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	pure_a	unfeigned_a	2,187	5	10.9762	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A40635	Peace and holiness in three sermons upon several occasions / by Ignatius Fuller.	Fuller, Ignatius, 1624 or 5-1711.	1672 (1672)	Wing F2390; Wing F2391; Wing F2392; ESTC R2184	61,487	158

a word Repentance or newness of life is the life of Charity and the Basis or the Ground-work of that is the abrenunciation or denial of our selves Now to a perfect Self-denial because it is so thwart and contradictious to flesh and blood a very high Faith and Hope are requisite But for the measure or extent of Faith or Hope either in number of the Articles or their intensness or degree in such Articles as we believe we conceive we have no absolute Precept at all written no more than for other things which Jesus did which are Et multae gentes barbarorum sine charta atramento fidem sine literis crediderunt Irenaeus 3. 4. not written so that they be but sufficient to produce sincere obedience to the Precept of Christ Now if we would improve this Notion let us diligently consider what connexion that Article of Faith hath with our Christian practice which is propounded to us if it do neither support our Hope nor direct our Obedience Whether it be true or false be sure it will never make amends for the loss of peace in our Church So that you have here an Authentick Standard by which you may take the worth of Opinions If they intirely agree with the Doctrine of our Lord and are ministerial and subservient to the advancement of Vertue and Piety in the lives of men we may well hope they are part of the Faith which was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at once delivered and is worthy to be contended for But if opinions disserve the great ends of the Gospel if they render it unintelligible consequently incredible if they be too srequent occasions of our remissness and slackness in running the Race of our Christian profession of our deferring Repentance and conversion to God of our frequent relapses into sin and Security in it if they put men in hope of Eternal happiness by any other means save only the narrow way of sincere and universal Obedience grounded upon a true and lively Faith I fear their fautors and promoters especially if they be contentious for them are too too lively characterized by pride ignorance corruption and destitution of the Truth and I could wish that nothing had happened within our observation to give us cause to suspect the malignant influences of some mens Principles into their lives and practises otherwise I do not understand how such gross Immoralities should be found in consort with such high Professions But what else must we expect from them that depretiate Morality and contradistinguish Religion to it though St. James hath told us Pure Religion and undefiled before God James 1. 27. Octav. in Min. Fel. apud nos religiosior ille qui justior is to visit the fatherless and the widow and to keep thy self unspotted from the world But I expect these zealous contenders should resent my elevation and extenuation of Errors forsooth to whom I 'le only say That when the learned and pious Abram Scultetus had not without a becoming resentment reflected upon the Chairs and Pulpits of Vniversities and Churches from whence Satyrs and poinant invectives were wont to be slung and often against imaginary enemies he adds If you shew your self but a little more In Tit. c. 3. Quod si paul● benignius de Controversiis evangelicorum sentias c. charitable to dissenters and labour to reduce Churches divided in some few Articles to an amicable concord without an Imperious and Magisterial decision of the Controversies you shall instantly in all places be proclaimed an Atheist it seems the good man had found it by experience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 illico proclamabere expertus hoc scribo that you shame not forsooth to joyn truth and falshood Christ and Belial nor are we any whit mollified saith he in so long a tract of time nor do we lay aside that considerate Zeal and impotency of mind notwithstanding the inundation of publick calamities which overwhelms us but like the Cockles in Aesop rejoyce and sing while our houses are on fire So we exult in our Pride and Folly and think by renewing our holy Wars to procure new Garlands and Triumphs over our Brethren whom we have blackned and deformed with our uncharitable Pens But what shall we say to that admirable Epistle of Constantine to Alexander and Arrius most likely not without the advice and privity of Hosius then Bishop of Corduba whom the Emperour loved and trusted much and employed in the delivery of the Letters Thus summ'd up by an excellent Prelate of our own First he calls it a certain vain piece of a Question ill begun and more unadvisedly published a question which no Law nor Ecclesiastical Canon defineth a fruitless contention the product of idle brains a matter so nice so obscure so intricate that it was neither to be explicated by the Clergy nor understood by the people A dispute of words a Doctrine inexplicable but most dangerous when taught least it introduced discord or blasphemy And therefore the Objector was rash and the Answerer unadvised For it concerned not the substance of Faith or the Worship of God or any chief Commandement of Scripture and therefore why should it be the matter of discord For though the matter be grave yet because neither necessary nor explicable the contention is trifling and toyish and therefore as the Philosophers of the same Sect though differing in the explication of an opinion yet more love for the unity of the Profession than disagree for the difference of opinion So should Christians believe in the same God retaining the same Faith having the same Hopes opposed by the same Enemies not fall at variance upon such disputes considering our understandings are not all alike and therefore neither can our opinions in such mysterious Articles So that the matter being of no great importance but vain and a toy in respect of the excellent blessings of Peace and Charity it were good that Alexander and Arrius should leave contending keep their opinions to themselves ask each other forgiveness and give mutual Toleration So that excellent Emperour But I 'le end all with one word to those Narrow men who think a System of dry and useless opinions serviceable enough if they be but the Shibboleth of a Faction that St. Paul had not so learned Christ for he tells us that the end of the Commandment i. e. the Gospel is Charity out of a pure heart of a good Conscience and of Faith unfeigned Now to the King Eternal c. THE END