Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	church_n	communion_n	schism_n	2,635	5	10.6078	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36204	The Danger and unreasonableness of a toleration in reference to some late papers which have passed concerning liberty of conscience.		1685 (1685)	Wing D177; ESTC R17399	3,941	10

THE DANGER AND Unreasonableness OF A TOLERATION In reference to some late Papers which have passed concerning LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE He who breaks the Pence and Agreement of the Church sets himself against Christ They cannot receive the reward of Peace who by their mad discord have broke the Lords Peace Whereas Heresies and Schisms had their birth and original from mens making distinct Conventicles for themselves c. The heinous and inexpiable crime of Discord is not to be purg'd away no not with Death St. Cyprian of the Unity of the Church London Printed for Walter Davis in Amen-corner 1685. THE DANGER AND Unreasonableness OF TOLERATION A Man of ordinary Parts and but meanly versed in the Transactions of these forty last years cannot certainly but admire at the Request of some Persons who keep such a noise at present for Liberty of Conscience especially if he considers that they know his Majesty to be a Person of Experience as well as Reason and Judgment What manner of men these are who desire such a Toleration is not hard to judge but what is their reason for this their desire Why their tender Consciences forsooth cannot dispence with a few innocent and harmless Ceremonies of the Church of England from which they differ in things not necessary to Salvation as they cannot deny but with which rather than comply tho in things which they confess to be indifferent they 'l depart from her Communion and continue in an endless Schism It is strange to reflect upon the many methods which have been used to reduce these People to Unity with us and 't is deplorable to consider the small effect which the hard labours and solid Reasons of so many Charitable and Learned Persons have had upon these intractable Spirits Dr. Still Misch of Sep. p. 1. At the first time of our Reformation from the Church of Rome such as thought not so well of many of our Ceremonies were not yet drawn to such a dislike of our Church as to separate from it upon consideration of the evil Effects of Division Our Church has added nothing since to render it self more intolerable and therefore this pretence to Separation can be no greater now than it was at that time and yet the Clamour is daily louder against our Constitutions and every Generation puts it self into a farther degree of Separation than the former and all their Defence is Scrupulosity to Conscience But we desire them seriously to consider whether this can be a sufficient Plea for their Separation which now it seems they desire to continue for ever will this clear them from the guilt of wilful Schism will their Ignorance be a Defence for them when they have had all considerable means for their better Information have not all their Objections been answered and the Constitutions of our Church with solid I 'm sure unanswered Reasons vindicated If they are not satisfied with the Reasons which are produced why do they not answer them why do they not desire a more full satisfaction for their Doubts in charitable Language and with a desire to be resolved They have the liberty of the Press to set down their Scruples and to let us know wherein they desire to be satisfy'd as well as to vent Libels which tend to the disturbance of the Nation and Mischief of the Church Methinks it should become Folks under such Scrupulosities as they pretend to to be meek and willing to be resolved in such Points as they differ from us especially when the Peace of the Church lyes at stake and to consider that 't is possible for them to be in the wrong as well as others But the Disposition of our Modern Separatist is quite contrary to this let the Publick Peace be ever so much concern'd his Pride and Self-conceit for which he has been ever famous will not suffer him to suspect himself under a mistake or to weigh rightly those reasons which are against his Humour He thinks it a shame to be convinced of his Errour and rather than shew himself confuted chooses to persist in his Obstinacy and desires a Toleration herein How pernicious both to Church and State such a Toleration would prove is easily ghess'd We have not been ignorant what some Consciences at their proper opportunities can dispence with tho in such cases as tend to Peace and the Publick good they are extraordinary tender Those that strain'd at the Cap and Surplice could well enough digest Rapine Sacriledge and Regicide Conscience and Christian Liberty were the specious pretences for their most Unchristian and Uncharatable Proceedings I need say no more than that the like Effects must proceed from the same Causes Irreverence towards Gods Ministers and Contempt of the King's Magistrates are some of the least Evils that may justly be expected from the wonted Meekness of our weak Brethren and this would soon be every man's Answer in case of being enjoyned any thing concerning God or Men how holy or just soever it were that did dislike him that his Conscience is against it If you please you shall hear the words of a Presbyterian Minister in the late rebellious Times Mr. Edwards concerning the Dissenters at that time That he was consident that for this many hundred years there had not been a Party that pretended to so much Holiness and tenderness of Conscience above all other men as this Party hath done that hath been guilty of so great sins horrible Wickedness provoking abominations as they are You may remember likewise that his late Majesty of ever blessed memory at his happy Restauration spontaneously condescended to grant Liberty of Conscience to such as dissented from the establish'd Religion provided they would not disturb the Peace of the Nation you may think the King was in a fair way of gratifying them and that the Conditions were but reasonable but how little operation it had upon the Dissenters the Commotion of the Fifth-Monarchy-men did afterwards demonstrate as also the following Plot of some of those men of Conscience that were concern'd in the fore-going Rebellion which verified the Observation of King James That the men of these Principles are not obliged by kindnesses nor won by frequently repeated favours But these Persons may do well to consider what a number of Sects are likely to spring up upon this desired Liberty There are many Folks who much delight in Novelty and many to whom nothing is dearer than their own singular Opinions now when every man is thus free to set up for himself we shall be daily pestered with new Doctrines and every one will be seeking for Subscribers to his own Model be it ever so absurd There can be no better way of judging what will ensue upon such a Toleration than by looking back and considering what has followed already when there has been such a Liberty and if we will consult the same fore-quoted Presbyterian Minister he 'll acquaint us with several Opinions that were maintain'd in his time