Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	apostle_n	church_n	tradition_n	9,173	5	9.2350	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A27060	Two papers of proposals concerning the discipline and ceremonies of the Church of England humbly presented to His Majesty by the Reverend ministers of the Presbyterian perswasion.	Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.	1661 (1661)	Wing B1440; ESTC R201112	17,144	24

conceived they might reasonably be entreated to let them go for the saving of their Brethrens consciences and the Churches peace We are sure that a Christians conscience should be tender of adding to or diminishing from the matter of Gods Worship in the smallest point The Laws of God being herein the only perfect Rule Deut. 12.32 And that Synod infallibly guided by the Holy Ghost would lay upon the Churches no other burden but necessary things Act. 15.28 And that for things indifferent Christians should not despise or judge each other Rom. 14. Much less by silencing the able and faithful Ministers of the Gospel to punish the Flock even in their Souls for the tollerable differences and supposed mistakes of Ministers We doubt not but Peter and Paul went to Heaven without the Ceremonies in question And seeing your Majesty well expresseth it That the Universal Church cannot introduce one Ceremony in the worship of God that is contrary to Gods Word expressed in the Scriptures And multitudes of the Protestants at home and abroad do think that all Mystical Sacramental Rites of human● Institution are contrary to the very perfection of Gods Law and to Deut. 12.32 c. though the determination of meer circumstances necessary in 〈◊〉 be not so and therefore dare not use them for fear of the displeasure● of God the Universal Sovereign It must needs be an expression of your Majesties wisdome and tenderness of Gods honour and the safety of your peoples souls to refuse in things unnecessary to drive men upon apprehended sin and upon the wrath of God and the terrors of a condemned conscience 2. We beseech your Majesty to understand that it is not our meaning by the word Abolishing to crave a prohibition against your own and other mens liberty in the things in question But it is a full liberty we desire such as should be in unnecessary things and such as will tend to the concord of your people Viz. That there be no Law nor Canon for or against them commanding recommending or prohibiting them as now there is none for any particular gesture in singing of Psalms where liberty preserveth an uninterrupted Unity For the particular Ceremonies I. We humbly crave as to Kneeling in the Act of receiving the Lords Supper that your Majesty will declare a Liberty therein that none shall be troubled for receiving it standing or sitting And your Majesties Expressions upon Reasons best if not only known to our selves commands us to render some of our Reasons 1. We are sure Christ and his Apostles sinned not by not receiving it kneeling and many are sure that by kneeling they should not sin And therefore for the better security though not for absolute necessity we crave leave to take the safest side 2. We are sure that Kneeling in any Adoration at all in any Worship on any Lords day in the year or any Week day between Easter and Penticost was not only dis-used but forbidden by General Councils as Concil Nicen. 1 〈◊〉 20. Concil Trull c. and disclaimed by Ancient Writer● and this as a general uncontrolled Tradition and therefore that Kneeling in the Act of Receiving is a Novelty contrary to the Decrees and practice of the Church for many hundred years after the Apostles And if we part with the venerable Examples of all Antiquity where it agrees with Scripture and that for nothing we shall depart from the Terms which most Moderators think necessary for the reconciling of the Churches and Novelty is a Dishonor to any part of Religion And if Antiquity be honorable the most ancient and nearest the Legislation and Fountain must be most honorable and it is not safe to intimate a Charge of Unreverence upon all the Apostles and primitive Christians and the universal Church for so many hundred years together of its purest time 3. Though our meaning be good it is not good to shew a needless countenance of the practice of Adoring the Bread as God when it is used by Papists round about us Sayth Bishop Hall in his Life p. 20. I had a dangerous Conflict with a Sorbonist who took occasion by our kneeling at the receit of the Eucharist to perswade all the company of our Acknowledgment of a Transubstantiation 4. Some of us that could rather kneel than be deprived of the Communion should yet suffer much before we durst put all others from the Communion that durst not take it kneeling which therefore we crave that we may not be put upon II. We humbly crave also that the Religious observation of Holy daies of humane Institution may be declared to be left indifferent that none be troubled for not observing them III. We humbly tender your Majesty our thanks for your gracious Concession of liberty as to the Cross and Surplice and bowing at the Name Jesus rather than Christ or God But we further humbly beseech your Majesty 1. That this liberty in forbearing the Surplice may extend to Colledges and Cathedrals also that it drive not thence all those that scruple it and make those places receptive only for a party And that the Youth of the Nation may have just liberty as well as the Elder If they be ingaged in the Universities and their Liberties there cut off in their beginning they cannot afterwards be free and many hopeful persons will be else diverted from the Service of the Church 2. That your Majestie will endeavour the repealing of all Laws and Canons by which these Ceremonies are imposed that they may be left at full Liberty We also tender our thanks to your Majestie for your gracious Concession of the forbearance of the Subscription required by the Canon But 1. We humbly acquaint your Majestie that we do not dissent from the Doctrine of the Church of England expressed in the Articles and Homilies but it is the controverted passages about Government Liturgie and Ceremonies and some by-passages and phrases in the Doctrinal part which are scrupled by those whose liberty is desired Not that we are against subscribing the proper Rule of our Religion or any meet Confession of Faith Nor do we scruple the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy Nor would we have the door left open for Papists and Hereticks to come in 2. We take the boldness to say that since we have had the promises of your gracious indulgence herein and upon divers Addresses to your Majestie and the Lord Chancellor had comfortable encouragement to expect our Liberty yet cannot Ministers procure Institution without renouncing their Ordination by Presbyters or being re-ordained nor without Subscription and the Oath of Canonical Obedience 3. We must observe with fear and grief that your Majesties Indulgence and Concession of Liberty in this Declaration extendeth not either to the abatement of Re-ordination or of Subscription at Ordination or the Oath of Obedience to the Bishops We therefore humbly and earnestly crave that your Majesty will declare your pleasure 1. That Ordination and Institution and Induction may be conferred without the said Subscription or Oath 2. That none be urged to be re-ordained or denied Institution for want of Ordination by Prelates that was ordained by Presbyters 3. That none be judged to have forfeited his Presentation or Benefice or be deprived of it for not reading those Articles of the 39. that contain the controverted points of Government and Ceremonies Lastly We humbly crave that your Majestie would not onely grant us this liberty till the next Synod but will endeavour that the Synod be impartially chosen and that your Majestie will be pleased to endavour the procurement of such Laws as shall be necessary for our security till the Synod and for the ratification of moderate healing Conclusions afterward And that nothing by meer Canon be imposed on us without such Statute-Laws of Parliament These favours which will be injurious to none if your people may obtain of your Majestie it will revive their hearts to daily and earnest Prayer for your prosperity and to rejoyce in the thankfull acknowledgement of that gracious providence of Heaven that hath blessed us in your Restauration and put it into your heart to heal our breaches and to have compassion on the faithful people in your Dominions who do not petition you for liberty to be Schismatical Factious Seditious or abusive to any but onely for leave to obey the Lord that Created and Redeemed them according to that Law by which they must all be shortly judged to everlasting Joy or Misery and it will excite them to and unite them in the cheerful service of your Majesty with their Estates and lives and to transmit your deserved Praise to Posterity FINIS