Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	according_a	article_n	faith_n	2,707	5	4.8930	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33227	Obedience to magistrates recommended in a discourse upon Titus 3:1 preached September the ninth, 1683 by J.C.	Clapham, Jonathan.	1683 (1683)	Wing C4408; ESTC R29609	14,403	39

Nursing-Mothers to the Church This is a Truth acknowledged by all Christians generally and the contrary Opinion of the Donatists and such like condemned who said Quid Imperatori cum Ecclesiis What hath the Emperour to do with the Churches We do not affirm They can make a new Religion coin new Articles of Faith or set up a new Worship for Substance or ordain any thing contrary to the Word of God but they may order many External things about Religion tending to the Solemnity Order and Decency of it according to the general Rules laid down in the Scriptures and all good Christians should obey them therein Obj. But many sinful things are now enjoyned or at least doubtful and how can we obey them therein Answ If it be certain that any thing enjoyned by them be sinful herein we are to follow the Apostle's Counsel Acts 5.29 to obey God before Men. We are not to obey any Idolatrous Edicts nor embrace any false Doctrine or Worship But here we must take heed we call not good evil and evil good It is a rash Charge to say any such thing is enjoyned us that is certainly evil when so many wise and pious Men both in our own and other Nations see no such thing And there is nothing amongst us but hath been found in the best and purest Churches ever since the Apostles days Little do such who speak so understand or consider the State of the Christian Church throughout the World A good Christian will be tender to brand Magistrates with such an Accusation yea the whole Catholick Church but rather suspect his own Judgment Obj. But at least many things now commanded are doubtful to us and how can we then obey them Whatever is not of Faith is Sin if we do any thing doubtingly we are condemned God will not approve of us This makes some good Men afraid Answ but here the sincere Christian must needs have Doubts on both sides for he must scruple the not obeying Magistrates because it is a Duty expresly commanded by God in things not sinful as well as scruple to obey them in such things wherein he hath some little Doubts about the Lawfulness of them Therefore he must not rest in this condition but 1. He must seek out for Satisfaction about his Doubts he must indifferently hear and read and consider what is said on both sides lay by all Prejudice and Partiality which blind the Mind mistrust his own Judgment and take Advice of such as are more able to judge of such Matters than himself He ought to think that Magistrates have more Counsel and Helps to see what is most fitting for the general Welfare of the Church than Private Persons who may be led by their particular Interests And let him remember that nothing is now enjoyned that is judged sinful by the greatest part of the Christian Churches either in this or former Ages when Religion flourished far more than it doth in these Times since these Controversies have been started therefore great reason to suspect and try here 2. Such as upon these Scruples suspend Obedience in some things which they suspect to be sinful should and will if they deal uprightly in this Point be more forward to obey in all other things that they cannot but see to be lawful herein let them shew their readiness to obey Certainly the Practice of such as make a total Separation from us is Unchristian and so has been judged by all Nonconformists Independents as well as Presbyterians and the Brownists deeply censured by both of them for it Read the Books of Bradshaw Ball and other Presbyterian Ministers and the Apologetical Narration of the Five Independent Ministers c. 3. Because there are some things that are so dark and doubtful to the common sort of Christians that they can never fully understand them and so some Scruples may remain in truly tender and pious Spirits They are to know it is their Duty in such Cases to give up themselves to the Conduct of their Rulers and Guides and to follow their Directions till God give them more Light in those things for they are appointed of God to be Guides and Leaders of the Ignorant and Weak and tho they are not to follow them blindfold in all things where they may be certain they mislead them yet in disputable Points there is more safety in following them than others tho possibly in some smaller Matters they may err with them In Civil Matters Casuists agree That Private Persons ought to obey their Rulers in some things the Lawfulness whereof they may scruple As in Matters of Warfare they may pay Taxes or go in Person to War tho not fully satisfied of the Lawfulness of such War Ames Cas Consc l. 5. c. 33. And in Church matters this is practised by those that are Dissenters from us the soberest of whom when they have some Scruples about an Opinion or Practice yet give themselves up to be guided by and walk peaceably with those to whom they associate themselves alledging for so doing that in Cant. 1.8 to go by the footsteps of the Flock and by the Shepherds Tents Certainly the sincere Christian may here give in his Plea to God so as to be accepted if he can say Lord thou knowest the sincerity of my Heart I would not do any thing I know sinful upon the greatest temptation in the World I am one under Authority and so obliged to obey it in the Lord. That requires some things now of me I have Scruples about whether they be lawful or not Did I know them certainly to be evil I would not do them whatever I suffered But I cannot conclude that certainly they are sinful Thou hast set them to rule and guide me I shall follow their Conduct till I be sure they mislead me and when I perceive they do so I am resolved to desert them and to do whatever thou commandest me And in thus doing shew Mercy to me according to the Integrity of my Heart Certainly such an one shall not be condemned of the good and gracious God This I have spoken and now written to promote Subjection and Obedience to Magistrates as my Text commands me Put them in mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers and to obey Magistrates THE END