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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
earth_n church_n invisible_a visible_a 3,670 5 9.2967 5 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A71019 A letter to Anonymus in answer to his Three letters to Dr. Sherlock about church-communion Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707. 1683 (1683) Wing S3300; ESTC R14302 36,049 64

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church_n on_o earth_n which_o be_v all_o i_o cite_v it_o for_o and_o so_o much_o it_o certain_o prove_v the_o second_o proposition_n you_o raise_v query_n on_o be_v this_o it_o be_v absurd_a to_o gather_v a_o church_n out_o of_o a_o church_n of_o baptise_a christian_n this_o i_o do_v indeed_o assert_v that_o since_o the_o church_n be_v found_v on_o a_o divine_a covenant_n and_o to_o be_v in_o covenant_n with_o god_n and_o to_o be_v member_n of_o his_o church_n be_v the_o same_o thing_n therefore_o baptism_n whereby_o we_o be_v receive_v into_o covenant_n with_o god_n make_v we_o member_n of_o the_o church_n also_o and_o this_o make_v it_o very_o absurd_a to_o gather_v a_o church_n out_o of_o church_n of_o baptise_a christian_n which_o suppose_v that_o they_o be_v not_o a_o church_n before_o instead_o of_o consider_v the_o reason_n whereon_o this_o be_v found_v as_o every_o honest_a writer_n shall_v do_v you_o only_o put_v a_o perverse_a comment_n on_o it_o by_o which_o say_v you_o i_o suppose_v you_o mean_v that_o man_n ought_v not_o to_o separate_a from_o such_o and_o live_v in_o a_o distinct_a church-communion_n from_o any_o church_n of_o baptise_a christian_n which_o i_o conceive_v needs_o explain_v but_o if_o this_o be_v true_a it_o be_v plain_a enough_o but_o the_o fault_n be_v that_o it_o be_v not_o true_a for_o we_o may_v separate_a from_o any_o church_n of_o baptise_a christian_n if_o their_o communion_n be_v sinful_a which_o justify_v a_o separation_n from_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n and_o answer_v your_o two_o first_o query_n but_o indeed_o the_o proposition_n as_o assert_v by_o i_o do_v not_o so_o much_o as_o concern_v a_o separation_n from_o a_o church_n let_v the_o cause_n be_v what_o it_o will_v just_a or_o unjust_a for_o the_o independent_o who_o be_v the_o man_n for_o gather_v church_n do_v not_o own_o that_o they_o separate_a from_o any_o church_n but_o that_o they_o form_n themselves_o into_o a_o church-state_n which_o they_o have_v not_o before_o and_o which_o no_o christian_n according_a to_o their_o principle_n have_v who_o be_v not_o member_n of_o independent_a church_n baptism_n they_o acknowledge_v make_v man_n christian_n at_o large_a but_o not_o church-member_n which_o i_o show_v must_v needs_o be_v very_o absurd_a if_o the_o church_n be_v a_o body_n and_o society_n of_o man_n found_v on_o a_o divine_a covenant_n for_o then_o baptism_n which_o admit_v we_o into_o covenant_n with_o god_n make_v we_o member_n of_o the_o church_n and_o they_o may_v as_o well_o rebaptize_v christian_n as_o form_v they_o into_o new_a church-society_n this_o i_o suppose_v may_v satisfy_v you_o how_o impertinent_a all_o your_o query_n be_v under_o this_o head_n your_o two_o first_o concern_v the_o separation_n from_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n which_o be_v not_o make_v upon_o independent_a principle_n because_o they_o be_v no_o church_n but_o because_o they_o be_v a_o corrupt_a church_n 3._o whether_o every_o bishopric_n in_o england_n be_v not_o so_o many_o church_n within_o the_o national_a ans._n every_o bishopric_n be_v a_o distinct_a episcopal_a church_n and_o the_o union_n of_o they_o in_o one_o national_a communion_n make_v they_o not_o so_o many_o church_n within_o a_o national_a but_o one_o national_a church_n which_o you_o may_v see_v explain_v at_o large_a in_o the_o defence_n of_o dr._n still_o vnr._n of_o separation_n 4._o and_o therefore_o independent_a and_o presbyterian_a church_n be_v indeed_o within_o the_o national_a church_n within_o a_o church_n which_o be_v schismatical_a but_o not_o one_o national_a church_n as_o bishopric_n be_v 5._o and_o therefore_o though_o we_o shall_v allow_v they_o to_o have_v the_o external_n form_n and_o all_o the_o essential_o of_o a_o church_n which_o be_v a_o very_a liberal_a grant_n yet_o they_o be_v not_o in_o catholic_n communion_n because_o they_o be_v schismatic_n 6._o and_o this_o be_v all_o i_o be_o to_o account_v for_o that_o they_o be_v not_o in_o visible_a communion_n with_o that_o one_o church_n and_o body_n of_o christ_n to_o which_o the_o promise_n be_v make_v but_o what_o allowance_n christ_n will_v make_v for_o the_o mistake_v of_o honest_a well-meaning_a man_n who_o divide_v the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n i_o can_v determine_v i_o can_v hope_v as_o charitable_o as_o any_o man_n but_o i_o dare_v not_o be_v so_o charitable_a as_o to_o make_v church-communion_n a_o indifferent_a thing_n which_o be_v the_o great_a bond_n of_o christian_a charity_n 3_o you_o take_v occasion_n for_o your_o next_o query_n from_o what_o i_o say_v of_o the_o independent_a church-covenant_n you_o say_v i_o suppose_v that_o the_o independent_o exclude_v themselves_o from_o catholic_n communion_n by_o require_v of_o their_o member_n a_o new_a contract_n no_o part_n of_o the_o baptismal_a vow_n i_o prove_v indeed_o from_o their_o place_v a_o church-state_n in_o a_o particular_a explicit_a covenant_n between_o pastor_n and_o people_n that_o they_o separate_v themselves_o from_o the_o whole_a body_n of_o christian_n for_o no_o other_o christian_n which_o be_v not_o in_o covenant_n with_o they_o be_v member_n of_o their_o church_n nor_o can_v they_o be_v member_n of_o any_o other_o church_n 32._o and_o i_o prove_v that_o those_o be_v separate_a church_n which_o be_v not_o member_n of_o each_o other_o and_o do_v not_o own_o each_o other_o member_n for_o their_o own_o for_o the_o notion_n of_o church-communion_n consist_v in_o church-membership_n and_o therefore_o no_o man_n be_v in_o communion_n with_o that_o church_n of_o which_o he_o be_v no_o member_n and_o if_o no_o man_n can_v be_v a_o member_n of_o a_o church_n but_o by_o such_o a_o explicit_a independent_a covenant_n than_o he_o be_v a_o member_n of_o no_o church_n but_o that_o with_o which_o he_o be_v in_o covenant_n and_o consequent_o be_v in_o communion_n with_o no_o church_n but_o that_o particular_a independent_a congregation_n of_o which_o he_o be_v a_o member_n by_o a_o particular_a covenant_n and_o if_o those_o be_v schismatic_n and_o schismatical_a church_n which_o be_v not_o in_o communion_n with_o each_o other_o than_o all_o independent_o must_v be_v schismatic_n for_o they_o be_v in_o communion_n with_o none_o but_o their_o own_o independent_a congregation_n let_v we_o now_o hear_v your_o query_n q._n 1._o whether_o any_o obstack_n to_o catholic_n communion_n bring_v in_o by_o man_n may_v not_o be_v a_o mean_n of_o deprive_v man_n of_o it_o as_o well_o as_o covenant_n or_o contract_n ans._n yes_o it_o may_v but_o with_o this_o material_a difference_n other_o thing_n hinder_v communion_n as_o sinful_a term_n of_o communion_n this_o independent_a covenant_n in_o its_o own_o nature_n shut_v up_o enclose_v and_o break_v christian_a communion_n into_o as_o many_o separate_a church_n and_o communion_n as_o there_o be_v independent_a congregation_n sinful_a term_n of_o communion_n be_v a_o just_a cause_n of_o separation_n a_o independent_a church-covenant_n be_v a_o state_n of_o separation_n in_o its_o own_o nature_n the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n may_v be_v restore_v by_o remove_v those_o sinful_a term_n of_o communion_n but_o there_o can_v be_v no_o catholic_n unity_n or_o communion_n in_o the_o church_n under_o independency_n q._n 2._o if_o it_o may_v which_o i_o suppose_v you_o will_v not_o deny_v will_v you_o not_o then_o upon_o this_o account_n make_v the_o church_n you_o live_v in_o more_o guilty_a than_o the_o independent_o baptism_n you_o own_o be_v the_o only_a thing_n which_o admit_v into_o the_o catholic_n church_n but_o they_o require_v no_o new_a covenant_n at_o baptism_n ergo_fw-la they_o admit_v into_o the_o church_n without_o any_o clog_n or_o hindrance_n of_o humane_a invention_n ans._n pray_v what_o comparison_n be_v there_o between_o the_o church_n of_o england_n and_o independency_n whatever_o fault_n the_o church_n of_o england_n may_v be_v charge_v with_o as_o to_o its_o rite_n and_o ceremony_n which_o i_o will_v not_o now_o dispute_v with_o you_o yet_o all_o this_o be_v capable_a of_o a_o remedy_n she_o may_v give_v occasion_n to_o schism_n if_o she_o impose_v any_o unlawful_a and_o sinful_a term_n of_o communion_n but_o yet_o the_o frame_n and_o essential_a constitution_n of_o the_o church_n be_v not_o schismatical_a but_o independency_n be_v schism_n in_o the_o very_a notion_n of_o it_o and_o a_o independent_a conventicle_n be_v never_o capable_a of_o become_v a_o member_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n but_o you_o say_v i_o own_o that_o baptism_n be_v the_o only_a thing_n which_o admit_v into_o the_o catholic_n church_n i._n e._n which_o make_v we_o member_n of_o the_o universal_a church_n and_o all_o sound_a part_n of_o it_o and_o that_o nothing_o else_o be_v necessary_a to_o make_v a_o church-member_n very_o right_a i_o do_v own_o this_o but_o what_o be_v my_o own_v this_o to_o the_o independent_o for_o they_o do_v not_o and_o will_v not_o own_v it_o
as_o be_v above_o describe_v ans._n neither_o atheist_n nor_o schismatic_n be_v member_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n but_o this_o be_v a_o vile_a insinuation_n against_o the_o governor_n and_o government_n of_o our_o church_n as_o if_o profess_a atheist_n be_v admit_v to_o communion_n though_o possible_o there_o may_v be_v some_o atheist_n yet_o i_o never_o meet_v yet_o with_o one_o who_o will_v profess_v himself_o a_o atheist_n if_o i_o shall_v i_o assure_v you_o i_o will_v not_o admit_v he_o to_o communion_n and_o i_o hope_v there_o be_v no_o minister_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n will_v and_o i_o be_o sure_a no_o man_n who_o have_v any_o kindness_n for_o the_o church_n with_o which_o he_o pretend_v to_o hold_v communion_n will_v ask_v such_o a_o question_n 7._o query_n whether_o as_o the_o catholic_n church_n be_v compare_v to_o a_o body_n of_o man_n incorporate_v by_o one_o charter_n shall_v upon_o supposition_n of_o a_o possibility_n of_o the_o forfeiture_n of_o the_o charter_n to_o the_o whole_a body_n by_o the_o miscarriage_n of_o any_o of_o the_o officer_n do_v it_o likewise_o follow_v that_o the_o miscarriage_n of_o any_o of_o the_o officer_n or_o the_o church_n representative_a as_o i_o remember_v bishop_n sanderson_n call_v the_o clergy_n may_v forfeit_v the_o privilege_n give_v by_o christ_n to_o his_o church_n or_o at_o least_o may_v suspend_v they_o as_o suppose_v a_o protestant_a clergy_n take_v their_o power_n to_o be_v as_o large_a as_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n claim_v shall_v deny_v the_o laity_n the_o sacrament_n as_o the_o popish_a do_v in_o venice_n and_o here_o in_o king_n john_n time_n during_o the_o interdict_v quid_fw-la inde_fw-la operatur_fw-la ans._n just_o as_o much_o as_o this_o query_n do_v the_o reason_n of_o which_o i_o can_v easy_o guess_v i_o assert_v indeed_o that_o as_o there_o be_v but_o one_o covenant_n on_o which_o the_o church_n be_v found_v so_o there_o can_v be_v but_o one_o church_n to_o which_o this_o covenant_n belong_v and_o therefore_o those_o who_o divide_v and_o separate_v themselves_o from_o this_o one_o body_n of_o christ_n etc._n forfeit_v their_o right_n to_o this_o covenant_n which_o be_v make_v only_o with_o the_o one_o body_n of_o christ_n which_o i_o illustrate_v by_o the_o instance_n of_o a_o charter_n grant_v to_o a_o particular_a corporation_n which_o no_o man_n have_v any_o interest_n in_o who_o divide_v himself_o from_o that_o corporation_n to_o which_o this_o charter_n be_v grant_v but_o what_o be_v this_o to_o forfeit_v a_o charter_n by_o the_o miscarriage_n of_o officer_n i_o doubt_v sir_n your_o head_n have_v be_v warm_v with_o quo_n warranto_n which_o so_o affect_v your_o fancy_n that_o you_o can_v dream_v of_o nothing_o else_o i_o be_v almost_o afraid_a when_o your_o hand_n be_v in_o i_o shall_v never_o have_v see_v a_o end_n of_o these_o question_n and_o i_o know_v no_o more_o reason_n why_o you_o so_o soon_o leave_v off_o ask_v question_n than_o why_o you_o ask_v any_o at_o all_o for_o i_o will_v undertake_v to_o ask_v five_o hundred_o more_o as_o pertinent_a to_o the_o business_n as_o most_o of_o these_o you_o have_v not_o indeed_o do_v yet_o but_o have_v a_o reserve_v of_o particular_a query_n but_o general_a query_n be_v the_o most_o formidable_a thing_n because_o it_o be_v hard_a to_o find_v what_o they_o relate_v to_o than_o how_o to_o answer_v they_o you_o have_v three_o set_n of_o query_n relate_v to_o three_o several_a proposition_n beside_o a_o part_a blow_n of_o four_o query_n relate_v to_o my_o text._n the_o first_o proposition_n you_o be_v please_v to_o question_v i_o about_o be_v this_o that_o our_o saviour_n make_v the_o apostle_n and_o their_o successor_n governor_n of_o his_o church_n with_o promise_n to_o be_v with_o they_o to_o the_o end_n of_o the_o world_n which_o i_o allege_v to_o prove_v that_o when_o the_o church_n be_v call_v the_o body_n of_o christ_n it_o do_v not_o signify_v a_o confuse_a multitude_n of_o christian_n but_o a_o regular_a society_n under_o order_n and_o government_n now_o sir_n be_v this_o true_a or_o false_a if_o it_o be_v false_a than_o the_o church_n be_v not_o a_o govern_a society_n be_v not_o a_o body_n but_o a_o confuse_a heap_n and_o multitude_n of_o independent_a individual_n which_o be_v somewhat_o worse_o than_o independent_a church_n if_o it_o be_v true_a why_o do_v you_o ask_v all_o these_o question_n unless_o you_o have_v a_o mind_n to_o confute_v our_o saviour_n and_o burlesque_fw-la his_o institution_n but_o since_o i_o be_o condemn_v to_o answer_v question_n i_o will_v brief_o consider_v they_o 1._o whether_o our_o saviour_n promise_n of_o divine_a assistance_n do_v not_o extend_v to_o all_o the_o member_n of_o the_o church_n consider_v every_o man_n in_o his_o respective_a station_n and_o capacity_n as_o well_o as_o the_o apostle_n as_o church-governor_n for_o which_o you_o may_v compare_v st._n john_n with_o st._n matthew_n ans._n no_o doubt_v but_o there_o be_v promise_n which_o relate_v to_o the_o whole_a church_n and_o promise_n which_o belong_v to_o particular_a christian_n as_o well_o as_o promise_n which_o relate_v peculiar_o to_o the_o apostle_n and_o governor_n of_o the_o church_n in_o the_o exercise_n of_o their_o ministerial_a office_n and_o authority_n but_o what_o then_o christ_n be_v with_o his_o church_n with_o his_o minister_n with_o particular_a christian_n to_o the_o end_n of_o the_o world_n but_o in_o a_o different_a manner_n and_o to_o different_a purpose_n and_o yet_o that_o promise_n there_o be_v peculiar_o make_v to_o the_o apostle_n include_v their_o successor_n also_o for_o the_o apostle_n themselves_o be_v not_o to_o continue_v here_o to_o the_o end_n of_o the_o world_n but_o a_o apostolical_a ministry_n be_v 2._o therefore_o query_n whether_o it_o signify_v any_o thing_n to_o say_v there_o be_v no_o promise_n to_o particular_a church_n provide_v there_o be_v to_o particular_a person_n such_o as_o be_v in_o charity_n with_o all_o man_n and_o be_v ready_a to_o communicate_v with_o any_o church_n which_o require_v no_o more_o of_o they_o than_o what_o they_o conceive_v to_o be_v their_o duty_n according_a to_o the_o divine_a covenant_n ans._n it_o seem_v to_o i_o to_o be_v a_o hard_a query_n what_o this_o query_n mean_n or_o how_o it_o concern_v that_o authority_n which_o our_o saviour_n have_v give_v to_o his_o apostle_n for_o the_o government_n of_o the_o church_n to_o which_o this_o query_n relate_v i_o assert_v indeed_o that_o christ_n have_v make_v no_o covenant_n with_o any_o particular_a but_o only_o with_o the_o universal_a church_n which_o include_v particular_n as_o member_n of_o it_o nor_o have_v he_o make_v any_o promise_n to_o particular_a person_n but_o as_o member_n of_o the_o church_n and_o in_o communion_n with_o it_o when_o it_o may_v be_v have_v upon_o lawful_a term_n whoever_o break_v the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n without_o necessary_a reason_n though_o he_o may_v in_o other_o thing_n be_v a_o very_a good_a nature_a man_n yet_o he_o have_v not_o true_a christian_a charity_n which_o unite_v all_o the_o member_n of_o the_o same_o body_n in_o one_o communion_n and_o though_o the_o church_n may_v prescribe_v rule_n of_o worship_n which_o be_v not_o express_v in_o the_o divine_a covenant_n this_o will_v not_o justify_v a_o separation_n if_o she_o command_v nothing_o which_o be_v forbid_v for_o the_o very_a authority_n christ_n have_v commit_v to_o his_o minister_n require_v our_o obedience_n to_o they_o in_o thing_n lawful_a and_o if_o man_n will_v adhere_v to_o their_o own_o private_a fancy_n in_o opposition_n to_o church-authority_n they_o be_v guilty_a of_o schism_n and_o have_v best_a consider_v whether_o such_o pride_n and_o opinionativeness_n will_v be_v allow_v for_o excuse_v 3._o whether_o if_o the_o promise_v you_o mention_v be_v confine_v to_o the_o apostle_n as_o church-governor_n it_o will_v not_o exclude_v the_o civil_a power_n ans._n there_o be_v peculiar_a promise_n make_v to_o church-governor_n and_o to_o civil_a magistrate_n their_o authority_n and_o power_n be_v very_o distinct_a but_o very_o consistent_a 4._o what_o be_v the_o extent_n of_o the_o promise_n whether_o it_o be_v to_o secure_v the_o whole_a church_n that_o its_o governor_n shall_v never_o impose_v unlawful_a term_n of_o communion_n or_o that_o there_o never_o be_v a_o defection_n of_o all_o the_o member_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n but_o that_o there_o shall_v always_o be_v some_o true_a member_n ans._n the_o promise_n be_v that_o christ_n will_v be_v with_o be_v they_o in_o the_o discharge_n of_o their_o ministry_n and_o exercise_n of_o their_o power_n and_o this_o be_v all_o i_o know_v of_o the_o matter_n our_o saviour_n give_v they_o authority_n to_o govern_v the_o church_n and_o this_o be_v to_o last_v to_o the_o end_n of_o the_o world_n as_o long_o as_o there_o be_v any_o