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church_n according_a time_n true_a 2,905 5 4.0606 3 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A49188 The scripture-terms of church-union, with respect to the doctrin of the trinity confirmed by the unitarian explications of the beginning of St. John's Gospel; together with the Answers of the Unitarians; to the chief objections made against them: whereby it appears, that men may be unitarians, and sincere and inquisitive, and that they ought not to be excluded out of the church-communion. With a post-script, wherein the divinity of Christ, and of the Holy Ghost, according to the generality of the terms of scripture, is shewn, not to be inconsistent with the unitarian systems. Most earnestly and humbly offered to the consideration of those, on whom 'tis most particularly incumbent to examin these matters. By A.L. Author of the Irenicum Magnum, &c. Lortie, André, d. 1706. 1700 (1700) Wing L3078A; ESTC R221776 144,344 120

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the_o face_n of_o religion_n but_o can_v never_o be_v prevail_v with_o to_o examine_v themselves_o the_o merit_n of_o the_o cause_n witness_n theodosius_n the_o great_a thus_o prejudice_n and_o inconsideration_n be_v arm_v with_o the_o utmost_a or_o most_o obstinate_a cruelty_n it_o be_v no_o wonder_n if_o error_n spread_v by_o the_o like_a mean_n the_o truth_n of_o the_o reformation_n in_o these_o late_a age_n have_v be_v whole_o extirpate_v in_o bohemia_n and_o spain_n and_o be_v now_o at_o the_o last_o gasp_n in_o france_n nevertheless_o as_o sandius_n have_v show_v there_o have_v be_v all_o along_o many_o unitarian_n in_o several_a part_n of_o the_o world_n and_o there_o be_v still_o to_o this_o day_n many_o vnitarian_n church_n in_o the_o mahometan_a and_o pagan_a dominion_n and_o some_o in_o transilvania_n hungaria_n sclavonia_n and_o illyricum_n the_o very_a nestorian_a church_n in_o asia_n and_o africa_n be_v so_o numerous_a that_o it_o be_v think_v the_o nestorian_n be_v 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imply_v a_o influence_n of_o the_o divine_a virtue_n yet_o god_n the_o holy_a ghost_n and_o the_o inspiration_n a_o divine_a person_n certain_o be_v not_o scriptural_a term_n and_o the_o unitarian_n general_o believe_v that_o in_o such_o intricate_a matter_n and_o particular_o concern_v the_o object_n of_o worship_n and_o the_o make_v something_o distinct_o a_o object_n of_o worship_n we_o must_v not_o go_v beyond_o express_a injunction_n according_a to_o scripture_n they_o worship_v christ_n to_o the_o glory_n of_o the_o father_n as_o be_v say_v and_o in_o particular_a they_o ultimate_o worship_v the_o father_n for_o his_o give_v the_o divine_a inspiration_n the_o governor_n of_o the_o church_n be_v humble_o desire_v to_o give_v public_o their_o opinion_n of_o these_o &_o the_o like_a aforemention_v reason_n this_o undoubted_o be_v a_o subject_a that_o deserve_v all_o the_o illustration_n that_o according_a to_o the_o obligation_n of_o christian_a charity_n they_o can_v give_v to_o it_o though_o all_o that_o be_v possible_a aught_o to_o be_v do_v for_o peace-sake_n yet_o on_o the_o other_o hand_n nothing_o ought_v to_o be_v do_v against_o conscience_n and_o though_o some_o of_o the_o unitarian_n may_v condescend_v to_o most_o of_o the_o scholastic_a trinitarian_n expression_n yet_o they_o can_v general_o approve_v they_o iii_o what_o be_v infer_v from_o the_o vnitarian_n argument_n remain_v in_o force_n so_o that_o it_o be_v a_o indispensible_a duty_n to_o profess_v and_o establish_v the_o gospel-term_n of_o communion_n and_o to_o keep_v to_o the_o seem_a and_o most_o manifest_a and_o apparent_a generality_n of_o the_o expression_n of_o scripture_n for_o term_n of_o church-vnion_n though_o the_o trinitarian_n and_o some_o unitarian_n shall_v opine_n that_o the_o unitarian_n may_v with_o a_o good_a conscience_n join_v in_o communion_n with_o the_o trinitarian_n and_o even_o though_o there_o be_v in_o god_n what_o may_v true_o be_v call_v three_o person_n for_o 1._o if_o there_o be_v somewhat_v in_o god_n that_o may_v be_v call_v three_o person_n which_o yet_o indeed_o seem_v absolute_o both_o impossible_a in_o itself_o and_o not_o express_o imply_v in_o scripture_n but_o contrary_a to_o many_o text_n yet_o not_o only_o that_o doctrine_n seem_v absolute_o unintelligible_a but_o certain_o it_o be_v most_o obscure_o reveal_v and_o but_o draw_v from_o most_o intricate_a and_o uncertain_a deduction_n and_o on_o the_o other_o hand_n the_o vnitarian_n argument_n against_o the_o call_n any_o thing_n in_o god_n three_o person_n be_v incontestable_o such_o that_o man_n may_v be_v sincere_o inquisitive_a and_o real_o think_v they_o to_o be_v solid_a upon_o such_o most_o abstruse_a difficulty_n we_o ought_v not_o to_o act_v rash_o and_o condemn_v or_o reject_v sincere_a and_o inquisitive_a person_n god_n can_v be_v suppose_v indispensible_o to_o require_v of_o every_o one_o to_o believe_v explicit_o what_o he_o have_v leave_v so_o difficult_a and_o obscure_a nor_o consequent_o to_o have_v allow_v any_o one_o to_o determine_v this_o point_n magisterial_o so_o as_o to_o make_v the_o determination_n of_o it_o a_o necessary_a term_n of_o church-communion_n then_o it_o follow_v it_o be_v god_n will_n that_o as_o have_v be_v say_v in_o term_n and_o act_n of_o church_n union_n we_o shall_v content_v ourselves_o with_o the_o expression_n and_o generality_n of_o scripture_n and_o so_o the_o human_a imposition_n of_o the_o athanasian_n and_o nicene_n creed_n and_o of_o public_o pray_v to_o the_o holy_a ghost_n and_o in_o public_a assembly_n and_o church-service_n use_v the_o term_n three_o person_n be_v a_o piece_n of_o presumption_n and_o spiritual_a tyranny_n and_o oppression_n the_o scripture_n say_v not_o express_o that_o the_o son_n and_o spirit_n be_v equal_a to_o the_o father_n etc._n etc._n 2._o the_o generality_n of_o the_o scripture-term_n as_o be_v show_v be_v undoubted_o sufficient_a for_o though_o god_n may_v be_v say_v to_o be_v three_o person_n yet_o not_o only_o it_o can_v be_v think_v as_o have_v be_v remark_v that_o under_o the_o benign_a oeconomy_n of_o the_o gospel_n god_n have_v make_v that_o indispensible_o necessary_a which_o at_o least_o seem_v so_o intricate_a and_o obscure_a and_o about_o which_o sincere_a and_o inquisitive_a person_n may_v mistake_v but_o beside_o as_o be_v also_o before_o observe_v when_o god_n be_v worship_v be_v not_o all_o adore_v that_o be_v the_o object_n of_o divine_a worship_n the_o trinitarian_n own_o that_o the_o unscriptural_a term_v person_n be_v use_v so_o improper_o of_o god_n that_o what_o be_v mean_v thereby_o be_v most_o unaccountable_a &_o perfect_o incomprehensible_a now_o that_o be_v a_o invincible_a argument_n that_o that_o term_n be_v not_o necessary_a the_o unitarian_n do_v not_o deny_v the_o incomprehensibility_n of_o the_o divine_a nature_n suppose_v then_o that_o by_o the_o divine_a word_n and_o spirit_n be_v mean_v somewhat_n more_o than_o wisdom_n and_o inspiration_n as_o the_o unitarian_n who_o be_v not_o for_o determine_v in_o such_o obscure_a matter_n will_v not_o contradict_v but_o that_o it_o may_v be_v so_o yet_o see_v that_o that_o whatever_o it_o be_v be_v absolute_o unknown_a &_o unintelligible_a it_o concern_v we_o not_o to_o ascribe_v name_n to_o it_o &_o can_v be_v indeed_o the_o subject_a of_o our_o disquisition_n howbeit_o at_o least_o we_o shall_v take_v care_n not_o to_o advance_v any_o thing_n concern_v these_o matter_n that_o appear_v inconsistent_a with_o any_o text_n but_o shall_v rather_o stick_v to_o that_o which_o be_v safe_a and_o sufficient_a and_o it_o be_v certain_a the_o scripture_n no_o where_o say_v we_o shall_v pray_v to_o the_o holy_a spirit_n in_o particular_a and_o it_o express_o set_v forth_o christ_n as_o the_o mediator_n betwixt_o god_n and_o man_n so_o that_o it_o be_v incontestable_o sufficient_a to_o come_v to_o god_n through_o the_o mediation_n of_o christ_n and_o to_o honour_n christ_n as_o the_o mediatory_a king_n under_o god_n though_o unite_v to_o god_n as_o intimate_o as_o possible_a as_o be_v say_v for_o though_o all_o thing_n be_v subject_v to_o christ_n yet_o it_o be_v to_o the_o glory_n of_o god_n the_o father_n and_o to_o the_o end_n that_o god_n may_v be_v most_o glorify_v and_o may_v most_o universal_o and_o illustrious_o reign_v in_o and_o by_o and_o through_o christ_n so_o that_o in_o make_v christ_n the_o king_n of_o king_n or_o the_o universal_a king_n under_o god_n and_o the_o head_n of_o the_o church_n god_n do_v not_o abdicate_v the_o government_n or_o divest_v himself_o of_o his_o majesty_n but_o still_o remain_v ever_o the_o most_o supreme_a and_o reserve_v to_o himself_o to_o direct_v christ_n and_o to_o favour_v his_o intercession_n and_o to_o receive_v through_o he_o the_o homage_n of_o man_n christ_n do_v all_o in_o the_o name_n of_o god_n and_o according_o the_o apostle_n direct_v their_o prayer_n to_o god_n act_n 4_o 24_o etc._n etc._n and_o command_v the_o faithful_a to_o address_v themselves_o to_o he_o phil._n 4_o 6_o through_o jesus_n christ_n as_o it_o be_v in_o the_o follow_a verse_n phil._n 4_o 7_o that_o in_o his_o name_n and_o through_o his_o mediation_n they_o may_v obtain_v their_o request_n of_o the_o father_n according_a to_o christ_n promise_n john_n 14_o 13_o &_o john_n 16_o 23_o that_o what_o they_o shall_v pray_v for_o to_o the_o father_n in_o his_o name_n he_o will_v second_v by_o his_o intercession_n &_o so_o will_v do_v it_o for_o they_o that_o the_o father_n may_v be_v glorify_v in_o the_o son_n for_o our_o saviour_n say_v express_o in_o john_n 16.23_o whatsoever_o you_o shall_v ask_v the_o father_n in_o my_o name_n he_o will_v give_v it_o you_o 3._o the_o argument_n for_o the_o scripture-term_n of_o church_n union_n with_o respect_n to_o such_o most_o intricate_a and_o abstruse_a matter_n as_o the_o platonic_a or_o scholastic_a speculation_n concern_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o holy_a trinity_n be_v evermore_o solid_a and_o invincible_a and_o as_o be_v observe_v a_o contrary_a method_n be_v whole_o inconsistent_a with_o the_o principle_n of_o protestant_n which_o import_n that_o the_o scripture_n be_v a_o sufficient_a and_o the_o only_a rule_n that_o there_o be_v no_o live_v magisterial_a judge_n of_o controversy_n that_o particular_a christian_n be_v in_o such_o a_o case_n to_o examine_v and_o judge_v for_o themselves_o etc._n etc._n 4._o many_o sincere_a and_o inquisitive_a person_n may_v scruple_n other_o term_n than_o these_o which_o be_v incontestable_o good_a sufficient_a and_o the_o only_a warrantable_a one_o for_o term_n of_o church-communion_n in_o such_o abstruse_a and_o intricate_a matter_n and_o as_o be_v show_v it_o be_v certain_a the_o term_n three_o person_n be_v unscriptural_a and_o consequent_o can_v be_v absolute_o necessary_a wherefore_o sure_o christian_n charity_n oblige_v we_o not_o to_o hazard_v unnecessary_o in_o such_o difficult_a matter_n the_o destruction_n of_o those_o soul_n for_o which_o