Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	believe_v	church_n	creed_n	1,497	5	10.3968	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

day_n in_o the_o world_n do_v maintain_v themselves_o to_o profess_v the_o christian_a religion_n contain_v in_o the_o scripture_n it_o be_v manifest_a that_o these_o law_n provide_v not_o that_o they_o shall_v not_o be_v heretic_n which_o be_v send_v you_o for_o pastor_n here_o i_o must_v not_o complain_v that_o whereas_o all_o that_o profess_v faith_n in_o god_n by_o jesus_n christ_n though_o differ_v from_o the_o profession_n hold_v forth_o be_v protect_v in_o the_o exercise_n of_o their_o religion_n popery_n and_o praelacy_n be_v except_v though_o it_o can_v be_v deny_v that_o both_o profess_v faith_n in_o god_n by_o jesus_n christ_n nor_o that_o those_o who_o hold_v the_o profession_n establish_v by_o the_o law_n under_o which_o we_o be_v bear_v be_v resuse_v that_o protection_n which_o be_v tender_v socinian_o enemy_n of_o the_o trinity_n and_o satisfaction_n of_o christ_n who_o manifest_o profess_v christian_n religion_n contain_v in_o the_o scripture_n and_o faith_n in_o god_n by_o jesus_n christ_n for_o my_o business_n be_v not_o to_o say_v what_o they_o that_o make_v these_o law_n shall_v have_v do_v by_o they_o but_o what_o you_o be_v to_o do_v now_o they_o be_v make_v but_o if_o it_o be_v answer_v that_o those_o that_o make_v these_o law_n repose_v trust_n in_o they_o to_o who_o they_o grant_v these_o commission_n that_o they_o will_v not_o take_v any_o to_o be_v godly_a man_n that_o be_v heretic_n to_o this_o i_o say_v that_o will_v not_o serve_v your_o turn_n for_o several_a reason_n for_o those_o that_o profess_v all_o that_o the_o law_n require_v they_o to_o profess_v that_o be_v faith_n in_o god_n through_o jesus_n christ_n and_o the_o christian_a religion_n contain_a in_o the_o scripture_n can_v be_v judge_v ungodly_a for_o whatsoever_o they_o profess_v beside_o by_o any_o power_n derive_v from_o this_o law_n but_o by_o a_o arbitrary_a power_n to_o be_v exercise_v at_o the_o will_n of_o the_o commissioner_n and_o how_o be_v you_o assure_v that_o no_o heretic_n shall_v obtain_v a_o certificate_n of_o three_o neighbour_n and_o so_o answer_v their_o demand_n that_o they_o shall_v have_v cause_n to_o think_v he_o in_o god_n grace_n however_o you_o be_v not_o warrant_v to_o trust_v your_o salvation_n and_o the_o salvation_n of_o those_o that_o depend_v on_o you_o either_o upon_o the_o judgement_n of_o these_o commissioner_n or_o of_o they_o that_o make_v the_o law_n if_o it_o be_v demand_v why_o the_o secular_a power_n and_o the_o commissioner_n thereof_o be_v not_o as_o well_o to_o be_v trust_v with_o the_o salvation_n of_o the_o people_n as_o those_o that_o may_v pretend_v authority_n from_o the_o church_n the_o answer_n be_v ready_a that_o when_o you_o acknowledge_v a_o pastor_n send_v by_o the_o church_n you_o neither_o trust_v his_o person_n nor_o the_o person_n of_o he_o that_o send_v he_o but_o the_o law_n which_o the_o church_n have_v receive_v from_o our_o lord_n and_o his_o apostle_n in_o as_o much_o as_o by_o profess_v christianity_n so_o limit_v and_o according_a to_o they_o to_o exercise_v the_o function_n which_o he_o receive_v he_o become_v qualify_v for_o the_o charge_n in_o which_o you_o acknowledge_v he_o which_o law_n he_o that_o destroy_v by_o dissolve_v the_o corporation_n of_o the_o church_n destroy_v the_o trust_n you_o be_v to_o have_v in_o those_o who_o you_o acknowledge_v your_o pastor_n that_o they_o be_v not_o heretic_n and_o here_o i_o must_v not_o fail_v to_o give_v you_o notice_n that_o those_o presbyterian_o and_o independent_o who_o have_v depart_v from_o the_o church_n of_o england_n upon_o pretence_n of_o erect_v presbytery_n and_o congregation_n do_v now_o make_v themselves_o commissioner_n to_o execute_v these_o law_n which_o destroy_v both_o presbytery_n and_o congregation_n have_v thereby_o destroy_v the_o ground_n of_o all_o trust_n which_o the_o church_n may_v have_v have_v in_o they_o for_o conduct_v in_o christianity_n for_o what_o profession_n can_v it_o be_v presume_v that_o they_o will_v hold_v when_o they_o hold_v not_o that_o for_o which_o they_o have_v destroy_v the_o unity_n of_o the_o church_n which_o be_v the_o reason_n why_o heretic_n and_o schismatic_n though_o they_o may_v be_v readmit_v to_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n upon_o repentance_n yet_o by_o the_o rule_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n can_v be_v readmit_v to_o be_v of_o the_o clergy_n these_o apostasy_n have_v make_v they_o uncapable_a of_o that_o trust_n which_o the_o church_n must_v necessary_o repose_v in_o the_o clergy_n that_o you_o may_v see_v this_o be_v not_o for_o nothing_o i_o say_v further_o that_o there_o be_v among_o we_o a_o damnable_a heresy_n of_o antinomian_o or_o libertine_n former_o when_o puritan_n be_v not_o divide_v from_o the_o church_n of_o england_n know_v by_o the_o name_n of_o grindletonians_n and_o etonists_n these_o do_v believe_v so_o to_o be_v save_v by_o the_o free_a grace_n of_o god_n by_o which_o christ_n die_v for_o the_o elect_n that_o true_a faith_n be_v nothing_o but_o the_o revelation_n hereof_o and_o by_o consequence_n that_o all_o their_o sin_n past_a present_a and_o to_o come_v be_v remit_v by_o this_o grace_n to_o repent_v of_o sin_n or_o to_o contend_v against_o it_o be_v the_o renounce_n of_o god_n free_a grace_n and_o save_a faith_n another_o opinion_n there_o be_v which_o i_o can_v say_v the_o presbyterian_o hold_v or_o require_v to_o be_v hold_v but_o in_o regard_v their_o confession_n of_o faith_n and_o catechism_n disclaim_v it_o not_o and_o therefore_o allow_v they_o that_o hold_v it_o to_o be_v of_o their_o faction_n may_v well_o be_v say_v to_o maintain_v it_o that_o for_o a_o man_n to_o believe_v that_o he_o be_v praedestinate_a to_o life_n and_o that_o christ_n die_v for_o he_o be_v that_o faith_n which_o alone_o justifi_v a_o christian_n whether_o of_o these_o opinion_n be_v the_o better_a or_o the_o worse_a or_o what_o be_v the_o difference_n between_o they_o let_v the_o party_n dispute_v this_o i_o say_v that_o allow_v the_o merit_n and_o satisfaction_n of_o christ_n to_o the_o elect_a for_o remission_n of_o sin_n and_o a_o title_n to_o everlasting_a life_n in_o no_o consideration_n but_o of_o their_o person_n it_o be_v more_o reasonable_a to_o say_v that_o they_o can_v never_o become_v guilty_a of_o sin_n then_o that_o the_o remission_n of_o their_o sin_n and_o their_o right_n to_o life_n shall_v depend_v upon_o the_o knowledge_n of_o their_o praedestination_n reveal_v by_o faith_n see_v nothing_o be_v true_a because_o it_o be_v believe_v but_o believe_v because_o it_o be_v true_a and_o therefore_o i_o say_v that_o both_o of_o these_o opinion_n be_v destructive_a to_o the_o foundation_n of_o faith_n which_o the_o church_n of_o england_n teach_v when_o in_o the_o office_n of_o baptism_n and_o the_o beginning_n of_o the_o catechism_n it_o require_v all_o that_o be_v baptize_v not_o only_o to_o profess_v the_o faith_n of_o christ_n but_o to_o renounce_v the_o flesh_n the_o world_n and_o the_o devil_n and_o to_o fight_v with_o they_o till_o death_n for_o the_o keep_n of_o god_n commandment_n assure_v they_o hereupon_o that_o they_o be_v regenerate_v and_o adopt_a god_n child_n by_o his_o grace_n in_o christ_n for_o he_o that_o be_v save_v by_o undertake_v and_o persevere_v in_o this_o canno●_n be_v save_v by_o believe_v that_o he_o be_v absolute_o predestinate_a to_o life_n without_o it_o for_o i_o must_v say_v that_o it_o be_v one_o thing_n to_o be_v absolute_o predestinate_a to_o life_n another_o thing_n to_o be_v predestinate_a to_o life_n by_o be_v absolute_o predestinate_a to_o persevere_v till_o death_n for_o he_o that_o be_v predestinate_a to_o life_n by_o be_v absolute_o predestinate_a to_o persevere_v in_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n till_o death_n be_v predestinate_a to_o life_n in_o consideration_n of_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n in_o which_o he_o be_v predestinate_a to_o persevere_v and_o whether_o a_o man_n can_v be_v absolute_o predestinate_a to_o persevere_v in_o it_o of_o his_o own_o freewill_n and_o voluntary_a choice_n or_o not_o be_v that_o which_o remain_v in_o dispute_n among_o divine_n which_o i_o suppose_v not_o here_o to_o be_v either_o true_a or_o false_a but_o to_o say_v that_o a_o man_n be_v absolute_o predestinate_a to_o life_n and_o to_o say_v that_o he_o be_v predestinate_a to_o life_n in_o consideration_n of_o his_o undertake_n and_o persevere_v in_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n which_o must_v be_v the_o act_n of_o his_o own_o freewill_n and_o choice_n be_v to_o say_v express_a contradiction_n and_o to_o destroy_v the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n into_o which_o by_o the_o baptism_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n every_o man_n enter_v and_o all_o hope_n of_o salvation_n which_o be_v mere_o imaginary_a if_o not_o ground_v upon_o it_o see_v then_o that_o the_o trial_n upon_o which_o these_o commissioner_n proceed_v