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church_n canon_n council_n nice_a 2,852 5 10.4936 5 false
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A30478 A vindication of the authority, constitution, and laws of the church and state of Scotland in four conferences, wherein the answer to the dialogues betwixt the Conformist and Non-conformist is examined / by Gilbert Burnet ... Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715. 1673 (1673) Wing B5938; ESTC R32528 166,631 359

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evident_a reason_n for_o prove_v this_o to_o be_v unlawful_a or_o unexpedient_a you_o shall_v shake_v my_o kindness_n to_o this_o constitution_n who_o venerable_a antiquity_n have_v conciliate_v so_o much_o reverence_n from_o i_o to_o it_o that_o it_o will_v be_v a_o great_a attempt_n to_o change_v my_o value_n of_o it_o isot._n these_o be_v all_o brave_a story_n well_o contrive_v for_o triumph_v among_o ignorant_o but_o these_o pretence_n f●om_fw-mi antiquity_n have_v be_v so_o battle_v by_o the_o learned_a assertor_n of_o presbyterial_a government_n that_o i_o wonder_v how_o you_o can_v so_o confident_o vouch_v they_o ●ince_n there_o be_v not_o a_o vestige_n of_o any_o disparity_n before_o the_o 140th_o year_n after_o christ_n and_o we_o know_v the_o mystery_n of_o iniquity_n wrought_v in_o the_o day_n of_o the_o apostle_n and_o that_o then_o there_o be_v a_o diotrophe_n who_o love_v the_o preeminence_n and_o the_o darkness_n and_o obscurity_n of_o the_o rise_n and_o progress_n of_o prelacy_n do_v the_o more_o confirm_v i_o that_o it_o be_v the_o mystery_n of_o iniquity_n the_o pretence_n from_o ignatius_n epistle_n have_v be_v often_o overthrow_v and_o there_o be_v word_n in_o these_o epistle_n which_o clear_o prove_v they_o to_o be_v the_o contrivance_n of_o some_o impostor_n they_o be_v so_o inconsistent_a with_o the_o strain_n of_o religion_n and_o truth_n of_o the_o gospel_n not_o to_o speak_v of_o the_o orthodoxy_n and_o piety_n of_o ignatius_n and_o the_o simplicity_n of_o these_o time_n which_o demonstrate_v their_o interpolation_n evident_o for_o all_o the_o pain_n doctor_n hamond_n have_v be_v at_o to_o assert_v their_o faith_n and_o therefore_o these_o c●n_v furnish_v you_o with_o no_o argument_n see_v pag._n 145._o and_o 151._o poly._n i_o confess_v i_o can_v hear_v you_o tell_v over_o the_o argument_n of_o these_o pamphlet_n with_o some_o pa●ience_n but_o true_o in_o this_o instance_n i_o know_v ●ot_n how_o to_o treat_v you_o or_o rather_o he_o in_o who_o name_n you_o speak_v who_o yet_o will_v earnest_o persuade_v the_o world_n of_o the_o great_a skill_n he_o and_o his_o friend_n have_v in_o these_o thing_n sure_o they_o be_v the_o man_n of_o wisdom_n and_o one_o may_v as_o secure_o pull_v the_o hair_n out_o of_o a_o lion_n beard_n as_o twit_v they_o with_o the_o least_o degree_n of_o ignorance_n but_o pray_v tell_v your_o learned_a friend_n that_o in_o his_o next_o public_a appearance_n he_o meddle_v no_o more_o with_o antiquity_n before_o he_o know_v it_o better_o and_o discover_v not_o so_o much_o ignorance_n that_o one_o of_o a_o month_n stand_v in_o that_o study_n may_v laugh_v at_o he_o pray_v sir_n be_v you_o in_o earnest_n when_o you_o tell_v i_o that_o for_o 140_o year_n after_o christ_n there_o be_v no_o vestige_n of_o prelacy_n on_o record_n will_v you_o not_o believe_v irenaeus_n who_o live_v at_o that_o time_n though_o he_o write_v some_o year_n after_o and_o reckon_v the_o succession_n of_o the_o bishop_n of_o 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ambition_n and_o be_v all_o the_o other_o presbyter_n so_o tame_a as_o to_o be_v so_o ●asily_o whed●ed_v out_o of_o their_o right_n without_o one_o protestation_n on_o the_o contrary_a how_o come_v the_o eclipse_n of_o the_o church_n to_o a_o total_a obscuration_n in_o one_o minute_n what_o charm_n be_v there_o in_o prelacy_n at_o that_o time_n that_o the_o world_n be_v so_o enchant_v with_o it_o and_o that_o so_o soon_o after_o s._n john_n death_n when_o polycarp_n and_o many_o more_o of_o the_o apostolical_a man_n do_v yet_o survive_v and_o how_o come_v it_o that_o all_o the_o church_n do_v so_o unanimous_o concur_v in_o the_o defection_n and_o not_o so_o much_o as_o two_o witness_n appear_v to_o fight_v against_o this_o beast_n let_v i_o tell_v you_o free_o there_o be_v not_o a_o ravery_n in_o don_n quixot_n adventure_n or_o amadis_n de_fw-fr gaul_n but_o be_v like_a to_o prevail_v on_o my_o belief_n than_o this_o romance_n but_o for_o ignatius_n epistle_n the_o hazard_n of_o the_o issue_n of_o the_o debate_n about_o they_o be_v very_o unequal_a for_o if_o these_o epistle_n be_v he_o than_o he_o die_v so_o near_o s._n john_n day_n the_o cause_n of_o presbytery_n will_v be_v undo_v but_o though_o they_o be_v not_o he_o the_o episcopal_a party_n sustain_v small_a prejudice_n for_o from_o other_o trace_n of_o antiquity_n it_o can_v be_v make_v as_o clear_v that_o episcopacy_n be_v in_o the_o church_n from_o the_o day_n of_o the_o apostle_n as_o any_o historical_a thing_n which_o be_v at_o so_o great_a distance_n from_o our_o time_n but_o for_o your_o friend_n exception_n at_o these_o epistle_n they_o betray_v his_o great_a skill_n and_o tell_v clear_o that_o he_o understand_v not_o the_o question_n and_o that_o he_o h●th_v never_o read_v a_o page_n of_o doctor_n hamond_n though_o with_o his_o usual_a arrogance_n he_o slight_v all_o he_o say_v for_o have_v he_o read_v any_o pa●t_n of_o his_o dissertation_n he_o will_v have_v make_v a_o difference_n betwixt_o the_o 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shall_v not_o run_v out_o far_o upon_o ignatius_n epistle_n than_o to_o recommend_v their_o perusal_n to_o you_o and_o then_o i_o be_o confident_a you_o will_v discern_v such_o a_o native_a simple_a and_o sincere_o pious_a and_o devout_a strain_n in_o they_o so_o unlike_o the_o swell_a style_n or_o purpose_n of_o interpolated_a write_n that_o they_o will_v be_v their_o own_o testimony_n for_o convince_a you_o of_o their_o genuineness_n but_o the_o exception_n against_o they_o be_v so_o full_o and_o so_o late_o with_o a_o amaze_a diligence_n answer_v by_o doctor_n pearson_n i_o shall_v remit_v you_o to_o his_o labour_n if_o you_o intend_v to_o examine_v this_o matter_n accurate_o isot._n your_o conformist_n do_v likewise_o allege_v the_o 40_o but_o he_o shall_v have_v say_v the_o 38_o apostolical_a canon_n with_o a_o hint_n as_o if_o fifty_o of_o these_o may_v have_v be_v the_o apostle_n appointment_n though_o the_o heap_n of_o they_o be_v so_o full_a of_o novelty_n that_o their_o antiquity_n can_v be_v plead_v by_o any_o who_o know_v the_o state_n of_o the_o ancient_a church_n as_o appear_v from_o the_o 3_o 17_o and_o 25_o canon_n and_o be_v these_o canon_n receive_v they_o will_v prejudge_v more_o than_o advance_v the_o cause_n you_o maintain_v as_o will_v appear_v from_o the_o 4_o 33_o 36_o and_o 80_o canon_n not_o to_o mention_v the_o 24_o 26_o 28_o 41_o 53_o 57_o and_o 75._o and_o in_o a_o word_n these_o canon_n do_v only_o allow_v of_o a_o precedency_n of_o order_n but_o not_o of_o your_o prelatic_a power_n and_o superiority_n that_o claim_v the_o sole_a power_n of_o ordination_n and_o jurisdiction_n see_v pag._n 148._o poly._n true_o sir_n if_o the_o former_a exception_n do_v prove_v your_o author_n a_o second_o hand_n writer_n who_o vouch_v antiquity_n upon_o the_o testimony_n of_o other_o this_o do_v it_o much_o
which_o provoke_v god_n jealousy_n so_o much_o against_o we_o that_o it_o be_v unlawful_a to_o unite_v with_o it_o or_o so_o far_o to_o comply_v with_o its_o adherent_n as_o to_o unite_v with_o they_o in_o worship_n if_o these_o thing_n be_v make_v clear_a to_o we_o we_o need_v not_o amuse_v ourselves_o nor_o entertain_v one_o another_o with_o far_a jangle_n and_o therefore_o may_v break_v off_o our_o conference_n isot._n since_o you_o will_v break_v off_o i_o shall_v not_o struggle_v about_o it_o for_o it_o be_v a_o confession_n of_o your_o weakness_n that_o you_o pass_v over_o so_o many_o thing_n with_o this_o slight_a silence_n basil._n this_o be_v the_o genuine_a spirit_n of_o the_o party_n which_o you_o now_o express_v to_o the_o life_n but_o when_o ever_o the_o author_n of_o the_o dialogue_n undergo_v the_o penance_n of_o examine_v what_o you_o desire_v it_o will_v perhaps_o appear_v you_o have_v as_o little_a ground_n for_o this_o as_o for_o your_o other_o boast_n but_o i_o be_o sure_a no_o scruple_n stick_v with_o i_o about_o these_o great_a head_n we_o have_v examine_v so_o that_o upon_o a_o narrow_a survey_n of_o these_o matter_n it_o appear_v he_o have_v more_o reason_n for_o what_o he_o assert_v than_o he_o then_o vent_v and_o i_o have_v as_o little_a doubt_n of_o his_o be_v able_a to_o clear_v himself_o about_o other_o matter_n which_o be_v snarl_a at_o by_o these_o pamphlet_n but_o one_o thing_n i_o have_v not_o forget_v about_o which_o i_o be_o more_o solicitous_a which_o be_v a_o promise_n polyhistor_n make_v of_o send_v when_o our_o conference_n be_v end_v a_o account_n of_o the_o model_n and_o form_n of_o the_o ancient_a government_n which_o i_o desire_v with_o such_o earnestness_n that_o i_o wish_v we_o we●e_v go_v that_o he_o may_v be_v as_o good_a as_o his_o word_n poly._n i_o know_v not_o if_o it_o shall_v answer_v your_o hope_n but_o your_o curiosity_n shall_v be_v quick_o satisfy_v after_o i_o have_v give_v you_o some_o account_n of_o my_o design_n in_o it_o when_o i_o consider_v the_o ruin_n of_o religion_n and_o the_o decay_n of_o piety_n through_o the_o world_n i_o have_v often_o bend_v my_o thought_n to_o seek_v out_o the_o most_o proper_a remedy_n and_o mean_n for_o the_o church_n recovery_n and_o that_o which_o seem_v the_o most_o promise_a be_v to_o consider_v the_o constitution_n the_o rite_n and_o form_n of_o the_o ch●rch_n in_o her_o first_o and_o pure_a age_n and_o to_o observe_v the_o step_n of_o their_o dec●ning_n from_o the_o primitive_a simplicity_n and_o purity_n which_o be_v once_o full_o do_v great_a material_n will_v be_v thereby_o congest_v for_o many_o useful_a thought_n and_o overture_n in_o order_n to_o a_o reformation_n and_o this_o be_v a_o work_n which_o for_o all_o the_o accurate_a inquiry_n this_o age_n have_v produce_v be_v not_o yet_o perform_v to_o any_o degree_n of_o perfection_n or_o ingenuity_n therefore_o i_o resolve_v to_o pursue_v this_o design_n as_o much_o as_o my_o leisure_n and_o other_o avocation_n can_v allow_v of_o but_o as_o i_o be_v doubtful_a what_o method_n to_o follow_v in_o digest_v my_o observation_n the_o canon_n vulgar_o call_v apostolical_a offer_v themselves_o to_o my_o thought_n i_o thereupon_o resolve_v to_o follow_v their_o tract_n and_o to_o compile_v such_o hint_n as_o i_o can_v gather_v on_o my_o way_n for_o give_v a_o clear_a view_n of_o the_o state_n of_o the_o church_n in_o the_o first_o age_n as_o for_o the_o opinion_n of_o the_o ancient_a father_n these_o have_v be_v so_o copious_o examine_v by_o the_o writer_n of_o controversy_n that_o scarce_o any_o thing_n can_v be_v add_v to_o those_o who_o go_v before_o we_o bet_v few_o have_v be_v at_o such_o pain_n for_o search_v into_o their_o practice_n and_o rule_n for_o discipline_n and_o worship_n wherein_o their_o excellency_n and_o strength_n lay_v in_o this_o inquiry_n i_o have_v now_o make_v good_a advance_n but_o at_o present_a i_o will_v only_o send_v you_o my_o observation_n on_o the_o two_o first_o canon_n and_o as_o you_o shall_v find_v this_o task_n have_v succee_v with_o i_o i_o will_v be_v encourage_v to_o break_v it_o off_o or_o to_o pursue_v it_o far_o only_o on_o the_o way_n let_v i_o tell_v you_o that_o i_o be_o so_o far_o from_o think_v these_o canon_n apostolical_a that_o nothing_o can_v be_v more_o evident_a than_o that_o they_o be_v a_o collection_n make_v in_o the_o three_o century_n at_o soon_a for_o the_o matter_n of_o almost_o every_o canon_n discover_v this_o when_o well_o examine_v and_o therefore_o that_o epistle_n of_o zephir●us_a the_o pope_n who_o live_v about_o the_o year_n 20_o that_o mention_n ●●●or_a as_o other_o cite_v it_o 70._o of_o the_o apostle_n say_n be_v not_o to_o be_v consider_v that_o epistle_n with_o the_o other_o decretal_n be_v so_o manifest_o spurious_a that_o it_o can_v be_v doubt_v by_o any_o who_o read_v they_o and_o the_o number_n sixty_o agree_v with_o no_o edition_n for_o they_o be_v either_o fifty_o or_o 85._o 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meeting_n so_o that_o what_o in_o all_o age_n of_o the_o church_n have_v be_v look_v on_o as_o the_o great_a cherish_n of_o devotion_n and_o true_a piety_n and_o the_o chief_a preserver_n of_o peace_n among_o c●●●ti●ns_n be_v wear_v out_o of_o practice_n with_o our_o new_a model_v christian_n these_o be_v the_o visible_a effect_n of_o separate_a practice_n but_o i_o shall_v not_o play_v the_o uncharitable_a divine_a to_o guess_v at_o the_o secret_a mischief_n such_o course_n may_v be_v guilty_a of_o basil._n true_o what_o you_o have_v lay_v out_o be_v so_o well_o know_v to_o we_o all_o that_o i_o be_o confident_a isotimus_n himself_o must_v with_o much_o sorrow_n acknowledge_v what_o wicked_a art_n these_o be_v that_o some_o use_n to_o dislocate_v the_o body_n of_o christ_n and_o to_o sacrifice_v the_o interest_n of_o religion_n