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church_n catholic_n communion_n external_a 3,566 5 9.8048 5 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A41202 A brief refutation of the errors tolleration, erastianism, independency and separation delivered in some sermons from I Job. 4. I, preach'd in the year 1652 : to which are added four sermons preach'd on several occasions / by Mr. James Fergusson ... Fergusson, James, 1621-1667. 1692 (1692) Wing F777; ESTC R21916 200,444 386

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again_o attain_v we_o read_v act._n 15._o 39_o that_o paul_n and_o barnabas_n part_v but_o we_o hear_v nothing_o of_o their_o meeting_n again_o and_o church_n history_n show_v we_o that_o schism_n in_o a_o church_n for_o almost_o just_a nothing_o have_v continue_v incurable_a for_o some_o generation_n until_o not_o only_o the_o author_n and_o ringleader_n of_o the_o schism_n but_o also_o their_o disciple_n be_v remove_v by_o death_n osiand_n gent._n 4._o reas._n 6._o when_o a_o rent_n be_v make_v in_o a_o church_n as_o it_o be_v hardly_o curable_a so_o it_o still_o grow_v wide_a it_o be_v easy_a to_o know_v whereabout_o a_o rent_n begin_v than_o whereat_o it_o will_v end_v the_o great_a of_o church_n division_n some_o of_o they_o at_o least_o have_v be_v observe_v to_o have_v have_v but_o small_a beginning_n hence_o be_v that_o common_o receive_v maxim_n omne_fw-la schisma_fw-la desinit_fw-la in_o haresin_n the_o faction_n of_o the_o donatist_n at_o first_o make_v but_o a_o schism_n 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about_o church-matter_n although_o not_o power_n of_o govern_v the_o church_n you_o know_v the_o civil_a magistrate_n or_o church_n session_n have_v much_o power_n about_o matter_n belong_v to_o husband_n and_o wife_n parent_n and_o child_n so_o as_o to_o censure_v and_o punish_v they_o for_o their_o unnatural_a carriage_n towards_o each_o other_o and_o to_o see_v every_o one_o do_v duty_n to_o another_o and_o yet_o neither_o the_o civil_a magistrate_n nor_o church_n session_n have_v marital_a or_o husbandly_a power_n over_o the_o wife_n or_o parental_a power_n over_o the_o child_n so_o as_o they_o may_v challenge_v the_o same_o duty_n from_o they_o to_o be_v do_v to_o themselves_o which_o the_o wife_n owe_v to_o her_o husband_n or_o the_o child_n to_o the_o parent_n the_o husband_n and_o parent_n only_o have_v that_o power_n so_o it_o be_v here_o
malice_n have_v set_v itself_o in_o some_o one_o age_n of_o the_o church_n or_o other_o to_o bear_v it_o down_o and_o god_n wisdom_n have_v still_o overshoot_v satan_n make_v use_n of_o his_o malice_n in_o oppose_a truth_n for_o the_o further_o clear_v of_o that_o truth_n which_o he_o intend_v most_o to_o obscure_a and_o darken_v satan_n first_o design_n in_o the_o first_o age_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n be_v to_o beat_v down_o that_o great_a fundamental_a truth_n of_o christ_n divinity_n but_o after_o long_o debate_v this_o truth_n be_v full_o clear_v by_o the_o mean_n of_o several_a worthy_n who_o spirit_n the_o lord_n stir_v up_o in_o these_o age_n to_o mantain_n that_o so_o much_o oppose_v truth_n satan_n therefore_o be_v beat_v off_o this_o strong_a fort_n of_o christianity_n retire_v a_o little_a and_o labour_v next_o to_o bear_v down_o the_o truth_n of_o christ_n humanity_n but_o the_o tru●h_v hereof_o the_o more_o it_o be_v oppose_v grow_v the_o bright_a the_o lord_n make_v light_n break_v up_o convince_o in_o the_o midst_n of_o hot_a debate_n satan_n retire_v a_o little_a further_o yet_o and_o bend_v his_o whole_a force_n in_o the_o follow_a age_n against_o the_o unity_n of_o christ_n person_n and_o next_o against_o the_o distinction_n of_o his_o nature_n but_o satan_n not_o prevail_v this_o way_n either_o he_o set_v himself_o to_o undermine_v christ_n jesus_n in_o all_o his_o office_n 1._o by_o set_v up_o the_o infallibility_n of_o pope_n and_o council_n against_o his_o prophetical_a office_n 2._o the_o doctrine_n of_o merit_n in_o the_o matter_n of_o justification_n against_o his_o priestly_a office_n 3._o the_o doctrine_n of_o freewill_n and_o power_n of_o it_o in_o man_n conversion_n to_o god_n against_o the_o inward_a part_n of_o his_o kingly_a office_n and_o for_o the_o outward_a part_n of_o it_o he_o set_v himself_o to_o wrest_v the_o sceptre_n of_o christ_n government_n from_o his_o own_o office-bearer_n and_o put_v it_o in_o the_o hand_n of_o pope_n cardinal_n archbishop_n and_o bishop_n but_o after_o long_o contest_v truth_n be_v now_o abundant_o clear_v and_o confirm_v in_o all_o these_o thus_o as_o one_o say_v the_o lord_n jesus_n have_v be_v content_a to_o dispute_v his_o ground_n by_o inch_n with_o the_o devil_n until_o almost_o he_o have_v beat_v he_o out_o of_o all_o only_a satan_n have_v no_o will_n to_o quit_v it_o so_o it_o seem_v to_o we_o he_o be_v now_o give_v his_o last_o and_o sore_a onset_a on_o which_o in_o a_o desperate_a way_n he_o be_v to_o venture_v all_o wherein_o his_o design_n be_v evident_a to_o cast_v all_o in_o a_o confusion_n first_o by_o trample_v under_o foot_n the_o outward_a court_n of_o god_n house_n i_o mean_v the_o constitution_n of_o his_o church_n visible_a by_o the_o doctrine_n of_o rent_v and_o separation_n and_o next_o to_o deprive_v the_o catholic_n church_n visible_a and_o all_o her_o considerable_a member_n of_o all_o government_n by_o the_o doctrine_n of_o independency_n which_o confine_v the_o whole_a power_n of_o the_o key_n within_o the_o narrow_a circuit_n of_o a_o particular_a congregation_n whereby_o all_o the_o particular_a church_n be_v leave_v as_o so_o many_o small_a boat_n in_o a_o storm_n to_o dash_v one_o against_o another_o have_v no_o intrinsical_a authoritative_a mean_a to_o make_v they_o steer_v a_o even_a course_n without_o rush_v one_o upon_o another_o thus_o satan_n aim_v to_o cast_v all_o in_o confusion_n that_o he_o may_v undo_v all_o what_o in_o former_a age_n he_o can_v not_o do_v in_o destroy_v gospel_n truth_n by_o piecemeal_n and_o one_o by_o one_o he_o intend_v now_o to_o do_v it_o by_o whole_a sale_n and_o all_o at_o once_o for_o if_o once_o the_o bottom_n of_o the_o ship_n be_v split_v and_o the_o rudder_n break_v the_o precious_a ware_n contain_v in_o it_o can_v hardly_o be_v preserve_v now_o that_o satan_n main_a design_n be_v to_o deface_v these_o truth_n which_o be_v about_o the_o constitution_n and_o government_n of_o the_o visible_a church_n that_o thereby_o all_o may_v be_v cover_v with_o confusion_n appear_v in_o that_o not_o only_o the_o method_n god_n have_v hitherto_o keep_v do_v point_n at_o it_o there_o be_v few_o other_o point_n of_o truth_n to_o clear_v but_o also_o the_o thing_n speak_v for_o itself_o the_o main_a speat_v of_o the_o error_n of_o the_o time_n run_v direct_o contrary_a to_o these_o so_o that_o certain_o as_o god_n intend_v to_o clear_a truth_n in_o these_o so_o it_o be_v not_o the_o least_o part_n of_o satan_n main_a design_n against_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n at_o this_o time_n to_o obscure_a truth_n in_o these_o this_o then_o be_v satan_n design_n i_o shall_v in_o the_o next_o place_n give_v some_o direction_n how_o to_o manage_v our_o difference_n so_o as_o not_o to_o further_o this_o main_a design_n nor_o yet_o be_v short_a come_n in_o our_o duty_n against_o it_o of_o which_o direction_n i_o shall_v reckon_v three_o first_o we_o ought_v to_o examine_v opinion_n and_o practice_n even_o though_o by_o we_o conceive_v just_a and_o lawful_a how_o far_o they_o may_v contribute_v for_o furtherance_n of_o that_o design_n and_o in_o that_o respect_n shall_v be_v more_o circumspect_a and_o spare_v at_o least_o in_o meddle_v with_o they_o thus_o the_o apostle_n paul_n gal._n 2._o 3._o will_v not_o circumcise_v titus_n though_o circumcision_n at_o that_o time_n be_v a_o thing_n lawful_a as_o appear_v from_o his_o circumcise_n of_o timothy_n act._n 16._o 3._o much_o about_o the_o same_o time_n and_o yet_o he_o will_v not_o circumcise_v titus_n the_o reason_n be_v v_o 4._o there_o be_v false_a brethren_n present_a who_o will_v have_v take_v advantage_n of_o that_o his_o practice_n to_o confirm_v themselves_o in_o their_o opposition_n to_o that_o truth_n which_o satan_n intend_v most_o to_o bear_v down_o at_o that_o time_n to_o wit_n the_o freedom_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n from_o the_o yoke_n of_o moysaicall_a ceremony_n therefore_o he_o think_v himself_o bind_v to_o abstain_v from_o that_o practice_n though_o in_o itself_o lawful_a and_o which_o in_o some_o other_o case_n will_v have_v be_v necessary_a and_o that_o lest_o by_o that_o his_o practice_n he_o shall_v have_v be_v advantageous_a to_o satan_n main_a design_n against_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n at_o that_o time_n it_o be_v true_a truth_n remain_v still_o truth_n however_o satan_n abuse_v it_o yet_o see_v all_o grant_n that_o the_o vent_n of_o some_o truth_n at_o sometime_o be_v unseasonable_a and_o so_o for_o that_o time_n may_v be_v forbear_v and_o see_v it_o will_v seem_v that_o nothing_o make_v a_o truth_n more_o unseasonable_a than_o when_o it_o be_v know_v that_o satan_n will_v make_v bad_a use_n of_o it_o for_o bear_v down_o that_o truth_n which_o god_n intend_v main_o to_o clear_v it_o will_v follow_v that_o the_o vent_n of_o such_o a_o truth_n ought_v to_o be_v at_o least_o with_o great_a modesty_n and_o much_o holy_a circumspection_n if_o not_o altogether_o forbear_v for_o that_o time_n for_o application_n of_o this_o direction_n i_o will_v not_o say_v much_o only_o i_o shall_v propose_v it_o to_o your_o serious_a thought_n whether_o or_o not_o the_o late_a proceed_n in_o opposition_n to_o the_o supreme_a judicatories_n of_o the_o church_n together_o with_o the_o tenet_n whereupon_o they_o be_v ground_v which_o for_o peace_n cause_n and_o from_o unwillingness_n to_o give_v the_o least_o occasion_n of_o irritation_n i_o forbear_v to_o name_n whether_o or_o not_o i_o say_v these_o even_o suppose_v the_o lawfulness_n of_o the_o practice_n and_o truth_n of_o the_o opinion_n seem_v not_o to_o have_v be_v unseasonable_a for_o the_o time_n as_o be_v apt_a to_o be_v abuse_v for_o lead_v people_n upon_o the_o error_n of_o the_o time_n such_o as_o the_o contempt_n of_o ecclesiastical_a judicatories_n quarrel_v the_o constitution_n and_o separate_v from_o the_o fellowship_n of_o our_o church_n i_o fear_v much_o it_o will_v be_v hard_a for_o people_n not_o acquaint_v with_o subtle_a distinction_n to_o conceive_v that_o any_o corruption_n among_o those_o with_o who_o we_o converse_v can_v make_v civil_a fellowship_n with_o they_o unlawful_a but_o it_o must_v make_v church_n fellowship_n especial_o communion-table_n fellowship_n with_o the_o same_o person_n to_o be_v as_o much_o if_o not_o much_o more_o unlawful_a but_o i_o forbear_v not_o be_v without_o hope_n but_o that_o brethren_n gracious_a and_o wise_a will_v ponder_v what_o they_o hold_v and_o what_o they_o practise_v when_o they_o see_v bad_a use_n make_v of_o it_o beyond_o their_o own_o intention_n and_o purpose_n there_o be_v one_o thing_n further_o i_o shall_v say_v for_o application_n chief_o upon_o the_o other_o hand_n and_o it_o be_v this_o such_o practice_n ought_v to_o be_v eschew_v as_o may_v prove_v unjust_a and_o unnecessary_a irritation_n unto_o people_n to_o