Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	authority_n	church_n	primitive_a	2,508	5	9.0550	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41883	The great case of toleration stated and endeavoured to be resolved in order to publick security and peace.		1688 (1688)	Wing G1673; ESTC R32459	8,058	14

THE Great Case OF TOLERATION Stated And endeavoured to be resolved in order to Publick Security and Peace With Allowance LONDON Printed and Sold by Andrew Swole at the Three Keys in Nags-Head-Court in Grace-Church-Street over-against the Conduit 1688. THE Great Case OF TOLERATION Stated And endeavoured to be resolved in order to publick Security and Peace Three things are to be considered on this Subject First Whether Toleration be consistant with the very nature and design of Christian Religion Secondly Whether it be reconcileable to the best Rules of Government and Policy Thirdly Whether it stands with our safety in the present Conjuncture and posture of Affirs And if all these can be made good in the Affirmative I know not what can be more desired and why it is not seasonable to be Established and made Perpetual TO the first Point If there is some reallity mixt with so much profession and talk of Religion as is now in the World If there is indeed a design of Gods Glory and the Pleas of Conscience are not fictitious and pretended let Man but consider the nature of his Government over the World which is to be glorified in afree and voluntary Obedience of his Rational Creatures and such is to be pure not forced and nothing besides his own Command an inducement to it How doth he disclaim it by the Prophet Isa 29.13 When their Fear towards me is taught by the Precepts of Men. How well this place agrees with that Compulsion to the Sacrament or such a Communion let any one judge that will not pervert the mind of Scripture and the nature of true Obedience Chrisostom brings us an Argument why Men should be perswaded Cited by Dr Hammon of Death-Bed Repenance Sect. 35. not forced to Reformation of any Fault or Error because God rewards not those that upon necessity abstain from Evil but only those that voluntary do it If a Mans Servant would not do such a thing barely upon his own Masters Command but another Person must first compel him then he doth it What honour will it be to him or will he care for such Service Doth God want the aid of Man to make others Obedient unto him surely not nay it cannot be done by outward Violence one hereby may be brought like a Beast to the Sacrifice but still there is nothing of the subjection of the Mind God values not hypocritical Services or a meer external submission he may be as well glorified in having Bullocks or Goats for they become subject unto the utmost even to Death but if Man who can give if he requires an Offering of a free Heart which is only in his own power not to be exerted by any human Authority for this cannot reach so far and if it could yet it coming from that would not be accepted I might multiply many Texts but what would they all signifie for there is a common custom through the proud and disdainful Ignorance but yet Cunning of Men to slight over what they cannot Answer they are so presumptuous as to put off all means from the Word of the all-wise God for Foolish and Canting which make against their own corrupt doings though themselves will make use of them to maintain their own Interest and Humour against a different Perswasion to such all these kind of Arguments signifie nothing and truly no more need to be added seeing so many are brought to this purpose by Dr. Taylor in his Liberty of Prophesie that even all those that have the Reputation for so much Learning Reason cannot give a perfect and satisfactory Answer to them they have been and are now challenged to do it for the Opponant is worthy their contending with and it would be for their secular Advantage to keep up the Grandure and State of their Communion and also their own Honour and undoubtedly it had been done long since if possible but that excellent Author argees so conclusively from Scripture Reason Primitive Authority as is a demonstration it was the very Truth he contended for which he made further clear Some object That of Church Censures in the Primitive Times but there was a great and manifest diversity between them and what was lately used amongst us for they were inflected on gross Hereticks and they are only so on whom the Apostle speaks Tit. 3.10 11. And besides for scandalous Sins the Incestuous Person Adulterers Drunkards and such like and not for little Errors or difference in Judgment as just the contrary hath been used among us that even it was a shame for Men to act such Severities towards Men likewise much less should Christians every one that hath but the common goodness resentment of human Nature must abhor them they did most stir up whose duty it was in meekness to instruct Opposers and hereby they gave occasion to indifferent and considering Persons to think though they might have waved this as if they wanted Arguments to convince for there is also ratio ultima Cleri who should teach Mercifulness Love Forbarance Meekness they did practice the contrary as if what so many do make their Craft was in danger to be set at naught as they had run so far from the Practice and Experience of former times whether that of Ezekiel 34.4 The Diseased have ye not Strengthened neither have ye healed that which was Sick neither have ye bound up that which was broken neither have ye brought again that which was driven away neither have ye sought that which was lost but with Force and with Cruelty have ye ruled them hath not been fulfilled in these latter Days let any one seriously reflect and the true cause of all our Divisions Sects and Parties may not be learned from what is said in this Chapter There might be many other things urged but they have been already in Books and there is no need of further Printing where it s granted by all unprejudiced uninterested Men by those who 〈◊〉 discern any thing of themselves and are not led by the Nose by them who meet for their Pride and Profit more then for the Truths sake as may be considered because they will not comply with what they seem to teach with obedience to the Truth that they who are appointed Officers of Christs Kingdom will not consent it should be so as he himself hath ordained it he could have commanded twelve Legions of Angels planted his Religion as the Imposter Mahomet did by the Sword but he used none but that of his Mouth no more did any of the first Founders thereof and the same Word is conveyed down to us which is able to keep the Fear and Worship of God in the Hearts of Men if managed aright without aid from the civil Authority Where the Rulers were Heathen and set against him he did make good his Dominion over Men by Miracles and an extrordinary Power and Assistance but now they are Christian they are to give God the things that are Gods a