Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	communion_n	member_n	separation_n	3,098	5	9.7439	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86885	Comprehension with indulgence	Humfrey, John, 1621-1719.	1689 (1689)	Wing H3675A; ESTC R204501	6,819	8

in this accidental regard both to keep every several Congregation to that Gospel-Order themselves profess and to supervise their Constitutions in things indifferent that nothing be done but in Subordination to the Peace of the Kingdom Well let us suppose then a Liberty for these Separate Assemblies under the Visitation of His Majesty and his Justices and not the Bishops I would fain know what were the Evil you can find in them If it lie in any thing it must be in that you call Schism Separation then let us know in it self simply considered is nothing neither good nor evil There may be reason to divide or separate some Christians from others out of Prudence as the Catechumens of old from the fully instructed for their greater Edification and as a Chappel or two is added to a parish-Parish-Church when the People else were too big a Congregation It is not all Division then or Separation is Schism but sinful Division Now the Supreme Authority as National Head having appointed the Parochial Meetings and required all the Subjects of the Land to frequent them and them alone for the acknowledging glorifying or National serving and worshipping the one only true God and his Son whom we have generally received and this Worship or Service in the nature of it being intrinsecally good and the external Order such as that of Time and Place and the like Circumstances being properly under his Jurisdiction it hath seemed to me hitherto that unless there was something in that Order or Way prescribed which is sinful and that required too as a Condition of that Communion there is no man could refuse his attendance on these Parochial Assemblies without the sin of Disobedience and consequently his Separation thereby becoming sinful proves Schism but if the Scene be altered and these separate Assemblies made Legal the Schism in reference to the National Church upon the same account does vanish Schism is a Separation from that Church whereof we ought or are bound to be members if the Supreme Authority then loose our Obligation to the Parish-Meeting so that we are bound no longer the iniquity I say upon this account is not to be found and the Schism gone Lo here a way opened for the Parliament if they please to rid the trouble and scruple of Schism at once out of the Land If they please not yet is there something to be thought on for the Separatist in a way of Forbearanee that the innocent Christian at least as it was in the time of Trajan may not be sought out unto Punishment Especially when such a Toleration only is desired as is consistent with the Articles of Faith a Good Life and the Government of the Nation And now I turn me to the Houses My Lords and Gentlemen I will suppose you honest Persons that would do as you would be done unto that would not wrong any or if you did would make them recompence There hath been very hard Acts passed which when the bills were brought in might haply look smooth and faire to you but you saw not the covert art secret machination and purposely contrived snares against one whole party If such a form of words would not another should do their business By this means you in the first place your selves some of you were overstript Multitudes dispossest of their Livings The Vineyard let out to others The Lord Jesus the Master of it deprived of many of his faithful Labourers And the poor sheep what had they done bereft of their accustomed spiritual food to the hazard of their eternal Souls Among many Arguments therefore for Liberty in other Papers from Policy Convenience Reason of State and Reason of Religion I have this one to offer you of a more binding nature an Argument from Justice Rigtheousness and Restitution to the Displaced It is true that the Places they once had are filled and disposed but there are others enough There are many of those who possess theirs do also keep their own and keep more There are many who are Canons Deans Prebendaries that are also Parsons Rectors Vicars who have Benifices and Honours by Heaps and by the Bushel If it shall please You therefore in this BILL on the Anvil or in another to take cognizance of Pluralities that for the preventing an idle scandalous covetously overgrown unprofitable Ministery every man who hath more than one Cure of Souls or one Dignity shall give them up into a publick stock or to a general Distribution you shall do the Church right and the Ejected right you shall give such Drones their due and God his due and strew the way by this meanes for the making your Grace intended in this Bill of signification In the name of God Sirs let me move you to this if it were only Hac Vice for a present needful conjunction of us at this season We see the jawes of Popery and the Sectary opening upon us if the sober Protestant interest be not united we perish I know who will be ready to stamp here and throw dust in the Air for it is these Sons of the Horse-leech whose voice is still Give Give that will never be contented with a single Portion A Dignity therefore with a Living let them be allowed but one Dignity and one Cure of Souls should be all though they cut themselves with Lances It is this damn'd hard objection at the bottom the Priests covetousness and corruption rather than their dispute about things indifferent that really hinders the Churches Peace and Prosperity To conclude According to what every mans mind is most upon the Publick interest or his Own such is his value more or less The End