Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	bishop_n	church_n	presbyter_n	1,708	5	10.0860	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61568	The mischief of separation a sermon preached at Guild-Hall Chappel, May 11. MDCLXXX. being the first Sunday in Easter-term, before the Lord Mayor, &c. / by Edw. Stillingfleet ...	Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.	1680 (1680)	Wing S5604_VARIANT; ESTC R35206	32,588	67

such_o thing_n in_o all_o the_o city_n of_o crect_n in_o his_o time_n 1._o and_o if_o we_o look_v over_o the_o ancient_a canon_n of_o the_o church_n we_o shall_v find_v two_o thing_n very_o plain_a in_o they_o 1._o that_o the_o notion_n of_o a_o church_n be_v the_o same_o with_o that_o of_o a_o diocese_n 16._o or_o such_o a_o number_n of_o christian_n as_o be_v under_o the_o inspection_n of_o a_o bishop_n 6._o 2._o that_o those_o presbyter_n who_o reject_v the_o authority_n of_o their_o bishop_n 26._o or_o affect_v separate_v meeting_n where_o no_o fault_n can_v be_v find_v with_o the_o doctrine_n of_o a_o church_n 2._o be_v condemn_v of_o schism_n eccl._n so_o the_o follower_n of_o eustathius_n sebastenus_n 55._o who_o withdraw_v from_o the_o public_a congregation_n on_o pretence_n of_o great_a sanctity_n and_o purity_n in_o paphlagonia_n council_n be_v condemn_v by_o the_o council_n at_o gangrae_n 6._o so_o be_v those_o who_o separate_v from_o their_o bishop_n 6._o though_o otherwise_o never_o so_o orthodox_n by_o the_o council_n at_o constantinople_n 11._o and_o the_o council_n at_o carthage_n wherein_o before_o st._n cyprian_n have_v so_o just_o complain_v of_o the_o schism_n of_o felicissimus_n and_o his_o brethren_n 42._o who_o on_o pretence_n of_o some_o disorder_n in_o the_o church_n of_o carthage_n have_v withdraw_v to_o the_o mountain_n and_o there_o lay_v the_o foundation_n of_o the_o novatian_a schism_n but_o when_o false_a doctrine_n be_v impose_v on_o church_n 17._o as_o by_o the_o arian_n bishop_n at_o antioch_n than_o the_o people_n be_v excuse_v in_o their_o separation_n so_o at_o rome_n when_o felix_n be_v make_v bishop_n and_o at_o sirmium_n when_o photinus_n publish_v his_o heresy_n 16._o but_o i_o do_v not_o remember_v one_o instance_n in_o antiquity_n wherein_o separation_n from_o orthodox_n bishop_n and_o set_v up_o meeting_n without_o their_o authority_n and_o against_o their_o consent_n be_v acquit_v from_o the_o sin_n of_o schism_n indeed_o some_o bishop_n have_v sometime_o refuse_v communion_n with_o other_o upon_o great_a misdemeanour_n as_o theognostus_n and_o st._n martin_n with_o the_o ithacian_a party_n on_o the_o account_n of_o the_o death_n of_o priscillian_n but_o this_o do_v not_o at_o all_o reach_n to_o the_o case_n of_o presbyter_n separate_v from_o bishop_n with_o who_o they_o agree_v in_o the_o same_o faith_n the_o follower_n of_o st._n chrysostom_n do_v i_o confess_v continue_v their_o separate_a meeting_n after_o his_o banishment_n and_o the_o come_n in_o of_o arsacius_n but_o although_o they_o withdraw_v in_o his_o time_n be_v unsatisfied_a in_o the_o manner_n of_o his_o choice_n yet_o when_o atticus_n restore_v the_o name_n of_o st._n chrysostom_n to_o the_o diptych_n of_o the_o church_n they_o return_v to_o communion_n with_o their_o bishop_n 47._o as_o st._n chrysostom_n himself_o advise_v they_o as_o appear_v by_o palladius_n which_o be_v far_o from_o justify_v the_o wilful_a separation_n of_o presbyter_n and_o people_n from_o the_o communion_n of_o their_o bishop_n when_o they_o do_v agree_v in_o the_o same_o faith_n 2._o but_o suppose_v the_o first_o church_n be_v bare_o congregational_a by_o reason_n of_o the_o small_a number_n of_o believer_n at_o that_o time_n yet_o what_o obligation_n lie_v upon_o we_o to_o disturb_v the_o peace_n of_o the_o church_n we_o live_v in_o to_o reduce_v church_n to_o their_o infant-state_n they_o do_v not_o think_v it_o necessary_a to_o reduce_v the_o first_o community_n of_o good_n which_o be_v far_o more_o certain_o practise_v than_o congregational_a church_n 14._o they_o do_v not_o think_v it_o necessary_a to_o wash_v one_o another_o foot_n although_o christ_n do_v it_o and_o bad_a his_o disciple_n do_v as_o he_o do_v they_o believe_v that_o the_o first_o civil_a government_n be_v appoint_v by_o god_n himself_o over_o family_n do_v they_o therefore_o think_v themselves_o bind_v to_o overthrow_v kingdom_n to_o bring_v thing_n back_o to_o their_o first_o institution_n if_o not_o why_o shall_v the_o peace_n of_o the_o church_n be_v in_o so_o much_o worse_a a_o condition_n than_o that_o of_o the_o civil-state_n it_o be_v very_o uncertain_a whether_o the_o primitive_a form_n be_v such_o as_o they_o fancy_v if_o it_o be_v it_o be_v more_o uncertain_a whether_o it_o be_v not_o so_o from_o the_o circumstance_n of_o the_o time_n than_o from_o any_o institution_n of_o christ_n but_o it_o be_v most_o certain_o our_o duty_n to_o preserve_v peace_n and_o unity_n among_o christian_n and_o it_o be_v impossible_a so_o to_o do_v if_o man_n break_v all_o order_n in_o piece_n for_o the_o fancy_n they_o have_v take_v up_o of_o a_o primitive_a platform_n it_o be_v a_o great_a fault_n among_o some_o who_o pretend_v to_o great_a niceness_n in_o some_o positive_a duty_n that_o they_o have_v so_o little_a regard_n to_o comparative_a duty_n for_o that_o which_o may_v be_v a_o duty_n in_o one_o case_n when_o it_o come_v to_o thwart_v a_o great_a duty_n may_v be_v none_o this_o doctrine_n we_o learn_v from_o our_o bless_a saviour_n in_o the_o case_n of_o the_o obligation_n of_o the_o sabbath_n 7._o which_o he_o make_v to_o yield_v to_o duty_n of_o mercy_n and_o can_v we_o think_v that_o a_o duty_n lie_v upon_o we_o which_o in_o our_o circumstance_n make_v a_o far_o great_a duty_n impracticable_a be_v there_o any_o thing_n christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n have_v charge_v more_o upon_o the_o conscience_n of_o all_o christian_n than_o study_v to_o preserve_v peace_n and_o unity_n among_o christian_n 19_o this_o be_v that_o we_o must_v follow_v after_o 11._o even_o when_o it_o seem_v to_o fly_v from_o we_o this_o be_v that_o we_o must_v apply_v our_o mind_n to_o 3._o and_o think_v it_o our_o honour_n to_o promote_v this_o be_v that_o which_o the_o most_o perfect_a christian_n be_v the_o most_o zealous_a for_o 3._o this_o be_v that_o for_o the_o sake_n of_o which_o we_o be_v command_v to_o practice_v meekness_n humility_n patience_n self-denial_n and_o submission_n to_o governor_n 17._o and_o after_o all_o this_o can_v we_o imagine_v the_o attain_n of_o such_o a_o end_n shall_v depend_v upon_o man_n conjecture_n whether_o five_o thousand_o christian_n in_o time_n of_o persecution_n can_v make_v one_o assembly_n for_o worship_n or_o whether_o all_o the_o christian_n in_o ephesus_n or_o corinth_n make_v but_o one_o congregation_n on_o what_o term_n can_v we_o ever_o hope_v for_o peace_n in_o the_o church_n if_o such_o notion_n as_o these_o be_v ground_n enough_o to_o disturb_v it_o what_o stop_n can_v be_v put_v to_o schism_n and_o separation_n if_o such_o pretence_n as_o these_o be_v sufficient_a to_o justify_v they_o man_n may_v please_v themselves_o in_o talk_v of_o preserve_a peace_n and_o love_n under_o separate_a communion_n but_o our_o own_o sad_a experience_n show_v the_o contrary_a for_o as_o nothing_o tend_v more_o to_o unite_v man_n heart_n than_o join_v together_o in_o the_o same_o prayer_n and_o sacrament_n so_o nothing_o do_v more_o alienate_v man_n affection_n than_o withdraw_v from_o each_o other_o into_o separate_a congregation_n which_o tempt_v some_o to_o spiritual_a pride_n and_o scorn_n and_o contempt_n of_o other_o as_o of_o a_o more_o carnal_a and_o worldly_a church_n than_o themselves_o and_o provoke_v other_o to_o lay_v open_a the_o folly_n and_o indiscretion_n and_o immorality_n of_o those_o who_o pretend_v to_o so_o much_o purity_n and_o spirituality_n above_o their_o brethren_n 2._o other_o confess_v 40._o that_o to_o live_v in_o a_o state_n of_o separation_n from_o such_o church_n as_o many_o at_o least_o of_o we_o be_v be_v a_o sin_n for_o they_o say_v that_o causeless_o renounce_v communion_n with_o true_a church_n be_v schism_n especial_o if_o it_o be_v join_v with_o set_v up_o anti-churche_n unwarrantable_o against_o they_o but_o this_o they_o deny_v that_o they_o do_v although_o they_o preach_v when_o and_o where_o it_o be_v forbid_v by_o law_n and_o worship_n god_n and_o administer_v sacrament_n by_o other_o rule_n and_o after_o a_o different_a manner_n than_o what_o our_o church_n require_v this_o be_v not_o deal_v with_o we_o with_o that_o fairness_n and_o ingenuity_n which_o our_o former_a brethren_n use_v for_o they_o avow_v the_o fact_n of_o separation_n but_o deny_v it_o to_o be_v sinful_a these_o own_n it_o to_o be_v sinful_a have_v no_o other_o refuge_n leave_v but_o to_o deny_v the_o fact_n which_o be_v evident_a to_o all_o person_n for_o do_v they_o not_o do_v the_o very_a same_o thing_n and_o in_o the_o same_o manner_n that_o the_o other_o do_v how_o come_v it_o then_o to_o be_v separation_n in_o some_o and_o not_o in_o other_o they_o be_v very_o unwilling_a to_o confess_v a_o separation_n because_o they_o have_v former_o condemn_v it_o with_o great_a severity_n and_o yet_o they_o do_v the_o same_o thing_n for_o which_o they_o charge_v other_o as_o guilty_a of_o a_o

be_v no_o sin_n 2._o that_o a_o state_n of_o separation_n will_v be_v a_o sin_n but_o notwithstanding_o their_o meeting_n in_o different_a place_n yet_o they_o be_v not_o in_o a_o state_n of_o separation_n and_o herein_o lie_v the_o whole_a strength_n of_o the_o several_a plea_n at_o this_o day_n make_v use_v of_o to_o justify_v the_o separate_a congregation_n both_o which_o i_o shall_v now_o examine_v 1._o some_o plead_v that_o it_o be_v true_a they_o have_v distinct_a and_o separate_a communion_n from_o we_o but_o it_o be_v no_o sin_n or_o culpable_a separation_n so_o to_o have_v for_o say_v they_o our_o lord_n christ_n institute_v only_o congregational_a church_n 68_o or_o particular_a assembly_n for_o divine_a worship_n which_o have_v the_o sole_a church_n power_n in_o themselves_o they_o be_v under_o no_o obligation_n of_o communion_n with_o other_o church_n but_o only_o to_o preserve_v peace_n and_o charity_n with_o they_o and_o to_o this_o doctrine_n 111._o other_o of_o late_a approach_n so_o near_o that_o they_o tell_v we_o that_o to_o devise_v new_a species_n of_o church_n beyond_o parochial_a or_o congregational_a without_o god_n authority_n and_o to_o impose_v they_o on_o the_o world_n yea_o in_o his_o name_n and_o call_v all_o dissenter_n schismatic_n be_v a_o far_o worse_a usurpation_n than_o to_o make_v or_o impose_v new_a ceremony_n or_o liturgy_n which_o must_v suppose_v congregational_a church_n to_o be_v so_o much_o the_o institution_n of_o christ_n that_o any_o other_o constitution_n above_o these_o be_v both_o unlawful_a and_o insupportable_a which_o be_v more_o than_o the_o independent_a brethren_n themselves_o do_v assert_v but_o to_o clear_v the_o practice_n of_o separation_n from_o be_v a_o sin_n on_o this_o account_n two_o thing_n be_v necessary_a to_o be_v do_v 1._o to_o prove_v that_o a_o christian_n have_v no_o obligation_n to_o external_a communion_n beyond_o a_o congregational_a church_n 2._o that_o it_o be_v lawful_a to_o break_v off_o communion_n with_o other_o church_n to_o set_v up_o a_o particular_a independent_a church_n 1._o that_o a_o christian_a have_v no_o obligation_n to_o external_a communion_n beyond_o a_o particular_a congregational_a church_n they_o do_v not_o deny_v that_o man_n by_o baptism_n be_v admit_v into_o the_o catholic_n visible_a church_n as_o member_n of_o it_o 52._o and_o that_o there_o ought_v to_o be_v a_o sort_n of_o communion_n by_o mutual_a love_n among_o all_o that_o belong_v to_o this_o body_n and_o to_o do_v they_o right_o 54._o they_o declare_v that_o they_o look_v upon_o the_o church_n of_o england_n or_o the_o generality_n of_o the_o nation_n profess_v christianity_n to_o be_v as_o sound_v and_o healthful_a a_o part_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n as_o any_o in_o the_o world_n but_o then_o they_o say_v communion_n in_o ordinance_n must_v be_v only_o in_o such_o church_n as_o christ_n himself_o institute_v by_o unalterable_a rule_n 59_o which_o be_v only_o particular_a and_o congregational_a church_n grant_v this_o to_o be_v true_a how_o do_v it_o hence_o appear_v not_o to_o be_v a_o sin_n to_o separate_v from_o our_o parochial_a church_n which_o according_a to_o their_o own_o concession_n have_v all_o the_o essential_o of_o true_a church_n and_o what_o ground_n can_v they_o have_v to_o separate_v and_o divide_v those_o church_n which_o for_o all_o that_o we_o can_v see_v be_v of_o the_o same_o nature_n with_o the_o church_n plant_v by_o the_o apostle_n at_o corinth_n philippi_n or_o thessalonica_n but_o i_o must_v needs_o say_v further_o i_o have_v never_o yet_o see_v any_o tolerable_a proof_n that_o the_o church_n plant_v by_o the_o apostle_n be_v limit_v to_o congregation_n it_o be_v possible_a at_o first_o there_o may_v be_v no_o more_o christian_n in_o one_o city_n than_o can_v meet_v in_o one_o assembly_n for_o worship_n but_o where_o do_v it_o appear_v that_o when_o they_o multiply_v into_o more_o congregation_n they_o do_v make_v new_a and_o distinct_a church_n under_o new_a officer_n with_o a_o separate_a power_n of_o government_n of_o this_o i_o be_o well_o assure_v there_o be_v no_o mark_n or_o footstep_n in_o the_o new_a testament_n or_o the_o whole_a history_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n i_o do_v not_o think_v it_o will_v appear_v credible_a to_o any_o considerate_a man_n that_o the_o 5000_o christian_n in_o the_o church_n of_o jerusalem_n make_v one_o state_v and_o fix_v congregation_n for_o divine_a worship_n not_o if_o we_o make_v all_o the_o allowance_n for_o stranger_n which_o can_v be_v desire_v but_o if_o this_o be_v grant_v where_o be_v the_o unalterable_a rule_n that_o assoon_o as_o the_o company_n become_v too_o great_a for_o one_o particular_a assembly_n they_o must_v become_v a_o new_a church_n under_o peculiar_a officer_n and_o a_o independent_a authority_n it_o be_v very_o strange_a that_o those_o who_o contend_v so_o much_o for_o the_o scripture_n be_v a_o perfect_a rule_n of_o all_o thing_n pertain_v to_o worship_n and_o discipline_n shall_v be_v able_a to_o produce_v nothing_o in_o so_o necessary_a a_o point_n if_o that_o of_o which_o we_o read_v the_o clear_a instance_n in_o scripture_n must_v be_v the_o standard_n of_o all_o future_a age_n much_o more_o may_v be_v say_v for_o limit_v church_n to_o private_a family_n than_o to_o particular_a congregation_n for_o do_v we_o not_o read_v of_o the_o church_n that_o be_v in_o the_o house_n of_o priscilla_n and_o aquila_n at_o rome_n 5._o of_o the_o church_n that_o be_v in_o the_o house_n of_o nymphas_n at_o colosse_n 2._o and_o in_o the_o house_n of_o philemon_n at_o laodicea_n why_o then_o shall_v not_o church_n be_v reduce_v to_o particular_a family_n when_o by_o that_o mean_v they_o may_v full_o enjoy_v the_o liberty_n of_o their_o conscience_n and_o avoid_v the_o scandal_n of_o break_v the_o law_n but_o if_o notwithstanding_o such_o plain_a example_n man_n will_v extend_v church_n to_o congregation_n of_o many_o family_n why_o may_v not_o other_o extend_v church_n to_o those_o society_n which_o consist_v of_o many_o congregation_n especial_o consider_v that_o the_o apostle_n when_o they_o institute_v church_n do_v appoint_v such_o officer_n in_o they_o as_o have_v not_o bare_o a_o respect_n to_o those_o already_o convert_v but_o to_o as_o many_o as_o by_o their_o mean_n shall_v be_v add_v to_o the_o church_n as_o clemens_n affirm_v in_o his_o epistle_n the_o apostle_n say_v he_o go_v about_o in_o city_n and_o country_n preach_v the_o gospel_n 55._o and_o appoint_v their_o first-fruit_n have_v make_v a_o spiritual_a trial_n of_o they_o for_o bishop_n and_o deacon_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d of_o those_o who_o be_v to_o believe_v from_o hence_o the_o number_n of_o convert_v be_v look_v on_o as_o a_o accession_n to_o the_o original_a church_n and_o be_v under_o the_o care_n and_o government_n of_o the_o bishop_n and_o presbyter_n who_o be_v first_o settle_v there_o for_o although_o when_o the_o church_n increase_v the_o occasional_a meeting_n be_v frequent_a in_o several_a place_n yet_o still_o there_o be_v but_o one_o church_n and_o one_o altar_n and_o one_o baptistry_n and_o one_o bishop_n with_o many_o presbyter_n assist_v he_o and_o this_o be_v so_o very_o plain_a in_o antiquity_n as_o to_o the_o church_n plant_v by_o the_o apostle_n themselves_o in_o several_a part_n that_o none_o but_o a_o great_a stranger_n to_o the_o history_n of_o the_o church_n can_v ever_o call_v it_o in_o question_n 2._o i_o be_o sure_a calvin_n a_o person_n of_o great_a and_o deserve_a reputation_n among_o our_o brethren_n look_n upon_o this_o as_o a_o matter_n out_o of_o dispute_n among_o learned_a man_n that_o a_o church_n do_v not_o only_o take_v in_o the_o christian_n of_o a_o whole_a city_n but_o of_o the_o adjacent_a country_n too_o and_o the_o contrary_a opinion_n be_v a_o very_a novel_a and_o late_a fancy_n of_o some_o among_o we_o and_o have_v not_o age_n enough_o to_o plead_v a_o prescription_n it_o be_v true_a after_o some_o time_n in_o the_o great_a city_n they_o have_v distinct_a place_n allot_v and_o presbyter_n fix_v among_o they_o and_o such_o allotment_n be_v call_v title_n at_o rome_n and_o laurae_n at_o alexandria_n and_o parish_n in_o other_o place_n but_o these_o be_v never_o think_v then_o to_o be_v new_a church_n or_o to_o have_v any_o independent_a government_n in_o themselves_o but_o be_v all_o in_o subjection_n to_o the_o bishop_n and_o his_o college_n of_o presbyter_n of_o which_o multitude_n of_o example_n may_v be_v bring_v from_o most_o authentic_a testimony_n of_o antiquity_n if_o a_o thing_n so_o evident_a need_v any_o proof_n at_o all_o and_o yet_o this_o distribution_n even_o in_o city_n be_v so_o uncommon_a in_o those_o elder_a time_n that_o epiphanius_n take_v notice_n of_o it_o as_o a_o extraordinary_a thing_n at_o alexandria_n and_o therefore_o it_o be_v probable_o suppose_v there_o be_v no_o