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	heart_n	sprinkle_v	2,758	5	11.3113	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41780	Hear the church, or, An appeal to the mother of us all to all the baptized believers in England, exhorting them to stedfastness in the truth, according to the scriptures : together with some farther considerations of seven queries, sent to the baptized believers in Lincolnshire, concerning the judge of contriversies in matters of religion : in three parts / by Thomas Grantham.	Grantham, Thomas, 1634-1692.	1687 (1687)	Wing G1536; ESTC R5931	41,980	66

Hands and we are to be taught the Mysteries of the Resurrection and Eternal Judgment This Catechism saith he is perfect And indeed in the whole New Testament we meet not with such an excellent Epitome of the Christian Doctrine as in this place which was written to this Mother-Church 'T is true we have some mention of a Form of Doctrine delivered to the believing Romans And Timothy is commanded to hold fast the Form of sound Words which he had heard of St. Paul Christ is said to be the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession the Author and Finisher of our Faith we are willed to contend for the Faith once delivered to the Saints But none of these places do shew us as the Text under consideration what this Form of Doctrine this Form of sound Words this Profession and this Faith was in respect of the Composition and Foundamentality of them nor can there any thing be assigned that is so properly the Analogy or Rule of Faith as these Principles of Catechism Happy had it been if all Christian Churches had held fast this Catechism though no more had ever been composed Unity in the Truth would have been better maintained by this one than by so many as are now extant And sure this being of Divine Composure and Authority the Principles of the Oracles of God the Beginning of the Word of Christ must needs outweigh all others being but of Human Composition To begin with the first Principle of this Church let us consider 1. Repentance from Dead Works We are first to consider why Repentance is put in the first place even before Faith sure it is because no unrepenting Sinner can have the Faith of Justification therefore this Principle of the Christian Faith must follow Repentance There is indeed a Faith which we may call the Faith of Mankind to believe there is a God that will both punish Sinners and reward the Righteous and this Faith must needs precede Repentance Heb. 11. 6. This Repentance as it was a Principle of this Mother-Church comprehends three things a true Sence of Sin in the exceeding sinfulness of it in which respect it is said They were pricked at the heart and cried out or said Men and Brethren what shall we do Act. 2. 37. which is accompanied with Godly Sorrow and with Amendment of Life without which Repentance is rather to be repented of than to be esteemed any part of the Foundation of Christian Religion Repent ye therefore and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out Act. 3. 19. Without which Repentance there is no Remission Luk. 13. 5. Except ye repent ye shall all perish saith our Saviour How blessed had it been if this Doctrine had been preached and Men brought to the Obedience of it before they had been admitted to Membership in the Church of Christ The not keeping to this Rule has filled all National Churches with unregenerate unconverted Persons to the Scandal of the Christian Religion 2. Of Faith towards God in this Mother-Church The Excellency of the Faith of this Mother-Church appeared in these things That they gladly received the Word of the Gospel of their Salvation Act. 2. 40. To the illumination of their Souls and the expelling the darkness of Errour and Unbelief by this Faith they had their Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and their Confidence in God had a great Recompence of Reward in the Love and Expectation of which they willingly endured a great Fight of Afflictions whilst they were made a Gazing-stock both by Reproaches and suffering the spoiling of their Goods with joyfulness and were willingly Companions with and charitably compassionate towards those that were in Bonds for Righteousness sake working the Work of God ministring to the Saints labouring in Love all which are Arguments of true and lively Faith. Heb. 6. 10 11. Heb. 10. 32 33 34 35. He that reads and considers this Excellent Epistle written to this Mother-Church wherein we may be sure no new Doctrine is delivered but the same corroborated which they had received shall find that the true Knowledge and Belief of Christ was amongst them in respect of his Divinity Chap. 1. in respect of his Humanity Chap. 2. in respect of Priestly Office and Sacrifice with all other Offices to which he was appointed of God in the residue of the Epistle of which we cannot now speak particularly 3. Of the Doctrine of Baptism in this Church The Lord Christ had fully taught the Guides of this Mother-Church the Doctrine of Baptism both by Word and Example and thereby had informed them of a three-fold Baptism The first delivered by Precept himself making the People Disciples by teaching them to repent and believe the Gospel and then appointing his Disciples to dip them in the River in which respect it is said that Jesus made and dipped or Baptized more Disciples than John Mat. 4. 17. John 4. 1. John 3. 22. His own example being an unquestionable Rule for the manner of Baptizing he being Dipped of John into Jordan as the Greek hath it Mark 1. 9. and then coming up out of the Water And of this whole Church it is said their hearts were sprinkled from an evil Conscience and their Bodies washed with pure water For Baptismal Water is therefore purer because it is Sanctified for our Religious use both by the Person of Christ and by the Word of God. And of this Church was first required that every one of them should repent and then be Baptized and of them it is also said that they that gladly received the Word preached by St. Peter were baptized Acts 2. 38 40. They were also instructed concerning the Baptism of the Holy Spirit it being the Promise of the Father made to all the called of the Lord and was particularly applied to them and poured upon them in the way of Faith and Obedience To be willing to be Baptized with Afflictions for Christ and the Gospels-sake they were also taught by our blessed Saviour in his Discourse with some of his Disciples and by his own Sufferings Luke 12. 30. of which they were also partakers Heb. 10. 32. as also all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must expect the same And it would be considered by what Rule any man can take upon him to make Baptism the first Principle seeing Christ himself has made it the third Principle and by what Rule any man can call Sprinkling Baptizing Dare they speak as they act that is dare they say I sprinkle thee in the Name of the Father c. Would not their Conscience flie in their Face if they should so speak and yet behold they prevaricate in action and lye in expression in that which they call their Baptism God will surely send the proudest prevaricators in this case a Quo warranto for their presumptuous dealing herein Of the Laying on of Hands in this Church There are two great Blessings belong to all true Christians Remission of sin and the Gift