Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	able_a	holy_a	salvation_n	2,880	5	6.6378	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91322	Dissertatio de pace, &c. Or, A discourse touching the peace & concord of the Church. Wherein is elegantly and acutely argued, that not so much a bad opinion, as a bad life, excludes a Christian out of the kingdom of heaven; and that the things necessary to be known for the attainment of salvation, are very few and easie: and finally, that those, who pass amongst us under the name of hereticks, are notwithstanding to be tolerated.; Dissertatio de pace. English	Przypkowski, Samuel, 1592-1670.; Biddle, John, 1615-1662,	1653 (1653)	Wing P4133; Thomason E1495_1; ESTC R203302	40,192	82

tenets which having once taken root can hardly be pulled thence in their riper age Now what cruelty is it to cast out of the bosome and lap of the Church such persons as are studious of honesty and truth yea seek an agreement onely for those errors which have been implanted in them without any fault of theirs and do not overthrow salvation But they are Hereticks and to be avoided as such who are condemned of their own conscience Yea for the fore-alleadged causes they are not condemned of their own conscience And therefore neither now to be avoided nor Hereticks Or if we take no compassion on them yet let us at least take pity on the very truth which we defend whose growth we envie first because we drive others from a neerer prying into her and next because we teach by our own example that she if charged with false suspicions of right may and ought to be excluded by other Christian Churches FINIS The Postscript to the Reader LEst the following papers Christian Reader being left empty should beguile thy sight I have thought good in this place again to bespeak thee with a word or two By this time thou hast perceived our minde and drift which both the author of this Discourse had before his eyes when he wrote it and I also when I published the same for thy behoof and benefit If thou hast but a grain of candor in thy heart and wilt pass sentence according to the prescript of Truth thou wilt judge and call this Writing not Heretical but Peaceable But you will say What peace what agreement either can or ought a Christian man to have with Hereticks Good Reader we undertake not the patronage of Hereticks But before you exclude others out of the verge of Christian Charity and throw the thunderbolt of an Anathema upon them you should well weigh and consider to whom the crime of Heresie is justly to be imputed In passing censure upon Hereticks it was not so easie a matter to mistake in that Golden age wherein the Christian Church was founded by the Apostles and governed by themselves as is in this Age of ours For though in those beginnings of the Christian Church there did divers errors yea and heresies spring up nevertheless from that confusion of dissenting opinions there were not peculiar Churches distinguished by divers forms of Confessions and Ceremonies as yet started up but there was then one onely Christian Church and she truly Apostolical and in all points of doctrine which she professed of a sound belief Wherefore to contradict this Church and her doctrine was truly blasphemous truly heretical and whomsoever either the Apostles themselves or also other Apostolical Doctors of the Primitive Church declared Hereticks they might also deservedly be accounted such by all Christians and there was no danger of error in that censure no not among the more ignorant Christians as following the judgement of the very Holy Spirit by whom those Divine Governours of the Church were guided as appeared by most evident arguments But at this day inasmuch as there are alas so many and so various Churches of Christians which of all will be so bold as to ascend with like confidence to that of the Apostles to that sacred Tribunal from which she may pronounce sentence on the rest as Heretical It is out of controversie that such an authority can agree to no more then one of them For the true Church can be but one and onely the true one is able to judge and condemn all the rest as Heretical Now forasmuch as amongst all those Churches which will at this day be called Christians I justly here except the vain arrogancie of the Roman Church none dares undoubtedly to arrogate to it self the infallible certainty of the Apostolical Truth in all the heads of her Confession it may hence clearly enough appear that the censure of Heretical Pravity doth so evidently agree to none of them that we deservedly ought also to acquiesce in her determination I am not ignorant of what the greatest part of our Divines are here wont to reply That the Primitive Apostolical Church say they is ceased we do not deny yet inasmuch as we have the doctrine of that Church consigned in the monuments of the Evangelists and the Apostles we cannot chuse but pronounce them Hereticks who contradict the doctrine there expressed I also dear Friends easily permit that in this dispute of ours the Divine Writings of the Apostles stand in this stead so that he which contradicteth them ●e no less esteemed an heretick then he that heretofore contumaciously opposed the Apostles preaching by word of mouth But even thus can we not chalenge that cens●rian r●d against Hereticks For they whom ye place in the rank of Hereticks are so far from contradicting the Holy Scripture that they wage war against you out of the same and appeal to the judgement thereof not without a certain hope of victory in the examination of their cause inasmuch as they embrace the Scripture in all things with as great veneration of minde as you do nor amongst all the Christian Churches which are at this day extant shall ye shew any one that I know of which doth not religiously and from the heart yield an undoubted assent to all those things that are proposed and taught in the Holy Scripture Wherefore there is no cause why ye should condemn any one of them for heresie since they agree with you in giving due credence to the Sacred Writ And therefore whatsoever pretence ye seek for your carnal zeal against such as you call Hereticks yet to indifferent judgements can no other ground hereof appear then their dissent from your interpretation of the Holy Scripture as to the controverted doctrines But I will here bountifully grant you that ye have in all things hit the true sense of the Scripture and defend it Nevertheless it is further requisite that ye make this plain to them whom ye brand with the crime of Heresie But what here is the stress of your Arguments Ye appeal again to the Holy Scripture and from thence condemn Hereticks But they have already stricken this weapon out of your hands shewing that the Holy Scripture maketh for y●● onely in your own sense and interpretation and that they are accordingly condemned by you not from the sacred Scripture but from your interpretation of the sacred Scripture And this is the circle of your arguing which they deservedly reject Draw-out therefore against Hereticks those truly Apostolical weapons not the T●rasonical prating of the Chayr in the Vniversity but the power of the holy Spirit wherewith the Apostles being indued could deliver Blasphemers to Satan 1 Tim. 1. 20. and slay Hypocrites with the speaking of a word Act. 5. If ye want the powerful efficacie of this Spirit acknowledge your rashness and iniquity in condemning them to whom ye are not able with evident and sufficient arguments to demonstrate your interpretation of the holy Scripture and

way that bringeth us to heaven methinks such contemplations as these are out of the road of our journey For indeed what maketh us sufficiently yea abundantly fitted for Eternal life but Faith working by Love for which onely we shall be pronounced just But if one may have this Faith although he have a wrong conceit touching the Mystery of the Holy Trinity what hinders but that he may together with this Errour be received both into Heaven and into the Church Now lest any one should be deceived in the notion of Error I do not now give so milde a name to their wickedness who whilst the Truth was yet clear and open in the Church and called into doubt by none did first spread darkness over this Article but to their failing who in our times Do fear the Greeks even when they offer Gifts that is who having been cozened with so many lyes and cheats of Antichrist dare not believe him even when he seemeth to speak Truth as shall be further made appear by the sequele of the Discourse Moreover that perfit Faith is not taken away by that error we shall easily perceive if we enquire into every part thereof Nor verily shall you finde in the whole compass of our Faith that more duties are required of believers then Assent to the Promises of Jesus Christ and Obedience to his Precepts The first of which the Apostle James chap. 2. very aptly intimateth to be the Body of Faith and the second the Soul thereof To the belief of the Promises that plain Confession is sufficient which passeth under the name of The Apostles Creed and if there be any thing else requisite I see not what can be added besides the Reverence due to the holy Scriptures to which if credence be once denyed the certainty of our Salvation is brought into danger Now whether both or one of these compleat the whole nature of that Faith which is due to the Divine Promises certainly experience it self testifieth that such as erre in the knowledge of the foresaid Mystery may excellently discharge this part of Faith For they without any exception give credence to the holy Scripture and to the Apostles Creed And therefore what is wanting to beget in them a full belief that God cannot chuse but perform his promise For that the things aforesaid are sufficient to the belief hereof is even from hence manifest God hath promised us Salvation by his Son To rely on this promise it is enough if we be perswaded that God both can and will give unto us what he hath promised For by this means all the causes of distrust being pared away there will be no ground left to doubt of so great a Promise But whilst they believe the holy Scriptures and their Abridgement the Apostles Creed they cannot in the least doubt concerning the power or will of God when notwithstanding they may mistake in the knowledge of his Essence Wherefore this first part of Faith is not taken away by that Error As for Obedience to the Precepts of Christ certainly this can much less be taken away by such mistakings For neither was it the purpose of God by giving his Commandments to exercise the sharpness of our Wit but the goodness of our Will And therefore how blinde soever our Knowledge is in abstruser things yet may our Will be conformed to the obedience of the Divine Law then which nothing is more manifest and open Nor doth the Piety of sundry erring persons here need an Advcoate in that it sufficiently pleadeth for it self and oftentimes sheweth its Faith even in silent works which very many vainly boasting of cannot finde in their life and actions Neither indeed hath any thing been enjoyned us wherein our vertue and obedience may not shew themselves For what need is there to invite us with rewards to those things which we willingly perform of our own accord But they buy Happiness at a very cheap rate who spend nothing but the labour of their Wit upon it For he that is never so wicked and careless of his Salvation may know some truth concerning God Nor can we boast of our obedience in such things unless we admit the damned Spirits to a share in our praise Besides the nature of all Precepts ought to be such as that it might evidently appear to all who are to perform them that they are prescribed But how manifest this doctrine touching the Trinity is the incredible height of the very thing it self sheweth and how manifestly it is prescribed the labours and contentions of so many Fathers and Councels heretofore testifie Yea though somthing in this point were never so much enjoyned to be known and believed yet none refuseth to believe those things that are expresly extant in the holy Scriptures nor is there any one so impious as to contradict them All the controversie is about meanings and consequences wherein an error and failing doth no more infer disobedience and consequently damnation then the simplicity of an obsequious servant who not rightly understanding the command of his Master did yet obey as far as he was able But if we may believe the Promises of Jesus Christ and obey his Precepts although we are mistaken in such a maner what shall we want to the full possession of a lively Faith Is there yet any thing in the nature of Faith uncomprehended in those two parts But there is a wonderful silence in the Sacred Oracles concerning that third part nor do I see how that Faith is not perfit which is lively or how that is not lively which consisteth in a maner of its body and soul But you will say that we are necessarily to believe many things which are neither the very Precepts nor the Promises To which I answer that they so belong to one of these that without them neither can be rightly performed of which sort is the Omnipotencie of God and the like attributes as also the Creation Providence c. which though they be neither the Precepts nor the Promises yet cannot the belief of the Promises consist without them so that an error in them is not now dangerous but altogether pestilent and pernicious But it hath been clearly proved that errors about those doctrines touching which the whole Discourse hath been set on foot subvert neither member of Faith at least in their own nature and unavoidably CHAP. III. That sincere Love towards God and Christ is sufficient to Salvation and that the same may be in such as erre LEt us adde an Appendix to this argument which may even be in stead of a new reason Who therefore dares to condemn him to the punishment of Eternal Death in whom liveth the sincere Love of his Creator and Redeemer or what more certain pledge of Eternal Happiness is there then to love God and the Lord Jesus Christ with the whole heart and with all the powers of the minde This indeed is too too manifest inasmuch as the sum of our Obedience lieth

his colours Which not belonging unto men who go astray from the common road out of meer ignorance or injury of the times what shall we do to them that make use of this exception Shall they who in these calamitous times in this desolation of the Church being born a great while after the rise of Antichrist and not able fully to dispel the darkness of that long night turn aside into by paths be judged to sin out of perversity of minde Where now is that royal high-way thorow which the godly may pass securely on with an unerring foot to Salvation If it lie in the authority of the Church she hath now for many ages been beset with the snares of Antichrist We wonder that they are afraid of the suspected faith of the Church when they do the same after our example and in so great danger to fear even all the things that are safe is a point of prudence And we still dare to upbraid them with rashness in departing from the common doctrine when they seem to do it out of a just and well-grounded fear But if this way consisteth in the authority of the holy Scripture they do not stray from it whilst they together with us honour those Sacred books with due reverence But you will say that the right and orthodox sense of the Holy Scripture is rather the onely path that is able to bring us to the very citadel of Truth I confess that this way was heretofore worn with the publike going of Christians but now being first hidden with the springing briars of Antichrist and therefore trodden by very few and not as yet discovered by having all the brake cut down and besides called into doubt by so many intervening false paths it hath not as yet recovered the name and nature of a Royal high-way which it had for a long time lost And therefore the greater pardon is due unto such as deviate from the same For neither do they erre through desperate malice of heart who do not always walk therein amidst so many cross-ways and turnings Let any one reckon up to me all the sects of Christian Religion and I will say he is a brave fellow if he omit none In so great a concourse of opinions if they have not chosen the truer who will say that this is rather done out of improbity then out of ignorance For by what argument after so many errors have been introduced ought the Truth to lie open to their view By the unanimous consent of the Church O unanimous consent amidst six hundred different sects You will say that in the doctrine contrary unto them the greatest part are agreed But this is nothing since they have also agreed in very many errors So that we must again seek out a priviledge for the doctrine of the Trinity whereby it came to pass that though men erred in other points yet could they not mistake in this But if we suppose that they ought to examine all opinions by the rule of the Holy Scripture and afterwards to chuse the truer they have done both save that in the latter they have not followed that which indeed was but onely that which they thought to be truer Which certainly is an error and no malice nor can they be said to sin self-condemned in holding such an opinion for which they are ready to lose their life and fortunes For neither doth he condemn himself at least in his conscience who in the midst of cruel tortures hopeth for eternal life from God as the reward of defending the truth Wherefore since we are not certain that they are perverse and self-condemned but well assured that they are not such even from the death which they willingly undergo for their Errors and since such Errors as hath been before proved do not subvert eternal salvation it seemeth that they ought not to be segregated from the communion of the Church if they will testifie their love towards the Lord Jesus by obeying his commandments CHAP. XII What Hereticks are to be excommunicated what not and a fuller Apologie for those who in our Age pass for Hereticks BY this reckoning will some say How few Hereticks must be excommunicated who will not invent plausible pretences for his pravity There is no doctrine so absurd and pestilent which being palliated with that cloke of error may not creep into the Church To which I answer that there is no cause why we should be solicitous lest we should have no occasion to use this rigid law of excommunication Would the Church had even at this day no voluntary rebels against the Divine Majesty But neither in the times of the Apostles were there men wanting who subverted either our faith in God or the hope of immortality or the piety and love that is enjoyned us and such as did not by deductions and consequences but with open face as they say vent blasphemies and impieties Whose endeavour and impiety is not so obscure but that it is apparent that they were conscious to themselves of their pravity and fraud As if any one should deny the resurrection of the dead who seeth not that such a man after he hath viewed the clear and certain sentence of the Holy Scripture will be convicted in himself although he may perhaps dissemble it There is the same reason in the patron of some manifest vice All which being manifest for so are the works of the flesh and manifestly forbidden such a man hath no starting-hole in the ambiguity or obscurity of the Sacred Scripture unless he disbelieve the same and so overthrow all Religion Whosoever therefore bring into the Church such doctrines as do in their own nature subvert our Salvation and Faith they are deservedly commanded to depart together with the former not onely lest they should hurt others but also because they themselves as hath been shewn are of incorrigible malice and perversity and consequently self condemned For a Chirurgian doth not presently fear or cut-off an infected part because it may with its contagion hurt the rest of the body but would first have that very part cured of the infection which if it doth not succeed he then cuts it off as incurable But those doctrines that stand not within the boundaries of necessity to salvation are such that an errour in them especially in this disturbed state of things cannot be taxed of wilful pravity nor can it either damn its author or exclude him from the bosome of the Church But some one will here object Shall we brand with this spiritual censure the obstinate maintainer of none even the greatest error if so be it overthrow not our Salvation But there are many things which though in their own nature they take not from us our Salvation yet do they by degrees so undermine and weaken the same that afterwards it falleth down of its own accord And do you like it that such diseases should be cherished in the Church To which I answer that I would

who by the same right and from the same foundation object to you not onely errors but also heresies Ye know that of Christ Condemn not and ye shall not be condemned What account will ye give to this just Judge for so often violating this precept Your zeal of the Divine Glory will not then excuse you for though it palliate it self under this reverend name yet is it wholly of the flesh and odious to God But if ye affirm that it proceedeth from the Holy Spirit produce arguments worthy of so great an Author For neither i● this Spirit so weak but that ●e can shew forth tokens of his Divine authority and presence in his Ministers and by them against his enemies But whither am I carried away I beseech thee good Reader to pardon this digression of mine and having liked the pious counsel of our Author intreat God that he would instil into other Readers also a minde studious of peace and concord Farewel FINIS These books are to be sold by Richard Moon at the seven stars in Paul 's Church-yard A Pathway unto Englands perfect settlement and its centre and foundation of Rest and Peace discovered by Capt. Robert Norwood 2. An Additional Discourse relating to the Treatise aforesaid By Capt. Robert Norwood Many things therein are fully opened several Doubts and Objections answered a brief account given of the Ancient Laws Customes and Constitutions of this Nation before and since the Conquest so called 3. The Life of that incomparable man Faustus Socinus Senensis described by a Polonian Knight Whereunto is added An excellent Discourse which the same Author would have had premised to the Works of Socinus Together with a Catalogue of those Works 4. Brevis Disquisitio or a brief Enquiry touching a better way then is commonly made use of to refute Papists and reduce Protestants to certainty and unity in Religion 5. The Apostolical and true opinion concerning the Holy Trinity revived and asserted partly by 12 Arguments levied against the Traditional and false opinion about the Godhead of the Holy Spirit partly by a Confession of faith touching the three Persons c. By John Biddle Mr. of Arts. 6 A short Treatise touching the death of Christ also the point of baptism is handled with the qualifications demerits sufficient to the receiving in and casting out Church-Members By J. Dell. 7. The Army Vindicated in their late dissolution of the Parliament By John Spittlehouse 8. A Warning-piece discharged or certain intelligence communicated to his Excellency the Lord Generall Cromwell By John Spittlehouse 9. The first Addresses to his Excellency the Lord General with the new Representative elected by him and his Councel c. By John Spittle-house 10. The new Earth or the Magna Charta of the past Ages and of the Ages or World to come called The Jews Commonweal By Joh. Brayne 11. The unknown being of the Soul and Spirit c. By John Brayne 12. The Way of disputing practised by Christ and his Apostles in deciding the Controversies of that Age and the Rule for the determining of our own or the right use of spiritual weapons c. By John Brayne 13. Baptism without Bason or plain Scripture Proof against Infant-Baptism in Answer to Mr. Baxters Arguments and the Exercitations of Mr. Sidenham By William Kaye Minister of the Gospel at St●kesley These things he hath now in the Press Judah's Witness sounding the Trumpet c. A Cryer in the Wilderness of England declaring the Baptism of the Eternal Spirit to be the onely Baptism in Christs Kingdom c. By Edward Punch