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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	according_a	sense_n	word_n	4,231	5	4.2547	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45123	An answer to Dr. Stillingfleet's sermon, by some nonconformists, being the peaceable design renewed wherein the imputation of schism wherewith the doctor hath charged the nonconformists meetings, is removed, their nonconformity justified, and materials for union drawn up together, which will heal both parties.	Humfrey, John, 1621-1719.; Lobb, Stephen, d. 1699.	1680 (1680)	Wing H3668; ESTC R22261	36,018	45

is true there is one instance from Antiquity out of Athanasius of some persons with Ischryas among them whom they would not allow according as these hold to be Ministers because one Coluthus that ordained them was only a Presbyter Unto which may be added the Story of the purblind Bishop in the Hispaline Council Circa An. 656 But we answer in the sense as we remember of Dr. Field on the Church It is one thing what they judged according to their Ecclesiastical Canons and another what we ought to judge according to the Word of God The Scripture makes no difference between Bishop and Presbyter the Superiority and Inferiority arising after in the Church And when we are made Christs Ministers and put in office by him according to his Word how shall that Authority be vacated for something wanting only in the Constitutions of Men Here is a matter of Infinite wrong which the opinion of these Men does us It takes away the Office Christ hath given us and holds it null If it was a grievous thing in the late times to put one of these Ministers out of his Place only what is it to put so many of us out of our Office There is no Person almost of Spirit but will be ready to part with his life as soon as the Honour he holds from the King and shall not the Ordained Minister maintain the Right which he holds from Christ When so many eminent Predecessors to these Bishops and other defenders of this Church have maintained Presbyterian Ordination When the Reformed Churches abroad have no other When the Case was such as that there was no other to be had here in the late times When not we alone then are concerned only in the wrong but our Lord and Master whose cause is it and whose business we are to do and the Souls of so many people We cannot but appeal to the Higher Powers in a matter of so great right and wrong as this is For we are contented to have revised and judged whether the Diocesan Bishop be distinguishedly named in Christs Charter for Ordination as he is in the Canons of Men Or when we have been ordained already as Timothy by the laying on of the hands of Presbytery whether the Lawn be de Essentia to the Ceremony and the Hands avail nothing without the Sleeves on The next thing is the Declaration I A. B. do here declare my unfained assent and consent to all and every thing contained and prescribed in and by the Book Entituled The Book of Common Prayer and the Form of Ordaining Bishops Priests and Deacons That is Assent to all and every thing contained in and Consent to every thing prescribed by these Books Sirs There was a time when that the Nation had the hopeful Overture of a Concord between the Sober of two parties and the Hearts of Most men were in preparation to receive it But alas Instead of such a Gracious and Blessed Issue as was expected we have here the streight Injunction of an Assent and Consent to all Conformity and every thing of it new and old to be approved and obeyed or else one part of the Ministry must be immediately turn'd out How can those now whose Judgments are and have been still for Moderation between both Opinions in times before as now be able to come over to one side altogether on such Terms as these How can these we say make so short a turn as this without the Hazard of some sprain to their Consciences if they do it We cannot tell you perhaps nor are willing to declare the impression which we have upon our Spirits against a going back from that more Spiritual Plain and Simply zealous Service of Almighty God in the way we were in and Reformation we sought unto that Something we are not used to and fear To wit unto a form of worship and Discipline that carrying a countenance of both but being rather only a kind of Idols of them doth seem to us by the shew pomp and complement of the things it contains not to undermine the Life Power and Efficacy of one and the other We cannot tell you perhaps what hath moved us so much from within against an ingulphing with this Generation whether fear of Popery returning on us or aliquid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But we will produce Two or Three Instances a piece against Assent and against Consent to that which is injoyned that we may approve our selves to the Consciences of all as well as our own in refusing this Declaration For our Assent In the Athanasian Creed we find this passage Which Faith except every one does keep whole without doubt he shall perish everlastingly One of the Articles of this Creed is this The Holy Ghost is of the Father and the Son In this Article we know the Greek Church hath differed from the Latin and held That the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father only If we give our Assent then to every thing or passage contained in this Book we must believe the Greek Church undoubtedly Damned And what if some of the Non-conformists as well as of Connformists do believe it not impossible but that some Heathen may be saved What if they cannot think otherwise in regard to the Goodness of God but that whosoever he was or is that walk'd or walks up to his Light in sincerity with a general Repentance for his unseen Errors must by vertue of the Covenant made with Adam faln and Noah no less than the Jews were by the same confirmed with Abraham be in a state of acceptation with God conceiving but both alike for ought they see were ignorant of their Redemption by the Blood of Christ or the means how their Peace was made with him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We have shewn before that Christ is the first begotten of God the Divine Reason Wisdom or Word whereof the whole kind of Mentor the whole stock of Mankind do partake and whosoever lives according to Reason are Christians though they be accounted Heathen or without God such as Socrates Heraclitus and the like Justin Martyr in his second Apology for the Christians We do not day we receive this nor deny it We are though ready to say what was Luthers saying We hope God will be merciful to such a one as Cicero but our duty is to abide by the Word And yet cannot this little Candor it self be used if we must be forced to declare that whosoever believes not the Athanasian Creed must undoubtedly perish Not that other Nonconformists generally make any scruple in this But what do those sober and learned Doctors of the Church think of it who have a name given them upon this account that though they hold some things that agree not with her Articles or Homilies yet they can conform to them or have a Latitude to do it I A. B. do declare my unfained Assent and Consent to every thing contained in the Book of Common Prayer and yet

Laws may be made and Old repealed without alteration of the Constitution but not without Alteration of Government because Government takes in both the Administration and the Constitution Let us suppose therefore the word Government confined only to the Constitution There is the Constitution of the Government in the State which is a Legal Monarchy and this indeed we are so far bound from endeavouring to alter as we think it is not alterable by the King himself and Parliament because the Supream Power for the Administration must be supposed in all Communities to be derived from and held by the Constitution But as for Government in the Church we are to know and acknowledge that the Constitution hereof it self is but a Law of the Administration in reference to the State And consequently when all Laws for the Administration are liable to the Regulation of Parliaments the great Question will remain How those Men who are Presbyterian or In dependent in their Judgment and think Episcopacy against the Scripture can be abridged the Endeavour only afore-mentioned which consists but in choosing Representatives and doing no more than the Constitution allows in order to the Prosecution of what they think themselves obliged to in Conscience both by Oath and the word of God Is not the foundation Liberty of the whole People and our selves with them here in danger Judge ye that are Wise And what an Anointed Plot have we had here on the Nation that an Allegiance in effect should be sworn to the Bishops as well as to the King by such Impositions For the Words then or Form we wonder at this Rigour in the Compiler That a Man must swear not to endeavour any Alteration Had it not been enough to be engaged not to endeavour the Alteration of the Substance of our Government Episcopacy in the Church and Monarchy in the State but it must be not any Alteration It were well we were so absolutely Perfect And again must they not at any time endeavour any Alteration What if Times should turn and we be in a Confusion as we were or any the like Chance or Change come Must these Men be bound up that they cannot endeavour to reduce back this Government that we have No not the King and Bishops if the Iniquity of the Times should put them out for they have sworn they will not at any time endeavour any Alteration in Church or State Sirs The Matter of this Obligation being against the Fundamental Freedom of the Subject and Parliament and the Words you see so ensnaring and that against the Duty all owe to the Publick Good we offer it to you to consider in the first place whether this last part be according to Righteousness For the middle of the Oath Here is a Position of taking Arms by the Kings authority against any Commissionated by him which must be sworn to as abhor'd and traiterous There is now a Case in the mouths of all the understanding Refusers of the Oath and Subscription Suppose some Writ sued out and comes to the Sheriffs hands and suppose some to oppose the Execution by the Kings Personal Command or Commission and he thereupon raises the posse Comitatus upon them We will ask here whether the Sheriff acts not herein by the Kings Authority We think it cannot be denyed By the Kings Authority is all one as by the Law And when he can act so against any for all their Commission and the Law will bear him out how is this position in this case traiterous and to be ahor'd For our parts we do resolutely believe that it was not ever the intent of the Parliament in this Oath the Subscription as to the Major part we may be bold to advance the personal will or Commission of the King above Law which were to make his power Despotical and not Royal. Non est Rex says Bracton ubi dominatur voluntas non Lex He is no King that Governs by his will and not by the Law And how this position indefinitly without exception of this Case at least must be sworn to as altogether Traiterous ☞ we are to learn What if any should come with a Commission under the Seal to raise Money without an Act of Parliament and by vertue of such Commission shall seize our Goods rifle our Houses ' and Ravish our Wives May not the People or our inferior Magistrates or the Sheriff for the County withstand such violence May not the Constable alone by a Warrant from the Justice to keep the Peace raise the Neighbour-hood and do it If he may or the Sheriff may it must be in the Name of the King or by Authority of the Law and then is there some Case or Cases where Arms or Force may be raised by the Authority of the King against such as are Commissionated by him though never against his own Sacred Person Suppose again that Papists or Fanaticks should either by Power or Suprise at any time get the King into their hands as the Duke of Guise once dealt with the French King and prevail with him for fear of his life to grant Commissions under his Hand and Seal destructive to the Church and State must the Nation be remediless in this Case and so the King and Kingdom ruin'd by these Commissions Nay what security hath the Nation that a Lord Keeper may not prove Traytor to his King and Countrey If we may suppose such a thing possible what if such a Lord Keeper should under the Broad Seal grant Commissions to disband his Majesties Life-Guard deliver up the Navy or Sea Port Towns seize the Tower or places or strength in what a condition were the King and Kingdom brought if the Subjects hands be bound up by an Oath not to resist or take Arms against the Execution of such Commissions Suppose but so long as till they understand his design for by that time the whole Nation may be past recovery We are offended at the sense and stand amaze at the Horror of those sad Comsequences into which the Imposition of such like Tests or Injunctions as these if not timely retrenched may lead our Posterity The Courts of Law can avoid the Kings Charters or Commissions which are passed against Law For the King is subject to the Law and sworn to maintain it Judge Jenkens in his Works p. 48. As for the Form then of the Words I abhor this Traiterous Position They are harsh The word Abhor especially is a word of Interest and Passion A cooler word as I disown or disallow might have served Some of the most Grave as Calamy particularly were much offended at that word A man may say a thing is unlawful in his Conscience when he cannot say according to the Truth I Abhor it There is never a Gentleman in the Land but may swear truly That he believes it unlawful to company with any other Woman as his own Wife but if each one was put to swear he Abhors it we suppose some Sons

in general and the Laws and State of the Land in particular which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Kingdom regulated by Laws as Sir Thomas Smith hath it Rex sub Deo Lege The King is under God and the Law says Hooker and Bracton so that it requires the skill of the greatest Judges Serjeants and Sages of the Law to determine the Cases included in it it is a very hard thing we think that every poor silly Minister is put to decide the same for himself and to have that evidence therein as to be able to take his Oath or give his Hand to the certainty of it The other part of the Subscription concerns the Covenant and here the words nor any other to name none else are such a Ford that as to the Conscience of all not throughly Episcopal so far as we see is unpassable It is nothing to some of our selves to subscribe there lyes no obligation on me from the Covenant to endeavour any alteration of Government because we never took it it was against our Consciences and we can conceive for others in a Private capacity what have they to do with Government NO Oath can bind to sedition and disobedience But as for such as are in a Publick capacity and can act lawfully towards Reformation in their place what shall we say to those One way there is indeed will strike off all quite and that is to hold the present Government establish'd to be Jure Divino altogether so that any alteration is sin He that holds thus may affirm clearly that though a Man swore he would endeavour to alter the Government it binds him nothing let him be in what capacity he will the least alteration is unlawful and he must therefore repent of his Oath and not perform it But if a Man hold that the Presbyterian Government is rather Jure Divino or that neither Episcopal nor Presbyterian is Jure Divino or that Episcopal Government is well yet that ours as it is now is not altogether so well but that someting may be alter'd for the better We would fain be infromed how such a Man can absolve him who is in a publick capacity as a Parliament Man from his endeavouring so much according to time and prudence if he hath sworn before that he will It is in vain to hide where the water sticks There are some cannot tell how to absolve One other for their lives They say not there lyes an Obligation upon any to do as they have sworn for fear it be dangerous and they dare not say there lyes none for fear of their Consciences or for fear of God As to our selves This we may say that we desire to be instructed and this we will say that it is an hard thing to be put on it to say that there lyes no Obligation upon any other but our selves whether there does or no. We will therefore close up our Reasons for Non-conformity with this one Note only If there be so many difficulties in One of the things alone which is required to Confromity what a River hath he to wade that must pass through All together that belongs to it We descend to some Proposals for concord or mutual quiet to the Nation under the Differences which is the last part of our undertaking Secundae Cogitationes prudentius moder atius consulunt prudentius quia moder atius It hath pleased His Majesty by several gratious overtures to commend an Union of his Protestant Subjects to the consideration of Parliament A Design full of all Princely Wisdom Honesty and Goodness In this Atchievement there is a double Interest we apprehend to be distinguish'd and weighed that of Religion it self and that of the Nation The Advance of Religion does consist much in the Unity of its Professors both in Opinion and Prctise to be of one Mind and one Heart and one Way in Discipline and Worship so far as may be according to the Scriptures The Advance of the Nation doth lye in the Freedom and Flourishing of Trade and uniting the whole Body in the Common Benefit and dependance on the Government The one of these bespeaks an Establish'd order and Accommodation the other bespeaks Indulgence Liberty of Conscience or Tolleration for while people are in danger about Religion we dare not launch out into Trade say they but keep our Moneys seeing we know not into what streights we shall be driven and when in reference to their party they are held under severity it is easie to those who are designing Heads to mould them into Wrath and Faction which without occasion will melt and dissolve it self into bare dissent of Opinion peaceably rejoycing under the enjoyment of Protection The King we know is concerned as Supream Governour and as a Christian Protestant Governour As he is King he is to seek the welfare of the Nation as he is a Christian the flourishing of Religion and the Protstant Religion particularly is his Interest as this Kingdom doth lye in Ballance he being the chief Party with its Neighbour Nations The Judgment now of some is for a Comprehending Act which may take in those who are for our Parochial Churches that severity then might be used for reclaiming all whosoever separate from them The Judgment of some others is for a free and equal Act of Grace to all indifferently the Papists with most excepted whether separatists or others abhorring Comprehension as more dangerous to them on that account mentioned than all the Acts that have passed Neither of these Judge up to the full Interest of the King and Kingdom as is proposed It becomes not the Presbyterian if his Principles will admit him to own our Parochial Church and enjoy a Living to be willing to have his Brethren the Independants given up to persecution And it becomes not the Separatist if he may but enjoy his Conscience to repine or envy at the Presbyterian for reaping any further Emolument seeing both of them supposing the latter may do so have as much at bottom as can be in their capacities desired of either It is an Act therefore of a mixt Complexion providing both Comprehension and Indulgence for the different Parties must serve our purpose And to this end as we may humbly hope was there once a Bill in Parliament A Bill for the ease of the Protestant Dissenters in the Business of Religion Which that it may some time or other be cast into this model we must present the same desires under a little further Explication There two sorts we all know of these Protestant Dissenter One that own the established Ministry and our Parish Congregations and are in capacity of Union upon that account desiring it heartily upon condescention to them in some smaller matters The other that own not our Churches and so are uncapable of a Conjunction who do not and cannot desire it or seek it For the one That which we propose is a further latitude in the present constituted