Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	body_n	church_n	union_n	1,510	5	9.6741	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42261	A perswasive to communion with the Church of England	Grove, Robert, 1634-1696.	1682 (1682)	Wing G2152; ESTC R13941	28,017	46

end_n but_o i_o hope_v their_o behaviour_n for_o the_o future_a will_v sufficient_o clear_v they_o from_o such_o a_o imputation_n i_o shall_v therefore_o apply_v myself_o only_o to_o those_o that_o do_v still_o forbear_v our_o communion_n and_o offer_v something_o very_o brief_o which_o i_o conceive_v may_v be_v useful_a for_o the_o satisfy_a their_o most_o know_a and_o ordinary_a doubt_n that_o as_o we_o do_v all_o profess_v the_o same_o faith_n we_o may_v all_o agree_v in_o the_o same_o way_n of_o discipline_n and_o worship_n and_o all_o become_v peaceable_a and_o orderly_a member_n of_o the_o same_o church_n and_o for_o the_o obtain_v this_o most_o excellent_a end_n first_o i_o shall_v desire_v they_o impartial_o to_o consider_v of_o some_o thing_n that_o may_v incline_v they_o to_o be_v peaceable_o mind_v and_o tend_v to_o the_o remove_n of_o the_o general_n prejudices_fw-la they_o have_v unhappy_o conceive_v against_o the_o church_n of_o england_n then_o i_o shall_v endeavour_v to_o give_v what_o satisfaction_n i_o can_v to_o the_o chief_a objection_n against_o we_o which_o they_o be_v wont_n to_o urge_v in_o defence_n of_o the_o present_a separation_n and_o last_o i_o shall_v exhort_v they_o to_o a_o brotherly_a union_n upon_o such_o motive_n and_o argument_n as_o the_o gospel_n suggest_v and_o make_v for_o the_o credit_n and_o safety_n of_o the_o pretestant_a religion_n the_o thing_n that_o i_o will_v commend_v to_o their_o serious_a consideration_n which_o may_v serve_v to_o dispose_v they_o to_o peace_n and_o to_o remove_v the_o prejudices_fw-la they_o have_v take_v up_o be_v such_o as_o these_o in_o the_o first_o place_n they_o shall_v be_v very_o careful_a that_o it_o be_v not_o any_o sinister_a end_n or_o corrupt_a passion_n that_o do_v either_o engage_v they_o in_o the_o separation_n at_o the_o beginning_n or_o provoke_v they_o now_o to_o continue_v in_o it_o i_o do_v not_o mention_v this_o because_o i_o know_v any_o one_o of_o our_o dissent_v brethren_n to_o be_v guilty_a of_o it_o but_o because_o it_o must_v be_v confess_v that_o man_n mind_n be_v too_o often_o influence_v by_o their_o carnal_a interest_n and_o affection_n these_o will_v be_v always_o mix_v themselves_o in_o all_o their_o consultation_n these_o do_v common_o blind_a and_o pervert_v their_o judgement_n and_o lead_v they_o into_o ten_o thousand_o error_n these_o be_v the_o occasion_n that_o fancy_n sometime_o pass_v for_o conscience_n that_o melancholy_a fume_n be_v admire_v for_o divine_a inspiration_n and_o that_o the_o overflow_a of_o our_o gall_n be_v look_v upon_o as_o pure_a zeal_n these_o and_o the_o like_a be_v very_o dangerous_a and_o usual_a mistake_v that_o do_v frequent_o proceed_v from_o the_o prevalency_n of_o our_o passion_n if_o therefore_o we_o do_v divide_v from_o a_o church_n it_o will_v most_o high_o concern_v we_o to_o be_v very_o cautious_a that_o we_o be_v not_o act_v by_o any_o such_o principle_n for_o if_o we_o hope_v to_o gain_v and_o grow_v rich_a by_o our_o departure_n if_o we_o be_v ashamed_a or_o scorn_v to_o retract_v the_o opinion_n we_o have_v once_o profess_v if_o we_o imagine_v we_o have_v more_o light_n than_o the_o first_o reformer_n when_o indeed_o we_o be_v very_o ignorant_a if_o we_o can_v endure_v to_o be_v oppose_v in_o any_o thing_n if_o we_o murmur_v and_o repine_v at_o our_o governor_n when_o they_o require_v our_o obedience_n where_o we_o be_v unwilling_a to_o pay_v it_o these_o be_v sign_n that_o our_o affection_n be_v turbulent_a and_o unruly_a and_o while_o we_o be_v thus_o dispose_v we_o can_v never_o be_v assure_v but_o that_o covetousness_n pride_n and_o impatience_n may_v be_v the_o great_a motive_n that_o induce_v we_o to_o make_v a_o separation_n and_o the_o strong_a argument_n that_o we_o have_v to_o maintain_v it_o but_o i_o can_v charge_v our_o dissent_v brethren_n with_o these_o thing_n i_o believe_v that_o many_o of_o they_o may_v be_v upright_a and_o sincere_a in_o their_o intention_n but_o because_o they_o be_v all_o in_o the_o same_o estate_n of_o degeneracy_n and_o corruption_n which_o other_o be_v i_o will_v entreat_v they_o to_o be_v very_o careful_a that_o they_o be_v never_o lead_v away_o by_o these_o or_o the_o like_a temptation_n but_o that_o they_o will_v always_o labour_v to_o preserve_v those_o holy_a disposition_n of_o integrity_n meekness_n humility_n and_o condescension_n which_o be_v the_o best_a preparative_n to_o the_o receive_n of_o the_o truth_n in_o the_o love_n of_o it_o after_o they_o have_v thus_o free_v their_o mind_n from_o all_o irregular_a passion_n and_o design_n it_o will_v conduce_v exceed_o to_o the_o peace_n of_o the_o church_n if_o they_o will_v be_v sure_a to_o express_v their_o great_a care_n and_o concern_v in_o the_o more_o weighty_a and_o substantial_a thing_n of_o religion_n this_o will_v prevent_v many_o of_o the_o quarrel_n that_o do_v often_o arise_v in_o matter_n but_o of_o small_a importance_n if_o real_a holiness_n and_o piety_n be_v the_o thing_n that_o we_o aim_v at_o then_o when_o we_o may_v be_v secure_v of_o this_o we_o shall_v not_o be_v so_o very_o forward_o to_o enter_v upon_o fierce_a and_o endless_a dispute_n about_o the_o external_a mode_n and_o circumstance_n of_o worship_n if_o i_o may_v serve_v god_n there_o in_o spirit_n and_o in_o truth_n why_o shall_v a_o gown_n or_o a_o cloak_n or_o a_o surplice_n fright_v i_o from_o the_o church_n when_o either_o of_o these_o be_v enjoin_v by_o my_o superior_n if_o i_o may_v be_v instruct_v in_o the_o way_n of_o salvation_n and_o eternal_a happiness_n why_o shall_v i_o forsake_v the_o public_a assembly_n because_o i_o be_o not_o allow_v to_o join_v myself_o to_o what_o congregation_n i_o please_v and_o have_v not_o a_o immediate_a hand_n in_o the_o choice_n of_o my_o pastor_n when_o our_o heart_n be_v bend_v upon_o the_o great_a thing_n of_o religion_n we_o shall_v see_v but_o little_a reason_n to_o be_v contentious_a about_o matter_n of_o lesser_a consequence_n a_o few_o indifferent_a rite_n will_v scarce_o be_v able_a to_o tempt_v we_o to_o break_v off_o communion_n with_o that_o church_n with_o which_o we_o be_v at_o perfect_a agreement_n in_o all_o fundamental_a and_o necessary_a point_n the_o next_o thing_n that_o may_v tend_v to_o the_o promote_a our_o union_n be_v the_o consideration_n of_o the_o heinous_a nature_n and_o gild_n of_o schism_n which_o be_v nothing_o else_o but_o the_o separate_n ourselves_o from_o a_o true_a church_n without_o any_o just_a occasion_n give_v the_o want_n of_o due_a apprehension_n of_o the_o sinfulness_n of_o this_o seem_v to_o be_v the_o main_a cause_n of_o our_o present_a division_n man_n be_v not_o general_o sufficient_o sensible_a how_o much_o they_o do_v oppose_v that_o spirit_n of_o peace_n and_o brotherly_a love_n which_o shall_v diffuse_v itself_o through_o the_o whole_a body_n of_o christian_a people_n when_o they_o suppose_v every_o slender_a pretence_n enough_o to_o justify_v their_o depart_n from_o we_o and_o set_v up_o a_o church_n against_o a_o church_n they_o think_v it_o a_o matter_n almost_o indifferent_a and_o that_o they_o be_v leave_v to_o their_o own_o choice_n to_o join_v with_o what_o society_n of_o christian_n they_o please_v themselves_o which_o giddy_a principle_n if_o it_o shall_v prevail_v will_v certain_o throw_v we_o into_o a_o absolute_a confusion_n and_o introduce_v all_o the_o error_n and_o mischief_n that_o can_v be_v imagine_v but_o our_o bless_a lord_n found_v but_o one_o universal_a church_n and_o when_o he_o be_v ready_a to_o be_v crucify_a for_o we_o and_o pray_v not_o for_o the_o apostle_n alone_o but_o for_o they_o also_o that_o 21._o shall_v believe_v in_o he_o through_o their_o word_n one_o of_o the_o last_o petition_n which_o he_o then_o put_v up_o among_o divers_a other_o to_o the_o same_o purpose_n be_v that_o they_o all_o may_v be_v one_o as_o thou_o father_n be_v in_o i_o and_o i_o in_o thou_o that_o they_o also_o may_v be_v one_o in_o we_o that_o the_o world_n may_v believe_v that_o thou_o have_v send_v i_o this_o it_o be_v plain_o be_v to_o be_v a_o visible_a unity_n that_o may_v be_v take_v notice_n of_o in_o the_o world_n and_o so_o become_v a_o inducement_n to_o move_v man_n to_o the_o embrace_v of_o the_o christian_a faith_n therefore_o as_o we_o will_v avoid_v the_o harden_v of_o man_n in_o atheism_n and_o infidelity_n and_o make_v the_o prayer_n of_o our_o die_a saviour_n as_o much_o as_o in_o we_o lie_v whole_o ineffectual_a we_o shall_v be_v exceed_o cautious_a that_o we_o do_v not_o wilful_o divide_v his_o holy_a catholic_n church_n we_o be_v often_o warn_v of_o this_o and_o how_o many_o argument_n do_v st._n paul_n heap_v together_o to_o persuade_v we_o to_o keep_v the_o unity_n of_o the_o spirit_n in_o the_o bond_n 6._o of_o peace_n one_o body_n and_o one_o spirit_n even_o

their_o treachery_n or_o their_o force_n this_o be_v a_o petition_n i_o be_o sure_a in_o which_o no_o good_a christian_n can_v refuse_v to_o join_v and_o if_o we_o do_v hearty_o desire_v this_o let_v u●_n do_v what_o we_o can_v to_o promote_v it_o if_o our_o prayer_n be_v no●_n unsincere_a and_o hypocritical_a we_o shall_v make_v use_n of_o ou●_n best_o endeavour_v to_o obtain_v the_o thing_n we_o have_v pray_v for_o and_o now_o if_o our_o union_n be_v thus_o desirable_a and_o necessary_a what_o shall_v hinder_v but_o that_o at_o last_o we_o may_v b●_n all_o most_o happy_o unite_v under_o the_o discipline_n and_o government_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n a_o church_n that_o i●_n already_o frame_v and_o constitute_v that_o have_v the_o countenance_n and_o establishment_n of_o the_o law_n that_o have_v bee●_n protect_v by_o a_o succession_n of_o wise_a and_o pious_a prince_n that_o be_v defend_v unto_o death_n by_o our_o late_a martyre●_n sovereign_a that_o be_v restore_v by_o his_o majesty_n that_o now_o be_v and_o have_v be_v ever_o since_o so_o gracious_o cherish_v b●_n he_o as_o if_o the_o care_n of_o it_o be_v a_o quality_n inherent_a an●_n hereditary_a to_o the_o crown_n a_o church_n that_o be_v reform_v by_o full_a and_o sufficient_a authority_n upon_o mature_a and_o serious_a deliberation_n with_o a_o perfect_a submission_n to_o the_o rule_n of_o holy_a scripture_n and_o a_o due_a regard_n to_o the_o example_n of_o the_o most_o primitive_a time_n a_o church_n that_o have_v constant_o reject_v all_o the_o error_n and_o corruption_n of_o rome_n that_o admit_v of_o neither_o their_o infallibility_n nor_o supremacy_n that_o allow_v no_o purgatory_n nor_o indulgence_n no_o adoration_n of_o relic_n and_o image_n no_o pray_v to_o saint_n nor_o angel_n that_o do_v not_o think_v that_o god_n can_v be_v please_v with_o idle_a pilgrimage_n or_o a_o force_a celibacy_n or_o any_o set_a number_n of_o ave_n and_o pater_n noster_n or_o other_o formal_a devotion_n exact_o compute_v upon_o a_o string_n of_o bead_n and_o mutter_v over_o in_o a_o unknown_a tongue_n that_o do_v not_o rob_v the_o laity_n of_o half_a the_o communion_n nor_o teach_v they_o that_o strange_a and_o contradictious_a doctrine_n that_o the_o element_n be_v transubstantiate_v into_o the_o real_a body_n and_o blood_n of_o christ_n in_o the_o lord_n supper_n that_o do_v not_o only_o constant_o deny_v these_o and_o many_o more_o absurd_a and_o erroneous_a opinion_n of_o the_o papist_n but_o have_v always_o send_v forth_o as_o stout_a and_o able_a champion_n to_o oppose_v they_o as_o any_o the_o christian_a world_n afford_v a_o church_n who_o doctrine_n be_v confess_v to_o be_v orthodox_n by_o the_o generality_n of_o our_o dissent_v brethren_n and_o who_o discipline_n and_o order_n of_o external_a worship_n have_v nothing_o in_o it_o repugnant_a to_o any_o law_n of_o god_n and_o what_o imaginable_a ground_n can_v there_o then_o be_v to_o justify_v a_o separation_n from_o such_o a_o church_n certain_o the_o use_n of_o a_o few_o indifferent_a thing_n appoint_v only_o for_o order_n sake_n will_v not_o be_v enough_o to_o do_v it_o these_o be_v not_o forbid_v and_o therefore_o can_v be_v sinful_a in_o themselves_o and_o where_o god_n have_v not_o forbid_v our_o superior_n may_v command_v and_o in_o all_o such_o case_n we_o be_v bind_v to_o obey_v some_o indeed_o there_o be_v that_o will_v not_o be_v satisfy_v with_o this_o they_o tell_v we_o that_o it_o be_v not_o sufficient_a that_o a_o thing_n be_v not_o forbid_v but_o that_o it_o must_v be_v command_v or_o else_o it_o can_v be_v use_v in_o the_o worship_n of_o god_n without_o sin_n but_o if_o this_o opinion_n be_v true_a i_o must_v confess_v that_o then_o it_o be_v unlawful_a to_o hold_v communion_n not_o only_o with_o we_o but_o with_o any_o church_n that_o be_v or_o ever_o be_v in_o the_o world_n for_o i_o do_v not_o believe_v that_o one_o can_v be_v find_v among_o they_o all_o that_o have_v not_o require_v the_o use_n of_o some_o indifferent_a thing_n that_o be_v not_o command_v our_o dissent_v brethren_n themselves_o will_v allow_v that_o the_o time_n and_o place_n of_o religious_a assembly_n may_v be_v prescribe_v by_o authority_n and_o if_o these_o necessary_a circumstance_n may_v be_v thus_o determine_v though_o they_o be_v not_o command_v by_o god_n than_o it_o will_v be_v as_o lawful_a to_o prescribe_v what_o particular_a gesture_n and_o habit_n shall_v be_v there_o use_v for_o these_o be_v thing_n of_o the_o same_o nature_n circumstance_n as_o necessary_a as_o time_n and_o place_n and_o if_o we_o have_v any_o respect_n to_o the_o decent_a and_o reverent_a performance_n of_o the_o service_n of_o god_n they_o may_v be_v as_o necessary_a to_o be_v determine_v too_o however_o it_o must_v be_v acknowledge_v that_o some_o thing_n that_o be_v not_o command_v may_v be_v lawful_o enjoin_v and_o submit_v to_o and_o if_o some_o than_o all_o that_o be_v of_o the_o same_o indifferent_a nature_n unless_o there_o can_v be_v some_o sufficient_a reason_n assign_v why_o some_o shall_v be_v except_v and_o some_o not_o which_o will_v be_v very_o difficult_a where_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n be_v the_o same_o and_o in_o our_o present_a case_n it_o will_v be_v hard_a in_o the_o general_a to_o conceive_v how_o the_o command_n of_o a_o lawful_a power_n shall_v make_v that_o unlawful_a which_o be_v not_o forbid_v and_o by_o consequence_n be_v lawful_a before_o but_o if_o it_o shall_v be_v still_o insist_v on_o that_o nothing_o must_v be_v command_v that_o god_n have_v not_o command_v they_o that_o be_v of_o this_o persuasion_n shall_v be_v very_o certain_a that_o they_o have_v clear_a proof_n out_o of_o the_o scripture_n for_o it_o before_o they_o undertake_v to_o forbid_v that_o which_o god_n have_v not_o forbid_v or_o else_o they_o stand_v condemn_v by_o their_o own_o principle_n now_o the_o argument_n they_o bring_v for_o this_o out_o of_o the_o new_a testament_n be_v very_o few_o and_o those_o very_a obscure_a and_o no_o way_n applicable_a to_o the_o matter_n in_o hand_n without_o be_v mighty_o strain_v those_o out_o of_o the_o old_a testament_n be_v not_o many_o that_o which_o have_v be_v chief_o urge_v and_o seem_v indeed_o the_o most_o pertinent_a and_o material_a be_v this_o the_o whole_a levitical_a service_n be_v particular_o prescribe_v by_o god_n himself_o and_o moses_n be_v strict_o charge_v to_o make_v the_o tabernacle_n and_o all_o the_o utensil_n that_o belong_v unto_o it_o after_o the_o pattern_n that_o be_v show_v he_o 6._o in_o the_o mount_n and_o moses_n very_o be_v faithful_a in_o all_o his_o house_n as_o a_o servant_n and_o so_o be_v christ_n as_o a_o son_n over_o his_o own_o house_n that_o be_v the_o church_n therefore_o as_o moses_n lay_v down_o all_o the_o particular_a rule_n to_o be_v observe_v in_o the_o worship_n of_o god_n under_o the_o legal_a dispensation_n so_o have_v christ_n under_o the_o evangelical_n and_o it_o be_v as_o dangerous_a to_o add_v as_o it_o be_v to_o detract_v from_o these_o write_a rule_n we_o may_v no_o more_o do_v what_o be_v not_o command_v than_o what_o be_v forbid_v this_o i_o take_v to_o be_v the_o main_a argument_n that_o be_v bring_v against_o we_o in_o the_o present_a controversy_n and_o if_o this_o can_v be_v answer_v all_o the_o rest_n will_v be_v but_o of_o little_a force_n therefore_o to_o give_v what_o satisfaction_n i_o can_v to_o this_o i_o say_v first_o that_o throughout_o the_o whole_a epistle_n to_o the_o hebrew_n where_o moses_n and_o christ_n or_o the_o law_n and_o the_o gospel_n be_v compare_v the_o scope_n of_o the_o apostle_n be_v to_o show_v the_o exact_a correspondence_n there_o be_v betwixt_o the_o type_n and_o the_o antitype_n and_o not_o that_o our_o saviour_n have_v as_o particular_o prescribe_v the_o order_n of_o external_a worship_n as_o moses_n by_o god_n appointment_n have_v do_v for_o it_o be_v certain_a he_o do_v not_o to_o give_v but_o one_o instance_n of_o very_a many_o the_o manner_n of_o celebrate_v the_o passeover_n how_o it_o shall_v be_v kill_v and_o how_o it_o shall_v be_v eat_v be_v set_v down_o with_o every_o minute_n circumstance_n but_o the_o institution_n of_o the_o supper_n of_o our_o lord_n be_v not_o so_o deliver_v unto_o we_o we_o have_v only_o a_o short_a narative_n with_o a_o general_a command_n superad_v do_v this_o in_o remembrance_n of_o i_o and_o when_o 19_o st._n paul_n repeat_v it_o again_o he_o do_v it_o without_o any_o mention_n 25._o of_o the_o posture_n of_o receive_v the_o gospel_n which_o teach_v we_o a_o more_o spiritual_a way_n of_o serve_a god_n be_v not_o so_o particular_a in_o the_o circumstantial_o of_o worship_n as_o the_o law_n be_v and_o we_o must_v not_o affirm_v that_o it_o be_v because_o we_o will_v have_v it_o so_o we_o