Selected quad for the lemma: doctrine_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
doctrine_n	church_n	heresy_n	schism_n	2,940	5	9.8144	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56805	The conformist's fourth plea for the nonconformists wherein several considerations are offered for Christian forbearance : with some relations of some of their sufferings ..., together with some account of the infamous lives and lamentable deaths of some informers / by a charitable and compassionate conformist, author of the former Pleas.	Pearse, Edward, 1631-1694.	1683 (1683)	Wing P974; ESTC R34547	112,844	120

Tranquillity In few words Who can reckon the many Impieties of several sorts that break in upon the Kingdom of Christ at this great Breach The greatest and Sum of all is a Breach in the Communion of Saints in the Offices of Love The mischievous Effects of Divisions are so many Arguments for Union And that which doth prejudice sober Minds against the present Course of Informers and armed Men is That it tends to the extinction of Love and to enlarge the Division And for Union sake I desire the following Considerations may have the force of Arguments But before I come to propose them I desire it may be noted 1. It is and must be acknowledged that the King is Supreme Governor over all Persons and Causes Ecclesiastical and it belongs to his Office to protect and promote the true Christian Religion and preserve it from what is contrary and destructive to it 2. As the Offices and Duties of the Supreme Power seated in the Kings of England and Bishops and Pastors have been always distinguished by our most approved Writers as may be seen in Bishop Bilson of Subjection Bridges of the Supremacy Andrews Tortura Torti c. Dr. Nowel against Dorman which Dr. Reynolds brought to Hart in the beginning of their Conference who said That if we gave to Princes no more than Dr. Nowel did he did agree with it and King James himself 3. When the Magistrate exerciseth his Power by executing of Laws it is the Duty of the Pastors of the Church to use the Key of Doctrine that spiritual Means may be applied to the Souls of Men according to the prescription of our Saviour 4. Distinguish between Laws in their Intention and the Application of them which hath often fallen into such hands as turn them away from their Intention and do not observe them as a Rule to themselves in their Proceedings 5. No Apology is made or to be made for any seditions Practice or Doctrines for violation of Peace Subjection and Righteousness c. De vobis quidem dixisse Apostolum legimus quòd non sine causa gladium geratis ministri Dei sitis vindices in eos qui malè agunt sed a●ia est causa Provinciae alia est causa Ecclesiae illius terribiliter gerenda est administratio hujus clementer Commendanda est mansuetudo St. Aug. Epist 150 ad Apringium We may distinguish between peccata spiritualia secularia between spiritual Sins and secular His duplicibus peccatis puniendis c. In punishing these two Sins God hath ordained a twofold Sword or Punishment a spiritual Sword for spiritual Sins which is the Word of God and for secular and outward Sins a secular Sword namely Caesar's Joan. Brentius de Jure Magistratûs in Anabaptistas Again we may distinguish between both kinds of Sins and Evangelical Duties The Dissenters are not prosecuted for Infidelity Heresy c. or for seditious Doctrines or for secular Crimes and Offences but for meeting in such Numbers for Religious Exercises and Ordinances and for this only because in a manner different from the Church of England that is without the Liturgy as hath been said and should be kept in mind And the Prosecution begins by Informers usually false and wicked Persons that make a Trade of it and ends in Fines Imprisonments and corporal Sufferings The manner of doing their Work or Office is with prophaneness Impiety with what Wrath and Terror they can possibly cast a peaceable unarmed People into The Informers rush in with Bellowing and Roaring with Oaths and Impiousness Sometimes the Souldier comes in with his Pistol cock'd and threatens he 'll pistol any one that stirs he 'll crack the Preacher's Crown or pistol him These Things inserted to several Uses and for several Reasons which might be given I do present you with the Confiderations I. Can an Evangelical Union of Christians and Churches be ever hoped for by Anti-Evangelical Means and Instruments Aggravate their Religious Exercises in a manner different from the Liturgy as proceeding from Minds tainted with no less than Heresy and to be a direct and formal Schism and tending to corrupt and not to edify the Souls of Men What Means and Instruments more proper and effectual to attain a blessed Unity and to preserve a Christian Church than what are appointed by our Lord and Saviour Certainly he took care to preserve the Purity of Faith Doctrine Worship and Unity of the Faithful or else he did but according to what he blames in a Man that begins to build what he cannot finish sets up a Kingdom in Satan's Kingdom a Church in the Dominions of the World which would run into Confusion and Ruine from within it self except he took a course to preserve it To call and convert and not to keep but to lose had not been to act answerably to the glorious Name of a Saviour Since his Manifestation in the exercise of his Mediatory Office he fulfilled all Offices in his own Person as Prophet Priest and King After his Ascension he taught and directed his Church by his Spirit in his Apostles and Ministers and since their Decease by his Holy Spirit and revealed Will and Laws The Christian Church had all Power within it self before the Conversion of Emperors and Civil Potentates and since they became Nursing-Fathers and Nursing-Mothers the Church hath lost nothing of her spiritual Power by it for the Magistrate's Power is not privative but accumulative If Penalties Mulcts Fines Imprisonments and forcible Coertion had been so necessary it had been necessary to convert and set up Christian Emperors and Kings armed with a Civil Power as soon as he had given Success to his Ministers in calling a Church out of the World Yet this is not to be wrested to this very Construction as if the Church could do as well without a Christian Magistrate as with him It only pretends to shew us that our Lord Jesus hath left us Means and Directions sufficient for the preservation of his Church in Purity and Unity and that those Prescriptions are most likely to produce his Ends. Three things are pernicious to the Christian Church 1. Corruption of Doctrine and Heresy 2. Disunion and Schisms 3. Scandal in our Lives and Manners Our Saviour hath taken care to keep his Church from or to reform and purge it of all manner of pernicious Acts and Works of Satan and the Flesh And it lay upon him so to do more than upon the most Christian Magistrate or Pastor because he redeem'd his Flock with his own Blood and took upon him to be the Head of it and all the Honour he receives from the World is from his Church in it and therefore it concerns him so to govern his Church that he may be honoured in it and by it To this end the Lord promised to send his Spirit who is the Spirit of Revelation and Truth who leads Christ's Disciples into all necessary and saving Truth and the Spirit of Union with Christ

our Head and with one another as Fellow-Members We are instructed in the same Doctrine governed by the same Laws of Worship and Conversation and entitled to the same Promises and Hope of Eternal Life we are employed in the same Service engaged in the same Interest and are made all of one Heart in the main in the same Aim and Scope The Fruits of the Spirit are Love Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness and Meekness Gal. 5.22 23. The Kingdom of God is Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy-Ghost Rom. 14.17 The Wisdom of all who are of this Kingdom is Wisdom from above which is pure peaceable gentle easy to be entreated full of Mercy and good Fruits Jam. 3.17 To call for Fire from Heaven was from another Spirit Christianorum spiritus clemens est comburit tantùm igne charitatis Urbanus Regius soc Theolog. Cap. de Haeretieis He hath shewed a more excellent way to Pastors and People and their Civil Governors Besides the personal Qualifications of a Bishop which accomplish him for his Work the Scripture is full of Directions for his Behaviour in the House of God at all Times and when those Evils do compass and invade it which do endanger it The Servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all Men apt to teach instructing them that oppose themselves 2 Tim. 2.24 When perilous Times come he must continue in the Things which he hath learned and been assured of chap. 3. v. 14. When Men arise to subvert the Hearers and whose Words will eat as with a Canker or Gangreen then Charge them before the Lord that they strive not about Words to no Profit Study to shew thy self approved of God a Workman Fly youthful Lusts follow Righteousness Faith Charity Peace with them that call on the Name of the Lord out of a pure Heart 2 Tim. 2.14 15 22 23 24. When the Time comes that People will not endure sound Doctrine c. but turn away from the Truth then Preach the Word be instant in season out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all Long-suffering and Doctrine 2 Tim. 4.2 3. What shall they do if grievous Wolves enter in among the Flock and Men arise speaking perverse Things to draw away Disciples after them then Take heed to your selves and to the Flock c. Acts 20.29 30. What when unruly and vain Persons and Deceivers who subvert whole Houses teaching Things which they ought not for filthy Lucre sake In this Case he is directed besides the Graces of his Conversation he must hold fast the faithful Word that he may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and confute the Gainsayers Rebuke them sharply Tit. 1.9 13. What must be done if Ordinances be prophaned or corrupted They must be restored to their first Institution and Purity 1 Cor. 11.20 21 c. If Gifts be exercised unprofitably Let all Things be done to edifying 1 Cor. 14.26 If Ordinances and Administrations be disorderly and by unfit Persons For it is a shame for Women to speak in the Church v. 35. Let all Things be done decently and in Order v. 40. What if Christians run into Schisms Reprove and reduce them as the Apostle doth 1 Cor. chap. 1 3. And if Brethren fall into scandalous Sins which leaven the Lump the Apostle's Order to the Corinthians was to put them away not to accompany with them no not to eat And the Covetous Idolater Reviler Drunkard Extortioner are ranked with the Fornicator 1 Cor. 5.11 Excommunication is the greatest and last Censure and Judgment of the Church and when it is past the excommunicate Person must be look'd after 2 Cor. 2.6 7 8. Mansuetioribus Episcopis inter quos fuit diu Augustious non placuit imploratio profanae potestatis ad negotium Ecclesiasticum existimantibus non decere Episcopis aliis armis uti quàm vebo Dei pracibus si malum foret insanabile Anathemate h. e. separatione à Communione Hoc tum erat ex tremum Ecclesiae supplicium Et sicut apud Jurisconsultos civilis mors dicitur exilium ita apud Apostolos horum Suocessores poena capitis erat ab Ecclesiae consortio submovisse● c. Erasmus in Respons de Inquisitiane There are weak Persons in the Church and the Apostle gives us his own Example for our Behaviour 1 Cor. 9.22 To the Weak I became as weak that I might gain the-Weak In a word the Weapons of our Warfare are assimilated or fitted to the Warfare they are spiritual 2 Cor. 10.45 The holy Apostle saw or foresaw the worst of Men and Times and hath by the Spirit of God directed what 's fit and best to be done by the Pastors of the Churches And the Flock are not wholly left to the Guidance of their Pastors but they are taught how to act and carry themselves They must know all Things 1 Thess 5.21 Try the Spirits 1 Joh. 4.1 Contend for the Faith Jude 3. Stand fast 1 Cor. 16.13 Beware of false Prophets Mat. 7.15 Mark and avoid them that cause Divisions and Offences contrary to the Doctrine Rom. 10.17 Phil. 3.2 c. And against Corruptions of Manners they are advised Col. 3.9 1 Cor. 5. to v. 8. 1 Cor. 11.20 c. Ephes 5.4 Lastly Touching the Magistrate's Power there is one Law for him What the Heathen Magistrates were not but should be that the Christian Magistrate must be Rom. 13.3 4 the Minister of God for Good a Terror not to the Good but to the Evil. Estote contenti gladio quem vobis tradidit Deus punite latrones punite proditores falsos testes ejus generis caeteros Quod ad Religionem attinet defendite pios adversus aliorum injurias Georg. Klembergius Upon the whole we see what care the Lord hath taken of his Church and what Means are to be used for the Preservation of Purity in Doctrine and Life and of Unity among Christians And 't is not to be doubted but if all in their places did walk according to the Commands of our Saviour our Divisions would be near to a Cure or more tolerable than now they are and what Spirit or Power so likely to heal and prevent our feared Destruction as a Catholick Christian Spirit which is holy gracious fervent charitable laborious patient reconciling and wise After that St. Augustine changed his Judgment from sparing to be for fining and coercing the Donatists and Circumellions he did not leave the Work in the Fiinds of the Presidents and their Officers but did use all spiritual Means to rectify and recover them Si enim terrerentur non docerentur improba quasi Dominatio videretur Aug. Vincentio Ep. 48. and he was so far from exasperating and exciting the Magistrates that he often wrote by way of Intercession A greedy wicked Informer and his Disciples should never discharge us from all Evangelical Ways of healing our Breaches And tho they are Instruments to call for Execution of a