Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	end_n	faith_n	unfeigned_a	1,201	5	10.8215	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52316	The project of peace, or, Unity of faith and government, the only expedient to procure peace, both foreign and domestique and to preserve these nations from the danger of popery and arbitrary tyranny by the author of the countermine.	Nalson, John, 1638?-1686.	1678 (1678)	Wing N113; ESTC R3879	154,518	354

grown so numerous that if they should by a Common consent have deserted the Empire they would have left Desolation behind them THIS being therefore granted That our Obedience to the Laws of the Polity or Nation wherein we live so long as they command nothing contrary to the Divine Law is a part of our Christian Religion as may be easily made appear from Reason Scripture and the Practice of the best and purest Ages of Primitive Christianity even in such Constitutions as concern the Government of the Church as well as the Temporal Affairs of State which was done with great happiness to both in the Reigns of Constantine the Great and many other Christian Emperors I will therefore proceed upon this Position to shew that in Order to the happy Condition both of Civil and Religious Affairs there is an absolute Necessity of Vnity and Vniformity of Government Ecclesiastical in a National Church THIS Necessity is grounded both in the Prudence of the Lawful Policy and Religious Wisdom I will begin with the Religious Necessity WE must therefore consider the Essence the Nature the Design and the Intention of the Gospel in that part of it which differences it from all other Religions both Pagan Jewish and Mahumetan for the Intention of that must be our Great Design if we will be true Followers of Christ and not in Words profess we own him but in Actions deny him and his Royal Priesthood over us NOW the very Essence of Christian Religion consists in Love or Charity this is the New Commandment and the fulfilling of the Old and herein it is that Christianity differs from and Excells all other Religions The Heathens knew no more of this than their Interest obliged them to and therefore all those of Different Nations Manners or Religions were esteemed Barbarians and Enemies and accordingly treated and had not God Almighty permitted the Regiment of the World to be Absolute and Tyrannical this want of Charity one to another would certainly have thrown them into perpetual Civil Wars and Confusion amongst themselves there being then no Rein upon Ambitious Spirits but Fear of the Arbitrary Power and Will of their Princes which was the Supreme Law by which they Rul'd their Subjects And even the Law of Moses according to the corrupt gloss of the Scribes and Pharisees said Thou shalt love thy Neighbour and hate thine Enemy Matt. 5.43 and according to the letter of it Exacted Life for Life Eye for Eye Tooth for Tooth But when the Eternal Son of the Blessed came into the World both to Redeem it and Renew it to Exalt men who were sunk into a Degeneracy below the Beasts that Perish and to make them partakers of the Divine Nature he teaches another Doctrine very harsh to Flesh and Blood but such as would in reality make them resemble God their Heavenly Father He teaches them to Love their Enemies to Bless them that Curse us to do good to them that hate us to Pray for them that despightfully Vse us and Persecute us by which Methods we shall come to be the true Children of the true God whose Glorious Sun riseth upon the Evil and the Good Matt. 5.44 45. and whose fruitful Showers fall upon the Just and the Vnjust This Love he makes the Foundation of Religion which he was to introduce into the World proceeding from the infinite Love of God to Mankind from the God of Love and therefore he tells us that the whole Law is comprised in these two Commandments Matt. 22.37 38 39 40. to Love God and our Neighbour And therefore he does so often repeat that which he calls the New Commandment Joh. 13.34 35. A new Commandment I give unto you That ye Love one another as I have Loved you that ye also Love one another by this shall all men know that you are my Disciples if ye have Love one for another And what he taught he also confirmed by his Example In that he died for us when we were Enemies NOW the Command being Vniversal to all those who are the Disciples of Christ they who hate another because they differ or dissent from them in some things which Christ having left indifferent has therefore left to the Wisdom of those with whom he intrusted the Government of the Church to determine as they shall Judge most conducive to this great Design of Charity cannot be the true Disciples of Christ 1 Joh. 4.40 for If any man say I love God and hate his Brother he is a Lyar. And therefore the holy Apostles and particularly the beloved Disciple St. John lays such weight upon this Duty and so frequently commands it that his three Epistles are scarce any thing else but a repetition of that Command and the reasons for it which brings into mind what I have somewhere read of that Apostle that in his extreme old age residing at Ephesus and governing the Churches of the lesser Asia when he was not able to perform the Offices of the Church yet he would be carried in his chair to the Assembly of Christians where he would several times repeat this Sentence My little Children love one another and being demanded the reason of this short but Excellent Sermon he made answer to this Effect because It did comprise the sum of all Religion and that Charity would cover a multitude of other faults And therefore St. Paul doubts not to give it the preheminence above the two other principal Graces 1 Cor. 13.13 Now says he abideth Faith Hope and Charity but the greatest of these is Charity For when Hope shall be compleated by possession and Faith changed into Fruition then shall Charity be most triumphant as being the Life of Heaven and the pleasing imployment of a glorious Eternity And certainly it is this love unseigned both towards God and towards our Brethren that is so of the Essence of Religion that without both these it is but a meer Impostor for no person can truely fear God who does not smcerely love him and no man loves God sincerely who does not love his Brother also 1 Tim. 5.1 For the End of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure heart and of a good Conscience and Faith Vnfeined NOW taking this for a Foundation which no good Christian can deny I proceed to shew that it is absolutely impossible to maintain this Charity without Vnity both of Faith and Government in a National Church and to make it evident I should need no stronger Argument than what the holy Apostle St. Paul subjoyns in the words following those of his last repeated From which says he some having swerved have turned aside to vain Jangling Here is the source of all the Churches Miseries this vain jangling has ever been the occasion of all those Dissentions and Divisions those mischievous Quarrels which have not confined themselves to Words but have proceeded to the Outrages of Blows and Blood it is want of Charity and that

Laws so all the Obedience of Subjects is confined to their Determinations in those particulars which God has left wholy in the Power of our Superiors and who ever resists or refuses to Obey shall therefore receive Damnation because he destroys the very Essence and End of Government and in saying We will not have this man Raign over us acts directly contrary to the Will of God who says he shall and that we must Obey him in order to the Peace and Happiness of the World the due Administration of Justice the Encouragement of Virtue and Practice of Religion by leading quiet Lives under our Superiors in all Godliness and Honesty by which Method we can only hope to arrive at Eternal Happiness in Heaven BUT Secondly Because all Ecclesiastical Laws which concern the Order and Government of the Church are of a mixt Nature Political as well as Religious and so are all Humane and Civil Laws too and therefore there is the same reason for Obedience to the one as to the other and they do both equally bind the Conscience to Obedience The same Power makes the one as makes the other the same Reason is the Foundation of the one as of the other they are addressed to the same End viz. the Peace Happiness and Prosperity of the People and therefore there is the same obligation to Obedience for the one as the other and all Men are bound in Conscience as Members of a Society to promote the Peace and welfare of that Society which is not to be obtained any other Way but by obeying the Command of God in being subject to the Government of that Society of which we are Members Observe the Command of God to the Captive Jews at Babylon Jer. 29.7 Seek the Peace of the City whither I have caused you to be carried away Captives and pray unto the Lord for it for in the Peace thereof ye shall have Peace So that if Peace and Happiness be the End of Society all Men are bound to Pray for it and promote it If the End be Commanded by God the Means to obtain that End must be Obeyed and God having intrusted the Governors of Church and State with the Means and Way of procuring this Happiness their Choice of some among all the variety of Expedients that may be offer'd must determine their Subjects and becomes the Rule of their Obedience as well in Ecclesiastical as Civil Affairs for if it were possible to separate these two then something might be said but the Peace of the State depending upon the Peace of the Church and vicê versa No man can truely be said to promote the one by destroying the other And therefore all men who are obliged to indeavour to advance one must do it by advancing both To make this clear I will give an Instance of the Power of the Civil Magistrate in the Church in matters of Order and Government David a man after Gods own Heart in the Worship of God which was left Undetermined he takes upon him to regulate the Church he Orders the Levites to appoint Singers on Instruments of Musick 1 Chron. 15.16 and Psalteries and Harps Cymbals and sounding by lifting up the Voice with joy They never stood to dispute with him because God had not commanded it that therefore it was Unlawful but because God had not any where Prohibited it and he was their King and might Command what was for decency and order in the Service of God therefore they ought to Obey and immediately they appoint Heman and Asaph and Ethan and several others for that Service David and after his Example others frame and compose Anthems Psalms of Praise and Thanksgiving in set forms of Words to praise God Because he is gracious and his Mercy endureth for ever Do the Priests and Levites now quarrel because they are not permitted to shew their Parts Gifts and Abilities in making Extempore Hymns or Prayers No such matter but presently in Obedience to God and the King they make use of those prescribed which are contained in the Book of Psalms the Ancient Liturgy of the Jewish Church This order was after continued by Solomon and approved by God For it came to pass 2 Chron. 5.13 as the Trumpeters and Singers were as one to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord and when they lift up their Voice with the Trumpets and Cymbals and Instruments of Musick and praised the Lord saying For he is good for his Mercy indureth for ever that the house was filled with a Cloud even the House of the Lord. So that the result of all is this That the Supreme Power of a Nation being of Gods appointment for the Ruling of the People in order to their Happiness and commanding nothing contrary to Faith or good Manners or any thing Prohibited by God himself ought to be obeyed by all their Subjects of what Degrees or Conditions soever in all their Laws Ecclesiastical and Civil in order to good Government Decency and Order both in Church and State and that since all these Commands of theirs are in Obedience to Gods Commands and in prosecution of the great Design of Happiness here and Eternally by promoting Peace Vnity and Concord therefore no Person can resist that Power by Disobedience but he resists the Ordinance of God and becomes a Transgressor to God as well as Man and runs the hazzard of Eternal Damnation due to all those who know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ LET Dissenters therefore either prove that the Supreme Powers are not Lawful that their Authority does not Extend to the Political part of Ecclesiastical Affairs that they have nothing to do to determine Differences that the things commanded are contrary to Faith and a holy Life are not conducive to Peace Vnity and the happiness of the Nation or that they are any where in direct Words or evident Consequence prohibited by God in Scripture or otherways they will never be able to prove that they are bound in Conscience to disobey Authority Let them not think to shelter themselves under the vain refuge that God is to be obeyed rather than Men. This is that which proves them Disobedient for they do not disobey Men but God in disobeying Lawful Authority when commanding nothing contrary to the Commands of God And whoever does so is managed not by the Principles of Religion but the Power of Interest Prejudice or Ambition IN short Is any Form of Government Lawful or Necessary in the Church that it is they affirm in desiring to Establish their own is Obedience necessary to Salvation they will tell you it is Let them therefore be their own Judges For if Obedience to their Laws and Government be necessary to Salvation it must be because their Authority is Lawful for that is the Rule of Conscience and if the present Authority be Lawful and theirs Vsurped then is their Disobedience Damnable and their Obstinacy

of Less Extent are to be regulated were intended as a defence and Protection to all providing one injure not another and that Common Peace and Safety be secured No other Subsequent inferiour Law can therefore debar any peaceable Christian that answers the Necessities of Church and State Civil Spiritual and Political in equal Justice and in Foro Conscientiae from this Priviledge Originally due to all And this he fortifies with the Confession of a Presbyterian Divine without a Name who never saw any Argument yet that could clearly Evince why any sort of Men who would profess a peaceable subjection unto the Civil Government might not in all their Civil Rights be protected by it Does not this oblige every Government to an easie Credulity to its own Ruine For the greatest of its Enemies will profess this Subjection till they have power to effect their Ends and by this Rule there is no care to be taken of Mens Principles or Practices if they can but speak Fair and profess they mean no hurt to the Government no matter for what may happen afterward the Governours may sleep securely till their throats are cut by these harmless Professors BUT taking this for a Maxim granted I proceed upon his own Words That no Tolleration of different Religion is to be permitted and that first from the Apostle St. Pauls Rule pag. 49. Hast thou Faith have it to thy self And seeing that Vniversal Vnity among Christians is not to be attained such a Tolleration of things tollerable is not only Lawful but necessary where a Latitude or Liberty is left in such things as are not clearly and positively laid down in Scripture in things of private Practice Which is just giving that Liberty which no man can take away every man being at liberty to believe and do so so long as he keeps it to himself and that it is Tollerable Faith by being to himself and his practice is truly private But why then does the Church of Rome Command us to believe Supremacy Purgatory Transubstantiation c. which are not clearly nor positively laid downin Scripture is this Good Just and Equal dealing with us BUT Secondly I Argue from his own Reason because nothing is more clear than that this Tolleration must of necessity destroy that Original Fundamental Law of Protection due to all from the Government which will not be able to Protect it self since it must Embroyl the Government and indanger its Ruine that being the very thing for which Tolleration is so earnestly desired For a Wise Government pag. 50 51. may tollerate at least in a private way with the Old bounty of giving what they cannot help different Opinions when otherwise the Publique may be intangled or indangered or rather because the Conscience cannot be compelled or Faith forced and more especially if they be such Religions as do not overthrow the Foundations of Truth nor such as disturb or impugn the Government Establisht or if the Professors thereof be such as are not Factious or pertinacious but Honest Simple Tractable Obedient to Superiors having no other End in holding their Opinions in Religion than Gods Glory or satisfaction of their own Conscience and withall are willing to submit to better Judgments when they are convinced to be Erroneous Pag. 52. For we ought to have a Latitude of Charity for those who Dissent if they be not Impostors or turbulent Incendiaries And who are there that will own themselves to be such It looks like Oliver Remonstrating or a Declaration of 41. and by this Rule all Sects Heresies and Rebels if they may be their own Compurgator● must be Tollerated too since they will Profess all that is here desired for Tolleration but by clear Consequence if notwithstanding these Professions they do intangle and indanger the Government then they are not be Tollerated but the Tolleration of all Sects though Charitably supposing them not Hereticks does not only destroy some one Fundamental of Religion but Religion in the Main by making it Morally impossible for any Man to know where he shall find a true Religion and plainly introduces Mahometanism that a Man may be saved in any and will confirm the Atheist and Libertine in their Opinions that there is no such thing more than in Mens melancholy Humors And it is impossible but the Professors of different Religions will be Factious and Disobedient to Superiors as daily Experience assures us and to Tollerate them is to give them leave to be so and to hold their Opinions for the subversion of Government and not satisfaction of Conscience as some who called themselvs Papists as well as other Dissenters have done in former times and for ought we know Design the same again and therefore I conclude with the Advocate p. 55. That where every one has Liberty to hold what he pleases which by this profession cannot be denied him so soon as he believes his Party strong enough to grapple with Authority he will Publish and Preach what he holds confined to no Rule or Order but contemning Law will Rule as a Transcendent and as he quotes the most incomparable Hooker lib. 3. cap. 107. Let them tell us of Obeying the Laws of God as long as they please we dare not believe them who break the Laws of those appointed by God to Rule over them For it is a Distinction without a Difference to seperate and divide the Laws of God from the Laws of Men and unless we observe both we Obey neither pag. 56. In these Cases says our Advocate Christian Governors are not to regard such Pleas for private Liberty as overthrow Publique Order and Peace Nor to regard those Clamours against them and the Laws as Persecuting when they do but oppose and restrain such perillous Exorbitancies as strike at the Foundation of Christianity and open a gap to Atheism Profaneness and Blasphemy here the Magistrate must interpose his Coercive Power for remedy Nor are they in this infringers of the Peoples Liberty but preservers of freedom not Oppressors of others Consciences but dischargers of their own by prohibiting men to vent their raw undigested Fancies to others to start Principles distructive to Government subverting Order violating Laws breaking Oaths and contemning Authority publiquely acting according to private Perswasion not regarding common Order or publique Peace but by a Seditious and Factious Liberty broaching their Opinions to others And there is a great deal of Reason why the Magistrate should use this Power to crush the Cockatrice in the Egg For pag. 58. if the publique Power shall suffer arrogant Ignorance excess of Passion perverseness of Will to come to its full Rudeness and Extent which it can do no way so readily as by Tolleration Tumultuary Numbers and Brutish Power will soon make good private Presumptions and cover the most Impudent Lusts Passions and Ambitions of Men with the Pleas and Outcrys of Christian Liberty And those who hold forth Notions and Conceptions of Reformation or wholly changing Religion and Goverment