Selected quad for the lemma: mind_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mind_n	day_n	lord_n	regard_v	1,544	5	10.9411	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30478	A vindication of the authority, constitution, and laws of the church and state of Scotland in four conferences, wherein the answer to the dialogues betwixt the Conformist and Non-conformist is examined / by Gilbert Burnet ...	Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.	1673 (1673)	Wing B5938; ESTC R32528	166,631	359

to the use of the Sacraments and the like which is all in question among us they are quite of another nature And it is a strange piece of nicety if in these things because Superiours command what seems most proper for expressing the inward sense we ought to have of things that therefore these injunctions become criminal and not to be obeyed For the significancy alledged to be in them is only a dumb way of expressing our inward thoughts and as we agree to express them by word so some outward signs may be also used as by sackcloth the penitent expresseth his sorrow and by a Surplice a Church man expresseth his purity so those habits are only a silent way of speaking out the sense of the heart Only here on the way if you have a mind to ease your spleen a little read what that late Pamphlet saith to prove a distinction betwixt these two Ceremonies pag. 111. That vulgar Sophism of making Sacraments is the poorest Cavil imaginable for a Sacrament is a federate Rite of stipulating with GOD wherein as we plight our faith to GOD so he visibly makes offer of his Gospel to us which he accompanies with the gracious effusions of his Spirit and indeed to institute any such Rite were the highest encroachment on the divine Authority But what Sophistry will fasten a pretension to this on the institution of a Right which shall only signifie that Duty a creature ows his Maker and Redeemer tending both to quicken the person that performs it to a sence of it as also to work upon Spectators by such a grave solemn Rite To say Men can institute means of conveying the divine Grace is justly to be condemned but how far differs it from that to use signs as well as words for expressing our duty to GOD Thus you see how ill founded that pompou● Argument is with which we have heard many triumphing among Ignorants or where none could contradict them ●rit If I may have liberty to add a little I would suggest somewhat of the true Notion of Christian Liberty and how it is to be made use of or restrained For the clearing whereof we are to call to mind how upon t●●●●st p●o●●lg●tion of the Gospel a Contention did early rise about the observation of Moses Law the stipulation whereto was given in Circumcision the Iudaizers pleaded its continuance and the Apostles asserted the Christian Liberty the Iudaizers pretended a divine Obligation from Moses his Law the Apostles proved that was now vacated by the death of CHRIST which freed all from that Yoak and that therefore to be circumcised as a stipulation to Moses's Law was to continue subject to that Yoak and so to deny the Messias was yet come by which CHRIST should profit them nothing But the authority of Paul and Barnabas not being great enough to settle that Question they were sent from Antioch to the Apostles and Presbyters at Ierusalem who determined against the necessity of Circumcision and consequently of the observation of the Mosaical Law and appointed that these who were proselyted from Gentilism to the Christian Faith should be received not as Proselytes of Iustice but as Proselytes of the Gates who were only bound to obey the seven Precepts of the Sons of Noah which I stand not to make out it being sufficiently cleared already by others Here then the Christian Liberty was stated in an exemption from the Law of Moses But for all this we see into what compliances the Apostles consented for gaining upon the Iews by that condescension they Circumcise they Purifie which was done by sprinkling with the ashes of the red Cow they take the Vows of Nazarism they keep the Feasts at Ierusalem which I wonder how that Pamphleteer could deny pag. 301. it being mentioned expresly Acts 18.21 and upon the whole matter Saint Paul gives the following Rules and Assertions The first was that these things did not commend a Man to GOD For the Kingdom of GOD consisted not in meat and drink which clearly relates to the Mosaical differencing of Meats clean and unclean that neither Circumcision nor uncircumcision availed any thing And if neither branch of that Controversie did of its own nature commend men to GOD what judgments may we pass on our trifling wranglings Whence we may infer that we ought to instruct all Christians in the Faith but not in these doubtful Disputations The next Assertion is That even in these matters men might be acceptable to GOD on which side soever they were so they judged what they did was done to GOD. He that made distinction of Days or Meats made it to the LORD and he that regarded them not to the LORD he regarded them not So that GOD may be acceptably served by several men doing things contrary one to another Another Rule is That in these things every Man must be fully persuaded in his own mind and proceed out of a clear conviction in his Conscience A fourth Rule is That in these matters none ought to prescribe or dictate to another such as had a liberty in them were not to despise the scrupulous as unreasonable neither were these who scrupled at them to judg such as acted in a higher Sphere of Liberty as profane or licentious so that all were to be remitted to GOD's Iudgment Seat Another Rule is That for the Peace of the Church many things which are otherwise subject to great inconveniencies may be done for the gaining our Brethren but if such compliance harden people in their imperious humor what was formerly to be done for gaining upon them becomes unfit when so abused by them and therefore if after we have complied with the weak exceptions of others in matters indifferent they become so hardy as to presume upon our goodness to invade our Liberty by enjoying such things as necessary pretending to an authority over us ●re are not to give place by subjection to such ●● n●t for an hour The last Rule is That in matters of indifferency we are to postpone our own inclination or desires when the hazard of our brother's stumbling or of the Peace of the Church lies in our way All these are so clearly asserted by S. Paul and withal are so opposite to our present Heats that I wish they were more minded by the troublers of our Israel and they would certainly give a speedy decision to these Feuds about doubtful disputations which have so long preyed on the Peace of the Church Basil. And I am sure if so great a Compliance may be given to the weakness of our brethren much more is due to the commands of our Superiors except you say we are more subject to equals than to Superiors or that the weakness of a Brother should weigh more than the authority of Father And in fine that the Obligations of Charity should be more prevalent than those of Iustice Obedience being a debt we owe whereas Compliance is a Benevolence given I do not deny but great

the greater composedness of spirit let our serious thoughts be interrupted with some chearfuller diversions for our spirits are now too far engaged to fall upon such a Head Isot. You have a great deal of reason to guard your Friends well when they are to fall upon such matters lest they sin against the generation of GOD's Children For my part I am not afraid to enter on a discussion of these things and doubt not to make it appear how the LORD's work was signally carried on by his faithful Servants and that he himself appeared in it even to the conviction of all beholders If there were any either of the Church or State who covered their own bad designs under these pretences that makes not the cause a whit the worse for CHRIST chose twelve and one of them had a Devil Phil. Were I at present to fall a canvasing these things I doubt not I should quickly make all your Plumes fall off but I am willing at this time to break off our Conference for this point will neither be soon dispatched nor easily mananaged therefore we shall now part with an appointment to meet next day in this same place after Dinner Basil. I believe none of us are so weary of another or of the Discourses we have tossed these two days that it is needful to apprehend any will fail of being here at that hour therefore good night to you all Isot. Be sure I shall keep it if an unavoidable excuse detain me not Adieu Crit. For me and Polybistor though it is like we shall not have great occasion of bearing our share in your Discourse yet we will not fail to be here Eud. I cannot express my sense of the Honour you do me in making this place still happy with so many good Company and so much pleasant Discourse and therefore you may assure your selves I will wait for your return not without impatience And so I bid you all good night THE THIRD CONFERENCE Isotimus WE are again as good as our word in keeping this appointment and I hope we shall be no less exact in observing the Rule we concluded last night of tempering our passions only I must guard you against the mistaking my zeal I may express for passion remember who said The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up who also scourged the buyers and sellers out of the Temple Eud. I confess I want not my fears of some heat and excess in this days Discourse but I will crave leave to check it on what side soever it appear I know there is a holy zeal for GOD which will inflame a devout mind But its fire 〈◊〉 mild and gentle free of blustering and disorder and that rage which is in many for some Parties or Opinions and against others being as void of knowledg as of Charity ought not to pretend to Christ's Example unless they be likewise acted by his Spirit A diligent search will quickly discover if our motives and maxims have a tincture of his lowly meek and self-denying spirit in them And certainly if our zeal be for GOD it will take its degrees from the proportion of its Objects It is therefore a Pharisaical pretence to own a zeal for some smaller matters which have scarce been thought upon by the whole series of Christians in all Ages till of late when we are so cold in the defence of Peace Charity obedience to those over us and the Unity of the Church which are great certain and indispensible Duties That zeal likewise which transports a man unto unjustifiable heats of railing against particular persons and appears in a bitter humor of dull jeering and bold detraction hath no reason to shroud it self under the Example of CHRIST's holy zeal who tho in the spirit of a Zealot having proved his divine Mission and authority by Miracles he whipped the defilers of the Temple out of it yet that dispensation wherein such practices were not unusual from extraordinary persons being now changed into the new one whose distinguishing Character is Charity we are to bridle all the motions of distempered heat left the effects of it be as unjustifiable as it self is For it is to be considered that the proper characters of the Gospel Spirit are not devotion towards GOD or zeal for his truths which were common both with the Religion traditionally conveyed from Adam and Noah and that which was delivered to Moses but that which CHRIST hath made the cognisance of his Disciples is That they love one another whereby all must know them to be such And therefore all these who discover a spirit of hatred rage and malice at these of whom they cannot deny but they may be Christ's Disciples prove themselves to be void of his Spirit Now Isotimus what endless complaints could I here make of some you know of who are perpetually trafficking to make all who differ from them odious who catch up every Tattle they hear that may defame them and are sure to spread it as far as either their Tongue or Pen can reach nor are they Niggards of their additions to them to make them swell bigger With what marvellous joy do they suck in an ill report and tho it be but dubiously related they will be sure to vent it as the greatest truth in the World And when the stock of Reports fails them then they break in upon their Magazins of Forgeries and here is an endless Trade Sometimes they will piece up things as incoherent as the Rags of a Beggars Cloak and shew either their pretended intelligence or profound sagacity to smell out bad intentions If they can fix nothing on their Adversary then that he is an Hypocrite or a Dissembler comes well to serve all purposes and to defeat the best intentions And oh but the jealousies of Popery and Jesuitical practices work wonders on their Belief Indeed Sir I must tell you freely I see a Spirit stirring among us which I look upon as tinctured with the deepest dye of Antichristianism and so void of the common impressions of good nature and civility but much more of his Image who will have us learn of him in that he is meek and lowly that really a Man had as well live among Scythians and Barbarians as among such Wasps and Vipers Every thing is alike for their malice Do some that differ from them live in a franker way these are sure to be called licentious and profane Are others more severe silent an● retired who express a contempt of the world with all its enjoyments these must pass for Papists Juglers and Hypocrites and their best ac●ions must be lashed with the worst Censures Again if we treat them softly with gentleness and respect then they are insolent and impute such usage to ou● distrust of our own Opinions and a forced value of thei● way And if we use a little more freedom to speak home and discover their weakness and perversness to them then they rage and some and call us