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head_n apostle_n church_n whole_a 3,176 5 6.0386 4 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A62570 Of sincerity and constancy in the faith and profession of the true religion, in several sermons by the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson ... ; published from the originals, by Ralph Barker. ... Tillotson, John, 1630-1694.; Barker, Ralph, 1648-1708. 1695 (1695) Wing T1204; ESTC R17209 175,121 492

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know_v they_o have_v belong_v to_o they_o so_o that_o in_o all_o probability_n he_o be_v ignorant_a of_o those_o mighty_a prerogative_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n otherwise_o it_o can_v be_v but_o that_o he_o will_v have_v write_v with_o more_o deference_n and_o submission_n to_o this_o seat_n of_o infallibility_n and_o centre_n of_o unity_n he_o will_v certain_o have_v pay_v a_o great_a respect_n to_o this_o mother_n and_o mistress_n of_o all_o church_n where_o the_o head_n of_o the_o church_n and_o vicar_n of_o christ_n either_o be_v already_o seat_v or_o by_o the_o appointment_n of_o christ_n be_v design_v for_o ever_o to_o fix_v his_o throne_n and_o establish_v his_o residence_n but_o there_o be_v not_o one_o word_n or_o the_o least_o intimation_n of_o any_o such_o thing_n throughout_o this_o whole_a epistle_n nor_o in_o any_o other_o part_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n beside_o that_o both_o these_o pretend_a
this_o case_n of_o renounce_v our_o religion_n unless_o it_o be_v very_o sudden_a and_o surprise_v out_o of_o which_o a_o man_n recover_v himself_o when_o he_o come_v to_o himself_o as_o st._n peter_n do_v or_o the_o suffer_a be_v so_o extreme_a as_o to_o put_v a_o man_n beside_o himself_o for_o the_o time_n so_o as_o to_o make_v he_o say_v or_o do_v any_o thing_n i_o say_v in_o this_o case_n of_o renounce_v god_n and_o his_o truth_n god_n will_v not_o admit_v fear_n for_o a_o just_a excuse_n of_o our_o apostasy_n which_o if_o it_o be_v unrepented_a of_o and_o the_o scripture_n speak_v of_o repentance_n in_o that_o case_n as_o very_o difficult_a will_v be_v our_o ruin_n and_o the_o reason_n be_v because_o god_n have_v give_v we_o such_o fair_a warn_v of_o it_o that_o we_o may_v be_v prepare_v for_o it_o in_o the_o resolution_n of_o our_o mind_n and_o we_o enter_v into_o religion_n upon_o these_o term_n with_o a_o profess_a expectation_n of_o suffer_v and_o a_o firm_a purpose_n to_o lay_v down_o our_o life_n for_o the_o truth_n if_o god_n shall_v call_v we_o to_o it_o if_o any_o man_n will_v be_v my_o disciple_n say_v our_o lord_n let_v he_o deny_v himself_o and_o take_v up_o his_o cross_n and_o follow_v i_o and_o again_o he_o that_o love_v life_n itself_o more_o than_o i_o be_v not_o worthy_a of_o i_o and_o if_o any_o man_n be_v ashamed_a of_o i_o and_o of_o my_o word_n in_o this_o unfaithful_a generation_n of_o he_o will_v i_o be_v ashamed_a before_o my_o father_n and_o the_o holy_a angel_n and_o therefore_o to_o master_n and_o subdue_v this_o fear_n our_o saviour_n have_v propound_v great_a object_n of_o terror_n to_o we_o and_o a_o danger_n infinite_o more_o to_o be_v dread_v which_o every_o man_n run_v himself_o wilful_o upon_o who_o shall_v quit_v the_o profession_n of_o his_o religion_n to_o avoid_v temporal_a suffering_n luke_o 12._o 4_o 5._o fear_v not_o they_o that_o can_v kill_v the_o body_n but_o after_o that_o have_v nothing_o that_o they_o can_v do_v but_o i_o will_v tell_v you_o who_o you_o shall_v fear_v fear_v he_o who_o after_o he_o have_v kill_v can_v destroy_v both_o body_n and_o soul_n in_o hell_n yea_o i_o say_v unto_o you_o fear_v he_o and_o to_o this_o dreadful_a hazard_n every_o man_n expose_v himself_o who_o for_o the_o fear_n of_o man_n venture_v thus_o to_o offend_v god_n these_o be_v the_o fearful_a and_o unbeliever_n speak_v of_o by_o st._n john_n who_o shall_v have_v their_o portion_n in_o the_o lake_n which_o burn_v with_o fire_n and_o brimstone_n which_o be_v the_o second_o death_n thus_o you_o see_v how_o we_o be_v to_o hold_v fast_o the_o profession_n of_o our_o faith_n without_o waver_v against_o all_o temptation_n and_o terror_n of_o this_o world_n i_o shall_v now_o have_v proceed_v to_o the_o next_o particular_a namely_o that_o we_o be_v to_o hold_v fast_o the_o profession_n of_o our_o faith_n against_o all_o vain_a promise_n of_o be_v put_v into_o a_o safe_a condition_n and_o groundless_a hope_n of_o get_n to_o heaven_n upon_o easy_a term_n in_o some_o other_o church_n and_o religion_n but_o this_o i_o shall_v not_o now_o enter_v upon_o a_o sermon_n on_o heb._n x._o 23._o let_v we_o hold_v fast_o the_o profession_n of_o our_o faith_n without_o waver_v for_o he_o be_v faithful_a that_o promise_v in_o these_o word_n i_o have_v tell_v you_o be_v contain_v these_o two_o part_n i._n a_o exhortation_n to_o hold_v fast_o the_o profession_n of_o our_o faith_n without_o waver_v ii_o a_o argument_n or_o encouragement_n thereto_o because_o he_o be_v faithful_a that_o have_v promise_v i_o be_o yet_o upon_o the_o first_o of_o these_o the_o exhortation_n to_o christian_n to_o be_v constant_a and_o steady_a in_o the_o profession_n of_o their_o religion_n let_v we_o hold_v fast_o the_o profession_n of_o our_o faith_n without_o waver_v and_o that_o we_o may_v the_o better_o comprehend_v the_o true_a and_o full_a meaning_n of_o this_o exhortation_n i_o show_v i._n negative_o what_o be_v not_o mean_v and_o intend_v by_o it_o and_o i_o mention_v these_o two_o particular_n 1._o the_o apostle_n do_v not_o hereby_o intend_v that_o those_o who_o be_v capable_a of_o inquire_v into_o and_o examine_v the_o ground_n and_o reason_n of_o their_o religion_n shall_v not_o have_v the_o liberty_n to_o do_v it_o nor_o 2._o that_o when_o upon_o due_a enquiry_n and_o examination_n man_n be_v settle_v as_o they_o think_v and_o very_o believe_v in_o the_o true_a faith_n and_o religion_n they_o shall_v obstinate_o refuse_v to_o hear_v any_o reason_n that_o can_v be_v offer_v against_o their_o present_a persuasion_n for_o reason_n when_o it_o be_v fair_o offer_v be_v always_o to_o be_v hear_v i_o proceed_v in_o the_o second_o place_n positive_o to_o explain_v the_o mean_v of_o this_o exhortation_n and_o to_o this_o purpose_n i_o propose_v to_o consider_v 1._o what_o it_o be_v that_o we_o be_v to_o hold_v fast_o viz._n the_o confession_n or_o profession_n of_o our_o faith_n the_o ancient_a christian_a faith_n which_o every_o christian_a make_v profession_n of_o in_o his_o baptism_n not_o the_o doubtful_a and_o uncertain_a tradition_n of_o man_n nor_o the_o imperious_a dictate_v and_o doctrine_n of_o any_o church_n which_o be_v not_o contain_v in_o the_o holy_a scripture_n impose_v upon_o the_o christian_a world_n though_o with_o never_o so_o confident_a a_o pretence_n of_o the_o antiquity_n of_o the_o doctrine_n or_o of_o the_o infallibility_n of_o the_o proposer_n of_o they_o and_o then_o i_o procee_v in_o the_o second_o place_n to_o show_v how_o we_o be_v to_o hold_v fast_o the_o profession_n of_o our_o faith_n without_o waver_v and_o i_o mention_v these_o follow_v particular_n as_o probable_o imply_v and_o comprehend_v in_o the_o apostle_n exhortation_n 1._o that_o we_o shall_v hold_v fast_o the_o profession_n of_o our_o faith_n against_o the_o confidence_n of_o man_n without_o scripture_n or_o reason_n to_o support_v that_o confidence_n 2._o and_o much_o more_o against_o the_o confidence_n of_o man_n contrary_a to_o plain_a scripture_n and_o reason_n and_o the_o common_a sense_n of_o mankind_n under_o both_o which_o head_n i_o give_v several_a instance_n of_o doctrine_n and_o practice_n impose_v with_o great_a confidence_n upon_o the_o world_n some_o without_o and_o other_o plain_o against_o scripture_n and_o reason_n and_o the_o common_a sense_n of_o mankind_n 3._o against_o all_o the_o temptation_n and_o and_o terror_n of_o the_o world_n the_o temptation_n of_o fashion_n and_o example_n and_o of_o worldly_a interest_n and_o advantage_n and_o against_o the_o terror_n of_o persecution_n and_o suffer_v for_o the_o truth_n thus_o far_o i_o have_v go_v i_o shall_v now_o proceed_v to_o the_o two_o other_o particular_n which_o remain_v to_o be_v speak_v to_o 4._o we_o be_v to_o hold_v fast_o the_o profession_n of_o our_o faith_n against_o all_o vain_a promise_n of_o be_v put_v into_o a_o safe_a condition_n and_o groundless_a hope_n of_o get_n to_o heaven_n upon_o easy_a term_n in_o some_o other_o church_n and_o religion_n god_n have_v plain_o declare_v to_o we_o in_o the_o holy_a scripture_n upon_o what_o term_n and_o condition_n we_o may_v obtain_v eternal_a life_n and_o happiness_n and_o what_o will_v certain_o exclude_v we_o from_o it_o that_o except_o we_o repent_v i._n e._n without_o true_a contrition_n for_o our_o sin_n and_o forsake_v of_o they_o we_o shall_v perish_v that_o without_o holiness_n no_o man_n shall_v see_v the_o lord_n that_o no_o fornicator_n or_o adulterer_n or_o idolater_n or_o covetous_a person_n nor_o any_o one_o that_o live_v in_o the_o practice_n of_o such_o sin_n shall_v have_v any_o inheritance_n in_o the_o kingdom_n of_o god_n or_o christ._n there_o be_v as_o great_a and_o unpassable_a a_o gulf_n fix_v between_o heaven_n and_o a_o wicked_a man_n as_o there_o be_v betwixt_o heaven_n and_o hell_n and_o when_o man_n have_v do_v all_o they_o can_v to_o debauch_v and_o corrupt_v the_o christian_a doctrine_n it_o be_v impossible_a to_o reconcile_v a_o wicked_a life_n with_o any_o reasonable_a and_o wellgrounded_n hope_v of_o happiness_n in_o another_o world_n no_o church_n have_v that_o privilege_n to_o save_v a_o man_n upon_o any_o other_o term_n than_o those_o which_o our_o bless_a saviour_n have_v declare_v in_o his_o holy_a gospel_n all_o religion_n be_v equal_a in_o this_o that_o a_o bad_a man_n can_v be_v save_v in_o none_o of_o they_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n pretend_v their_o church_n and_o religion_n to_o be_v the_o only_a safe_a and_o sure_a way_n to_o salvation_n and_o yet_o if_o their_o doctrine_n be_v true_a concern_v the_o intention_n of_o the_o priest_n and_o if_o it_o be_v not_o they_o be_v much_o to_o blame_v in_o make_v it_o a_o article_n of_o their_o faith_n i_o say_v if_o it_o be_v true_a that_o the_o intention_n