Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	church_n	england_n	reform_a	4,212	5	9.5265	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49256	Short and plaine animadversions on some passages in Mr. Dels sermon first preached before the Honourable House of Commons on Novemb. 25. 1646. But since printed without their order Setting forth the many dangerous and destructive assertions therein both to church and state, the covenant, and the reformation so much desired. Together, with an answer to an unlicensed pamphlet annext to the sermon, entituled, A reply to Master Loves contradictions. By Christopher Love minister of Anne Aldersgate, London. The second edition. Imprimatur Ja. Cranford. Decemb. 17. 1646.	Love, Christopher, 1618-1651.	1647 (1647)	Wing L3175; ESTC R220429	46,782	54

Moses But what hath Master Dell to alleadge against the compelling of men to the duties of the outward worship of God I am sure there is much to be said for it this Iehosophat Hezekiah Asa and Iosiah did els Magistrates are to behold men as indifferent spectator● not caring what Religion the people be of in speaking of the Magistrates coactive power I would be cautiously understood 1. Tha● the coactive power of a Magistrate is not Gods way of planting the Gospell in a heathen nation which never heard of the Gospell before Procopius in Arc● histor. saith that Iustinian was blamed because hee compelled the Samaritans to embrace the Christian faith All the Jewes a nation professing the true God were compelled to the duties of the outward worship of God but the heathens about them were not so 2. You must know that there is a great deale of difference twixt an affirmative compulsion to say I le make you bee of my minde and a negative compulsion which saith you shall not spread propagate this Heresie and Blasphemy thus the Magistrate may compell 3. The Magistrate may compell to the meanes and externall acts of worship but cannot compell to internall acts of faith love and such like as having no power over the conscience I shall have occasion to treate of the Magistrates power more largely upon some other passages of Master Dels Sermon But Master Dell goes on and saies that during the time of Moses his law there was no true Reformation pag. 3.33 and that the people were without any true Reformation before God till Christ who was God in the flesh come page 4.8 By this Mr. Dell discovers himselfe a downe-right Socinian hee saith there was no true reformation the Socinians sa● so too in effect that they who lived before Christs time had onely temporall and earthly blessings in their knowledge and affections holding resolutely that Christ and eternall things though they were promised in the Old Testament yet they were not enjoyed by any till under the New whereupon they say that Grace and Salvation was not till Christ came as if there had beene no eternall life nor any thing of the spirit till Christ came in the flesh and doth not Mr. Dell say so much in effect when he saith til this time of Reformation the faithfull were without true Reformation before God what a heavy charge is this that all the Patriarks before the law and all the elect of God under the law were without this true Reformation before God what is this but to deny that they are not justified their sins not pardoned their soules not saved for this is a certain truth that none are justified pardoned or saved but such as have this Go●spell Reformation which he describes to a bee mortifying and destroying of sinne if there was no such a Reformation as this how could any before Christs coming in the flesh be sav●d Master Dell having described what this Gospell Reformation is to be a mortifying and destroying of sin c. he now layes down an exclusive conclusion in these words This is true Gospell Reformation and besides this I know no other but as he preacht it was thus this is true Gospell Reformation and besides this the New Testament knowes no other He sayes it in expresse termes also Pag. 12. l. 22. the taking away of transgression for us and from us is the onely Reformation of the New Testament If it bee read as t is Printed that Master Del● knowes no other Gospell Reformation besides heart Reformation this bewrayes his ignorance if it be read as t was preacht that the New Testament knowes no other Reformation besides this herein he shewes his errour to bee for the Erastian way I must needs say our dissenting brethren who are of the independent judgement have little reason to thank Master Dell for this assertion it strikes at the foundation of the Independent Reformation and Government as well as at the Presbyteriall Besides if no Reformation besides an heart Reformation surely it will follow that both Kingdomes were greatly mistaken in the first Article of our Covenant wherein wee stand bound to endeavour the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdomes of England and Ireland in doctrine worship discipline and government according to the word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches Surely both Kingdomes did not take this upon them as if they could reforme the hearts of men this they know is Christ work not theirs but another kinde of Reformation in Ecclesiasticall discipline which hath been corrupted by the Prelates So that if Mr. Dels doctrine passe for currant that there is no other Reformation under the Gospell but a heart Reformation the first Article of the Covenant must stand either for a nullity or falsity And therefore you see how grosly they are mistaken who take Gospell Reformation onely to consist in the making so t was preacht to bee the making of certaine lawes and constitutions by the sacred power or clergy for externall conformity in outward duties of outward worship and government and to have these confirmed by civill sanction and inforced upon men by secular power Master Dell himselfe and others of his minde not any body else that I know of are mistaken for none of a Presbyterian judgement holds that the making of certaine lawes for conformity in dutyes of outward worship backed by the civill sanction of the Christian Magistrate to be heart-Reformation but they say onely this that a visible Church is then in a good readinesse for reformation when there is an externall conformity in duties of outward worship and government when confirmed by civill sanction Indeed Master Dell saies much but d●oves nothing about this And to rectifie Master Dels mistake I shall endeavour to prove that t is so farre from being a capitall crime that it ●s a laudable and warrantable practice in the civill Magistrate to con●●rme by civill sanction and enjoyne by externall penalties externall conformity in outward duties of outward worship and government which I shall evince by Scripture and reason 1. By Scripture did not Darius make a law for externall conformity in matters of Religion Dan. 6.26 27. I make a decree that in every dominion of my Kingdome men tremble and feare before the God of Daniell Nehemiah made a law and that under penalty to bring men in conformity to the observing and Sanctifying of the Sabbath Nehem. 13.21 22. yea Josiah made all that were present in Judah and Benjamin to stand to the Covenant and made all that were present in Israell to serve even to serve the Lord their God 2 Chron. 34.32 33. And King As● made a law commanding Iudah to seeke the Lord God of their fathers and to do the law and Commandements 2 Chron. 14.4 many instances more of the like nature might be brought The reasons which evince the warrantablenesse of Magistrates practice to enjoyne externall conformity

though peradventure cryed down with Confidence no such thing as the Reformation of the Church See Reply pag. 33. Reply Pag. 34. To which you reply I taught indeed that the Kingdom of Christ is a spiritual Kingdom and the Reformation of it is answerable but little thought that any man would have been so blind or worse as to have affirmed the preaching of this spiritual and glorious Reformation was to preach against all Reformation Is the Reformation of Jesus Christ which hee works by his Word and Spirit in all the faithfull no Reformation at all How durst you affirm this Mr. Love Answ. Mr Dell to clear himselfe from what I charged him with viz. That he c●yed down all Ecclesiasticall Reformation saith That he little thought any man would be so blind or worse to affirm that the preaching of this spiritual Reformation was to preach against all Reformation To which I must needs confess to preach of spirituall Reformation as it should be preacht is not to preach against all other Reformation but to preach of spirituall Reformation as Mr. Dell preacht it viz. exclusively is to preach against all other Reformation Yet Mr. Dell to make men beleeve as if he were not against Ecclesiasticall Reformation saith That he thinks him mad or worse that affirms spirituall Reformation excludes all other Reformation truly I am of his mind Now that I might turn the edge of this Assertion against Mr Dell I shall reduce it into this Syllogism Major That man that affirms spirituall Reformation excludes al other Reformation is either blind or worse Minor But Mr. Dell affirms spirituall Reformation excludes all other Reformation Concl. Therefore mr. Dell is either blind or worse The Major Proposition is evident Master Del himself confesseth it in the page fore quoted p. 34. The Minor is as evident viz. that Mr Dell affirms spirituall Reformation and excludes all other Reformation for he saith expresly That besides this spirituall Reformation he knows no other Serm. page 5. line 2. and that this spirituall Reformation is the onely Reformation of the New Testament Serm. page 12. l. 22. what then follows but that M. Dell is either blind or worse And whereas you lay to my charge in your Reply That I should affirm the Reformation of Iesus Christ by his Word and Spirit in the faithful is no Reformation Truly Sir I never durst hold so it s farre from my heart I acknowledg heart-reformation to be the most glorious Reformation yet not the only Reformation I had thought you would have answered what I spake and not unjustly fasten upon me what I spake not but I perceive your tongue is your owne Love As if all were encompassed within the narrow heart of man Reply Yet I said plainly enough when the heart is Reformed all is Reformed and Gospel Reformation though it begins in the inward man ends in the outward did you Sir accuse me rightly then or no Ans. 'T is true you said so in pag. 6. l. 22. and you said the quite contrary in pag. 5. l. 2. Besides heart Reformation I know no other and pag. 12. l. 22. Besides heart Reformation the new Testament knows no other Now if what you say in one place you contradict in another who can help it And whereas you demand whether I accused you rightly in laying to your charge that you held onely for heart Reformation denying all other I answer I did and I stand to the accusation stil for did not you say Besides heart Reformation there is no other Reformation that you know of and that this is the onely Reformation of the new Testament Let the Reader judge whether I did not then accuse you rightly Love If this be so rase out the first Article of the Covenant Reply page 37. I had rather the whole Covenant were rased out then the least truth contained in the Word of God though I like the Covenant well enough according to the true intention of it And again if the thing be truly considered it will appeare that you are more against the Covenant then I for the Covenant engageth us to reform according to the Word of God but you it seems would reform without yea against the Word with outward and secular power which you wil not suffer in t●e Magistrates hands neither but will needs have it in your owne Answ. I have laid down all your words in this Reply that others may discern and you might bee convinced of the impertinency and falshood thereof and that in five particulars 1. In this Reply you take not off what I urged viz. If there be onely heart Reformation then must you rase out the first Article of the Covenant which binds to a Reformation in Worship Discipline and Government which is a Reformation distinct from heart Reformation but against this you speake not a word in this Reply then I 'le conclude that your silence gives consent 2. You say you like the Covenant wel enough according to the true intention of it truly Sir you must pardon me I cannot beleeve you and that upon these grounds 1. The Covenant according to the true intention of it tyes to the Preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government but you like not that you had rather pull down then preserve the Discipline of the Church of Scotland it being Presbyteriall yea you call that the carnal Church that cals for the aide of the civil Magistrate for his civil sanction which Scotland doth and will you make mee beleeve you would preserve that Church or Government 2. The Covenant according to the true intention of it tyes us to indeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Forme of Church-Government Directory for Worship but you like not these you have in Print and Pulpit declared your dislike against most or all of these How then dare you say you like the Covenant wel enough according to the true intention of it 3. You do untruly say that I am more against the Covenant then you In this I hope I shall easily convince you by an induction of particular passages in the Covenant 1. I acknowledge the Church of Scotland a Reformed Church so doe not you 2. I would in my place and calling endevour to preserve the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government so will not you 3. I doe acknowledge the Covenant holds ●orth that Reformation of Church Government or Discipline mentioned in the first Article to be a distinct reformation from that mentioned in the end of the Covenant but so do not you for you hold that besides heart Reformation there is no other Yea 4. I according to the Covenant endevour after uniformitie in matters of Religion but you do not so unlesse your mind bee changed from what it was when you printed a Book against uniformity 5. I am for a