Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	christian_a	church_n	unity_n	1,522	5	9.2638	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A24968	Sober and serious considerations occasioned by the death of His Most Sacred Majesty, King Charles II (of ever blessed memory), and the serious time of Lent following it together with a brief historical account of the first rise, progress, and increase of phanaticism in England and the fatal consequents thereof : now made publick in tendency to the peace of the kingdom / by a gentleman in communion with the Church of England, as now by law establish'd.	Gentleman in communion with the Church of England.; P. A.	1685 (1685)	Wing A26; ESTC R11430	26,528	49

be doubted they will not especially when the Sin hath become in great part General and National For particular Persons are to expect their Judgment and Punishment in the other Life but Nations Kingdoms and Societies of Men cannot then be punished as such as our Divines hold And in consideration of the great mischief and danger in Schisms and Rents among Christians I mean such as profess to own that Name in the Christian World May we not therefore well Pray earnestly to Almighty God as our Mother the Church of England directs us for the Good Estate of the Catholick Church That it may be so guided and governed by God's Good Spirit that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of Truth and hold the Faith in Vnity of Spirit in the Bond of Peace and Righteousness of Life It cannot possible therefore favour of a Christian Spirit or Temper to be of peevish froward contentious Spirits but to study Peace at Home in the Church we live in And in the next place it is doubtless our great Duty as Christians not to be wid'ning the Christian Church's Wounds abroad but rather earnestly to endeavour if possible to heal them to promote the Peace and Unity of Christendom That all sober Christians throughout the World might be united together Although in regard of the Lusts and Passions of Men and that there are so few sincere and true Christians in Christendom it seems to be a Work next to impossible to be effected although indeed all good Christians could willingly joyn with that Worthy Man who said Who would not be ready with the loss of his Life to Redeem and free Christianity from that horrid Scandal of Discord and Dissention Mar. Bucer As for the Differences among Christians in the Christian World I heartily wish they were less than they truly are at this Day But this is most certain That by their Passions and Animosities on all Hands they are made greater than they truly are when we all agree in the main and principal Foundation of our Faith contained in the Three Creeds that of the Apostles the Athanasian and the Nicene Creed This one would think should make us more kind and treatable one to another especially not to damn one another to the Pit of Hell and Destruction as too many do But in this respect the Church of England by their Moderation shew themselves to be the better Christians who to their Honor abound in Charity to their bitter Enemies the Romanists and allow unto them a possibility though not without Difficulty of Salvation in their Communion who yet have nothing in return for their Charity but Hereticks and Damnation But certainly they very weakly and absurdly argue from it That therefore it is safest for us to go over to them Just as if I being in a tyte well-built and sound Ship should leave it and go over into an unsound and leaky Vessel upon this presumption That possibly I may with hazard and danger come safe to Land in the same But certainly we may better argue with them and say Amend the apparent Leaks and Faults in your Vessel and if there be any Faults in ours we are willing to amend them also that we may both with safety and in Christian Love and Unity accompany one another in our Course for the Celestial Port which we both porfess to intend and aim at And to this purpose let me present you with what the Worthy Dr. Brown in his Religio Medici speaks to this purpose I have not saith he so shaken hands with those desperate Resolutions meaning the Romanists who had rather venture at large their decayed bottom than bring her in to be new Trim'd in the Dock who had rather promiscuously retain all than abridge any and obstinately be what they are than what they have been as to stand in Diameter and Swords point with them And then speaking of the Reformation he saith As there were many Reformers so likewise many Reformations some angrily and with Extremity others calmly and with Mediocrity not rending but easily dividing the Community and leaving an honest possibility of a Reconciliation which though peaceable Spirits do desire and may conceive that Revolution of Time and the Mercies of God may effect yet that Judgment that shall consider the present Antipathies between the two Extreams their Contrarieties in Condition Affection and Opinion may with the same hopes expect an Union in the Poles of Heaven It is saith he as uncharitable a point in us to fall upon those popular Scurrilities and Opprobrious Scoffs of the Bishop of Rome whom as to a Temporal Prince we owe the duty of good Language I confess there is cause of Passion between us by his Sentence I stand Excommunicated Heretick is the best Language he affords me yet can no Ear witness I ever returned to him the name of Antichrist Man of Sin or Whore of Babylon It is the Method of Charity to suffer without Re-action Those usual Satyrs and Invectives of the Pulpit may perchance produce a good Effect on the Vulgar whose Ears are opener to Rhetorick than Logick yet do they in no wise confirm the Faith of wiser Believers who know that a good Cause needs not be patron'd by Passion but can sustain it self upon a temperate Dispute The true Sons of the Church of England consider this and that Passion and unnatual Heats and Transports never do advantage a Good Cause and that Uncharitableness and much more Cruelty is unworthy and unbecoming Christians and therefore avoid them But Alas their Adversaries the Romanists as if they were faultless and had not given just Occasion of Offence Retort in requital nothing but Damnation and most bitter Reproaches yea brutish Revenge and Cruelty which disingenious Dealing how much it hath been to their Reproach and Dishonor to the disadvantage of their Cause in the Christian World I shall leave them seriously to consider For honest and ingenious Souls are not to be imposed upon by Club-Law to receive for Articles of Faith such Doctrines and Opinions which have no Foundation from the Scriptures and the Antient and Primitive Church Alas The great Disorder and Confusion that is upon the face of the Christian World at this day is not to be so much wondered at if we consider the Corruption the Wickedness which abounds in the Hearts of most Men in the World which corrupts all things Why therefore should it not in process of time as it did among the very Jews themselves corrupt and deprave the Holy and Pure Religion of Jesus Christ especially in time of Prosperity that like Sun-shine Weather corrupts most things subject to Corruption even the very Humors of our Bodies and breed Abuses in the Christian Church Plenty and Prosperity strangely prevailing upon Men's Minds yea sometimes the best of Men to corrupt them with Pride Idleness Covetousness And by this means the Holy Christian Religion came to be debased to be corrupted both in

Doctrine Worship and Government and so to degenerate from its primitive Purity and Integrity and was made use of as a Means and Instrument of acquiring Honor Splendor and Riches and of promoting those great Vices of Pride Covetousness Idleness and Luxury and this instead of making Men Virtuous and Good and rectifying their Lives and Directing them in the Ways of Holiness and Peace conducting them to Heaven Thus I humbly conceive from the Pope's Primacy of Order arose the Supremacy of Jurisdiction and from thence Papal Tyranny packing of General Councils corruption in Doctrine and Practice with innumerable other Mischiefs to the Church the great dividing and endangering Christendom and laying it many times in War and Blood And on the other hand how this Holy Religion of JESVS Christ hath been miserably corrupted and abased by Sectaries and Fanaticks how hath it been made absurd and ridiculous to all the World by their Pride and Folly their ignorant Confidences Peevishness and Animosities Who out of a mad blind Zeal against Popery never could think themselves safe and far enough separated from Rome until they fell into Religious Frensy yet would then notwithstanding account themselves Protestants yea the best of Protestants and what a long train of dismal Consequences there followed the same the World can witness and more especially of late Years we in England as you have heard before Oh! may I therefore exhort us again to bewail our Follies and abandon them to Renounce all Schism Contention Fanaticism that Plague of the Reformation and living vertuous and good Lives and in Conformity and Subjection to our Mother the Church of England her wholesom and Excellent Constitutions Oh! Let us learn this most commendable Duty from our Adversaries the Romanists who are very Respectful towards their Ecclesiastical Governors and very Conformable to the Constitutions of their Church and abhor to do any thing that may prejudice the Order Peace and Welfare of the same in any kind for which I cannot but have a great respect for them and in which I shall endeavour to follow their Example in the Church of England wherein I was born and for so doing they cannot I hope justly blame me And although they are possibly led by a blind Obedience or Impicit Faith as we call it and are thereby many times misled yet their fault arising from a diffidence of themselves and obedience to their Superiors will be very pardonable especially of such as are born and bred in that Communion it being a fault on the Right-hand and far less than what our Fanaticks and Sectaries are guilty of who out of Pride Ignorance and Presumption refuse Subjection to the Spiritual Governors which God hath set over them and thereby break the Unity and Peace of the Church Let us therefore heartily pray as our Mother the Church teaches us Almighty God who shewest to them that be in Error the Light of thy Truth to the intent that they must return into the Way of Righteousness Grant unto all them that are admitted into the Fellowship of Christs Religion that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen I shall conclude and say sufficit tentasse Let it suffice I have done my Endeavour in a good Cause For certainly if the Promotion of the Honour of God the Advancement of True Religion and Vertue if the Promoting of Loyalty and Fidelity the Honour and Happiness of my Gracious Sovereign if the Detestation of Errours of Atheism and Prophaneness Vice and Wickedness of Fanaticism Hypocrisie Schism and Rebellion and representing them in their proper colours if promoting the Peace and Happiness of the Church of England as now by Law Establish'd the best Christian Church in the World of Piety and Unity amongst all her Members if promoting the Peace of Christendom and more especially the Honour Happiness and Prosperity of this Nation yea of all his Majesties Dominions I say if the honest endeavours of the same be a commendable and worthy Design it is all I intend in the Writing and now making Publick these although sudden yet serious Thoughts Therefore I hope I may meet with a pardon for the meanness and unworthiness of the performance to so good an end And as for any one that shall find fault with my weak and unworthy management of so worthy so good a Cause it is no more than what I do my self Let him but be pleased to undertake the Cause and manage it better and I assure him I shall be so far from being offended with him That I shall be infinitely well pleased and rejoyce therein and return him my thanks And it is yet my Hopes this Essay may animate and encourage eminent and able Champions in so worthy a Cause which without doubt is the most excellent most honourable most worthy the best in the World and merits the assistance of the ablest Heads Pens and Tongues that are extant among us FINIS Books Printed for and Sold by Luke Meredith at the King's Head at the West End of St. Paul's Church-Yard AN Introduction to the Old English History comprehended in Three several Tracts The First An Answer to Mr. Petyt's Rights of the Commons Asserted and to a Book Entituled Jani Anglorum Facies Nova The Second Edition very much enlarged The Second An Answer to a Book Entituled Argumentum Antinormanicum much upon the same Subject Never before Published The Third The Exact History of the Succession of the Crown of England The Second Edition also very much enlarged Together with an Appendix containing several Records and a Series of Great Councils and Parliaments Before and After the Conquest unto the End of the Reign of Henry the Third And a Glossary expounding many Words used frequently in our Antient Records Laws and Historians Published for the Vindication of Truth and the Assistance of such as desire with Satisfaction to read and truly understand the Antient English Historians and other Pieces of Antiquity By Robert Brady Doctor in Physick A Loyal Tear dropt on the Vault of the High and Mighty Prince Charles the Second of Gorious and Happy Memory By Henry Anderson M. A. Vicar of Kingsumborne in Hampshire The Songs of Moses and Deborah Paraphras'd with Poems on several Occasions Never before Published To which is added A Pindarick on Mr. L'Estrange A Dialogue between a Pastor and his Parishioner touching the Lord's Supper Wherein the most material Doubts and Scruples about Receiving that Holy Sacrament are removed and the Way thereto discovered to be both plain and pleasant Very useful for Private Christians in these scrupulous Times By Michael Altham The Second Edition To which is added Some short Prayers fitted for that Occasion and a Morning and Evening Prayer for the Use of Private Families Two Treatises The First Concerning Reproaching and Censure The Second An Answer to Mr. Serjeant's Sure-Footing To which are annexed Three Sermons Preached upon several Occasions and very useful for these Times By the late Learned and Reverend William Faulkner D. D. Rhetoricae Libri Duo Quorum Prior de Tropis Figuris Posterior de Voce Gestu praecipit In usum Scholarum postremo recogniti infinitisque poene mendis expurgati Autore Carolo Butlero Magd. Artium Magistro Sir Edwin Sands in his Europae Speculum

worthy Author goes on to the Fancies of such as because we ought at all times to lead a Life worthy of our Profession think it therefore superstitious to have one time wherein to exact or expect it more than other but do thus rather conceive that the corruption of Times and wickedness of Man's Nature is so exorbitant that it is a hard matter to hold the ordinary sort of Men at all times within the Lists of Piety Justice and Sobriety It is fit therefore there should be one time at least in the year and that of a reasonable continuance according to the practice of all Men for the Jews and Turks have their Lents to constrain Men how wicked and wretchless soever for that time at least to recal themselves to some more severe Cogitations and Courses lest Sin having no such Bridle to check it at any time should at length become head-strong and unconquerable in them as also to inure Men though but to a bare shew of Vertue they might afterwards perhaps more seriously persist in it Thus we have the Relation of the manner of Observation of Lent in foreign parts among the Romanists with his Judicious Comment thereupon Now certainly we have as great Reason to be obliged to the strict Observation of this time as others upon the Reasons aforesaid For it is too evident Vice and Wickedness grows upon us and abounds and had need have Restraints put upon it lest it swallow us up and therefore instead of making a mock at the Religious Observation of this Solemn Time among the Romanists let us learn Vertue and Goodness from our Adversaries and laying aside our Vanity and Wickedness let us become grave and serious sober penitent and reformed For shall it be said when the whole Christian World are all solemnly sober serious considerative are humbling their Souls before God with Fastings and Mortifications and are upon their Knees before God and frequent and fervent in their Devotions That we in England that own our selves to be Reformed and better Christians are taken up with our Jollities and Feastings yea our Debauches and Excesses and have not so much sense of our Sins and Transgressions of the Divine Laws and our great Provocations of the Divine Majesty as to be so far displeased with our selves for the same as to deny our selves now and then a meals Meat or at least somewhat of our Excesses or from our more pleasant food in the sense of our great unworthiness by reason of our horrid Ingratitude in our many heinous Sins and Offences against the Supreme Majesty of Heaven and thereby taking an actual Revenge upon our selves for the same or so far however at least as the same Abstinence may promote and further in us a solemn serious Consideration of our Ways and Doings the state of our Souls and may enflame and add force to our Devotions to God both in behalf of our selves and others yea the whole Church of God Let us consider also of this outward Appearance and Face of Religion and to be serious although it be but for a time what effect it may have upon us Who knows not but it may somewhat make Impression on mens Minds as to fall in love and likeing of sincere and true Piety and it may in time prevail upon them to become honest and upright and not only lay aside their Wickedness for a season but wholly abandon their Lusts For this restraint for a time must mightily convince them That they have a power over themselves to restrain their disordered and vitious Appetites for a time and then why not longer if they please It will also inure and accustom them to the duties of Religion and denial of their sensual Appetites but however they are more worthy of Commendation and are doubtless less wicked who thus far subject themselves to Authority than such who will not be perswaded to lay aside their sins for a time and who will observe no time of Humiliation of their Souls and extraordinary Devotions and of Seriousness and Consideration Especially if we consider how far a formal and hypocritical Humiliation of a wicked Ahab had acceptance with God as the deliverance of him from a temporal Judgment and that it should be suspended during his days Let us consider further How highly Advantageous the Religious Observation of the time of Lent may prove to such Christians who are desirous and will but endeavour sincerely to set about the Religious Duties of this Holy Fast of Consideration and serious Reflection upon themselves of Reading Meditation Fasting and Prayer Repentance by putting them upon this great Work which if it were not imposed upon them they would perhaps very carelesly and slightly pass over or possibly never find a time to apply themselves to these Duties at all and if it should be but only to lay aside our Sins for a season as I touch'd before they being then estranged and as it weree mancipated from their Lusts and Habits of Sin for a time and so far in a greater Capacity to discern and apprehend Divine Truths and the Excellency of Christianity of Vertue and true Goodness and to taste of that present Felicity which is in the very practice of it which if Men had but once a Relish of they would doubtless never return to live upon Husks with Swine any more which else by the continual steam of their Lusts and Vices while they wallow in them would be so blinded and infatuated in their Understandings not able to know their right hand from the left not to distinguish between Light and Darkness Good and Evil which together with the Advantage to themselves of their extraordinary Devotions for God's Grace to Assist them in their honest endeavours and then consulting at that time also a good Spiritual Director of their Souls for his ghostly Councel and Advice especially how to avoid the occasions of Sin for the future and to be armed against such Assaults as they may meet with in their Christian Course and how to frame their holy Resolutions of Amendment of their Lives so that they may be successful to them for the future that they may vow and perform their Vows to God All which afore-mentioned Duties are doubtless the Christian Duties as at other times so especially what this time puts us upon And as to such Persons as are truly vertuous and good how pleasant and acceptable must needs such a time be to them a season of extraordinary Exercise of Piety Charity and Devotion having this more Solemn time of Consideration and Examination of their Hearts and Ways their Slips and Deviations from their Holy Profession and making their Accounts even with God and en-enjoying his Favor for as we speak in our Temporal Concerns That often and even reckoning makes long Friends so without question this is the best way to keep friendship with Heaven and humbling their Souls before God in a sense of their own Sins and Transgressions And then bewailing the