Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	day_n	holy_a	spirit_n	11,233	5	4.9725	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87987	A letter from the synod of Zeland, to the commissioners of the Generall Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland: vvritten by them in Latin, and now faithfully translated into English: expressing, 1. Their fellow-feeling of the present condition of the Kirks of Ireland and England, and exciting us to the like. 2. Their respects and affection to the Kirk of Scotland. 3. Their zeale to the Reformation of the Kirk of England, in government and ceremonies, and to the preservation of religion there, against the pride of Popery at this time. 4. And their desire of Unity in Religion, and the Kirk-government in his Majesties Dominions. July 18. 1643. Imprimatur. John White.	Gereformeerde Kerk in de Nederlanden. Synode van Zeeland.	1643 (1643)	Wing L1542; Thomason E61_5	5,482	12

idolatrous rites or ceremonies The Christian tabernacle no lesse then the Jewish ought to bee built according to that pattern shewed in the Mount of the Scripture so that there be not in the curtaines thereof so much as a loop or a tach but according to the prescript of God the only Law-giver Long experience hath taught us that there is in such rites a secret and wonderfull power to defile if but the smallest part thereof be admitted it will not long continue so but speedily like a gangrene it will begin to spread whilst at ●ast it corrupt the whole worship having lost the simplicity and purity of Christs institution What were she not a foolish and mad woman who would adorne her selfe with ornaments borrowed from some vile harlot supposing thereby the better to please her husband What filthier harlot is there then the Romish strumpet most accomplished in all sorts of spirituall villanies surpassing all the bounds of impudency Let us never therefore be so demented as to accompt the worship of God most pure by Christs institution to be more pleasing unto God when it is performed with ornaments borrowed from the Romish Bordell Let us think that the Lord cannot but be highly offended take away his holy Spirit and depart far with the light of his grace so soon as men begin to bee so mad then hee suffereth them from day to day to sink deeper in the dunghill of superstitious rites wherein they delight while at last they be suffocated therein as it came to passe in the Papacy We confesse indeed that for things indifferent we like not to bee contentious neither left we the Romish Kirk for these or such like things but for the denying of that only sacrifice of Christ in their Masse for their adoration of a breaden god and of Saints for their exalting the Pope above God and for his tyranny for their contempt prohibition of the use of Scripture for justification by works and hundreds more of that kinde If the Romish Kirk had been tainted only with some smaller blemishes or had been defiled only with some indifferent rites if for these we had departed from her we might have been justly taxed as Scismaticks yea a generation of vipers which bursting through the mothers bowels is not brought forth but by particide But first having once departed for their accursed idolatry and the Kirk being purged to returne back againe unto Popish rites once cast out appeareth evidently to be extream dangerous by reason of the subtilty and restlesnesse of Sathan 2. Whosoever ceaseth not eagerly to presse and to introduce these rites though they perceive all things to be turned up side down therby they make manifest that it is not for these ceremonies alone they stir up such troubles but that they do secretly project some other thing 3. As for such ceremonies and rites as have their origin all from minds arrogant and not contented with divine institution to which an opinion of necessity is added as if without these holy things could not be decently gone about and the worship but coldly performed truely we cannot see how such ceremonies can be called indifferent Suffer never therefore much honoured brethren so farre as is in you that the English Kirks be forced to receive such ceremonies but rather use all meanes that they and yee in Kirk-government may be brought to as near agreement as may be Hence shall redound manifold and great utilitie 1 The pure manner of worship being preserved the inestimable treasure of the purity of doctrine which is committed to us shall be the better kept and transmitted uncorrupt to Posterity 2 If the Kirk be purged from all Popish leaven she will be the more comely in the eyes of her bridegroome and will obtain the larger showre of blessings and as a field purged of tares shall be the more fruitfull 3. This will exceedingly settle the Estate of your Kirks against the continuall Plots and Conspiracies of Papists united Forces are strongest The purity of worship being established your Kirks shal grow up together with the English in a more sollid and durable concord 4 This will cut short the Popish Emissaries of all hope of comming speed by their crafty wiles They perceive that the reformed Kirks doe extreamly abhorre their Idolatry therefore they despaire to introduce the same wholly and together but they essay to creep in by degrees They labour to perswade that there is no danger if with the singing of Psalmes Organs be joyned as a part of Divine worship if for the simple and ordinary habit of Ministers the Surplise bee used if with the Lords day there be celebrated also Festivall dayes in memory of the Martyrs If these things shall prosper in their hands then in place of a Table yee shall have an Altar for sitting at Communion kneeling and if they have successe herein then shall yee have Images and the whole mask of Popery with this hope they uphold themselves and of this hope they are to be cut short 5 This also shall constrain such of ours who are busied about Reconc●liation that is to say who labour to make up a Communion between day and night darknesse and light to relinquish their foolish undertaking And let not that move you which is pretended that such ceremonies as kneeling in the holy Supper conduceth much to stir up piety and to avoid contempt that forewarning of the Apostle hath taken deep impression in our hearts That such things have a shew of wisedome in will-worship and humility but in effect are of no worth Such things have the appearance of wisedome but not the reality thereof What came not such a thought into our Saviours minde Why then sate hee after the ordinary custome of the countrey Why enjoyned he not kneeling Next what if some other should appoint for greater humility and submission of minde that wee should come with sack-cloth and ashes to the holy Supper Yea if another should appoint that wee ought to come with ropes about our necks that by this signe they might openly declare their extreame unworthinesse and that they had deserved death as the servants of Benhaded came unto the King of Israel And in end what shall bee the end if this doore shall once be opened therefore wee must not passe from the Primitive worship But wherefore then may some say doe your selves passe from the Primitive way Why stand they in the French Kirks at the Lords Supper Why sit yee in the Netherlands And why doe yee not leane every where The reformed Kirks have their answer ready When we come to eat and drink at Table it is all one whether according to the custome of our countrey we leane sit or stand in none of these gestures is Religious worship placed but to receive meat kneeling is no where usuall But that jugling enemie who can transforme himselfe into a thousand shapes after he hath brought in kneeling can remove a Table for what hath kneeling to doe with a Table And having once removed a Table can easily bring in an Altar and then at last perswade to offer there a sacrifice for the living and for the dead Neither need yee Right reverend to bee afraid of them who by their vile lies and calumnies labour to stirre up against you the hatred of your most excellent King as if ye were enemies to His Honour and Royall Highnesse or envied His greater Honour and Glory For the King out of His deep Wisdome knoweth that Hee hath not any more loyall Subjects then these who are devoted to the reformed Religion Hee knoweth that there is nothing can establish more His Throne that can enlarge His Royall Honour and Magnificence more or can better preserve His Royall Person then if with His whole Power He defend the reformed Religion against all the adversaries thereof For the Kings most excellent Majesty knoweth that such flatterers carry the shew of good-will but in effect are the most deadly enemies of His Honour Let not therefore such vaine shadows of feare scare you but goe on constantly and couragiously in helping the afflicted Kirks God shall abundantly blesse your endevours and shall grant unto you that the whole Antichristian crew in vaine shewing their teeth and opposing you yee having obtained your desires shall have large matter of giving thanks to his divine Majesty As for us both in publike and private in all the reformed Kirks throughout the Netherlands wee poure forth our earnest desires to God that at last he would pitie his afflicted Kirks would calme their horrible tempests and make them flourish in truth piety and peace would remove all the impediments that hinder so great happinesse Farewell right reverend and dearly beloved Brethren and interpret to the better part this our brotherly dealing as flowing from our good affection FINIS