Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	apostle_n	church_n	true_a	1,505	5	5.2874	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52038	An expedient to preserve peace and amity, among dissenting brethren. By a brother in Christ	Marshall, Stephen, 1594?-1655.	1647 (1647)	Wing M754A; ESTC R204591	29,957	42

a_o expedient_a to_o preserve_v peace_n and_o amity_n among_o dissent_v brethren_n by_o a_o brother_n in_o christ_n london_n print_v for_o h._n r._n and_o be_v to_o be_v sell_v at_o his_o shop_n at_o the_o sign_n of_o the_o three_o pigeon_n in_o paul_n churchyard_n 1647._o a_o expedient_a to_o preserve_v peace_n and_o amity_n among_o dissent_v brethren_n see_v it_o have_v please_v almighty_a god_n 〈…〉_z at_o this_o time_n to_o put_v a_o stop_n to_o the_o effusion_n of_o blood_n so_o prodigal_o pour_v out_o in_o our_o native_a country_n and_o thereby_o give_v a_o hope_n of_o speedy_o state_v the_o whole_a kingdom_n in_o a_o firm_a and_o durable_a peace_n it_o do_v not_o a_o little_a grieve_v my_o soul_n that_o this_o happiness_n shall_v be_v cloud_v or_o retard_v under_o the_o pretence_n of_o religion_n which_o be_v the_o best_a cimenter_n of_o peace_n but_o herein_o i_o take_v comfort_n that_o god_n have_v his_o own_o work_n no_o less_o in_o these_o controversy_n then_o before_o he_o have_v in_o the_o war_n and_o will_v reap_v glory_n out_o of_o both_o we_o must_v neither_o start_v nor_o stagger_v when_o we_o see_v schism_n and_o heresy_n rise_v in_o the_o visible_a church_n they_o be_v the_o tare_n which_o the_o envious_a man_n sow_v among_o god_n wheat_n and_o christ_n have_v forewarn_v we_o and_o so_o have_v his_o apostle_n that_o through_o the_o rage_n of_o satan_n and_o corruption_n of_o man_n there_o must_v of_o necessity_n in_o all_o time_n and_o age_n arise_v scandal_n dissension_n and_o heresy_n in_o the_o church_n for_o the_o exercise_n of_o the_o godly_a that_o their_o faith_n may_v be_v prove_v and_o manifest_v to_o the_o world_n by_o hold_v their_o ground_n and_o cleave_v to_o the_o truth_n yea_o the_o very_a gospel_n of_o christ_n which_o in_o itself_o be_v a_o gospel_n of_o peace_n by_o the_o blood_n of_o the_o son_n reconcile_v of_o we_o to_o the_o father_n meet_v with_o such_o malignancy_n and_o opposition_n in_o the_o world_n that_o to_o the_o true_a professor_n of_o it_o it_o become_v a_o gospel_n of_o war_n and_o hatred_n and_o persecution_n this_o be_v the_o condition_n of_o the_o faithful_a to_o be_v always_o in_o outward_a trouble_n wherein_o be_v they_o not_o support_v with_o inward_a peace_n they_o be_v of_o all_o man_n most_o miserable_a upon_o this_o ground_n martin_n luther_n that_o undaunted_a champion_n of_o the_o truth_n be_v tax_v by_o the_o emperor_n in_o a_o great_a council_n that_o he_o be_v the_o man_n who_o by_o his_o doctrine_n have_v disturb_v the_o long_a continue_a peace_n in_o germany_n answer_v that_o what_o other_o think_v he_o can_v not_o tell_v but_o it_o rejoice_v his_o heart_n to_o see_v that_o there_o be_v division_n about_o the_o word_n of_o god_n for_o christ_n come_v not_o to_o bring_v peace_n but_o the_o sword_n by_o all_o this_o it_o appear_v that_o as_o every_o true_a believer_n must_v expect_v tribulation_n in_o this_o world_n so_o he_o shall_v have_v peace_n with_o god_n and_o aught_o to_o have_v peace_n and_o communion_n one_o with_o another_o christ_n when_o he_o leave_v his_o disciple_n leave_v they_o peace_n for_o a_o legacy_n and_o a_o commandment_n to_o love_v one_o another_o we_o be_v also_o frequent_o exhort_v to_o follow_v after_o peace_n to_o be_v of_o one_o mind_n and_o preserve_v the_o unity_n of_o the_o spirit_n in_o the_o bond_n of_o peace_n how_o come_v it_o then_o about_o that_o we_o see_v so_o many_o mind_n among_o brethren_n who_o will_v all_o pass_v for_o the_o disciple_n of_o christ_n and_o that_o from_o the_o diversity_n of_o mind_n we_o see_v so_o many_o rent_n and_o separation_n whereby_o the_o bond_n of_o peace_n be_v break_v and_o the_o spirit_n of_o man_n disunite_v certain_o when_o it_o come_v so_o far_o it_o can_v proceed_v from_o no_o other_o root_n then_o from_o our_o lust_n which_o war_n in_o our_o earthly_a member_n otherwise_o difference_n of_o judgement_n among_o true_a believer_n in_o the_o sincere_a search_n of_o truth_n may_v well_o stand_v with_o unity_n of_o affection_n without_o breach_n of_o peace_n for_o it_o be_v manifest_a enough_o that_o the_o true_a believer_n over_o the_o whole_a world_n be_v not_o of_o one_o mind_n in_o all_o thing_n that_o concern_v religion_n and_o the_o worship_n of_o god_n witness_v the_o several_a form_n of_o outward_a worship_n among_o all_o nation_n no_o less_o various_a than_o their_o fashion_n and_o this_o may_v also_o happen_v among_o the_o faithful_a aswell_o in_o the_o same_o as_o in_o several_a nation_n nay_o if_o we_o consider_v it_o home_o we_o shall_v find_v the_o like_a difference_n in_o ourselves_o that_o we_o need_v not_o wonder_v at_o it_o in_o other_o for_o what_o christian_a be_v there_o who_o in_o pursuit_n and_o study_n for_o truth_n observe_v not_o in_o himself_o degree_n and_o diversity_n of_o judgement_n every_o day_n teach_v knowledge_n this_o life_n be_v a_o time_n of_o growth_n not_o of_o perfection_n nevertheless_o no_o man_n hate_v himself_o because_o he_o former_o know_v not_o so_o much_o as_o now_o he_o do_v but_o rather_o praise_v god_n for_o have_v reveal_v to_o he_o a_o great_a measure_n of_o knowledge_n by_o this_o rule_n we_o shall_v deal_v with_o other_o as_o we_o do_v with_o ourselves_o for_o that_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o charity_n we_o be_v all_o god_n building_n and_o albeit_o they_o may_v chance_v to_o differ_v among_o themselves_o they_o be_v not_o for_o that_o to_o make_v a_o breach_n in_o the_o build_n but_o in_o love_n and_o peace_n suffer_v their_o opinion_n to_o be_v try_v by_o the_o word_n of_o god_n make_v that_o the_o decider_n not_o the_o breeder_n of_o controversy_n this_o be_v premise_v i_o will_v proceed_v to_o the_o subject_a lie_v before_o i_o and_o take_v my_o beginning_n from_o the_o beginning_n itself_o almighty_a god_n do_v all_o his_o own_o work_n in_o order_n be_v please_v to_o make_v man_n a_o sociable_a creature_n first_o in_o himself_o associate_v a_o earthly_a and_o heavenly_a nature_n that_o one_o may_v guide_v and_o govern_v the_o other_o and_o himself_o receive_v glory_n from_o both_o then_o by_o engraft_v in_o that_o compound_a nature_n rule_v of_o spiritual_a and_o human_a duty_n whereby_o he_o may_v be_v fit_v for_o a_o well-being_n in_o the_o society_n of_o other_o for_o as_o the_o conjunction_n of_o flesh_n and_o spirit_n though_o part_n far_o differ_v in_o nature_n make_v one_o man_n so_o the_o conjunction_n of_o many_o man_n though_o of_o several_a age_n complexion_n humour_n passion_n calling_n and_o degree_n make_v up_o a_o commonwealth_n for_o the_o good_a of_o all_o in_o their_o temporal_a well-being_n even_o so_o likewise_o the_o conjunction_n of_o many_o spirit_n and_o mind_n of_o man_n though_o dissent_v in_o opinion_n way_n and_o strength_n of_o judgement_n yet_o aim_v at_o the_o same_o end_n by_o faith_n in_o christ_n to_o attain_v salvation_n make_v a_o common_a union_n or_o a_o church_n for_o the_o good_a of_o all_o in_o their_o eternal_a well-being_n flesh_n alone_o nor_o spirit_n alone_o can_v make_v a_o man_n but_o the_o union_n of_o both_o no_o more_o can_v a_o commonwealth_n by_o itself_o nor_o a_o church_n by_o itself_o make_v man_n temporal_o and_o eternal_o happy_a but_o the_o unity_n and_o harmony_n of_o both_o they_o be_v so_o conjoin_v and_o intwine_v together_o that_o as_o the_o soul_n be_v in_o the_o body_n so_o be_v the_o church_n in_o the_o commonwealth_n single_a they_o can_v subsist_v for_o there_o never_o be_v nor_o can_v there_o be_v any_o multitude_n of_o man_n that_o body_v themselves_o into_o a_o commonwealth_n who_o agree_v not_o in_o some_o kind_n of_o religion_n neither_o can_v any_o multitude_n of_o man_n body_n themselves_o into_o a_o church_n but_o they_o must_v be_v subject_a to_o some_o kind_n of_o government_n these_o two_o can_v be_v separate_v without_o the_o ruin_n of_o both_o separation_n destroy_v society_n wherein_o consist_v the_o happiness_n of_o man_n for_o in_o heaven_n we_o can_v be_v happy_a alone_o nor_o on_o earth_n without_o society_n these_o principle_n be_v write_v by_o the_o god_n of_o order_n in_o the_o table_n of_o human_a nature_n which_o be_v common_o call_v the_o light_n or_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n but_o sin_n and_o time_n have_v so_o fully_v that_o character_n that_o it_o be_v scarce_o legible_a by_o posterity_n god_n be_v please_v to_o revive_v it_o again_o to_o his_o peculiar_a people_n write_v it_o with_o his_o own_o finger_n in_o table_n of_o stone_n to_o authorise_v and_o moralize_v it_o to_o all_o generation_n for_o their_o good_a therein_o give_v power_n to_o the_o magistrate_n to_o take_v care_n for_o the_o keep_n and_o preserve_v of_o both_o table_n place_v our_o duty_n to_o he_o between_o our_o duty_n to_o god_n and_o towards_o our_o neighbour_n that_o he_o may_v

wrap_v up_o in_o general_a precept_n it_o behoove_v we_o to_o learn_v from_o his_o deputy_n upon_o earth_n ask_v council_n of_o the_o lord_n what_o his_o mind_n and_o pleasure_n be_v and_o such_o for_o the_o most_o part_n be_v the_o outward_a rite_n form_n and_o circumstance_n of_o his_o evangelical_a worship_n these_o thing_n fall_v within_o the_o compass_n of_o order_n and_o decency_n which_o be_v rather_o civil_a notion_n then_o divine_a yet_o as_o army_n in_o the_o field_n easy_o fall_v into_o a_o rout_n not_o well_o array_v so_o assembly_n in_o the_o church_n and_o church_n in_o the_o commonwealth_n prove_v but_o rude_a and_o tumultuous_a meeting_n if_o they_o be_v not_o decent_o order_v a_o lute_n or_o viol_n be_v see_v play_v upon_o but_o there_o be_v much_o ado_n to_o tune_v many_o instrument_n into_o one_o consort_n private_a christian_n may_v dispose_v of_o themselves_o in_o their_o own_o house_n but_o when_o they_o meet_v in_o a_o public_a body_n they_o must_v be_v tune_v by_o the_o public_a magistrate_n the_o world_n will_v never_o have_v stand_v without_o society_n nor_o can_v society_n hold_v without_o government_n neither_o can_v there_o be_v any_o government_n where_o some_o rule_n not_o and_o some_o obey_v all_o the_o question_n be_v to_o set_v due_a limit_n and_o bound_n to_o the_o civil_a government_n wherein_o i_o conceive_v that_o there_o be_v the_o self_n the_o same_o measure_n betwixt_o the_o magistrate_n and_o the_o conscience_n for_o as_o the_o word_n of_o god_n bind_v the_o conscience_n to_o obey_v so_o it_o prescribe_v the_o magistrate_n to_o govern_v otherwise_o if_o as_o the_o high_a priest_n forbid_v the_o apostle_n to_o teach_v in_o the_o name_n of_o jesus_n so_o the_o magistrate_n shall_v impose_v any_o thing_n upon_o the_o people_n contrary_a to_o divine_a law_n or_o the_o word_n reveal_v the_o case_n be_v plain_a that_o we_o ought_v to_o obey_v god_n rather_o than_o man_n these_o rub_v thus_o remove_v in_o our_o way_n i_o shall_v proceed_v to_o the_o solve_n of_o such_o objection_n as_o be_v common_o make_v by_o those_o brethren_n that_o challenge_v a_o liberty_n and_o exemption_n from_o this_o lawful_a obedience_n 1._o first_o they_o build_v upon_o our_o own_o ground_n allege_v that_o since_o the_o nature_n of_o conscience_n be_v so_o free_a and_o voluntary_a in_o itself_o it_o must_v needs_o be_v a_o manifest_a violation_n of_o her_o freedom_n to_o constrain_v she_o by_o law_n or_o penalty_n or_o imposition_n of_o man_n to_o which_o i_o answer_v that_o we_o must_v remember_v to_o put_v a_o difference_n betwixt_o the_o constraint_n and_o the_o restraint_n of_o man_n conscience_n no_o law_n nor_o power_n of_o man_n can_v constrain_v the_o conscience_n in_o her_o voluntary_a act_n to_o go_v against_o she_o own_o light_n or_o approve_v that_o which_o she_o condemn_v or_o say_v to_o herself_o conscience_n i_o lie_v no_o she_o may_v and_o aught_o rather_o to_o suffer_v then_o undergo_v such_o a_o constraint_n but_o the_o law_n of_o man_n may_v so_o far_o restrain_v their_o liberty_n that_o she_o produce_v not_o the_o act_n of_o her_o private_a sense_n and_o freedom_n into_o hurtful_a effect_n such_o as_o may_v endanger_v and_o disturb_v our_o christian_a and_o public_a peace_n it_o have_v be_v always_o observe_v that_o it_o be_v as_o natural_a and_o appetition_n for_o error_n to_o beget_v error_n and_o opinion_n to_o spread_v opinion_n as_o for_o one_o kind_n to_o generate_v and_o multiply_v the_o same_o insomuch_o when_o a_o erroneous_a conscience_n will_v not_o be_v limit_v nor_o contain_v within_o itself_o it_o may_v and_o aught_o to_o be_v restrain_v and_o inhibit_v from_o infect_v other_o and_o disperse_v the_o contagion_n 2._o second_o it_o may_v be_v again_o object_v that_o although_o it_o be_v grant_v nothing_o can_v bind_v the_o conscience_n but_o the_o pure_a word_n of_o god_n yet_o forasmuch_o as_o no_o word_n of_o scrirture_n be_v produce_v express_o confirm_v this_o from_o of_o polity_n and_o presbyterian_a government_n which_o we_o be_v command_v to_o obey_v it_o will_v plain_o follow_v that_o the_o conscience_n of_o man_n be_v therein_o leave_v unto_o their_o liberty_n to_o give_v a_o full_a answer_n hereunto_o it_o will_v be_v necessary_a to_o take_v the_o frame_n of_o this_o government_n in_o piece_n as_o the_o levite_n do_v the_o tabernacle_n when_o they_o remove_v their_o tent_n and_o then_o bring_v it_o piece_n by_o piece_n to_o the_o light_n of_o god_n word_n to_o see_v what_o be_v thereby_o confirm_v and_o what_o unfirm_v but_o because_o this_o be_v already_o do_v by_o divers_a worthy_a brethren_n of_o the_o holy_a call_n i_o shall_v forbear_v to_o insert_v their_o volume_n into_o these_o few_o sheet_n and_o shall_v only_o say_v that_o this_o kind_n of_o government_n be_v either_o express_o or_o by_o good_a consequence_n include_v and_o allow_v by_o the_o scripture_n as_o not_o repugnant_a to_o it_o in_o any_o thing_n of_o the_o presbytery_n itself_o where_o the_o government_n be_v inherent_a i_o hear_v no_o question_n make_v but_o that_o it_o be_v express_o mention_v in_o the_o scripture_n the_o main_a doubt_n and_o difference_n be_v whither_o it_o be_v independent_a in_o particular_a congregation_n subordinate_a to_o synod_n and_o assembly_n as_o the_o urgency_n and_o occasion_n of_o the_o church_n may_v require_v those_o brethren_n that_o maintain_v independency_n of_o single_a congregation_n stand_v upon_o a_o ground_n feeble_a and_o unfirm_a say_v that_o in_o the_o apostle_n time_n there_o be_v no_o other_o church_n but_o only_o congregational_a in_o which_o alone_o all_o government_n be_v confine_v this_o assertion_n will_v hold_v no_o further_o true_a then_o in_o such_o church_n as_o be_v gather_v while_o christ_n be_v upon_o earth_n then_o indeed_o we_o may_v conceive_v that_o the_o first_o evangelical_a church_n consist_v in_o the_o congregation_n of_o the_o apostle_n and_o afterwards_o of_o the_o disciple_n but_o when_o christ_n ascend_v into_o heaven_n and_o the_o holy_a ghost_n descend_v upon_o earth_n we_o shall_v find_v that_o when_o the_o multitude_n of_o believer_n increase_v so_o much_o in_o several_a city_n as_o one_o congregation_n can_v not_o contain_v they_o their_o manner_n be_v to_o distribute_v themselves_o into_o several_a meeting_n accordinp_v to_o the_o commodity_n of_o their_o habitation_n in_o the_o say_a city_n or_o else_o as_o it_o may_v most_o stand_v with_o their_o safety_n now_o the_o apostle_n themselves_o and_o their_o coadjutor_n the_o evangelist_n and_o other_o founder_n of_o church_n under_o they_o do_v usual_o constitute_v and_o ordain_v elder_n in_o every_o city_n but_o not_o in_o every_o congregation_n who_o have_v power_n in_o common_a and_o colle●gially_o to_o teach_v and_o govern_v the_o whole_a flock_n though_o several_o congregat_v in_o the_o same_o city_n thus_o we_o read_v of_o the_o elder_n of_o jerusalem_n of_o antiochia_n of_o ephesus_n of_o corinth_n of_o philippi_n and_o many_o mo_z where_o the_o number_n of_o the_o faithful_a be_v enlarge_v whereby_o it_o appear_v that_o in_o the_o apostle_n time_n and_o the_o time_n succeed_v those_o primitive_a church_n be_v city_n church_n consist_v of_o divers_a congregation_n and_o not_o congregational_a as_o be_v pretend_v independent_a within_o themselves_o true_a it_o be_v the_o city_n church_n be_v common_o independent_a within_o itself_o but_o thereof_o the_o reason_n be_v because_o the_o city_n in_o their_o civil_a policy_n be_v free_a and_o unsubject_v otherwise_o the_o government_n of_o the_o city_n church_n reach_v as_o far_o as_o the_o jurisdiction_n of_o the_o city_n if_o all_o this_o be_v true_a as_o it_o be_v make_v most_o evident_a by_o the_o unpartial_a searcher_n of_o antiquity_n we_o may_v herein_o observe_v a_o pattern_n though_o not_o a_o precept_n for_o the_o subordination_n of_o church_n for_o if_o in_o the_o apostle_n time_n a_o city_n church_n consist_v of_o many_o congregation_n by_o the_o same_o proportion_n according_a to_o the_o increase_n of_o believer_n a_o provincial_n church_n may_v consist_v of_o many_o city_n and_o a_o national_a church_n of_o many_o province_n and_o the_o catholic_n church_n of_o many_o nation_n the_o low_a step_n be_v lay_v by_o the_o apostle_n the_o high_a step_n be_v a_o point_n of_o our_o belief_n and_o from_o the_o low_a to_o the_o high_a there_o be_v no_o passage_n but_o by_o gradation_n which_o be_v the_o scale_n of_o that_o government_n now_o hold_v forth_o by_o parliament_n but_o to_o this_o may_v be_v reply_v all_o this_o that_o you_o say_v be_v but_o conjectural_a and_o that_o have_v no_o power_n to_o bind_v the_o conscience_n which_o must_v have_v a_o word_n infallible_a to_o rest_n upon_o to_o this_o i_o answer_v that_o for_o the_o substance_n of_o this_o government_n we_o have_v the_o infallible_a word_n of_o god_n whereof_o neither_o part_n doubt_v for_o the_o frame_n and_o