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the_o force_n of_o these_o word_n with_o respect_n to_o the_o proposition_n it_o be_v this_o that_o you_o will_v prove_v that_o every_o christian_n upon_o the_o very_a account_n of_o his_o be_v so_o must_v needs_o be_v a_o member_n of_o the_o church_n because_o christ_n intend_v not_o to_o save_v particular_a christian_n but_o under_o the_o consideration_n of_o be_v member_n of_o the_o church_n i_o confess_v if_o this_o be_v as_o true_a as_o i_o suspect_v it_o to_o be_v false_a there_o will_v be_v weight_n in_o what_o be_v say_v but_o let_v it_o be_v try_v you_o say_v that_o christ_n primary_o design_v to_o save_v his_o church_n and_o but_o secondary_o individual_a christian_n as_o incorporate_v in_o this_o church_n i_o pray_v tell_v i_o do_v you_o take_v church_n here_o as_o you_o do_v in_o the_o proposition_n certain_o you_o ought_v
from_o censure_v their_o brethren_n as_o be_v to_o stand_v or_o fall_v to_o a_o high_a master_n he_o censure_v they_o as_o guilty_a of_o schism_n obstinate_o maintain_v pag._n 7._o and_o instead_o of_o persuade_v they_o to_o forbear_v do_v those_o thing_n which_o some_o think_v they_o may_v lawful_o do_v as_o the_o make_v use_n of_o prescribe_a prayer_n and_o ceremony_n lest_o a_o stumble_a block_n shall_v be_v cast_v before_o their_o weak_a brethren_n he_o fall_v pag._n 5._o into_o encomium_n of_o the_o excellency_n of_o the_o present_a church_n government_n the_o easiness_n of_o the_o term_n of_o communion_n the_o lawfulness_n of_o the_o use_n of_o the_o public_a service_n and_o antiquity_n of_o the_o ceremony_n and_o then_o do_v conclude_v that_o sober_a man_n shall_v be_v ashamed_a to_o call_v the_o penalty_n which_o the_o law_n inflict_v on_o those_o that_o separate_v from_o the_o church_n in_o these_o thing_n persecution_n the_o plain_a english_a of_o all_o this_o be_v that_o 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be_v take_v notice_n that_o this_o power_n of_o end_v controversy_n which_o we_o ascribe_v to_o the_o church_n do_v not_o imply_v any_o authority_n over_o our_o judgement_n or_o that_o in_o virtue_n thereof_o she_o can_v oblige_v we_o to_o give_v a_o inward_a assent_n to_o her_o determination_n any_o further_a than_o she_o give_v we_o evidence_n for_o the_o truth_n of_o they_o which_o be_v that_o extravagant_a power_n the_o church_n of_o rome_n do_v challenge_v to_o herself_o so_o far_o we_o be_v agree_v he_o add_v but_o our_o practice_n that_o she_o can_v oblige_v we_o to_o submit_v so_o far_o to_o her_o definition_n as_o not_o to_o act_v any_o thing_n contrary_a to_o they_o this_o be_v absolute_o necessary_a to_o prevent_v the_o over_o run_v of_o heresy_n and_o the_o embroil_v the_o church_n in_o infinite_a quarrel_n and_o controversy_n to_o the_o destruction_n of_o the_o public_a peace_n i_o answer_v first_o by_o concession_n i_o grant_v according_a to_o this_o here_o be_v good_a 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predominancy_n of_o arianism_n when_o some_o hundred_o of_o arian_n bishop_n meet_v in_o council_n and_o determine_v wicked_o against_o the_o deity_n of_o christ_n in_o that_o point_n to_o himself_o and_o never_o to_o have_v declare_v against_o that_o abomination_n for_o fear_v of_o disturb_v the_o peace_n of_o the_o church_n and_o as_o for_o wickliff_n husse_n hierome_n of_o prague_n and_o afterward_o luther_n they_o be_v all_o peace_n breaker_n in_o declare_v against_o the_o abominable_a opinion_n and_o antichristian_a faith_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n they_o ought_v all_o of_o they_o to_o have_v keep_v their_o judgement_n to_o themselves_o and_o so_o to_o have_v acquiesce_v in_o the_o determination_n of_o that_o wicked_a church_n or_o when_o jeroboam_n apostatise_v and_o set_v up_o two_o calf_n at_o dan_n and_o bethel_n and_o command_v the_o people_n there_o to_o worship_n they_o ought_v only_o to_o have_v keep_v their_o judgement_n to_o themselves_o but_o other_o wise_a to_o 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contrary_a if_o it_o be_v than_o so_o do_v those_o 7000_o israelite_n and_o yet_o be_v commend_v for_o so_o do_v if_o so_o to_o withdraw_v may_v not_o be_v think_v to_o be_v a_o act_v contrary_a inasmuch_o as_o the_o peace_n may_v be_v keep_v notwithstanding_o such_o a_o withdraw_a then_o do_v you_o ill_o according_a to_o your_o own_o principle_n to_o compel_v under_o penalty_n all_o dissenter_n to_o conform_v to_o you_o since_o the_o peace_n may_v be_v preserve_v notwithstanding_o their_o nonconformity_n and_o withdraw_a but_o yet_o again_o may_v a_o public_a declaration_n by_o word_n of_o mouth_n or_o writing_n be_v judge_v a_o act_v contrary_a to_o such_o determination_n i_o doubt_v not_o but_o you_o think_v it_o so_o to_o be_v then_o i_o demand_v when_o the_o people_n of_o israel_n meet_v together_o at_o the_o trial_n by_o sacrifice_n whether_o god_n or_o baal_n be_v the_o true_a god_n say_v elisha_n to_o they_o why_o halt_v you_o betwixt_o jehova_n and_o baal_n if_o god_n be_v god_n follow_v he_o if_o baal_n follow_v he_o here_o the_o people_n be_v leave_v to_o their_o choice_n to_o conclude_v upon_o the_o worship_v of_o which_o god_n they_o be_v convince_v to_o be_v the_o true_a god_n by_o that_o trial_n in_o conclusion_n the_o people_n be_v thorough_o convince_v by_o a_o miracle_n that_o jehova_n and_o not_o baal_n be_v the_o true_a god_n they_o public_o by_o word_n of_o mouth_n declare_v jehovah_n he_o be_v god_n jehovah_n he_o be_v god_n i_o ask_v be_v this_o declaration_n a_o act_v contrary_a to_o the_o establish_a worship_n of_o the_o land_n if_o it_o be_v then_o according_a to_o you_o it_o be_v unlawful_a and_o contrary_a to_o the_o peace_n of_o that_o corrupt_a church_n for_o they_o ought_v to_o have_v stand_v mute_a and_o keep_v their_o judgement_n to_o themselves_o for_o fear_n of_o disturb_v the_o peace_n of_o baal_n worshipper_n perhaps_o you_o will_v say_v this_o be_v a_o extraordinary_a case_n for_o a_o miracle_n be_v here_o wrought_v by_o a_o 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what_o be_v evident_o declare_v in_o the_o bible_n that_o in_o its_o time_n have_v the_o confirmation_n of_o many_o miracle_n wrought_v by_o a_o great_a than_o elisha_n even_o by_o the_o son_n of_o god_n whether_o this_o conviction_n so_o wrought_v give_v not_o as_o good_a and_o ample_a authority_n to_o either_o minister_n or_o people_n to_o declare_v by_o word_n of_o mouth_n or_o write_v against_o such_o decision_n of_o church_n governor_n which_o have_v determine_v evident_o against_o plain_a revelation_n as_o this_o people_n of_o israel_n have_v for_o this_o their_o public_a declaration_n which_o if_o grant_v than_o i_o say_v there_o be_v no_o such_o obligation_n that_o lie_v upon_o church_n member_n to_o acquiesce_v in_o the_o unrighteous_a decision_n of_o church_n governor_n so_o as_o not_o to_o act_v or_o practice_v contrary_a there_o to_o which_o you_o have_v affirm_v and_o i_o have_v deny_v and_o let_v the_o reader_n judge_v which_o have_v the_o better_a reason_n of_o his_o side_n for_o what_o either_o of_o we_o say_v and_o thus_o have_v i_o answer_v to_o the_o three_o proposition_n his_o four_o proposition_n that_o we_o can_v have_v no_o just_a cause_n of_o withdraw_a our_o communion_n from_o the_o church_n whereof_o we_o be_v member_n but_o when_o we_o can_v communicate_v with_o it_o without_o the_o commission_n of_o sin_n in_o this_o proposition_n he_o speak_v of_o christian_n as_o suppose_a to_o be_v in_o actual_a fellowship_n with_o some_o visible_a church_n by_o church_n he_o understand_v either_o some_o particular_a worship_a congregation_n or_o a_o national_a church_n as_o for_o this_o latter_a notion_n of_o a_o church_n when_o he_o have_v show_v we_o that_o it_o be_v or_o be_v the_o will_n of_o christ_n that_o all_o the_o christian_n in_o every_o nation_n shall_v after_o the_o manner_n of_o the_o jew_n be_v unite_v under_o the_o same_o visible_a head_n of_o
thing_n upon_o man_n conscience_n as_o necessary_a which_o be_v doubtful_a or_o unlawful_a and_o wherever_o the_o same_o thing_n be_v do_v there_o be_v a_o usurpation_n of_o the_o same_o nature_n though_o not_o in_o so_o high_a a_o degree_n and_o it_o may_v be_v as_o lawful_a to_o withdraw_v communion_n from_o one_o as_o well_o as_o the_o other_o if_o it_o be_v say_v that_o man_n be_v bind_v to_o be_v rule_v by_o their_o governor_n in_o determine_v what_o thing_n be_v lawful_a and_o what_o not_o to_o this_o it_o be_v answer_v first_o no_o true_a protestant_n can_v swear_v blind_a obedience_n to_o church_n governor_n in_o all_o thing_n it_o be_v the_o high_a usurpation_n to_o rob_v man_n of_o the_o liberty_n of_o their_o judgement_n that_o which_o we_o plead_v for_o against_o the_o papist_n be_v that_o all_o man_n have_v their_o eye_n in_o their_o head_n as_o well_o as_o the_o pope_n that_o every_o one_o have_v a_o judicium_fw-la privatae_fw-la discretionis_fw-la which_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o practice_n as_o to_o himself_o and_o though_o we_o free_o allow_v a_o ministerial_a power_n under_o christ_n in_o the_o governor_n of_o the_o church_n yet_o that_o extend_v not_o to_o a_o obligation_n upon_o man_n to_o go_v against_o the_o dictate_v of_o their_o own_o reason_n and_o conscience_n etc._n etc._n a_o man_n have_v not_o the_o power_n over_o his_o own_o understanding_n much_o less_o can_v other_o have_v it_o nullus_fw-la credit_n aliquid_fw-la esse_fw-la verum_fw-la quia_fw-la vult_fw-la credere_fw-la id_fw-la esse_fw-la verum_fw-la non_fw-la est_fw-la in_o potestate_fw-la hominis_fw-la facere_fw-la aliquid_fw-la apparere_fw-la intellectui_fw-la svo_fw-la verum_fw-la quando_fw-la volucrit_fw-fr either_o therefore_o man_n be_v bind_v to_o obey_v church_n governor_n in_o all_o thing_n absolute_o without_o restriction_n or_o limitation_n which_o if_o it_o be_v not_o usurpation_n and_o dominion_n over_o other_o faith_n in_o they_o and_o the_o worst_a of_o implicit_a faith_n in_o other_o it_o be_v hard_o to_o define_v what_o either_o of_o they_o be_v or_o else_o if_o they_o be_v bind_v to_o obey_v only_o in_o lawful_a thing_n i_o then_o inquire_v who_o must_v be_v judge_n what_o thing_n be_v lawful_a and_o what_o not_o if_o the_o governor_n still_o than_o the_o power_n will_v be_v absolute_a again_o for_o to_o be_v sure_o whatever_o they_o command_v they_o will_v say_v be_v lawful_a either_o in_o its_o self_n or_o as_o they_o command_v it_o if_o every_o private_a person_n must_v judge_v what_o be_v lawful_a and_o what_o not_o which_o be_v command_v as_o when_o all_o be_v say_v every_o man_n will_v be_v his_o own_o judge_n in_o this_o case_n in_o thing_n concern_v his_o own_o welfare_n than_o he_o be_v no_o further_o bind_v to_o obey_v than_o he_o judge_n the_o thing_n to_o be_v lawful_a which_o be_v command_v the_o plea_n of_o a_o erroneous_a conscience_n take_v not_o off_o the_o obligation_n to_o follow_v the_o dictate_v of_o it_o for_o as_o he_o be_v bind_v to_o lay_v it_o down_o suppose_v it_o erroneous_a so_o he_o be_v bind_v not_o to_o go_v against_o it_o while_o it_o be_v not_o lay_v down_o these_o testimony_n be_v so_o clear_a and_o back_v with_o such_o unanswerable_a reason_n that_o i_o shall_v now_o not_o scruple_n to_o qualify_v the_o proposition_n under_o consideration_n thus_o that_o where_o the_o commission_n of_o sin_n so_o say_v he_o i_o add_v or_o the_o do_v any_o thing_n that_o be_v suspect_v to_o be_v sinful_a be_v require_v as_o the_o condition_n of_o communion_n there_o a_o withdraw_a be_v lawful_a and_o not_o at_o all_o schismatical_a have_v thus_o give_v a_o account_n of_o these_o different_a scene_n in_o which_o both_o he_o and_o i_o do_v understand_v the_o several_a part_n of_o this_o proposition_n i_o shall_v now_o come_v to_o examine_v what_o he_o have_v say_v for_o the_o confirmation_n thereof_o there_o be_v say_v he_o p._n 19_o but_o two_o case_n wherein_o it_o can_v be_v lawful_a to_o withdraw_v communion_n from_o a_o church_n one_o be_v when_o the_o church_n require_v of_o we_o as_o a_o condition_n of_o her_o communion_n a_o acknowledgement_n and_o profession_n of_o that_o to_o be_v truth_n which_o we_o know_v to_o be_v a_o error_n the_o other_o be_v when_o she_o require_v of_o we_o the_o join_n with_o she_o in_o some_o practice_n which_o we_o know_v to_o be_v against_o the_o law_n of_o god_n though_o i_o will_v not_o be_v so_o confident_a to_o say_v with_o this_o author_n that_o only_o in_o these_o two_o case_n it_o may_v be_v lawful_a to_o withdraw_v communion_n for_o there_o may_v be_v a_o three_o and_o a_o four_o which_o neither_o he_o nor_o i_o may_v at_o present_a think_v of_o yet_o so_o far_o i_o agree_v with_o he_o that_o these_o two_o case_n mention_v be_v just_a cause_n of_o withdraw_a communion_n but_o whereas_o he_o say_v that_o the_o error_n must_v be_v know_v to_o be_v such_o and_o the_o practice_n know_v to_o be_v against_o the_o law_n of_o god_n to_o that_o i_o say_v that_o knowledge_n imply_v certainty_n but_o i_o say_v if_o the_o error_n and_o practice_n be_v but_o suspect_v so_o as_o the_o conscience_n do_v but_o doubt_n it_o be_v sufficient_a as_o i_o have_v prove_v from_o the_o apostle_n and_o the_o testimony_n and_o reason_n of_o mr._n hales_n and_o dr._n stillingsleet_n this_o be_v premise_v i_o shall_v now_o proceed_v to_o a_o consideration_n of_o those_o ground_n which_o he_o suppose_v nonconformist_n plead_v as_o sufficient_a cause_n of_o their_o separation_n as_o they_o be_v enumerate_v and_o affirm_v by_o he_o to_o be_v insufficient_a first_o he_o say_v vnscriptural_a imposition_n can_v be_v no_o sufficient_a cause_n to_o warrant_v a_o separation_n from_o a_o church_n answer_v by_o unscriptural_a imposition_n he_o suppose_v as_o he_o tell_v we_o be_v mean_v no_o more_o than_o what_o be_v neither_o command_v nor_o forbid_v in_o scripture_n neither_o by_o particular_a or_o general_a rule_n thus_o when_o he_o have_v by_o a_o false_a supposition_n fashion_v and_o erect_v a_o man_n of_o straw_n he_o than_o push_v he_o quite_o down_o with_o the_o horn_n of_o a_o dilemma_n and_o fancy_n to_o himself_o a_o great_a victory_n for_o from_o that_o supposition_n he_o thus_o argue_v those_o unscriptural_a imposition_n which_o be_v neither_o command_v nor_o forbid_v by_o any_o general_a or_o particular_a rule_n in_o scripture_n be_v eitherin_o themselves_o lawful_a or_o unlawful_a if_o unlawful_a than_o they_o be_v against_o some_o particular_a or_o general_n scriptural_a rule_n &_o so_o can_v fall_v under_o the_o notion_n of_o unscriptural_a imposition_n which_o be_v suppose_v to_o be_v against_o neither_o of_o these_o rule_n if_o lawful_a than_o it_o can_v be_v imagine_v how_o their_o be_v command_v can_v make_v they_o unlawful_a so_o that_o in_o this_o case_n there_o be_v no_o sin_n in_o yield_a obedience_n and_o consequent_o no_o just_a cause_n of_o withdraw_a our_o communion_n this_o be_v the_o strength_n of_o 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as_o exclusive_a of_o all_o other_o however_o sound_v in_o faith_n and_o unblameable_a in_o life_n or_o shall_v we_o take_v your_o church_n only_o to_o consist_v of_o its_o officer_n how_o shall_v we_o then_o judge_v of_o your_o faith_n and_o doctrinal_n when_o so_o many_o of_o your_o minister_n be_v so_o contrary_a one_o to_o another_o some_o be_v for_o the_o doctrine_n of_o predestination_n and_o other_o against_o it_o some_o be_v for_o justification_n by_o impute_v righteousness_n other_o not_o some_o for_o a_o difference_n betwixt_o grace_n and_o morality_n other_o oppose_v it_o some_o for_o the_o divine_a right_n of_o episcopacy_n other_o that_o the_o magistrate_n may_v appoint_v what_o form_n of_o government_n he_o please_v in_o a_o word_n some_o write_v or_o approve_v of_o such_o a_o book_n that_o other_o of_o you_o think_v as_o i_o have_v hear_v fit_a to_o be_v burn_v which_o of_o these_o shall_v we_o understand_v to_o be_v your_o church_n if_o those_o only_a that_o meet_v by_o 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minister_n or_o people_n shall_v believe_v they_o according_a to_o the_o true_a intent_n and_o meaning_n of_o the_o compiler_n but_o in_o the_o mean_a time_n what_o a_o sad_a condition_n must_v the_o poor_a people_n be_v in_o when_o such_o corrupt_a teacher_n shall_v be_v impose_v on_o they_o if_o they_o be_v bind_v for_o fear_n of_o schism_n to_o sit_v under_o their_o corrupt_a doctrine_n to_o the_o endanger_n of_o their_o faith_n and_o consequent_o of_o their_o salvation_n yea_o though_o they_o be_v error_n contrary_a to_o the_o doctrine_n of_o your_o own_o church_n if_o you_o say_v the_o people_n have_v liberty_n in_o this_o case_n of_o complain_v i_o answer_v but_o to_o what_o purpose_n when_o such_o error_n be_v public_o profess_v in_o print_a book_n and_o no_o course_n take_v for_o the_o correct_v or_o eject_v of_o the_o author_n which_o shall_v hold_v their_o place_n with_o encouragement_n if_o you_o say_v they_o may_v then_o withdraw_v and_o join_v with_o other_o pastor_n 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