Selected quad for the lemma: saint_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
saint_n	article_n	church_n	creed_n	1,359	5	10.1652	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96831	Beaten oyle for the lamps of the sanctuarie; or The great controversie concerning set prayers and our liturgie, examined in an epistle to a private friend: with an appendix that answers the paralell, and the most materiall objections of others against it. Unto which are added some usefull observations touching Christian libertie, and things indifferent.	Womock, Laurence, 1612-1685.	1641 (1641)	Wing W3338; Thomason E163_14; ESTC R4346	40,803	77

beacon upon their discovery as if a whole army of Church-trained souldiers were to be raised to encounter them though I confesse in other respects this might be very vsefull The honourable house of Peeres hath set a watch * The Committee for Religion of so many flaming eyes piercing into every quarter tha 't is scarce possible any scruple should escape vnweighed Whosoever stumbles at the stone of scandall may there finde hands enough both ready and of abilitie to remove it Me thinks this might be a super sedeas to all paper quarrells that they have the Soveraigne hornes of such a sacred Altar to repaire unto for Sanctuary where all doubts may as well have a calme as they shall have a just tryall Wee doe see the honourable Court hath done the Dominicall letter justice for whereas it had worne black too long for the funerall of that Sabbath which was not dead but slept now it is reinvested in a festivall robe of scarlet And other things abus'd if they find no redresse here will appeale and cry to a higher throne for vengeance That Liturgy which hath beene sent of so many sacred messages to heaven and so often had Audience with the Almighty does their errand daily who are enenies to her imployment and will bee as ready to joyne with the word * Iohn 12.48 in their judgement hereafter as it is now to co-operate in the worke of their Salvation If we see some passionately religious aginst this vsefull and holy furniture this wind though it blowes with an high gale should not shake the well setled St Paul adviseth us not to admit of Zeale but upon tryall and distinction * Rom. 10.2 Gal. 1.14 Gal 4.18 That zeale of Gods house that eates up us is well qualified a Psal 69 9. But that Zeale in us which eates up Gods house is not commendable Zeale is like fire a good servant but a bad Master even in matters that concerne Gods worship b Iohn 16.2 When the blind zeale of Saul flamed highest it burnt up the Church of God c Act. 9.1 Phil. 3.6 It was well observed by a most learned man of our Church that d Hooker Eccles Polit. l. 5. §. 3. zeale except it be ordered aright when it bendeth it selfe unto conflict with things either in deed or but imagined to be opposite vnto Religion useth the razor many times with such eagernesse that the very life of Religion it selfe is thereby hazarded through hatred of tares the corn in the field of God is pluckt up And with this agreeth that of another worthy writer in a worke set forth lately amongst us e Mr. Leyes Sunday a St bath in the Preface There is saith he a sinister zeale in some against superstition which proveth many times prejudiciall to the practice of Religion For as our late learned Soveraigne hath observed under colour of weeding out superstition it will pluck up by the rootes many plants of paradise f K. Iames his Cign cant p. 8. If any man hath gone about to repaire Rome amongst us this hand that knowes no artillerie more offensive then the quill is as ready as any other to cast the first stone at him But as I must curse him that brings one stick to re-edifie the Popish Iericho Iosua 6.16 so upon the instigation of the same conscience Gen. 11.7 I shall endeavour to confound their language that would build up Babell We shall find the common maxime true in this case t is no thriving way to frame new buildings And there 's no probabilitie of good successe where not so much as the Modell is agreed vpon Our Ancestors thought it good husbandry to reforme and repaire and yet God be thanked we that succeed have no great cause to complaine against them for delapidations Though I am confident there are more blood-shotten then tender eyes that complaine amongst us I could wish the Church were purged from all the dust that is offensiue But I am jealous a new Broome let who will make it will not sweep so cleane here as is imagined Besides why should any man dreame of a new way to prevent offences when God himselfe hath revealed a necessity of their occurring Mat. 18.1 Shall we dis-beleeue Gods word Or can we disappoint his purpose Let us as farre as we can improue those divine directions that are authenticke and leave the successe to the Almighty They are decived that thinke to make the Church on Earth Heb. 11.10 triumphant We must remoue to that city whose maker and builder is God before we find perfection and when no blockes obstruct our way to remoue strawes is but an impediment to our progression God preserue my eyes cleare from beames and I shall be content to dispense with atomes that are vnavoydable in this state of imperfection In the next place let me tell thee Reader that this discourse was never designed to face posts and doores but to settle soules and consciences It was at first intended for the satisfaction of a private friend but is now made publike for the view and I hope for the vse of many And I 'le assure thee it had not come forth in Print had not the Author beene prest before it His modesty was not of proofe to resist or at lest not of ability to prevaile against that importunity that assaulted him therefore looke vpon it but as upon a poore spoile that strength hath forced from weaknesse Perhaps thou wilt not find every knot vntied here The Author knew that hath been performed by sundry hands of more skilfull dexterity Many such peeces have bin discharged already to the battering downe of the strongest Holds erected by our adversaries and 't is a worke may require a volume which cannot be comprised in a short Epistle This relates chiefely to such scruples as as were suggested and objected in a private conference and though it may seeme of no small value yet considering the coyne that passe for currant on the other side I find it may bee put into the ballance with them without allowance and yet because the law affords that liberty it might bee construed too much presumption in me to neglect it Farewell A PRIVATE EPISTLE to a Friend SIR AS you have beene accounted a burning and a shining light amongst us so I desire you would still justifie that opinion by continuing your flaming and devout appearance in the Candlesticke For not to flatter you which the sinceritie of my love forbiddeth I assure you many begin to thinke you are no star but a Comet that can blaze no longer because they see you are not fixed And I must tell you this wandring in mists and darknes will giue just cause to the wise observer to suspect you for an Ignis fatuus You were lighted up for the church and will you put your selfe under the bed-straw I wonder of how many Articles your creed consisteth If you reteine the

ancient Twelue they are a Iury will condemne you But surely you have of late abridged your faith omitted the Communion of Saints or else you professe to beleeue more then you can find in your heart to practise If your heart and tongue confesse this branch of faith why doe your works deny it He is not well affected to the inward communion that separates from the outward when it may be held with a safe conscience Open and vnanimous profession hath beene the holy ostentation of Gods true Worshipers I am sure you will not embrace Rome for you know too well that were to seeke fellowship with unfruitfull workes of darknesse whether will you goe you will not communicate with us yet you are afraid to renounce us Me thinks you multiply their number whose humour will neither let them goe to Church nor be at home For you are gone out from us and yet you will be of us Revel 12. Had the Dragon stirred up persecution and driven your mother into the wildernesse or into woods when she was in travell with you you might have pluckt some figge-leaves there to excuse your invisibility If you be a member of our Church as you professe your selfe why must you be concealed The secrecie and sheltring of parts 1 Cor. 12.23 is in Saint Paul's opinion an argument of their vncomlinesse as well as a signe of modestie Doe not thinke you may be betrothed to Christ in a wedding garment of your owne fashioning Clandestine contracts are not fit for Christs Spouse Iohn 18.20 and therefore 't was long ere the Church did admit of private Baptisme and still private Eucharists are rejected where publike ones may be administred by the Orthodoxall Churches * Aditus missis privatis est patefactus quae excommunicationem quandam magis referrent quam communitatem illan● à Domino institutam Calvin Inst lib. 4. cap. 18. § 7. A devout soule may discourse with Christ and Christ may make love to her in private but when he concludes the match hee will have the contract published and his wedding celebrated with a solemne visibility But I perceive where the shooe pinches you 'T is our set Liturgy that is offensive because you thinke it bereaves you of your Christian liberty Is it so I am sorry that thred-bare cloake worne for colour sake is so much in fashion Had the primitive Christians that lived under the iron Age of persecution had they had such formes prescrib'd them under a command of exact obedience doubtlesse they would not have complain'd against them as pressures upon their libertie but have construed them as happy licenses for the exercise of their Religion They would have kist those hands of Authority that had thus restrained them and worne such chaines about their neckes with a cherefull fredome I would we had as much of their Zeale as they wanted of this our happy Libertie Your quarrell to set prayers and to our liturgy in particular is but the same which St. Peter had to the sheet which was let downe from heaven to him viz. because you thinke it brings you things common and uncleane I wish this discourse may bee as a voice from heaven to awaken you out of that fond distemper that you may arise and eate If you doe not yet I am perswaded our devotions will bee received vp in this vessell into heaven I know you have not so resigned vp your reason to this opinion but still you have reserv'd to your selfe a power to desert it when you see it overthrowne upon faire grounds If not you will manifest by effect that only for an opinion of libertie you have altogether quitted the freedom of your judgement Halt no longer betweene two opinions be something either fish or flesh and live wholly on the land or in the water Hazard not your selfe alone in that new found way you treavell in Either returne to us or make me your Proselite to beare you company I 'le assure you I am loath to leave you though you make a light matter of it to forsake a Church I am contented to goe along if you can assure me I shall have Gods speed with me But if you cannot passe that assurance to another I doubt you have not obtaind it fully for your selfe and if it be so I should thinke it paines well bestowed if I could make my selfe an instrument of your diversion For which purpose I have here sent you certaine considerations that may happily prove a Remora to your ship and cause you to sound a retreat and returne to your former station The Considerations are these I come into no house but I meet with a Manuell of devotions a poesie of godly prayers Helps to devotion and the like And I conceiue this is like a Passeover-marke to secure the family from the destroying Angell Did not the Saints that bound up these bundles of Hysop dipt in the blood of the Lambe to besprinkle our soules did they not doe well in it Who doubts it And if it were well done their formes were lawfull and usefull to us I wonder any man can shelter himselfe from such a cloud of witnesses Did they compile these for the use of themselves or others all is one the argument will hold strong for a stinted forme of prayer But we have a more sure word of prophecie to confirme us might Aaron or his sons blesse the people as their owne fancy led them they might not there 's a forme extant of Gods own prescription and a strict charge laid upon them to observe it Numb 6.22 c. And the Lord spake unto Moses ther 's the Author Speake vnto Aaron and unto his sonnes saying on this wise yee shall blesse the children of Israel saying vnto them then comes the forme The Lord blesse thee and keepe thee The Lord make his face shine vpon thee and be gracious vnto thee The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace When thou commest to the house of God looke to thy foote sayes Solomon Eccles 5.1 2. he drives at our expressions as well as our affections so he unriddles himselfe in the words following Be not rash with thy mouth c. An I am sure they are those upon which our soules doe travell into the hearts of ot ers The Prophet bid the people take words with hem but they may not bee their owne choosers Turne unto the Lord and say thus unto him c. Hosea 14.2 If we take the wings of our thoughts and ascend to the Church Triumphant we shall find that those burning lamps of zeale the blessed Angels of God never ring those changes in their devotions They have a perfect knowledge and large hearts to expresse their thankfulnes to their maker Exod. 15.1 and yet they thinke it no disparagement to sing a song of Moses setting while hee lived this in valley of teares Revel 15.3 * In the margin of Bibles That song spoken