a_o expedient_a to_o preserve_v peace_n and_o amity_n among_o dissent_v brethren_n by_o a_o brother_n in_o christ_n london_n print_v for_o h._n r._n and_o be_v to_o be_v sell_v at_o his_o shop_n at_o the_o sign_n of_o the_o three_o pigeon_n in_o paul_n churchyard_n 1647._o a_o expedient_a to_o preserve_v peace_n and_o amity_n among_o dissent_v brethren_n see_v it_o have_v please_v almighty_a god_n 〈…〉_z at_o this_o time_n to_o put_v a_o stop_n to_o the_o effusion_n of_o blood_n so_o prodigal_o pour_v out_o in_o our_o native_a country_n and_o thereby_o give_v a_o hope_n of_o speedy_o state_v the_o whole_a kingdom_n in_o a_o firm_a and_o durable_a peace_n it_o do_v not_o a_o little_a grieve_v my_o soul_n that_o this_o happiness_n shall_v be_v cloud_v or_o retard_v under_o the_o pretence_n of_o religion_n which_o be_v the_o best_a cimenter_n of_o peace_n but_o herein_o i_o take_v comfort_n that_o god_n have_v his_o own_o work_n no_o less_o in_o these_o controversy_n then_o before_o he_o 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because_o he_o former_o know_v not_o so_o much_o as_o now_o he_o do_v but_o rather_o praise_v god_n for_o have_v reveal_v to_o he_o a_o great_a measure_n of_o knowledge_n by_o this_o rule_n we_o shall_v deal_v with_o other_o as_o we_o do_v with_o ourselves_o for_o that_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o charity_n we_o be_v all_o god_n building_n and_o albeit_o they_o may_v chance_v to_o differ_v among_o themselves_o they_o be_v not_o for_o that_o to_o make_v a_o breach_n in_o the_o build_n but_o in_o love_n and_o peace_n suffer_v their_o opinion_n to_o be_v try_v by_o the_o word_n of_o god_n make_v that_o the_o decider_n not_o the_o breeder_n of_o controversy_n this_o be_v premise_v i_o will_v proceed_v to_o the_o subject_a lie_v before_o i_o and_o take_v my_o beginning_n from_o the_o beginning_n itself_o almighty_a god_n do_v all_o his_o own_o work_n in_o order_n be_v please_v to_o make_v man_n a_o sociable_a creature_n first_o in_o himself_o associate_v a_o earthly_a and_o heavenly_a nature_n that_o one_o may_v guide_v and_o govern_v the_o other_o and_o himself_o receive_v glory_n from_o both_o then_o by_o engraft_v in_o that_o compound_a nature_n rule_v of_o spiritual_a and_o human_a duty_n whereby_o he_o may_v be_v fit_v for_o a_o well-being_n in_o the_o society_n of_o other_o for_o as_o the_o conjunction_n of_o flesh_n and_o spirit_n though_o part_n far_o differ_v in_o nature_n make_v one_o man_n so_o the_o conjunction_n of_o many_o man_n though_o of_o several_a age_n complexion_n humour_n passion_n calling_n and_o degree_n make_v up_o a_o commonwealth_n for_o the_o good_a of_o all_o in_o their_o temporal_a well-being_n even_o so_o likewise_o the_o conjunction_n of_o many_o spirit_n and_o mind_n of_o man_n though_o dissent_v in_o opinion_n way_n and_o strength_n of_o judgement_n yet_o aim_v at_o the_o same_o end_n by_o faith_n in_o christ_n to_o attain_v salvation_n make_v a_o common_a union_n or_o a_o church_n for_o the_o good_a of_o all_o in_o their_o eternal_a 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look_v for_o the_o good_a of_o man_n both_o way_n our_o duty_n to_o god_n be_v contain_v in_o few_o precept_n but_o more_o word_n it_o seem_v necessary_a that_o god_n shall_v explain_v himself_o in_o his_o own_o cause_n leave_v no_o power_n to_o any_o man_n to_o add_v or_o diminish_v or_o interpret_v his_o law_n but_o by_o his_o own_o word_n which_o make_v moses_n though_o he_o be_v a_o lawgiver_n in_o israel_n yet_o he_o will_v not_o judge_v the_o gatherer_n of_o stick_n upon_o the_o sabbath_n day_n without_o consultation_n with_o the_o lord_n before_o the_o write_a law_n every_o father_n of_o a_o family_n be_v both_o priest_n and_o magistrate_n to_o look_v to_o both_o and_o the_o great_a the_o family_n or_o society_n be_v so_o much_o high_a be_v the_o magistrate_n and_o reverence_v with_o more_o honour_n as_o be_v the_o common_a parent_n care_v for_o the_o whole_a country_n this_o law_n therefore_o of_o nature_n be_v the_o very_a dictate_n of_o god_n himself_o may_v not_o improper_o 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death_n finish_v and_o consummate_v the_o law_n and_o rend_v from_o the_o top_n to_o the_o bottom_n the_o veil_n of_o separation_n by_o both_o declare_v the_o necessity_n of_o type_n and_o ceremony_n place_n and_o time_n of_o worship_n difference_n of_o people_n sacrifice_n and_o sacrificer_n fix_v and_o impropriate_v maintenance_n for_o any_o of_o they_o be_v no_o long_a to_o be_v continue_v strict_o in_o the_o letter_n although_o a_o moral_a equity_n shadow_v by_o they_o be_v to_o be_v perpetual_a neither_o do_v our_o saviour_n in_o the_o constitution_n of_o his_o evangelical_a church_n revive_v any_o of_o they_o nor_o ordain_v any_o set_a form_n of_o worship_n rule_n for_o government_n or_o a_o certain_v and_o special_a maintenance_n for_o his_o minister_n but_o only_o repair_v and_o restore_v man_n to_o that_o way_n and_o manner_n of_o worship_n which_o adam_n have_v in_o his_o innocency_n prescribe_v he_o to_o serve_v god_n the_o father_n of_o spirit_n in_o spirit_n and_o in_o truth_n without_o otherwise_o confine_v he_o to_o time_n place_n gesture_n posture_n or_o other_o circumstance_n which_o of_o their_o own_o nature_n be_v not_o permanent_o confineable_a in_o like_a sort_n the_o bless_a apostle_n who_o christ_n send_v into_o the_o world_n to_o publish_v the_o glad_a tiding_n of_o salvation_n lay_v no_o other_o foundation_n as_o necessary_a thereunto_o than_o jesus_n christ_n and_o what_o he_o have_v lay_v himself_o for_o they_o be_v only_o master_n builder_n on_o that_o corner_n stone_n christ_n jesus_n what_o they_o declare_v to_o any_o people_n convert_v to_o the_o gospel_n concerning_o any_o rule_n of_o order_n about_o the_o outward_a man_n or_o his_o christian_a behaviour_n in_o public_a service_n it_o be_v only_o a_o temporary_a advice_n suitable_a to_o the_o time_n country_n and_o occasion_n wherein_o they_o live_v not_o universal_o bind_v to_o all_o nation_n and_o generation_n to_o come_v in_o their_o day_n there_o be_v neither_o christian_a 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communion_n that_o the_o shame_n thereof_o make_v he_o sensible_a of_o his_o sin_n it_o may_v beget_v repentance_n and_o make_v he_o return_v to_o the_o fellowship_n of_o true_a believer_n i_o very_o think_v that_o if_o all_o the_o direction_n which_o the_o apostle_n have_v leave_v record_v in_o scripture_n be_v lay_v in_o one_o view_n together_o no_o man_n nor_o multitude_n of_o man_n how_o learned_a soever_o can_v collect_v or_o frame_v out_o of_o they_o all_o a_o exact_a body_n of_o church_n government_n in_o all_o the_o part_n and_o circumstance_n thereof_o to_o be_v impose_v as_o a_o divine_a bind_v infallible_a rule_n upon_o all_o christian_a church_n and_o kingdom_n in_o the_o world_n indeed_o where_o we_o meet_v with_o any_o counsel_n or_o constitution_n of_o the_o bless_a apostle_n who_o be_v holy_a man_n endue_v with_o more_o immediate_a power_n from_o christ_n with_o a_o large_a measure_n of_o the_o spirit_n of_o truth_n and_o consequent_o with_o a_o great_a certainty_n of_o judgement_n than_o any_o of_o their_o ministerial_a successor_n we_o may_v rely_v upon_o they_o and_o make_v they_o our_o pattern_n only_o remember_v the_o distinction_n of_o time_n that_o the_o apostolical_a church_n be_v in_o infancy_n and_o under_o persecution_n and_o the_o english_a in_o full_a growth_n and_o dominion_n in_o so_o much_o that_o in_o the_o frame_n of_o ecclesiastical_a order_n a_o eye_n and_o regard_n must_v ever_o be_v have_v to_o the_o civil_a government_n which_o always_o aim_v at_o the_o public_a good_a both_o of_o church_n and_o state_n wherein_o the_o church_n be_v lodge_v the_o minister_n doubtless_o have_v power_n by_o their_o office_n to_o advise_v and_o instruct_v exhort_v and_o rebuke_v out_o of_o the_o word_n in_o a_o brotherly_a way_n but_o it_o be_v as_o doubtless_o that_o the_o power_n be_v in_o the_o christian_a magistrate_n upon_o hear_v their_o advice_n to_o constitute_v and_o establish_v under_o the_o natural_a notion_n of_o order_n such_o decree_n as_o upon_o due_a debate_n and_o deliberation_n they_o shall_v find_v most_o wholesome_a and_o agreeable_a to_o the_o present_a state_n this_o be_v also_o to_o be_v observe_v that_o no_o man_n ought_v to_o take_v unto_o himself_o the_o office_n and_o honour_n to_o minister_n for_o his_o brethren_n in_o thing_n pertain_v unto_o god_n unless_o he_o be_v lawful_o call_v thereunto_o christ_n himself_o be_v send_v by_o the_o father_n and_o anoint_v by_o the_o spirit_n to_o his_o heavenly_a office_n by_o christ_n the_o holy_a apostle_n be_v send_v into_o the_o world_n from_o who_o they_o have_v their_o immediate_a commission_n and_o the_o bless_a apostle_n follow_v their_o pattern_n do_v not_o only_o send_v and_o appoint_v pastor_n over_o all_o church_n in_o their_o present_a time_n but_o also_o lest_o rule_n and_o direction_n for_o ordain_v all_o other_o for_o the_o time_n to_o come_v till_o the_o world_n end_n i_o make_v no_o question_n but_o god_n do_v in_o our_o day_n call_v and_o stir_v 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circumstance_n thereof_o we_o have_v also_o the_o word_n of_o man_n as_o infallible_a as_o man_n can_v be_v for_o that_o we_o may_v take_v upon_o good_a trust_n to_o be_v moral_o infallible_a which_o proceed_v from_o man_n who_o neither_o deceive_v nor_o be_v deceive_v now_o i_o suppose_v that_o the_o parliament_n have_v so_o full_o declare_v their_o sincerity_n and_o discharge_v their_o trust_n in_o establish_v this_o government_n that_o the_o most_o opposite_a thereunto_o can_v admit_v of_o such_o a_o unworthy_a thought_n as_o if_o they_o intend_v to_o impose_v any_o government_n upon_o the_o people_n which_o in_o conscience_n they_o think_v not_o most_o agreeable_a to_o god_n word_n which_o as_o it_o clear_v they_o from_o the_o least_o suspicion_n of_o deceive_v so_o it_o be_v also_o manifest_a that_o they_o have_v use_v the_o best_a and_o most_o approve_a mean_n allow_v to_o mortal_a man_n not_o to_o be_v deceive_v for_o in_o this_o weighty_a work_n they_o have_v begin_v with_o the_o invocation_n of_o god_n infallible_a spirit_n which_o be_v the_o author_n and_o leader_n into_o all_o truth_n and_o have_v assemble_v learned_a and_o religious_a man_n of_o the_o holy_a call_n to_o enter_v into_o free_a deliberation_n and_o debate_n of_o that_o kind_n of_o church-government_n which_o they_o shall_v find_v most_o consonant_a to_o god_n word_n and_o if_o after_o all_o this_o we_o can_v imagine_v they_o have_v err_v in_o their_o decree_n how_o can_v we_o without_o presumption_n conceive_v the_o judgement_n of_o any_o private_a man_n to_o be_v more_o infallible_a now_o if_o any_o shall_v think_v that_o this_o kind_n of_o government_n in_o every_o part_n thereof_o be_v establish_v with_o such_o a_o perpetual_a decree_n that_o it_o can_v never_o be_v change_v we_o must_v know_v that_o many_o thing_n may_v be_v infallible_o true_a yet_o not_o always_o necessary_a to_o be_v continue_v true_o in_o the_o author_n of_o truth_n and_o true_a in_o the_o mean_n of_o truth_n 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and_o guidance_n of_o his_o spirit_n concur_v in_o one_o and_o the_o same_o discipline_n why_o shall_v any_o combine_v against_o it_o or_o suffer_v themselves_o to_o be_v persuade_v rather_o to_o disturb_v the_o peace_n and_o unity_n of_o god_n church_n then_o yield_v a_o christian_a conformity_n thereunto_o 3_o but_o against_o this_o power_n of_o the_o magistrate_n it_o may_v be_v further_o object_v that_o although_o power_n be_v give_v he_o over_o the_o body_n and_o estate_n and_o outward_a adjunct_n of_o man_n yet_o the_o conscience_n be_v the_o peculiar_a court_n of_o god_n wherein_o man_n have_v nothing_o to_o do_v but_o by_o intrusion_n when_o the_o body_n lie_v in_o prison_n the_o judge_n by_o a_o habeas_fw-la corpus_fw-la can_v remove_v it_o but_o when_o the_o conscience_n be_v under_o bond_n no_o judge_n can_v send_v a_o habeas_fw-la conscientiam_fw-la to_o deliver_v it_o and_o have_v no_o power_n to_o release_v he_o can_v have_v none_o to_o bind_v it_o