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reason_n church_n member_n visible_a 3,184 5 9.3025 5 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A52414 The charge of schism continued being a justification of the author of Christian blessedness for his charging the separatists with schism, not withstanding the toleration : in a letter to a city-friend. Norris, John, 1657-1711. 1691 (1691) Wing N1245; ESTC R40651 37,244 145

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mr._n hales_n a_o very_a free_a and_o for_o the_o most_o part_n judicious_a writer_n and_o one_o very_o remarkable_a for_o his_o moderation_n especial_o as_o to_o all_o church-matter_n and_o who_o write_v of_o schism_n with_o all_o the_o tenderness_n imaginable_a handle_v it_o as_o if_o he_o be_v feel_v the_o edge_n of_o a_o razor_n and_o yet_o after_o all_o his_o endeavour_n to_o reduce_v it_o into_o as_o narrow_a a_o compass_n as_o he_o can_v by_o make_v as_o few_o guilty_a of_o it_o as_o may_v be_v he_o can_v find_v nothing_o to_o justify_v separation_n but_o only_a sinfulness_n of_o communion_n as_o may_v appear_v from_o several_a passage_n that_o occur_v in_o his_o tract_n of_o schism_n for_o say_v he_o page_z 195._o for_o the_o further_a open_v the_o nature_n of_o schism_n something_o must_v be_v add_v by_o way_n of_o difference_n to_o distinguish_v it_o from_o necessary_a separation_n and_o that_o be_v that_o the_o cause_n upon_o which_o division_n be_v attempt_v proceed_v not_o 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proportion_n now_o this_o i_o ready_o admit_v but_o what_o then_o therefore_o they_o be_v not_o guilty_a of_o schism_n in_o causeless_o divide_v from_o her_o communion_n i_o interpose_v the_o term_n causelef_o not_o without_o reason_n for_o if_o they_o say_v they_o have_v sufficient_a cause_n for_o divide_v from_o we_o than_o they_o no_o long_o stand_v to_o their_o plea_n of_o toleration_n but_o put_v their_o cause_n upon_o another_o issue_n which_o i_o think_v have_v be_v already_o sufficient_o examine_v and_o expose_v but_o that_o which_o they_o stand_v for_o now_o by_o the_o nature_n of_o their_o appeal_n seem_v to_o be_v this_o that_o they_o be_v not_o guilty_a of_o schism_n because_o of_o the_o liberty_n they_o have_v by_o the_o toleration_n which_o must_v therefore_o be_v suppose_v to_o excuse_v they_o from_o schism_n though_o they_o causeless_o divide_v from_o we_o for_o if_o they_o have_v just_a cause_n for_o their_o
certain_o will_v in_o case_n he_o make_v use_v of_o the_o same_o liberty_n so_o that_o absolute_a and_o universal_a liberty_n of_o conscience_n be_v a_o downright_a contradictory_n inconsistent_a supposition_n which_o one_o consideration_n by_o the_o way_n be_v sufficient_a to_o overthrow_v all_o that_o a_o late_a author_n have_v plead_v in_o its_o behalf_n but_o i_o shall_v pursue_v this_o no_o further_o as_o be_v only_o a_o digression_n from_o my_o present_n concern_v what_o i_o stand_v for_o now_o be_v this_o that_o a_o toleration_n when_o it_o be_v grant_v imply_v no_o more_o than_o only_a a_o removal_n of_o such_o penalty_n as_o the_o law_n will_v otherwise_o inflict_v upon_o those_o who_o disobey_v it_o that_o it_o do_v not_o either_o abrogate_v or_o suspend_v or_o dispense_v with_o the_o law_n but_o only_a bridle_n and_o reins_o up_o the_o execution_n of_o it_o all_o which_o be_v to_o be_v understand_v with_o the_o forementioned_a condition_n where_o there_o be_v a_o establish_v national_a church_n and_o this_o notwithstanding_o the_o toleration_n be_v the_o present_a case_n in_o england_n where_o there_o be_v a_o church_n establish_v by_o the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n and_o invest_v with_o several_a temporal_a as_o well_o as_o ecclesiastic_a right_n and_o privilege_n where_o the_o public_a liturgy_n stand_v authorize_v by_o several_a act_n of_o parliament_n where_o article_n of_o religion_n and_o constitution_n and_o canon_n ecclesiastical_a be_v also_o confirm_v by_o the_o same_o authority_n where_o the_o act_n of_o uniformity_n remain_v unrepeal_v as_o before_o and_o where_o even_o the_o dissenter_n themselves_o be_v all_o require_v to_o pay_v tithe_n to_o the_o public_a and_o legallyappointed_a ministry_n which_o be_v also_o a_o plain_a and_o certain_a argument_n that_o they_o be_v require_v to_o attend_v upon_o it_o and_o conform_v to_o it_o for_o be_v it_o imaginable_a that_o the_o law_n shall_v oblige_v they_o to_o contribute_v their_o part_n to_o the_o support_n and_o maintenance_n of_o that_o worship_n to_o which_o they_o do_v not_o enjoin_v they_o to_o conform_v this_o will_v be_v against_o the_o very_a supposition_n of_o a_o establishment_n and_o will_v place_v the_o church_n and_o the_o conventicle_n upon_o a_o equal_a ground_n indeed_o that_o be_v it_o will_v make_v neither_o of_o they_o establish_v but_o both_o only_o tolerate_v but_o they_o confess_v the_o church_n to_o be_v establish_v and_o so_o indeed_o she_o be_v as_o much_o as_o ever_o and_o therefore_o the_o only_a change_n make_v by_o the_o toleration_n be_v that_o the_o penal_a part_n of_o the_o law_n be_v for_o the_o present_a lay_v aside_o as_o for_o the_o preceptive_a that_o stand_v where_o it_o do_v and_o oblige_v under_o sin_n though_o not_o under_o civil_a penalty_n and_o if_o so_o than_o those_o who_o now_o divide_v from_o this_o church_n establish_v by_o law_n which_o law_n do_v also_o require_v their_o communion_n with_o it_o be_v true_a and_o proper_a transgressor_n against_o the_o law_n and_o if_o they_o do_v it_o causeless_o be_v also_o guilty_a of_o the_o breach_n of_o church-unity_n that_o be_v of_o schism_n notwithstanding_o any_o public_a order_n for_o the_o not_o inflict_v the_o punishment_n otherwise_o due_a to_o they_o for_o so_o transgress_v this_o can_v excuse_v they_o either_o from_o disobedience_n to_o the_o state_n or_o from_o schism_n in_o the_o church_n with_o who_o establishment_n they_o be_v still_o oblige_v to_o conform_v as_o far_o as_o lawful_o they_o may_v though_o not_o accountable_a to_o the_o law_n for_o their_o nonconformity_n thus_o the_o jew_n be_v just_o taxable_a with_o disobedience_n to_o their_o law_n in_o the_o matter_n of_o arbitrary_a divorce_n though_o for_o some_o prudential_n reason_n tolerate_v in_o the_o practice_n of_o it_o by_o moses_n their_o chief_a magistrate_n the_o effect_n of_o which_o toleration_n as_o our_o saviour_n himself_o expound_v it_o be_v not_o innocency_n but_o only_a impunity_n against_o what_o have_v be_v hitherto_o discourse_v i_o know_v but_o of_o one_o objection_n that_o a_o man_n will_v not_o be_v ashamed_a to_o urge_v or_o impertinent_a to_o answer_n or_o that_o deserve_v the_o expense_n of_o ink_n and_o paper_n but_o there_o be_v another_o which_o i_o must_v first_o take_v in_o my_o way_n because_o it_o be_v throw_v upon_o i_o and_o be_v very_o loud_a and_o importunate_a for_o satisfaction_n which_o must_v therefore_o i_o think_v be_v give_v it_o for_o quietness_n sake_n in_o the_o first_o place_n than_o it_o be_v plead_v that_o this_o be_v no_o ordinary_a toleration_n that_o it_o be_v not_o a_o bare_a supine_n neglect_v to_o animadvert_v a_o kind_n of_o drowise_o fit_a or_o nod_v of_o the_o government_n no_o nor_o a_o design_v and_o deliberate_a connivance_n only_o nor_o yet_o a_o private_a act_n of_o indulgence_n declare_v by_o the_o will_n and_o in_o the_o name_n of_o the_o prince_n alone_o but_o that_o it_o be_v a_o indulgence_n grant_v and_o settle_v by_o a_o act_n of_o the_o whole_a legislative_a by_o the_o joint_a concurrence_n of_o king_n and_o parliament_n that_o it_o be_v a_o toleration_n by_o law_n by_o the_o same_o law_n upon_o which_o the_o church_n itself_o be_v erect_v and_o by_o which_o it_o stand_v this_o be_v the_o common_a popular_a objection_n and_o there_o be_v not_o a_o woman_n or_o a_o shopkeeper_n but_o what_o be_v big_a with_o it_o now_o i_o grant_v the_o dissenter_n that_o they_o have_v a_o toleration_n settle_v by_o law_n and_o that_o therefore_o this_o be_v no_o ordinary_a toleration_n and_o i_o know_v they_o be_v not_o a_o little_a puff_v up_o with_o it_o and_o by_o the_o way_n sir_n it_o will_v make_v even_o a_o very_a grave_a man_n smile_v to_o see_v how_o those_o man_n who_o have_v be_v hitherto_o such_o despiser_n and_o vilifier_n of_o a_o national_a establishment_n be_v now_o lift_v up_o with_o the_o conceit_n of_o a_o national_a liberty_n of_o what_o advantage_n this_o may_v prove_v either_o to_o themselves_o or_o to_o the_o nation_n or_o to_o the_o general_a interest_n of_o religion_n i_o leave_v to_o wise_a head_n to_o conjecture_n and_o to_o time_n to_o show_v but_o in_o the_o mean_a while_o i_o fancy_v this_o their_o plea_n from_o the_o extraordinariness_n of_o the_o toleration_n will_v do_v they_o but_o little_a service_n for_o it_o be_v the_o unhappiness_n of_o this_o objection_n that_o it_o proceed_v upon_o a_o wrong_a state_n of_o the_o question_n the_o question_n be_v not_o concern_v either_o the_o kind_a or_o the_o degree_n of_o the_o authority_n but_o concern_v the_o nature_n and_o the_o extent_n of_o the_o grant_n not_o by_o what_o they_o be_v authorize_v but_o to_o what_o whether_o to_o act_v allowed_o and_o with_o innocence_n or_o only_a unrestrain_o and_o with_o impunity_n and_o to_o what_o purpose_n then_o do_v they_o insist_v upon_o the_o greatness_n of_o the_o authority_n if_o it_o be_v say_v that_o this_o be_v no_o mistake_v the_o state_n of_o the_o question_n but_o a_o infer_v the_o thing_n deny_v viz._n liberty_n of_o allowance_n from_o the_o greatness_n of_o that_o authority_n whereby_o this_o solemn_a toleration_n be_v grant_v i_o answer_v that_o then_o the_o inference_n be_v gross_o false_a and_o illogical_a it_o be_v certain_o a_o very_a pleasant_a way_n of_o argue_v to_o infer_v the_o great_a extent_n of_o the_o grant_v from_o the_o greatness_n of_o the_o authority_n whereby_o it_o be_v make_v as_o if_o a_o lesser_a grant_n may_v not_o be_v the_o effect_n of_o a_o great_a authority_n suppose_v that_o instead_o of_o moses_n god_n himself_o have_v be_v the_o author_n of_o the_o toleration_n concern_v arbitrary_a divorce_n among_o the_o jew_n this_o toleration_n be_v indeed_o give_v by_o moses_n without_o any_o divine_a commission_n for_o it_o as_o far_o as_o appear_v but_o suppose_v it_o have_v be_v give_v by_o god_n himself_o it_o will_v be_v ready_o grant_v that_o such_o a_o toleration_n as_o this_o will_v have_v be_v of_o much_o great_a authority_n than_o the_o other_o indeed_o of_o the_o great_a in_o the_o world_n but_o will_v it_o therefore_o have_v be_v to_o any_o high_a purpose_n or_o great_a effect_n no_o that_o do_v not_o follow_v moses_n his_o toleration_n reach_v as_o far_o as_o impunity_n and_o a_o divine_a one_o will_v have_v reach_v no_o further_o it_o will_v not_o have_v produce_v any_o other_o effect_n though_o perhaps_o it_o may_v have_v be_v a_o further_a security_n and_o establishment_n of_o the_o same_o though_o the_o authority_n itself_o be_v great_a yet_o the_o thing_n grant_v by_o that_o authority_n may_v be_v the_o same_o that_o be_v otherwise_o grant_v by_o a_o lesser_a and_o if_o there_o be_v nothing_o else_o in_o the_o business_n but_o only_o a_o great_a degree_n of_o authority_n it_o must_v and_o will_v be_v so_o and_o thus_o it_o be_v in_o the_o case_n before_o we_o though_o a_o toleration_n by_o act_n of_o