Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
authority_n book_n church_n word_n 3,782 5 4.3994 4 true
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
A92970 Several arguments against bowing at the name of Jesus. By a learned author. Learned author. 1660 (1660) Wing S2751; Thomason E1050_7; ESTC R203547 15,307 24

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

is this but to command dissimulation And for the greatest part of those that are most taken with and most pliable to this posture it is more than apparent that for any inward soul-reverence to Christ they have little to do with it So that to command all without exception to do it there is no interpretation to salve it but that it is a command to the greatest part of those to whom it is enjoyned to profess that outwardly which they are not within which in plain speaking is gross Dissimulation 2. If it be the proper end and intent of this Ceremonial Worship to testifie the inward reverence of the soul to Christ then should it rather be commanded to be done at such times indefinitely when a man finds the impression of such a reverence upon his Spirit and not determinately whenever he hears the sound of the Name JESUS Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh and so it is fittest for all the body to speak and not when the body is empty 3. If a definite time be fit to be appointed when men should bow their bodies to Christ in token of their inward reverence it should rather be when some of those great things he hath done for us were mentioned than when only his bare name is recited because there is not so much in the bare name which is scarcely heard to affect the heart towards him as when that Goodness and Mercy which is seen in that great salvation he hath purchased for us is displayed before our eyes 4. Lastly It seems a thing altogether unreasonable when things that are stronger and more spiritual are in place especially when that which is a more full and more genuine exercise must give place for a time to make way for that which is inferiour to it But reverence in attention to the Word of Christ is doubtless a greater and fuller exercise and testimony of greater inward reverence of the heart than bowing at the name of Jesus is The Souldiers that put him to death bowed the knee to him in derision But for outward reverence in hearing the Scriptures it may be taken up by those who have no true love to God or his Word Yet God himself gives testimony of it as a seeming behaviour well becoming his people Ezek. 32. Ergo For a man to break off and interrupt a more solemn exercise to Christ which reverence men exhibit in a reverent attention to his Word whether it be with sitting or standing only to introduce a hetrogenite and less pertinent exercise in bowing I conceive is not that reasonable service of God which the Scriptures call for and require at every mans hands Arg. XI THat Worship which neither the Law of God nor the Law of man nor the Church whereof we are Members imposes ought not to be assented unto or entertained But such is this bowing it is neither commanded in this case by the Law of God neither is there any Canon or a constitution of the Church Ergo. The Major is without exception As for the Minor That this worship is not commanded by any Law of God it hath been sufficiently declared already For the latter Member That it is not commanded by any Canon or Constitution of the Church it may thus appear If not by the 18th Canon then not by any other because there is no appearance for it out of any other That it is not enjoyned in the 18th Canon these Considerations make it every whit as much if not more than probable I. That worship or reverence here advised or called for is only such a worship or reverence as is due For that is the first and principal qualification of it by which the other two us and all must be interpreted Now the Rule in Law is that is due which is required by the Law of God But such reverence or worship to Christ which the Law of God doth not require is not that worship which the Canon adviseth unto But now as concerning this bowing worship or reverence in this case it haah been often proved to have been no where required by the Law of God If it be objected that the word due may have reference to some former Law or Constitution of the Church as well as to the Law of God in respect whereof it may be called due I Answer 1. That this being left doubtful and undetermined in the Canon whether it be such a worship as is due by the Law of God or by the Law of the Church then the interpretation of the Canon is not to be left to or made by any one man or more but by a Convocation of the Clergy under the Broad Seal as is expresly enjoyned by his Majesties Declaration prefixed before the last Impression of the Book 39 Articles of Religion Ergo. As yet till the Canon be made to speak more plain by this authority there is no authority sufficient peremptorily to impose any such worship by vertue of the Canon But 2. Suppose it be granted that the word due hath or may have reference to some former Constitution of the Church yet till such a Canon be reduced which hitherto hath not been neither ever will or can be where this reverence of bowing the Body or Knee is precisely or determinately enjoyned till then there is nothing to be had out of the Canon for bowing II. That reverence to Christ the Canon adviseth unto is only such a reverence as hath been accustomed Now to what custom this word referreth there is nothing determined of it It is not in any probability that it is either to the Church of God in general or to the custom of the Church of God in England As for what hath been accustomed to the Church malignant of Popery I presume the Canon looks not after it Now that either it hath been the custom of the Church Catholick or the custom of the Church of England to bow still at the name of Jesus I know no authentick Author that can testifie As for the practise of some particular either Place or Person it will not amount to make that which is properly called a custom III. But if the words of the Canon due lowly and accustomed be understood of any humble deportment and reverent composure of the outward man in hearing of the word of Christ then will the sense be more expedient and clear than will be found in any other interpretation For such reverence is 1. Both apparently due from the Word of God and his Law and the Law of the Church And 2. It is Lowly the Body every way framed to the humblest deporture of the Soul 3. Such a reverence hath been still accustomed and is still the custom of all the true Servants of God both in England and elsewhere These three qualifications of due lowly and reverence will never be made so really and generally into that reverence of bowing as they do to that reverent and humble attention of hearing the Word of God and this is most pliable to the meaning of the Canon IV. Nothing is enjoyned in this Canon that is not prescribed nor mentioned in the Book of Common-Prayer and it is evident from hence because in that Act of conformity prefixed before the Book That if any other Ceremony be in the Service of God it is prohibited under the penalty but for the Ceremony of bowing at the name of Jesus the Book of Common-Prayer no where mentions Ergo it is not likely to be enjoyned by the Canon Or if it be granted then the Book of Common-Prayer will fall heavy upon him that shall observe the Canon or on the other side the Canon will condemn him that shall observe the Book of Common-Prayer 5. His Majesties special command and pleasure is in the former Declaration that the litteral and grammatical sense shall still be taken and no other But now if the Canon have no other Midwife but the literal and the grammatical sense it will never be delivered of this bowing worship at the name of Jesus If the Canon were exactly translated by all Languages and suit made to the best Grammarians of all Nations to give the literal sense of it it is not to be conceived that any one of them would ever find that bowing the Body at the sound of the name Jesus ever to be meant by it FINIS