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church_n answer_n england_n rome_n 3,412 5 6.2753 4 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A43451 The charge of scandal and giving offence by conformity refelled and reflected back upon separation : and that place of St. Paul I Cor. 10:32 that hath been so usually urged by dissenters in this case asserted to its true sence and vindicated from favouring the end for which it hath beed quoted by them. Hesketh, Henry, 1637?-1710. 1683 (1683) Wing H1608; ESTC R227746 30,131 52

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the_o one_o than_o to_o the_o other_o what_o they_o pretend_v to_o owe_v to_o one_o be_v contract_v by_o themselves_o but_o what_o they_o owe_v to_o the_o other_o be_v bind_v on_o they_o by_o the_o sacred_a and_o strong_a tie_n of_o religion_n and_o providence_n and_o this_o be_v another_o good_a argument_n to_o determine_v a_o scrupulous_a person_n in_o this_o matter_n if_o he_o be_v in_o doubt_n which_o he_o have_v best_a to_o offend_v the_o church_n of_o christ_n or_o his_o own_o private_a party_n and_o know_v not_o by_o what_o consideration_n to_o determine_v his_o resolution_n let_v he_o in_o god_n name_n consider_v to_o which_o he_o owe_v most_o what_o the_o law_n of_o god_n make_v his_o duty_n to_o the_o one_o more_o than_o to_o the_o other_o and_o then_o if_o he_o be_v honest_a and_o single-eyed_n he_o will_v soon_o be_v able_a to_o resolve_v his_o scruple_n and_o know_v what_o choice_n he_o ought_v to_o make_v 4._o offend_a the_o church_n of_o god_n be_v true_o a_o grievous_a 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the_o other_o be_v that_o famous_a story_n of_o st._n paul_n shave_v his_o head_n and_o purify_n himself_o in_o the_o temple_n with_o the_o man_n that_o have_v a_o vow_n upon_o they_o just_o according_a to_o the_o manner_n prescribe_v in_o the_o levitical_a law_n you_o have_v the_o account_n of_o it_o act_v 21._o from_o 23_o to_o 27._o i_o do_v not_o at_o all_o question_n but_o this_o action_n of_o st._n paul_n must_v be_v strange_o look_v upon_o at_o first_o by_o trophimus_n and_o those_o other_o heathen_a convert_v that_o come_v with_o he_o to_o jerusalem_n who_o know_v his_o doctrine_n and_o manner_n of_o conversation_n abroad_o can_v scarce_o choose_v but_o reflect_v with_o some_o trouble_n upon_o this_o action_n and_o the_o truth_n be_v it_o be_v a_o plain_a temptation_n to_o they_o to_o have_v some_o hard_a thought_n of_o he_o yet_o notwithstanding_o this_o st._n paul_n prefer_v his_o respect_n to_o the_o church_n of_o jerusalem_n and_o choose_v rather_o to_o incur_v this_o 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to_o do_v that_o which_o neither_o they_o be_v great_o please_v with_o nor_o himself_o in_o all_o probability_n neither_o which_o have_v often_o bring_v to_o my_o mind_n the_o apostolical_a temper_n of_o st._n ambrose_n in_o that_o famous_a answer_n of_o he_o to_o st._n augustine_n mother_n which_o he_o magnify_v so_o high_o for_o oracular_a and_o divine_a that_o at_o milan_n he_o do_v not_o observe_v the_o sabbath-fast_a because_o it_o be_v not_o the_o usage_n of_o his_o church_n but_o at_o rome_n he_o do_v because_o it_o be_v the_o custom_n there_o advise_v she_o in_o all_o such_o thing_n to_o make_v the_o custom_n of_o the_o present_a church_n her_o precedent_n and_o rule_n and_o by_o no_o mean_n to_o give_v any_o offence_n to_o it_o by_o both_o which_o notable_a example_n we_o may_v learn_v by_o what_o measure_n to_o govern_v ourselves_o in_o these_o thing_n namely_o a_o respect_n to_o the_o usage_n and_o constitution_n of_o the_o present_a church_n we_o be_v in_o provide_v they_o be_v not_o sinful_a and_o plain_o contrary_a to_o any_o law_n of_o god_n for_o of_o such_o thing_n i_o be_o speak_v all_o this_o while_n and_o about_o such_o thing_n it_o be_v that_o our_o present_a dispute_n about_o give_v offence_n be_v by_o both_o side_n acknowledge_v to_o be_v i_o only_o add_v one_o thing_n more_o before_o i_o leave_v this_o precedent_n that_o if_o we_o ought_v to_o have_v this_o great_a and_o overrule_a respect_n to_o any_o national_a church_n of_o christ_n to_o which_o we_o chance_v to_o come_v and_o in_o which_o we_o sojourn_v we_o certain_o ought_v much_o more_o to_o have_v the_o same_o to_o our_o own_o national_a church_n in_o which_o we_o not_o only_o live_v but_o be_v bear_v and_o baptise_a member_n
this_o day_n with_o respect_n to_o scandal_n and_o the_o danger_n of_o it_o by_o conform_v to_o the_o church_n which_o be_v plain_o this_o the_o church_n of_o england_n have_v reform_v itself_o from_o those_o corruption_n that_o have_v sully_v the_o truth_n and_o beauty_n of_o christian_a doctrine_n and_o worship_n not_o by_o noise_n and_o tumult_n and_o popular_a faction_n which_o too_o much_o influence_v some_o foreign_a reformation_n but_o upon_o grave_n and_o sober_a advice_n with_o the_o concurrence_n of_o the_o lawful_a civil_a power_n digest_v her_o doctrinal_n into_o such_o a_o number_n of_o article_n as_o she_o judge_v most_o consonant_a to_o the_o faith_n and_o doctrine_n of_o the_o apostle_n and_o first_o council_n establish_v such_o a_o form_n of_o worship_n as_o upon_o most_o diligent_a enquiry_n and_o search_n she_o find_v most_o agreeable_a to_o the_o practice_n of_o pure_a and_o primitive_a age_n and_o retain_v only_o such_o rite_n and_o usage_n as_o she_o find_v most_o ancient_a and_o free_a from_o any_o just_a and_o reasonable_a exception_n and_o abuse_n all_o these_o thus_o constitute_v and_o frame_v she_o impose_v as_o condition_n of_o her_o communion_n and_o require_v conformity_n unto_o of_o all_o her_o member_n she_o will_v be_v grievous_o offend_v if_o any_o of_o her_o child_n reject_v and_o comply_v not_o with_o this_o constitution_n as_o know_v her_o knowledge_n and_o integirty_a question_v her_o authority_n despise_v and_o that_o power_n that_o have_v confirm_v all_o this_o contemn_v by_o so_o do_v on_o the_o other_o hand_n there_o be_v some_o particular_a man_n some_o heretic_n some_o schismatic_n some_o either_o design_v or_o less_o instruct_v person_n that_o declare_v themselves_o offend_v by_o conform_v to_o this_o constitution_n the_o question_n now_o be_v how_o we_o shall_v govern_v ourselves_o and_o which_o of_o these_o consideration_n we_o will_v permit_v to_o sway_v we_o whether_o respect_n to_o the_o church_n and_o just_a authority_n and_o fear_v of_o give_v offence_n thereto_o shall_v engage_v we_o to_o conform_v or_o whether_o respect_n to_o some_o private_a person_n and_o fear_v of_o offend_v and_o anger_v they_o shall_v cause_v we_o to_o cast_v off_o all_o regard_n to_o those_o law_n and_o constitution_n and_o all_o care_n to_o comply_v with_o they_o this_o be_v the_o plain_a case_n and_o be_v there_o no_o other_o consideration_n to_o determine_v we_o when_o yet_o there_o be_v many_o i_o will_v desire_v nothing_o plain_a than_o the_o direction_n of_o the_o apostle_n in_o this_o text_n where_o he_o tell_v we_o that_o the_o person_n we_o ought_v chief_o to_o have_v a_o care_v not_o to_o give_v offence_n unto_o be_v the_o church_n of_o god_n if_o some_o private_a person_n and_o the_o church_n come_v in_o competition_n and_o we_o must_v needs_o offend_v some_o we_o ought_v to_o have_v a_o great_a respect_n to_o the_o church_n than_o unto_o they_o and_o be_v it_o true_o give_v they_o offence_n which_o yet_o it_o be_v not_o yet_o be_v it_o so_o i_o say_v we_o ought_v not_o to_o attend_v so_o to_o that_o consideration_n as_o to_o cast_v off_o all_o regard_n and_o care_n to_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n this_o i_o think_v be_v a_o rule_n so_o very_o reasonable_a at_o the_o very_a hear_n of_o and_o so_o fair_a upon_o its_o own_o reason_n that_o i_o do_v not_o know_v whether_o it_o be_v real_o worth_a while_n to_o go_v to_o add_v any_o strength_n to_o it_o we_o may_v venture_v it_o to_o its_o own_o strength_n to_o stand_v or_o fall_v and_o may_v challenge_v any_o one_o to_o assault_v or_o undertake_v it_o yet_o however_o i_o shall_v proceed_v to_o enlarge_v a_o little_a more_o upon_o it_o and_o to_o add_v some_o consideration_n which_o may_v make_v it_o something_o more_o popular_o plain_a and_o convince_a 1._o and_o first_o i_o desire_v to_o have_v it_o fair_o consider_v whether_o we_o ought_v not_o to_o have_v at_o least_o as_o fair_a a_o respect_n to_o the_o church_n of_o god_n as_o to_o any_o private_a person_n of_o what_o character_n or_o denomination_n soever_o i_o do_v not_o see_v upon_o what_o reason_n any_o person_n can_v deny_v this_o to_o i_o especial_o in_o a_o case_n where_o we_o can_v charge_v the_o church_n with_o any_o plain_a degeneracy_n or_o open_a apostasy_n from_o the_o doctrine_n or_o practice_n of_o the_o scripture_n when_o any_o particular_a church_n degenerate_v plain_o either_o in_o doctrine_n or_o worship_n there_o i_o be_o not_o concern_v to_o determine_v how_o far_o she_o forfeit_v all_o that_o respect_n that_o she_o may_v otherwise_o claim_v from_o man_n nor_o how_o much_o the_o credit_n of_o a_o single_a person_n may_v vie_v with_o she_o perhaps_o when_o the_o church_n be_v degenerate_v into_o arrianism_n the_o judgement_n of_o athanasius_n and_o some_o few_o other_o bishop_n be_v more_o to_o be_v regard_v than_o that_o of_o a_o whole_a synod_n and_o in_o the_o horrid_a apostasy_n of_o the_o roman_a church_n perhaps_o the_o single_a doctrine_n of_o john_n huss_n be_v preferable_a to_o that_o of_o the_o whole_a council_n of_o constance_n but_o still_o in_o both_o these_o case_n or_o any_o other_o parallel_a one_o that_o respect_v derive_v itself_o not_o from_o their_o person_n but_o be_v whole_o owe_v to_o truth_n and_o the_o holy_a scripture_n that_o stand_v with_o they_o but_o bless_v be_v god_n this_o be_v not_o our_o case_n our_o church_n do_v challenge_v and_o triumph_v over_o all_o charge_n of_o any_o such_o apostasy_n and_o all_o the_o dispute_v and_o contest_v with_o she_o by_o any_o of_o these_o man_n be_v about_o thing_n confess_o doubtful_a and_o such_o as_o be_v in_o their_o own_o nature_n indifferent_a thing_n about_o which_o to_o say_v the_o least_o it_o be_v as_o possible_a that_o single_a person_n may_v err_v and_o mistake_v as_o it_o be_v for_o the_o church_n unless_o in_o this_o also_o as_o in_o many_o other_o instance_n man_n fall_v in_o with_o the_o gross_a tenet_n in_o popery_n that_o single_a person_n may_v more_o reasonable_o pretend_v to_o infallibility_n than_o the_o whole_a church_n every_o man_n deride_v and_o think_v he_o can_v baffle_v all_o the_o pretence_n of_o the_o bishop_n of_o rome_n to_o infallibility_n and_o therefore_o shall_v blush_v and_o be_v ashamed_a of_o his_o own_o either_o arrogate_a it_o to_o himself_o or_o ascribe_v it_o to_o another_o for_o the_o truth_n be_v i_o do_v not_o see_v but_o his_o pretence_n be_v as_o just_a as_o another_o man_n i_o e._n indeed_o they_o be_v both_o monstrous_o unreasonable_a and_o yet_o alas_o this_o be_v not_o the_o least_o source_n of_o the_o unhappiness_n of_o this_o age_n nor_o need_v i_o be_v condemn_v for_o stay_v a_o little_a while_n to_o drop_v a_o tear_n upon_o it_o man_n turn_v dictator_n in_o religion_n and_o impose_v their_o own_o dream_n as_o magisterial_o upon_o their_o follower_n as_o if_o they_o be_v oracular_a and_o i_o be_o persuade_v their_o disciple_n hang_v as_o much_o upon_o their_o single_a authority_n and_o confidence_n and_o yield_v as_o absolute_a and_o implicit_a faith_n to_o all_o their_o doctrine_n as_o ever_o any_o poor_a papist_n against_o who_o they_o exclaim_v so_o tragical_o for_o blind_a obedience_n and_o faith_n they_o be_v keep_v in_o as_o absolute_a subjection_n to_o their_o placit_n and_o dare_v no_o more_o read_v and_o consult_v book_n that_o be_v write_v to_o inform_v they_o than_o a_o poor_a papist_n dare_n let_v a_o prohibit_v book_n be_v see_v in_o his_o house_n by_o a_o father_n of_o the_o inquisition_n if_o ever_o people_n follow_v their_o leader_n blindfold_a these_o man_n do_v they_o will_v not_o hear_v any_o thing_n against_o they_o they_o have_v their_o person_n in_o admiration_n and_o i_o wish_v i_o can_v not_o say_v of_o some_o for_o filthy_a lucre_n sake_n or_o at_o least_o some_o mean_a reason_n equivalent_a thereto_o they_o will_v not_o so_o much_o as_o submit_v to_o mean_n of_o information_n they_o common_o say_v they_o be_v satisfy_v already_o and_o the_o single_a bluster_a of_o one_o of_o their_o own_o rabbi_n shall_v signify_v more_o with_o they_o than_o all_o the_o argument_n of_o the_o most_o learned_a and_o sober_a man_n live_v beside_o but_o i_o be_o insensible_o draw_v aside_o from_o my_o chief_a subject_n which_o be_v not_o to_o treat_v so_o much_o of_o a_o respect_n of_o credit_n and_o faith_n as_o of_o tenderness_n and_o charity_n which_o be_v certain_o as_o just_o due_a from_o we_o to_o the_o church_n as_o to_o any_o private_a person_n whatsoever_o and_o it_o can_v but_o be_v as_o unreasonable_a to_o fail_v in_o the_o one_o as_o in_o the_o other_o it_o be_v every_o whit_n as_o unjust_a for_o man_n to_o be_v more_o regardless_o of_o grieve_v and_o trouble_v the_o church_n of_o christ_n as_o it_o be_v foolish_a and_o unreasonable_a to_o set_v up_o one_o single_a man_n opinion_n