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church_n bishop_n timothy_n titus_n 4,674 5 10.6389 5 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A37430 A Letter to a member of Parliament, shewing the necessity of regulating the press chiefly from the necessity of publick establishments in religion, from the rights and immunities of a national church, and the trust reposed in the Christian magistrate to protect and defend them : with a particular answer to the objections that of late have been advanced against it. Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731. 1699 (1699) Wing D837; ESTC R4998 24,778 72

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recourse_n to_o the_o most_o proper_a method_n for_o inquire_v into_o the_o reason_n and_o ground_n of_o religion_n and_o for_o distinguish_v the_o true_a religion_n from_o the_o false_a and_o a_o orthodox_n from_o a_o heterodox_n faith_n whether_o by_o apply_v to_o the_o proper_a minister_n of_o religion_n separately_z or_o in_o council_n and_o upon_o a_o fair_a and_o impartial_a enquiry_n that_o which_o appear_v to_o be_v true_a and_o orthodox_n be_v to_o be_v cherisb_v defend_v and_o promote_v against_o all_o attempt_n and_o invasion_n of_o the_o heterodox_n and_o unbeliever_n even_o though_o some_o present_a temporal_a interest_n seem_v to_o clash_v and_o interfere_v with_o it_o these_o be_v the_o unalterable_a law_n and_o principle_n of_o the_o first_o and_o most_o pious_a christian_a emperor_n upon_o which_o they_o enlarge_v the_o territory_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n sect_n iii_o but_o to_o this_o it_o be_v popular_o reply_v that_o if_o king_n and_o prince_n once_o think_v 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word_n then_o in_o as_o much_o as_o they_o be_v decision_n ground_v on_o scripture_n support_v by_o reason_n and_o confirm_v by_o the_o joint_a authority_n and_o suffrage_n of_o the_o church_n of_o god_n in_o the_o early_a age_n and_o of_o saint_n confessor_n and_o martyr_n they_o be_v the_o most_o apposite_a moral_a instrument_n under_o god_n and_o the_o use_n of_o reason_n to_o determine_v the_o judgement_n and_o satisfy_v the_o conscience_n or_o at_o least_o to_o stop_v the_o mouth_n of_o gainsayer_n as_o far_o as_o concern_v the_o outward_a peace_n of_o the_o church_n in_o this_o case_n they_o become_v indispensible_o necessary_a there_o must_v be_v some_o external_n umpire_n and_o decision_n where_o matter_n must_v at_o last_o terminate_v that_o the_o public_a peace_n and_o unity_n thing_n in_o the_o judgement_n of_o our_o bless_a saviour_n of_o the_o great_a value_n and_o importance_n may_v not_o be_v sacrifice_v to_o the_o dissension_n heat_n and_o animosity_n of_o
village_n and_o territory_n where_o a_o temporal_a magistrate_n be_v likewise_o place_v as_o the_o metropolis_n of_o every_o province_n have_v its_o proconsul_n in_o the_o state_n so_o it_o have_v its_o archbishop_n or_o metropolitan_a in_o the_o church_n and_o when_o the_o government_n of_o patriarch_n prevail_v it_o be_v form_v after_o the_o same_o model_n either_o in_o imitation_n of_o the_o vicar_n or_o lieutenant_n that_o preside_v over_o a_o diocese_n compose_v of_o several_a province_n or_o at_o least_o in_o imitation_n of_o the_o praetorian_a prefect_n that_o have_v several_a diocese_n under_o their_o jurisdiction_n upon_o the_o whole_a then_o as_o we_o be_v assure_v that_o the_o form_v a_o government_n in_o the_o church_n after_o the_o model_n of_o that_o of_o the_o state_n be_v by_o apostolical_a institution_n so_o we_o may_v just_o conclude_v that_o it_o be_v by_o the_o special_a direction_n of_o the_o holy_a spirit_n and_o no_o doubt_n the_o great_a design_n be_v to_o advance_v the_o interest_n of_o religion_n by_o place_v every_o particular_a church_n under_o the_o protection_n of_o the_o state_n whenever_o it_o shall_v become_v christian._n and_o certain_o as_o it_o be_v the_o only_a true_a expedient_a to_o enable_v the_o civil_a magistrate_n to_o execute_v that_o trust_n that_o be_v lodge_v in_o the_o character_n of_o a_o father_n or_o nurse_n mother_n to_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n so_o it_o be_v a_o considerable_a argument_n that_o the_o care_n and_o protection_n of_o the_o true_a religion_n be_v a_o stand_a duty_n incumbent_a on_o the_o civil_a magistrate_n for_o to_o make_v the_o district_v of_o particular_a church_n terminate_v with_o those_o of_o civil_a government_n be_v absolute_o necessary_a to_o make_v the_o civil_a magistrate_n the_o supreme_a guardian_n of_o the_o true_a religion_n and_o since_o it_o be_v a_o ordinance_n that_o may_v very_o just_o be_v resolve_v into_o apostolic_a institution_n it_o be_v a_o manifest_a indication_n that_o the_o civil_a magistrate_n shall_v be_v oblige_v punctual_o to_o answer_v the_o character_n whenever_o he_o become_v christian._n sect_n v._o from_o hence_o we_o may_v gain_v a_o true_a notion_n of_o the_o right_n and_o authority_n of_o a_o national_a church_n and_o true_o if_o we_o due_o weight_n the_o premise_n we_o must_v conclude_v that_o it_o rest_v upon_o nothing_o less_o than_o divine_a and_o apostolic_a institution_n for_o if_o the_o apostle_n themselves_o constitute_v particular_a church_n with_o regard_n to_o the_o district_v of_o particular_a province_n and_o the_o government_n of_o the_o state_n and_o if_o it_o be_v a_o stand_a duty_n in_o the_o christian_a magistrate_n to_o protect_v and_o advance_v the_o true_a religion_n within_o his_o dominion_n we_o must_v conclude_v that_o a_o church_n be_v to_o be_v establish_v upon_o that_o model_n of_o government_n which_o be_v institute_v by_o our_o saviour_n or_o his_o apostle_n in_o every_o respective_a nation_n over_o which_o the_o magistrate_n be_v to_o preside_v as_o a_o father_n or_o guardian_n and_o protector_n and_o such_o a_o church_n be_v what_o in_o other_o term_n be_v call_v a_o national_a church_n and_o a_o church_n thus_o establish_v undoubted_o rest_v on_o the_o authority_n of_o divine_a or_o apostolic_a institution_n i_o will_v not_o be_v mistake_v as_o if_o i_o intend_v to_o deny_v the_o be_v of_o a_o national_a or_o provincial_a church_n till_o it_o have_v obtain_v a_o civil_a establishment_n for_o it_o be_v manifest_a the_o church_n of_o greece_n and_o of_o the_o proconsular_a asia_n have_v a_o be_v and_o a_o distinct_a denomination_n before_o christianity_n be_v receive_v in_o the_o court_n of_o prince_n indeed_o when_o a_o particular_a church_n enjoy_v a_o civil_a establishment_n it_o receive_v as_o it_o be_v a_o new_a authority_n in_o as_o much_o as_o it_o become_v a_o civil_a right_n or_o property_n so_o that_o unless_o its_o constitution_n be_v material_o vicious_a and_o finful_a it_o be_v a_o high_a piece_n of_o injustice_n to_o destroy_v or_o infringe_v any_o of_o its_o establish_v right_n or_o immunity_n but_o yet_o since_o the_o magistrate_n be_v only_o the_o guardian_n not_o the_o founder_n of_o a_o national_a church_n its_o original_a authority_n rest_v on_o certain_a positive_a law_n and_o sanction_n enjoin_v by_o a_o power_n superior_a to_o that_o of_o the_o magistrate_n even_o that_o of_o god_n himself_o wherever_o a_o church_n in_o any_o province_n or_o nation_n profess_v the_o true_a religion_n by_o a_o orthodox_n faith_n and_o a_o pure_a worship_n under_o lawful_a church_n governor_n and_o pastor_n that_o be_v the_o true_a national_a church_n in_o opposition_n to_o all_o dissent_v sect_n and_o party_n though_o it_o want_v the_o authority_n of_o a_o civil_a establishment_n but_o to_o return_v from_o hence_o we_o may_v easy_o determine_v the_o merit_n of_o the_o question_n in_o debate_n i_o mean_v when_o there_o be_v two_o or_o more_o sect_n of_o religion_n in_o any_o government_n why_o the_o magistrate_n be_v under_o a_o obligation_n of_o protect_a or_o rather_o advance_v the_o one_o more_o than_o the_o other_o for_o first_o it_o be_v abundant_o demonstrate_v that_o the_o christian_a magistrate_n ex_fw-la officio_fw-la be_v constitute_v a_o guardian_n father_n and_o protector_n of_o the_o true_a religion_n and_o therefore_o if_o in_o any_o nation_n or_o government_n the_o true_a religion_n be_v profess_v in_o a_o orthodox_n and_o a_o pure_a worship_n under_o lawful_a church_n governor_n and_o pastor_n there_o the_o magistrate_n be_v indispensible_o boundto_o act_v as_o a_o guardian_n and_o protector_n in_o opposition_n to_o all_o model_n and_o platform_n that_o be_v advance_v against_o it_o for_o by_o this_o alone_a he_o pursue_v the_o great_a design_n of_o the_o apostolic_a platform_n in_o the_o institution_n of_o national_a church_n as_o well_o as_o answer_n that_o of_o his_o character_n i_o mean_v as_o he_o be_v prophetical_o style_v a_o father_n to_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n it_o be_v certain_a one_o great_a design_n of_o christianity_n be_v unity_n or_o to_o range_v all_o the_o part_n and_o member_n of_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n into_o a_o holy_a building_n and_o therefore_o if_o the_o magistrate_n be_v constitute_v a_o guardian_n of_o the_o true_a religion_n all_o his_o office_n of_o succour_n and_o protection_n must_v be_v direct_v to_o this_o end_n i_o mean_v the_o maintenance_n of_o the_o bond_n of_o catholic_n unity_n throughout_o his_o whole_a dominion_n without_o this_o the_o great_a end_n and_o proposal_n of_o so_o pure_a and_o holy_a a_o religion_n can_v be_v accomplish_v and_o therefore_o whatever_o indulgence_n or_o exemption_n the_o christian_a magistrate_n may_v rightful_o grant_v to_o erroneous_a judgement_n or_o conscience_n act_v with_o simplicity_n and_o a_o pious_a disposition_n he_o can_v upon_o the_o law_n and_o oeconomy_n of_o the_o gospel_n or_o any_o authority_n derive_v to_o he_o from_o thence_o rightfnl_o give_v a_o positive_a establishment_n within_o the_o district_v of_o the_o same_o government_n to_o two_o opposite_a communion_n or_o altar_n of_o worship_n especial_o when_o one_o of_o they_o be_v found_v in_o a_o revolt_n from_o a_o pure_a and_o orthodox_n national_a church_n this_o be_v the_o very_a reverse_n to_o a_o protector_n and_o defender_n of_o the_o true_a religion_n for_o it_o imply_v a_o power_n to_o pervert_v the_o great_a design_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n vis_fw-la a_o unity_n of_o faith_n and_o worship_n by_o dissolve_v the_o bond_n of_o catholic_n unity_n and_o authorise_v the_o member_n of_o christ_n mystical_a body_n to_o disband_v and_o break_v into_o schism_n and_o faction_n whereas_o its_o a_o external_n rule_n that_o the_o magistrate_n can_v only_o challenge_v a_o power_n to_o edification_n not_o to_o destruction_n this_o be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v a_o prerogative_n of_o the_o magistrate_n that_o where_o a_o national_a church_n be_v constitute_v under_o lawful_a governor_n and_o pastor_n though_o there_o may_v be_v some_o defect_n or_o error_n in_o her_o faith_n discipline_n or_o worship_n he_o be_v not_o to_o unhinge_v and_o demolish_v but_o to_o endeavour_v to_o correct_v and_o remove_v they_o by_o such_o mean_n and_o instrument_n as_o god_n in_o his_o reveal_v will_n have_v decree_v and_o appoint_v and_o when_o this_o be_v do_v he_o be_v not_o to_o suffer_v any_o opposite_a sect_n or_o faction_n so_o much_o as_o to_o break_v in_o upon_o any_o of_o her_o apostolic_a right_n or_o immunity_n for_o it_o be_v manifest_a the_o duty_n of_o a_o guardian_n parent_n and_o protector_n be_v to_o use_v all_o prudent_a method_n to_o cultivate_v and_o improve_v to_o advance_v the_o interest_n and_o enlarge_v the_o privilege_n of_o those_o under_o his_o care_n much_o more_o to_o defend_v they_o from_o violence_n or_o encroachment_n to_o be_v appoint_v a_o father_n and_o a_o protector_n of_o christ_n church_n or_o the_o true_a religion_n be_v not_o a_o