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 true_a unity_n 1,613 5 9.0929 5 false
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A97011 Certaine reasons why the Booke of Common-Prayer being corrected should continue. By I. W. I. W. 1641 (1641) Wing W40; Thomason E176_15; ESTC R14936 7,429 20

There is 1 snippet containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

change should have been at all in that which was most impugned the Book of Common-praier containing the forme of the publike service of God here established neither in the Doctrine which appeared to be syncere nor in the formes and rites which were justified out of the practice of the Primitive Church notwithstanding c. And concludes in these words And last of all wee doe admonish all men that hereafter they shall not expect nor attempt any farther alteration in the common and publike forme of GODS service from this which is now established For that neither will we give way to any to presume that our owne judgment having determined in a matter of this weight shall be swayed to alteration by the frivolous suggestions of any light spirit neither are we ignorant of the inconveniences that doe arise in government by admitting innovation in things once setled by mature deliberation and how necessarie it is to use constancie in upholding the publike determinations of states for that such is the unquietnesse and unstedfastnesse of some dispositions affecting everie yeere new formes of things as if they should be followed in their inconstancie would make all actions of state ridiculous and contemptible whereas the stedfast maintaining of things by good advice established is the weale of all Common-wealths In the Preface of the Booke of Common-prayer printed 1627 it is declared that all uncertaine Ceremonies were left out and nothing ordained to bee read but the very pure Word of GOD the holy Scriptures or that which is evidently grounded upon the same In the Declaration of Ceremonies why some be abolished and some retained it is manifested that without some Ceremonies it is not possible to keep any order or quiet Discipline in the Church and though some were thought worthy to bee cut off and cleane rejected others there be which though they have beene devised by man yet it is thought good to reserve them still as well for a decent order in the Church for which they were first devised as because they appertain to edification whereunto all things done in the Church as the Apostle teacheth ought to be referred and although the keeping or omitting of a Ceremonie in it selfe considered is but a small thing yet the wilfull and contemptuous transgression and breaking of a common Order and Discipline is no small offence before God Let all things be done among you saith Saint Paul in a seemly and due order the appointment of which order appertaines not to private men therefore no man ought to take in hand or presume to appoint or alter any publike or common order in Christs Church except hee be lawfully called and authorized thereunto c. as therein more at large appeares Hee that desires satisfaction of the particular answers to the severall objections against the Booke of Common-prayer c. may read and receive it in that learned Work of Master Hookers Ecclesiasticall Politic and in Master Robert Abbot his Tryall of our Church-forsakers and in many other In the mean-time they may informe their judgements and allay their rash and scandalous Censures by the perusall of these following places of Scripture Numb 6.23 24 25 26. Davids set formes of Psalmes for severall speciall occasions Ioel. 2.7 Matthew 6.9 Luke 11.2 Ecclesiast 5.2 Sixtly and lastly Because they are and have beene so Common-prayers amongst us Thanks be unto God the time is not now as it hath bin with our Forefathers in this Kingdome and with other Christians at this day in severall places of the World Wee need not hide our selves in Dens and frequent the Caverns of the Earth to serve the true God in The Bible which was shut up in an unknowne tongue from the Generality is now become common in our owne mother tongue and language of the Kingdome and we all have not only liberty by Proclamation to enjoy it but wee have severall established Acts of Parliament to confirme our common use of it our Religion and our Book of Common-prayer also and therefore God grant that that which is so great a mercy and happinesse unto us we make it not our misery by turning the cause of our thanksgiving into murmuring and repining depraving and contemning of that and those who legally and conscionably affect and frequent them There was a time when the children of Israel surfeited of their Manna I pray God that our loathing of the Hony-combe doth not argue too full a stomack in us Doe wee not thinke that by our contemning of them and by our ingratitude for the free and peaceable enjoyment of them we do not provoke God to deprive us of them yes surely we doe when plenty makes us wanton and ingratefull scarcity is not far off Thus God deals with us in the abuse of our healths our estates our peace and liberty and he deals not so with us only in temporall Blessings but in spirituall also Wee accompt our selves as all other Nations esteem us happy in our good and Common Laws we enjoy our Common prayers not only by Common Law but by a Title of Common also so that now they are truly become ours in Common and they are our common good our custome and freehold in the publike good and welfare whereof and of our Protestant Religion every subject in England hath an interest and propriety They have been our common orders for the due and decent worship of God and God is the God of Order and Vnitie they have beene our premeditated and authorized formes of Discipline in our spirituall warfare in fighting against the Flesh the World and that great and subtle Commander of the Aire the Devill the potent adversaries of Mankind who have assuredly received many a deadly wound by these ancient and approved and experienced Battaliaes and shall wee now breake ranks and order when our victory goes on so prosperously and our warfare so nigh to an end and so hazard an inrode and rowting and a confusion amongst us God forbid To conclude it were to be heartily wished that in matters that truly concerne so much the glory of God the honour peace and welfare of the Church and Common weale that all single sinister and prejudicate opinions might be laid aside much lesse so scandalously published and that in contending for the truth we do not forget our dutie and the unity that ought to be amongst Protestants For it●● most certain there can be no true contending for the truth but that which is accompanied with sincerity humility and charity that so the goodnesse of our cause may be manifested in our religious and Christian demeanours therein And for as much as the Book of Common Prayers hath been so religiouslie begun intended and used by our forefathers to the glory and due and decent Service of God and hath at severall times been established as Lawes in this Land in times of Religious Princes and reforming Magistrates and hath been often maintained against all oppositions and so maturely determined and so long peaceably and prosperously enjoyed devoutly frequented and hath beene so common and necessary for us let us be thankfull to God and our Governours for the free and common use and continuance of them and according to that prudent and religious advice of authority let us quietly attend the reformation intended without any tumultuous disturbance of the worship of God and peace of the Kingdome In the meane time and ever let us remember the Apostles counsell to pray for all those that are in Authority that we may live a godly life under them with all peace and quietnesse to which my heart and tongue and all true hearted protestants will ever say Amen FINIS