Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	believe_v	scripture_n	word_n	3,674	5	5.0369	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A75582	The just mans defence, or, The royal conquest being the declaration of the judgement of James Arminius, Doctor of Divinity in the University of Leyden, concerning the principall points of religion, before the States of Holland and VVestfriezland / translated for the vindication of truth, by Tobias Conyers, sometimes of Peter-house in Cambridge.; Declaratio sententiae de predestinatione. English	Arminius, Jacobus, 1560-1609.; Conyers, Tobias, 1628-1687.	1657 (1657)	Wing A3700A; ESTC R208013	52,267	187

been brought to the test by them neither those who follow the Augustine Confession had judged it reasonable to subject it to a new Examination and change it in some places thereof We cannot but approve this deed and judge Luther not to have done well being admonished by Philip Melancthon in the close of his life as it 's testified in writing by our Countrey-men to reduce the Eucharistical Controversie of the Lords Supper to some better agreement in refusing so to do upon this ground retorted upon Philip as 't is reported of him That by this means the whole Doctrine should be called into question for if reasons of this nature had been admitted then the endeavors of the Church of Rome had been lawful in hindring the controverting and questioning by any new scrutiny the Doctrine receiv'd in the Church for so many hundred yeers To this it 's opposed If the doctrine of the Churches should be subjected to a new Examination at the Celebration of every National Synod they would never have any thing on which they might rest and firmly lean and that it might be truly said of these Churches That they had fidem anniversariam an anual faith and were carried about hither and thither with every winde of Doctrine To which I answer First The Church have Moses and the Prophets the Evangelists and Apostles i. e. the whole Scripture of the Old New Testament wherein the necessaries to salvation are fully and clearly comprehended Vpon this the Church shall build its faith and stay thereon as upon an immovable foundation into which notwithstanding our Confessions Catechisms every determination in all causes of Faith and Religion ought to be resolv'd 2. There are some points in the Confession so certain and indubious that they will never be question'd by any but * Ex. Gr. Whether Christ be the Son of God Whether the soul be immortal Hereticks other branches are of that nature that 't were very advantagious as oft as may be to have them debated amongst learned and God-fearing men that they may be ranked as neer as possibly they can with points of greater certainty 3. It would be endeavoured that the Confession be made up of as few heads as may be and those briefly framed in Scripture-terms omitting all larger Explications Proofs Digressions heapings together of words and sentences Amplifications Exclamations and onely delivering in it the necessaries to salvation The brevity will render it less obnoxious to Errors Obloquy and Examination taking for our example the practise of the primitive Church which gave a draught of the Articles judged necessary to be believed in very few words Some there are that make a distinction betwixt the Confession and Catechism as to a review and judge the former because proper to the Belgick Churches and not so much made use of by others may with less difficulty fall under a Synodical review and examination but the Catechism not being peculiar to us but chiefly appertaining to the Palatinate Churches and of general use and concernment cannot without great detriment be brought to the test To which I answer If the Catechisme of Heydelberg must needs be the form of concord amongst the Teachers of the Churches and to which every of them is bound to subscribe its necessary to subject the same to Examination for there are no Churches ought to be in that place unto us that we should so admit of any writing composed by them as not to preserve our Liberty of examining the same And this I look upon as the principal cause why the Churches of several Provinces agreeing in the Fundamentals of Religion have framed their Confessions peculiar to every of them Let it be granted that the Heydelberg Catechism is no such form and liberty conceded in its Explication as is fitting and 't wil not be necessary either to review or examine the same the burden only of subscription thereunto removed and moderate liberty yeelded in the unfolding thereof CONCLUSION AND this is that most Noble Potent Wise and prudent Lords I have to propose to your Highnesses together with a returne of thanks to this Noble and Potent Assembly to which next after God himselfe I acknowaedg my selfe bound to give an account of all my actions that of your Clemency you have vouchsafed to heare me patiently with my solemne protestations that I am ready to entertaine a fraternal and amicable conference with my fellow brethren concerning these things or any other about which at any time any controversie may arise at what time or place or upon what occasion soever it shall be judged requisite by these Sessions And I further engage in every debate to yeeld my self moderate and flexible not less prompt to learn then teach And in as much as in every thing to be conferr'd of amongst us there are two things attendable First whether that in debate be true and then whether it be necessary to be believed unto salvation the Scriptures being the ground of our inquiry in both I do Sacredly affirm and solemnly oblige my selfe not to obtrude any point to be believed my brethren dissenting from me therein though proved by solid arguments to consent with the Scriptures unlesse I have clearly Evinced it from the Divine word it selfe and as dilucidly true so also necessary to be believed by every Christian to salvation which if my brethren will be prepared to do my opinion is there will scarce any debate or Schisme be amongst us And further I adde that I may take away all feare and jealousy that on my part may hang upon this Noble Assembly now charged and burden'd with weighty affaires upon which the peace and prosperity of our Nation and the reform'd Churches depend there will certainly be very many things and those of a high nature which I shall beare with in my fellow brethren not being Lord of another mans faith but a Minister in this to those that believe that in them may grow the Knowledg truth piety peace and joy in Christ Jesus our Lord. But if my fellow-brethren see not how they can attolerate me and grant me a place amongst them yet notwithstanding for that which concern's my self I hope no rent or division will ensue which God avert there are Schisms enough already in the Christian world its incumbent rather upon every one to diminish and abolish them In this case I 'le possess my soule in patience and my place though I shall indeavour to live so long as God shall prorogue my life for the common good of Christianity I will lay downe mindfull of that Sat Ecclesiae Sat Patriae datum FINIS These books following are to be sold by Henry Eversden at the Greyhound in Pauls Church-yard AN Exposition with Practical Observations on the Nine first Chapters of the Proverbs by Francis Taylor Minister of Canterbury in quarto An Exposition with Practicall Observations on the whole Book of Canticles in quarto by John Robotham Minister of the Gospel An Idea or body of Church-discipline in the Theorick and Practick by Mr. Rogers in quarto Imputatio Fidei Or a Treatise of Justification wherein the imputation of Faith for Righteousness mentioned in Romans 4. 5. 6th is explained by Mr. John Goodwin Minister of the Gospel in quarto The Right of Dominions or the Prerogative of Kings proved from Scripture by Dr. Welden Lucas Redivivus or the Gospel-Physitian prescribing by way of meditation divine Physick to prevent diseases not yet entred upon the soul by John Anthony Doctor in Physick in quarto Mercy in her Exaltation a Sermon preached at the Funerall of Mr. Thomas Taylor by Mr. John Goodwin in quarto Anabaptists Meribah or Waters of strife being an answer to Mr Tho. Lamb Merchant by Mr. Price one of Mr. John Goodwins Congregation The natural mans case stated or an exact map of the little world man in seventeen Sermons by Mr. Christopher Love to which is added a Sermon preached at his Funeral by Mr. Thomas Manton of Newington in 80. Gods glory in mans happiness or the freeness of Gods grace electing us by Francis Taylor of Canterbury in 80. The Lords Prayer unclasped being a vindication of it against all schismaticks and Hereticks called Enthusiasts and Fratracilli by James Harwood B. D. Hippolitus Translated out of Seneca by Edm. Prestwich Gospel publick worship or the Translation Metaphrase Analysis and Exposition of Romans 12. from vers 1 to 8th describing and prescribing the compleat pattern of Gospel worship Also an Exposition of the 18th Chapter of Matthew to which is added a discovery of Adams three-fold estate in Paradise viz. Moral Legal and Evangelical by Thomas Brewer in 80. A Comment on Ruth together with two Sermons one teaching how to live wel the other minding how to dye wel by Thomas Fuller Author of the Holy State Pearls of Eloquence or the school of Complements wherein Ladies and Gentlewomen may accomodate their Courtly practise by Will. Elder Gent. in 12. The doctrine of laying on of hands vindicated and asserted being an Answer to Lieut. Col. Paul Hobson in quarto The Male of the Flock a Sermon preached before the Lord Mayor out of the 4th of Malachy by Mr. Aggas Minister of Chynis These Books are now in the Press and ready to Publish Riverus Vniversall body of Physick in English folio The seventh day Sabbath sought out and Celebrated by The. Tillam in 8● Mr. John Goodwin in answer to Mr. Kendall and Mr. Resbury and Mr. Pauson

destruction of some men no consideration had in his decree of their disobedience which detract's from his love to the Creature that which appertains to it and represent's a Creature-hatred in God without any cause or necessity drawn from his love of justice and hatred of obliquity wherein true it is not that sin is the primary object of Divine displeasure and the sole meritorious cause thereof Of how great importance this is to the razing the foundation of Religion we may aptly see in this similitude suppose a child speaking My father is so great a lover of justice and equity that if I should be found in waies of disobedience before him he would disinherit me though his beloved son therefore the duty of obedience is highly incumbent upon me if I think to be his heir Another saith My father hath fixed his love so much upon me that he is absolutely resolved to make me his heire what need is there of obedience for in his immutable Will I am destinated to the inheritance and rather then he will suffer me to come short thereof he will draw me to obey him by force irresistible which is in a direct line of opposition to the words of the Baptist Matt. 3. 9. And thinke not to say within your selves Wee have ABRAHAM to our Father for I say unto you God is able of these Stones to raise up Children unto ABRAHAM The Christian Religion is also built upon this double Love as upon its foundation though a little otherwaies considered then before according to the change of mans state who being created in the Image and favour of God became peccant through his own default and an enemy to his Maker The love of Righteousness upon which our Religion leaneth is chiefly that which once he declared only in Christ that nothing should expiate sin but the blood and death of his Son neither would he admit him our Advocate and Intercessor but as besprinkled with his blood A declarative of this he makes daily in the preaching of the Gospel that he will not communicate Christ and his benefits to any but those that turn unto and believe in him The Love to miserable sinners upon which also the Christian Religion is bottom'd is first that by which he hath given Christ his Son for them and appointed him the Saviour of them that believe as also that by which he requires obedience not according to the rigour and severity of his utmost right and authority but with grace and clemency and the promise of remission of sin if so be lapsed man repent This Fundamental the doctrine of Predestination encounters two ways First by affirming Gods love to be so great to some Sinners that he would precisely save them before he had given satisfaction to his love of Justice in Christ Jesus and that in his fore-knowledge according to his purpose nay it overturns the foundation of Christianity by representing God willing to have his justice satisfied because hee would precisely save these men which is to subordinate his love of Justice testified in Christ to his love of sinful men whom he would resolutely save Secondly by making God absolutely willing to damn some sinners without any consideration of their impenitency when a plenary satisfaction to his love of Justice and hatred of Sin had been given in Christ Jesus so that nothing stood in the way of his mercy to be shewn unto Sinners be they what they will but the condition of repentance except some have a minde to say what is contained in this doctrine of Predestination that God will proceed in greater severity with the major part of men then hee did with Lucifer and his apostate Angels and that it is his will that Christ and the Gospel profit them no more then the infernal spirits that the gate of mercy is equally shut against them both when these sinned in their own persons out of malice by a voluntary act the other in their Parent Adam having no actuall being of themselves To the better understanding A more exact declaration of the precedent things how this twofold love is the foundation of Religion and that in the mutual respect one to another let 's ponder more accurately that of the Apostle to the Hebrews Heb. 11. 6. He that cometh unto God must believe that he is that he is a rewarder of all those that diligently seek him In these words two fundamentals are laid against the two fiery darts of Satan Security and Despair the pernicious Pests of Religion either of them sufficient to the eversion and extirpation thereof The first flatters a man into the perswasion that though he serve not God yet shall he not perish but obtaine salvation The other renders him confident that though hee do worship and serve him yet shall he not get any remuneration of him either of these exclude all true divine worship An Antidote against both the Apostolicall words affords He that believes God wil give eternal life to those onely that seek him and upon all others inflict everlasting death cannot easily be secure he that credits God to be a rewarder of those that seek him will not readily despair The ground of the first perswasion is Gods love of Righteousness more dear to him then Man himself which shakes off security The foundation of the other by which man believes stedfastly God to be a rewarder of the true seekers of him is that his so great love to the Creature Man that nothing impedes his bestowing salvation on him but the love which hee bears to his own Justice which is so far from being an hindrance that it doth rather promote and advance it Upon this account Man in his disquisition and search of God is not dubious of divine remuneration and thus diffidence or desperation is put to flight If so that this double love and the mutual relation as hath been clear'd be Religions foundation without which it cannot subsist then the doctrine repugnant to this love both absolute and relative everts and overthrows the same Twentiethly This Doctrine 20 Arg. of Predestination as well in former times as these wherein wee live stands rejected by the greater part of the Professors of Christianity To pass in silence the Ages foregoing things themselves witness it hath been reputed erroneous by the Church of Rome the Anabaptisticall and Lutheran Churches Luther and Melanchthon though in the beginning of the reformation they approved it yet afterwards deserted it This the later writings of Melanchthon apparently testifie of him The same being witnessed of the other by the Lutherans themselves who earnestly contend rather for their Masters more full declaring of his judgement in this then desertion of the former opinion Philip Melan●hth●n believed this opinion of Predestination not much different from the Stoical Fate as his papers testifie especially his Epistle to Casper Peucerus Lelius certifies the contests are grown so high at Geneva about the Stoical Fate that one