Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n
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A80419
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Religion and reason united. By A lover of his country.
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Coole, Benjamin, d. 1717.
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1699
(1699)
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Wing C6047A; ESTC R171515
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17,768
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61
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Civil Magistrate to make that the Creed of all Perswasions which all Perswasions agree is Sacred and of Divine Authority to wit the Holy Scriptures And where any Difference shall arise about the Interpretation thereof the Civil Authority should Interpose to Oblige all Parties to Vnite in Interest viz. the Peace and Prosperity of the Nation if he could not Oblige them to Unite in Charity the Christian and Religious Bottom The First the Magistrate hath Power to command The Latter if we are true Christians cannot be denied But where either Party which is uppermost for the Wheel goes round shall exercise their Power first to exalt themselves in Honour and Wealth upon the Credit of Religion and secondly abuse that Power to make Traps for their Neighbours by cramming Creeds down their Throats which cannot be understood by them and which the others have no Authority from Holy Scripture to impose Most certain it is As it is to turn Persecutors for Religion when Religion it self forbids it and is in it self both Unreasonable and Irreligious so it is of that Provoking Nature that will inevitably draw down God's Righteous Judgments to the Desolation of that Kingdom or Common-Wealth where such Methods are taken and finally prove the overthrow of that Church which promotes such a Work But without looking for a Stroke from the Hand of Heaven 't is no good Policy since 't is the first Foundation to Schism For had not the Church of Rome imposed more than she had Authority from Holy Scripture for the Protestants could have had no reasonable Colour for their Revolt but the first is true and so is the last Again had the Church of England imposed no more than the Holy Scripture had warranted Her in Matters of Faith nor any Discipline but what might reasonably be Collected from them Nor any other Practices by her Clergy than what was Honest Just and of Good Report as becomes Ministers of Jesus Christ the Dissenters Separation had been a Ridiculous Thing Whereas it appears now to be so Grounded that the Strength of the Church is not able to Convince nor Confute them In short if the 39 Articles were not half so many as they are and more clear than some of them appear to be And if the Creed commonly called Athanasius's were reduced to that of the Apostle's or Nicene-Creed which as they are less Perplexing so they are as Substantial and would engage more to unite in the Truth thereof who are now too often rather Stumbled than Excited to be Religious It would tend more to Peace if not Unity Again if the Presbyterians Assembly of Divinity had not made such a horrid Blunder in their Westminster Confession of Faith as they did by Asserting such and such Principles for Orthodox with pretended Authority from Holy Scripture which upon Examination no more answered their design than the first of Job proves the Divinity of Christ they might at that time have enlarged their Dominion and like the Jews made Proselytes of the Covenant in abundance But wherâ— People see first an Arbitrary Power to impose and secondly so much weakness in their Proofs no marvel if they were left also as they left others Nor had the Synod of Dort any better success especially in Holland where the Remedy prov'd worse than the Disease Nor was England free from the dire Effects thereof But as W. P's Address to Protestants pag. 62 and 63. saith The mournfullest part of that History is the ill Usage the Bishop oâ— Landaff and others had who werâ— acknowledged to be sound in the Faith of those Times viz. the Calvenist yet if at any time they appeared Moderate in Behaviour and Gentle in their Words desiring rather an Accommodation with the Remonstrators than to encrease the Difference to the Prejudice of Religion in general Gomarus and his Followers not observing the Rules of Debate in so grave an Assembly fell foul of the Bishop c. Reproaching their Tenderness and insinuating the Charge of Treachery c. against those more Vertuous but less Bitter and Stingy Persons than themselves But without Raking in the Ruins of time 't is evident that the several Councils Convocations Synods c. that have been called to settle Articles of Faith have rarely avoided Exercising such a Dogmatical Power to the straining the Principles of Religion beyond not only the Line of Holy Scripture but the Staple of Reason and common Sense And therefore no wonder if the World be filled with Schisms In days of old the Ancient Land-Marks were not to be removed without a severe Penalty and most certain it is neither wider nor streighteâ— must we set them than the Holy Meâ— of old did unless by the same Authority they had And how that was thâ— Holy Scripture plainly demonstrates And until That be our general Creeâ— without far-fetch'd Consequences wâ— cannot reasonably expect to be freâ— from the trouble that attends whaâ— is called Schism and where that is Persecution commonly follows foâ— Non-conformity though it be but tâ— an Image and not the true God Anâ— what a Prejudice that is to the State to be torn in pieces by Factions woful Experience hath taught us This with the Immorality and Ambition oâ— the Clergy in King James the First Time laid the Foundation for thâ— Ruin of his Son and with him Threâ— Kingdoms according to F. O. in hâ— Observations on K. J's Reign Ouâ— Divines saith he for the generality did Sacrifice more to Bacchus than Minerva Again nor did the notorious Debauchery of the Episcopal Clergy add a little to the Rent made by those called Puritans Nor did the sudden Translations of Bishops from less to greater Fees give time to visit sufficiently their respective Charges being more intent upon the Receipt of such Taxes as a long abused Custom had Estated them in than upon Reformation For from the Pulpit came all our future Miseries God not being served there as he ought c. I take the more notice of this because himself was no favourer of Puritanism but of the other side For the Security therefore of the Government Ease of the Magistrate and Peace of the People Creeds not to be found in Holy Scripture and an Ambitious and Immoral Clergy by the common Voice of Mankind should be totally Rejected Which leads me to my Fourth Proposition viz. That Liberty of Conscience is every Man's Birth-right 4thly By Liberty of Conscience is not meant a Liberty to Licentiousness for no Man that is Compos Mentis will pretend Matter of Conscience to commit Wickedness But by Liberty of Conscience I mean for every Man to go to what place he please to worship God in that way he is persuaded is the Right Way and to hear that Preacher that he likes best As for Instance I cannot see any Prejudice to the State to Indulge the Jews in the Exercise of their Religion which of all Perswasions has the least Reason to desire or expect it yet we find our
take notice 1. That acknowledgments to unquestionable Truths such as calling him Lord that is the unquestionable Lord and God and praying to him as the only Lord and Saviour doth not entitle Men to the Kingdom 2. But doing the Will of God is not only prefer'd to the acknowledgment of him as Lord but made the only Condition upon which admittance into the Kingdom is granted And in the next verse he adds For many saith he will say to me have we not Prophesied in thy Name and cast out Devils and done mighty Works Perhaps Built Churches Hospitals c. in thy Name c. All which was not done by Infidels but by them whose Judgments and understandings as well as Opinions were strong concerning the verity of his Authority yet for all this Knowledge and Profession and at some times Enjoyment Depart from me c. was the Sentence grounded upon their evil works for tho' they knew much and professed much and enjoyed much too yet they were unholy hearers and not doers knowers of his Will but doers of their own and therefore shut out of the Kingdom Thus much from Christ himself in Vindication of the First Proposition Next let us hear what His Apostle as well as the Gentiles saith to the matter in hand see 1 Cor. 13. where he tells of Gifts as Prophesies Tongues Knowledge of all Mysteries Hospitality towards the Poor and Faith to Remove Mountains yea to lay down Life for Opinions sake yet all this he saith without Charity or Divine Love is but an empty Sound c. I hope my Authority is so far Unquestionable that I need seek for no farther Proof for my Assertion viz. That 't is not Opinion but Holiness was and is the design of Religion for without it Religion is no more than a Body without Breath or Spirit which will soon Putrifie to the anoyance of all that are near it Now if Holiness of Life was the universal Creed of all the Christian World and the Hearts and Heads of Men were as much taken up with thinking how they might Practise it as their Hearts and Heads are full of Matters of far less Moment I will not say what though all the Presses in Europe has been filled with it as well as many Goals crowded Goods spoiled and Lives lost about it it would be a happy day for us But that I may be plainly understood I add that by Holiness I mean such a Strict Aweful and Circumspect Life as with Detestation and Abhorrence shuns those Paths that leads to the Breach of Negative Precepts as well as with fervency of Spirit suitable to the Nobility of the cause is Studious to approve it self in the Performance of what is enjoyed to be done by the same Authority the other as above is forbidden and in short is no other than a Life conformed to the Will of God And that this is the great Design of Religion is reasonable to believe both from Reason it self Scripture and Divine Inspiration and he that so lives deserves the Protection of all Civil Governments being the best of Subjects for he never gives the Magistrate trouble Since he that bears the Sword is for a Praise to them that do well and is only a Terror to Evil Doers which such a Man is not From what hath hitherto been said these Considerations will naturally follow First That he that made us Holy and Good at first and put us in a Capacity so to continue and sent his Son to break our Bonds by his Death desires that out of our Laps'd State we may be Restored to Live in a perfect Union and Fellowship with him again to all Eternity Ezek. 18.32 and 33.11 Rom. 5.18 19. 1 Tim. 1.15 and 2.3 4 5 6. Titus 2.14 1 John 3.7 Secondly Nevertheless without doing his Will 't is impossible to injoy that Union and Peace c. Mat. 7.21 22. Thirdly That his Will is our Sanctification or Holiness Luke 1.74 75. 1 Thess 3.13 and 4.3 Rom. 6.19 22. 2 Cor. 7.1 Fourthly That he which hath ordained the End hath also provided the means Deut. 18.15 Ezek. 18.32 1 Tim. 1.15 Fifthly That that means is Primarily the Second Adam or Lord from Heaven by whom the universal Gift of Grace is bestowed on all Men prejudiced by the Fall of the First Adam Secondarily by the Holy Scripture and a Spiritual Ministry c. Rom. 5.18 19. Tit. 2.11 Ephes 4.11 12. Sixthly and Lastly This Gift so universally given is Grace for Grace Light for Light Spirit for Spirit to Spirit or Quicken us to Holiness and is as much the Common Privilege of all Men as all Men were damaged by Adam's Fall Luke 2.27 28 29 30 31 32. John 1.9 16. 1 Cor. 12.7 And if so there is no Reason for the Church of Rome or any other Church to impose Articles of Faith on others or Monopolize Religion or Truth to themselves since he that Lives conformable to this Gift is a Member of that Church that Jesus Christ is Head of And he that hath Faith herein hath the True Faith mentioned in the 10th of the Hebrews and is that Faith delivered to the Saints for which they are to contend but not Fight nor Persecute since the way of their contending for it was by Argument and Suffering and not Persecution according as the Apostle saith Gal. 5.14 The fulfilling of the whole Law is in Loving our Neighbour as our selves And vers 6. saith Circumcision nor Vncircumcision availeth nothing but Faith that worketh by Love But Creed making Works not by Love but Strife and Envy and is almost always followed by Persecution therefore not of the true Faith tho' made up of never so true words but is a Fruit of the Flesh vers 19 20 21. and such Persecute those Born of the Spirit Gal. 4.29 In short that Faith which works by Love is the Immediate Gift of God that enables Man wholly to trust or depend without any manner of doubt with respect to his Body as well as Soul on the Invisible God but such an intire Trust and Depending cannot be where Purity of Heart is not And a Thousand Articles of Faith will not make one Heart clean it being made so only by that Spirit or Gift abovesaid So that he which hath the true Faith is not without the true Love for they are inseparable which worketh like Leaven every Man into Humility Patience and all other Vertues and against such there is no legal Law But to bring forth contrary Fruit such as Immorality Ambition Envy Wrath Persecution c. as it is no part of the Christian Religion so it is very unreasonable to number any such among the Religious Thus I hope I have made it plainly appear That 't is not Opinion but Holiness that answers the design of Religion 2dly That the Principles which leads to Holiness are few plain and reasonable and consequently all that are not so or from unquestionable Authority such as is the Holy Scripture