Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	act_n	church_n	communion_n	1,604	5	9.1682	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62458	A letter concerning the present state of religion amongst us	Thorndike, Herbert, 1598-1672.	1656 (1656)	Wing T1053; ESTC R5555	12,737	27

a_o letter_n concern_v the_o present_a state_n of_o religion_n among_o we_o a_o letter_n concern_v the_o present_a state_n of_o religion_n among_o we_o my_o dear_a brother_n in_o christ_n no_o less_o then_o by_o birth_n i_o have_v peruse_v the_o ordinance_n for_o eject_v of_o scandalous_a minister_n and_o find_v it_o likely_a enough_o to_o send_v you_o a_o pastor_n that_o shall_v have_v have_v no_o authority_n from_o the_o church_n have_v think_v it_o necessary_a for_o i_o to_o give_v you_o the_o reason_n of_o that_o opinion_n which_o i_o declare_v unto_o you_o that_o in_o that_o case_n you_o ought_v not_o in_o conscience_n to_o acknowledge_v such_o a_o for_o one_o your_o pastor_n by_o go_v tohear_v he_o preach_v and_o seem_v to_o join_v in_o his_o prayer_n much_o less_o to_o receive_v the_o eucharist_n at_o his_o hand_n if_o such_o a_o one_o shall_v be_v so_o audacious_a as_o to_o celebrate_v it_o this_o that_o i_o may_v do_v i_o must_v first_o propose_v the_o case_n as_o it_o be_v state_v by_o those_o act_n which_o pretend_v to_o settle_v religion_n among_o we_o for_o first_o the_o act_n whereby_o the_o present_a government_n be_v establish_v declare_v that_o the_o christian_a religion_n contain_v in_o the_o scripture_n shall_v be_v hold_v forth_o as_o the_o public_a profession_n of_o these_o nation_n and_o that_o such_o as_o profess_v faith_n in_o god_n by_o jesus_n christ_n though_o differ_v from_o this_o profession_n in_o doctrine_n worship_n or_o discipline_n shall_v be_v protect_v in_o the_o exercise_n of_o their_o religion_n except_v popery_n and_o prelacy_n and_o those_o who_o under_o the_o profession_n of_o christ_n hold_v forth_o and_o practice_v licentiousness_n in_o prosecution_n hereof_o a_o ordinance_n be_v issue_v forth_o give_v commission_n to_o certain_a person_n name_v in_o it_o to_o examine_v and_o try_v all_o that_o have_v come_v into_o possession_n of_o church_n since_o april_n 13._o 1653._o all_o that_o have_v augmentation_n from_o parliament_n all_o that_o shall_v pretend_v to_o come_v into_o church_n that_o shall_v be_v void_a whether_o fit_a for_o the_o office_n and_o benefice_n by_o no_o other_o rule_n than_o the_o certificate_n of_o three_o godly_a neighbour_n one_o at_o least_o a_o minister_n concern_v their_o conversation_n in_o godliness_n upon_o their_o own_o knowledge_n and_o the_o judgement_n of_o five_o commissioner_n that_o the_o grace_n of_o god_n be_v in_o their_o heart_n and_o that_o they_o be_v fit_a to_o preach_v in_o further_a prosecution_n hereof_o issue_v forth_o this_o ordinance_n whereby_o no_o man_n be_v make_v scandalous_a for_o his_o judgement_n but_o he_o that_o be_v liable_a to_o the_o act_n against_o blasphemy_n of_o aug._n 9_o 1653._o and_o with_o he_o be_v rank_v he_o who_o shall_v frequent_o and_o public_o have_v read_v the_o service_n since_o christmas_n 1653._o whereby_o it_o appear_v that_o those_o who_o have_v declare_v their_o perseverance_n in_o the_o religion_n which_o they_o have_v hitherto_o profess_v by_o read_v the_o service_n be_v therefore_o count_v scandalous_a but_o those_o that_o can_v obtain_v the_o certificate_n of_o such_o man_n as_o these_o trier_n count_v godly_a man_n together_o with_o their_o own_o opinion_n that_o so_o they_o be_v and_o fit_a to_o preach_v be_v thereby_o qualify_v in_o law_n to_o be_v pastor_n of_o parish_n and_o consequent_o to_o succeed_v those_o that_o adhere_v to_o the_o christianity_n which_o hitherto_o they_o have_v profess_v be_v cast_v out_o by_o the_o commissioner_n for_o eject_v of_o scandalous_a minister_n in_o the_o first_o place_n then_o i_o say_v that_o the_o effect_n of_o these_o law_n be_v to_o nullify_v and_o make_v void_a one_o article_n of_o t●e_v creed_n which_o hitherto_o to_o we_o profess_v to_o wit_n the_o belief_n of_o one_o holy_a catholic_n and_o apostolic_a church_n this_o word_n church_n may_v signify_v two_o thing_n first_o only_o the_o whole_a number_n of_o christian_n second_o a_o communion_n and_o corporation_n of_o those_o that_o profess_v true_a christianity_n found_v by_o the_o will_n of_o god_n and_o the_o ministry_n of_o our_o lord_n christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n that_o christian_n when_o they_o profess_v to_o believe_v the_o catholic_n church_n do_v not_o mean_v that_o they_o believe_v that_o there_o be_v in_o the_o world_n a_o number_n of_o man_n that_o profess_v to_o be_v christian_n it_o be_v manifest_a because_o all_o christian_n hope_v to_o be_v save_v by_o their_o faith_n but_o they_o can_v hope_v to_o be_v save_v by_o believe_v that_o which_o they_o see_v now_o all_o man_n see_v that_o there_o be_v such_o a_o company_n of_o man_n in_o the_o world_n therefore_o when_o they_o say_v they_o believe_v the_o catholic_n church_n as_o part_v of_o that_o faith_n whereby_o they_o hope_v to_o be_v save_v they_o do_v not_o profess_v to_o believe_v that_o there_o be_v such_o a_o company_n of_o man_n but_o that_o there_o be_v a_o corporation_n of_o true_a christian_n found_v by_o our_o lord_n christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n which_o heretic_n and_o schismatic_n can_v have_v communion_n with_o and_o that_o they_o hope_v to_o be_v save_v by_o this_o faith_n as_o be_v member_n of_o it_o and_o this_o be_v that_o which_o the_o stile_n of_o the_o holy_a catholic_n and_o apostolic_a church_n signify_v as_o distinguish_v the_o body_n of_o true_a christian_n to_o wit_n so_o far_o as_o profession_n go_v from_o the_o conventicle_n of_o heretic_n and_o schismatic_n for_o this_o title_n of_o catholic_n will_v signify_v nothing_o if_o heretic_n and_o schismatic_n be_v not_o bar_v the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n and_o let_v no_o man_n imagine_v that_o the_o schism_n which_o the_o reformation_n have_v make_v between_o we_o and_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n have_v dissolve_v the_o obligation_n of_o be_v member_n of_o the_o church_n if_o that_o change_n which_o be_v call_v reformation_n preserve_v not_o such_o a_o church_n as_o aught_o to_o be_v acknowledge_v for_o a_o true_a member_n of_o the_o whole_a or_o catholic_n church_n it_o be_v no_o reformation_n but_o the_o destruction_n of_o christianity_n now_o when_o these_o law_n enable_v soldier_n and_o justice_n of_o the_o peace_n as_o well_o as_o those_o that_o call_v themselves_o minister_n to_o make_v public_a preacher_n as_o well_o such_o as_o have_v receive_v no_o ordination_n from_o the_o church_n as_o those_o that_o have_v it_o be_v manifest_a that_o all_o difference_n between_o clergy_n and_o people_n be_v by_o they_o dissolve_v and_o make_v void_a and_o by_o consequence_n the_o corporation_n of_o the_o church_n which_o ground_n and_o create_v all_o the_o difference_n which_o hitherto_o by_o all_o christian_n have_v be_v receive_v between_o these_o two_o quality_n true_a it_o be_v that_o for_o the_o present_a as_o well_o those_o who_o have_v lawful_a authority_n to_o officiate_v the_o public_a service_n of_o god_n by_o ordination_n from_o the_o church_n be_v admit_v or_o maintain_v in_o their_o benefice_n by_o these_o law_n as_o those_o that_o have_v none_o though_o it_o be_v well_o enough_o know_v that_o those_o who_o have_v such_o authority_n do_v pretend_v to_o act_v by_o virtue_n of_o it_o and_o not_o by_o this_o law_n further_a then_o as_o by_o submit_v to_o it_o they_o remove_v that_o force_n which_o hinder_v their_o right_n otherwise_o get_v to_o take_v effect_n but_o it_o be_v as_o true_a that_o suppose_v this_o law_n to_o continue_v a_o age_n none_o such_o can_v remain_v and_o when_o none_o such_o remain_v than_o there_o shall_v be_v no_o church_n in_o england_n but_o by_o equivocation_n of_o word_n if_o the_o premise_n be_v be_v true_a and_o therefore_o those_o that_o acknowledge_v such_o as_o have_v ●o_o other_o authority_n but_o from_o this_o power_n for_o their_o pastor_n can_v consequent_o profess_v to_o believe_v one_o catholic_n church_n nor_o hope_v for_o salvation_n by_o be_v member_n of_o it_o for_o suppose_v for_o the_o present_a though_o not_o grant_v that_o the_o power_n which_o make_v these_o law_n be_v from_o god_n yet_o can_v it_o not_o be_v pretend_v to_o be_v from_o our_o lord_n christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n and_o therefore_o this_o authority_n derive_v from_o it_o can_v be_v derive_v from_o any_o act_n of_o they_o constituting_a the_o church_n and_o enable_v it_o to_o give_v this_o authority_n by_o acknowledge_v whereof_o christian_n presume_v that_o they_o be_v member_n of_o the_o church_n now_o that_o you_o may_v see_v why_o the_o belief_n of_o christ_n church_n be_v a_o article_n of_o our_o creed_n i_o say_v further_o that_o you_o can_v acknowledge_v such_o man_n for_o your_o pastor_n because_o you_o be_v not_o secure_v by_o these_o law_n that_o they_o be_v not_o heretic_n for_o see_v the_o act_n of_o establishment_n pretend_v only_o to_o hold_v forth_o the_o christian_a religion_n contain_v in_o the_o scripture_n and_o that_o all_o the_o heresy_n that_o be_v this_o

can_v no_o more_o be_v acknowledge_v by_o those_o that_o pretend_v to_o adhere_v to_o the_o church_n of_o england_n than_o belial_n by_o christ_n or_o darkness_n by_o light_n hereby_o than_o you_o may_v conclude_v how_o to_o receive_v those_o who_o the_o presbyt●rians_n may_v send_v you_o for_o pastor_n by_o any_o change_n in_o the_o secular_a power_n for_o i_o charge_v not_o they_o that_o they_o do_v not_o believe_v the_o church_n which_o they_o will_v be_v themselves_o i_o acknowledge_v that_o they_o secure_v you_o from_o all_o sect_n but_o themselves_o but_o in_o as_o much_o as_o they_o maintain_v praedestination_n to_o life_n only_o in_o consideration_n of_o what_o christ_n have_v already_o do_v or_o suffer_v for_o the_o elect_n in_o so_o much_o i_o say_v that_o they_o do_v not_o nor_o can_v baptise_v into_o the_o cross_n of_o christ_n that_o be_v to_o say_v into_o the_o hope_n of_o salvation_n in_o consideration_n of_o fight_v against_o the_o flesh_n the_o world_n and_o the_o devil_n for_o the_o keep_n of_o god_n commandment_n under_o the_o profession_n of_o the_o christian_a faith_n for_o that_o which_o be_v absolute_o due_a as_o salvation_n be_v due_a to_o the_o elect_a by_o the_o gift_n of_o god_n praedestination_n can_v be_v burden_a with_o any_o condition_n of_o christianity_n afterward_o and_o therefore_o that_o baptism_n be_v no_o effectual_a baptism_n before_o god_n if_o baptism_n receive_v in_o the_o church_n of_o england_n be_v such_o that_o be_v to_o say_v it_o be_v no_o baptism_n but_o by_o equivocation_n of_o word_n in_o as_o much_o as_o the_o obligation_n of_o a_o man_n christianity_n be_v not_o declare_v or_o understand_v to_o take_v hold_n of_o he_o by_o virtue_n of_o it_o for_o see_v the_o hope_n of_o salvation_n which_o christian_n have_v by_o their_o baptism_n be_v ground_v upon_o the_o condition_n of_o their_o christianity_n that_o baptism_n which_o promise_v salvation_n without_o provide_v for_o this_o condition_n be_v no_o baptism_n but_o by_o equivocation_n of_o word_n i_o say_v further_o that_o the_o change_n which_o they_o call_v reformation_n visible_o tend_v to_o introduce_v that_o monstrous_a imposture_n of_o two_o sermon_n every_o sabbath_n in_o stead_n of_o the_o daily_a and_o ordinary_a service_n of_o god_n together_o with_o the_o more_o solemn_a service_n of_o god_n upon_o festival_n and_o lord_n day_n and_o other_o extraordinary_a occasion_n which_o the_o church_n of_o england_n with_o the_o whole_a church_n of_o god_n from_o the_o beginning_n have_v maintain_v so_o far_o as_o there_o be_v mean_n to_o maintain_v it_o i_o will_v not_o here_o insist_v upon_o the_o order_n of_o bishop_n and_o their_o chief_a power_n in_o their_o diocese_n as_o of_o divine_a right_n that_o be_v institute_v and_o introduce_v by_o the_o apostle_n let_v the_o presbyterian_o think_v themselves_o privilege_v to_o erect_v altar_n against_o altar_n upon_o so_o desperate_a a_o plea_n as_o now_o they_o insist_v upon_o that_o the_o presbytery_n be_v rather_o of_o divine_a right_n than_o the_o chief_a power_n of_o bishop_n in_o their_o diocese_n i_o insist_v now_o only_o that_o this_o power_n of_o the_o bishop_n be_v not_o against_o god_n law_n which_o every_o man_n must_v grant_v i_o that_o acknowledge_v a_o church_n in_o from_o the_o reformation_n till_o now_o in_o this_o case_n they_o who_o to_o introduce_v this_o christianity_n and_o this_o public_a exercise_n of_o it_o transgress_v that_o authority_n to_o which_o they_o be_v call_v by_o the_o visible_a act_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n take_v upon_o they_o to_o share_v that_o power_n from_o which_o they_o have_v their_o authority_n among_o themselves_o and_o to_o execute_v it_o by_o consent_n among_o themselves_o in_o their_o several_a precinct_n can_v be_v say_v to_o constitute_v a_o church_n by_o virtue_n of_o any_o act_n of_o the_o apostle_n or_o any_o authority_n derive_v from_o such_o act_n but_o by_o virtue_n of_o their_o own_o act_n as_o all_o apostate_n and_o usurper_n do_v that_o be_v to_o say_v that_o they_o do_v not_o constitute_v such_o a_o church_n by_o be_v a_o member_n whereof_o a_o man_n may_v reasonable_o assure_v himself_o of_o salvation_n upon_o any_o principle_n of_o christianity_n but_o such_o a_o church_n as_o be_v indeed_o no_o church_n unless_o it_o be_v by_o equivocation_n of_o term_n but_o a_o conventicle_n of_o schismatic_n with_o misprision_n of_o the_o heresy_n aforesaid_a and_o therefore_o their_o priesthood_n be_v no_o priesthood_n their_o eucharist_n be_v no_o eucharist_n unless_o it_o by_o equivocation_n of_o word_n but_o sacrilege_n against_o god_n ordinance_n beside_o that_o what_o be_v requisite_a to_o the_o consecration_n thereof_o or_o wherein_o it_o consist_v they_o seem_v to_o be_v as_o secure_v of_o and_o as_o little_a to_o regard_v as_o the_o most_o ignorant_a of_o those_o sect_n into_o which_o the_o once_o common_a name_n of_o puritan_n stand_v divide_v at_o this_o time_n neither_o be_v it_o in_o any_o secular_a power_n though_o never_o so_o unquestionable_a to_o cure_v these_o nullity_n and_o incapacity_n in_o the_o pretence_n upon_o which_o they_o take_v upon_o they_o to_o be_v a_o church_n though_o for_o the_o present_a they_o be_v not_o so_o much_o as_o authorize_v to_o the_o world_n by_o any_o privilege_n or_o penalty_n enact_v by_o any_o secular_a power_n but_o only_o protect_v by_o it_o that_o all_o the_o world_n may_v see_v that_o there_o be_v nothing_o but_o their_o own_o usurpation_n and_o the_o consent_n of_o those_o who_o they_o have_v debauch_v to_o their_o schism_n whereby_o they_o subsist_v as_o a_o church_n and_o that_o they_o will_v by_o virtue_n of_o their_o original_a be_v as_o malignant_a to_o any_o secular_a power_n that_o shall_v not_o maintain_v and_o authorise_v they_o as_o ever_o they_o be_v to_o that_o which_o they_o have_v destroy_v to_o introduce_v this_o shadow_n of_o a_o church_n if_o it_o be_v object_v that_o your_o estate_n will_v be_v liable_a to_o penalty_n that_o may_v be_v enact_v against_o those_o that_o withdraw_v from_o the_o exercise_n of_o the_o religion_n public_o hold_v forth_o to_o this_o i_o have_v no_o answer_n but_z that_o we_o be_v to_o obey_v god_n rather_o than_o man_n to_o prefer_v the_o next_o world_n before_o this_o and_o to_o bear_v christ_n cross_n if_o we_o expect_v his_o kingdom_n only_o thus_o much_o i_o must_v observe_v that_o these_o law_n proceed_v from_o a_o profession_n that_o it_o be_v not_o lawful_a to_o force_v man_n conscience_n in_o matter_n of_o religion_n by_o penalty_n and_o therefore_o though_o the_o praelatical_a party_n be_v not_o protect_v in_o the_o exercise_n of_o their_o religion_n yet_o can_v they_o be_v punish_v for_o it_o but_o by_o deny_v that_o which_o be_v declare_v upon_o the_o public_a faith_n beside_o acknowledge_v the_o christian_a religion_n contain_v in_o the_o scripture_n and_o profess_v faith_n in_o god_n by_o jesus_n christ_n they_o be_v as_o much_o qualify_v for_o protection_n as_o those_o that_o be_v protect_v by_o the_o act_n of_o establishment_n and_o not_o to_o allow_v the_o exercise_n of_o that_o religion_n the_o profession_n whereof_o be_v not_o disallow_v seem_v to_o be_v to_o forbid_v man_n to_o be_v christian_n who_o be_v not_o forbid_v to_o be_v such_o christian_n and_o to_o expose_v they_o to_o popular_a tumult_n contrary_a to_o the_o public_a peace_n who_o no_o law_n punish_v if_o the_o papist_n continue_v nevertheless_o liable_a to_o former_a penalty_n perhaps_o it_o be_v because_o they_o be_v repute_v idolater_n but_o because_o these_o law_n and_o the_o profession_n from_o whence_o they_o proceed_v may_v change_v i_o must_v confess_v you_o can_v follow_v my_o advice_n but_o that_o your_o estate_n may_v become_v questionable_a neither_o will_v i_o give_v it_o can_v i_o assure_v you_o of_o the_o kingdom_n of_o heaven_n otherwise_o if_o you_o demand_v what_o mean_v i_o can_v show_v you_o to_o exercise_v your_o 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