Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	call_v	church_n	congregation_n	1,735	5	9.2238	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45123	An answer to Dr. Stillingfleet's sermon, by some nonconformists, being the peaceable design renewed wherein the imputation of schism wherewith the doctor hath charged the nonconformists meetings, is removed, their nonconformity justified, and materials for union drawn up together, which will heal both parties.	Humfrey, John, 1621-1719.; Lobb, Stephen, d. 1699.	1680 (1680)	Wing H3668; ESTC R22261	36,018	45

their own Expressions And this expedient we gather from the Lord Coke who hath providently as it were against such a season laid in this Observation The Form of the Subscription set down in the Canons ratified by King James was not expressed in the Act of the thirteenth of Elizabeth Inst purt 4. c. 74. And consequently if the Clergy enjoyed this freedom until then in reference to the Particulars therein contained what hinders why they might not have the same restored in reference also to others It is true that it may seem hard to many in this Parliament to undo any thing themselves have done in a former But though this be no rule for Christians who are sometimes to repent as well as to believe if they be loath to Repeal any thing what if they shall only Interpret or Explain Let us suppose then some clause in this Bill or some new Act for Explanations If any Nonconformist cannot come up to the full meaning and intent of these injunctions rightly explained let him remain in statu quo under the state only of Indulgence without benefit of Comprehension for so long as those who are not Comprehended may yet enjoy that case as to be Indulged in some equal measure answerable to His Majesties Decloration that was whether Comprehension be large or narrow such terms as we obtain are pure advantage and such as we obtain not are no loss But if any does and can honestly agree to that whole sense which the Parliament intends in such Impositions why should there be any obstruction for such a Man though he deliver himself in his own words to be received into the Establish'd order with others unless Men will look on these Injunctions only to be contriv'd for Engines of Battery to destroy the Non-conformists and not as Instruments of Vnity to edifie the Church of God We will not leave our Congregational Brethren neither so long as we have something more that may be said for them not ordinarily considered by any It is this That though indeed they are not and cannot seek to be of our Churches as they are Parochial under the Diocess or Super-intendency of the Bishops Yet do they not refuse but seek to be comprehended within the Church as National under His Majesty We will explain our selves The Church may be considered as Vniversal and so Christ alone is the Head of it and we receive our Laws from him Or as Particular and so the Pastors are Heads Guides or Bishops over their respective Flocks who are commanded therefore to obey them in the Lord Or as National which is an accidental and external respect to the Church of God wherein the King is to be acknowledged the Supream Head of it ansd as we judge no otherwise For thus also runs the Statute That our Sovereign Lord shall be taken and reputed the only Supream Head in Earth of the Church of England called Ecclesia Anglicana Now if it should please the King and Parliament to allow and approve those separate Meetings and stated places for Worship by a Law as His Majesty did by His Declaration we must porfess that as such Assemblies by this means must be constituted immediately Integral parts of the Church as National no less than our Parish Congregations So would the Congregate Churches at least those that understand themselves own the King for Head over them in the same sence as we own him Head over ours that is as much as to say for the Supreme Goercive Governour of all in this accidental regard both to keep every several Congregation to that Gospel-order themselves profess and to supervise their Constitutions in things indifferent that nothing be done but in subordination to the Peace of the Kingdom Well let us suppose then a liberty for these separate Assemblies under the visitation of His Majesty and His Justices and not the Bishops or under them as his substitutes that is exercising an Authority formerly secular and objectively only Ecclesiastical and no otherwise We would fain know what were the evil you can find in them If it lie in any thing it must be in that you call Schisme Separation then let us know in it self simply considered is nothing neither good nor evil There may be reason to divide or separate some Christians from others out of prudence as the Catechumeni of old from the fully instructed for their greater edification and as a Chappel or two is added to a parish Church When the people else were too big a Congregation It is not all division then or separation is Schism but sinful division Now the Supream Authority as National Head having appointed the Parochial Meetings and required all the Subjects of the Land to frequent them and them alone for the acknowledging glorifying or National serving and worshipping the one only true God and His Son whom we have generally received and this Worship or Service in the nature of it being intrinsically good and the External order such as that of Time and Place and the like-Cirumstances being properly under his Jurisdiction it hath seemed to us hitherto that unless there was something in that order and way prescribed which is sinful and that required too as a Condition of that Commonion there is no man could refuse his attendance universally on these Pariotchial Assemblies without the sin of disobedience And consequently his separation thereby becoming sinful proves Schism But if the Scene be alter'd and those separate Assembles made legal the Schism in reference to the National Church upon the same account does vanish Schism is a separation from that Church whereof we ought or are bound to be Members If the Supream Authority then loose our obligation to the Parish Meeting so that we are bound no longer the iniquty we say upon this account is not to be found and the Schism gone Lo here a way opened for the Parliament if they please to rid the trouble and scruple of Schism at once out of the Land If they please not yet is there something to be thought on for the Separatist in a way of Forbearance that the innocent Christian at least as it was in the time of Trajan may not be sought out unto punishment Especiallly when such a Tolleration only is desired as is consistent with the Articles of Faith i. e. the Creed a Good life and the Government of the Nation But what shall we say then to the Papists which is the Objection hit still in their Teeth that plead for Mederation Why we will not baulk the delivery of our opinion There are Two parts we profess of that favour or condescension we seek from the Higher Powers The one consisting of a Composition with those whose Principles are fit and capable of it And the other consisting of Forbearance towards those whose Principles will allow them no more The Papist is one whose worship to us is Idolatry and we cannot therefore allow them the liberty of publick Assembling themselves as others of the