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cause_n good_a great_a think_v 4,338 5 3.9369 3 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A40084 The principles and practices of certain moderate divines of the Church of England (greatly mis-understood), truly represented and defended wherein ... some controversies, of no mean importance, are succinctly discussed : in a free discourse between two intimate friends : in three parts. Fowler, Edward, 1632-1714. 1670 (1670) Wing F1711; ESTC R17783 120,188 376

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of_o people_n of_o prostitute_a conscience_n let_v they_o live_v never_o so_o exact_o according_a to_o all_o the_o notice_n of_o god_n will_v clear_o express_v in_o his_o word_n which_o as_o i_o say_v those_o friend_n of_o we_o be_v so_o far_o from_o live_v in_o contradiction_n to_o that_o i_o hear_v of_o no_o clamour_n against_o they_o upon_o that_o account_n which_o i_o be_o confident_a i_o shall_v with_o both_o ear_n if_o any_o thing_n of_o immorality_n do_v discover_v itself_o in_o their_o conversation_n philal._n but_o now_o i_o think_v of_o it_o do_v you_o believe_v that_o there_o be_v those_o conformable_a person_n that_o have_v give_v too_o good_a cause_n for_o such_o a_o severe_a censure_n theoph._n i_o do_v think_v that_o any_o have_v do_v so_o by_o their_o bare_a conformity_n but_o whereas_o there_o be_v those_o that_o in_o all_o our_o change_n have_v be_v observe_v to_o be_v zealous_a still_o for_o that_o which_o be_v most_o countenance_v by_o the_o authority_n that_o 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if_o it_o have_v be_v otherwise_o philal._n how_o much_o do_v they_o or_o you_o conceive_v to_o be_v essential_a to_o episcopacy_n and_o therefore_o agreeable_a to_o the_o primitive_a pattern_n theoph._n mr._n chillingworth_n shall_v answer_v you_o that_o question_n episcopacy_n if_o we_o abstract_a say_v he_o from_o episcopal_a government_n all_o accidental_n and_o consider_v only_o what_o be_v essential_a and_o necessary_a to_o it_o we_o shall_v find_v in_o it_o no_o more_o than_o this_o a_o appointment_n of_o one_o man_n of_o eminent_a sanctity_n and_o sufficiency_n to_o have_v the_o care_n of_o all_o the_o church_n within_o a_o certain_a precinct_n or_o diocese_n and_o furnish_v he_o with_o authority_n not_o absolute_a or_o arbitrary_a but_o regulate_v and_o bound_v by_o law_n and_o moderate_v by_o join_v to_o he_o a_o convenient_a number_n of_o assistant_n to_o the_o intent_n that_o all_o the_o
contradict_v humour_n i_o despise_v nothing_o more_o it_o argue_v those_o in_o who_o it_o be_v observable_a to_o have_v attain_v to_o no_o solid_a judgement_n or_o sense_n of_o thing_n and_o beside_o there_o be_v a_o deal_n of_o conceitedness_n and_o pride_n in_o it_o and_o too_o much_o ordinary_o of_o a_o cross-graind_a and_o ill_a nature_n dispute_n but_o amicable_a dispute_n sometime_o mere_o in_o order_n to_o the_o find_v out_o of_o truth_n can_v have_v no_o other_o than_o a_o good_a effect_n and_o moreover_o they_o add_v much_o to_o the_o pleasure_n of_o conversation_n peace_n and_o therefore_o let_v the_o professor_n of_o christianity_n labour_n for_o the_o true_a spirit_n and_o temper_n of_o christian_n and_o it_o will_v be_v as_o well_o with_o the_o christian_a world_n as_o if_o we_o be_v all_o of_o the_o same_o mind_n i_o mean_v let_v we_o not_o magisterial_o impose_v upon_o one_o another_o and_o be_v so_o charitable_a as_o to_o believe_v well_o of_o dissenter_n from_o we_o that_o live_v good_a life_n be_v of_o a_o modest_a and_o peaceable_a deportment_n and_o hold_v no_o opinion_n that_o direct_o oppose_v the_o design_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n and_o of_o make_v man_n like_v to_o god_n and_o then_o we_o shall_v see_v that_o there_o will_v be_v little_a reason_n to_o desire_v a_o infallible_a judge_n of_o controversy_n to_o make_v we_o all_o of_o one_o opinion_n so_o that_o by_o this_o plead_n for_o one_o judge_n the_o case_n stand_v as_o it_o do_v there_o be_v no_o hope_n of_o have_v a_o end_n put_v to_o they_o but_o by_o this_o mean_n as_o you_o say_v well_o be_v there_o another_o controversy_n add_v to_o the_o rest_n and_o this_o alone_a except_o it_o be_v more_o plain_o decidable_a than_o it_o be_v may_v cause_v as_o much_o wrangle_n as_o the_o church_n be_v now_o disturb_v with_o so_o that_o tyrannical_a philalathes_fw-mi those_o friend_n of_o we_o can_v but_o judge_v it_o a_o piece_n of_o tyranny_n too_o near_o of_o kin_n to_o that_o of_o the_o cruel_a procrustes_n for_o any_o to_o endeavour_v to_o force_v other_o to_o be_v just_a of_o their_o pitch_n and_o size_n in_o opinion_n and_o to_o approve_v of_o their_o sentiment_n philal._n and_o well_o they_o may_v for_o by_o this_o mean_n though_o man_n may_v make_v hypocrite_n and_o cause_v some_o to_o profess_v what_o they_o do_v not_o believe_v yet_o they_o can_v never_o make_v any_o sincere_a convert_v but_o rather_o so_o much_o the_o more_o alienate_v dissenter_n both_o in_o their_o judgement_n and_o affection_n from_o their_o religion_n theoph._n there_o can_v be_v a_o more_o effectual_a course_n take_v so_o to_o do_v than_o this_o be_v and_o though_o man_n of_o some_o temper_n may_v not_o be_v able_a to_o contain_v themselves_o from_o overmuch_o warmth_n in_o manage_v a_o dispute_n yet_o it_o be_v no_o less_o unreasonable_a to_o malign_v our_o brethren_n because_o they_o be_v not_o in_o every_o thing_n or_o in_o several_a thing_n of_o our_o judgement_n than_o to_o 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not_o free_a as_o be_v our_o will_n but_o the_o act_n of_o they_o be_v natural_a and_o necessary_a nor_o can_v they_o judge_v but_o according_a to_o the_o evidence_n that_o be_v present_v the_o understanding_n be_v like_o the_o the_o eye_n which_o can_v apprehend_v the_o object_n but_o as_o it_o offer_v itself_o nor_o can_v it_o otherwise_o judge_n of_o object_n than_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o reason_n that_o be_v offer_v will_v endure_v philal._n but_o theophilus_n though_o that_o faculty_n can_v never_o proper_o deserve_v blame_n when_o it_o be_v deceive_v yet_o man_n will_n may_v and_o i_o fear_v often_o do_v and_o that_o many_o suffer_v they_o to_o lie_v under_o the_o power_n of_o prejudice_n and_o to_o be_v govern_v by_o some_o inordinate_a affection_n be_v by_o that_o mean_v careless_a of_o provide_v their_o understanding_n with_o due_a help_n for_o make_v a_o true_a judgement_n theoph._n you_o say_v well_o but_o this_o no_o man_n can_v be_v a_o competent_a judge_n of_o in_o any_o one_o that_o do_v not_o declare_v it_o by_o unwarrantable_a practise_v upon_o his_o opinion_n and_o therefore_o to_o be_v incense_v against_o man_n mere_o for_o not_o be_v of_o our_o mind_n and_o not_o have_v the_o same_o thought_n that_o we_o have_v in_o uncertain_a point_n may_v be_v to_o find_v fault_n with_o the_o make_v of_o their_o intellectual_n and_o to_o condemn_v they_o for_o that_o which_o they_o can_v help_v philal._n if_o our_o saviour_n have_v lay_v such_o great_a weight_n as_o too_o many_o nowadays_o do_v on_o such_o thing_n if_o he_o have_v make_v a_o right_a understanding_n and_o belief_n of_o they_o a_o necessary_a condition_n of_o salvation_n we_o may_v be_v assure_v that_o the_o love_n he_o bear_v to_o mankind_n will_v have_v cause_v he_o to_o speak_v most_o plain_o and_o to_o have_v take_v a_o course_n that_o his_o apostle_n shall_v do_v so_o likewise_o where_o it_o be_v of_o such_o infinite_a importance_n not_o to_o mistake_v his_o meaning_n theoph._n there_o be_v no_o doubt_n to_o be_v make_v of_o it_o they_o now_o than_o i_o say_v philalethes_n that_o those_o divine_n from_o these_o consideration_n and_o such_o like_a be_v not_o at_o all_o forward_a to_o conclude_v any_o man_n a_o heretic_n or_o err_v damnable_o that_o be_v of_o a_o persuasion_n contrary_a to_o they_o suppose_v his_o opinion_n do_v not_o so_o evident_o contradict_v the_o scripture_n as_o that_o it_o be_v unimaginable_a how_o any_o shall_v not_o see_v it_o that_o do_v not_o purposely_o shut_v their_o eye_n and_o can_v hope_v well_o of_o any_o one_o notwithstanding_o his_o mistake_n if_o they_o be_v not_o inconsistent_a with_o true_a goodness_n and_o have_v no_o bad_a influence_n upon_o his_o practice_n they_o be_v so_o persuade_v of_o the_o graciousness_n of_o the_o divine_a nature_n that_o they_o very_o believe_v that_o simple_a error_n shall_v be_v destructive_a to_o none_o i_o mean_v those_o which_o man_n have_v not_o contract_v by_o their_o own_o default_n and_o that_o where_o mistake_n proceed_v not_o from_o evil_a affection_n and_o a_o err_a judgement_n from_o a_o corrupt_a heart_n through_o the_o goodness_n of_o god_n they_o shall_v not_o prove_v damnable_a but_o that_o he_o will_v allow_v and_o make_v abatement_n for_o the_o weakness_n of_o man_n part_n their_o complexion_n education_n and_o other_o ill_a circumstance_n whereby_o they_o may_v be_v even_o fatal_o incline_v to_o certain_a false_a persuasion_n philal._n i_o remember_v to_o this_o purpose_n a_o good_a say_n of_o the_o learned_a and_o pious_a chillingworth_n in_o his_o excellent_a book_n against_o the_o papist_n i_o be_o say_v he_o very_o persuade_v that_o error_n shall_v not_o be_v impute_v to_o they_o as_o sin_n who_o use_v such_o a_o measure_n of_o industry_n in_o find_v truth_n as_o humane_a prudence_n and_o ordinary_a discretion_n their_o ability_n and_o opportunity_n their_o distraction_n and_o hindrance_n and_o all_o other_o thing_n consider_v shall_v advise_v they_o to_o theoph._n it_o be_v a_o say_n like_o one_o of_o that_o brave_a person_n who_o have_v he_o live_v till_o these_o day_n will_v most_o assure_o have_v be_v brand_v with_o the_o hateful_a long_a name_n as_o he_o be_v before_o his_o death_n with_o those_o of_o papist_n and_o socinian_n and_o which_o add_v to_o the_o wonder_n for_o the_o sake_n of_o that_o his_o book_n philal._n i_o scarce_o ever_o more_o admire_v at_o any_o thing_n book_n then_o at_o the_o character_n i_o have_v read_v of_o that_o piece_n theoph._n as_o vile_a a_o book_n as_o not_o only_o all_o papist_n but_o some_o also_o that_o will_v be_v think_v no_o friend_n to_o they_o think_v it_o i_o be_o sure_a he_o will_v do_v a_o very_a excellent_a piece_n of_o service_n which_o all_o good_a protestant_n will_v have_v cause_n to_o thank_v he_o for_o that_o will_v take_v the_o pain_n to_o translate_v it_o into_o
church_n under_o he_o may_v be_v provide_v of_o good_a and_o able_a pastor_n and_o that_o both_o of_o pastor_n and_o people_n conformity_n to_o law_n and_o performance_n of_o their_o duty_n may_v be_v require_v under_o penalty_n not_o leave_v to_o discretion_n but_o by_o law_n appoint_v philal._n by_o the_o account_n you_o have_v give_v i_o of_o those_o divine_n will_v i_o be_o confident_a they_o do_v not_o unchurch_n those_o church_n that_o will_v not_o admit_v of_o this_o government_n as_o high_o as_o they_o themselves_o approve_v of_o it_o theoph._n if_o they_o shall_v they_o will_v be_v very_o inconsistent_a with_o their_o own_o principle_n but_o let_v i_o tell_v you_o they_o can_v but_o look_v upon_o it_o as_o very_o desirable_a that_o those_o few_o church_n that_o refuse_v it_o will_v receive_v it_o upon_o more_o account_n than_o that_o of_o its_o great_a antiquity_n affair_n i_o need_v not_o tell_v you_o that_o they_o moreover_o believe_v the_o civil_a magistrate_n to_o have_v a_o power_n both_o legislative_a and_o judiciary_n as_o well_o in_o sacred_a as_o in_o civil_a affair_n philal._n but_o this_o will_v not_o be_v admit_v by_o many_o protestant_n any_o more_o than_o by_o the_o papist_n themselves_o theoph._n i_o know_v it_o will_v not_o and_o that_o some_o very_o fierce_o talk_v against_o it_o where_o they_o think_v they_o may_v do_v it_o safe_o but_o they_o bewray_v too_o much_o ignorance_n in_o so_o do_v affair_n for_o as_o the_o learned_a author_n of_o the_o ancient_a liberty_n of_o the_o britannic_a church_n have_v show_v as_o father_n of_o family_n be_v at_o first_o both_o prince_n and_o priest_n and_o as_o by_o the_o increase_n of_o family_n and_o their_o enlargement_n into_o city_n and_o community_n the_o oeconomick_a authority_n at_o length_n become_v politic_a so_o it_o be_v apparent_a that_o in_o the_o first_o institution_n of_o priesthood_n moses_n take_v away_o no_o part_n of_o the_o supreme_a jurisdiction_n from_o the_o politic_a 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discourse_n of_o ecclesiastical_a polity_n late_o publish_v philal._n see_v theophilus_n those_o divine_n be_v of_o those_o good_a subject_n that_o hearty_o acknowledge_v the_o king_n majesty_n to_o be_v supreme_a governor_n in_o these_o his_o dominion_n in_o all_o cause_n as_o well_o ecclesiastical_a as_o civil_a they_o must_v needs_o likewise_o believe_v that_o the_o church_n government_n he_o have_v constitute_v may_v not_o without_o the_o guilt_n of_o rebellion_n be_v violent_o oppose_v or_o of_o sedition_n be_v in_o any_o kind_n affront_v by_o any_o of_o his_o subject_n theoph._n you_o may_v be_v assure_v of_o it_o church_n philalethes_n of_o any_o as_o well_o as_o they_o that_o be_v not_o next_o door_n to_o madman_n and_o these_o our_o friend_n acknowledge_v also_o that_o it_o be_v in_o the_o power_n of_o the_o governor_n of_o the_o church_n to_o compose_v form_n of_o prayer_n to_o be_v use_v in_o public_a and_o such_o rite_n as_o they_o in_o their_o wisdom_n shall_v conceive_v most_o proper_a for_o the_o decent_a orderly_a and_o reverend_a solemnize_n of_o divine_a worship_n and_o that_o it_o be_v the_o duty_n of_o all_o under_o their_o authority_n to_o submit_v to_o the_o use_n of_o such_o form_n suppose_v the_o matter_n of_o they_o be_v agreeable_a to_o the_o holy_a scripture_n and_o that_o they_o be_v direct_v only_o and_o immediate_o to_o god_n in_o the_o name_n of_o christ_n and_o that_o they_o ought_v to_o conform_v to_o those_o rite_n so_o long_o as_o they_o be_v of_o a_o indifferent_a nature_n and_o not_o impose_v as_o necessary_a in_o themselves_o or_o essential_a part_n of_o worship_n or_o to_o recommend_v the_o worshipper_n to_o god_n and_o make_v their_o service_n accept_v or_o to_o convey_v grace_n or_o as_o lay_v a_o antecedent_n bond_n upon_o the_o judgement_n as_o well_o as_o on_o the_o practice_n but_o only_o as_o thing_n alterable_a and_o in_o their_o own_o nature_n indifferent_a and_o such_o they_o conceive_v the_o form_n of_o prayer_n now_o enjoin_v to_o be_v and_o the_o other_o rite_n of_o our_o church_n and_o to_o be_v no_o otherwise_o than_o as_o such_o impose_v philal._n but_o do_v they_o not_o likewise_o hold_v that_o governor_n be_v oblige_v not_o only_o to_o make_v choice_n of_o such_o rite_n as_o be_v in_o their_o own_o nature_n indifferent_a and_o to_o impose_v they_o as_o such_o but_o also_o to_o beware_v how_o they_o enjoin_v any_o that_o they_o be_v not_o on_o good_a ground_n assure_v be_v for_o edification_n theoph._n this_o be_v out_o of_o doubt_n and_o i_o presume_v they_o also_o believe_v that_o no_o rite_n may_v be_v enjoin_v that_o be_v know_v to_o be_v but_o by_o accident_n and_o the_o infirmity_n of_o the_o people_n general_o inconvenient_a lawful_a but_o yet_o though_o governor_n shall_v miscarry_v in_o the_o discharge_n of_o their_o duty_n they_o question_v not_o but_o that_o the_o people_n be_v bind_v to_o obey_v they_o while_o they_o command_v nothing_o but_o what_o be_v lawful_a though_o it_o shall_v be_v inconvenient_a philal._n that_o command_n of_o the_o apostle_n obey_v they_o that_o have_v the_o rule_n over_o you_o in_o the_o lord_n have_v no_o such_o limitation_n as_o this_o annex_v when_o they_o command_v thing_n convenient_a we_o be_v also_o require_v to_o submit_v to_o every_o ordinance_n of_o man_n for_o the_o lord_n sake_n whether_o it_o be_v to_o the_o king_n as_o supreme_a or_o unto_o governor_n as_o those_o that_o be_v send_v by_o he_o theoph._n nor_o ought_v that_o limitation_n to_o be_v employ_v in_o these_o or_o the_o like_a precept_n for_o that_o though_o those_o that_o be_v under_o authority_n ought_v to_o judge_v for_o themselves_o what_o be_v lawful_a yet_o it_o be_v most_o unreasonable_a that_o the_o judgement_n of_o what_o be_v convenient_a shall_v not_o be_v leave_v to_o their_o governor_n philal._n nothing_o be_v more_o apparent_a than_o that_o if_o the_o people_n shall_v have_v this_o liberty_n it_o will_v tend_v to_o the_o invalidating_a of_o 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phoenomenon_n than_o that_o of_o the_o philosopher_n a_o wise_a man_n be_v the_o great_a prodigy_n and_o i_o believe_v they_o the_o only_a sort_n of_o man_n that_o be_v in_o any_o likelihood_n of_o or_o qualify_v for_o the_o repair_n of_o our_o present_a dangerous_a breach_n and_o cure_v our_o very_a ill_a presage_a animosity_n theoph._n for_o my_o part_n i_o must_v profess_v to_o you_o that_o i_o can_v scarce_o persuade_v myself_o once_o to_o hope_n that_o there_o may_v be_v any_o prevention_n of_o our_o utter_a confusion_n but_o that_o it_o have_v please_v the_o divine_a providence_n to_o raise_v up_o among_o we_o so_o considerable_a a_o number_n of_o such_o good_a spirit_a and_o generous_o mind_a person_n the_o thought_n whereof_o be_v my_o best_a antidote_n against_o despondence_n philal._n that_o they_o chief_o design_v the_o propagation_n of_o truth_n and_o true_a goodness_n and_o not_o any_o private_a selfish_a interest_n from_o what_o have_v be_v say_v i_o have_v cause_n to_o 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as_o those_o kind_n of_o man_n profess_v against_o these_o person_n party_n i_o observe_v there_o be_v prudent_a and_o moderate_a man_n in_o some_o of_o the_o party_n that_o have_v a_o reverend_a esteem_n of_o they_o and_o look_v upon_o they_o as_o man_n very_o valuable_a which_o sober_a person_n be_v no_o less_o honour_v and_o love_v by_o they_o also_o between_o who_o the_o difference_n in_o opinion_n be_v so_o inconsiderable_a that_o it_o be_v pity_v there_o shall_v be_v any_o distinction_n of_o name_n between_o they_o philal._n and_o if_o the_o generality_n of_o each_o of_o our_o party_n be_v as_o true_a to_o the_o cause_n of_o christ_n jesus_n and_o so_o self-denying_a as_o to_o prefer_v his_o interest_n before_o their_o own_o i_o question_v not_o but_o that_o they_o and_o their_o principle_n will_v find_v incomparable_o more_o friend_n among_o they_o than_o they_o do_v now_o enemy_n theoph._n but_o whereas_o i_o now_o speak_v of_o the_o distinction_n of_o name_n by_o i_o must_v 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