Selected quad for the lemma: church_n
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A48888
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The reasonableness of Christianity as delivered in the Scriptures
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Locke, John, 1632-1704.
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1695
(1695)
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Wing L2751; ESTC R22574
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121,736
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314
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especially if repeated over and over again in different places and expressions will be past Doubt and Controversie I shall pass by all that is said by St. Iohn Baptist or any other before our Saviour's entry upon his Ministry and Publick Promulgation of the Laws of his Kingdom He began his Preaching with a Command to Repent As St. Matt. tells us IV. 17. From that time Iesus began to preach saying Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand And Luke V. 32. he tells the Scribes and Pharisees I came not to call the righteous Those who were truly so needed no help they had a right to the Tree of Life but sinners to Repentance In this Sermon as he calls it in the Mount Luke VI. and Matt. V c. He commands they should be exemplary in Good Works Let your light so shine amongst men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven Matt. V. 15. And that they might know what he came for and what he expected of them he tells them v. 17-20 Think not that I am come to dissolve or loosen the Law or the Prophets I am not come to dissolve or loosen but to make it full or compleat By giving it you in its true and strict-sense Here we see he confirms and at once reinforces all the Moral Precepts in the Old Testament For verily I say to you Till Heaven and Earth pass one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law till all be done Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least Commandments and shall teach men so he shall be called the least i. e. as it is interpreted Shall not be at all in the Kingdom of Heaven V. 21. I say unto you That except your Righteousness i. e. your Performance of the Eternal Law of right shall exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven And then he goes on to make good what he said v. 17. viz. That he was come to compleat the Law viz. By giving its full and clear sense free from the corrupt and loosning glosses of the Scribes and Pharisees v. 22-26 He tells them That not only Murder but causeless Anger and so much as words of Contempt were forbidden He Commands them to be reconciled and kind towards their Adversaires And that upon Pain of Condemnation In the following part of his Sermon which is to be read Luke VI. and more at large Matt. V VI VII He not only forbids actual Uncleanness but all irregular desires upon pain of Hell-fire Causless Divorces Swearing in Conversation as well as Forswearing in Judgment Revenge Retaliation Ostentation of Charity of Devotion and of Fasting Repetitions in Prayer Covetousness Worldly Care Censoriousness And on the other side Commands Loving our Enemies Doing good to those that Hate us Blessing those that Curse us Praying for those that despightfully use us Patience and Meekness under Injuries Forgiveness Liberality Compassion And closes all his particular injunctions with this general Golden Rule Matt. VII 12. All things whatsoever ye would have that Men should do to you do ye even so to them For this is the Law and the Prophets And to shew how much he is in earnest and expects Obedience to these Laws He tells them Luke VI. 35. That if they obey Great shall be their REWARD they shall be called The Sons of the Highest And to all this in the Conclusion he adds this Solemn Sanction Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not the things that I say 'T is in vain for you to take me for the Messiah your King unless you obey me Not every one who calls me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven or be Sons of God But he that does the Will of my Father which is in Heaven To such Disobedient Subjects though they have Prophesied and done Miracles in my Name I shall say at the day of Judgment Depart from me ye workers of Iniquity I know you not When Matt. XII he was told That his Mother and Brethren sought to speak with him v. 49. Stretching out his hands to his Disciples he said Be hold my Mother and my Brethren For whosoever shall do the Will of my Father who is in Heaven he is my Brother and Sister and Mother They could not be Children of the Adoption and fellow Heirs with him of Eternal Life who did not do the Will of his Heavenly Father Matt. XV. and Mark VI. The Pharisees finding fault that his Disciples eat with unclean hands he makes this Declaration to his Apostles Do ye not perceive that whatsoever from without entreth into a man cannot defile him because it enters not into his Heart but his Belly That which cometh out of the Man that defileth the Man For from within out of the Heart of Men proceed evil Thoughts Adulteries Fornicati-Murders Thefts false Witnesses Covetousness Wickedness Deceit Laciviousness an evil Eye Blasphemy Pride Foolishness All these ill things come from within and defile a Man He commands Self-denial and the exposing our selves to Suffering and Danger rather than to deny or disown him And this upon pain of loosing our Souls which are of more worth than all the World This we may read Matt. XVI 24-27 and the parallel places Matt. VIII and Luke IX The Apostles disputing amongst them who should be greatest in the Kingdom of the Messiah Matt. XVIII 1. He thus determines the Controversy Mark IX 35. If any one will be first let him be last of all and Servant of all And setting a Child before them adds Matt. XVIII 3. Verily I say unto you Vnless ye turn and become as Children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. XVIII 15. If thy Brother shall trespass against thee go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone If he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy Brother But if he will not hear thee then take with thee one or two more that in the mouth of two or three Witnesses every word may be established And if he shall neglect to hear them tell it to the Church But if he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen and Publican V. 21. Peter said Lord how often shall my Brother sin against me and I forgive him Till seven times Iesus said unto him I say not unto thee till seven times but until seventy times seven And then ends the Parable of the Servant who being himself forgiven was rigorous to his Fellow-Servant with these words v. 34. And his Lord was worth and delivered him to the Tormentors till he should pay all that was due unto him So likewise shall my Heavenly Father do also unto you if you from your hearts forgive not every one his Brother their Trespasses Luke X25 To the Lawyer asking him What shall I do to inherit Eternal Life He said What is written in the Law How readest thou