Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	bishop_n	church_n	reformation_n	2,930	5	8.7259	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51980	The vanity, mischief and danger of continuing ceremonies in the worship of God humbly proposed to the present convocation / by P.M., a minister of the Church of England.	P. M.	1690 (1690)	Wing M68; ESTC R19138	38,859	48

Eph. 5.5 Heb. 12.14 Holiness not only prepares for eternal life but is greatly advantagious to the Church in this World Wheresoever it is it invigorates others of this fellowship that are near it Ibid. Page 130. and it commands awe and reverence from all-men VI. Hindring a world of good It cannot be proved that Ceremonies in Worship ever did any good The instances abovementioned fully prove that they have been very Mischievous and there is this to provoke all good Christians to desire the casting them away they hinder a world of good They hinder Reformation Love and Communion of Churches I. They hinder reformation The Quarrels occasioned by them hinder the Progress of the Reformed Religion Bishop Burnet in relation to England chargeth this upon the long and fierce contests among us about things which we all confess are indifferent in their own nature Exhortati●n to Peace and Vnion Pag. 13. There may yet be expected a further reformation of Churches to a higher degree of purity to the advancement of the power of Godliness In the Reformation in the last Century the Pope was driven hence in such haste that he left some of his toys behind him These have continued too long amongst us to the great disturbance of the Church and oppression of serious Piety God by the late advances of Popery among us hath shewed us what it is that both it and all things that belong to it may be abhorred by us and rejected with indignation He herein deals with us as he did with the Israelites Mic. 4.10 Thou shalt go even to Babylon there shalt thou be delivered They were delivered from Babylon the most potent Tyranny on Earth in those times and they were purged from Idolatry in Babylon the Fountain and Nursery of Idolatry then in the World For they never revolted again to Images after their return from Captivity But they were afterward guilty of our error doting on humane Impositions they set up Traditions by which they made void the Commandments of God In the first Reformation we were cleansed from Idolatry in the next I hope we shall go a step further The case of the Jews and Babylon may have a resemblance to the Church and Spiritual Babylon now The Church is prevailing tho she lately seemed to languish Her struglings under the renewed assaults of Antichrist tend to her higher advancement We have been in such danger of destruction by Popery and Arbitrary Power that our ruine seemed unavoidable God hath wonderfully rescued us from all the Plagues that seemed to hang over our heads We should therefore cast off all those things that by wounding weak consciences may have provoked him to set darkness in our paths and by dividing us did help to bind us as slaves under the most cruel Tyranny God may intend this reformation among us by the glorious revolution he hath wrought by our Gracious Soveraign by which the tide of the last persecution from Antichrist seems to be turned and the Church to be upon the rising ground Let us then retain nothing that may hinder the good work of God among us That persecution saith the Learned Mr. Charnock which Vol. 2. on Psal 87.5 Pag. 27. I suppose remains yet to be acted and which will be the smartest shall be succeeded by the clearest eruption of Gospel-light wherein the Gospel shall recover its Ancient and Primitive Glory If he doth suffer enemies to prevail they shall be but as whisks to brush off the dust Ibid. on Exo. 15.9 10. P. 52. Ibid. on Psa 87.5 P. 39. wisps of Straw to cleanse the filthy pot Before the Philadelphian State which it is likely we are not far from there will be a combat wherein the Church is to bear a signal Testimony to the truths of Christ in the way of a conflict Rev. 3.5 The glorious State of the Church at the resurrection of the witnesses shall be preceded by such a calamity as shall be the terrour of the Godly and the triumph of an enemy devoted to a sudden and unexpected destruction Rev. 11.9 10 11 12. His going forth is prepared as the morning Hos 6.3 Vol. 2. ●● Psal 87.5 Pag. 31. His appearance for and in his Church is as certain as the dawning of the morning light at the appointed hour All the Clouds which threaten a perpetual night cannot hinder it all the workers of darkness cannot prevent it this morning will dawn whether they will or no. There shall be a perpetuity in this Spiritual State Ib. Pag. 40. only between the beginning and compleating it Satan shall be let loose but for a little season Rev. 20.3 And after this the Church shall not have one blow more from Hell but the Devil must for ever give over nibbling at her heel Let us not fight against God Act. 23.9 All dividing terms of Communion or of the exercise of the Ministry are the things to be removed in order to a more perfect reformation of the Church and to make way for a more holy and blessed State of Piety and Love which may be at hand if by our perverseness we do not put away this happiness from us God is doing this work in the world it shall go on tho we perish by our foolish obstinacy 5.39 If it be of God ye cannot overthrow it lest haply ye be found even to fight against God All wise and good men amongst the Clergy and People desire the taking away the instruments of our confusions None at this time can have a zeal for these things except such who either know not how to appear religious without a dress of trifles or they have such a secret reserve for the late Kings Interest that they had rather have an Army of French Dragoons Irish Cut-throats and barbarous Highlanders in the bowels of this Kingdom than see us strengthened by an Universal affection to our gracious Soveraign and United in Love and Charity one towards another Ceremonies have been the Clokes of Impiety and Miliciousness If these are continued it will be exceeding difficult to purge out vice which will shelter it self under them People are prone to be fond of their own Idols there will be more regard had for conformity to them than care of reformation Tho our Pious Fathers are never so zealous against sin the Under-Officers will indulge the Sons of Eli. Bold Plea for moderation Pag. 41. A Register when told that a person presented was one of us he will swear and be drunk as well as the best of us called the Church-Warden and chid him very sharply telling him he was a most impudent and villanous rake-hell in that he durst adventure to present so worthy a Gentleman as that was We are all apt to look on the faults of our own party with a favourable eye Debauchery came in with Ceremonies we shall be happy if they fall together Righteousness exalteth á Nation but sin is a reproach to any people