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spirit_n holy_a life_n spiritual_a 5,497 5 6.0927 4 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A37430 A Letter to a member of Parliament, shewing the necessity of regulating the press chiefly from the necessity of publick establishments in religion, from the rights and immunities of a national church, and the trust reposed in the Christian magistrate to protect and defend them : with a particular answer to the objections that of late have been advanced against it. Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731. 1699 (1699) Wing D837; ESTC R4998 24,778 72

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to_o maintain_v and_o cultivate_v the_o purity_n of_o its_o faith_n and_o worship_n against_o all_o the_o attempt_v of_o its_o enemy_n if_o any_o thing_n be_v unsound_a and_o deficient_a god_n have_v invest_v a_o power_n of_o use_v such_o proper_a mean_n in_o the_o governor_n of_o his_o church_n and_o the_o believe_a magistrate_n as_o under_o his_o divine_a protection_n will_v secure_v a_o true_a and_o orthodox_n religion_n but_o if_o nothing_o of_o this_o nature_n can_v be_v true_o charge_v upon_o she_o when_o endeavour_n have_v be_v make_v in_o this_o kind_n though_o there_o may_v be_v no_o foundation_n by_o violence_n and_o force_n to_o compel_v man_n to_o be_v of_o one_o mind_n and_o one_o heart_n yet_o the_o magistrate_n be_v of_o right_n as_o well_o as_o duty_n bind_v not_o to_o suffer_v her_o peace_n to_o be_v disturb_v or_o her_o faith_n and_o worship_n shake_v by_o public_a harangue_n and_o profess_a declamation_n this_o be_v no_o persecution_n but_o a_o necessary_a 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village_n and_o territory_n where_o a_o temporal_a magistrate_n be_v likewise_o place_v as_o the_o metropolis_n of_o every_o province_n have_v its_o proconsul_n in_o the_o state_n so_o it_o have_v its_o archbishop_n or_o metropolitan_a in_o the_o church_n and_o when_o the_o government_n of_o patriarch_n prevail_v it_o be_v form_v after_o the_o same_o model_n either_o in_o imitation_n of_o the_o vicar_n or_o lieutenant_n that_o preside_v over_o a_o diocese_n compose_v of_o several_a province_n or_o at_o least_o in_o imitation_n of_o the_o praetorian_a prefect_n that_o have_v several_a diocese_n under_o their_o jurisdiction_n upon_o the_o whole_a then_o as_o we_o be_v assure_v that_o the_o form_v a_o government_n in_o the_o church_n after_o the_o model_n of_o that_o of_o the_o state_n be_v by_o apostolical_a institution_n so_o we_o may_v just_o conclude_v that_o it_o be_v by_o the_o special_a direction_n of_o the_o holy_a spirit_n and_o no_o doubt_n the_o great_a design_n be_v to_o 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finful_a it_o be_v a_o high_a piece_n of_o injustice_n to_o destroy_v or_o infringe_v any_o of_o its_o establish_v right_n or_o immunity_n but_o yet_o since_o the_o magistrate_n be_v only_o the_o guardian_n not_o the_o founder_n of_o a_o national_a church_n its_o original_a authority_n rest_v on_o certain_a positive_a law_n and_o sanction_n enjoin_v by_o a_o power_n superior_a to_o that_o of_o the_o magistrate_n even_o that_o of_o god_n himself_o wherever_o a_o church_n in_o any_o province_n or_o nation_n profess_v the_o true_a religion_n by_o a_o orthodox_n faith_n and_o a_o pure_a worship_n under_o lawful_a church_n governor_n and_o pastor_n that_o be_v the_o true_a national_a church_n in_o opposition_n to_o all_o dissent_v sect_n and_o party_n though_o it_o want_v the_o authority_n of_o a_o civil_a establishment_n but_o to_o return_v from_o hence_o we_o may_v easy_o determine_v the_o merit_n of_o the_o question_n in_o debate_n i_o mean_v when_o there_o be_v two_o or_o more_o sect_n 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christ_n church_n or_o the_o true_a religion_n be_v not_o a_o
empty_a name_n but_o carry_v very_o momentous_a office_n and_o duty_n in_o it_o it_o imply_v a_o zeal_n for_o the_o honour_n of_o god_n and_o the_o true_a religion_n and_o consequent_o it_o engage_v the_o magistrate_n to_o study_v such_o wholesome_a provision_n as_o will_v advance_v the_o end_n and_o interest_n of_o it_o to_o the_o utmost_a boundary_n of_o his_o dominion_n and_o those_o that_o thus_o wait_v for_o christ_n shall_v not_o be_v ashamed_a isai._n 49._o v_o 23._o and_o now_o sir_n i_o hope_v i_o have_v prepare_v you_o for_o the_o main_a argument_n you_o propose_v by_o inform_v you_o how_o the_o magistrate_n be_v determine_v for_o the_o interest_n of_o religion_n and_o particular_o those_o of_o this_o national_a church_n sect_n vi_o i_o shall_v proceed_v to_o consider_v whether_o the_o restraint_n of_o the_o press_n be_v not_o a_o necessary_a provision_n not_o only_o to_o advance_v the_o interest_n of_o the_o true_a religion_n but_o to_o preserve_v and_o maintain_v the_o end_n and_o design_n of_o it_o as_o profess_v in_o a_o national_a church_n and_o this_o will_v appear_v from_o the_o necessity_n of_o a_o public_a establishment_n in_o religion_n and_o the_o pernicious_a influence_n which_o the_o liberty_n of_o the_o press_n have_v upon_o it_o it_o be_v already_o conclude_v that_o god_n have_v institute_v a_o govern_v power_n in_o the_o christian_a church_n and_o the_o accommodate_v it_o to_o the_o district_v of_o the_o state_n and_o the_o constitute_v the_o civil_a magistrate_n a_o guardian_n and_o protector_n of_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n be_v at_o least_o a_o sufficient_a warrant_n of_o the_o lawfulness_n of_o a_o public_a establishment_n if_o not_o a_o indication_n of_o its_o necessity_n indeed_o since_o there_o be_v govern_v power_n in_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n we_o must_v conclude_v that_o god_n foresee_v a_o great_a many_o difficulty_n and_o miscarriage_n under_o the_o great_a revolution_n and_o emergency_n of_o human_a affair_n which_o he_o have_v authorize_v they_o to_o adjust_a correct_v and_o remove_v and_o this_o will_v just_o infer_v the_o necessity_n of_o public_a decree_n article_n or_o canon_n and_o that_o too_o in_o matter_n of_o faith_n worship_n and_o practice_n it_o can_v be_v deny_v but_o scripture_n itself_o have_v establish_v the_o authority_n of_o such_o power_n and_o injunction_n and_o consequent_o it_o be_v a_o indisputable_a argument_n of_o their_o necessity_n since_o god_n never_o impart_v special_a power_n or_o function_n but_o he_o infallible_o discern_v the_o necessity_n and_o usefulness_n of_o they_o thus_o we_o have_v general_n rule_v direct_v to_o particular_a church_n in_o the_o business_n of_o public_a worship_n that_o thing_n be_v prescribe_v and_o do_v according_a to_o the_o law_n of_o decency_n order_n and_o edification_n and_o no_o doubt_n st._n paul_n point_v at_o the_o same_o thing_n when_o he_o remind_v titus_n why_o he_o place_v he_o over_o the_o church_n of_o crete_n that_o thou_o shall_v set_v in_o order_n the_o thing_n that_o be_v want_v tit._n 1._o 5._o so_o that_o we_o may_v just_o conclude_v there_o be_v a_o power_n give_v to_o prescribe_v such_o law_n and_o rule_n and_o make_v such_o public_a declaration_n as_o manifest_o tend_v to_o the_o edify_v the_o body_n of_o christ_n or_o as_o be_v requisite_a to_o maintain_v the_o catholic_n law_n of_o unity_n or_o the_o unity_n of_o the_o spirit_n in_o the_o bond_n of_o peace_n but_o to_o descend_v to_o particular_n and_o first_o as_o to_z matter_n of_o faith_n indeed_o it_o will_v be_v easy_o grant_v that_o the_o holy_a scripture_n be_v a_o complete_a rule_n of_o faith_n and_o consequent_o they_o seem_v to_o be_v a_o competent_a standard_n for_o the_o governor_n of_o particular_a church_n to_o try_v the_o faith_n of_o christian_n by_o but_o yet_o we_o be_v assure_v that_o they_o contain_v a_o great_a many_o thing_n hard_o to_o be_v understand_v which_o the_o ignorant_a and_o unlearned_a wrist_n to_o their_o own_o destruction_n and_o consequent_o thing_n of_o the_o great_a moment_n and_o importance_n again_o we_o be_v assure_v that_o heresy_n will_v come_v that_o there_o will_v arise_v false_a christ_n and_o false_a prophet_n and_o man_n of_o corrupt_a mind_n who_o have_v not_o only_o err_v but_o be_v reprobate_a concern_v the_o faith_n in_o a_o word_n it_o be_v impossible_a but_o controversy_n and_o division_n as_o well_o as_o offence_n will_v come_v this_o be_v the_o case_n of_o every_o tribe_n or_o colony_n of_o christian_n and_o be_v there_o no_o judgement_n to_o be_v make_v in_o these_o circumstance_n be_v these_o person_n to_o be_v suffer_v to_o proceed_v in_o their_o error_n and_o pervert_v the_o faith_n of_o other_o if_o this_o must_v be_v so_o for_o what_o end_n have_v the_o bless_a author_n of_o our_o religion_n place_v governor_n and_o pastor_n in_o his_o church_n and_o enforce_v their_o authority_n by_o the_o discipline_n of_o special_a censure_n they_o can_v remonstrate_v against_o they_o without_o make_v a_o judgement_n whether_o the_o doctrine_n be_v of_o god_n or_o be_v consonant_n to_o the_o canon_n of_o faith_n and_o yet_o it_o be_v their_o duty_n to_o declare_v the_o whole_a counsel_n of_o god_n in_o these_o case_n and_o certain_o if_o private_a pastor_n be_v authorize_v to_o expound_v the_o sense_n of_o scripture_n and_o make_v a_o judgement_n in_o these_o matter_n and_o expect_v the_o direction_n of_o the_o holy_a spirit_n to_o wait_v on_o their_o pious_a labour_n and_o endeavour_n much_o more_o may_v a_o assembly_n or_o council_n of_o church-governor_n interpose_v state_n the_o sense_n of_o scripture_n and_o deliver_v a_o definitive_a sentence_n in_o express_a article_n and_o decree_n and_o expect_v the_o influence_n of_o the_o same_o spirit_n in_o the_o whole_a performance_n certain_o where_o two_o or_o three_o or_o more_o be_v for_o these_o end_v gather_v together_o it_o may_v just_o be_v presume_v god_n will_v be_v in_o the_o midst_n of_o '_o they_o these_o be_v proceed_n warrant_v by_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o college_n of_o apostle_n and_o of_o all_o particular_a church_n from_o their_o day_n to_o this_o very_a hour_n such_o error_n division_n and_o miscarriage_n concern_v the_o faith_n authorize_v and_o give_v birth_n to_o the_o confession_n of_o faith_n in_o all_o particular_a church_n they_o be_v the_o only_a barrier_n against_o heresy_n and_o error_n and_o indispensible_o necessary_a to_o preserve_v the_o unity_n of_o the_o faith_n and_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n from_o distraction_n and_o ruin_n to_o affirm_v that_o scripture_n in_o these_o case_n be_v a_o sufficient_a rule_n and_o reject_v all_o interposal_n or_o determination_n pursuant_n to_o it_o be_v to_o mistake_v or_o perplex_v the_o argument_n for_o though_o scripture_n be_v a_o adequate_a rule_n of_o faith_n and_o manner_n yet_o god_n have_v constitute_v guardian_n and_o trustee_n to_o assert_v the_o sense_n of_o scripture_n and_o enforce_v a_o faith_n and_o practice_n conformable_a to_o it_o and_o to_o deny_v this_o be_v in_o effect_n to_o discard_v the_o necessity_n of_o any_o visible_a ministry_n since_o scripture_n with_o the_o help_n of_o private_a reason_n be_v as_o much_o a_o adequate_a rule_n in_o this_o respect_n as_o the_o other_o and_o consequent_o there_o can_v be_v no_o necessity_n of_o a_o stand_a ministry_n it_o be_v true_a these_o public_a determination_n these_o confession_n of_o faith_n be_v not_o establish_v upon_o a_o spirit_n of_o infallibility_n but_o they_o be_v not_o to_o be_v reject_v or_o less_o necessary_a because_o not_o infallible_a god_n have_v not_o think_v fit_a to_o impart_v a_o spirit_n of_o infallibility_n in_o the_o exercise_n of_o the_o power_n of_o excommunication_n yet_o scripture_n establish_v it_o as_o a_o stand_a ordinance_n in_o his_o church_n a_o spirit_n of_o infallibility_n do_v not_o accompany_v the_o ministerial_a function_n and_o yet_o god_n have_v make_v it_o absolute_o necessary_a in_o a_o word_n then_o in_o as_o much_o as_o they_o be_v decision_n ground_v on_o scripture_n support_v by_o reason_n and_o confirm_v by_o the_o joint_a authority_n and_o suffrage_n of_o the_o church_n of_o god_n in_o the_o early_a age_n and_o of_o saint_n confessor_n and_o martyr_n they_o be_v the_o most_o apposite_a moral_a instrument_n under_o god_n and_o the_o use_n of_o reason_n to_o determine_v the_o judgement_n and_o satisfy_v the_o conscience_n or_o at_o least_o to_o stop_v the_o mouth_n of_o gainsayer_n as_o far_o as_o concern_v the_o outward_a peace_n of_o the_o church_n in_o this_o case_n they_o become_v indispensible_o necessary_a there_o must_v be_v some_o external_n umpire_n and_o decision_n where_o matter_n must_v at_o last_o terminate_v that_o the_o public_a peace_n and_o unity_n thing_n in_o the_o judgement_n of_o our_o bless_a saviour_n of_o the_o great_a value_n and_o importance_n may_v not_o be_v sacrifice_v to_o the_o dissension_n heat_n and_o animosity_n of_o