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A61284 Christianity indeed, or, The well-disciplin'd Christian the delight of Christ shewing how believers in Christ ought to go in and out each before other in gospel-order, governing and being governed as the children of one Father / by Fr. Stanley. Stanley, Fr. (Francis), d. 1696. 1667 (1667) Wing S5234; ESTC R37591 67,935 176

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them to instruct them and convince them from the Scriptures and shew them the Laws they have broken that judge them trespassers and condemns them for transgressors 4ly shew them their sin in it's body and deformity the sad accidents and bad consequences that attend sin and to make them sensible of their iniquity from the evidence of Scripture-testimony say to the sinner Come see what you have done look upon your sin in it's aggravation how serpent like it darts and stings every one it reflects upon Gods honour it darts Religion stings the brethren disturbs your Inner-man gives an occasion of stumbling to the weak in profession it daunts the well-wishers and enquires after Religion and gives the enemies truth an occasion of rejoycing Fifthly To learn to know the offenders design for oft-times a design by an act intended may be worse than the action it self committed there may be Circumstances depending to be considered by which the Act may be much mitegated or aggravated as ignorance or wilfulnesse as in pretence of conscience or a design of disturbance as from a principle of Charity or in a course of subtilty the best of these Circumstances will make no justification for any evill action for that will be to countenance sin but the better circumstances are to have their mittegations in damages I mean in punishments and the other their aggravations 6. To observe the disposition capacity and temper of the person not to favour his sin but in order to gain an advantage upon the sinner some to save with compassion some with fear some with gentlenesse others with sharpnessei always tosort fit and direct all admonishions reproofs and corrections as may best suit with the offenders disposition and the demerits of his sin and transgression Seventhly To take the most convenient season as I have said things done in their season and order are like apples of gold in pictures of silver they are not only beautifull to the action but a disadvantage to the enemies design but beware lest while ye are about to heal some breaches you neither prevent nor disturb your selves in some other weighty and publick services and so let in Satan to make his advantages For a man must have some respect in matters of Government to three Estates The honour of God the quiet of Conscience and the peace of the Church Thus I presume to tender my Counsell and offer my Judgement and direction especially to such as have any trust and publick imployment over their brethren for men of wisdome honesty and sufficiency are most sensible of the Office and buthen of the place carefull of the Charge and apprehensive of the accounts they must make like men of discretion let them well observe the nature of their Office and the worthinesse of their places and judge for God according to the rule of his Word with all justnesse and gravity As one observing the Judges sit in the Judgement Seat while they were grave and just he thought they were gods but when they changed into lighenesse and fell into passion he concluded they were but men Let Christs Officers and Ministers act gravely justly and discreetly instructing themselves and others in their several obligations both as they are men and Christians As once a Governour of a Nation observed saith he I am King of Bodyes not of Souls a Commander of men not of Conscience And as our Lord himself hath taught us to distinguish of duties and to render every one their dues and to owe nothing to any man but love To honour our Lord Christ as the head of the Church and to respect civil Magistrates as the politick fathers of our Countries To conclude this point let me say to my brethren as once a Prince said to his son observing him to mind trifles said Come my Son leave trifles and mind the matters of the Kingdome So I say to my brethren and every Christian to leave the trifles of this World and mind the matters of Christs Kingdome Peace and Unity is the great end I have here designed and 't is a design God hath greatly blessed The Scholars in Christs Church ought to be Students for quietnesse and peace in the Churches The Lord hath not only commanded it but he prefers Peace before any other Sacrafice Mat. 5.24 2. He enjoyned his Disciples to seek peruse and prosecute Peace 3. 'T is further told us from the Lord without Peace and Holnesse no man shall see God 4. Such as pray for Peace shall be blessed with Prosperity 5. To the Councellors of Peace there shall be Joy 6. The makers of Peace are honored by being called Gods posterity 7. Peace is a fruit of Gods spirit and a Character of heavenly wisdome To hast God is the God of Peace and Christ is a Prince of Peace and the Kingdome of God is Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Thus are Saints to preserve Peace among them and the Peace of God that passeth all understanding shall keep them Thus are Christians become concerned to endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of Peace that is What the Spirit of God hath united formed and compacted together either in respect of Fundamentals Ephes 4.3 governing and perfecting Principles always to maintain the ancient Form and true Pattern of sound Doctrine and right Discipline That Truth and Peace may go hand in hand together be constant Companions and imbrace each other You may please to learn a Lesson from our experience in the Nation When we are at Peace at home then we see our Enemies are quiet abroad when we disturb and afflict each other by way of persecution it invites and emboldens our enemies of other Nations and in the midst of home-bred contentions we hold open a door to let in forreign adversaries Let Christians make spiritual application who are within the borders of the holy Nation to beware of Strife and Envy which makes way for the souls enemy but to maintain Concord and Unity which are as Bulwarks against the Adversary but let Union be made and Charity increase and have salt in your selves and be at Peace one with another and as a conclusion I would impose this one Obligation as the late Legacy of a dying man that the parties more chiefly concerned may seriously apply it and profitably improve it to Gods glory and their own felicity 'T is an Incumbent among Christians I wish it may never cease to keep the Unity of the spirit and Truth in the bond of Peace Seventhly and Lastly Some Directions given how to uphold and support Church-Government IN order to the preserving and supporting Church-Government the matter will charge every mans concernment both Offices and Members It invites them to their duties and obligeth them as Christians to discharge good consciences in all due concernments as they are under several obligations and become concerned in their respective places And First to my well beloved Brethren in the Lord whom God hath