Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	according_a	church_n	doctrine_n	4,717	5	6.8021	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62668	To receive the Lords Supper, the actual right and duty of all church-members of years not excommunicate made good against Mr. Collins his exceptions against The bar removed, written by the author : and what right the ignorant and scandalous tolerated in the church have to the Lords Supper declared : many thing belonging to that controversie more fully discussed, tending much to the peace and settlement of the church : and also a ful answer to what Mr. Collins hath written in defence of juridical suspension, wherein his pretended arguments from Scripture are examined and confuted : to which is also annexed A brief answer to the Antidiatribe written by Mr. Saunders / by John Timson ...	Timson, John.; Timson, John. Brief answer to the antidiatribe written by Mr. Saunders.	1655 (1655)	Wing T1296; ESTC R1970	185,323	400

his Church only they are to follow after the things that make for peace and the edification one of another without limitation but holinesse is the boundary of our peace with all other men of the world there is an absolute injunction to the Church And have peace amongst your selves 1 Thess 5.13 Mark 9.50 2. That to break the Churches peace by an unnecessary Separation is so far from holinesse or losing our blessing that it 's a wicked schism as I have proved theirs to be they not being able to warrant the separation they are acting in by any ground of Scripturce or prin●iples of solid reason And therefore it will reflect upon them to their reproach and shame untill they be able to give satisfaction to the Church in their fuller defence or reforming by returning from the schism they have hatched and nourished to the great prejudice of many of their peoples souls I come to his queries pag. 166. I shall be very brief and but touch at things I having done more then was intended 1. Query Whether it be not against the Solemn Covenant not to act in some disciplinary courses for in this we have swo●n to endeavour Reformation in Discipune according to the Word Hence he assumes when this was taken either we saw the alteration of corrupt customes to be necessary in the Congregations we live in or not necessary now if the latter be true then whosoever so took it he swore not in judgement and so took Gods name in vain for he swore to reform being convinced of no corruptions But if the 1 be true then we desire of every Minister and other man that hath taken it with what conscience they can oppose ways and courses tending to that sworn end and bow they dare to withhold their own activity therein 1. Answ Without doubt it 's against the Solemn National Covenant not to endeavour in our several places and callings the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdomes of England and Iteland in Doctine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches and likewise not to endeavour to bring the three Nations to the neerest conjunction and uniformity in Religion confession of faith form of Church Government c. But then the question is What our endeavours should be as the case stands as particular Minisiers or private members Reformation in Discipline being not yet agreed of by the whole what it is nor in present exercise and force by vertue of law which was intended in the Covenant 2 Whether the wayes and courses defended by our Author doe not crosse and assault the ends of the Covenant as tending to nothing more then making divisions and several factions confusions in the Churches of God which have swore to bring the whole Church of the three Nations to the neerest conjunction uniformity in Religion confession of Faith form of Church-government c. That we and our posterity after us may as Brethren live in faith and love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us 3. The Covenant binds us to reform in Discipline according to the Word and example of best reformed Churches Mr. Saunders puts in and practiseth a more general lati●ude Whether not to act in some disciplinary wayes and courses be not against the Covenant he means some courses or other of mens own inventing as that of theirs which hath nothing of the particulars in the Covenant in it as being not grounded upon the Word as I have made it manifest not according to the example of best reformed Churches that have ever abhorred rents schisms in the Church by unlawful separations as their is upon their own principles for they separate from Churches they confesse to be true Churches and the members thereof they own for believers brethren and within in baptizing their children upon the account of federal holynesse In stead of reforming their Churches as formed of old by our first Reformers they form up a new of the principal part of the old leaving out of this frame the main matter of the old so that upon the matter they pull down many Churches to build one and rather destroy their Churches then reform them by holy Discipline Discipline is to purge out some few to amend them but theirs is to separate from the most of their Churches to destroy them in not using the right means towards them as brethren to encourage them in all Christian obedience c. And hence with good conscience I fear not to oppose their way and course without breach of my Covenant Nay in the 2. Article of the Covenant we are bound without respect of person to endeavour the extirpation of Superstition and Schism as well as Popery Prelacy and Heresie The two former may with good conscience be charged upon your way 1. Superstition because you urge upon all you admit duties of necessity that God no where commands binding the conscience where it is free and so become Lords of mens faith and unlesse Christs subjects will submit to these superstitious inventions you have framed you exclude them from necessary duties of homage and worship injoyned by their Lord. 2. Schism because you are run into an unnecessary separation in the Church breaking the peace of the Church causelesly as hath been hinted all along It being the main I have writ to discover your way Schismatical But it seems he thinks that there was nothing corrupt in the Church to be reformed by Discipline but admission so largely to the Sacrament and that this was the only thing we swore to reform and therefore must joyn with them or else be forsworn although they have nothing at all of true discipline in exercise for they excommunicate none himself confesses And it 's clear as the Sun at mid day that there is no other means to exclude Church-members from the Sacrament but by casting them out of the Church Juridically which is a question whether any at present in our Church be in a capacity so to act and hence the Covenant bindes us to endevour after such a capacity as to reform all corruptions that are properly reformable by true Discipline 3. Query He asks What other way there is to be walked in to keep close to the Word I have given my thoughts in my answer to Mr. Ward The Scripture rule examined Answ Mr. Joanes is considerable to answer this query as the state stands with us at present And if we were in possession of true discipline we should endeavour so to exercise it that the worst might be reformed by it not refuse to admit them to the Sacrament and so exclude them from all discipline as if they were Heathens and let not any assume the exercise of discipline that are not sure of their warrant from the Word And let them be sure they use no other censures then they have precept or precedent for from the word And let them be sure