Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	formal_a	justification_n	meritorious_a	1,409	5	11.1733	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A70371	The present separation self-condemned and proved to be schism as it is exemplified in a sermon preached upon that subject / by Mr. W. Jenkyn ; and is further attested by divers others of his own persuasion all produced in answer to a letter from a friend.	Jane, William, 1645-1707.; Jenkyn, William, 1613-1685.; S. R. To his worthy friend H. N.; Brinsley, John, fl. 1581-1624.; H. N.	1678 (1678)	Wing J454; ESTC R18614	63,527	154

Gibbet and the Stake and cry out Pelagianism and Socinianism nay Mahometism Mr. Jenkin and his Brethren once said in the Vindication of the Presbyterial Government pag. 140. To make ruptures in the Body of Christ and to divide Church from Church and to set up Church against Church and to gather Churches out of true Churches and because we differ in some things therefore to hold Communion in nothing this we think hath no warrant out of the Word of God and will introduce all manner of Confusion in Churches and set open a wide gap to bring in Atheism Popery Heresie and all manner of wickedness And all People would be apt to say the same and could not see into the Reason of this Separation if it came to this Whether the Righteousness of Christ be the meritorious or formal Cause of our Justification or Whether Moral Vertue and Grace differ in their nature or onely in their cause It must be somewhat gross and tangible that they can judge of and therefore charge them home That they hold no necessity of the Righteousness of Christ and That Moral Vertue as it was in the Heathens or in Christians without any Divine Grace will save and you do the work This is a Lord have Mercy wrote upon their Church-doors and People will be taught by this to avoid them as they would the Plague and to be as wary of trusting their Souls with them as their Bodies with Tygers Bears and Wolves It is truly and well observed by Mr. Hickman in his Sermon De Haeresium origine pag. 12. Ipsa salus non servet eas oves quae aeque metuunt a pastoribus lupis Once render their Pastors formidable to them and we may know how the day will go Beat up these Kettle-Drums and you may easily gather and securely Hive the Bees I shall conclude this with what Mr. Baxter saith in his Cure of Church-Divisions pag. 393 394. As I have known many unlearned Sots that had no other Artifice to keep up the reputation of their Learning than in all Companies to cry down such and such who were wiser than themselves for no Scholars So many that are or should be conscious of the dulness and ignorance of their fumbling and unfurnish'd Brains have no way to keep up the reputation of their Wisdom with their simple Followers but to tell them O such an one hath dangerous Errors and such a Book is a dangerous Book and they hold this and they hold that and so to make odious the Opinions and Practices of others And if Ignorance get possession of the ancient and gray-headed it triumpheth there and saith Give me a Man that I may dispute with him or rather Away with this Heretick he is not fit to be disputed with How far Mr. Jenkin is concerned in this Character I leave to his consideration but if you have a mind to inquire into it you may repair to his Exodus where he comes like another Samson shaking his Locks and rushing forth with his mouth full of Menaces against the uncircumcised Philistims those audacious Hereticks that lie sculking in the corners of the Church of England but poor man meets with the misfortune of that Champion to be led away in triumph and in stead of answering others is not able to defend himself 3. Separation is not to be allowed for the manner of Church-constitution So saith Mr. J. here pag. 37. Much more clear if clearer can be is the Schismaticalness of those who separate from and renounce all Communion with those Churches which are not of their own manner of Constitution For which he gives three Reasons pag. 38. And herein he agrees with Mr. Brinsley in his Arraignment pag. 32. and in his Church-Remedy pag. 51. Now if this Argument held for Presbytery against Independency and that the separation of the latter was for that reason Schismatical I see not why it should not be of as equal force to condemn the former who yet do presume to offer it on their own behalf against us and think that they have said enough when they have been able to pick some quarrel with the present Constitution 4. Separation is not to be allowed when it is upon those terms which will make us refuse some Churches upon which are seen the Scripture-characters of true Churches This Mr. J. gives as a Reason to confirm the former pag. 38. Now what those Characters are he tells us a little before in the same page viz. In Scripture Churches are commended according as their fundamental Faith was sound and their Lives holy Nay he seems to resolve it wholly into the former pag. 34. where he saith Hath not God his Church even where corruption of Manners hath crept into a Church if purity of Doctrine be maintained Now how far our Church hath upon it these Characters I appeal to what is abovesaid to shew and for which I question not but it may contend with any Church in the World 5. It is not to be allowed because other Churches are by them accounted better So pag. 39. Men separate to those Churches which they account better because they never found those where they were before to them good Which he there condemns and as a remedy against it advises to labour for experimental benefit by the Ordinances The reason of this Separation saith Mr. Vines on the Sacrament p. 235. seems plausible to easie capacities such as the Apostle calls Rom. 16. 18. the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the simple but if it be urged by the Standard of Scripture it will be found too light But now the case is altered and it is become a considerable Argument A more profitable Ministry a purer Worship a stricter Discipline an holier Society and Fellowship are some of the massie Pillars upon which the weight of this new Separation is laid Hither the Author of Separation yet no Schism doth with confidence betake himself pag. 65 66 67. The Reason supposeth that which is not to be supposed i. e. That to withdraw from a Church for the benefit of a more profitable Ministry is a Crime Now here I shall consider whether this Reason will hold and serve to justifie a Separation from a Church and if it were granted whether yet it is a Reason amongst us Whether it is so in it self let Mr. Brinsley speak in his Arraignment pag. 47. where the Case is put thus May not People make choice of what Ministers they please putting themselves under such a Ministry as by which they may edifie most Answ Suppose it That a People have such a Power and Right to chuse their own Ministers yet having once chosen them and God by giving a Blessing to their Ministry having ratified and confirmed that Choice evidencing that they are the Ministers of God to them whether they may now upon pretext of greater Edification take a liberty to themselves to chuse new ones as oft as they please this the moderate Author of the late Irenicon