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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
faith_n church_n true_a visible_a 19,269 5 9.3685 5 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A62129 A gentleman's religion in three parts : the 1st contains the principles of natural religion, the 2d. and 3d. the doctrins of Christianity both as to faith and practice : with an appendix wherein it is proved that nothing contrary to our reason can possibly be the object of our belief, but that it is no just exception against some of the doctrins of Christianity that they are above our reason. Synge, Edward, 1659-1741. 1698 (1698) Wing S6380; ESTC R24078 100,488 452

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power_n and_o assistance_n of_o god_n who_o be_v both_o the_o framer_n and_o controller_n of_o nature_n or_o which_o be_v the_o same_o thing_n in_o effect_n by_o the_o mediation_n and_o ministry_n of_o good_a spirit_n who_o always_o act_n obedient_o to_o his_o will._n so_o that_o whether_o mediate_o or_o immediate_o it_o be_v god_n who_o be_v to_o be_v look_v upon_o as_o the_o original_a and_o author_n of_o all_o those_o wonderful_a thing_n which_o be_v do_v by_o jesus_n and_o his_o disciple_n now_o then_o since_o god_n do_v interpose_v his_o power_n to_o work_v such_o strange_a and_o stupenduous_a thing_n for_o the_o propagation_n and_o confirmation_n of_o that_o doctrine_n which_o be_v teach_v by_o jesus_n and_o his_o disciple_n this_o i_o think_v be_v a_o sufficient_a demonstration_n that_o their_o doctrine_n be_v certain_o true_a for_o who_o can_v imagine_v that_o god_n shall_v make_v use_n of_o his_o extraordinary_a power_n only_o to_o cheat_v and_o deceive_v the_o world_n into_o 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contrary_a matter_n ought_v every_v where_o so_o to_o be_v order_v as_o that_o if_o a_o member_n of_o any_o one_o particular_a church_n shall_v travel_v into_o any_o other_o part_n of_o the_o world_n he_o may_v meet_v with_o nothing_o in_o any_o christian_a congregation_n where_o he_o come_v which_o just_o shall_v be_v a_o hindrance_n to_o he_o from_o assemble_v or_o communicate_v with_o it_o 56._o the_o particular_a act_n to_o be_v perform_v in_o these_o christian_a assembly_n be_v all_o such_o as_o tend_v to_o the_o edification_n of_o the_o people_n in_o virtue_n and_o godliness_n which_o be_v the_o design_n of_o their_o incorporation_n and_o consequent_o to_o the_o promote_a of_o each_o man_n eternal_a salvation_n which_o be_v the_o end_n that_o every_o christian_n be_v suppose_v to_o pursue_v all_o which_o be_v
of_o necessity_n be_v outward_o express_v in_o word_n because_o there_o be_v no_o other_o way_n of_o keep_v their_o thought_n wherein_o their_o worship_n do_v consist_v unite_a and_o join_v together_o and_o since_o word_n not_o understand_v be_v in_o effect_n the_o same_o with_o no_o word_n at_o all_o i_o conclude_v that_o the_o language_n wherein_o the_o worship_n of_o any_o church_n or_o congregation_n be_v offer_v up_o to_o god_n must_v always_o be_v such_o as_o be_v well_o understand_v by_o the_o assembly_n of_o the_o people_n who_o meet_v together_o nor_o do_v even_o the_o doctrine_n of_o transubstantiation_n amaze_v i_o more_o than_o that_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n shall_v own_v the_o 14_o chapter_n of_o st._n paul_n first_o epistle_n to_o the_o corinthian_n to_o be_v the_o word_n of_o god_n and_o yet_o have_v all_o their_o public_a service_n every_o where_o perform_v in_o the_o latin_a tongue_n only_o which_o be_v not_o now_o understand_v by_o the_o generality_n of_o any_o nation_n in_o the_o world_n 61._o as_o peace_n and_o unity_n mutual_a love_n and_o good_a agreement_n among_o the_o member_n of_o every_o society_n together_o with_o order_n and_o decency_n in_o all_o that_o be_v transact_v among_o they_o absolute_o necessary_a to_o the_o be_v and_o continuance_n or_o at_o least_o to_o the_o well-being_n of_o the_o society_n itself_o so_o be_v they_o careful_o prescribe_v and_o inculcate_v by_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n as_o thing_n to_o be_v always_o preserve_v and_o maintain_v in_o the_o christian_a church_n and_o as_o he_o who_o first_o occasion_n the_o violation_n of_o any_o of_o they_o be_v plain_o guilty_a of_o a_o very_a great_a sin_n so_o in_o all_o matter_n that_o be_v not_o particular_o and_o clear_o determine_v by_o god_n law_n we_o can_v propose_v a_o better_a and_o safe_a rule_n to_o ourselves_o than_o always_o to_o do_v that_o which_o tend_v most_o to_o the_o advancement_n and_o preservation_n of_o they_o 62._o if_o some_o certain_a time_n be_v not_o determine_v for_o christian_n to_o meet_v together_o for_o god_n worship_n which_o every_o man_n may_v know_v of_o before_o it_o come_v and_o according_o prepare_v himself_o for_o it_o by_o lay_v aside_o for_o that_o time_n his_o worldly_a business_n disorder_n and_o confusion_n which_o be_v the_o natural_a consequence_n of_o uncertainty_n must_v needs_o follow_v that_o one_o day_n at_o least_o in_o seven_o be_v express_o require_v by_o god_n under_o the_o mosaic_a law_n to_o be_v sanctify_v and_o set_v a_o part_n for_o his_o service_n be_v beyond_o dispute_n that_o the_o observation_n of_o the_o jewish_a sabbath_n or_o the_o last_o day_n of_o the_o week_n be_v not_o require_v from_o the_o christian_a church_n to_o i_o seem_v very_o evident_a from_o st._n paul_n reckon_n it_o among_o the_o transitory_a shadow_n of_o the_o old_a law_n col._n 2._o 17._o but_o that_o we_o christian_n ought_v not_o to_o be_v behindhand_o with_o the_o jew_n in_o set_v apart_o a_o proportion_n of_o our_o time_n for_o god_n service_n i_o think_v will_v follow_v as_o well_o from_o the_o great_a mercy_n which_o we_o have_v receive_v from_o he_o for_o which_o we_o no_o less_o than_o they_o aught_o to_o show_v and_o express_v our_o thankfulness_n as_o also_o from_o that_o general_a rule_n which_o our_o saviour_n have_v give_v we_o that_o our_o righteousness_n of_o the_o scribe_n and_o pharisee_n and_o that_o according_o one_o day_n in_o seven_o namely_o the_o first_o day_n of_o the_o week_n which_o in_o scripture_n be_v therefore_o call_v the_o lord_n day_n rev._n 1._o 10._o have_v ever_o be_v so_o set_v apart_o for_o the_o service_n of_o god_n in_o all_o christian_a church_n i_o presume_v will_v be_v deny_v by_o none_o as_o also_o that_o the_o reason_n of_o the_o apostle_n make_v choice_n of_o this_o particular_a day_n be_v in_o remembrance_n of_o our_o saviour_n glorious_a resurrection_n which_o on_o that_o day_n be_v perform_v and_o whereby_o their_o faith_n in_o he_o which_o begin_v to_o waver_v be_v confirm_v and_o raise_v above_o all_o doubt_n or_o diffidence_n now_o since_o no_o reason_n can_v be_v give_v or_o so_o much_o as_o imagine_v why_o this_o day_n shall_v be_v change_v for_o any_o other_o day_n of_o the_o week_n i_o do_v from_o what_o have_v be_v say_v conclude_v that_o the_o lord_n day_n or_o first_o day_n of_o the_o week_n aught_o for_o ever_o to_o be_v keep_v holy_a in_o the_o christian_a church_n and_o particular_o dedicate_v to_o the_o service_n of_o god_n and_o where_o either_o the_o church_n universal_a or_o any_o particular_a church_n have_v set_v aside_o any_o other_o day_n to_o be_v keep_v holy_a in_o remembrance_n either_o of_o any_o of_o god_n mercy_n to_o we_o or_o of_o the_o martyrdom_n of_o any_o of_o his_o choose_a saint_n who_o seal_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o gospel_n with_o their_o life_n and_o transmit_v it_o so_o confirm_v down_o unto_o we_o or_o as_o day_n of_o fast_v or_o abstinence_n in_o order_n to_o humble_v ourselves_o before_o god_n for_o our_o sin_n since_o in_o all_o this_o there_o be_v nothing_o contrary_a to_o god_n law_n nor_o any_o thing_n but_o what_o may_v be_v well_o consistent_a with_o and_o serviceable_a to_o true_a piety_n it_o will_v follow_v from_o what_o i_o have_v say_v §_o 61._o that_o every_o member_n of_o such_o a_o church_n be_v oblige_v to_o keep_v and_o observe_v these_o same_o other_o holy_a day_n so_o far_o as_o no_o way_n to_o give_v scandal_n disturb_v the_o order_n or_o break_v the_o peace_n of_o the_o church_n which_o have_v establish_v they_o 63._o order_n and_o decency_n necessary_o require_v that_o all_o the_o outward_a circumstance_n of_o worship_n which_o god_n himself_o have_v not_o determine_v by_o his_o own_o law_n shall_v be_v so_o settle_v by_o the_o church_n as_o that_o all_o confusion_n and_o unseemliness_n therein_o may_v as_o much_o as_o be_v possible_a be_v avoid_v but_o care_n on_o the_o other_o side_n ought_v ever_o to_o be_v take_v that_o modes_n and_o ceremony_n be_v not_o so_o multiply_v as_o to_o become_v uneasy_a and_o burdensome_a or_o distract_v the_o devotion_n of_o the_o people_n now_o there_o be_v no_o such_o fix_a and_o demonstrable_a rule_n of_o decency_n and_o order_n but_o what_o will_v have_v a_o different_a relish_n with_o different_a man_n according_a to_o their_o several_a education_n and_o custom_n to_o which_o they_o may_v have_v be_v use_v it_o will_v be_v very_o difficult_a if_o not_o impossible_a for_o any_o church_n so_o to_o regulate_v these_o external_a matter_n as_o to_o please_v every_o man_n fancy_n and_o give_v disgust_n to_o none_o for_o what_o some_o may_v think_v to_o be_v but_o decent_a other_o may_v take_v to_o be_v too_o formal_a or_o pompous_a and_o what_o these_o may_v apprehend_v to_o be_v suitable_a to_o the_o simplicity_n of_o christianity_n another_o sort_n may_v look_v on_o as_o mean_v and_o jejune_n as_o therefore_o the_o church_n in_o this_o case_n can_v do_v no_o more_o but_o act_n according_a to_o the_o best_a of_o her_o prudence_n so_o since_o every_o man_n can_v expect_v to_o have_v his_o particular_a fancy_n in_o these_o thing_n please_v and_o gratify_v it_o will_v evident_o appear_v to_o be_v the_o duty_n of_o each_o private_a christian_a so_o far_o to_o comply_v with_o every_o such_o constitution_n of_o the_o church_n where_o he_o dwell_v provide_v there_o be_v nothing_o in_o it_o which_o be_v sinful_a as_o not_o to_o break_v the_o peace_n and_o unity_n or_o disturb_v the_o order_n of_o the_o church_n on_o that_o account_n but_o if_o any_o church_n shall_v offer_v to_o impose_v any_o ceremony_n or_o practice_n whatsoever_o which_o god_n have_v not_o prescribe_v and_o which_o therefore_o be_v in_o themselves_o indifferent_a not_o for_o decency_n and_o order_n but_o as_o thing_n in_o themselves_o holy_a or_o absolute_o necessary_a to_o salvation_n as_o some_o of_o old_a will_v have_v do_v by_o the_o jewish_a ceremony_n with_o such_o imposition_n as_o these_o no_n christian_n ought_v at_o all_o to_o comply_v nor_o suffer_v his_o religion_n or_o conscience_n to_o be_v thus_o burden_a but_o every_o man_n must_v stand_v fast_o in_o that_o liberty_n wherewith_o christ_n have_v make_v we_o free_a though_o at_o the_o same_o time_n he_o must_v be_v very_o careful_a not_o to_o pretend_v or_o use_v this_o liberty_n as_o a_o cloak_n of_o maliciousness_n 64._o since_o different_a opinion_n in_o matter_n of_o religion_n be_v general_o apt_a to_o beget_v dissension_n and_o animosity_n between_o those_o who_o entertain_v they_o as_o our_o daily_a experience_n do_v abundant_o testify_v it_o ought_v to_o be_v the_o church_n and_o every_o private_a christian_n endeavour_n that_o all_o man_n may_v become_v of_o one_o and_o the_o same_o judgement_n or_o at_o least_o that_o there_o may_v be_v as_o few_o difference_n among_o they_o as_o