Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	wonder_v	word_n	write_v	18	3	4.4422	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A92566	A vindication of conformity to the liturgy of the Church of England. In a letter, written to A person of quality, wherein satisfaction is given to certain queries suggested by a non-conformist.	P. S.	1668 (1668)	Wing S124; ESTC R183126	12,388	56

time that were not so mad as to cast off all set Formes opposed themselves against that Forme that was Legally in force that is for substance the Forme that is now Enacted amongst our selves they were quickly convinced that the fault was rather in their own intemperate heate than in any errors reteined in the Service Book They complained foure Classes of them to the Lord Burleigh 't is possible that Assent and Consent were too hard meat for their squeasie Stomachs That Lord enquired Whether they would have all Liturgie taken away They said No. He required them to make a better that might take place upon the removall of what was settled The first Classis framed one complying with the Genevah Forme This the second disliked and altered in 600. particulars That again had the hard fortune to be quarrel'd by the third Classis And what the third resolved on by the fourth And as a Learned man saith The dissenting of those Brethren as the division of Tongues at Babel was a faire means for keeping that Tower then from advanceing any higher Vide Vindication of the Liturgie pag. 3.4 What the Gentleman means by dayes of Restoring Conformity I can but adventure to divine I remember that there was a Clause in the beginning of the Scotch Covenant illegally imposed by men in usurped power and taken rashly by the ignorant because they thought it lawfull and cowardly by the fearfull that loved their integrity less than their temporall concernes wherein the Covenanter engageth To endeavour the Reformation of the Church of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches Perhaps the Querist hath some Church in his eye unto which we cannot be conformable whilst our Liturgie shall stand in force had he named that Church we might have enquired whether our Church hath not as good Reason to be exemplary to it as to tread after it They that have travel'd in this enquiry will tell us That they judge the Church of England to be the Eldest Daughter in all the boundaries of the Reformation and as Orthodox for Doctrine and sober for Discipline as any Church since the first Ages Mr. Durel who was Minister above eight years in a Protestant Church of France will assure this Querist That in France and Genevah set Formes are enjoyned That a Tigurine Minister was questioned at Genevah for officiating in the Germane Church there and not rehearsing as 't is appointed the Creed after the Morning Service The same Person afore-named now Minister of the French Church at the Savoy relates a passage of a Letter sent to him by the Learned and eloquent Mounsier Martell the words in English are these I wonder to heare that some are found in England that are altogether averse from any set Formes of Liturgie to be observed generally one and the same in all the Kingdome among us it is no where permitted to reject the use of the Liturgie which was made by Calvin c. indeed for Calvins Liturgy we leave it to those that like it But his reasons for a Liturgie are so binding that I know not what can be alledged more convincing These are his words in our Tongue which he Wrote in a Latine Epistle to the Protector of England in King Edward the sixth his dayes As touching the Forme of Prayers and Ceremonies of the Church I approve very much that it be Set and that it be not lawfull for the Ministers to recede from it in their Function as well to help the simplicity and unskilfulness of some as that the Vniformity of all the severall Congregations may appeare And finally that the desultory and capricious lightness of such as affect Novelties may be encountred and stopped 2. The Gentlemans second Querie is Whether the Injunction of that Worship to the exclusion of all els unless that be used be not to make it an essentiall part of Gods Worship and an adding to Gods Word forbidden in Deuteronomy and the Revelation To Preach God Word and dispence his Sacraments to make Prayers Supplications and give thanks for all men are Essentiall parts of Gods Worship But to performe these duties after such a manner at such Forms of words and with such Vestments are but circumstantialls left in the power of the Church by that generall rule of St. Paul 1 Cor. 14.10 Let all things be done decently and in order I would faine see this or any other person pretending the pleas here alledged undertake the performance of the Service of God in such a Scripturall manner that might secure him against as strong exceptions nay far stronger than are here made against the Publique Liturgy by this Querist I suppose he would come into the Assembly clad with some garment or other For though Saul Prophesied naked and the Adamites think it their perfection to appear at their Meetings unapparrelled yet few are so Fanatick as to think those examples obliging others to a conformity He cannot approve a Surplice perhaps May not another pleade as much against a Gowne or Cloak or Cassock If a white Surplice be no where commanded neither is a black Gowne If not to kneele at the Communion neither to sit or stand is a precept in the sacred Text. If the established Orders of the Church are not to be received because they are no where commanded by express injunction of Scriptures the Nonconformists to the Church must permit us to be such to themselves untill they can act upon the warranty of that Word which they say gives no allowance to us But let us heare how the Service of God must be carried on when the Congregation is met Although the Common Prayers may not be used perhaps because a Forme perhaps because commanded yet I suppose the Querist would pray after his own fashion If the Service be a Forme such will be his to those that are to joyne with him And if it be urged that by the contrivance of his Forme his gifts are exercised May I not reply that these are the gifts of the Church in the Prayers authorized by our Governours The Church forbids no man the imployment of his Talents At their Ordination all Ministers are very powerfuly exhorted thereunto But we have a cleare Text That the Spirits of the Prophets ought to be subject to the Prophets 1 Cor. 14.32 That we ought to obey them that have the rule over us Heb. 13.17 That all things ought to be done decently and in order and common sense teacheth us that where there is no subjection there can be no order 'T is certain also that the Canon of the Scriptures is sealed that no man can pretend to such speciall Revelations that what he shall utter must conclude the Church as powerfully as if the Prophets or Apostles spake The best gifts in men not exempted from carnall infirmities may be abused One may be zealous and want knowledge another may be competently knowing

A VINDICATION OF CONFORMITY TO THE LITURGY Of the Church of ENGLAND In a Letter Written to a Person of Quality wherein satisfaction is given to certain Queries suggested by a Non-Conformist YORK Printed by Stephen Bulkley And are to be sold by Richard Lambert 1668. Imprimatur Joh. Garthwait Reverendissimo in Christo Patri ac Dom. Dom. Richardo Archiepis Eboracensi à Sacris Domesticis Datum Episcopo-Thorpae Feb. 19. 1668. Queries of a Non-Conformist WHether our Lord and Master Jesus Christ as he is God and Man he not the sole Supream Legislator to his Church and People in things concerning the Worship of God insomuch that what ever externall exhibition of the Worship of God as to the whole or such part of it as was not in use in the Prophets our Saviours the Apostles dayes not for above three hundred years after our Lords Ascension neither is any where in the sacred Scriptures appointed by our Lord Masiers command or example to be used in Publick and is so far from having his Royall Stamp upon it that as to some parts of it it is plainly insufficient considered as a means to effect that which it is appointed for whether such a Publick Worship of God with ' its Liturgie and Rubrick ought at all to be used in the Churches of Christ in these dayes of Reformation or Restoration of Conformity 2. Whether the enjoyments of such a Publick Worship ut supra with that strictness that unless that Worship be used there must not be any other Worship of God be used be it never so Scripturall and Orthodox whether this be not a making this Worship an Essentiall part of Gods Worship and an adding to Gods Word so solemnly forbidden in Deuteronomie and Revelation 3. Whether if I assent and consent to the use of that Worship Liturgie and Rubrick Whether I doe not so far set up an other Power in co-ordination to my Law-giver and Judge who is both God and Man Yea Whether I doe not set up another Power above Him if I doe as that Power enjoynes rather omit or curtall that I know for certaine my Lord and Master enjoynes than leave one word un-read of that manner of Worship a Forraigne Power enjoynes Whether thus doing is not such a pleasing of Man as declares I am no true servant of Jesus Christ 4. Whether it be not a transgression of my Commission given me by my Lord and Masters own mouth in Mat. 28. ult and penult whether it be not in some sence a bidding him keep his Gifts and Spirit he hath promised keep them to himselfe I am furnished with a manner of Worship which I can carry on without his or his Spirits help or any extraordinary gift Whether by Assenting and Consenting ut supra I doe not incurr the curse threatned against Adding or detracting from the Word of God and from the word of that Prophet spoken of by Moses and Paul Whether by Assenting and Consenting ut supra I doe not recidivate from being a faithfull Witness and Asserter of my Lord and Master his sole Supremacy ut supra And whether I doe not hereby render my selfe plainely without excuse when he at that great day shall say Who required the Exhibition of such a worship at thy hands Good Madam I Intended before this time to have performed my promise to your Ladyship in sending you a word or two concerning that Paper which a Divine presented to your Mother I told you at Horn by Castle that much having been written by Learned Men of our Church concerning this Argument which it is supposed any Minister in this Nation that desires cordially to imploy his Talent in his native Country to Gods glory and his Country-mens advantage will not neglect to peruse the best course would be for a Person unsatisfied after the Reading of such Writings Hookers Ecclesiasticall Politie Arch-bishop Whitgifts Reply to the Admonition Masons Sermon of Conformity Bishop Sandersons Preface c. to debate matters calmely with some Divine of a contrary perswasion especially with some Learned Bishop who by verball conference may possibly give the dissenting person that satisfaction which by Reading he cannot yet procure If till opportunity offer it selfe of better assistance any weak endeavours of mine might contribute any thing to the settlement of this Gentleman I should be very ready to communicate unto him the ground of my own submission to the Church Government now established among us and to hear him produce the Reasons of his dissatisfaction If he shall be able by any convincing Arguments to prove that our Church enjoyneth any thing contrary to the will of the Supreme Legislator I hope that nothing that I enjoy at this time in it shall be an impediment unto me of embracing his convictions and bearing a part of that Cross which many of his perswasion would have the world think that they take upon them for the cause of Christ 'T is possible the Gentleman may have more to alledge in discourse than he has expressed by writing otherwise I much marvaile why he should think himselfe warranted to suspend his exercise of such gifts as God hath given him and the pursuit of that high Calling unto which I suppose him Legally advanced by reason of the present settlement of our Church For first in reference to his first Querie We all readily acknowledge our Lord Christ the Supreme and sole Law-giver to his Church in all the substantialls of his worship and service But yet we deny that it doth hence follow that no circumstances of serving God are left to the Judgement of the present Church The holy Scriptures are a sufficient rule of Faith and manners and we abhorr that distinction of the Papists of the Word of God into Traditionall and Written We cheerfully beleeve all things necessary for us to beleeve and doe to be contained in those holy Books of the Old and New Testament as appears by the sixth Article of our Church And yet when God was pleased to afford us the succour of supernaturall Revelation in the grand Mysteries of our salvation We do not beleeve that he forbad us the sober use of Reason the giving a greater light was not intended for the extinction of the lesser but to offer unto us the help of Divine assistance in things that naturall reason is altogether blind in the eye of humane reason is dimme in discerning naturall and Morall things altogether blind in Divine We give therefore no licence at all unto reason to contradict the revealed will of God in his Word The sacred authority therefore of supernaturall truth being advanced to that pitch of unquestionable dignity that where it speaks clearly there no exceptions of Men or Angels are permitted to interpose and controle what is there spoken what should hinder a single Person as far as his liberty is not restrained by his Superiours much less a Nationall Church publiquely to manage the worship of God after those Methods which reason assisted by