Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	heathen_a	let_v	publican_n	2,742	5	10.9981	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28894	A looking-glass discovering to all people what image they bear by which the true Jew is known from the false, and the Christian in nature from him that is so in name only ... : with directions for such as live in error, how they may leave their error, how they may leave their error ... : with a few words to informers who make it their work to inform against their neighbours for meeting together peaceably in the fear of the Lord ... / by a follower of Him, Edward Bourne.	Bourne, Edward, d. 1708.	1671 (1671)	Wing B3847; ESTC R28496	17,816	28

have the Name but are out of the Nature They want the Nature of true Christians and so are like them who said They were Jews But did lye see Revel 3.9 The true Christians are guided by Christ's Spirit which leads them to love one another and their Enemies also and to bless such as curse them and not to overcome evil with the same but to overcome it with that which is of a contrary Nature to it namely that which is good and not to swear at all but to spake the truth without swearing in obedience to Christ Jesus who saith Swear not at all but their Yea is Yea and their Nay is Nay without an Oath as Christ teacheth so they are such as hear his sayings and do them and so differ greatly from them who call Christ Lord and yet do not the things which he saith and so the true Christians are subject to Christ Jesus in doing whatsoever he commands them the Spirit to Christ is that which they be led and guided by that holy Spirit which calls to follow peace and holiness with all men without which no man shall see the Lord though he be called by the best name and do profess never so much of Christianity Thus in shore I have shewed what it is to be a true Christian Object But it is commonly objected that things can never be well in Church or State which People who are contrary the one to the other in their Worship may have liberty to Worship God in their particular manners every particular sort of People viz. The Papists The Episcopal men Those called Baptists and those called Quakers c. Which must all have liberty to follow that which they think best This cannot do well say They We shall never do well until all are brought to one Uniformity in their Worship c. Answ Can you do better herein then the Apostle and Servant of Christ Jesus councelled in such Cases as these Who said Let every Man be fully perswaded in his own Mind in what he doth For whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin Now as the Papist would have liberty to Worship God in that Way which he judges best so the same liberty he would have must he give to another The Episcopal Man must do the same and so the rest And lay aside all Forcing and Compelling and Persecuting about these things and who are in the right Way let them make it appear by their Meekness and Gentleness and Patience c. And so let them by their sound Doctrine and good Conversation convince them that are contrary minded if they can so long as all these are peaceable and do nothing that tends to the disturbance of the Common Wealth nor to the injury of any Person but do onely Worship God as they judge they ought What shall Men take on them to judge in such cases and to Punish in such cases if such err in their Worship seeing it belongs to God to judge and Punish for the same Now if Men take this upon them do not they do what they ought not seeing the thing belongs to God and not to Man to do thus If any err herein they ought to be admonished that they may desist from their error and close which the Truth by which they see their error Christ said who is to be heard in all things If thy Brother offend tell him between him and thee if he hears thee thou hast gaind thy Brother see Mat. 18.15 16 17. if he do not hear take one or two more with thee if he do not hear them then tell the Church if he do not hear the Church then let him be as the Heathen or the Publican he doth not say Persecute him Burn him for a Heretick but let him be as the Heathen or the Publican Further Christ speaking of false Prophets said Believe them not But did not bid his Followers to Persecute and Destroy them And further consider Christ's Parable concerning the Tares which the Enemy sowed while Men slept and what the Housholder said to his Servant thereupon that informed him of the same see Mat. 13.24 25 26 27 28 29 30. Which plainly shews that such should be left to God who err in point of Religion and Church Worship to be judged by him for the same who is the judge of all the Earth and will do right So let all have liberty to Worship God as they are perswaded in their own Minds they ought and not be barred therefrom so long as they be peaceable and do nothing that tends to the disturbance of the Common Wealth or injury of any Person viz. Whilst these things cannot be justly charged upon them and this is Gospel liberty and till this be given viz. Liberty of Conscience in things relateing to the Worship of God it cannot be well in Church nor state Now if any err herein not willingy but do it because they judge they ought and are sincere herein towards God doubtless God will when he sees it best for such discover their error to them and lead them therefrom and guide them in the right Way by his own Spirit which doth not nor cannot erre so here is no liberty desired for People to live in drunkenness or in stealing from any or to offer violence to any Person c. if any do after this manner let them be restrained and punished as God by his holy Laws has appointed which answers that of God in all Peoples Consciences Here is shewed how People may know what spirit they are of whether they be the Children of the Most High God or the Children of the Devil c. THis must be by what is brought forth by them for by the Fruit is the Tree to be known whether it be good or otherwise For a good Tree saith Christ Bringeth forth good Fruit But an evil Tree evil Fruit c. So by what is brought forth may it be known or judged of what spirit People are or by what spirit they are led and guided Now the Children of God are led by his Spirit also the Children of the Devil are led by the spirit of the Devil The fruits of the Spirit of the Lord are these viz. Love Joy Peace Gentleness Goodness Faith Gal. 5.22 23. Gal. 5.19 20 21. Meekness Temperance c. And the fruits of the spirit of the Devil or the Works of the flesh are these viz. swearing upon any occasion whatsoever when People know by that of God in their Consciences they should not swear at all Drunkenness Lying Fornication Envy Malice Persecution Fraud Dissimulation Idolatry or any thing else that a Man may set up in his Mind and love more then the Truth whether it be Covetousness or whatsoever it be for all these are Idolatry and all these are evil fruits So who are in these things they cannot be said to please God nor to be of God who is the Author of all good in this said John The Children of God