Selected quad for the lemma: law_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
law_n	gain_v	jew_n	weak_a	10,116	5	11.7630	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49123	Mr. Hales's treatise of schism examined and censured by Thomas Long ... ; to which are added, Mr. Baxter's arguments for conformity, wherein the most material passages of the treatise of schism are answered.	Long, Thomas, 1621-1707.; Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691. Mr. Baxter's arguments for conformity against separation.	1678 (1678)	Wing L2974; ESTC R10056	119,450	354

Prayer and the other part will not joyn without it both Parties cannot be pleased and so one part must cast off Prayer it self or separate from the rest God commandeth the reading and preaching and hearing of the Scripture and the singing of Psalms but he hath left it to Man to make or choose the best Translation of Scripture or version of the Psalms Now if the Pastor appoint one version and Translation and the Church joyn in the use of it if any members will scruple joyning in this Translation or version they must needs forbear the whole duty of Hearing the Scripture and singing Psalms in that Congregation If they pretend a scruple against the appointed time or place of worship they will thereby cast off the worship it self For if they avoid our Time or Place they cannot meet with us nor worship with us § 8. Reas 5. And when they are thus carried to separate from the Congregation upon such grounds as these they will be no where fixt but may be still subdividing and separating from one another till they are resolved into individuals and have left no such thing as a Church among them For they can have no assurance or probability that some of themselves will not dissent from the rest in one Circumstance or other as they did from their Pastors and the Church that they were of before § 9. Reas 6. By this means the wicked that are disobedient to their Teachers and reject the worship of God it self will be hardened in their sin and taught by Professors to defend their ungodliness For the very same course that you take will serve their turns They need not deny any Duty in the substance but deny the circumstance and so put off the substance of the Duty If a wicked man will not hear the word preached he may say I am not against preaching but I am unsatisfied of the lawfulness of your Time or Place I am in judgment against coming to your Steeple-house or against the Lords Day And so he shall never hear though he say he is for hearing If a wicked man will not be personally instructed or admonished or be accountable to the Church or Pastors for any scandals of his life nor submit to any discipline he may say I am for discipline I know it is my duty to be instructed but I am not satisfied that I am bound to come to you when you send for me or to appear at such a place as you appoint the word of God nameth no time or place and you shall not deprive me of my liberty If a wicked Man would not hear or read the Scripture or sing Psalms he may say that he is for the duty but he is only against this and that Translation and version And so while every version is excepted against the duty is as much evaded as if it were denied it self By this device it is that the Rebellion of unruly People is defended They run to the circumstances of the duty and ask Where are they bound to come to a Minister or to be examined by him in order to a baptism or Lords supper or to speak their consent to be Church-members or to subscribe to a Profession or to read an English Bible or to hear in a Steeple-house with many such like Thus also it is that they put off Family-prayer and ask Where are they bound to pray in their Family Morning and Evening and so keep no constancy in Family-prayer at all under pretence of denying only the circumstances § 10. Reas 7. By this disobedience in things lawful the members of the Church will be involved in contentions and so ingaged in bitter uncharitableness and censures and persecutions and reproaches of one another which scandalous courses will nourish vice dishonour God rejoyce the enemies grieve the Godly that are peaceable and judicious and wound the consciences of the contenders We see the beginning of such fires are small but whither they tend and what will be the end of them we see not § 11. Reas 8. By these means also Magistrates will be provoked to take men of tender consciences for factious unruly and unreasonable men and to turn their enemies and use violence against them to the great injury of the Church when they see them so self-conceited and refusing obedience in lawful circumstances § 12. Reas 9. By this means also the conversion and establishment of souls will be much hindred and people possessed with prejudice against the Church and ordinances when they take us to be but humorous people and see us in such contentions among our selves To my knowledge our late difference about some such lesser things hath turned off or hindered abundance of people from liking the holy doctrine and life which we profess § 13. Reas 10. It will seem to the wisest to savour of no small measure of Pride when people on the account of lawful circumstances dare set themselves against their Governors and Teachers and quarrel with the Ordinances of God and with the Churches Humble men would sooner suspect themselves and quarrel with their own distempers and submit to those that are wiser than themselves and that are set over them for their guidance by the Lord. There may more dangerous Pride be manifested in these matters than in Apparel and such lower trifles § 14. Reas 11. Consider also what yielding in things lawful the Scripture recommendeth to us How far yielded Paul when he circumcised Timothy Act 16. 3. And when he took the men and purified himself with them in the Temple to signifie the accomplishment of the days of purification until that an offering should be offered for every one of them and this for almost seven dayes Acts 21. 26 27. with the foregoing verses § 15. So 1 Cor. 9. 19 20. For though I be free from all men yet have I made my self servant unto all that I might gain the more And unto the Jews I became as a Jew that I might gain the Jews to them that are under the Law as under the Law that I might gain them that are under the Law To them that are without Law as without Law being not without Law to God but under the Law to Christ that I might gain them that are without Law To the weak I became as weak that I might gain the weak I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some and this I do for the Gospels sake c. Study this example § 16. Read also Rom. 14. and 15. Chapters how much condescension the Apostle requireth even among equals about meats and dayes And 1 Cor. 8. 13. the Apostle would tie up himself from eating any flesh while the world standeth rather than make a weak brother to offend Many other passages of Scripture require a condescension in things of this indifferent nature and shew that the Kingdom of God doth not consist in them § 17. And Matthew 12. 1 2 to 9. you find that

Schismaticks as often as they endeavour to vindicate their authority in lawful things against such as find any Scruples against obedience to their commands Which Mr. Hales shall Answer for me The taste of Liberty is so sweet that except Kings maintain their Authority with as great violence as the people affect their Liberty all things will run to confusion Sermon on John 18. 36. p. 149. THE END Mr. BAXTER's ARGUMENTS FOR Conformity AGAINST SEPARATION BY WHICH The most Material Parts OF Mr. HALES's TRACT of SCHISM ARE CONFVTED Every tender Conscience should be as tender of Church-division and real Schism as of Drunkenness Whoredom or such other enormous Sins James 3. 14 15 16 17. Mr. Baxter 's Reasons for Christian Religion p. 485. S. 34. LONDON Printed for Walter Kettilby 1678. Imprimatur C. Alston R. P. D. Hen. Episc Lond. à Sacris Domesticis TO THE READER Concerning the Pretence OF Conscience for Separation THE Conscience of Man is a very sacred thing the great King hath made it his Chancellor to determine of such cases as are not plainly determinable by his Law and hath given it a large Empire and Power to absolve or condemn Of this Seneca divinely informs his Lucilius Epist 41. Ita dico mi Lucili sacer intra nos spiritus sedet malorum bonorúmque nostrorum observator custos hic prout à nobis tractatus est nos tractat There is a Sacred spirit residing within us observing and recording all our good and evil actions and as this is dealt with by us so it deals with us If our Consciences be first rightly informed and then duly consulted with and obeyed there is not a safer Guide a better Comforter nor a more impartial Judge for it is magni illius Judicii praejudicium as that acquits or condemns us so have we confidence towards God 1 Jo. 3. 20. It ought therefore to be our great care that our hearts do not reproach us for any wilful transgression of the Laws of God or such as he hath set over us whom he hath required us to obey for Conscience sake And in the next place it is our duty tenderly to commiserate such weak Brethren whose Consciences being really doubtful of the lawfulness of those actions which are required of them dare not obey till they obtain a fiat from them but while they suspend their duties are peaceable and faithful in the Land and humbly and industriously seek for satisfaction from them whom God hath set over them And truly I have not more Charity for many thorow Conformists than for such meek and teachable Dissenters And I doubt not but their Rulers and Spiritual Fathers would deal with them in all gentleness and long-suffering with familiar and easie methods to inform their judgments and reconcile their affections to the knowledge and practice of the truth But alas how small is the number of such among them that pretend conscience not in things doubtful and undetermined but against plain and express commands in the Laws of God and their Superiors and under that pretence seek to be justified in notorious and scandalous impieties Who can without indignation recount the horrible villanies and mischiefs that have been acted in our Generation under this pretence or who can sufficiently deplore the contumacy and opposition of such as pretend Conscience against the means which God hath appointed for their information The case seems to be well represented in the entertainment of the Angels among the Sodomites for Conscience as an Angel of God is with a Commission to save or to destroy And in Genesis 19. we read only of Lot who with great humility and respect met them and bowing his Face to the ground with great importunity pressed them to take their repose with him and he washed their Feet and feasted them and they delivered him from that great overthrow But the Men of Sodom old and young from all quarters offered violence to them and would have prostituted them to their unnatural lusts And do not they declare their sin to be like that of Sodom who stifle the good motions of this Guardian-Angel and make it an instrument and Pander to their carnal lusts incessantly abusing it as the Gibeathites did the Levites Concubine even to Death Judges 19. And if a righteous Lot intercede for it how do they reply as the Sodomites did This fellow is come to sojourn and he will needs be a Judge Now will we deal worse with thee than with them Gen. 19. 9. But the punishment of the one should make the other to tremble and do no more so wickedly lest those Angels of Light leave them in darkness and rain something most like to fire and brimstone even horror and despair into their Souls But beside these wilful persons there is a sort of weak people among us who have so intangled themselves in nets of their own weaving partly through ignorance prejudice and evil education and partly by melancholy and superstitious apprehensions fearing where no fear is and taking their own fancies and shadows for Ghosts and spectres and lastly by the dark suggestions of seducing spirits who despair of making any to be of their perswasion till they have frighted them out of their wits that it is with them as sometime it was with the people of Rome nec ferre vulnera possunt nec remedia they can neither endure their wounds nor suffer the remedies By their long striving against their Prince their Priests and their own Reason they are so wounded and ensnared that though their grievances be almost intolerable yet they dread to disclose them or to use the advice of such Physicians as upon their submission might through God's blessing heal and restore them Every Quack that can administer Opium or stupifie the part affected is more acceptable to them than a Colledge of able Physicians who discerning the cause could with more easie methods and at a cheaper rate cure their distempers For the Nets that entangle most of these are but like the spiders webs strong enough to captivate them out of whose bowels they were spun But a man of reason may dissipate them with the breath of his mouth The Lion in the Fable was once thus intangled and all his strugling did but involve him more yet when he was toyled and lay quiet a very little Animal came and corroding the threads set the Royal Captive at liberty There needs no great art if they would be patient and follow regular prescripts to reduce such men to a sense and enjoyment of their Christian Liberty If they would but follow the best of their own Leaders two of which I have hereafter proposed to them their Arguments and practices might soon undeceive them For in truth it is not Conscience but nice scruples false opinions and prejudice and disaffection to the Lawful Guides and Physicians of their Souls and a fond admiration of some cunning persons that lay in wait to ensnare them and keep them in

the other Study Gal. 2. 22. Rom. 14. 1. Acts 21. 24 26. 1 Tim. 1. 4. 6. 4. Titus 3. 8 9. I hope sad experience speaks this lesson to your very hearts if I should say nothing Do not your hearts bleed to look upon the State of England and to think how few Towns or Cities there be where is any forwardness in Religion that are not cut into shreds and crumbled as to dust by separations and divisions to think what a wound we have hereby given to the very Christian name how we have hardned the ignorant confirmed the Papists and are our selves become the scorn of our enemies and the grief of our friends and how many of our dearest best esteemed friends have fallen to notorious pride or impiety yea some to be worse than open Infidels These are pillars of Salt see that you remember them Though of your own selves men should arise speaking perverse things to draw disciples after them Acts 20. 30. yea though an Angel from Heaven should draw you to divisions see that you follow him not If there be erroneous practices in the Church keep your selves innocent with moderation and peace It must be no small error that must force a Separation Justin Martyr professed that if a Jew should keep the ceremonial law so he did not perswade the Gentiles to it as necessary yet if he acknowledged Christ he judgeth that he might be saved and he would imbrace him and have communion with him Paul would have him received that is weak in the faith and not un-church whole parishes of those that we know not nor were ever brought to a just trial I ever loved a godly peaceable Conformist better than a turbulent Nonconformist I differ from many in several things of considerable moment yet if I should zealously press my judgment on others so as to disturb the peace of the Church and separate from my brethren that are contrary minded I should fear lest I should prove a fire-brand in hell for being a fire-brand in the Church And for all the interest I have in your judgments and affections I here charge you that if God should give me up to any factious Church-rending course against which I daily pray that you forsake me and follow me not a step And for peace with one another follow it with all your might if it be possible as much as in you lyeth live peaceably with all men Rom. 12. 18. mark this When you feel any sparks of discontent in your breasts take them as kindled by the Devil from hell and take heed you cherish them not If the flames begin to break forth in censoriousness reproaches and hard speeches of others be as speedy and busie in quenching it as if it were fire in the thatch of your houses For why should your houses be dearer to you than the Church which is the house of God or your Souls which are the Temples of the Holy Ghost Hath God spoke more against any sin than unpeaceableness If ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your heavenly Father forgive you which Lodovicus Crocius says is the measure and essential property of the least degree of true faith if you love not one another you are not disciples of Christ Publick wars and private quarrels usually pretend the Reformation of the Church the vindicating of the Truth and the welfare of Souls but they as usually prove in the issue the greatest means to the overthrow of all It is as natural for both wars and private contentions to produce errors schisms contempt of Magistracy Ministry and Ordinances as it is for a dead Carrion to breed worms and vermine Believe it from one that hath too many years experience of it it is as hard a thing to maintain even in your people a sound understanding a tender Conscience a lively gracious heavenly frame of spirit and an upright life in a way of war and contention as to keep your Candle lighted in the greatest storms or under the waters The like I may say of perverse and fierce disputings about the circumstantials of discipline or other questions that are far from the foundation they oftner lose the truth than find it Wo to those Ministers that make unnecessary divisions and parties among the people that so they may get themselves a name and be cryed up by many followers The way to prosper your labours is to quench all flames of contention to your power Study the peace and unity of your Congregations keep out all occasions of divisions especially the doctrine of Separation and popular Church-Government the apparent Seminary of faction and perpetual contentions If once the people be taught that it belongs to them to govern themselves and those the Scripture calleth their Guides and Rulers we shall have mad work They that would pluck up the hedge of Government as if the vineyard could not be fruitful except it lay waste to the pleasure of all the beasts of the forest are like the pond that grudged at the banks and damm and thought it injurious to be restrained of its liberty and therefore combined with the winds to raise a tempest and so assault and beat down the banks in their rage and now where is that peaceable association of waters We feel now how those are mistaken that thought the way for the Churches unity was to dig up the banks and let all loose that every man in Religion might do what he list They are usually men least acquainted with a heavenly life who are the violent disputers about the circumstantials of Religion As the body doth languish in consuming Fevers when the native heat abates within and unnatural heat inflaming the external parts succeeds so when the zeal of a Christian doth leave the internals of Religion and fly to ceremonials externals or inferior things the Soul must needs consume and languish Of Conformity For Conformity though to Ministers it be another thing by reason of the new impositions than it was to our Predecessors yet to the People Conformity is the same if not easier especially to them that I now speak to for it is the Liturgy Ceremonies and Ministry that most alienate them And the Liturgy is a little amended as to them by the change of the translation and some little words and by some longer Prayers and the Ceremonies are the same and thirty years ago there were many bare reading not preaching Ministers for one that is now Therefore our case of Separation being the same as of old I take it to be fully confuted by the Ancient Non-conformists and I have so great a veneration for the worthy Names much more an estimation of the reasonings of Mr. Cartwright Egerton Hildersham Dod Amesius Parker Baines Brightman Ball Bradshaw Paget Langley Nicols Herring c. that I shall not think they knew not why they chose this subject and wrote more against Separation than the Conformists did I am very glad that the pious Lectures of