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
A88868	Legenda lignea with an ansvver to Mr. Birchleys moderator. (Pleading for a toleration of popery.) And a character of some hopefull saints revolted to the church of Rome.	Lee, E., fl. 1652.	1652 (1652)	Wing L839; Thomason E1290_1; ESTC R208984	68,279	266

Birchley in his Demonstrative Reasons against forcing of Conscience concludes That the intolerable yoke of Popish infallibility is shaken off and yet his whole discourse a●ms at nothing but a toleration First for himself and the Papists of the Kingdom and Countrey and then he doubts no● but in time either by Insinuation or an Inquisition all his fellow-subjects may be brought under the same yoke He taxeth the Parliament charging them with the Abrogation of the Articles of Faith * Moderator part 1. pag. 2. and calls the factious swallowing of the Covenant which was the work and plo● of some few and a Declared party and the rash mistake of many a Reformation of Religion He calls the late Assembly of Divines at Westminster a Synod which no Learning nor Antiquity will allow but condemn either as a seditious and schismatical or ridiculous and impudent meeting And as for the Confession of Faith the Assembly after long sitting presumed to hatch it is agreed that as their Proceedings were preposterous their Conclusions were dangerous as neither savoring aright of the Spirit of truth nor humility And as for the persons of those who sate so long and to so scandalous and ill as well as little purpose the World knows they had most of them taken former oaths as that of the Allegiance and Supremacy and then the Protestation but no engagements as it appeares were strong enough to oblige their fidelity whose ambitious minds were inflamed with the hopes of high authority whose covetous expectations were fed with 4 s. per diem and the choicest B●nefices and their Brethrens just legall maintenance and livelyhood 2 The Author argues from the word of God That the Word being the sole Rule of Faith no humane Authority is impowred to bind up our assents in the interpretation of that Word a Conclusion so untrue an illogicall as may be For then the Commission of Ite Praedicate Go Preach and Teach was given to the Apostles to no purpose Then the Wife must not learn of her Husband at home Nor the Father teach his Children either the Commandements of God or the Articles of Faith if there were not an authority in the Teachers rightly and orderly sent Rom. 10.15 to oblige the Disciples and Scholars to the right Interpretation of holy Scriptures and if every ●ne be admitted to broach and defend his own s●ns● and opinion in divine Resolutions as in Baptism the Lords Supper or the like there must needs follow not a Communion but a Confusion amongst the Saints and best Christians To prevent w●ich dangerous inconveniency Saint Paul boldly rebukes the Corinthians charging them That they were carnall for whereas there is among you envying and strife and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 divisions are ye not carnal and walk as me● For while one saith I am of Paul and another I am of Apollos are ye not carnal 1 Cor. 3.3.4 And as the Apostle sharply rebuked the Corinthians for their divisions so he meekly entreated the Ephesians to accord in the Articles of Religion and to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace for there is one Body one Spirit one Hope one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all Eph. 4.4 Thus Saint Paul laboureth and pleadeth for Vnity in the Church as the best preservation of Christianity But Mr. Birchley pleadeth for a toleration of diversity in opinions and so in practice which Doctrin is neither true Divinity nor sound Policy unless by the multiplicity of opinions Master Birchley and the Papists hope at last to bring in Popery which hath much thriven by late endeavors of their subtle insinuations 3 In the third Demonstration Mr. Birchley answereth himself and seems to cut his fingers with his own tools when he urgeth that straight is the gate and narrow is the path and confesseth that here we see but in part and know but in part and that the Spirit bloweth how and where it listeth from these Texts of Scripture concluding that we must not despise the weak mistakes of our brethren This conclusion like others is brought in without Reason or Logick it had been more properly resolved that because straight is the gate and narrow is the path that leadeth to life Therfore it is necessary that some faithfull Pastorall authority like that of Saint John the Baptist Io 3.5 should level the Mountains of Pride streighten the crooked perversness of carnall humours and abate the swellings of self-opinion that Pride being humbled and Mistakes rectifyed the passage into the straight gate and narrow path might be more easie and possible And Mr. Birchley pressing that here we see but in part and know but in part therefore it is the more necessary that we should have Guides and Seers as well as Lights and Lanthorns to direct us in the straight and narrow way of Truth lest otherwise following the glympses of our own opinions and dark lights we fall into the dark fire of the infernall Pit 4 In the 4th Argument Mr. Birchley seems to speak rejoycingly because of a deliverance from the Slavery under the Prelats and from the implicit faith of the Papists and yet whiles he Plougheth his ground with these Heifers he Sowes the seeds of Popery under whose Prelacy is truly the greatest Tyranny that is imaginable And it is to be admired that Mr Birchley presseth so sharply against Compulsion of Consci●nce and yet pleadeth for a toleration of that Religion wherein is not only taught a necessity of Auricular Confession but the Priest as well punisheth as rectifyeth the Conscience erring or offending 5 In the 5th he tels us That force is punishment and consequently not just If this Position be true * Omnis denegatur haereticis facultas militandi quinimo extra urbis moenia a centur Lex fuit Imper. Theodosti Val●nt Arcad●i Vide Cod. Theodo Tunc Episcopi ne vi●us baereticum latius superet eosdem publice pronunti●tos haereticos co porali disciplinae subdendos Catholico Principi tradiderunt qui Praecepit haereticae infamiae characterem frontibus corum inuri spectante populo virgis exercitos urbe e●pelli Guliel Neubrigens sub Henri 2. Rege Ang. then Heresie and Blasphemie are not punishable but Christ gave another Rule commanding his Apostles to shake off the Dust of their shoes where their words were not received Mat. 10.14 And teacheth that if thy Brother trespass against thee goe and tell him his fault betwixt thee and him alone if he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy Brother but if he shall not hear thee 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 thee tell it to the Church but if he neglect to hear the Church let him be to thee as a Heathen or a Publican And as Christ taught the way the Apostles followed St. Paul exhorting the Corinthians being

then when once they begin to be vainely-confident in their owne fleshly Abilities But let our Governours beware lest such Terriblenesse and Pride of Heart deceive them as it did sometime the Edomites Ier. 49.16 Alas they will finde these Perswasions to be but false Enthusiasmes consisting onely in superficiall appearances without substance or like to the Egyptian-Reed on which if a Man lean'd it would pierce his hand As for the Time wherein this sad Presage shall bee accomplish'd though it bee not here punctually reveal'd yet by all probability it must be suddenly Neither let any Man thinke that I speake these Things by way of siding with Parties farre be it from mee for I call Heaven and Earth to record this day that what is here written is written from the very truth and sincerity of my heart Wherefore my humble Request upon the Premises is this That wee bearing Gods Image and the Names of Christians might no longer devote our selves like Beasts to Sensuality and uncleannesse that we might no longer blaspheme that Worthy Name by which we are called by such abominable Actions that the very Heathen blush at their remembrance But that whilest our Sun of grace shineth we might have a speedy and generall Reformation both in Church and State and that from the highest to the lowest having every man of us in particular put away the evill of his doings and removed the accursed thing from him wee might with the Ninivites humble our selves before the Throne of Grace with Fasting and with VVeeping and with Mourning crying mightily unto GOD that it would please his Divine Majesty to spare his Inheritance and to receive us graciously Who knowes whether the Lord may returne and repent and leave a Blessing behinde him I beseech you my Brethren in the Bowells of Christ Jesus let this my counsell be acceptable unto you breake off your sinnes by Repentance and make straight paths for your feete Lest the LORD kindle a fire in Ierusalem and there be none to quench it Why these strange and prophetique VISIONS should thus appeare to Mee above many thousands beside that I ever heard of certainly I know not neither can give any other accompt of it then from those Words of God Exod. 33.19 I will be gracious to whom I will bee gracious Nor shall I here have recourse to any mans private censure it being a Matter as I conceive altogether indeterminable and not obvious to Humane Reason To conclude This Paper I presume will meet with many skoffing and tumultuous Spirits as the World never yet wanted them taking it perhaps for some mad Frensy or Diabolicall Illusion and thereupon I say taking occasion some to mock it and others to persecute it as it is impossible but that Strong Meats will be offensive to unsound Digestions though those stomacks indeed that are better constituted will receive them according to their native worth all which I cannot helpe neither am I to observe Howbeit These are to let all men know that Herein my Conscience is discharg'd How reproachfully so ever the Things signified may by the men of this Generation be exploded and kickt at yet for those Types or Emblems by which they were represented to my understanding if wee compare them with the Types of sundry Prophesies in Holy Scriptures wee shall finde them in no measure contemptible To feare Persecution in this Matter I should sin egregiously This Burden I must deliver though Bryers and Thornes be with me and I dwell among Scorpions For Necessity is laid upon mee and woe is mee if I deliver it not Alas let such Evill-surmizers consider if these horrid Judgements befall this City as I am most confident they will unlesse a speedy Reformation prevent and I being thus pre-inform'd of them should neverthelesse retaine them unreveal'd I say let them consider what Blood-guiltinesse I should draw down upon my head by such silence And let Such likewise beware lest in persecuting mee they be found to fight against GOD. Delivered in a Copy from my own hand this 26. of Octob. 1652. FRA. WILDE THE PREFACE THE Broils * Quem bellum civile delectat eū ex numero hominum ejiciendum ex finibus humanae naturae exterm nandum puto Tullius Phil. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer Iliad and Civil Wars of my own Country caused my thoughts to wander abroad to seek Peace Curiosity invited me to be a Traveller * Mysterium Theologia facta est populare oblectamentnni vir faeninae senes paeri quaestiunculis ludunt sasciviunt 〈◊〉 Lipl advers Dialogist lib. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the dissention and distraction in Religions as well as Government hath prompted my thoughts to more serious observations left to much pleasing my sense with fresh varieties I might endanger my soul with the loss of heaven Apud nos etiam opificibus offusasunt arcana Theologiae atque●ta omnes inhiant ratiocinatiunculis sermonibus syllogisticis ut herbae pascu●s armenta I cannot boast of any content that I have met with by tasting of the severall waters so artificially distilld in other Countries Though I have seen the Popes Throne and his crimson Conclave of Cardinals at Rome Calvins Consistory and his Presbyterian Succession at Geneva Luthers rich Altars and Superintendents in Germany the severall Sects tolerated in the Netherlands the Jewish Synagogu at Amsterdam Nicep Greg. hist lib. 11. factionum principes interse digladiabantur linguas contrase mutuo ●rmabant non zelo divino sed itacundiae impetuducti Idem Hist lib. 6. yet I left a poor Persecuted Mother at home the Truth and Religion professed in the Church of England which is more lovely and truly venerable than them all I stretched my Travells to view the Romish Inquisitions and the Scotish Assemblies which have bended severities untill they are ready to break and it is hara to Determin whether of the two are more intolerable with their extremities In the multitude of these many objects Haec in Graecia olim fuere quando cum paulo post ruit my eyes have had many glances but my thoughts have chiefly fixed themselves on t●hse two great Enemyes who have on different Interests violently banded their greatest strength to ruine if possible my dear Mothers very being It was a piece of the Lord Archbishop of Canterburies Sermon before he dyed Venient Romani the Romans will come and will take our Countrey That Prediction proves now a true Prophecy See the Politique Union of * In illo vero die Pilatus Herode● facti sunt amici intersele nam antea inter se erant inimici Luke 23.12 bitter Enemies using the same † They set a trap they catch men Ierem. 5.26 means to contrary ends The * Quibus quies in seditionibus in pace turbaesunt tumultum ex tumultu bellum ex bello serunt Papist and the Presbyler both agree That the Scaffold was fitter for an Archbishops