Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

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

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81917	An epistolary discourse wherein (amongst other particulars) these following questions are briefly resolved. I. Whether or no the state should tolerate the independent Government? II.If they should tolerate it, how farre, and with what limitations? III. If they should tolerate it, what course should be taken to bring them to a conformity with the Presbyterials? Written by Mr. John Dury. To Mr. Tho. Goodwin. Mr. Philip Nye. Mr. Samuel Hartlib. Published by a friend, for more common use.	Dury, John, 1596-1680.	1644 (1644)	Wing D2859; Thomason E6_14; ESTC R11327	31,647	43

AN EPISTOLARY DISCOURSE Wherein amongst other particulars these following Questions are briefly resolved I. Whether or no the State should tolerate the Independent Government II. If they should tolerate it How farre and with what Limitations III. If they should not tolerate it what course should be taken to bring them to a conformity with the Presbyterials Written by Mr. JOHN DURY To Mr. THO. GOODWIN Mr. PHILIP NYE Mr. SAMUEL HARTLIB Published by a Friend for more common use Iul● 27. 1644. Imprimatur JA CRANFORD LONDON Printed for Charles Greene and are to be sold at his shop in lvie Lane 1644. The copies of Letters to Mr. THO. GOODWIN and Mr. PHILIP NYE Worthy Sirs ALthough I am not yet setled here nor can promise unto my selfe any leasure and freedome of spirit from other necessary thoughts which my present condition doth obliege me unto and although I might imagine that there is little use as yet to be made amongst you of any thing that I can propose tending to moderation in matters Ecclesiasticall by reason of the distracted condition of the Civill State Neverthelesse beause I did promise you that I would put something to paper concerning the scope of my Negotiation and the Arguments which I have used to perswade mens spirits unto mutuall forbearance and because I know that if one will observe the winde very narrowly he shall hardly ever sow his seed Eccles 11.4 or if he regard the clouds reap his corne therefore I will not delay any longer the performance of that which I undertooke Which that I may doe in some order I will branch out this Discourse into these particulars First I will relate unto you the true state of my negotiation with the Lutherans to bring them to moderation towards us Secondly I will set down the heads of Reasons which induced me to this endeavour and which I used to perswade others to that duty which I have pressed upon them Thirdly I will let you know my opinion concerning you case for which you desire to know these matters that you may understand how far I take it to be agreeing or disagreeing with that which hitherto I have agitated and what I would advise you to doe in it for the advancement of Christs kingdome and the publique edification of your Brethren The true state of my Negotiation is this That I have endeavored to bring the Lutherans to some orderly treatie with us and joynt resolution amongst themselves concerning the wayes of Peace and Unity in the publique and private profession of Christianitie that the scandalous and unconscionable effects of our divisions being taken out of the way some joynt course might be se●led to set forward the Reformation of Protestant Churches unto that period whereunto it may by Gods assistance be brought To this effect having first dealt with our own side and gotten their consent unto this Aime I have offered my selfe also unto the rest as a Sollicitor of the Councels of Peace and a Servant of the Communion of Saints in this matter In this posture I have taken the freedome to provoke all unto the duties of love and of good workes either by proposing or asking councell of them or making motions tending to the composure of differences For having made my spirit voyd of partiality and laid aside all private aimes I took up universall rules which I thought app●●●●e unto all mens understandings in Theoreticis and to their con●●●●●●es in Practicis that by this meanes we might be brought to f●llow the Apostles councell unto the Philippians chap. 3.15.16 which is that so far as we are come we should mind the same things and walke by the same rule as it becommeth those that i●deed are brethren in Jesus Christ For I did not aime so m●ch at a ●are Toleration betwixt us and Lutherans as at a pub i●ue prof●ssion of Brotherhood whereupon I conceived a Toleration would follow of it selfe in matters of lesser difference which c●uld be no just occasion of a breach and as for things of greater importance wherein some did seeme to find sufficient cause of breaking of Brotherhood from us I supposed these might be removed two wayes first by a fundamentall confession of faith and of duties requisite unto salvation which might be common to all and openly professed as the summe and substance of our Religion and badge of our fraternall union Secondly by a common and infallible rule of interpreting the Text of holy Scripture by which all Doubts incident in other matters not fundamentall may be cleered and decided and as the fundamentall Confession should serve for all in common so this Rule of interpretation should be a meanes to joyne the more learned sort in one sense and meaning lest their differences about matters of lesser moment might rent the body in pieces notwithstanding the former tye of Union in fundamentall truths For seeing we see daily that amongst men of good repute otherwise for godlines in their life and conversation and for zeale in their profession of Religion great disputes fall out for small matters as for the different acception of a word in a place of Scripture or for the meaning of a sentence which may be diversly interpreted according to the different relations which it hath unto the matters precedent and consequent and these disputes oft-times come to such a height betwixt them that they not onley lose all charitable affections and amicablenesse of conversation one towards another but also involve others their hearers into the same breaches of Christian love from whence Schismes and Seperations at last arise and increase in the Churches although there be no just cause thereof in respect of the substantiall and materiall points of Faith and Practice seeing I say we daily see that this doth fall out and that this alone is able to breed many divisions amongst the Learned notwithstanding all other tyes of brotherly union and friendship betwixt them therefore I thought it would be expedient if not necessary to find some remedy for this inconvenient which at last I suppose is found and if God would be pleased to enable me to propose it I hope it would prove effectuall towards Men that are not self-conceited but tractable either by the grounds of Reason or of Conscience led in aspirituall way which is above but not contrary unto Reason for spirituall Truths are rationally delivered in the Scripture although men that are naturally rationall are not able to c●mprehend the sense thereof In a word I conceive the remedie to be this That when we have agreed upon the substance of Faith and Practice we may have also some undoubted Rules whereby to reduce all matters which are extra-substantiall unto their owne Principles that the doubts which arise concerning the same may be decided according to the Analogie of that Faith which is out of all doubt and according to the cleere sense of the Word regularly analysed So that the Rules first of determining Fundamentalls in Faith and

Practice Secondly of reducing doubtfull matters concerning Faith and Practice unto their own Fundamentalls and Thirdly of analyzing the Text of Holy Scripture demonstratively are the meanes whereby the disorderly proceedings of all our disputes may bee remedied And the whole state of my Negotiation hath properly been imployed in this to bring the Lutherans as well as our own side to intend joyntly the right apprehension and application of these Rules as Antidotes to cure our diseases which are infectious and spread their distemper in the spirits of all men that walk not by the same to order their Theorie and their Practice to the ends of Godlines and of mutuall edification through Love You may perceive then that I doe not negotiate for the decision of this or of that particular Opinion about which most men are so earnestly set either pro or contra for I leave all such Disputes as matters of indifferencie to me in regard of the scope of my Negotiation although I make them not matters of indifferencie in regard of their weight and in regard of my private judgement concerning them and insist only upon the Rules which all men that handle Controversies rationally or conscionably should follow as well in Theorie as in Practice to come at last unto the decision thereof In this state my Negotiation doth stand at this time with all parties and my aime is to meddle with you no further than to this purpose at this time Yet I never refuse chiefly if it be required at my hand or if otherwise I find it fit for edification to let my judgement be knowne concerning particulars of Doctrine or Practice which may be doubtfull but I stand not upon that as a matter of consequence in my Negotiation but rather doe it in obedience to the command of Peter c. 3.15 and leave my opinion to be judged by others according to the rules of decision of doubts whereupon we doe agree Nor must you imagine that I doe by this Negotiation seeke to prescribe Rules and Methods unto others as one that would have masterie over their understandings and perswade them to follow my directions but I endeavour to draw them to a Consultation about such matters that by an amiable Conference matters of this nature tending to regulate our thoughts and affections in the worke of Reconciliation may be beaten out and cleered that when we have found the rules of proceeding without disorder and confusion we may make use of them for the publique good and our mutuall edification and if you doe not disallow of this undertaking you may come in as a healer of the breaches and a repairer of the ruines of many Generations For all that I desire is to engage every one who is able to helpe to contribute assistance unto this worke of Reformation and because you seeme desirous to draw from me some helpe unto your private Case that others may be perswaded to use that Moderation towards you which you thinke is just you should enjoy therefore I am reciprocally desirous to draw from you some help towards the Publique that all may be perswaded to use that Moderation one towards another which you would obtaine from those of England towards your selfe and if you worke effectually for this and that according to Rules which no man can refuse I suppose in doing good to the Publique you will find the benefit immediately redound unto your selfe For if you study to doe all things by a Rule and can make others sensible that the Rule which you follow in your profession is the best and most perfect way of Peace and Edification amongst all you may be sure that you shall enjoy the liberty which your Rule yieldeth when others shall perceive the Righteousnesse thereof Let us then beat out the matter of Regulating our proceedings and ordering our Theorie and Practise towards Peace Truth and mutuall Edification in Godlines and we shall find in the end that our labours will not be in vaine in the Lord. For if we truly study to keep the unitie of the Spirit in the bond of Peace and if we doe the truth which we know in Love no doubt others will doe in like manner to us not only because our example will be a provocation and patterne unto them to walke as we doe but also and chiefly because they shal see that we do not walk at random or partially but by a Rule which is universall and will lead all men that will take it up unto the fruition of that happines which we aime at which is no more but the unblameable Libertie of the Sonnes of God in the Kingdome of their Father to serve him and declare the praises of his goodnesse towards us through Jesus Christ in the great Congregation This libertie of serving God according to his will and of speaking of his praises and of his goodnesse if we can shew how it should be used without partialitie and selfe-seeking according unto cleere and infallible Rules tending to the Edification of all men I say if we can shew to this Generation this Libertie what it is and how it should be used not to contradict and overthrow so much as to build up and gaine assent we shall enjoy our share thereof without opposition And because I am very confident hereof through Jesus Christ I make bold to provoke you unto this Meditation with me and will now leave you at this time to thinke upon the matter till the next occasion of writing wherein I purpose God willing to insist upon the second Head which I did propose unto my selfe in the beginning of this Discourse In the meane time let us pray one for another and for light towards all that are in errour and darknesse from the Father of lights To whose favour I commend you as Your Friend and Servant in Christ JOHN DVRY HAGVE 24 June 1642. 4 July 1642. Grace and Peace be multiplied unto you from God the Father and our Lord Iesus Christ Amen I Made a beginning on the 24. day of June last to write unto you concerning the things which you desired to know of me touching my Negotiation of Peace amongst Protestants then I did shew you first that my Aime was not to procure a bare Toleration betwixt Us and Lutherans but rather a Reall Profession of true Brotherhood Secondly that to procure this I had laid the Foundation of my Worke upon the Apostles Rule which is Phil. 3.15.16 Thirdly that to make use of this Apostolicall precept and apply it unto the present occasion of the Churches I had laboured to find out Three things First Rules whereby the Fundamentals of Faith and Practice might be determined Secondly Rules whereby Doubtfull Matters which are not Fundamentall may be reduced to their own Principles of Faith and Practice according to the Analogie whereof they should be decided Thirdly Rules of True and Demonstrative Scripturall Analysis whereby the sense of the word which is the last Judge of all Controversies may