Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	church_n	faith_n	rome_n	4,081	5	7.0107	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A31806	A discourse about a scrupulous conscience preached at the parish-church of St. Mary Aldermanbury, London / by Benjamin Calamy ...	Calamy, Benjamin, 1642-1686.	1683 (1683)	Wing C212; ESTC R16631	28,500	49

scripture_n who_o have_v require_v these_o thing_n at_o your_o hand_n now_o here_o i_o only_o ask_v where_o our_o saviour_n or_o his_o apostle_n have_v forbid_v we_o do_v any_o thing_n in_o god_n worship_n which_o be_v not_o by_o himself_o command_v or_o where_o in_o the_o new_a testament_n we_o be_v tell_v that_o god_n will_v be_v angry_a with_o we_o for_o do_v any_o thing_n which_o he_o have_v no_o where_o forbid_v either_o by_o general_n or_o particular_a law_n for_o unless_o this_o can_v be_v show_v there_o can_v be_v no_o colour_n for_o this_o pretence_n and_o we_o be_v sufficient_o sure_a that_o no_o such_o place_n can_v be_v produce_v out_o of_o the_o bible_n it_o be_v acknowledge_v by_o all_o that_o the_o holy_a scripture_n as_o to_o all_o that_o be_v necessary_a to_o be_v believe_v or_o do_v in_o order_n to_o salvation_n as_o to_o all_o the_o essential_a and_o substantial_a part_n of_o divine_a worship_n be_v a_o plain_a and_o perfect_a rule_n but_o it_o be_v as_o certain_a that_o the_o outward_a circumstance_n of_o time_n place_n habit_n and_o gesture_n be_v not_o determine_v in_o the_o new_a testament_n as_o they_o be_v by_o moses_n law_n and_o yet_o god_n can_v be_v at_o least_o visible_o and_o public_o worship_v without_o they_o if_o therefore_o these_o be_v not_o determine_v in_o scripture_n and_o it_o be_v unlawful_a to_o do_v any_o thing_n in_o god_n worship_n but_o what_o be_v so_o determine_v it_o follow_v that_o god_n can_v be_v worship_v at_o all_o unless_o we_o can_v worship_v he_o in_o no_o time_n place_n habit_n or_o gesture_n nor_o indeed_o can_v i_o learn_v how_o a_o christian_a can_v with_o a_o good_a conscience_n perform_v any_o part_n of_o god_n worship_n if_o this_o principle_n be_v admit_v for_o true_a that_o whatsoever_o be_v not_o command_v be_v forbid_v since_o the_o external_a circumstance_n of_o religious_a action_n without_o which_o they_o can_v be_v perform_v be_v not_o prescribe_v or_o determine_v in_o scripture_n and_o so_o he_o must_v commit_v a_o sin_n every_o time_n he_o pray_v or_o receive_v the_o holy_a sacrament_n beside_o this_o reason_n will_v oblige_v we_o to_o separate_v from_o all_o the_o church_n that_o ever_o be_v or_o be_v in_o the_o world_n there_o be_v no_o constitute_v church_n in_o which_o there_o be_v not_o some_o order_n and_o injunction_n for_o the_o regulate_v the_o public_a worship_n of_o god_n no_o where_o command_v in_o scripture_n we_o can_v never_o upon_o this_o principle_n have_v hold_v communion_n with_o the_o primitive_a church_n which_o undoubted_o have_v their_o institute_v significant_a ceremony_n nor_o be_v there_o any_o church_n at_o this_o day_n that_o have_v not_o by_o its_o own_o authority_n determine_v some_o of_o the_o circumstance_n of_o divine_a service_n for_o the_o more_o decent_a and_o orderly_a performance_n thereof_o nay_o those_o very_a person_n that_o make_v this_o exception_n do_v themselves_o practice_v many_o thing_n in_o the_o worship_n of_o god_n without_o the_o least_o shadow_n of_o a_o divine_a command_n to_o which_o they_o oblige_v their_o hearer_n and_o communicant_n for_o conceive_a prayer_n sit_v at_o the_o eucharist_n sprinkle_v the_o infant_n at_o baptism_n the_o minister_n officiate_a in_o a_o black_a cloak_n or_o coat_n be_v full_a out_o as_o unscriptural_a humane_a uncommand_v as_o any_o gesture_n habit_n or_o form_n use_v in_o our_o church_n 2._o that_o be_v say_v to_o be_v unlawful_a which_o have_v be_v abuse_v to_o sinful_a purpose_n to_o idolatry_n or_o superstition_n so_o that_o nothing_o ought_v to_o be_v retain_v in_o our_o worship_n though_o it_o be_v not_o forbid_v by_o god_n which_o be_v use_v in_o time_n of_o popery_n hence_o the_o ordinary_a objection_n against_o our_o parish_n church_n be_v that_o they_o be_v not_o sufficient_o purge_v from_o popery_n that_o our_o first_o reformer_n be_v indeed_o excellent_a and_o worthy_a person_n for_o the_o time_n they_o live_v in_o that_o what_o they_o do_v be_v very_o commendable_a and_o a_o good_a beginning_n but_o they_o be_v force_v to_o comply_v with_o the_o necessity_n of_o the_o age_n which_o will_v not_o bear_v a_o complete_a reformation_n they_o leave_v a_o great_a deal_n of_o popish_a trash_n in_o the_o church_n hope_v by_o degree_n to_o reconcile_v the_o papist_n to_o it_o or_o at_o least_o that_o they_o may_v not_o make_v the_o breach_n too_o wide_o and_o too_o much_o prejudice_n or_o estrange_v they_o from_o it_o but_o we_o now_o live_v under_o better_a mean_n have_v great_a light_n and_o knowledge_n and_o so_o a_o further_o and_o more_o perfect_a amendment_n be_v now_o necessary_a thus_o the_o order_n of_o bishop_n be_v decry_v as_o popish_a and_o antichristian_a our_o liturgy_n as_o take_v out_o of_o the_o mass_n book_n and_o our_o ceremony_n as_o relic_n of_o idolatry_n but_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o case_n be_v this_o we_o must_v consider_v that_o those_o of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n do_v hold_v and_o maintain_v all_o the_o essential_o of_o christianity_n but_o then_o by_o degree_n as_o they_o find_v opportunity_n they_o have_v add_v a_o number_n of_o impious_a and_o pernicious_a doctrine_n to_o the_o christian_a faith_n the_o belief_n and_o profession_n of_o which_o they_o equal_o require_v of_o all_o that_o be_v in_o their_o communion_n beside_o this_o they_o have_v introduce_v several_a idolatrous_a and_o superstitious_a rite_n and_o practice_n into_o the_o service_n of_o their_o church_n never_o hear_v of_o for_o the_o first_o four_o hundred_o year_n by_o which_o they_o have_v miserable_o deface_v and_o corrupt_v the_o worship_n of_o god_n and_o make_v it_o necessary_a for_o all_o those_o that_o love_v their_o own_o salvation_n to_o separate_v from_o they_o now_o our_o first_o reformer_n here_o in_o england_n do_v not_o go_v about_o to_o invent_v a_o new_a species_n of_o government_n to_o devise_v new_a rite_n and_o ceremony_n and_o a_o new_a form_n of_o worship_n such_o as_o shall_v be_v least_o except_v against_o and_o then_o obtrude_v it_o upon_o this_o nation_n as_o be_v do_v at_o geneva_n and_o some_o other_o place_n but_o they_o wise_o consider_v that_o if_o they_o do_v but_o reject_v what_o the_o romanist_n have_v add_v to_o the_o faith_n and_o worship_n of_o christian_n lay_v aside_o their_o novel_a invention_n usurpation_n and_o unwritten_a tradition_n there_o will_v remain_v the_o pure_a simple_a primitive_a christianity_n such_o as_o it_o be_v before_o the_o roman_a church_n be_v thus_o degenerate_v nor_o have_v we_o any_o thing_n of_o popery_n leave_v among_o we_o but_o what_o the_o papist_n have_v leave_v among_o they_o of_o primitive_a religion_n and_o worship_n as_o we_o must_v not_o receive_v the_o evil_n for_o the_o sake_n of_o the_o good_a so_o neither_o must_v we_o reject_v the_o good_a for_o the_o sake_n of_o the_o evil_n in_o our_o church_n we_o pray_v neither_o to_o saint_n nor_o angel_n nor_o the_o virgin_n mary_n our_o liturgy_n be_v in_o a_o know_a tongue_n we_o deny_v the_o laity_n no_o part_n of_o the_o sacrament_n nor_o the_o read_n of_o the_o scripture_n we_o offer_v no_o mass_n sacrifice_n nor_o worship_n image_n or_o the_o consecrate_a bread_n we_o have_v not_o one_o doctrine_n or_o ceremony_n in_o use_n among_o we_o that_o be_v pure_o popish_a but_o we_o must_v be_v oblige_v to_o part_v with_o the_o most_o sacred_a venerable_a and_o useful_a thing_n in_o our_o religion_n if_o this_o be_v a_o sufficient_a reason_n of_o our_o forbear_v any_o thing_n because_o the_o papist_n abuse_v it_o this_o therefore_o i_o conclude_v to_o be_v the_o best_a and_o plain_a rule_n for_o the_o govern_n of_o our_o conscience_n not_o wilful_o to_o omit_v any_o thing_n that_o god_n have_v command_v to_o avoid_v to_o the_o utmost_a of_o our_o power_n what_o god_n have_v forbid_v and_o what_o ever_o else_o we_o have_v no_o particular_a divine_a law_n about_o to_o guide_v ourselves_o by_o the_o general_a rule_n of_o scripture_n the_o command_n of_o our_o superior_n and_o by_o the_o measure_n of_o prudence_n peace_n and_o charity_n this_o one_o rule_n and_o it_o can_v but_o seem_v a_o very_a reasonable_a one_o will_v soon_o put_v a_o end_n to_o our_o squabble_n and_o jangle_n about_o form_n and_o ceremony_n and_o other_o indifferent_a thing_n 5._o in_o order_n to_o the_o bring_v man_n to_o a_o compliance_n with_o the_o law_n of_o our_o church_n we_o must_v desire_v they_o to_o consider_v that_o there_o never_o be_v nor_o ever_o will_v be_v any_o public_a constitution_n that_o will_v be_v every_o way_n unexceptionable_a the_o best_a policy_n whether_o civil_a or_o ecclesiastical_a that_o can_v be_v establish_v will_v have_v some_o flaw_n and_o defect_n which_o must_v be_v bear_v and_o tolerate_v some_o inconvenience_n will_v in_o process_n of_o time_n arise_v that_o never_o can_v be_v foresee_v or_o provide_v against_o and_o to_o make_v

alteration_n upon_o every_o emergent_a difficulty_n may_v be_v often_o of_o worse_a consequence_n than_o the_o evil_n we_o pretend_v to_o cure_v by_o it_o let_v the_o rule_n and_o mode_n of_o government_n discipline_n public_a worship_n be_v most_o exact_a and_o blameless_a yet_o there_o will_v be_v fault_n in_o governor_n and_o minister_n as_o long_o as_o they_o be_v but_o man_n we_o must_v not_o expect_v in_o this_o world_n a_o church_n without_o spot_n or_o wrinkle_n that_o consist_v only_o of_o saint_n in_o which_o nothing_o can_v be_v find_v amiss_o especial_o by_o those_o who_o lie_v at_o the_o catch_n and_o wait_v for_o a_o advantage_n against_o it_o if_o man_n will_v scruple_n and_o reform_v as_o long_o as_o any_o thing_n remain_v which_o they_o can_v object_v against_o they_o must_v even_o come_v at_o last_o as_o a_o reverend_a person_n of_o our_o church_n have_v observe_v to_o the_o state_n of_o that_o miserable_a man_n who_o leave_v all_o humane_a society_n that_o he_o may_v not_o be_v defile_v with_o other_o man_n sin_n and_o at_o last_o cut_v out_o the_o content_n of_o chapter_n and_o title_n of_o book_n out_o of_o the_o bible_n because_o they_o be_v humane_a invention_n add_v to_o the_o pure_a word_n of_o god_n man_n must_v be_v willing_a if_o ever_o they_o will_v promote_v peace_n and_o unity_n to_o put_v candid_a construction_n and_o favourable_a interpretation_n upon_o thing_n to_o take_v they_o by_o the_o best_a handle_n and_o not_o strain_v thing_n on_o purpose_n that_o they_o may_v cavil_v the_o more_o plausible_o and_o raise_v more_o considerable_a objection_n against_o they_o we_o must_v not_o make_v personal_a accidental_a fault_n nor_o any_o thing_n a_o pretence_n for_o our_o leave_v the_o communion_n of_o our_o church_n which_o arise_v only_o from_o the_o necessary_a condition_n and_o temper_n of_o all_o humane_a affair_n that_o nothing_o here_o be_v absolute_o perfect_a 6._o and_o last_o if_o you_o can_v by_o these_o and_o other_o the_o like_a consideration_n not_o now_o to_o be_v mention_v get_v rid_v of_o and_o conquer_v your_o scruple_n then_o be_v advise_v to_o lay_v they_o aside_o to_o throw_v they_o out_o of_o your_o mind_n as_o dangerous_a temptation_n and_o act_v positive_o against_o they_o but_o here_o i_o easy_o imagine_v some_o ready_a present_o to_o ask_v i_o do_v you_o persuade_v we_o to_o conform_v to_o the_o order_n of_o the_o church_n though_o we_o be_v not_o satisfy_v in_o our_o mind_n concern_v they_o i_o answer_v that_o i_o think_v this_o the_o best_a advice_n that_o can_v be_v give_v to_o such_o scrupulous_a person_n it_o will_v be_v a_o endless_a infinite_a thing_n and_o communion_n with_o any_o church_n will_v be_v altogether_o unpracticable_a if_o every_o private_a christian_a be_v oblige_v to_o suspend_v join_v himself_o to_o it_o till_o he_o be_v perfect_o satisfy_v about_o the_o reasonableness_n and_o expediency_n of_o all_o that_o be_v require_v or_o be_v in_o use_n in_o that_o church_n for_o indeed_o private_a person_n be_v by_o no_o mean_n proper_a judge_n of_o what_o be_v fit_a and_o convenient_a in_o the_o administration_n of_o church-government_n discipline_n or_o public_a worship_n no_o more_o than_o they_o be_v of_o matter_n of_o state_n or_o the_o reasonableness_n of_o all_o civil_a law_n common_a people_n general_o have_v neither_o patience_n to_o consider_v nor_o judgement_n to_o weigh_v all_o circumstance_n nor_o wisdom_n to_o choose_v that_o which_o be_v best_a these_o thing_n of_o a_o public_a nature_n belong_v only_o to_o our_o superior_n and_o governor_n and_o if_o they_o appoint_v what_o be_v unfit_a indecent_a or_o inconvenient_a they_o only_o be_v accountable_a for_o it_o it_o be_v not_o the_o fault_n of_o those_o that_o join_v with_o such_o worship_n or_o yield_v to_o such_o injunction_n not_o plain_o sinful_a for_o the_o sake_n of_o peace_n and_o order_n i_o know_v therefore_o no_o better_o rule_n for_o the_o direct_n and_o quiet_v man_n conscience_n than_o this_o that_o as_o to_o all_o such_o matter_n as_o relate_v to_o public_a order_n and_o decent_a administration_n of_o god_n worship_n they_o shall_v without_o any_o superstitious_a fearfulness_n comply_v with_o the_o custom_n of_o the_o church_n they_o live_v in_o never_o trouble_v themselves_o nor_o curious_o examine_v what_o be_v best_a and_o fit_a as_o long_o as_o there_o be_v nothing_o enjoin_v or_o do_v which_o after_o due_a enquiry_n appear_v to_o we_o contrary_a to_o any_o law_n of_o god_n thus_o st._n augustin_n direct_v we_o in_o that_o often_o quote_v place_n where_o he_o tell_v we_o he_o know_v no_o better_a course_n for_o a_o serious_a prudent_a christian_n to_o take_v in_o matter_n of_o rite_n and_o custom_n than_o to_o follow_v the_o church_n example_n where_o he_o be_v for_o whatsoever_o be_v prescribe_v neither_o against_o faith_n or_o manner_n be_v a_o matter_n in_o its_o self_n indifferent_a and_o to_o be_v observe_v according_a to_o the_o custom_n of_o those_o he_o live_v among_o this_o be_v agreeable_a to_o the_o counsel_n st._n ambrose_n bishop_n of_o milan_n give_v he_o when_o he_o be_v send_v by_o his_o mother_n to_o inquire_v his_o judgement_n about_o the_o saturday_n fast_o when_o i_o be_o at_o rome_n say_v the_o bishop_n i_o fa●t_v on_o the_o sabbath_n but_o at_o milan_n i_o do_v not_o so_o thou_o likewise_o when_o thou_o come_v to_o any_o church_n observe_v its_o custom_n if_o thou_o will_v neither_o be_v a_o offence_n to_o they_o nor_o have_v they_o be_v so_o to_o thou_o which_o st._n augustin_n ever_o after_o look_v upon_o as_o a_o oracle_n from_o heaven_n i_o do_v not_o by_o this_o encourage_v man_n to_o venture_v blindfold_a on_o sin_n or_o to_o neglect_v any_o reasonable_a care_n of_o their_o action_n but_o if_o people_n raise_v all_o the_o difficulty_n and_o objection_n they_o can_v start_v before_o they_o proceed_v to_o a_o resolution_n about_o thing_n that_o have_v no_o manifest_a impiety_n in_o they_o nor_o be_v plain_o nor_o by_o any_o easy_a consequence_n contrary_a to_o the_o reveal_v will_n of_o god_n this_o can_v but_o occasion_v infinite_a perplexity_n and_o trouble_v to_o man_n mind_n and_o there_o be_v but_o few_o thing_n they_o shall_v be_v able_a to_o do_v with_o a_o safe_a and_o quiet_a conscience_n shall_v all_o those_o that_o have_v some_o little_a argument_n against_o the_o sign_n of_o the_o cross_n puzzle_v themselves_o with_o the_o objection_n usual_o urge_v against_o infant_n baptism_n and_o defer_v baptise_v their_o child_n till_o they_o be_v full_o satisfy_v about_o it_o i_o doubt_v not_o but_o the_o baptise_v of_o infant_n will_v soon_o be_v as_o much_o scruple_v at_o as_o the_o cross_v they_o now_o be_v but_o there_o be_v no_o apparent_a evil_n in_o it_o it_o be_v the_o practice_n of_o the_o church_n we_o live_v in_o it_o be_v no_o where_o forbid_v in_o scripture_n this_o ordinary_o be_v sufficient_a warrant_n for_o what_o we_o do_v before_o we_o separate_v from_o a_o church_n or_o refuse_v to_o comply_v with_o its_o order_n we_o ought_v to_o be_v full_o satisfy_v and_o persuade_v of_o the_o unlawfulness_n of_o what_o be_v require_v that_o it_o be_v forbid_v by_o god_n because_o by_o leave_v the_o communion_n of_o any_o church_n we_o pass_v sentence_n upon_o and_o condemn_v it_o which_o ought_v not_o to_o be_v do_v upon_o light_n and_o doubtful_a cause_n but_o there_o be_v not_o the_o same_o necessity_n that_o we_o shall_v be_v thus_o full_o satisfy_v about_o our_o conformity_n to_o all_o thing_n prescribe_v by_o the_o church_n we_o may_v presume_v they_o to_o be_v innocent_a unless_o they_o plain_o appear_v to_o we_o otherwise_o the_o judicious_a and_o learned_a bishop_n sanderson_n thus_o express_v it_o in_o his_o four_o sermon_n ad_fw-la clerum_fw-la the_o law_n take_v every_o man_n for_o a_o good_a man_n and_o true_a till_o his_o truth_n and_o honesty_n be_v legal_o disprove_v and_o as_o our_o saviour_n sometime_o say_v he_o that_o be_v not_o against_o we_o be_v for_o we_o so_o in_o these_o matter_n he_o speak_v of_o those_o ceremony_n that_o for_o order_n sake_n and_o to_o add_v the_o great_a solemnity_n to_o sacred_a action_n be_v appoint_v in_o the_o church_n we_o be_v to_o believe_v all_o thing_n to_o be_v lawful_a for_o we_o to_o do_v which_o can_v be_v show_v by_o good_a evidence_n either_o of_o scripture_n or_o reason_n to_o be_v unlawful_a if_o any_o one_o be_v afraid_a that_o this_o principle_n once_o imbibe_v will_v introduce_v popery_n make_v people_n greedy_o swallow_v and_o without_o any_o examination_n submit_v to_o every_o thing_n their_o superior_n please_v to_o impose_v upon_o they_o let_v he_o only_o consider_v which_o we_o all_o agree_v in_o that_o there_o be_v many_o thing_n in_o the_o popish_a worship_n and_o religion_n manifest_o evil_a and_o forbid_v by_o the_o reveal_v will_n of_o god_n which_o render_v our_o