Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A95733
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Regulated zeal. Or, an earnest request to all zealously affected Christians, to seeke the desired reformation in a peaceable way. Shewing further, in severall particulars, wherein they are offensive who disturb the peace of the church By. W. T.
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W. T. (William Thomason)
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1641
(1641)
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Wing T996; Thomason E160_29; ESTC R1508
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4,714
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8
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out being a private man in these boysterous proceedings We all agree that the Scriptures are the perfect rule of our faith wee all accord in the fundamentall grounds of Religion may I then for things that are meerely appurtenances and no parts of Gods Worship make a tumult in the Church of God and trouble the peace thereof God is the God of Order and shall I be the Author of Confusion God would not come to Eliah in a Whirle-wind but in a quiet and still voyce and shall I breake out in thunder But some perchance may object the cause we stand for is Gods we strive to vindicate Gods service from the defilements of Poperie the Ceremonies of our Church are the rags of Antichrist I answer who hath given you a calling to this imployment I am sure the Apostle gives private men a better direction namely to study to be quiet and meddle with their owne bunesse and to see that all things be done in love It is true that libertie is given to everie Church to use what Ceremonies they please that agree to the generall rule and tend to edificati n and decencie but libertie is not left to everie one in the Church that he may set up and pull stowne what he will This must bee left to the wisedome of the Governours onely who if they finde the Ceremonies of the Church not conduceable to that end for which they did intend them may and ought also to bee as ready to give them a dismission as they were willing to receive them If everie one in the Church of Creet might set up what his list to what purpose did St. Paul leave Titus there to set in order the things that were wanting Tit. 1.5 Order is the usher of peace and if every one should rule it would be no vertue to obey It is a happy conjunction betweene Prince and people where Unitie and Order knits their severall hearts into one The Apostle St. Paul puts us in minde of one body one Spirit one Lord one faith one Baptisme one God one Father of all who is above all and through all and in us all Ephes 4.3 -6. Declaring to us by this multiplication of Vnities as a most reverend Father of our Church observes upon this place that the knots whereby we are tyed together are both in number more and of far greater moment then that matters of smaller consequence should dissever us And therefore leaving Church government to those it doth concerne our dutie is I speake of private persons to stand fast in one spirit with one minde striving together for the faith of the Gospell Philip. 1.27 and if we passe these limits wee disturbe the state and in it our selves since in the quiet and prosperitie of our Church consists both our weale and safetie But what need we many perswasions to peace love one with another when we have Gods owne example for our rule For did wee with a serious eye look upon the face of these times and well consider our strange irregularities and sinfull provocations both in Church and State on the one side and Gods mercifull dealing towards us even to admiration and astonishment on the other wee could not but acknowledge that we have infinite cause to spend the whole stock of our time yea though it could be doubled in breathing out praises and thanksgiving to God rather than to squander it away in matters of strife How strange a deliverance did God not long since vouchsafe us when the Sword accompanyed with blood and death was entred into our Coasts which had not Gods over-ruling hand seasonably prevented had undoubtedly devoured us What matchlesse Conspiracies hath hee revealed unto us which it was thought were laid so deep that they could never have seen the light but that it appeared hee that was higher than highest regarded it and there be higher than they Now what shall we say to these things what shall we repay God for these blessings we see with our eyes and our hearts may rejoyce in it the Lord hath had thoughts of peace towards us and shall wee now have thoughts of contention one against another God hath wrought wonderfully for our safetie and shall we in the want of a common enemie divide our selves into parties God forbid The Prophet David saith and our experience hath found it true that God hath pleasure in his people why then should not his people delight in him againe and in him and for his sake delight in one another It s strange to read in some places of Scripture what emphaticall expressions God hath given us of his love how hee doth beseech us to be reconciled 1 Cor. 5. how he even waits to have mercie on us Esay 30.18 yea and wonders at our back wardnes Esay 59 16. And how sweetly doth the Lord reveale himself to his people the Jewes I will rejoyce over them saith hee to do them good and wil plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with all my soule Jer. 32.41 O how convincing and prevalent should this compassion of God bee with us even to enforce us to love and compassionate one another Happy were it if they would advisedly consider of this Gods gracious indulgence to his people who for Circumstantiall matters which God hath neither commanded nor forbid are ready to contend even to bloud But let me not be mistaken it is not my intent here to patronize defend the Ceremoniall Ordinances of our Church but wish rather since they are of that nature that they may be safely abrogated without any offence to God but cannot as the times now manifest be so safely retained without breach of peace that for the quiet and peace sake of our Church they were returned into the bosome of that Church from whence we had them that so we might all as one man serve the Lord in the purity of his Ordinances with a cheerefull peaceable minde But yet so long as they stand established by the hand of Authoritie it s every private mans portion to obey Onely thus far extends the duty of us all if private men to pray zealously if Ministers to preach zealously if Magistrates to endeavour zealously that we may with one heart and soule keep the unitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace And when all this is done if those whom the care charge of Reformation shall concerne neglect their duties the sin will be their owne and private men are free FINIS