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	great_a	zion_n	68	3	8.7015	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42431	A sermon preached before the Right Reverend Father in God, John, Lord Bishop of Bristol, at his primary visitation in Bristol, October 30 and now publish'd at His Lordships request, as also the desire of several others that heard it / by John Gaskarth ...	Gaskarth, John, d. 1732.	1685 (1685)	Wing G288; ESTC R18419	31,784	43

thing_n and_o our_o prayer_n be_v send_v up_o from_o a_o unanimous_a consent_n which_o give_v the_o great_a prevalence_n to_o they_o according_a to_o that_o of_o the_o psalmist_n comprehend_v the_o true_a church_n of_o god_n whether_o jewish_n or_o christian_a psalm_n 133._o behold_v how_o good_a and_o joyful_a a_o thing_n it_o be_v for_o brethren_n to_o dwell_v together_o in_o unity_n it_o be_v like_o the_o dew_n of_o hermon_n and_o as_o the_o dew_n that_o descend_v upon_o the_o mountain_n of_o zion_n for_o there_o the_o lord_n promise_v his_o blessing_n and_o life_n for_o evermore_o and_o moreover_o it_o be_v not_o only_o very_o decorus_a but_o there_o seem_v to_o be_v a_o necessity_n for_o it_o that_o they_o shall_v maintain_v a_o inviolable_a peace_n and_o uniformity_n among_o themselves_o who_o all_o pretend_v to_o be_v of_o one_o body_n or_o christian_a community_n all_o lie_v claim_v to_o one_o spirit_n the_o eternal_a comforter_n all_o be_v call_v into_o one_o hope_n of_o their_o call_n all_o acknowledge_v one_o lord_n the_o head_n and_o redeemer_n of_o his_o church_n one_o faith_n one_o baptism_n one_o god_n and_o father_n of_o all_o who_o be_v above_o all_o and_o through_o all_o and_o in_o as_o all_o as_o the_o apostle_n argue_v eph._n 4.3_o and_o in_o all_o this_o management_n i_o be_o apt_a to_o think_v that_o although_o pride_n and_o prejudice_n or_o interest_n in_o some_o person_n be_v the_o whole_a account_n of_o separation_n which_o will_v almost_o put_v one_o out_o of_o temper_n to_o dispute_v with_o those_o people_n yet_o a_o due_a candour_n or_o argument_n manage_v in_o a_o courteous_a manner_n be_v the_o most_o effectual_a mean_n to_o reclaim_v they_o and_o convince_v they_o of_o their_o error_n as_o indeed_o it_o be_v to_o convince_v any_o ill_o language_n or_o fix_v name_n upon_o any_o person_n will_v never_o work_v a_o conversion_n in_o he_o but_o rather_o engage_v he_o in_o a_o bold_a defence_n of_o himself_o and_o his_o error_n both_o together_o that_o he_o may_v thus_o remove_v such_o a_o aspersion_n from_o he_o this_o indeed_o be_v very_o disingenuous_a but_o i_o believe_v it_o be_v natural_a to_o most_o man_n and_o therefore_o rail_a whether_o in_o the_o pulpit_n or_o other_o place_n and_o conference_n with_o man_n as_o it_o be_v a_o very_a unchristian_a thing_n and_o a_o great_a trespass_n upon_o charity_n especial_o that_o most_o charitable_a office_n of_o preach_v or_o beneficence_n to_o soul_n so_o it_o be_v a_o very_a improper_a proceed_n to_o convince_v any_o or_o make_v they_o proselyte_n to_o a_o good_a cause_n nay_o one_o may_v easy_o observe_v in_o a_o due_a reflection_n on_o humane_a nature_n that_o it_o will_v rather_o set_v they_o at_o desiance_n from_o it_o and_o therefore_o those_o unchristian_a preacher_n that_o use_v rail_a in_o their_o sermon_n beside_o a_o base_a temper_n they_o have_v antecedent_o in_o they_o they_o be_v rather_o guilty_a of_o fortify_v people_n in_o their_o ill_a course_n than_o do_v any_o service_n to_o their_o conversion_n and_o i_o wonder_v how_o they_o can_v satisfy_v themselves_o in_o this_o deportment_n there_o be_v a_o duty_n of_o humanity_n incumbent_n upon_o we_o towards_o all_o man_n how_o wicked_a and_o perverse_a soever_o and_o we_o must_v treat_v they_o with_o the_o proper_a respect_n of_o humane_a creature_n if_o we_o shall_v find_v they_o no_o christian_n so_o that_o this_o thing_n of_o rail_a be_v a_o cast_v off_o the_o manhood_n itself_o with_o the_o necessary_a civility_n that_o be_v in_o it_o and_o belong_v to_o it_o as_o well_o as_o the_o candour_n of_o the_o gospel_n which_o add_v a_o far_a degree_n to_o this_o civility_n and_o therefore_o that_o advice_n of_o the_o apostle_n be_v both_o upon_o a_o natural_a account_n and_o a_o christian_a eph._n 4.31_o let_v all_o bitterness_n and_o wrath_n and_o anger_n and_o clamour_n and_o evil_a speak_n be_v put_v away_o from_o you_o with_o all_o malice_n and_o we_o read_v that_o michael_n when_o contend_v with_o the_o devil_n himself_o he_o dare_v not_o bring_v a_o rail_a accusation_n against_o he_o jud._n 9_o and_o the_o other_o angel_n do_v behave_v themselves_o in_o the_o same_o manner_n 2_o pet._n 2.11_o so_o that_o to_o bestow_v ill_a language_n upon_o any_o beside_o the_o inefficacy_n of_o it_o to_o any_o good_a purpose_n can_v never_o be_v justify_v in_o any_o person_n and_o perhaps_o this_o be_v so_o contrary_a to_o charity_n the_o great_a distinguish_a thing_n of_o the_o gospel_n argue_v a_o worse_a disposition_n in_o he_o that_o use_v it_o than_o any_o he_o can_v meet_v with_o in_o other_o people_n and_o therefore_o fairness_n of_o speech_n and_o argument_n be_v the_o best_a method_n both_o for_o ourselves_o and_o those_o we_o converse_v with_o in_o order_n to_o promote_v a_o due_a advantage_n to_o they_o in_o our_o discourse_n with_o they_o but_o then_o a_o minister_n in_o all_o his_o candour_n of_o language_n with_o this_o party_n of_o man_n must_v be_v sure_a to_o maintain_v his_o ground_n still_o or_o the_o injunction_n of_o the_o church_n and_o make_v no_o condescension_n from_o they_o in_o any_o thing_n indeed_o in_o respect_n to_o a_o good_a conscience_n he_o can_v do_v it_o and_o whether_o it_o be_v advisable_v in_o the_o state_n it_o be_v not_o for_o i_o to_o determine_v the_o example_n of_o st._n paul_n 1_o cor._n 9.20.21_o who_o be_v a_o jew_n in_o some_o instance_n and_o conformable_a to_o the_o reasonable_a worship_n of_o the_o heathen_n in_o other_o do_v not_o at_o all_o comprehend_v our_o case_n he_o may_v do_v that_o when_o the_o church_n have_v not_o set_v her_o authority_n upon_o any_o certain_a form_n of_o worship_n or_o when_o the_o public_a service_n be_v more_o free_a and_o unsettled_a which_o we_o can_v do_v who_o live_v under_o a_o legal_a establishment_n of_o religion_n and_o a_o canonical_a obedience_n to_o that_o and_o i_o dare_v say_v that_o st._n paul_n be_v as_o punctual_a a_o observer_n of_o the_o decree_n of_o that_o first_o general_n council_n hold_v at_o jerusalem_n acts._n 15.20_o as_o any_o of_o we_o can_v be_v of_o those_o of_o our_o own_o national_a church_n and_o therefore_o when_o this_o method_n of_o gentleness_n will_v not_o prevail_v upon_o they_o than_o it_o be_v necessary_a that_o he_o proceed_v to_o that_o extreme_a thing_n of_o ecclesiastical_a censure_n or_o the_o discipline_n of_o the_o church_n as_o our_o saviour_n lay_v down_o mat._n 18.17_o which_o be_v the_o constant_a practice_n of_o the_o apostle_n and_o at_o least_o approve_a by_o god_n from_o the_o custom_n of_o the_o jew_n if_o not_o positive_o institute_v by_o he_o and_o indeed_o this_o be_v the_o most_o proper_a method_n to_o reduce_v and_o reclaim_v a_o obstinate_a sinner_n who_o most_o likely_a in_o a_o due_a punishment_n may_v have_v his_o prejudice_n much_o abate_v or_o come_v to_o a_o free_a consideration_n of_o thing_n which_o will_v certain_o produce_v a_o reformation_n in_o he_o or_o if_o this_o effect_v fail_v upon_o himself_o through_o a_o inflexible_a hardness_n yet_o his_o circumstance_n may_v be_v very_o beneficial_a to_o other_o to_o deter_v they_o from_o the_o like_a offence_n and_o if_o his_o gild_n be_v so_o aggravate_v in_o a_o exclusion_n of_o civil_a commerce_n to_o hinder_v the_o influence_n of_o his_o vice_n and_o i_o be_o confident_a that_o our_o indulgence_n to_o obstinate_a sinner_n whether_o in_o the_o church_n or_o dissenter_n from_o it_o who_o through_o their_o obstinacy_n have_v almost_o lose_v their_o right_n to_o our_o christian_a charity_n or_o have_v no_o far_o plea_n for_o fair_a mean_n i_o be_o confident_a that_o our_o indulgence_n or_o neglect_v of_o censure_n towards_o they_o which_o be_v the_o weapon_n of_o our_o warfare_n in_o this_o respect_n and_o which_o make_v the_o church_n of_o god_n as_o terrible_a as_o a_o army_n with_o banner_n cast_v out_o every_o thing_n that_o defile_v or_o work_v abomination_n from_o that_o holy_a communion_n this_o be_v the_o cause_n of_o that_o great_a atheism_n and_o profaneness_n that_o be_v in_o the_o church_n and_o that_o numerous_a separation_n from_o it_o and_o we_o shall_v never_o deliver_v ourselves_o from_o these_o two_o till_o we_o reassume_v this_o primitive_a discipline_n and_o only_a remedy_n of_o they_o this_o be_v the_o province_n of_o a_o preacher_n and_o these_o good_a thing_n or_o these_o precept_n of_o holiness_n he_o must_v inculcate_v upon_o his_o charge_n not_o after_o the_o manner_n of_o man_n or_o with_o that_o remissness_n that_o be_v common_o use_v in_o indifferent_a matter_n but_o with_o a_o proper_a importunity_n and_o earnest_a persuasion_n so_o as_o to_o signify_v the_o moment_n of_o that_o concern_v he_o be_v then_o about_o which_o be_v no_o less_o than_o the_o salvation_n of_o soul_n one_o whereof_o be_v of_o more_o account_n than_o many_o world_n he_o must_v like_o the_o apostle_n

worse_a case_n than_o many_o of_o the_o heathen_n or_o in_o a_o great_a abatement_n of_o their_o hope_n who_o perhaps_o never_o have_v the_o opportunity_n of_o join_v themselves_o to_o the_o church_n of_o god_n and_o maintain_v one_o uniform_a worship_n with_o it_o and_o now_o if_o possible_o these_o man_n shall_v affirm_v themselves_o to_o be_v the_o true_a church_n and_o so_o think_v to_o remove_v this_o consequence_n from_o they_o it_o be_v very_o demonstrable_a that_o our_o church_n be_v not_o only_o the_o most_o reasonable_a institution_n of_o a_o church_n which_o may_v be_v even_o defend_v in_o a_o rational_a way_n without_o the_o advantage_n of_o antiquity_n but_o the_o very_a ectype_n from_o the_o apostle_n or_o the_o near_a resemblance_n of_o their_o platform_n and_o the_o most_o apostolic_a in_o the_o world_n which_o none_o can_v deny_v without_o betray_v a_o lamentable_a defect_n in_o primitive_a history_n and_o if_o they_o shall_v still_o defend_v themselves_o that_o their_o difference_n to_o we_o do_v not_o amount_v to_o a_o dis-union_n from_o we_o or_o from_o our_o apostolic_a church_n but_o that_o notwithstanding_o they_o may_v be_v still_o account_v in_o fellowship_n with_o it_o it_o be_v too_o apparent_a that_o those_o who_o do_v not_o consent_v in_o that_o particular_a order_n government_n and_o ministry_n which_o god_n have_v ordain_v in_o his_o church_n but_o innovate_v in_o some_o of_o these_o respect_n that_o be_v who_o either_o will_v not_o conform_v with_o a_o episcopal_a church_n or_o christian_a society_n govern_v in_o the_o most_o primitive_a manner_n by_o bishop_n who_o st._n cyprian_n so_o often_o style_v the_o principle_n of_o unity_n or_o that_o which_o make_v a_o church_n when_o it_o be_v conjoin_v to_o one_o bishop_n as_o the_o visible_a head_n of_o it_o and_o therefore_o the_o novatian_o donatist_n meletian_o who_o maintain_v another_o head_n of_o union_n namely_o the_o martyr_n be_v all_o account_v schismatic_n by_o he_o and_o other_o father_n or_o those_o who_o will_v not_o submit_v to_o the_o primitive_a discipline_n of_o the_o church_n which_o be_v settle_v and_o institute_v by_o the_o apostle_n they_o may_v well_o be_v say_v to_o renounce_v and_o recede_v from_o their_o church_n because_o in_o this_o obstinacy_n or_o incomplyance_n they_o promote_v faction_n and_o discord_n in_o the_o church_n and_o so_o violate_v that_o indispensible_a charity_n which_o ought_v to_o be_v in_o it_o they_o lose_v their_o christian_a right_n or_o cease_v to_o be_v of_o it_o especial_o those_o that_o will_v not_o communicate_v in_o the_o sacrament_n of_o the_o church_n these_o be_v the_o essential_a bond_n of_o of_o its_o communion_n they_o must_v needs_o be_v account_v as_o divide_v branch_n and_o not_o of_o that_o society_n indeed_o they_o have_v no_o public_a badge_n to_o maintain_v themselves_o christian_n from_o and_o if_o they_o triumph_v in_o a_o good_a life_n as_o many_o of_o they_o do_v they_o may_v rather_o be_v reckon_v for_o a_o sort_n of_o moral_a religionist_n than_o such_o as_o can_v pretend_v to_o christ_n name_n or_o the_o religion_n that_o he_o found_v and_o now_o after_o all_o this_o if_o we_o consider_v the_o apostle_n account_v of_o schism_n which_o more_o plain_o express_v the_o danger_n thereof_o see_v it_o have_v the_o same_o relation_n to_o our_o church_n or_o we_o being_n specifical_o the_o same_o with_o that_o which_o he_o sound_v it_o may_v be_v more_o affect_v and_o more_o enforce_v a_o reformation_n gal._n 5.19_o where_o he_o reckon_v up_o strife_n sedition_n heresy_n with_o those_o other_o abominable_a work_n of_o the_o flesh_n that_o do_v exclude_v from_o the_o kingdom_n of_o god_n and_o then_o he_o show_v the_o particular_a character_n of_o this_o sin_n 1_o cor._n 3.3_o whereas_o there_o be_v among_o you_o envy_v and_o strife_n and_o division_n be_v you_o not_o carnal_a and_o walk_v as_o man_n and_o st._n judas_n say_v the_o same_o thing_n that_o those_o who_o separate_v themselves_o be_v sensual_a have_v not_o the_o spirit_n vers_n 19_o and_o to_o speak_v plain_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o either_o pride_n which_o have_v always_o obstinacy_n a_o concomitant_a of_o it_o that_o they_o will_v be_v account_v gift_a man_n and_o have_v the_o credit_n of_o a_o special_a acquaintance_n with_o the_o spirit_n which_o they_o think_v can_v consist_v with_o a_o set_a liturgy_n although_o never_o so_o well_o compose_v both_o as_o to_o the_o extent_n of_o prayer_n or_o good_a thing_n that_o we_o shall_v request_v for_o and_o proper_a expression_n of_o devotion_n to_o promote_v a_o due_a affection_n in_o we_o it_o be_v this_o same_o pride_n or_o covetousness_n and_o some_o secular_a advantage_n from_o it_o that_o afford_v the_o reason_n of_o all_o dissenter_n which_o indeed_o be_v as_o carnal_a thing_n as_o intemperance_n or_o any_o other_o bodily_a enormity_n can_v be_v there_o can_v be_v no_o plea_n of_o conscience_n for_o it_o at_o least_o in_o the_o more_o know_v of_o they_o and_o when_o they_o urge_v this_o they_o either_o in_o their_o proper_a art_n of_o dissimulation_n speak_v against_o their_o own_o conscience_n and_o true_a notion_n of_o thing_n and_o so_o deceive_v some_o other_o honest_a people_n or_o they_o have_v contract_v a_o habitual_a prejudice_n from_o one_o of_o these_o two_o vice_n and_o their_o indulgence_n in_o they_o and_o so_o be_v under_o a_o self-delusion_n or_o deceive_v themselves_o in_o the_o case_n and_o i_o be_o confident_a that_o if_o our_o nonconforming_a brethren_n shall_v honest_o examine_v themselves_o in_o their_o own_o mind_n they_o will_v find_v where_o profit_n do_v not_o determine_v a_o great_a preference_n of_o themselves_o and_o mean_a opinion_n of_o other_o christian_n who_o live_v in_o the_o sober_a use_n of_o their_o own_o faculty_n and_o the_o common_a mean_n of_o grace_n without_o any_o pretension_n to_o miracle_n or_o the_o extraordinary_a gift_n of_o god_n spirit_n i_o say_v they_o will_v find_v this_o spiritual_a pride_n in_o they_o which_o indeed_o make_v they_o what_o they_o be_v or_o dissenter_n from_o we_o as_o also_o hinder_v they_o from_o a_o due_a confession_n of_o their_o sin_n and_o return_v to_o we_o this_o i_o be_o confident_a be_v the_o predominant_a principle_n in_o all_o those_o that_o separate_v from_o we_o however_o they_o begin_v their_o separation_n whether_o from_o themselves_o or_o have_v it_o more_o excusable_o derive_v to_o they_o through_o education_n yet_o this_o be_v in_o they_o namely_o a_o self-applause_n and_o contempt_n of_o other_o and_o indeed_o the_o apostle_n resolve_v it_o into_o this_o ephes_n 4.2_o 3._o as_o will_v plain_o appear_v from_o a_o due_a reflection_n on_o that_o place_n and_o therefore_o i_o believe_v the_o best_a method_n with_o they_o be_v first_o to_o subdue_v this_o unreasonable_a swelling_n or_o imposthume_n of_o they_o to_o advance_v some_o sobriety_n in_o they_o and_o a_o just_a opinion_n of_o themselves_o which_o only_o will_v make_v they_o capable_a of_o conviction_n or_o reconcilement_n to_o the_o church_n for_o while_o they_o continue_v in_o their_o pride_n they_o continue_v in_o their_o prejudice_n also_o this_o be_v one_o effect_n of_o it_o and_o have_v no_o free_a use_n of_o their_o judge_a faculty_n and_o therefore_o this_o mountain_n be_v first_o to_o be_v remove_v which_o indeed_o be_v a_o moliminous_a enterprise_n before_o we_o can_v do_v any_o good_a with_o they_o and_o then_o he_o may_v also_o offer_v the_o civil_a sin_n of_o separation_n or_o disobedience_n to_o lawful_a authority_n in_o divide_v from_o a_o national_a church_n to_o which_o uniformity_n be_v absolute_o necessary_a all_o difference_n of_o worship_n by_o rank_v man_n into_o several_a party_n and_o promote_a several_a opinion_n and_o assection_n in_o they_o inevitable_o make_v if_o not_o a_o actual_a disturbance_n a_o most_o certain_a disposition_n for_o it_o in_o the_o state_n and_o this_o be_v the_o eternal_a reason_n of_o penal_a law_n in_o religion_n to_o secure_v the_o external_n peace_n of_o any_o kingdom_n and_o therefore_o the_o minister_n must_v enforce_v the_o indispensible_a obligation_n that_o those_o of_o any_o society_n or_o government_n be_v under_o to_o conform_v with_o the_o public_a expression_n of_o religion_n or_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o church_n there_o and_o nothing_o can_v justify_v a_o division_n from_o it_o but_o only_o sinful_a term_n of_o communion_n with_o it_o which_o i_o be_o certain_a none_o can_v charge_v with_o any_o colour_n of_o argument_n so_o as_o to_o satisfy_v a_o impartial_a spirit_n in_o the_o thing_n upon_o the_o most_o pure_a and_o primitive_a church_n of_o christ_n in_o respect_n of_o outward_a form_n and_o discipline_n as_o we_o may_v well_o maintain_v we_o to_o be_v and_o then_o he_o may_v far_o represent_v the_o great_a blessing_n of_o unity_n which_o in_o their_o separation_n they_o deprive_v themselves_o of_o when_o the_o public_a service_n be_v a_o vniform_a