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duty_n church_n communion_n visible_a 1,477 5 9.7605 5 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A87934 A letter from a person of honour, reconciling the dissenting brethren, (commonly called Independents) and the Presbyterians, in matter of judgement, about the setling of the church. Sent to an eminent divine of the Assembly. Person of honour. 1644 (1644) Wing L1421; Thomason E22_17; ESTC R21554 10,569 18

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that_o communion_n be_v faith_n and_o love_n and_o this_o be_v a_o separation_n as_o fearful_a and_o terrible_a as_o they_o will_v or_o can_v make_v separation_n to_o be_v the_o second_o consist_v in_o refuse_v to_o join_v in_o the_o external_a communion_n of_o this_o or_o that_o particular_a church_n as_o in_o their_o liturgy_n public_a prayer_n participation_n of_o sacrament_n and_o this_o separation_n upon_o due_a cause_n may_v be_v make_v without_o any_o more_o danger_n or_o ill_a consequence_n than_o there_o be_v in_o keep_v ourselves_o free_a from_o partake_v with_o other_o man_n in_o their_o sin_n and_o be_v make_v it_o neither_o separate_v those_o man_n who_o make_v it_o from_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o catholic_a church_n nor_o from_o internal_a communion_n with_o the_o saint_n of_o that_o particular_a visible_a church_n as_o they_o be_v saint_n and_o member_n of_o the_o catholic_a church_n but_o only_o from_o the_o corruption_n of_o their_o externall_n communion_n which_o they_o hold_v in_o that_o visible_a church_n whereof_o they_o be_v luther_n make_v a_o separation_n from_o the_o eternal_a communion_n of_o all_o the_o church_n in_o the_o world_n and_o he_o with_o those_o that_o adhere_v to_o his_o doctrine_n in_o that_o separation_n do_v constitute_v church_n more_o pure_a both_o in_o regard_n of_o their_o constitution_n and_o exercise_v of_o external_a communion_n yet_o none_o but_o papist_n or_o such_o in_o our_o time_n as_o linger_v after_o popery_n and_o will_v be_v glad_a of_o a_o captain_n to_o lead_v they_o back_o again_o into_o egypt_n will_v accuse_v he_o to_o have_v make_v a_o schism_n and_o brand_v he_o with_o the_o odious_a name_n of_o a_o schismatic_a for_o he_o separate_v not_o from_o believer_n as_o believer_n but_o from_o those_o corruption_n which_o be_v universal_o spread_v over_o all_o in_o the_o external_a communion_n that_o then_o be_v hold_v in_o the_o christian_a world_n and_o this_o he_o be_v bind_v to_o do_v and_o other_o with_o he_o who_o believe_v his_o doctrine_n if_o they_o will_v keep_v themselves_o pure_a from_o the_o guilt_n of_o those_o common_a corruption_n in_o the_o second_o place_n i_o answer_v that_o there_o be_v a_o necessity_n lay_v upon_o many_o and_o it_o be_v as_o i_o conceive_v the_o duty_n of_o all_o that_o have_v light_a to_o see_v it_o to_o separate_v themselves_o from_o hold_v external_a communion_n with_o many_o church_n here_o in_o england_n although_o acknowledge_v true_a church_n and_o that_o for_o these_o reason_n first_o because_o such_o thing_n be_v require_v of_o they_o to_o be_v perform_v if_o they_o will_v hold_v external_a communion_n as_o they_o can_v practice_v without_o sin_n second_o if_o they_o may_v be_v free_a for_o their_o own_o practice_n yet_o they_o can_v perform_v that_o duty_n which_o by_o christ_n command_n lie_v upon_o they_o as_o member_n of_o a_o visible_a church_n to_o perform_v and_o fulfil_v that_o they_o may_v not_o contract_v guilt_n and_o be_v 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of_o the_o church_n in_o their_o public_a ministry_n and_o this_o be_v de_fw-fr jure_fw-la what_o ever_o in_o some_o place_n be_v do_v de_fw-la facto_fw-la and_o again_o if_o we_o yield_v that_o they_o have_v authority_n to_o consecrate_v and_o enjoin_v one_o form_n which_o must_v not_o in_o a_o tittle_n be_v recede_v from_o for_o sanctify_v of_o some_o ordinance_n as_o in_o the_o administration_n of_o the_o sacrament_n they_o may_v with_o as_o good_a authority_n enjoin_v a_o set_a form_n for_o other_o ordinance_n as_o the_o preach_n of_o the_o word_n and_o they_o have_v do_v so_o for_o preach_v i_o never_o yet_o see_v substantial_a reason_n give_v that_o may_v show_v a_o difference_n between_o these_o two_o the_o taking_z authority_n to_o make_v a_o book_n of_o common_a public_a prayer_n to_o read_v which_o all_o shall_v be_v tie_v to_o in_o the_o exercise_n of_o the_o function_n of_o pastor_n and_o teacher_n instead_o of_o pray_v and_o the_o take_a authority_n to_o make_v a_o book_n 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obedience_n to_o be_v humble_v and_o mourn_v for_o their_o offence_n and_o scandal_n give_v by_o party_n offend_v and_o obstinate_a and_o for_o the_o church_n neglect_v to_o apply_v that_o remedy_n that_o christ_n have_v enjoin_v to_o profess_v to_o the_o church_n their_o own_o readiness_n to_o perform_v obedience_n to_o christ_n command_n if_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o church_n will_v join_v with_o they_o to_o protest_v against_o their_o disobedience_n if_o they_o refuse_v either_o through_o negligent_a security_n be_v puff_v up_o with_o pride_n as_o the_o church_n of_o corinth_n or_o through_o the_o base_a fear_n of_o man_n i_o think_v it_o will_v be_v grant_v that_o if_o any_o particular_a member_n in_o the_o church_n of_o corinth_n have_v do_v this_o in_o case_n of_o the_o incestuous_a person_n he_o have_v be_v free_a and_o no_o way_n involve_v in_o the_o guilt_n of_o that_o church_n which_o the_o apostle_n charge_v they_o all_o with_o for_o which_o the_o apostle_n express_v to_o 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to_o discharge_v themselves_o by_o do_v that_o duty_n which_o in_o such_o a_o case_n of_o the_o church_n peri●●us_a this_o rescours_n ●as_v writ●●n_v some_o ●●ars_n since_o ●hen_o the_o ●●mes_n ●●ere_o peri●●us_a neglect_n do_v lie_v upon_o they_o to_o perform_v or_o if_o they_o will_v perform_v it_o to_o their_o own_o acquit_v and_o the_o church_n edify_v whereof_o they_o be_v member_n they_o be_v no_o less_o certain_a to_o run_v upon_o ruin_n in_o *_o these_o time_n then_o to_o qrevail_v nothing_o at_o all_o with_o church_n so_o constitute_v and_o consist_v of_o such_o mix_a multitude_n as_o the_o most_o be_v not_o to_o make_v such_o public_a profession_n as_o they_o think_v their_o duty_n oblige_v they_o unto_o be_v to_o live_v in_o sin_n against_o conscience_n and_o that_o be_v against_o christianity_n to_o do_v it_o to_o no_o profit_n and_o with_o certain_a ruin_n when_o another_o way_n may_v be_v take_v to_o prevent_v the_o sin_n and_o avoid_v the_o danger_n be_v against_o 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themselves_o together_o by_o mutual_a consent_n to_o walk_v in_o all_o the_o ordinance_n and_o way_n of_o the_o lord_n without_o admit_v the_o linsy-woolsie_n mixture_n of_o any_o humane_a invention_n and_o with_o resolution_n not_o to_o be_v the_o servant_n of_o man_n but_o to_o cast_v off_o their_o yoke_n in_o thing_n spiritual_a and_o exalt_v the_o lord_n alone_o to_o rule_v and_o judge_v in_o they_o and_o by_o they_o according_a to_o the_o guidance_n of_o his_o word_n if_o find_v this_o society_n and_o their_o course_n full_o to_o answer_v the_o persuasion_n of_o my_o heart_n concern_v the_o way_n of_o god_n i_o shall_v change_v my_o habitation_n and_o take_v a_o house_n in_o that_o town_n that_o i_o may_v thereby_o join_v myself_o to_o this_o company_n in_o church_n fellowship_n because_o this_o be_v your_o dark_a and_o ignorant_a way_n of_o fall_v into_o fellowship_n here_o in_o this_o land_n there_o will_v be_v no_o complain_v no_o out_o cry_v of_o separation_n no_o whisper_a and_o mutter_v of_o forsake_v the_o mother_n church_n no_o write_n up_o and_o down_o to_o intimate_v the_o great_a fear_n there_o be_v of_o seduction_n and_o separation_n and_o the_o scandal_n that_o will_v arise_v from_o thence_o and_o yet_o i_o shall_v come_v out_o thereby_o from_o hold_v external_a communion_n with_o one_o congregation_n who_o external_a communion_n i_o see_v so_o many_o corruption_n so_o weave_v into_o that_o i_o can_v not_o hold_v it_o and_o be_v free_a from_o they_o and_o join_v myself_o in_o communion_n with_o another_o who_o exercise_v a_o communion_n between_o themselves_o free_a from_o such_o corruption_n and_o bondage_n and_o shall_v i_o or_o other_o do_v any_o more_o but_o the_o same_o thing_n if_o in_o one_o street_n of_o a_o town_n we_o shall_v join_v ourselves_o together_o in_o communion_n for_o spiritual_a end_n and_o separate_v ourselves_o from_o the_o external_a communion_n which_o be_v hold_v in_o another_o burden_a with_o many_o superstition_n and_o submit_v themselves_o to_o bear_v the_o yoke_n of_o bondage_n impose_v by_o man_n who_o lord_n it_o over_o they_o in_o thing_n spiritual_a and_o all_o this_o without_o break_v off_o from_o internal_a communion_n will_v any_o saint_n among_o they_o consist_v in_o the_o embrace_n and_o hold_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o same_o true_a faith_n and_o obedience_n but_o separate_a alone_o from_o their_o corruption_n and_o continuance_n in_o disobedience_n whereunto_o then_o serve_v the_o raise_n of_o so_o much_o noise_n and_o clamour_n of_o separation_n but_o to_o give_v up_o friend_n into_o the_o hand_n of_o enemy_n i_o have_v in_o my_o plain_a way_n endeavour_v to_o express_v my_o judgement_n in_o these_o particular_n desire_v to_o be_v always_o ready_a to_o open_v my_o eye_n to_o receive_v further_a light_n from_o whosoever_o it_o shall_v be_v show_v unto_o i_o in_o the_o mean_a time_n i_o must_v walk_v according_a to_o that_o i_o have_v accept_v not_o man_n person_n nor_o give_v flatter_a title_n to_o man_n as_o be_v say_v in_o job_n i_o pretend_v not_o to_o so_o much_o scholership_n that_o you_o shall_v require_v of_o i_o exactness_n in_o method_n or_o expression_n therefore_o i_o pray_v you_o stick_v not_o upon_o some_o expression_n which_o you_o may_v conceive_v not_o so_o meet_v to_o winnow_v and_o fan_v they_o by_o scholastic_a wit_n neither_o quarrel_v i_o for_o a_o loose_a discourse_n i_o rest_v satisfy_v with_o express_v myself_o to_o be_v understand_v but_o if_o there_o be_v any_o beg_a principle_n or_o ground_n want_v proof_n or_o any_o thing_n infer_v from_o ground_n too_o weak_a to_o maintain_v the_o same_o stay_v upon_o these_o and_o make_v that_o appear_v unto_o i_o and_o i_o shall_v either_o make_v they_o good_a and_o able_a to_o stand_v upon_o solid_a foundation_n at_o least_o to_o my_o apprehension_n or_o quit_v they_o any_o other_o way_n of_o answer_n but_o this_o only_a will_v be_v receive_v by_o i_o as_o the_o fruit_n of_o a_o acute_a wit_n much_o 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a_o letter_n from_z a_o person_n of_o honour_n reconcile_a the_o dissent_v brethren_n common_o call_v independent_o and_o the_o presbyterian_o in_o matter_n of_o judgement_n about_o the_o settle_n of_o the_o church_n send_v to_o a_o eminent_a divine_a of_o the_o assembly_n london_n print_v by_o r.a._n m._n dc_o xl_o v._n sir_n for_o the_o satisfaction_n of_o your_o desire_n express_v in_o the_o letter_n i_o will_v first_o lay_v down_o some_o ground_n which_o i_o conceive_v to_o be_v agreeable_a to_o truth_n and_o thereupon_o give_v you_o the_o reason_n of_o my_o judgement_n and_o practice_n first_o i_o conceive_v a_o visible_a minister_a church_n under_o the_o gospel_n to_o be_v a_o company_n of_o believer_n join_v themselves_o together_o in_o the_o name_n of_o christ_n for_o the_o enjoyment_n of_o such_o ordinance_n and_o exercise_v of_o such_o spiritual_a government_n as_o the_o lord_n have_v appoint_v for_o his_o worship_n and_o honour_n and_o their_o mutual_a edification_n this_o 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judge_v of_o every_o one_o of_o they_o that_o christ_n have_v begin_v a_o good_a work_n in_o they_o and_o will_v finish_v it_o the_o apostle_n always_o style_v they_o saint_n and_o faithful_a brethren_n or_o the_o church_n of_o such_o a_o place_n which_o be_v in_o god_n the_o father_n and_o in_o the_o lord_n jesus_n christ_n saint_n by_o call_v sanctify_v in_o christ_n jesus_n the_o church_n elect_v together_o with_o they_o and_o such_o like_a title_n applyable_a only_o unto_o man_n sanctify_v that_o they_o ought_v to_o be_v such_o in_o profession_n will_v not_o be_v deny_v that_o they_o ought_v to_o be_v what_o they_o profess_v be_v as_o evident_a the_o power_n of_o the_o church_n and_o the_o exercise_n of_o that_o power_n command_v by_o our_o saviour_n be_v for_o this_o end_n that_o offence_n may_v be_v take_v away_o when_o man_n shall_v appear_v to_o be_v other_o than_o they_o make_v profession_n to_o be_v and_o that_o they_o may_v be_v prevent_v so_o far_o as_o man_n can_v judge_v 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