o where_o and_o that_o at_o a_o time_n when_o no_o meeting_n of_o the_o clergy_n can_v be_v hold_v to_o establish_v any_o such_o form_n and_o that_o no_o