Selected quad for the lemma: sense_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
sense_n	doctrine_n	scripture_n	word_n	5,154	5	4.5887	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96893	Inquiries into the causes of our miseries, whence they issue-forth upon us: and reasons wherefore they have born us down so low; and are like to carrie us yet lower. The Independents and the way of worship, they stand-up for, is renderd clear of this grievous charge... This charge is drawn-up against the Independents, by three worthies, men, I think, of name, all (I) D.P.P.W. Pryn Esquire; but more fully and with more devouring words, if more can be, by Dr. A. Steuart in his last book... In six sections. Whereof the first onely is here; a just vindication of the way of worship very commonly misunderstood; very falsly interpreted; but very truly called Independent... By Hez. Woodward.; Inquiries, into the causes of our miseries. Part 1.	Woodward, Ezekias, 1590-1675.	1644 (1644)	Wing W3491; Thomason E22_1; ESTC R21697	22,269	25

too upon men though they put no great trust there neither stay nor staffe God knows yet dependent upon man for his advice and counsell And accountable for their actions unto men also who shall in the name of Christ require an account of them or of their repentance and faith towards God They will Appeal to men also that is the great question so be they will Appeal to the Scriptures thereunto is their great Appeal to the Rule and Judge there So Dependent these men are whom we call I would we had a fitter name sith it is so ill understood and construed but sure we have not a fitter name then Independant for herein they are content and desire rather to be accounted and called by that name because they have concluded from their Lords own mouth and from the practise of His Disciples in the best times purely primative That every particular Congregation hath from Christ absolute power to exercise of and in it selfe every Ordinance of God No Dependencie in Government or direction in worship from any other than from Christ their Lord and Law-giver made unto His Church their wisdome their righteousnesse their Justification and their Glory Sir There are the premises Now marke what these three men infer how they draw-up rheir charge from hence 1 Ergo These Independents are the prime and chiefe causes of our plagues and miseries sayes the first scribe 2 Ergo These Independents are the Seminary of c. and open a floud-gate to all c. saith the Lawyer this once and I thinke never but this once cleane besides the case doubtlesse God has forgiven him so have his good brethren too 3 Ergo Those Independents are as abominable as were Altars High-places the Brazen serpent when made an Idol so abominable are these men and to be dealt with by the Rulers hands as those Dunghill gods were dealt withall when they were throwne-out as an abomination and accursed things so these men should be dealt withall sayes the Doctor and so concludes And yet has set downe no premises taken out of the Word of God whence he concludes so though by his conclusion he has rendred the brethren the most odious men and abominable that are in the world the causes of all the miseries and distractions here Well let him go on so will I and by the grace of Almighty God I will contest against this conclusion with all the power God will be pleased to vouchsafe unto me And though I shall conclude nothing yet I shall make such inqairies into our miseries the causes thereof as that these inquiries onely shall serve to make a full discovery to all the world touching those matters and with the same labour I shall render the Independents and the way of worship I have not called it their way or mans way as white from those blacks cast upon them and the way as is the cloath that hath gone through seven la●ers I shall have free leave for this sure a licence I meane to enquire what may be the cause of our woes and sighes That every one may put it to question in his own heart set-up the Inquisition court there and so resolve the Question But this is the subject matter of the Third Section Here Sir I have given forth the premises touching the Independents and their Doctrines as the good word of God gives-themforth to me and I have set down the Conclusion which three men one after another as if all had one and the same Spirit have drawn from premises of their own deducible neither from Scripture nor from Reason no nor from sense neither unlesse their own and that darkened with prejudice all along Surely the man that has so much Logick should not have so done I suppose the other two have as my selfe and other men have very little or none at all in comparison with him But he should not have so concluded against his brethren That they are as plagues and pests in Judah Land even as were Altars High-places the vilest Idols there And yet has set downe no premises and so forth as aforesaid It is replyed A That the two brethren plead for a Toleration And that pleading carries more danger in it to Church and State than does the pleading for the Service-Booke Arch-Bishops and Bishops Altars and Organs Crosses and Crucifixes that these may stand in their full force power and vertue And from hence the Doctor has so concluded against his Brethren for the casting-of them all forth B. I Answer and grant That the two Brethren doe plead for a Toleration not of all Religions sure no nor of any which withdraws from God surely no sober man can plead for such a Religion They plead for a Toleration of that Religion or way of worship which they are perswaded in their soule drawes-neerest to God And for Toleration of these men amongst us who have ever lived peaceably with us have spoken good things for us before the Throne of God whose Doctrines have come-up fully to the good word of God and their conversation also as becommeth the Gospel Now God forbid that any rough-hand should be put-forth against these men Yea God forgive our hard words and unchristian thoughts that way A. But surely many whom we call and they call themselves Independent do think themselves exempt from all Laws except that law which rules in their members And think as the Nimrods and Giants of the world do think themselves accountable for their Actions to none but God B. It were well if they could bethink themselves seriously That they are accountable to God but so they do not think But this I know That many walk disorderly loose from their God the Gospel and way of His worship But if there be any who understand Independency so let them be as odious and abominable in mans eye as the Giants and Nimrods of the world mightie hunters before the Lord are in Gods eye and let all men come out against them as they should do against such mighty oppressors To thrust them out of the Land Now let us hear also what is commonly said A. That more have fallen off from that way we call Independent walking their own way following their own fancies than from the other way of Church Government We know not how many have gone-out from us unto them been received there and then have turned away from them again unto abominable wayes of errors not to be remembred here I answer B. This may be and yet the way good and Holy yea an Argument all this of the goodnesse and Holinesse of the way because so many have turned to it and then quickly away from it They went-out from us but they were not of us saies the Apostle And lightly come lightly gone saies the Proverbe These entred upon the way without due consideration upon very light motions before they weighed and pondered their own way or the way they were entring upon And so they are like a ship

I went in obedience thereunto craving a licence though I think it my due and ought to be given me but could not obtain it The truth is If the Book bear Independent upon its front and be thought to speak for that way which God Himself will cleer and justifie before all the world it is silenced before it speaks And so is dealt more injuriously with than have been the greatest offenders in the world for they have had leave to speak for themselves in all ages of the world upwards to as it is at this day It is replyed That writing for this way of Church Government does but hinder our course in the way of Reformation making the Divisions greater and the Rent wider I answer If I were perswaded so I would rather put my hand in fire then unto paper But I am perswaded in my heart clean otherwise and by the grace of God shall be able to make it appear in the sequell all along It is said agen These are my thoughts that this scrible will do no hurt will not make the rent wider my Judgement onely I answer not mine onely I have asked advise about it enquired seriously into the matter and why should I be ashamed to say more I have given up my judgement unto the Lord and I have this answer from him and assistance from his right hand so guiding mine That I shall so I hope and am confident speak nothing which shall dishonour his holy holy holy name nor his cause nor his people the congregations of God I have a sober confidence that I have licence from Gods hand and shall keep close to the word of his mouth and therefore sith I could not have a licence from man I can be carelesse of it That it may not be said I am ashamed of my name for indeed I am not being it was a very good mans name which yet I know cannot make the man the better I have for commanding reasons affixed my name though very unwilling to appear so openly as I was most willing to do with a Licenced But the want of it can be no shame to me some little blame rather to him who would not give it me having no time to enquire into the papers as some too superstitiously perhaps but their superstition teacheth were wont to do to enquire into a paper which lay as low as their foot before they would put their foot upon it with neglect lest the name of their God or something of God should be there Certainly the Name of God is here and I will not doubt to say again I have His Licence to print it But the great stop was because this answering is like to cause answer upon answer I answer God knows that and will turn all to good I am a free man and may take my liberty not standing charged as servants do not to answer again And indeed I cannot conceive what they can answer unlesse as some did who had spoke roughly enough and being modestly reproved for being so rough answered as roughly that sith their hand was in they were resolved to put it forth again as roughly as ever As pleaseth men let it be but if I am honoured with any answer from a Doctor for the other that learned and excellent man I hope his apprehensions are more digested now and he has repented of them that they were indeed subitan but for the Doctor I hope he will learn at length to reprove his Brother modestly and meekly and then I shall accept his reproof with all thankfulnesse but if any roughnesse appear as it hath to others which I must rather expect his reproof will do me no good I shall sleight it sure putting it to some privy shame or open reproof And so much touching licencing books and my want in that particular And so I come to that my soul does more desire to give you satisfaction in according to the Scriptures of God and to unfold your understanding First touching the true sense and meaning of these words Dependent and Independent as I find them legible and explained through the Doctrines and Conversations of those men amongst us called by that name Briefly now and as is best fitting this place Dependent is a learing upon the Lord Christ the onely Beloved of the soul upon His hand for strength upon His mouth for Direction It is a setting-up the Lord Christ as King yea it is the advancing of the Lord Christ in all His offices King Prophet and Priest to in and over His Church the souls and spirits of men It is a cleaving of the soul to Christ a closing of the heart with Him saying Thou Lord art my Righteousnesse and my strength and my wisdome and my glory and my crown of rejoycing This is to be Dependant when our Lord Christ who is All to the soul has all its Dependence And this is to give the Lord God His due the glory of all His attributes specially these two the glory of His power and of His wisdome And to the Lord Christ King of Saints His dues the glory of all His offices anointed of the Father King Prophet and Priest of His Church And hence I issued my thoughts and thus concluded That the people no matter whether many or few poore or rich learned or unlearned Master or Disciple that the people we call Independants are the most Dependent persons in the world This is the sum I shall return to this again Now to the other word 2 Independant What is that I le tell you what it is in the judge●ent of they say as good a Logician as is in England now he is here I le name him for honour sake Doctor Adam Steuart adding onely this the Lord adde to His Logick that one thing necessiry which one man cals Baptized Reason He and we mean sanctified by the Word and prayer in the Holy Ghost and then he will be good indeed Pag. ●8 This man saies A That Independent is a proud and abominable word proper to God Almighty B It is granted so to be as He consters the word and in vulgar construction also as we silly men understand it too that to be Independent is to be as an Island cut off from other Land to live as men turned-in-upon themselves regarding themselves bearing fruit to themselves as an empty vine to Nemini fructuosa Hos 10. 1. do as they list speak as they please to hold out and maintain what Doctrines agree best with flesh and blood and to spread them abroad before Israel and before the Sun under the very look of the Magistrate What has he to do with them Be they Jews or Gentiles Turks or Infidels Atheists or Papists be what they will be as abominable as they are rendred to be or as we can conceive them to be why yet it is their conscience so to be and what hath the Magistrate to do there or with them So Dr. Adam Steuart forceth matters against these