Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	faith_n	good_a	sprinkle_v	1,324	5	11.3387	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34064	A discourse upon the form and manner of making, ordaining, and consecrating bishops, priests, and deacons, according to the order of the Church of England by Thomas Comber ...	Comber, Thomas, 1645-1699.	1699 (1699)	Wing C5464; ESTC R1808	281,164	522

observe so that we pray they may freely and willingly keep this promise in all the particulars such as being Loyal to the King Obedient to the lawful commands of their Ordinary constant in reading Prayers and Homilies or making profitable Sermons keeping the Fasts and Festivals of the Church strictly forbearing those gaities in their Habit and Freedoms in Conversation as also those Games and Sports which the Canons forbid to Clergy-men while they tolerate so much as is innocent in these matters to the Laity for it is expected they should be much more Spiritual and Nice in their Actions than others and abstain even from all appearance of Evil and if they obey not the Rules of the Church they teach others not only to disobey their part of the Canons but to despise themselves and trample on all Ecclesiastical Authority Yea I fear the common neglect of this Spiritual Discipline hath encreased Schism and exposed too many of our Order not only to censure but sometimes to scandal and such offences as grow upon the stock of taking too much liberty That they having always the testimony of a good Conscience and continuing ever stable and strong in thy Son Christ If they be thus inwardly disposed and live so canonically as is above expressed then they cannot want the testimony of a good Conscience and great boldness in the Faith which they have in our Lord Jesus Christ (l) 1 Tim. iii. 13. these two are necessary consequents of the former and so are linked to them and asked as it were together When they offered themselves to be ordained a Testimonial from others was sufficient to satisfie their Ordainer but after they are admitted the Bishop prays they may have that which was St Paul's comfort viz. the Testimony of their own Consciences (m) 2 Cor. i. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is That their Conscience may bear witness they have conversed with all Men especially with their own Flock in all sorts of Duties with Simplicity and godly Sincerity Conscience is that Faculty by which the Soul sees it self and compares its Actions with the Laws of God silently accusing us if we break them and excusing yea commending us if we have kept them (n) Rom. ii 15. So that no Man can have the Testimony of a good Conscience but he who is in all things willing to live honestly (o) Hebr. xiii 18. An Hypocrite may by fair shews deceive others into a good Opinion of him (p) Alius fortasse alium ipse se nemo deceperit modo introspiciat vitam seque quid mereatur interroget Plin. paneg p. 65. but no Man who hath examined his Heart and Ways can ever deceive himself (o) Hebr. xiii 18. We pray therefore that our Deacon upon tryal of his demeanor in his Office may not be conscious to himself of any willful Sin of Omission or Commission Which if he find he will have inexpressible comfort in this Testimony of a good Conscience and 't is a happy thing when after proving his own work he hath his joy in himself and not in another (q) Galat. vi 4. Meminimus quanto majori animo honestatis fructus in conscientiâ quam in famâ reponatur Plin. l. 1. ep 8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Democrit ap Plat. de prosect p. 81. They who only desire the reputation of being good but are not so are in perpetual fear of discovery and their character changes as peoples minds alter but he who is assured by his own Conscience of his sincere endeavours to do his whole Duty well hath his delights from himself and can rejoyce even when the World by mistake doth censure him 'T is one of St. Paul's qualifications for a Deacon that he have a pure Conscience (r) 1 Tim. iii. 9. And to that this petition alludes which begs of God that his dispositions may be so turned to Piety and Vertue and his Life so constantly agreeable to Spiritual Discipline that his own Heart may not condemn him for any thing but give him a good Testimony And this in the next place will make him continue steady in his hope and strong in his Faith of a glorious reward from his Master our Lord Jesus Christ let such as have neglected Christ's Service or done it deceitfully doubt and fear there is no reason for them when their Conscience doth not clear them to hope that their Lord who is greater than it and knoweth all things will acquit them 'T is only they whose heart condemns them not who can have confidence toward God (s) 1 Joh. iii. 20 21. Magna est vis Conscientiae in utramque partem ut neque timeant qui nihil commiserint poenam semper ante Oculos versari putent qui peccaverint Cicer. orat pro Mil. and St. Paul hath observed None can draw near to him in full assurance of Faith but they whose hearts are sprinkled from an evil Conscience (t) Heb. x. 22. To conclude Others may set out with plausible pretences and great expectations but none will ever continue stedfast and strong in Christ but they that have the testimony of a good Conscience 't is that will encourage them to persevere in well doing and secure them of an eternal reward as well as support them till they do obtain it May so well behave themselves in this inferiour Office that they may be found worthy to be called unto the higher Ministries in thy Church through the same c. He that is thus Qualified inwardly and outwardly being supported by the testimony of a good Conscience and encouraged to persevere by a stedfast hope in Christ will certainly behave himself very well in this inferiour Office and act becomingly and agreeably in every part of his Duty he will be diligent in his Study devout in his Prayers he will Read and Preach to Edification and live so as to be an Example to his People he will instruct with plainness reprove with meekness comfort with tenderness and succour the Poor with his own and others Charity whatsoever things are true and honest just and pure lovely and of good report vertuous and praise-worthy (u) Philip. iv 8. All this may be expected from such a Deacon who will be a credit to this inferiour Order while he remains in it and deserve according to God's own Method a greater number of Talents for using the first so well (w) Matth. xxv 29. Qui dum priora accipit posteriora mereatur Plin. lib. 2. ep 24. To this degree he was advanced in hopes of his good behaviour in it but when he hath used this Office well his merit will promote him to the higher Ministrations of the Church It is the Policy of all prudent Generals to observe in their Camps who do their Duty best in the place of Common Soldiers and these they promote to be first their inferior Officers as Vegetius hath observed and then by degrees these are

〈◊〉 Theophil ut supra Yet they must be always temperate not given to any kind of excess by drinking much wine at any time and to avoid the suspicion of this they are not to frequent places of publick resort unless on special business (p) Hoc prohibitum in Concil 3. Carthag can 27. Can. Apostol 42. Conc. Laod. can 24. Canon Egberti 18. Spelm. p. 261. Aelfri can 30. capit R. Franc. l. 5. can 173. canon 75. Eccles Anglican For Drunkenness is an intolerable sin in any of the Clergy and not only unfits them for all the sacred Offices but is so very Scandalous that they who bear this Character must avoid the very appearance and suspicion of it And the like care must also be taken that these Deacons who are trusted with the Administration of the Churches Charity be free from all inclinations to Covetousness which naturally and almost necessarily inclines Men to defraud Poor and Rich (q) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophil in Matth. 21. p. 121. Wherefore it is required that they be content with the provisions that are made for them and by their Charity and Justice give evidence that they are not greedy of filthy Lucre that is That they do not use any Sacrilegious or Scandalous way to enrich themselves such as embezeling the Churches stock Usury and Gaming (r) Can. Apostol 42 43 44. Bev. T. 1. p. 29. Concil Nicaen can 17. p. 78. Concil Carthag can 5. p. 518. Capitul lib. 6. cap. 200. nor may they intangle themselves in much secular business (s) Can. Apostol 6. ib. p. 4. Concil Ellib can 19 Carthag 1. can 6. 9. Concil 3. ibid. can 15. Concil Chalced. can 3. item Arelat 2. can 14. c. because they have spiritual work sufficient to take up their whole time and they cannot serve two such different Masters as God and Mammon (t) Matth. vi 24. Nor ought they to follow any mean or sordid Trade as the Apostles at first were compelled to do for better provision will be made for their subsistence and then such Occupations will be below the dignity of these Offices and make their Persons and Administrations also become contemptible Ver. ix As to their internal endowments they must be fully instructed in all the Mysterious Doctrines of the Christian Religion first having a clear understanding and firm belief of all its Articles and then holding the Mystery of this most holy Faith so fast that no Terrors may affright them into the denying it no Hereticks nor Schismaticks persuade them to forsake it And because this Faith teaches nothing but Purity and Holiness (w) 1 Tim. i. 19. (u) Ita Orant Graeci pro Diacono Euchol p. 250. So that they who make Shipwrack of a good Conscience by evil Deeds soon lose or change their Faith (w) 1 Tim. i. 19. therefore the Deacons must lead Holy Lives as well as believe aright and then they may rejoyce in the Testimony of a pure Conscience which cannot accuse them for any notorious Sin (x) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophil in loc Neither of these qualifications can be spared they must hold the true Faith with a Conscience void of offence (y) Ver. Syr. Arab. tum Conscientiâ purà vid. Polyglot and then alone are they fit for this Degree when they are perfectly Orthodox in their Judgments and very unblameable in their Lives Ver. x. And because it is so pernicious to the Church to promote Men into the Offices thereof who are not thus qualified let these also as well as Bishops and Presbyters first be strictly examined and diligently tried (z) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Graec. Ambitiosa lex est ad sacerdotium notae sanctitatis admittit inquirit in Mores Sen. controv l. 1. c. 2. before they be ordained And if there be any time and opportunity let them be proved by living with or near the Bishop for some time before that he may find out their inclinations and observe their conversation (a) Mos antiquae Ecclesiae inde clerici lectores c. olim facti erant antequam Diaconi officium susciperent and so may admit them safely upon his own knowledge and experience However he must be well satisfied they are worthy and then being ordained let them use the Office and do all the Duties of a Deacon being found blameless after they have passed so strict a Scrutiny Ver. xi But I do not think Marriage which is not only innocent but also honourable in all Men (b) Hebr. xiii 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys in Tit. hom 2. any impediment to the Office of a Deacon any more than it is to the higher Orders (c) 1 Tim. iii. 2. 4. for I allow them to be marryed Men and therefore give Rules concerning their Wives also who were of old called Deaconesses and in Baptism and visiting the Sick of their own Sex did Minister and had a solemn admission (d) Etiam nunc in Oriente Diaconissae in suo sexu ministrare videntur in baptismo ministerio verbi Hieron Com. in Rom. 16. Concil 4. Carthag can 12. Bever not in Concil Chal. can 15. Tom. 2. p. 118. For as this care is taken of the Husband even so must their Wives be grave serious modest and Matron-like in their carriage for an Example to all other Women (e) Animadversum queque est Pontificis uxorem singularis exempli magni documenti esse oportere Al. ab Alex. gen dier lib. 2. cap. 8. As to their words they must be true and charitable such Women of all others must not be slanderers nor apt to raise and carry evil Reports of any especially not of the Poor least they deprive them of that maintenance they need As to their carriage they must be sober at all times and very temperate so as to be always fit to joyn in Holy Offices and that they may not bring a scandal on their Husbands who probably may commit some of the Poors stock to them wherefore they must be faithful in that trust yea in all things whatsoever committed to their charge by the Deacons or trusted to their secrecy by those of their own Sex Ver. xii Yet I would not have Deacons chosen out of such as have formerly taken all that liberty in Marriage or Divorces which the secular Law now allows of having more than one Wife at once or marrying another after a Divorce from the first This is of ill fame at best wherefore Let the Men who are chosen Deacons be the Husbands of one Wife for Polygamy yea Digamy (f) Matth. xix 8. Inde Digami prohibentur eligi in clerum Can. Apostol 17. Leo. Magn. Ep. 87. Justin novel 6. c. 1. Excerpt Egbert Spelm. Tom. 1. p. 261. as well as marrying after a Divorce while the former Wife lives (g) Mark x. 11 12. Placuit ut secundum Evantelij Apostoli disciplinam neque