Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	christian_a	church_n	communion_n	2,479	5	8.9287	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85986	The libertine school'd, or A vindication of the magistrates power in religious matters. In ansvver to some fallacious quæries scattered about the city of Limrick, by a nameless author, about the 15th of December, 1656. And for detection of those mysterious designs so vigorously fomented, if not begun among us, by romish engineers, and Jesuitick emissaries, under notionall disguises ... (politicæ uti & ecclesiasticæ. axiom. Arabic.) Published, by Claudus Gilbert, B.D. and minister of the Gospel at Limrick in Ireland.	Gilbert, Claudius, d. 1696?	1657 (1657)	Wing G702; Thomason E923_4; ESTC R202210	61,982	75

Babylonian Captivity The Kingdom of the ten Tribes often called Israel Ephraim Samaria c. by way of distinction revolted from Gods worship under Jeroboam and his successors corrupting the same perverting the Ministry advancing the lowest of the people to the Priesthood joining Idolatry of severall kindes thereto c. yet were they still owned and called the people and spouse of God and communion with them kept by the Prophets till their Captivity So when the Kingdom of the two Tribes called Judah and Benjamin did gradually apostatize from the purity of Gods worship joining often Idolatry and gross evils thereto yet were they still honoured with the Name of Gods people his Portion and Church Jerem. 50. 7. Jerem. 51. 5. Thus in former ages though corruption did increase apace in the Christian Churches beginning in the Apostles daies and successively spreading till the Man of Sin got into Christs Seat being ascended to his Meridian of Supream Power infallible in Ecclesiasticals and temporals yet were the Lords servants in all their vigilant and zealous Vindications of his Truth very carefull still to maintain the Vnity and Peace of the Church to the utmost till the Whore of Rome by separating from Christian Fundamentals had necessitated them to separate utterly from her Communion Truth and Peace are so dear friends to Christ that his friends cannot but be friendly to them both as farre as their power reaches Those faithfull defenders of the Truth who were driven away into the wilderness of America by a turbulent party visibly then complying with the Roman Antichrist did still testifie their care of preserving that Christian unity in all their contentions for verity and purity Though they desired much and prayed earnestly for further Reformation in the Parish Churches of England yet did they still own their Church state and Communion therewith Thus sober Christians will still be manifesting their love to Christian peace in their hottest pursuits after Truth whether in their own or others societies The fire of Christian zeal is of singular use when it keeps within its proper place and season But when it 's scattered and gets into the thatch the mischief thereof is unexpressible What dreadfull Convulsions and Inflammations hath not such a rash zeal caused among us both in Church and State When Christians cannot discover and mend faults without unchristian separations from the Church and unchurching of it it must needs prove the ground of many sad effects It did so in the primitive daies it hath done so in ours In stead of an amicable debate of things controverted bitter contests and wofull ruptures have attended such courses In stead of amending one fault more are created afresh in stead of recovering one Truth many errours are easily let in Romish Engineers are alwaies at hand to blow the bellows and widen differences taking part now with one new with the other under a disguise that their designes may be carried on They fish best in all such troubled waters and improve the opportunities of gaining by our losses This hath been one main cause of so many out-cries for generall tolerations under the fair colours of Liberty of Conscience that every one might follow his own list The Magistrates power hath been so often cried down and exclaimed against lest errour and sinne should be any way curbed or checked in their unlimited unruly power Some well-minded Christians have been that way so extravagant through mis-applications and mis-interpretations of divers Scriptures that they have too often pleaded the devils cause in thinking to plead the godlies interest Some would give too much to the Magistrate and others too little Some would destroy Ecclesiasticall Government by advancing the Civil Others would destroy the Civill by exalting the Ecclesiasticall These two powers which God hath appointed for the Churches good in their respective capacities and motions some would confound others would destroy and others would make them to destroy each other Thus varieties of peccant humours breed still varieties of diseases in all sublunary subjects when they break their bounds limited to them by the Supream Disposer of all To avoid all extreams in this affair we finde our selves obliged by Scripture and reason to own a Magistraticall power authorized by Gods Word to act officially about sacred things in a civil manner either in commanding forbidding or punishing the externall man according to Gods revealed Word for the Lords honour and mans good A power we say authorized not a private charitative act Magistraticall not Ministeriall acting officially not indifferently about sacred things of the first Table in a Civil manner not by Ecclesiasticall censures concerning the externall man expressed in words or deeds not the internall expressed by thoughts according to Gods revealed Word not his own fansie or any mans will for Gods honour and the publique good not for any selfish ends Thus we have the subject and matter the Author and form the manner and Rule the object and end of this Magistraticall power so needfull so usefull How much is said for demonstration hereof by the reason of God and of man is touched at in the following Tract having been fully made out by the Learned in all Ages All godly Princes Jewish and Christian have been rendred famous more or less according as they more or less tendred Gods interest in this eminent charge If any object that the Jewish Princes were Types of Christ therein We answer The Scripture expresses two sorts of Types Some properly for adumbration or representation thus the High priest and Sacrifices typed out Christ Heb. 10. 1 2. Others for imitation and direction thus Gods dealings with Israel were Types {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or examples 1 Cor. 10. 6 11. The former Types were to expire the latter to endure Now that power used by Jewish Magistrates had nothing of a shadow but much for example being so commanded and commended of God therein in performing a Morall not Ceremoniall duty If any object It was part of the Judiciall Law We answer 1. Let it be proved wherein it was peculiar to the state 2. If that were granted yet the equity of those Judicials is still in force and imitable now as occasion serves it s not now unlawfull though all Judicials be not alwaies expedient Gods Law is the best Rule of our Judicials as King Lucius the first Christian Monarch of Brittain learned of Gods Word confirmed to him by Letters from Eleutherius and others in the second age from Christ which he also followed as did Alfred the mirror of Princes and other successors of their valour and vertue As for Christian Emperours History is full of their noble Acts in this way for Christ approved and applauded by all wise Christians in their Synods and Councils Provinciall Nationall and Vniversall The Greek and Latine Fathers agree in this thing very harmoniously The very light of nature taught all sober Heathens to observe this