Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	beware_v	conscience_n	great_a	16	3	2.1343	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29138	A moderate short discourse concerning tenderness of conscience by John Bradshaw ...	Bradshaw, John, 1602-1659.	1663 (1663)	Wing B4154; ESTC R32859	26,615	37

Church but this I presume not to deal upon All that I presume to say and none can blame me for it is this They that own our rule but not our principles and discipline have less to plead for their separation and they that own both our rule principles and discipline have nothing to plead abhorring Sectarian principles Atheists and Libertins yet shrowding themselves under their practices 3. However such a conscience is tender of all divine laws yet is it in a more peculiar and remarkable manner tender of Christs new and great Commandement of Love and consequently of his injunction so earnestly and frequently inculcated by the Apostle to beware of making Schisms Divisions and Separations He hath no tender conscience that is not tender and fearful of making breaches and parties in the Church of God 4. A tender conscience is tender of another mans conscience Some that former years professed tenderness about a White Garment about Kneeling and Standing Gestures c. when they had got the power into their own hands It was mine own lot to have the Covenant tendered me so soon as Printed and upon my absolute refusal to be exiled from my Flock March 2. 1643. and put to sad exigencies had no mercy on the consciences of their brethren that had a thousand times more cause to be tender and wary of taking the Covenant but they who had strained at the former gnats did not only swallow the Covenant Camel but did endeavour to cram and ram it down the throats of their brethren wrenching open their jaws with the cold and harsh key of poverty and ruin and which was worse making such scandalous that should refuse it how unwarrantable soever from the imposers and composers how unsuitable soever for the matter to sound and sworn principles and how pernicious soever in the ends and effects of it 5. It is tender of both Tables of the Law If it will not admit of profaness neither will it of unrighteousness If it be tender of an idle and vain oath it is no less of detraction if of neglecting the Sabbath so also of neglecting the Poor if it abhorrs Idols which are a breach of the first Table it abandons Sacriledge which is a breach of both Tables 6. It is troubled if it hath admitted any thing against the clear rule be it never so little be it but in a thought Deut. 15.9 Beware there be not a thought in thy wicked heart Isa 35.4 He is of a fearful heart Eccle. 10.20 Curse not the King no not in thy thought 2 Cor. 8.20 Avoiding this that no man should blame us c. Dua res sunt conscientia sama propter nos conscientia nostra nobis sufficit propter alios fama necessaria est conscientiatibi fama proximo August Serm. priore de vita com suorum clericorum They dare not let any spot of guilt cleave to them Their conversation shews they do exercise themselves to have always a conscience void of offence towards God and towards Men Act. 24.16 7. Above all men to be void of offence towards the Magistrate He is not apt by any intemperate speeches much less otherwise to fly upon the Law or the Magistrate yea though they should require what he cannot do His prayers are as many for him his good speeches as frequent of him and his fidelity as great towards him as if he had never received any difficult law from him He translates those precepts out of OEconomicks into Politicks which are given us Eph. 6.3 Col. 3.22 1 Pet. 2.18 He bears meekly the will and suffers meekly the anger of the Magistrate To what he may yield he is the forwarder if he cannot yield to every thing He is first most tender of provoking God and next of provoking Gods Vicegerents It is the grief of his soul if he cannot come up to every thing the Magistrate expects of him 8. He is willing to be inform'd and to hear what may be said As he is tender of doing any thing contrary to his judgment so is he tender of judging contrary to the truth He is not self-willed but will hear what may be said against his way and his interest Eli knew Samuel had a sharp message yet says he God do so to thee and more also if thou hide c. 1 Sam. 3.17 Gal. 2.13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him in so much that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation 9. He is not apt to be censorious he considers that a good man may fall by temptation and he rejoyces not at the fall of his brother Prov. 24.16 A just man falls seven times a day v. 17. rejoyce not when thine enemy falls He scoffs not at nor triumphs over his enemy much less his neighbour and friend when he is down but seeks his restoring considering himself lest he also be tempted Gal. 6.1 10. Conscientia tenera non est temeraria In doubtful cases it will seek and ask for information before it acts though it is not scrupulous it is wary considerate and watchful Seek ye out of the books of the Lord and read Isa 34.16 it takes counsel concerning the ways of God in Gods way it goes to the Law and to the Testimony Isa 8.20 and if it want understanding in that is goes to the Interpreter Job 33.23 to the Priest whose lips should preserve knowledge at whose mouth they should seek the Law Mal. 2.7 if He cannot satisfie it inquires what the Church in her Synods and Councils hath universally determin'd not building its faith on the Church which is built upon the faith it self See for this Ecclesiast 6.33 36. and ch 8.8 9. Mat. 16. but in doubtful cases chusing publick interpretation before private and acquiescing therein though not as a ground of faith yet as the safest and probable means of knowledge and instruction These are the adjuncts and properties of a true tender conscience Question But all this while what shall we say to a doubting conscience Rom. 4.23 He that doubteth is damned or judged if he eat because whatsoever is not of faith is sin Answ 1 A dubious conscience is somewhat like a tender conscience though not the same with it Answ 2 It is observable the things the Apostle speaks of are matters of religion and not about civil matters So that if a man should doubt in civil matters this Text will give no sure footing for forbearance upon doubting as if a man should doubt whether he might lawfully undertake the office of a Constable or Headborough or whether he might pledge his friend when he drinks to him or in a thousand instances more Answ 3 The Apostle doth not instance in things clearly evil or good but such as at that juncture of time betwixt the setting of the Law and the dawning of the Gospel were dark and somewhat doubtful as about the Jewish meats and festivals yea were in respect of express