Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	earth_n	militant_a	triumphant_a	4,249	5	10.5933	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59850	A practical discourse of religious assemblies by Will. Sherlock.	Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707.	1681 (1681)	Wing S3322; ESTC R27485	148,095	402

but_o i_o will_v desire_v such_o man_n to_o consider_v first_o that_o this_o notion_n of_o a_o pure_a church_n and_o pure_a ordinance_n vary_v with_o every_o man_n fancy_n as_o have_v no_o foundation_n in_o scripture_n reason_n or_o antiquity_n when_o you_o distinguish_v a_o pure_a church_n from_o a_o pure_a church_n i_o will_v desire_v to_o know_v what_o great_a degree_n of_o purity_n they_o find_v in_o a_o presbyterian_a or_o independent_a conventicle_n than_o in_o our_o parochial_a church_n if_o this_o purity_n consist_v in_o doctrine_n government_n or_o worship_n that_o doctrine_n and_o government_n which_o be_v most_o ancient_a and_o most_o apostolical_a be_v pure_a than_o some_o novel_a and_o upstart_a opinion_n church_n form_n and_o model_n and_o that_o worship_n which_o retain_v all_o the_o institution_n of_o christ_n and_o administer_v they_o with_o the_o great_a order_n and_o decency_n and_o most_o to_o christian_a edification_n be_v as_o pure_a a_o worship_n as_o that_o which_o be_v slovenly_a and_o unbecoming_a the_o gravity_n and_o solemnity_n of_o divine_a worship_n that_o church_n wherein_o christian_n may_v enjoy_v all_o the_o mean_n and_o conveyance_n of_o grace_n without_o any_o corrupt_a mixture_n to_o spoil_v their_o virtue_n and_o efficacy_n be_v a_o pure_a church_n such_o a_o church_n wherein_o a_o christian_a may_v communicate_v without_o do_v any_o injury_n to_o his_o soul_n be_v a_o pure_a church_n and_o have_v all_o the_o degree_n of_o purity_n which_o be_v necessary_a to_o external_n communion_n if_o by_o a_o pure_a communion_n they_o mean_v only_o the_o communion_n of_o better_a man_n and_o of_o great_a saint_n they_o ought_v to_o consider_v that_o it_o be_v impossible_a to_o exclude_v hypocrite_n out_o of_o any_o church_n unless_o they_o pretend_v to_o a_o gift_n of_o discern_a spirit_n nor_o be_v it_o fit_a they_o shall_v be_v exclude_v while_o they_o be_v not_o open_o scandalous_a for_o to_o shut_v such_o man_n out_o of_o the_o church_n deprive_v they_o of_o the_o mean_n of_o grace_n and_o all_o hope_n of_o prove_v better_a men._n and_o i_o hope_v christian_n communion_n be_v not_o confine_v to_o any_o single_a congregation_n but_o every_o good_a christian_a who_o live_v in_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n enjoy_v the_o communion_n of_o saint_n in_o all_o the_o world_n be_v a_o member_n of_o the_o same_o body_n which_o consist_v of_o all_o the_o true_a disciple_n of_o christ._n nay_o i_o will_v desire_v they_o to_o consider_v that_o the_o glory_n of_o the_o christian_a communion_n be_v this_o that_o our_o fellowship_n 3._o be_v with_o the_o father_n and_o with_o his_o son_n jesus_n christ_n with_o the_o glorious_a and_o triumphant_a church_n in_o heaven_n as_o well_o as_o with_o the_o church_n militant_a on_o earth_n but_o you_o be_v come_v unto_o mount_n zion_n and_o 24._o unto_o the_o city_n of_o the_o live_a god_n the_o heavenly_a jerusalem_n and_o to_o a_o innumerable_a company_n of_o angel_n to_o the_o general_a assembly_n and_o church_n of_o the_o first_o bear_v which_o be_v write_v in_o heaven_n and_o to_o god_n the_o judge_n of_o all_o and_o to_o the_o spirit_n of_o just_a man_n make_v perfect_a and_o to_o jesus_n the_o mediator_n of_o the_o new_a covenant_n and_o to_o the_o blood_n of_o sprinkle_v which_o speak_v better_a thing_n than_o the_o blood_n of_o abel_n this_o be_v the_o church-fellowship_n which_o those_o enjoy_v who_o live_v in_o communion_n with_o the_o universal_a church_n and_o which_o schismatic_n have_v no_o right_n to_o and_o those_o who_o think_v to_o meet_v with_o better_a company_n at_o a_o conventicle_n let_v they_o take_v it_o but_o must_v not_o the_o christian_a church_n consist_v of_o all_o rank_n and_o degree_n of_o christian_n as_o our_o natural_a body_n do_v of_o several_a sort_n of_o member_n of_o different_a honour_n and_o worth_a and_o be_v it_o fit_v for_o strong_a and_o well-grown_a christian_n to_o separate_v from_o the_o weak_a and_o imperfect_a as_o if_o the_o eye_n shall_v separate_v from_o the_o body_n as_o despise_v the_o communion_n of_o the_o foot_n and_o yet_o if_o st._n paul_n say_v true_a that_o schism_n be_v a_o work_n of_o the_o flesh_n and_o the_o sign_n of_o carnal_a man_n we_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o look_v for_o the_o best_a christian_n in_o schismatical_a church_n but_o second_o it_o be_v never_o till_o of_o late_a day_n think_v lawful_a to_o separate_v from_o a_o lawful_a communion_n though_o as_o the_o state_n of_o the_o church_n in_o this_o world_n be_v it_o be_v subject_a to_o some_o defect_n and_o therefore_o the_o brownist_n who_o separate_v from_o the_o church_n of_o england_n pretend_v that_o her_o worship_n and_o government_n be_v unlawful_a idolatrous_a and_o antichristian_a and_o the_o old_a nonconformist_n who_o though_o they_o can_v not_o conform_v as_o minister_n yet_o very_o religious_o conform_v as_o layman_n both_o in_o prayer_n and_o sacrament_n condemn_v this_o schism_n and_o prove_v that_o communion_n with_o the_o church_n of_o england_n be_v lawful_a and_o therefore_o separation_n be_v sinful_a and_o i_o dare_v challenge_v any_o man_n to_o show_v i_o from_o the_o first_o beginning_n of_o christianity_n that_o ever_o it_o be_v think_v lawful_a to_o separate_v from_o a_o church_n where_o we_o may_v communicate_v without_o sin_n and_o three_o let_v these_o man_n consider_v that_o this_o notion_n of_o separate_n from_o a_o lawful_a communion_n for_o a_o pure_a communion_n lay_v the_o foundation_n of_o eternal_a schism_n for_o there_o be_v no_o certain_a rule_n for_o the_o degree_n of_o this_o purity_n every_o man_n according_a to_o his_o own_o fancy_n may_v refine_v for_o ever_o four_o if_o they_o do_v indeed_o think_v the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n to_o be_v unlawful_a and_o sinful_a i_o will_v desire_v they_o to_o inquire_v how_o they_o come_v at_o first_o to_o think_v so_o for_o this_o be_v a_o very_a material_a enquiry_n if_o man_n desire_v to_o know_v their_o honesty_n and_o sincerity_n in_o this_o matter_n for_o if_o man_n be_v at_o first_o by_o their_o own_o fault_n ensnare_v in_o a_o error_n and_o draw_v into_o schism_n how_o firm_o soever_o afterward_o they_o believe_v their_o separation_n to_o be_v lawful_a and_o necessary_a it_o will_v not_o excuse_v they_o it_o be_v impossible_a to_o know_v all_o the_o several_a way_n whereby_o man_n come_v at_o first_o to_o be_v engage_v in_o schism_n but_o i_o shall_v take_v notice_n of_o some_o few_o which_o seem_v to_o be_v most_o common_a such_o be_v these_o 1._o education_n 2._o lightness_n and_o giddiness_n of_o mind_n 3._o some_o distaste_n at_o public_a affair_n 4._o some_o quarrel_n with_o the_o minister_n of_o religion_n 5._o interest_n or_o the_o persuasion_n of_o friend_n 1._o education_n when_o man_n have_v be_v nurse_v up_o in_o schism_n from_o their_o infancy_n and_o have_v be_v teach_v to_o despise_v the_o common_a prayer_n before_o they_o can_v read_v and_o to_o call_v the_o church_n antichrist_n and_o the_o minister_n of_o it_o baal_n priest_n as_o soon_o as_o they_o can_v speak_v now_o it_o must_v be_v acknowledge_v that_o this_o be_v the_o most_o pitiable_a case_n and_o the_o fair_a excuse_n and_o apology_n that_o can_v be_v make_v for_o any_o man_n for_o we_o all_o know_v what_o the_o power_n of_o education_n be_v and_o how_o hard_o it_o be_v to_o deliver_v our_o mind_n from_o the_o first_o impression_n of_o childhood_n and_o youth_n but_o yet_o this_o will_v not_o excuse_v a_o man_n when_o he_o have_v attain_v to_o year_n of_o discretion_n and_o have_v opportunity_n of_o be_v better_o inform_v for_o if_o it_o will_v pagan_n mahometan_n and_o papist_n who_o labour_n under_o the_o same_o prejudices_fw-la of_o education_n have_v the_o same_o excuse_n we_o must_v offer_v up_o to_o god_n a_o reasonable_a service_n and_o that_o require_v the_o exercise_n of_o our_o reason_n in_o the_o choice_n of_o our_o religion_n as_o well_o as_o in_o the_o discharge_n of_o religious_a duty_n nay_o papist_n mahometan_n and_o pagan_n have_v a_o better_a excuse_n upon_o this_o account_n than_o our_o dissenter_n because_o their_o prejudices_fw-la may_v reasonable_o be_v think_v more_o invincible_a as_o will_v appear_v if_o we_o brief_o consider_v three_o or_o four_o thing_n first_o that_o they_o be_v the_o religion_n of_o their_o country_n which_o they_o have_v be_v in_o quiet_a possession_n of_o for_o many_o age_n and_o thus_o that_o reverence_n they_o pay_v to_o the_o wisdom_n and_o memory_n of_o their_o ancestor_n add_v to_o the_o prejudices_fw-la of_o their_o education_n whereas_o every_o one_o know_v that_o this_o present_a schism_n and_o the_o pretence_n whereon_o it_o be_v found_v be_v but_o late_a innovation_n a_o novelty_n which_o be_v not_o yet_o grey-headed_a and_o though_o antiquity_n in_o itself_o consider_v be_v no_o argument_n for_o a_o ancient_a error_n nor_o novelty_n any_o

mount_n but_o the_o christian_a church_n be_v arrive_v to_o a_o full_a age_n and_o set_v at_o liberty_n by_o christ_n from_o the_o yoke_n of_o bondage_n and_o 1._o therefore_o be_v not_o under_o servile_a restraint_n but_o have_v the_o government_n of_o its_o own_o action_n according_a to_o the_o general_a rule_n and_o prescription_n of_o the_o gospel_n not_o that_o every_o particular_a christian_a be_v at_o liberty_n to_o worship_n god_n as_o he_o please_v which_o can_v bring_v nothing_o but_o confusion_n and_o disorder_n into_o the_o church_n but_o be_v to_o be_v under_o the_o government_n and_o direction_n of_o his_o spiritual_a guide_n and_o pastor_n while_o they_o keep_v within_o the_o general_n rule_v of_o the_o gospel_n but_o the_o christian_a church_n enjoy_v that_o liberty_n which_o the_o jewish_a church_n have_v not_o that_o they_o can_v institute_v and_o appoint_v change_n and_o alter_v the_o external_a circumstance_n of_o worship_n as_o the_o necessity_n of_o the_o church_n and_o the_o edification_n of_o christian_n require_v so_o mu●●_n be_v those_o man_n mistake_v who_o argue_v from_o moses_n to_o christ_n that_o christ_n be_v as_o faithful_a at_o least_o as_o moses_n be_v and_o therefore_o since_o moses_n give_v they_o a_o exact_a platform_n of_o worship_n 5._o from_o which_o they_o must_v not_o vary_v in_o the_o least_o punctilio_fw-la therefore_o they_o conclude_v that_o christ_n have_v do_v so_o too_o though_o they_o can_v show_v where_o he_o have_v do_v it_o that_o he_o have_v prescribe_v such_o a_o exact_a form_n of_o government_n discipline_n and_o worship_n in_o the_o church_n as_o perpetual_o oblige_v all_o christian_n whereas_o we_o must_v observe_v that_o there_o be_v no_o christian_a church_n form_v in_o our_o saviour_n day_n but_o he_o communicate_v with_o his_o disciple_n in_o the_o jewish_a church_n while_o he_o live_v and_o give_v they_o authority_n and_o power_n to_o form_v church_n after_o his_o resurrection_n but_o we_o must_v observe_v the_o difference_n the_o apostle_n make_v between_o moses_n and_o christ_n that_o one_o be_v faithful_a as_o a_o servant_n the_o other_o as_o a_o son_n now_o a_o servant_n must_v exact_o follow_v his_o rule_n and_o order_n but_o a_o son_n govern_v his_o own_o house_n with_o great_a freedom_n and_o moses_n be_v a_o servant_n signify_v also_o the_o servile_a state_n of_o that_o people_n who_o he_o govern_v that_o they_o be_v in_o bondage_n under_o the_o rudiment_n of_o this_o world_n and_o have_v their_o task_n exact_o set_v they_o but_o christ_n who_o be_v the_o son_n and_o heir_n and_o lord_n of_o all_o have_v make_v we_o son_n and_o freemen_n too_o and_o therefore_o do_v not_o give_v such_o particular_a law_n about_o every_o little_a circumstance_n but_o expect_v from_o we_o a_o more_o manly_a and_o generous_a obedience_n and_o indeed_o there_o be_v great_a reason_n why_o the_o jewish_a worship_n shall_v be_v exact_o prescribe_v by_o god_n because_o it_o be_v typical_a of_o christ_n and_o the_o state_n of_o the_o gospel_n it_o be_v a_o visible_a prophecy_n of_o thing_n to_o come_v and_o therefore_o can_v be_v draw_v by_o no_o other_o hand_n but_o that_o which_o be_v guide_v by_o a_o omniscient_a eye_n whence_o the_o apostle_n observe_v that_o moses_n be_v faithful_a as_o a_o servant_n for_o a_o testimony_n of_o those_o thing_n which_o be_v to_o be_v speak_v after_o but_o in_o other_o matter_n the_o jew_n themselves_o be_v not_o under_o such_o confinement_n their_o synagogue-worship_n where_o they_o perform_v the_o duty_n of_o natural_a religion_n be_v order_v by_o their_o own_o prudence_n and_o direction_n they_o order_v the_o baptise_v of_o proselyte_n without_o any_o command_n or_o direction_n in_o their_o law_n for_o it_o which_o our_o saviour_n make_v the_o sacrament_n of_o our_o admission_n into_o his_o church_n and_o that_o bread_n and_o wine_n which_o by_o the_o same_o authority_n be_v add_v to_o the_o paschal_n supper_n be_v consecrate_v by_o our_o saviour_n as_o a_o festival_n commemoration_n of_o his_o break_a body_n and_o his_o blood_n shed_v for_o we_o and_o therefore_o we_o have_v little_a reason_n to_o doubt_v whether_o the_o christian_a church_n have_v the_o same_o liberty_n which_o the_o jewish_a synagogue_n have_v to_o appoint_v such_o circumstance_n and_o ceremony_n as_o be_v most_o suitable_a to_o the_o several_a part_n of_o religious_a worship_n 3._o the_o apostle_n who_o be_v authorize_v by_o our_o saviour_n to_o make_v disciple_n and_o to_o gather_v they_o into_o church-communion_n give_v general_a rule_n for_o order_n and_o decency_n and_o enjoin_v obedience_n to_o our_o spiritual_a guide_n let_v all_o thing_n be_v do_v decent_o and_o in_o order_n 26._o and_o let_v all_o thing_n be_v do_v to_o edify_v which_o be_v even_o the_o rule_n of_o the_o apostolical_a power_n which_o god_n have_v give_v we_o for_o edification_n and_o not_o for_o destruction_n now_o general_a rule_n leave_v man_n at_o liberty_n 8._o as_o to_o particular_a instance_n because_o a_o general_a rule_n may_v be_v comply_v with_o different_a way_n which_o be_v suppose_v to_o be_v in_o his_o choice_n who_o receive_v such_o a_o rule_n thus_o we_o be_v command_v to_o obey_v our_o spiritual_a guide_n obey_v they_o who_o 17._o have_v the_o rule_n over_o you_o and_o submit_v yourselves_o for_o they_o watch_v for_o your_o soul_n as_o they_o that_o must_v give_v account_n that_o they_o may_v do_v it_o with_o joy_n and_o not_o with_o grief_n which_o when_o there_o be_v no_o fix_a and_o settle_a rule_n of_o government_n suppose_v that_o many_o thing_n be_v leave_v to_o the_o prudence_n and_o discretion_n of_o the_o governor_n the_o natural_a inference_n from_o which_o be_v that_o though_o there_o be_v no_o express_a command_n for_o a_o form_n of_o prayer_n or_o significant_a ceremony_n yet_o when_o they_o be_v order_v and_o establish_v by_o the_o unite_a wisdom_n and_o authority_n of_o church_n and_o state_n it_o be_v the_o duty_n of_o every_o christian_a willing_o and_o cheerful_o to_o comply_v with_o they_o while_o they_o agree_v with_o the_o general_a rule_n of_o gospel-worship_n 3._o let_v we_o now_o consider_v the_o example_n of_o our_o saviour_n while_o he_o converse_v on_o the_o earth_n which_o be_v a_o most_o admirable_a pattern_n for_o all_o christian_n to_o follow_v now_o i_o observe_v that_o though_o our_o saviour_n live_v in_o a_o very_a degenerate_a age_n of_o the_o jewish_a church_n when_o their_o priest_n scribes_z and_o pharisee_n by_o those_o character_n which_o he_o himself_o give_v of_o they_o appear_v to_o be_v very_o vile_a person_n yet_o he_o live_v in_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o jewish_a church_n though_o he_o be_v the_o great_a reformer_n of_o religion_n yet_o the_o time_n of_o the_o jewish_a church_n not_o be_v yet_o expire_v he_o form_v no_o new_a church_n but_o observe_v their_o public_a assembly_n of_o worship_n preach_v in_o their_o temple_n and_o in_o their_o synagogue_n and_o observe_v all_o their_o religious_a festival_n as_o punctual_o as_o any_o of_o themselves_o which_o consideration_n ought_v to_o give_v some_o check_n to_o those_o man_n who_o forsake_v the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n under_o pretence_n that_o there_o be_v bad_a man_n in_o it_o thus_o our_o saviour_n conform_v to_o all_o those_o laudable_a and_o innocent_a custom_n of_o the_o jewish_a church_n which_o be_v of_o humane_a institution_n and_o be_v not_o found_v on_o the_o authority_n of_o a_o divine_a law_n he_o celebrate_v the_o feast_n of_o dedication_n which_o be_v appoint_v by_o judas_n 22._o macchabeus_n and_o his_o brethren_n and_o the_o child_n of_o israel_n to_o be_v observe_v annual_o for_o eight_o day_n in_o remembrance_n of_o the_o cleanse_n of_o the_o temple_n from_o the_o profanation_n of_o antiochus_n 59_o and_o the_o regain_n their_o liberty_n of_o public_a worship_n this_o feast_n though_o it_o be_v of_o humane_a institution_n our_o saviour_n no_o where_o reprove_v but_o grace_n and_o countenance_n the_o solemnity_n with_o his_o own_o presence_n thus_o he_o conform_v to_o the_o synagogue-worship_n which_o be_v all_o of_o humane_a order_n and_o appointment_n as_o you_o hear_v before_o thus_o he_o who_o so_o severe_o reprove_v the_o superstitious_a abuse_n even_o of_o divine_a institution_n who_o despise_v their_o sacrifice_n and_o oblation_n and_o all_o their_o external_a and_o solemn_a hypocrisy_n their_o broad_a phylactery_n and_o their_o frequent_a and_o religious_a purification_n when_o they_o place_v their_o religion_n in_o the_o bare_a do_v those_o thing_n without_o attend_v to_o the_o end_n for_o which_o they_o be_v command_v do_v both_o practice_n and_o allow_v those_o humane_a institution_n which_o serve_v a_o good_a end_n in_o religion_n which_o be_v a_o plain_a argument_n that_o our_o saviour_n do_v not_o think_v it_o such_o a_o profanation_n of_o religion_n to_o appoint_v any_o circumstance_n of_o religious_a worship_n not_o command_v by_o god_n as_o