Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	church_n	communion_n	separate_v	1,901	5	9.2917	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29074	A vindication of the remarks on the Bishop of Derry's discourse about human inventions from what is objected against them in the admonition annext to the second edition of that discourse by the author of the remarks.	Boyse, J. (Joseph), 1660-1728.	1695 (1695)	Wing B4080; ESTC R1985	67,590	105

said enough to shew him that our Practice needs no Reformation but rather his unreasonable prejudices against this part of Divine Worship common both to them and us 3. The Bishop need take no pains to prove That my demands about the Reformation of the Discipline of the establisht Church are not Arguments against all occasional Communion with ' em For they were never propo'd for that end but then I must tell him That where there are in a Kingdom two Parties or Bodies of Protestants in one of whom both the Worship and Discipline of Christ is more fully restor'd to its primitive simplicity and purity in the other there are some defects and corruptions left in their Worship and Discipline almost entirely neglected or perverted and abus'd I think every considerate Christian should prefer the stated Communion of that Party in which necessary Reformation has made a happier progress and those better Reformed Churches have no reason to subject themselves to those corruptions they have rejected And moderate and wise men will separate from the Churches of neither Party as if they were no true Churches and no part of the Church Catholick but will rather to shew their regard to Truth more statedly communicate with those on whose side it lies in the Matters in Difference and yet to express their Charity maintain occasional Communion with the other so far as they can do it without Practising what themselves think unlawful 4. Whereas the Bishop is so much displeased with those Requests that I have offer'd to the Conforming Clergy relating to those Practices wherein we chiefly desire some Reformation of their present Discipline and thinks me very unreasonable in proposing 'em and cannot see to what good purpose they can serve I shall to give him all the satisfaction I can acquaint him with the true Reasons of my offering ' em 1. I take the Abuses of which some Reformation is there requested to be the chief Obstacles to that happy Union among us which has been so long the earnest desire of all good men and I hope I can most sincerely say my own So that I think none who have that end in their Eye can be reasonably blamed for humbly proposing to Publick Consideration so proper and effectual means to attain it from which I thought his Lordship's Discourse had some tendency to divert the minds of men by amusing 'em with a new Dispute of Human Inventions And therefore I thought this a very sutable occasion to lay open the main grounds of our unhappy Differences that if any charitable Persons should think of any attempts to compose them they might by a true view of the Disease judge of the Remedy proper to heal it And truly 'till these Corruptions be reform'd I see as yet little reason to hope for any concord in our practice tho' I would hope to see much greater in our mutual Affections 2. I take these to be abuses which the generality of the most judicious and learned as well as sober and charitable of the Conforming Clergy and Laity are sensible of and would readily concur in their desires and endeavours to reform if they had a fair opportunity for it so that I did not believe these Requests would be any matter of just offence to them nor do I yet find that they are And for the offence of any that would perpetuate our Divisions by keeping up those Corruptions that are the chief Engine of 'em because they are serviceable to their Secular Interest I think not my self much oblig'd to regard it The Glory of God and Concord of Christians are so much more valuable an Interest that we may justly pursue it tho' it should clash with the Humours the Ambition or Avarice of Men to which too many even of the Clergy have too long Sacrific'd the more precious Concernments both of the Churches Purity and Peace There are two things indeed which the Bishop Accuses those Requests of which I am concern'd to consider 1. That some of 'em are founded on most unjust Representations of their Practices and Principles which if truly Represented needs no Reformation as may appear saith he from his adding to Admon p. 171. and taking from our third and fourth Canons p. 179. And may farther appear in the 2d 3d 4th 7th 8th 11th 12th and 13th Requests Now I have review'd all these and can see no such unjuct Representations in ' em So that I think his Lordship had been more just if he had either never advanc'd this Charge against me or had taken the pains to prove it Particularly I cannot imagine wherein I have added to these two Canons in what I have cited of 'em or why I must be said to take from 'em because I only cite that part of 'em which my Discourse there led me to take notice of 2. He is pleas'd to insinuate That I give ill Language in those Requests and to that purpose faith That I expose the Kingdom and Protestant Inhabitants of it as again overspread with Swearing Profanation of the Lord's-Day Vncleanness Pride Luxury c. An Imputation saith he which I can by no means allow to be general there being I am perswaded by the goodness of God a manifest abatement of these in this Diocese Answ I should be glad to hear of such an Abatement of these Sins in his Diocese and doubt not if true that the Dissenting Ministers have been no way negligent to contribute towards it But if the Bishop deny the Truth of this Complaint concerning the generality of the Protestants of this Kingdom as 't is there deliver'd he sees with other eyes than any sober Person I have yet convers'd with For Swearing and Profanation of the Lord's-Day no good Man can converse in any part of the Kingdom without being a sorrowful Ear and Eye-witness of it Nor does there appear any considerable abatement of those other Crimes from what was before besides what the diminution of mens Estates have necessitated them to So that I cannot imagine what ill Language it should be to mention and lament the revival of these Vices and request all Ministers to concur in their endeavours to preserve or reclaim those under their care from ' em And I fear that the generality of Protestants among us need the loudest call we can give 'em to Repentance instead of such an undeserved Commendation as tends to perswade 'em there is not so great and general a necessity of it The common guilt is too great and too deeply aggravated to be either conceal'd or extenuated and deserves a fuller Description and a severer Reproof then I had then occasion for III. The third Allegation which the Bishop saith I use to take off the force of his Book is That he hath omitted to handle that part of the Worship of the establisht Church Admon p. 54. against which the Dissenters have the greatest Exception and particularly what refers to Baptism Answ I felt no such force in his Book