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church_n answer_v argument_n prove_v 3,101 5 5.5305 4 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A97108 Tolleration iustified, and persecution condemn'd. In an answer or examination, of the London-ministers letter whereof, many of them are of the synod, and yet framed this letter at Sion-Colledge; to be sent among others, to themselves at the Assembly: in behalf of reformation and church-government, 2 Corinth. II. vers. 14. 15. And no marvail, for Sathan himself is transformed into an angell of light. Therefore it is no great thing, though his ministers transform themselves, as though they were ministers of righteousnesse; whose end shall be according to their works. Walwyn, William, 1600-1681. 1646 (1646) Wing W692A; Thomason E319_15; ESTC R200561 14,731 18

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reference_n to_o the_o presbyter_n and_o now_o mention_v to_o make_v that_o which_o go_v before_o which_o have_v no_o weight_n in_o itself_o to_o sound_v the_o better_a letter_n have_v we_o not_o a_o touchstone_n of_o truth_n the_o good_a word_n of_o god_n and_o when_o all_o thing_n be_v examine_v by_o the_o word_n then_o that_o which_o be_v best_a may_v be_v hold_v fast_o but_o first_o they_o must_v be_v know_v and_o then_o examine_v afterward_o i_o shall_v easy_o concur_v with_o they_o thus_o far_o that_o the_o word_n of_o god_n be_v the_o touchstone_n that_o all_o opinion_n be_v to_o be_v examine_v by_o that_o and_o that_o the_o best_a be_v to_o be_v hold_v fast_o but_o now_o who_o shall_v be_v the_o examiner_n must_v needs_o be_v the_o question_n if_o the_o presbyter_n examine_v the_o independent_a and_o separation_n they_o be_v like_a to_o find_v the_o same_o censure_n the_o presbyter_n have_v already_o find_v be_v examine_v by_o the_o bishop_n and_o the_o bishop_n find_v from_o the_o pope_n adversary_n certain_o be_v not_o competent_a judge_n aga_o in_o in_o matter_n disputable_a and_o controvert_v every_o man_n must_v examine_v for_o himself_o and_o so_o every_o man_n do_v or_o else_o he_o must_v be_v conscious_a to_o himself_o that_o he_o see_v with_o other_o man_n eye_n and_o have_v take_v up_o a_o opinion_n not_o because_o it_o consent_v with_o his_o understanding_n but_o for_o that_o it_o be_v the_o safe_a and_o least_o troublesome_a as_o the_o world_n go_v or_o because_o such_o a_o man_n be_v of_o that_o opinion_n who_o he_o reverence_v and_o veri●y_o believe_v will_v not_o have_v be_v so_o have_v it_o not_o be_v truth_n i_o may_v be_v help_v in_o my_o examination_n by_o other_o man_n but_o no_o man_n o●_z sort_n of_o man_n be_v to_o examine_v for_o i_o insomuch_o that_o before_o a_o opinion_n can_v proper_o be_v say_v to_o be_v i_o it_o must_v concord_n with_o my_o understanding_n now_o here_o be_v the_o fallacy_n and_o you_o shall_v find_v it_o in_o all_o papist_n bishop_n presbyter_n or_o whatsoever_o other_o sort_n of_o man_n have_v or_o will_v have_v in_o their_o hand_n the_o power_n of_o persecute_v that_o they_o always_o suppose_v themselves_o to_o be_v competent_a examiner_n and_o judge_n of_o other_o man_n differ_v in_o judgement_n from_o they_o a●d_fw-mi upon_o this_o weak_a supposition_n by_o no_o mean_n to_o be_v allow_v most_o of_o the_o reason_n and_o argument_n of_o the_o man_n forementioned_a be_v support_v they_o proceed_v to_o charge_n much_o upon_o the_o indepe●dents_n for_o not_o produce_v their_o model_n of_o church-government_n for_o answer_v hereunto_o i_o refer_v the_o reader_n to_o the_o reason_n print_v by_o the_o independent_n and_o give_v into_o the_o house_n in_o their_o own_o justification_n which_o the_o minister_n may_v have_v take_v notice_n of_o i_o proceed_v to_o the_o suppose_a reason_n urge_v by_o the_o minister_n against_o
the_o toleration_n of_o independency_n in_o the_o church_n letter_n 1._o be_v because_o the_o desire_n and_o endeavour_n of_o independent_n for_o a_o toleration_n be_v at_o this_o time_n extreme_o unseasonable_a and_o pray_v properous_a for_o 1._o the_o reformation_n of_o religion_n be_v not_o yet_o perfect_v and_o settle_v among_o we_o according_a to_o our_o covenant_n and_o why_o may_v not_o the_o reformation_n be_v raise_v up_o at_o last_o to_o such_o purity_n and_o perfection_n that_o true_o tender_a conscience_n may_v receive_v abundant_a satisfaction_n for_o aught_o that_o yet_o appear_v i_o will_v to_o god_n the_o people_n their_o own_o friend_n especial_o will_v but_o take_v notice_n of_o the_o fallacy_n of_o the_o reason_n they_o will_v have_v reformation_n perfect_v according_a to_o the_o covenant_n before_o the_o independent_n move_v to_o be_v tolerate_v now_o reformation_n be_v not_o perfect_v according_a to_o the_o covenant_n till_o schism_n and_o heresy_n be_v extirpate_v which_o in_o the_o sequel_n of_o this_o letter_n they_o judge_v independency_n tobe_n that_o their_o charity_n think_v it_o then_o most_o seasonable_a to_o move_v that_o independency_n shall_v be_v tolerate_v after_o it_o be_v extirpate_v their_o reason_n and_o affection_n in_o this_o be_v alike_o sound_a to_o the_o independent_n their_o drift_n in_o this_o indeed_o be_v but_o too_o evident_a they_o will_v have_v the_o independent_n silent_a till_o they_o get_v power_n in_o their_o hand_n and_o then_o let_v they_o talk_v if_o they_o dare_v certain_o the_o most_o seasonable_a time_n to_o move_v for_o toleration_n be_v while_o the_o parliament_n be_v in_o debate_n about_o church_n government_n since_o if_o stay_v be_v make_v till_o a_o church_n government_n be_v settle_v all_o motion_n that_o may_v but_o seem_v to_o derogate_v from_o that_o how_o just_a soever_o in_o themselves_o how_o good_a soever_o for_o the_o commonwealth_n must_v needs_o be_v hardly_o obtain_v and_o whereas_o they_o say_v why_o may_v not_o reformation_n be_v raise_v up_o at_o last_o to_o such_o pretty_a and_o perfection_n that_o true_o tender_a conscience_n may_v receive_v abundant_a satisfaction_n for_o aught_o that_o yet_o appear_v observe_v 1._o that_o these_o very_a minister_n in_o the_o sequel_n of_o their_o letter_n impute_v it_o as_o levity_n in_o the_o independent_n that_o they_o be_v not_o at_o a_o stay_n but_o in_o expectation_n of_o new_a light_n and_o reserve_v as_o they_o say_v so_o that_o a_o man_n will_v thinkf_o they_o themselves_o be_v at_o a_o certainty_n but_o it_o be_v no_o new_a thing_n for_o one_o sort_n of_o man_n to_o object_v that_o as_o a_o crime_n against_o other_o which_o they_o be_v guilty_a of_o themselves_o though_o indeed_o but_o that_o the_o presbyter_n use_v any_o weapon_n against_o the_o independent_n it_o be_v no_o crime_n at_o all_o yea_o it_o be_v excellency_n in_o any_o man_n or_o woman_n not_o to_o be_v pertinacio●s_n or_o obstinate_a in_o any_o opinion_n but_o to_o have_v a_o open_a ear_n for_o reason_n and_o argument_n against_o whatsoever_o he_o hold_v and_o to_o embrace_v or_o reject_v whatsoever_o upon_o further_a search_n he_o find_v to_o be_v agreeable_a to_o or_o dissonant_n from_o god_n holy_a word_n it_o do_v appear_v from_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o presbyter_n and_o from_o this_o letter_n and_o other_o petition_n express_o against_o toleration_n that_o unless_o the_o independent_n and_o separation_n will_v submit_v their_o judgement_n to_o they_o they_o shall_v never_o be_v tolerate_v if_o they_o can_v hinder_v it_o their_o 2._o reason_n be_v that_o it_o be_v not_o yet_o know_v what_o the_o government_n of_o the_o independent_a be_v neither_o will_v they_o ever_o let_v the_o world_n know_v what_o they_o hold_v in_o that_o point_n though_o some_o of_o their_o party_n have_v be_v too_o forward_o to_o challenge_v the_o london_n petitioner_n as_o lead_v with_o blind_a obedience_n and_o pin_v their_o soul_n upon_o their_o priest_n sleeve_n for_o desire_v a_o establishment_n of_o the_o government_n of_o christ_n before_o there_o be_v any_o model_n of_o it_o extant_a their_o 3d._o reason_n be_v much_o to_o the_o same_o purpose_n i_o answer_v 1._o that_o the_o minister_n know_v that_o the_o independent_a government_n for_o the_o general_n be_v resolve_v upon_o by_o the_o independent_n though_o they_o have_v not_o yet_o modelize_v every_o particular_a which_o be_v a_o work_n of_o time_n as_o the_o frame_n of_o the_o pres●●terian_a government_n be_v the_o independent_n however_o have_v divers_a reason_n for_o dissent_v from_o the_o presbyterian_a way_n which_o they_o have_v give_v in_o already_o and_o though_o they_o have_v not_o conclude_v every_o particular_a of_o their_o own_o but_o be_v still_o upon_o the_o search_n and_o enquiry_n yet_o it_o be_v seasonable_a however_o to_o move_v for_o toleration_n for_o that_o the_o ground_n of_o move_v be_v not_o because_o they_o be_v independent_n but_o because_o every_o man_n ought_v to_o be_v free_a in_o the_o worship_n and_o service_n of_o god_n compulsion_n be_v the_o way_n to_o increase_v not_o the_o number_n of_o convert_v but_o of_o hypocrite_n whereas_o it_o be_v another_o case_n for_o people_n to_o move_v for_o establish_v of_o a_o government_n they_o understand_v not_o have_v never_o see_v it_o as_o the_o london_n petitioner_n do_v that_o be_v most_o evident_o a_o give_n up_o of_o the_o understanding_n to_o other_o man_n sure_o the_o presbyter_n themselves_o can_v think_v it_o otherwise_o nor_o yet_o the_o people_n upon_o the_o least_o consideration_n of_o it_o beside_o the_o london_n petitioner_n do_v not_o only_o desire_v as_o here_o the_o minister_n cunning_o say_v a_o establishment_n of_o the_o government_n of_o christ_n but_o a_o establishment_n of_o the_o government_n of_o christ_n a_o model_n whereof_o the_o reverend_a assembly_n of_o divine_n have_v frame_v which_o they_o never_o see_v so_o that_o herein_o the_o people_n be_v abuse_v by_o the_o divine_n by_o be_v put_v upon_o a_o petition_n wherein_o they_o suppose_v that_o government_n which_o they_o never_o see_v to_o be_v christ_n government_n if_o this_o be_v not_o sufficient_a to_o discover_v to_o our_o presbyterian_a lay-brethren_n the_o divine_n confidence_n of_o their_o abilitity_n to_o work_v they_o by_o the_o smoothness_n of_o phrase_n and_o language_n to_o what_o they_o please_v and_o of_o their_o own_o easiness_n and_o flexibility_n to_o be_v so_o lead_v i_o know_v not_o what_o be_v 2._o the_o minister_n urge_v that_o the_o desire_n and_o endeavour_n of_o the_o independ●nts_n for_o toleration_n be_v unreasonable_a and_o unequal_a in_o divers_a regard_n 1._o partly_o because_o no_o such_o toleration_n have_v heitherto_o be_v establish_v sofar_o as_o we_o know_v in_o any_o christian_a state_n by_o the_o civil_a magistrate_n but_o that_o the_o minister_n have_v be_v use_v to_o speak_v what_o they_o please_v for_o ●_z reason_n in_o their_o pulpit_n without_o contradiction_n they_o will_v never_o sure_a have_v let_v so_o slight_a a_o one_o as_o this_o have_v past_a from_o they_o it_o seem_v by_o this_o reason_n that_o if_o in_o any_o christian_a state_n a_o toleration_n by_o the_o magistrate_n have_v be_v allow_v it_o will_v not_o have_v be_v unreasonable_a for_o our_o state_n to_o allow_v it_o the_o practice_n of_o state_n be_v here_o suppose_v to_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o what_o be_v reasonable_a whereas_o i_o have_v think_v that_o the_o practice_n of_o christian_a state_n be_v to_o be_v judge_v by_o the_o rule_n of_o reason_n and_o god_n word_n and_o not_o reason_n by_o they_o that_o which_o be_v just_a and_o reasonable_a be_v constant_a and_o perpetual_o so_o the_o practice_n of_o state_n though_o christian_n be_v variable_a we_o see_v different_a one_o from_o another_o and_o change_v according_a to_o the_o prevalency_n of_o particular_a party_n and_o therefore_o a_o most_o uncertain_a rule_n of_o what_o be_v reasonable_a beside_o the_o state_n of_o holland_n do_v tolerate_v and_o therefore_o the_o minister_n argument_n even_o in_o that_o part_n where_o it_o seem_v to_o be_v most_o strong_a for_o they_o make_v against_o they_o again_o if_o the_o practice_n of_o a_o christian_a state_n be_v a_o sufficien●_n argument_n of_o the_o reasonableness_n of_o a_o toleration_n our_o state_n may_v just_o tolerate_v because_o christian_a and_o because_o they_o be_v free_a to_o do_v what_o ever_o any_o other_o state_n may_v former_o have_v do_v but_o i_o stay_v too_o long_o upon_o so_o weak_a a_o argument_n 2._o partly_o because_o some_o of_o they_o have_v solemn_o profess_v that_o they_o can_v suffer_v presbitary_a and_o answerable_a hereunto_o be_v their_o practice_n in_o those_o place_n where_o independency_n prevail_v it_o be_v unreasonable_a it_o seem_v to_o tolerate_v independent_n because_o independent_n will_v not_o if_o they_o have_v the_o power_n suffer_v presbyter_n a_o very_o christianly_o argument_n and_o take_v out_o of_o the_o 5._o of_o