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church_n abuse_v people_n zion_n 15 3 10.2355 5 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A41202 A brief refutation of the errors tolleration, erastianism, independency and separation delivered in some sermons from I Job. 4. I, preach'd in the year 1652 : to which are added four sermons preach'd on several occasions / by Mr. James Fergusson ... Fergusson, James, 1621-1667. 1692 (1692) Wing F777; ESTC R21916 200,444 386

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under_o fair_a flower_n as_o for_o example_n the_o mother_n of_o all_o error_n toleration_n have_v a_o fair_a pretence_n for_o it_o viz._n that_o good_a man_n may_v err_v and_o so_o in_o suppress_v error_n you_o may_v suppress_v piety_n a_o fair_a pretence_n but_o it_o have_v afoul_a end_n for_o by_o this_o mean_n blasphemer_n denyer_n of_o god_n and_o jesus_n christ_n must_v have_v liberty_n to_o vent_v their_o damnable_a error_n if_o so_o be_v that_o they_o can_v but_o pretend_v conscience_n and_o so_o stable_a room_n must_v be_v give_v in_o christ_n church_n to_o every_o unclean_a beast_n that_o ever_o be_v hatch_v in_o hell_n the_o antinomian_a error_n again_o have_v a_o fair_a pretence_n o_o say_v they_o christ_n have_v become_v sin_n for_o we_o and_o therefore_o it_o be_v take_v off_o from_o we_o so_o we_o be_v not_o bind_v to_o repent_v for_o it_o for_o to_o say_v that_o we_o be_v to_o repent_v be_v to_o take_v the_o burden_n off_o from_o christ_n back_n and_o to_o put_v it_o 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trust_n act_n 17._o 11._o these_o be_v more_o noble_a than_o those_o in_o thessalonica_n in_o that_o they_o receive_v the_o word_n with_o all_o readiness_n of_o mind_n and_o search_v the_o scripture_n daily_o whither_o those_o thing_n be_v so_o they_o will_v not_o take_v the_o apostle_n doctrine_n on_o trust_n and_o this_o be_v a_o command_n give_v by_o paul_n write_v to_o the_o thess_n 1_o epistle_n ch_z 5._o v._n 21._o prove_v all_o thing_n after_o he_o have_v say_v despise_v not_o prophecying_n so_o that_o doctrine_n shall_v be_v bring_v to_o a_o trial_n whatever_o be_v their_o fair_a pretence_n reas_n the_o reason_n be_v first_o because_o foul_a error_n may_v be_v colour_v over_o with_o fair_a pretence_n and_o second_o the_o scripture_n say_v all_o man_n be_v liar_n that_o be_v to_o say_v all_o man_n may_v err_v and_o therefore_o word_n can_v be_v the_o ground_n of_o divine_a faith_n for_o faith_n must_v have_v a_o infallible_a ground_n as_o ephes_n 2._o 20._o and_o be_v build_v upon_o the_o foundation_n of_o the_o apostle_n and_o prophet_n etc._n etc._n i._n e._n the_o word_n preach_v by_o they_o and_o dictate_v by_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n use_v this_o doctrine_n reprove_v first_o the_o papist_n that_o will_v have_v nothing_o try_v that_o come_v from_o the_o church_n but_o all_o take_v upon_o trust_n hence_o be_v it_o that_o many_o swallow_v such_o monster_n of_o absurdity_n as_o the_o error_n of_o transubstantiation_n purgatory_n merit_n male_a and_o such_o like_a for_o which_o they_o have_v no_o other_o ground_n but_o because_o their_o church_n say_v so_o but_o this_o doctrine_n hold_v out_o another_o duty_n that_o who_o ever_o hear_v any_o doctrine_n propon_v by_o one_o or_o other_o they_o be_v bind_v to_o pass_v their_o judgement_n on_o it_o try_v the_o spirit_n now_o that_o we_o may_v walk_v betwixt_o extreme_n the_o papist_n on_o the_o one_o hand_n who_o set_v up_o tyranny_n and_o these_o sectary_n on_o the_o other_o hand_n who_o set_v up_o confusion_n we_o will_v know_v there_o be_v a_o twofold_a judgement_n to_o be_v pass_v on_o doctrine_n public_a judgement_n and_o private_a judgement_n public_a judgement_n again_o be_v either_o peremptory_o absolute_a or_o limit_v a_o public_a peremptory_a judgement_n be_v that_o which_o bind_v the_o conscience_n to_o obey_v simple_o that_o which_o be_v speak_v and_o none_o have_v this_o judgement_n but_o god_n himself_o second_o there_o be_v a_o public_a judgement_n which_o be_v limit_v and_o this_o be_v a_o public_a declare_v and_o hold_v out_o that_o which_o be_v find_v to_o be_v god_n mind_n in_o his_o word_n which_o do_v not_o bind_v absolute_o but_o in_o so_o far_o as_o it_o agree_v with_o the_o word_n and_o this_o judgement_n belong_v to_o public_a church_n judicatories_n meet_v together_o in_o christ_n name_n they_o be_v like_o the_o lyon-herauld_n set_v forth_o to_o proclaim_v the_o royal_a act_n if_o he_o proclaim_v that_o which_o be_v contain_v in_o the_o principal_a act_n it_o bind_v but_o if_o he_o add_v any_o thing_n of_o his_o own_o it_o bind_v not_o next_o there_o be_v a_o private_a judgement_n of_o discretion_n and_o this_o belong_v to_o every_o christian_a every_o man_n in_o relation_n to_o his_o own_o practice_n be_v bind_v to_o pass_v sentence_n on_o what_o be_v hold_v out_o to_o he_o by_o other_o that_o if_o it_o be_v right_a he_o may_v embrace_v it_o but_o if_o wrong_a he_o may_v reject_v it_o but_o his_o private_a judgement_n be_v not_o bind_v to_o other_o now_o this_o private_a judgement_n or_o this_o judgement_n of_o discretion_n be_v necessary_a because_o all_o man_n may_v err_v council_n may_v err_v synod_n etc._n etc._n and_o second_o their_o error_n will_v not_o excuse_v private_a christian_n to_o follow_v they_o in_o their_o error_n say_v christ_n when_o the_o blind_a lead_v the_o blind_a both_o fall_n into_o the_o ditch_n and_o therefore_o there_o must_v be_v a_o judgement_n of_o discretion_n in_o private_a person_n to_o try_v what_o they_o hear_v and_o this_o much_o for_o guard_v against_o the_o popish_a tyranny_n but_o least_o this_o doctrine_n be_v abuse_v to_o cast_v at_o all_o public_a church_n judicatory_n we_o shall_v next_o speak_v somewhat_o to_o guard_v against_o sectarian_n confusion_n first_o although_o public_a church_n judicatory_n have_v not_o power_n to_o bind_v conscience_n yet_o when_o man_n be_v in_o a_o doubt_n concern_v a_o point_n of_o truth_n their_o judgement_n ought_v to_o have_v more_o weight_n than_o the_o judgement_n of_o private_a man_n and_o that_o not_o only_o because_o there_o be_v more_o gift_n exercise_v together_o but_o main_o because_o there_o be_v a_o promise_n annex_v to_o the_o commission_n give_v by_o christ_n to_o public_a church_n judicatory_n matth._n 18._o 20._o where_o two_o or_o three_o be_v gather_v together_o in_o my_o name_n there_o be_o i_o in_o the_o midst_n of_o they_o and_o second_o from_o this_o it_o follow_v that_o there_o will_v be_v a_o kind_n of_o loathness_n to_o differ_v from_o public_a church_n judicatory_n a_o man_n ground_n will_v be_v well_o examine_v l●st_v if_o differ_v from_o these_o judicatories_n they_o also_o differ_v from_o truth_n and_o three_o when_o they_o differ_v they_o be_v to_o bear_v they_o at_o reverence_n although_o in_o such_o a_o point_n they_o shall_v err_v yet_o for_o their_o authority_n they_o be_v to_o be_v reverence_v this_o much_o be_v grant_v by_o we_o to_o church_n judicatories_n but_o no_o further_o they_o be_v not_o to_o be_v make_v the_o rule_n of_o our_o faith_n use_v 2._o it_o reprove_v those_o who_o be_v lazy_a and_o can_v endure_v the_o trouble_n of_o try_v what_o they_o hear_v but_o take_v thing_n on_o trust_n and_o have_v no_o more_o but_o such_o a_o man_n authority_n he_o be_v of_o that_o way_n and_o opinion_n and_o therefore_o they_o be_v fire_n and_o flint_n tooth_n and_o nail_n for_o it_o as_o much_o as_o if_o they_o have_v the_o word_n of_o god_n for_o it_o we_o have_v see_v much_o of_o this_o in_o the_o unhappy_a difference_n that_o have_v fall_v out_o in_o our_o time_n which_o i_o have_v no_o pleasure_n to_o speak_v much_o of_o and_o therefore_o we_o proceed_v to_o another_o doctrine_n doct._n x._o the_o next_o thing_n then_o that_o we_o observe_v be_v from_o what_o he_o say_v try_v etc._n etc._n whether_o they_o be_v of_o god_n that_o be_v the_o trial_n the_o doctrine_n be_v this_o that_o the_o right_a trial_n of_o doctrine_n be_v to_o try_v whether_o they_o be_v of_o god_n or_o not_o and_o this_o point_n put_v we_o to_o give_v mark_n whereby_o it_o shall_v be_v know_v what_o doctrine_n be_v of_o god_n and_o what_o doctrine_n be_v not_o of_o god_n and_o here_o we_o shall_v speak_v to_o two_o thing_n first_o we_o shall_v show_v what_o be_v the_o mark_n that_o necessary_o infer_v a_o doctrine_n to_o be_v of_o god_n and_o second_o we_o shall_v speak_v of_o other_o thing_n that_o do_v not_o infer_v necessary_o a_o doctrine_n to_o be_v of_o god_n but_o for_o the_o most_o part_n follow_v upon_o such_o a_o doctrine_n for_o the_o first_o that_o which_o make_v doctrine_n necessary_o to_o be_v of_o god_n be_v if_o it_o be_v according_a to_o the_o rule_n of_o the_o word_n so_o when_o the_o berean_o be_v commend_v act_n 17._o the_o rule_n they_o go_v by_o in_o the_o trial_n of_o paul_n doctrine_n be_v the_o scripture_n and_o this_o be_v isa●a's_n rule_n chap._n 8._o ver_fw-la 20._o to_o the_o law_n and_o to_o the_o testimony_n etc._n etc._n he_o will_v have_v all_o doctrine_n try_v by_o the_o word_n of_o god_n so_o the_o word_n be_v the_o rule_n and_o that_o doctrine_n which_o have_v the_o word_n for_o it_o be_v of_o god_n and_o whatever_o doctrine_n have_v not_o the_o word_n for_o it_o be_v not_o of_o god_n all_o spirit_n even_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n himself_o must_v be_v try_v that_o way_n and_o that_o because_o the_o word_n be_v a_o perfect_a rule_n i_o give_v only_o two_o place_n of_o scripture_n to_o clear_v the_o perfection_n of_o this_o rule_n first_o the_o heavy_a plague_n pronounce_v against_o those_o who_o add_v to_o this_o rule_n the_o word_n be_v so_o perfect_a that_o if_o a_o angel_n shall_v come_v and_o pretend_v a_o pure_a rule_n let_v he_o be_v say_v paul_n anathema_n gal._n 1._o 8._o there_o be_v another_o place_n which_o prove_v the_o perfection_n of_o this_o rule_n according_a to_o this_o point_n in_o hand_n 2_o timoth._n 3._o 16_o 17._o all_o scripture_n be_v give_v by_o inspiration_n of_o god_n and_o be_v profitable_a for_o doctrine_n for_o reproof_n for_o correction_n for_o instruction_n in_o righteousness_n that_o the_o man_n of_o god_n may_v be_v perfect_a etc._n etc._n so_o there_o be_v as_o much_o in_o the_o word_n of_o god_n as_o may_v make_v the_o man_n of_o god_n perfect_a and_o this_o in_o relation_n
transfer_v it_o to_o the_o civil_a magistrate_n which_o they_o can_v do_v our_o five_o argument_n be_v to_o obviate_v that_o which_o they_o say_v that_o minister_n be_v but_o the_o magistrate_n depute_v from_o which_o we_o argue_v thus_o if_o church_n officer_n in_o inflict_a censure_n be_v the_o magistrate_n depute_n than_o whatever_o the_o church_n judicatory_a do_v the_o magistrate_n may_v do_v it_o also_o for_o none_o can_v delegate_v more_o right_a to_o there_o than_o what_o he_o have_v himself_o and_o so_o by_o this_o it_o shall_v follow_v that_o the_o magistrate_n may_v ordain_v mistress_n himself_o by_o imposition_n of_o hand_n he_o may_v excommunicate_v and_o if_o he_o may_v do_v this_o by_o consequence_n he_o may_v also_o preach_v administrate_n the_o sacrament_n etc._n etc._n for_o what_o right_o can_v be_v pretend_v to_o the_o one_o which_o may_v not_o be_v extend_v to_o the_o other_o and_o so_o there_o shall_v be_v no_o need_n of_o pastor_n and_o teacher_n but_o the_o magistrate_n may_v do_v all_o our_o last_o argument_n be_v take_v from_o the_o distinction_n which_o the_o scripture_n hold_v out_o betwixt_o ecclesiastic_a and_o civil_a power_n scripture_n condemn_v churchmen_n usurp_a the_o civil_a power_n and_o statesman_n usurp_a the_o church_n power_n church_n man_n be_v forbid_v to_o judge_v or_o meddle_v with_o civil_a thing_n by_o christ_n himself_o luk_n 12._o 13_o 14._o 22_o 25._o and_o so_o the_o civil_a magistrate_n may_v not_o meddle_v with_o church_n power_n either_o there_o be_v two_o king_n we_o read_v of_o to_o be_v heavy_o punish_v for_o their_o transgression_n in_o this_o kind_n saul_n for_o offer_v a_o burnt-offering_a 1_o sam_n 13._o 13._o and_o vzziah_n for_o burn_a incense_n 2_o chorn._n 26._o 19_o he_o will_v go_v in_o and_o burn_v incense_n and_o therefore_o the_o lord_n smite_v he_o with_o leprosy_n and_o sure_o reason_n will_v say_v if_o it_o be_v a_o sin_n for_o church_n officer_n to_o exercise_n the_o civil_a government_n than_o it_o be_v a_o sin_n for_o the_o civil_a magistrate_n to_o take_v to_o himself_o the_o only_a supreme_a power_n of_o church_n government_n and_o engross_v it_o whole_o to_o himself_o iii_o we_o come_v to_o the_o three_o thing_n we_o promise_v to_o speak_v to_o and_o that_o be_v the_o answer_v of_o the_o opposite_n argument_n the_o first_o argument_n they_o bring_v against_o this_o truth_n be_v that_o godly_a magistrate_n under_o the_o old_a testament_n have_v the_o power_n of_o church_n government_n and_o therefore_o so_o shall_v christian_n magistrate_n have_v it_o under_o the_o new_a we_o answer_v that_o their_o argument_n prove_v nothing_o except_o they_o also_o prove_v that_o what_o power_n of_o church_n government_n magistrate_n have_v then_o they_o have_v it_o as_o magistrate_n for_o we_o grant_v indeed_o what_o do_v belong_v to_o magistrate_n as_o magistrate_n under_o the_o old_a testament_n do_v belong_v to_o magistrate_n under_o the_o new_a but_o it_o may_v not_o be_v grant_v that_o that_o which_o belong_v to_o magistrate_n then_o under_o other_o respect_n do_v belong_v to_o magistrate_n yet_o for_o clear_v of_o this_o it_o be_v to_o be_v observe_v that_o there_o be_v many_o magistrate_n extraordinary_a man_n under_o the_o old_a testament_n so_o moses_n give_v out_o law_n and_o ordinance_n for_o order_v the_o church_n but_o we_o find_v in_o deut_n 18._o 15._o moses_n be_v a_o great_a prophet_n and_o a_o type_n of_o christ._n the_o lord_n thy_o god_n will_v raise_v up_o unto_o thou_o a_o prophet_n from_o the_o midst_n of_o thou_o of_o thy_o brethren_n like_v unto_o i_o unto_o he_o you_o shall_v hearken_v so_o david_n appoint_v the_o office_n of_o the_o levite_n that_o divide_v their_o course_n but_o david_n be_v a_o prophet_n 2._o chron_n 8_o 14._o and_o he_o appoint_v according_a to_o the_o order_n of_o david_n his_o father_n the_o course_n of_o the_o priest_n to_o their_o service_n thus_o in_o another_o place_n it_o be_v show_v how_o david_n do_v this_o at_o the_o direction_n of_o other_o prophet_n 2_o chron._n 29._o 25._o and_o he_o set_v the_o levite_n in_o the_o house_n of_o the_o lord_n with_o cymbal_n with_o psalter_n and_o with_o harp_n according_a to_o the_o commandment_n of_o david_n and_o of_o gad_n the_o king_n seer_n and_o nathan_n the_o prophet_n for_o so_o be_v the_o commandment_n of_o the_o lord_n by_o his_o prophet_n and_o so_o from_o these_o and_o such_o like_a practice_n they_o can_v no_o more_o infer_v the_o power_n of_o the_o magistrate_n now_o in_o church_n matter_n than_o we_o may_v infer_v the_o power_n of_o churchman_n in_o civil-matter_n from_o the_o example_n of_o churchman_n under_o the_o old-testament_n for_o churchman_n do_v meddle_v with_o civil-matter_n in_o extraordinary_a case_n as_o eli_n the_o priest_n he_o govern_v the_o state_n and_o samuel_n in_o cut_v agag_n in_o piece_n elisha_n in_o anoint_v jehu_n to_o be_v king_n and_o jeho●ada_n the_o priest_n in_o cause_v kill_v attaliah_n the_o usurper_n and_o make_v joash_n king_n all_o which_o we_o grant_v be_v extraordinary_a act_n and_o so_o can_v be_v a_o ordinary_a rule_n for_o churchman_n to_o have_v such_o power_n in_o civil_a thing_n now_o and_o so_o must_v they_o grant_v concern_v these_o extraordinary_a practice_n of_o civil_a judge_n in_o meddle_v sometime_o with_o church_n matter_n the_o second_o argument_n they_o use_v be_v this_o if_o so_o be_v that_o magistrate_n be_v set_v over_o church_n officer_n to_o receive_v appeal_n from_o they_o it_o will_v make_v they_o afraid_a to_o go_v beyond_o their_o duty_n but_o if_o they_o have_v none_o above_o they_o there_o be_v danger_n of_o their_o ambition_n and_o abuse_n of_o discipline_n to_o which_o we_o answer_v first_o minister_n be_v man_n indeed_o and_o as_o other_o man_n be_v ready_a to_o abuse_v their_o power_n but_o if_o the_o danger_n of_o abuse_v power_n be_v a_o good_a argument_n to_o take_v power_n from_o they_o than_o there_o shall_v be_v no_o power_n in_o the_o hand_n of_o any_o for_o what_o kind_n of_o man_n be_v there_o to_o be_v find_v who_o be_v not_o in_o danger_n to_o abuse_v their_o power_n and_o so_o all_o must_v be_v leave_v in_o confusion_n we_o give_v a_o second_o answer_n that_o the_o same_o argument_n may_v be_v use_v against_o the_o abuse_n of_o preach_v the_o word_n and_o administrate_v the_o sacrament_n for_o the_o danger_n be_v as_o great_a and_o yet_o the_o erasitans_fw-la the_o most_o part_n of_o they_o at_o least_o will_v not_o say_v that_o the_o magistrate_n for_o prevent_v of_o this_o abuse_n may_v step_v into_o the_o pulpit_n himself_o and_o preach_v better_o and_o administer_v the_o sacrament_n better_o there_o be_v another_o way_n to_o curb_v that_o abuse_n and_o so_o be_v it_o in_o the_o matter_n of_o govern_v the_o church_n there_o be_v danger_n indeed_o of_o abuse_v that_o power_n but_o we_o say_v in_o like_a manner_n that_o for_o that_o the_o magistrate_n may_v not_o sit_v down_o and_o take_v the_o power_n of_o church_n government_n himself_o there_o be_v other_o mean_v leave_v to_o prevent_v this_o danger_n which_o shall_v be_v our_o three_o answer_n wherein_o we_o shall_v show_v some_o of_o these_o mean_n appoint_v by_o god_n for_o prevent_v the_o abuse_n of_o power_n in_o the_o hand_n of_o the_o church-officer_n first_o there_o be_v some_o remedy_n in_o the_o church_n power_n itself_o to_o wit_n the_o subordination_n of_o judicatories_n so_o that_o although_o a_o congregational_a eldership_n shall_v wrest_v justice_n yet_o there_o be_v above_o they_o presbytery_n and_o above_o they_o synod_n and_o above_o they_o general_n assembly_n now_o it_o may_v be_v conceive_v that_o a_o act_n of_o injustice_n will_v hardly_o get_v through_o all_o those_o before_o it_o be_v brand_v with_o some_o deserve_a mark_n but_o second_o though_o all_o church_n officer_n shall_v connive_v one_o at_o another_o and_o so_o the_o fault_n of_o minister_n go_v through_o unpunished_a yet_o there_o be_v some_o remedy_n leave_v even_o in_o the_o civil_a power_n for_o although_o for_o the_o reason_n aforesaid_a he_o may_v not_o take_v upon_o he_o the_o power_n of_o the_o church_n judicatory_a under_o pretence_n of_o right_v their_o abuse_n no_o more_o than_o he_o may_v take_v upon_o he_o to_o preach_v for_o prevent_v their_o abuse_n of_o preach_v yet_o he_o may_v do_v several_a thing_n 1._o if_o church_n officer_n commit_v a_o civil_a crime_n he_o may_v curb_v they_o by_o his_o own_o authority_n 2._o if_o church_n judicatory_n meddle_v to_o judge_v in_o civil_a thing_n which_o concern_v a_o man_n life_n or_o estate_n the_o magistrate_n may_v make_v null_a what_o they_o conclude_v and_o punish_v they_o for_o abuse_v of_o power_n for_o therein_o they_o meddle_v with_o what_o belong_v not_o unto_o they_o 3._o grant_v the_o matter_n be_v mere_o ecclesiastic_a wherein_o they_o abuse_v their_o power_n yet_o the_o