Selected quad for the lemma: heart_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heart_n	conscience_n	faith_n	unfeigned_a	2,594	5	11.1136	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85839	Analysis. The loosing of St. Peters bands; : setting forth the true sense and solution of the covenant in point of conscience so far as it relates to the government of the church by episcopacy. / By John Gauden ...	Gauden, John, 1605-1662.	1660 (1660)	Wing G340; ESTC R202274	13,622	28

ΑΝΑΛΥΣΙΣ THE Loosing of St. Peters Bands Setting forth The true Sense and Solution OF THE COVENANT In point of CONSCIENCE SO FAR As it relates to the Government of the Church by EPISCOPACY By JOHN GAVDEN D. D. Acts 16.26 The foundations of the Prison were shaken the doors opened and every ones bands were loosed 1 Tim. 1.5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned Non est conscientia sine scientia nec pura esse potest si sit caeca Bern. LONDON Printed by J. Best for Andrew Crook at the Green-Dragon in St. Pauls Church-yard 1660. TO His honoured Friend Sir Lawrence Brumfeild Kt. And Colonel in London SIR WEll knowing as St. Bernard speaks The tenderness of conscience how tender and delicate a thing Conscience is how it is not to be baffled or deluded with any Sophistry nor ravished or captivated by any violence and tyranny not cajoled or trepanned by any Policy and hypocrisie but apart from all fraud or force it is then most at its ease freedom and tranquillity when it hath most light and serenity to see its duty also most liberty to act according to those rules of right Reason and Religion which are not partial flexible and mutable but universal fixed and eternal § The rules of Conscience I have here endeavored to give you and others upon your motion that sober sence of the Covenant whereof I believe it is only capable before God before all good Christians and in a mans own wel-informed conscience § Which must and at last will judge of things in point of scruple or obligation not by the occasion beginning them or the power imposing them or the passion clamoring or the multitude applauding or the success abetting or the pertinacy maintaining them Nor yet by the superstition of some men devoutly doting for a while upon that as a goddess or an Image faln from heaven when it may be indeed but the late invention of some cunning work-men whose golden rings and ear-rings being melted in the furnace of Civil wars may sometimes bring forth such a thing as the Authors and Abettors will needs vote to be their God § But the true light and medium of Conscience as to its judgement practice peace and perseverance must be by those clear pregnant and constant beams of right Reason add true Religion which shine in the brightness and stability of Divine and Humane laws which are the solid pillars of Truth the firm supports of duty the sure bounds of obedience and the safe repose of conscience § All other superstructures of fancy policy and Interest as hay straw and stubble will perish but those others will out last the last conflagrations which shall make a fiery trial of all mens thoughts designs and actions both publick and private whether they be made up of popular and peevish dross or of such piety more precious than gold which is both pure and permanent § In this great concern therefore of conscience I must study to be void of all fear and flattery of men Freedom from passion and prejudice in cases of conscience separate from all crowds of passions and prejudices free from popular petitions and the two Houses resolutions from Scottish importunities and English compliances not obnoxious to the Court or the Country to the Assembly or the High-Commission to Episcopal infirmities or Presbyterian insolencies but as in the presence of God and before his Tribunal so serious intent upright and unbyassed shall I declare my judgement to you to your City to my Country and to our most welcome King to my reverend Fathers and brethren of the Clergie and to my dear Mother the Church of England for whose sake nothing must seem hard or too much to be done or suffered by me or any of her Sons since we have the great paterns both of our late Soveraign who suffered as a Martyr in her defence and of our blessed Saviour who was crucified for her redemption § As for my Brethren of the Church of Scotland I confess I understand not their motions or mutations because I think they once enjoyed the best constitutions of Episcopacy in the world I have a Christian pity and charity for them I leave them to that liberty which is the fruit not of the swords and passions of man but of the Word and Spirit of God which clearly unites Loyalty and Religion Duty and Devotion Reformation and Moderation Order and counsel eminency and harmony in one paternal fraternal and filial unity of Bishops Presbyters and People § As to the scruple or case of conscience then with which you tell me The shiness of some mens consciences as to Episcopacy many sober and honest men are by their once taking the Covenant so scared from all complyings with any Church Government under any name of Bishops or notion of Episcopacy never so reformed and regulated that they fear by looking back to the primitive Catholick and universal Government of this and all other antient Churches to be turned into pillars of Apostacy as Lots wife Answers oblique was into a pillar of salt And to prevent which sad Metamorphosis in City and Country my Answer or Resolution in point of Conscience as to the Covenant so far as it relates to Episcopacy is this 1. The Covenants defectiveness as to authority and law First I might shrewdly batter the Covenant by urging the defectiveness of and so the invalidity of any lawful constant or compleat authority in it capable to bind the Subjects or People of England either in the Court of conscience or any other Ecclesiastical or civil Judicature in which nothing can have any permanent bond or tye of Law except Gods Word without the Kings consent no more than the vow of a servant or son a daughter or wife in Moses Law could bind them without Numb 30.2 yea against the declared consent of their Master father or Husband under whose protection they were 2 The violence of the times Secondly I might eccho and retort upon the Covenant the violence and noise of those times in which it was first hatched in England and brought forth by the Midwifery of tumults and Armies of engaged yea enraged parties and factions whose wrath and policies were not probbale to work the righteousness of God nor did they seem good Angels which troubled our waters to an healing but evil ones sent in Gods just anger amongst us to turn our waters into blood 3. The novelty of it as to our laws Thirdly I might further urge the novelty and partiality of the Covenant as the English Laws and genius that it was from a foraign influence and design first invented then obtruded on this Church and State contrary to our antient Laws and constitutions both ecclesiastical and civil to which King and People were bound till by mutual consent they were altered which was never yet done in the point of