Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	good_a	love_n	unfeigned_a	1,422	5	11.0683	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A08844	A faithfull admonition of the Paltsgraues churches to all other Protestant churches in Dutchland. That they would consider the great danger that hangeth ouer their heads as well as ours by the Popedome, and therefore Christianly and brotherly cease the priuate vnnecessary and now too much growne strife vvith vs. Together with a short abstract of the warning about the Iesuites bloodthirsty plots published in print at Tubing. Published by authoritie. According to the original printed in the Electors palsgranes [sic] country at Nustadt, vpon the Hardt, Englished by Iohn Rolte.	Rolte, John.; Beard, Thomas, d. 1632.	1614 (1614)	STC 19129; ESTC S114063	23,398	47

Doe this in remembrance of me that is take this bread and eat it in remembrance that I as the true heauenly breade gaue vp my body for you euen to death on the crosse and haue spilt my bloud for the forgiuenes of your sinnes and shall be vnto you a true meat drinke to euerlasting life which meat and drinke neuerthelesse you must eat by true faith and let slip into your hearts that it may comfort wash quicken your selues both in life and death Admit now that we did erre with such a construction of ours yet did not such an error concerne the grounds of saluation for Saluation dependeth not in the bodily eating and drinking of the body and blood of Christ but saluation standeth in the spirituall eating and drinking of the body and blood of Christ as D. Luther confesseth himselfe therefore and if indeede we did erre about the bodily eating and drinking of the bodie and blood of Christ yet neuerthelesse did we not ouerthrow the ground of saluation with such an error Wherefore they haue no sufficient and vrgent cause for this points sake namely for so much as concerneth the holy supper wherefore they should condemne vs as heathens and with such condemning any longer hinder the highly needefull agreement of the Protestant Churches Intruth it were well to be wished Rom. 12.16 Rom. 15.5 1. Cor. 1.10 that we were all of one mind and vsed one forme of reasoning euen all of vs together of all and euery point of Christian Religion as also the Apostle Paul in diuers places most truely admonisheth vs therunto But it is vnpossible that wee can euer bring it perfectly to that passe in this life 1 Cor. 13.9 For we know but in part and God giueth alwaies more light in spirituall matters to one then to another as a man may notably see in the writings of the old fathers whereof not anie of them agreede in all things together If then wee shall not loue one another before and as brethren hould together till such time as we haue one vnderstanding and meaning altogether in all godly matters then shall wee neuer in this life loue one another and hould together as brethren Now then this is the very Pith of the whole Christian Religion that we doe out of a pure hart and a good conscience and faith vnfained first loue God who gaue his sonne to death for vs and then also our selues that we loue each other Therefore Paul giues vs not onely this commaund that wee should bee of one minde in all things and should be diligent to vse one forme but he giues vs also yet another commaundement to this effect that though there were some difference found in vs about the vnderstanding of godly matters we should not breake the bond of loue and part the vnity of the spirit but beare patiently the one with the others ignorance and weakenesse Paules words are these Phil. 3.15.16 Let vs therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded and if yee be otherwise minded God shall reueale euen the same vnto you Neuerthelesse in that whereunto we are come let vs proceede by one rule that we may minde one thing That is the commaundement of the Apostle Paul namely that we seperate not our selues for one point or other but giue place to God whosoeuer he bee that at the present houlds any vnfit thing to make it more knowne vnto him in his time And in the meane time walke peaceably as is saide according to the common rule or ground of Christianity wherein by the grace of God we do agree This command of the Apostle Paul louing brethren wee intreate you to consider and to begin from this time forth to liue brotherly and peaceably with vs. We do not desire that you should for our sakes be silent in any thing you hold to be truth or not to confute our grounds if you can do it But onely this is our desire that you would for those errors sake which we hould in your opiniō of the holy supper not so shamefully raile vpon vs and condemne vs in your sermons and writings When you shall but doe so then is the peace readily accomplished For we desire not to condemne you But when you liue godlily according to the knowledge which God hath giuen vnto you then hould wee you for children of God for brethren in Christ Iesus for all the errors which wee are perswaded that you haue about the holy supper And therefore it resteth in you louing brethren you can helpe the Churches of God if you so please And there is iust cause why you should please being it is so Gods pleasure and also our great necessitie requires it for it is vnpossible that ours namely the Protestant Churches should be able long to stand if we do not quickly make peace one with another and lay downe the vnhappie contention that hetherto hath beene betwixt vs. For by such strife doe we make our selues naked of all armor which wee should haue both from God and man against the Pope Psal 133. It so being that God will not assist the contentious but if wee agree and call vpon him with an humble spirit then will he bestow vpon vs his grace and blessing And indeede the power of the Protestant Princes and States is also not sufficient to counteruaile the Popedomes if they seuer themselues into two or three sides and the one part shall helpe to rippe vp the other As touching the common man he vnderstands almost nothing any more now of the abominations of the Popedome for that he heares almost nothing else from the Pulpet but onely railings vpon the Caluinists yea he heares that according to their teachers suggestions the Papists are not by much so bad as the Caluinists and therefore is it not possible that in the time of necessity hee should haue a sound zeale to fight against the Popedome but in time he will hould as much of one Religion as of another And grant it that we should neuer be bodily set vpon by the Papists yet are we at this very present so set vpon by them spiritually as neuer before the like The Iesuites plot subtilely day and night how they may make their bad cause good with serpent-like writings and on the contrary side bring our good cause into all euill suspicion not onely to the common man but also and that most especially to all great Princes We in the meane time are together by the eares and the youth of the Protestants study almost nothing else but how the Lutherans may match with the Caluinists and the Caluinists with the Lutherans that is God be mercifull vnto vs almost all the diuinity in our times of the Protestants and should not a man also find a great number amongst the Preachers who doe not well and groundedlie know whereon dependeth the certaine grounds of strife betwixt vs and the Papists and wherfore our forefathers did separate themselues

let vs not iudge one another any more but vse iudgement rather in this that no man put an occasion to fall or a stumbling-blocke before his brother It may well be that we faile in something for we are men but consider louing brethren that you are also men and so may faile euen as well as other men Where now yee condemne vs and wee condemne you what will be the end thereof not otherwaies then that we shall be both deuoured Gal. 5.14.15 As it formerly befell to the Easterne Churches when they would not cease to condemne each other The Papists plot about it day and night how they may destroy and consume vs one with another When we now our selues shall desire the one to deuoure the other what shall wee otherwaies accomplish then that wee deliuer the Papists the sword into their hands wherewith to destroy vs all But and if we agreed and held together the Pope with all his adherents would be driuen to consider well with himselfe whether hee would take vs in hand or not But if we be separated from each other it will be no hard matter vnto him to deuoure one of vs after the other Yea indeed that is the very matter out of which the Papists ground their sure hopes that they will shortly againe be masters of all Duchland For say they the Protestants are seperated Iohn Paul Windeck in Prognostico futuri status Ecclesiae Luk. 11.17 and therefore their building cannot hold This rekoning the Papists themselues make and in truth it is an infallible rule for Christ faith himselfe Euery kingdome deuided against it selfe shall be desolate and a house deuided against a house falleth If we will not then cease one to contend with the other then cannot the Papists reckoning faile them but we must needs be made desolate It is true indeed the greatest part amongst those that call themselues Lutheranes suffer themselues to be perswaded that the blood-thirsty drifts of the Papists tende onely against those whom some call Caluinists As for themselues there is no danger at all for the Caluinists who hould but naked tokens in the Sacraments as they falsely accuse them are not comprehended in the contract of the peace for Religion But they themselues are out of all doubt comprehended in that religious peace and therefore the Pope dare not medle with them yes indeed no more then the Wolfe dare lay hould on the Sheep that is branded The Papists write and it is yet vnrecalled that they are not bound to hould that religious peace Iohn Paul Windeck in Pro. sut sta Eccle. pag. 326. no not with the Lutheranes For first it was forced from the Emperour by constraint besides that it was meant onely for a time which is now expired since the publishing of the decrees and explication of the Counsell of Trent and last of all the Pope neuer confirming the same therfore it neuer stood in any force indeed As also in like manner euery yeare in the day of the Lords Supper in Rome all they that are called Lutheranes as well as they that are called Caluinists are in like manner acknowledged and condemned for Hereticks and excommunicated and pronounced to be out of the number of the Church of Christ Therefore they are simple people that put any trust in this Religious peace Our agreement and bond next vnto God is a right religious peace indeed and had not iuditious Polititians of late hindered it at seuerall Parliaments when it was sought for namely by kindling a breach amongst the Protestant Princes by some of the contentious Diuines it would long since haue beene seene what had beene the force of a Religious peace When the Papists were masters of Aken what helped the Lutherans their Religious peace they must euen as well depart the Citie as the Caluinists And what manner of people were they which were persecuted and banished many yeares in Austria Carinthia Stiria also in Frankenlands and the Abbey of Fulda were they not Lutherans In summe the Pope loueth Luther and Caluin alike euen the one as well as the other and if he could this day destroy them both he would not tarry till to morow Therefore beloued brethren consider what we are to do The Heathen were formerly of such vnderstanding that whē they had a common enemy they layed aside their priuate and particular enmitie and appeared against their common enemy with one accord Wherefore should not we Christians also vse the same wisedome when we may with a good conscience doe it so that we may doe it well For concerning the Ceremonies there hath euer beene a difference in the Church of God and yet the ancient Fathers neuer condemned one another for it Neither is it the will of God that men should condemne each other for such outward things Mat. 12.7 Hos 6.6 I haue pleasure in mercie saith the Lord and not in offerings Besides Anno. 1556. at Franckfort the Protestant estates haue long since therein agreed that concerning Ceremonies when they agree with the word of God as the Wittenbergers Darmstatters and Giessers confesse themselues that our Ceremonies doe that no State should burthen vexe or damnifie another or falsely accuse them or permit any of theirs to doe so Concerning the doctrine thereabouts Paul giueth this rule that if men be agreed in the grounds of saluation then should no man be condemned for by faylings because God will not condemne such people and therefore also should not they condemne the one the other The words of Paul are these Another foundation can no man lay 1. Cor. 3.11.12.13.14.15 then that which is layd which is Iesus Christ And if any man build on this foundation gold siluer pretious stones timber hay or stubble euery mans worke shal be made manifest for the day will declare it because it shall be reuealed by the fire and the fire shall try euery mans worke of what sort it is If any mans worke that he hath built vpon abide he shall receiue wages If any mans worke burne he shall loose but he shall be safe himselfe neuerthelesse yet as it were by the fire See louing brethren Paul sayth plainely when one houldeth the grounds of saluation though he alwayes build not vpon the same ground gold and siluer but also some wood and stubble yet shall he not therfore be damned but be saued and their agreeing of euery man be acknowledged for a child of God Now doe we hold the foundation of saluation on both sides without back-sliding On the foundation of saluation for the foundation of saluation sayth Paul is Christ Iesus wherein we agree on both sides in one manner for we beleeue on both sides that he is the euerlasting Sonne of God which at the appointed time tooke vpon him the nature of man and so at present is both God and man and so shall remaine euerlastingly in one onely and vnseparable person yet so that the two natures that

are in him namely the God-head and the man-hood with their naturall properties remaine vnmingled euerlastingly and neither nature is changed into the other for else could he not be true God and man when he had not in himselfe as well the godly as the humaine and as well the humaine as the diuine nature which can no waies be made knowne one from the other but by their naturall properties Also we beleeue on both sides that he in his naturall body which he tooke vpon him suffered death for vs and arose againe the third day from the dead and ascended into heauen forty dayes after his resurrection and at this present sitteth at the right hand of God from whence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead also that in the meane time he causeth to be preached repentance and forgiuenesse of sinnes and that all that beleeue such preaching and repent them shal not be lost but haue euerlasting life that is indeed on both sides our faith And so we doe both of vs hould the foundation of saluation without backsliding Wherefore then should we not with good conscience keepe brothership one with another and in all that may befall vs hould together as brethren The Apostle Paul saith that we may not onely doe it with good conscience but we are bound also to doe it for he that houldeth the foundation of saluation which I haue laid saith Paul the same though he haue some wood and stubble in his doctrine which in time must be burnt with fire yet shall he be saued Shall he be saued then must he be a childe of God Is he a childe of God then must he also be my brother or else am I no childe of God Is he my brother then stands it not alone free for mee to performe brotherly truth and loue vnto him but I am euery way indebted to him therein It is very true there are some contentious ones that say that we haue not onely wood hay and stubble in our doctrine but that wee also erre in those points that concerne the foundation of saluation as namely of the person of Christ and of the holy supper but especially about the euerlasting foreknowledge of God or of free election by grace For of these last points say they giue we such fearefull reasons that no Christian can with good conscience acknowledge vs for children of God and is able to hould any brotherhood with vs. But if we be innocent in this one point then are we certainly without blame in these points for we beleeue and teach no otherwise of these points then as next the holy scriptures happie D. Luther himselfe beleeued and taught euen vnto the day of his death The summe whereof is to this effect Of the foreknowledge of God that mankind is so corrupted through the fall that hee is neuer able to beleeue in Christ or to come vnto him by his owne power though hee be called to him by the Gospell But that hee may vnderstand and receiue the Gospell of Christ God together with the outward preaching of the Gospell must also inwardly open his vnderstanding and turne his heart to Christ by his holy spirit And so is faith nothing lesse then a worke of free-will but a meere free gift of God which gift no man hath deserued of God It so being that al men are sinners But God giues such grace freely by grace to whom he will But those whom hee presently will those hath he willed from euerlasting according to the saying of Iames. Act 15.18 From the beginning of the world God knoweth all his works Therfore floweth faith from this spring euen the euerlasting foreknowledge of God And the faithfull haue no cause to ascribe it to themselues but to praise God that they do beleeue The vnbeleeuers also cannot ascribe the fault to God but to themselues that they doe not beleeue For though all men are so corrupted by nature that they cannot of themselues beleeue in Christ yet hath not God so corrupted them but they haue so corrupted themselues seeing that through the diuells prouocation they fell willingly from God About which fall no man hath cause to complaine against God though he should leaue all men in their destruction and vnbeleefe together And therefore that he doth helpe only some out of the same for that they are to magnifie his mercy and not to dispute with him about the rest But when as one desireth to know whether God hath foreseene and chosen him to euerlasting life or not Then shall he not search into the secret councel of God for such a searching is but in vain tendeth to no other end then to serue to bring one another to despaire or indeed vnto fleshly security But when one desireth to be assured whether he be ordained to saluatiō or no let him hold himselfe to the reuealed word of God and according to the command thereof beleeue in Christ repent And then need he not further search whether he be elected to life euerlasting or not for all they that beleeue in Christ without hypocrisie are chosen to life euerlasting as it is written All that beleeue in him shall not perish but haue euerlasting life Euen so and no otherwise hath D. Luther constantly taught continually of the euerlasting foreknowledge of God As is to bee seene in all his writings which hee put forth from yeare to yeare which writings he that hath them not or cannot read them let him read onely the abstract taken out of them and was printed certaine yeares agone at Amberge vnder this title Anno. 1598. The Constant doctrine of D. Martin Luther of the first mouing causes of faith Or hee that cannot get that abstract let him read onely the Preface of D. Luther vpon the Epistle to the Romanes in his Dutch Bible which he ouersaw a new and caused to bee printed the last yeare before his death there may he cleerely finde it And if hee haue an vpright heart in him must acknowledge that D. Luther neuer beleeued and taught otherwaies then as is aboue mentioned we therin beleeue and teach Whatsoeuer fearefull reasons are obiected against vs aboue and against such a doctrine they are nothing else then bare forges deuised by peace hating people thereby to discredit vs. And it skills not much that they note the books and leaues wherein such fearefull reasons stand When one is a mans enemy easily may he finde somthing in his arguments writings which hee may haue shew to make an euill construction of When Iulian the Apostata was enemie to the Christians he accused them that they would haue Magristacy cease and would cast all good order on an heap for they taught that men should not any more punish theeues and Murtherers but let euery man fulfill his owne euill desires and to shew them to be such he repeats Christs words You haue heard what is said eye for eye tooth for tooth but I say