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	know_v	tradition_n	2,871	5	9.3405	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87930	A letter from a Member of the House of Commons, to a gentleman now at London, touching the new Solemne League and Covenant.	Member of the House of Commons.	1644 (1644)	Wing L1411; Thomason E45_8; ESTC R2550	7,624	16

shall not deny you the truth but leave you the strength of that example There was an attempt of the Papists neare the death of Queene Elizabeth to oppose any successor not of their Religion I remember but these that are so well like your case and I beleeve there are none nearer in this or other kingdomes The first article to endeavour the preservation of the reformed religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Disipline and Government against our common enemies carrieth such doubtfull sence as I may justly suspect it rather a snare to entangle then a rule to guide the Conscience It is not onely rash presumption but irreligious prophanenesse to sweare preservation of unknowne precepts and the Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government of the Church of Scotland are knowne to few that take this Oath who with an implicit faith sweare to preserve they know not what perhaps that which if they knew they would rather desire to destroy I thinke your selfe would not sweare to preserve the Doctrines c. of all the reformed Churches and I am sure no law bindes me to preserve this and Christian duty forbids me to sweare defence of that which I know not which may be sinfull in it selfe and must needs be sinne to him who sweares in ignorance so much more to them that enforce it on others and whereof God will one day require an account And they who formerly found the Canons of the late Convocation so full of exception have herein justified them and given all the offence they tooke at these Canons and much more in the injustice of this oath being of things unknowne of an other Church and Nation of Discipline and Government which are of humane institution and perhaps opposite to our owne fundamentall lawes dishonourable to our Church and Nation and destructive to both a matter of worse consequence then the late c. and your selfe if I heare truly are much departed from your former resolutions that thought subscription should be forborne to some tender consciences and now judge there is no pretence for avoyding this Covenant that hath not only doubtfullnes but apparent danger of perjury and presumption and in comparison whereof the most rigid of the former Canons was a most innocent and tender Injunction I inquire not why Scotland may not be reformed why England and Ireland must but why in doctrine I pray demand of these that have acknowledged the soundnesse of it by their oathes and preachinge and when that famous and conscientious Doctor Reynolds and others at Hampton Court moved a reformation of some things in Ceremony and Clergy they openly professed their unquestionable assent to the Doctrine of the Church of England in the thirty nine Articles and the oath of Supremacy which how observed in this Covenant undertaken without the King and to be performed without respect to him is seene of all I may more then suspect these new reformers are not of our Church that deny her Doctrine and that these men who had no conscience in their former subscriptions will not expresse any in their reformation The rule they pretend is the word of God with an addition of the example of the best reformed Churches Doubtlesse the example of other Churches is not the touchstone whereby we must try doctrine or worship it seems the word of God will not doe the worke these men intend they will herein allow the superstructure of traditions and they are contented to exclude the example of the primitive Church a name venerable to all Christians and in all true Christian Churches and to reforme their mother the Church of England by other Churches where neither the word of God nor primitive practice covince her of errour is farre from the duty of sonnes and Charity of Christians I conceive the word best reformed will beget a Schisme rather then close the breach of the reformed Churches and while we expresse our esteeme of some in such language as upbrayds others with defects we provoke their just complaint against us There is not any reformed Church that I have heard of that accounts it selfe worse then other in their confessions of doctrine and therefore some will be undoubtedly scandalized by this expression and a faction raised among our selves while every man takes best reformed in his owne sence and the consideration being of so great variety of circumstances when some that are accounted best in government may be worst in doctrine and the contrary it must prove unquietnesse to the conscience and an uneven rule to reforme the Church We may depend on Gods promise that he will dwell among us that have one faith one baptisme one Lord Jesus Christ who died for us and if in matters of forme and circumstances of government we differ and yet retaine the unity of spirit in the bond of peace as is our duty we may be assured he will still delight to doe soe rather then in the causeles rents for indifferent things But the use these men make of scripture is for phrase not for proofe 2. For the extirpation of Popery Superstition Herisie Schisme and prophanenesse and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound doctrine and the power of godlinesse you have an universall consent that it 's fit to be done by every one as he hath the warrant of a lawfull calling to it But why Prelacy c. that hath the authority of longest continuance and practice in the first and best ages of the Church of God of legall establishment in this Kingdome that hath beene eminent for the Learning Piety Zeale and Martyrdome of many in these Orders and from whom we must in a great part by Gods great blessing acknowledge the happy reformation in this Church may justly be demanded if any among us as many doe conceive this government as necessary to continue as you doe to be destroyed will you not put as great a burden upon their conscience in pressing it in this Covenant as you imagine upon your owne by the continuance of this government surely more for your Covenant in this very point is a breach of duty being a plaine and wilfull resistance of the higher powers and not only contempt but subversion of Lawes Sir I have no intent to travell into controversies but the Lord was and will be one and his name one in the three Kingdomes if this government continue and I am sure a Covenant to take it away against the mind of the Prince while it thus standes by law is rebellion against God and his Vicegerent 3. It might move any man to just indignation that reads your ostentations of loyalty when the very act you doe and the formes of publishing these words denounce the contrary I am sure the King is not consulted with no reservation made of his consent in this very thing that is thus imposed on all his Subiects and the World that is called to witnesse will testifie loyalty is spoken treason acted And I appeale to your selfe