Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	act_n	particular_a	whole_a	3,052	5	5.3545	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B09242	Something offered to the consideration of friends, with respect to the present difference about some things brought into the church of late, as for instance, the limit of a years time in the case of marriage, where the husband or wife is buried; as also that order that all persons that intend marriage, shall lay their intention before a womans meeting, distinct and apart from the men, &c. which we forbear further to set forth, or particularly to speak to, at this time, because we would not make the breach wider than it must needs be, so shall content our selves in offering something in general, at present.	Hogg, John, fl. 1675-1698.	1675 (1675)	Wing H2369; ESTC R221383	4,754	13

Something offered to the consideration of Friends with respect to the present difference about some things brought into the Church of late As for instance the limit of a years time in the case of Marriage where the Husband or Wife is buried as also that order that all persons that intend Marriage shall lay their intention before a Womans meeting distinct and apart from the Men c. which we forbear further to set forth or particularly to speak to at this time because we would not make the breach wider than it must needs be so shall content our selves in offering something in general at present FIRST either we had what was essential to true Religion and a true Church State with respect to outward things before the things in question was brought in or we had not if we had not then we must want true Religion c. till those things was brought in which we hope none will affirm But if we had what was essential to true Religion c. before those things was brought in about which the difference is as we believe we had it must follow that those things are but circumstantial things and circumstantial things at best if good are but accidentally good and that is as persons are perswaded of them and not otherwise Now on this account consider what reason or true ground there can be that persons that are found conformable to ancient principles and practices by which they were accepted by those of the same Perswasion to be professors of the truth in the way of Holiness and Purity should be esteemed otherwise now in any respect by those of the same Society only because they conform not to some things which may be termed noval by being brought into the Church of late and at best but circumstantial things relating more to the manner of doing a thing than the thing it self being so far from being essential to Righteousness as that they are not essential to the profession we are under it being plain that we were esteemed by the World as Quakers and accepted of by Friends without them Consider therefore if it be not an act of great incharity to unchristian or in respect to judge persons unfaithful that conform not to those lesser things whilst it doth not appear but they are faithfull in the greater for what charitable man can suppose that any should wilfully or obstinately deny the lesser whilst he performs the greater through the force of truth upon his mind thus would it not be more Charity more Truth-like more tending to Peace to keep Communion with such notwithstanding their dissent by believing and receiving such so scrupling as really Conscientious in the things they scruple as in the things they do perform But if it shall be objected that this allows various practices in the Church and therefore not to be suffered for answer let such consider whether by professing to adhere to the spirit of truth they do not take themselves to be of that universal Church of which Christ Jesus our Lord is head if they do then whether that Church do not take in all that fear God and work Righteousness now as well as it did in the Apostles time if it do then whether it be to be supposed much less asserted that all those were of one mind with respect to practice in circumstantial things and if that be not to be asserted then whether we can be truly like unto that Church seeing we conceive as the whole is so ought every part to be whilst there wants Demonstration of it in our practices with respect to Communion with those that agree with us in essential things because of some differences in circumstantial and of our own making too wherein we go from them and not they from us for this we may be sure if the universal Church take in all that fear God and work Righteousness in every Nation it ought to do it in one Nation and doubtless will when the judgment of truth prevails above opinion For to be sure every one that is born o● God and abides in his Counsel owns what the Spirit of God owns But if this please not let us know upon what foot those things about which the differences is are brought in that is whether they are brought in as terms of Communion or not for if they are not brought in as terms of Communion there doth not to us appear much reason we should differ about them because if not made terms of communion they can at most but be recommended and so freely left for every one to practice as they are perswaded but they seem not thus to be left if therefore they are brought in as terms of Communion then we desire to know where that power rests that can make circumstantial things terms of Communion if it be alledged that this power rest in the Church then we conceive by Church we are to understand either the whole Society or some particular assembly not the whole Society First because they cannot come together and if they could no act could be made to oblige all without the consent of all and where all condescends there is none left to dissent but there is that dissent so that we are not to understand it here Therefore if it rests in a Church it must be in some particular Assembly for that in a sense may bear that name now if it rest in any Assembly we desire to know which it is this cannot fairly be denyed because every true power springs from a true ground which as well may be known as the power which springs from it therefore we desire it may be set forth and in the mean time we conceive if any such power rest in any Assembly they must receive it either from Men or from God if from Men that is from those of the same Society it must be given to them either in our first coming forth and imbodying as a people or at some time since not in our first moming forth for then we did not as many before us had done chuse Elders Pasto rs and Teachers c. and so form a body that might be called a Church to govern us and to determine what should be matter of Faith for us for the weakness of such things we clearly saw and therefore was directed to know the Lord for our selves on which account it was we were not to believe 〈◊〉 any said because they said it but only because we knew what they said was true that so our hope and faith might not stand in Men but in the power of God thus in our coming forth there doth appear no footsteps of any such Authority therefore if it was given at any time since we desire to know when it was done and in the mean time offer if any such thing be done we look upon it out of truth for no man can know aforehand whether that thing shall be true or false that resteth in others till it is brought