Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	day_n	jesus_n	lord_n	4,054	5	3.5568	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45617	Noah's dove, or, An epistle of peace directed to his intirely affected brethren, the Presbiterians and Independants as a probable means for their agreement and vnion / from Sir Iames Harington, Knight.	Harrington, James, Sir, 1607-1680.	1645 (1645)	Wing H815; ESTC R31528	5,826	14

NOAH'S DOVE OR AN EPISTLE OF PEACE DIRECTED To his intirely affected Brethren The Presbiterians and Independants As a probable means for their Agreement and Vnion From Sir IAMES HARINGTON Knight Imprimat JOSEPH CARILL LONDON Printed by T. W. for ED. HUSBAND Printer for the Honourable House of Commons 1645. Noahs Dove or an Epistle of Peace directed to his intirely affected Brethren the Presbiterians and Independants As a probable means for their agreement and union Sincerely Beloved I Read of two Children contending in the wombe of their Mother the one beloved the other hated but ye are both Jacobs both the Israel of God O farre be it from such Brethren to rend and lacerate their Mothers bowels or to fall out in the way Are we not one Body and have we not all one spirit one Lord one Faith one Baptisme one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all I beseech you by the mercies of God by the excellent effects of Charity by the Fruits of the spirit by the examples and command of the Lord Jesus and the character of his Disciples bee meeke and lowly and love one another so shall the plots of Rome and Hell be prevented and all Malignants shut their mouthes Why should it be spoken to our shame that there is not a wise man amongst us No not one that is able to judge between his Brethren but Brother asperces and declaimes against Brother and that before the Antichristians Now therefore there is utterly a fault amongst you know yee not that Revilers shall not inherit the kingdome of God But some will answer that they have received a new light O be cautious that noveltie eclipse not truth since the last dayes foretold and fore-warnd of by our Saviour are at hand wherein iniquity abounds and the love of many waxes cold hence Father against sonne and sonne against Father betraying one another and hating one another Hence the judgements of Famine and Pestilence Nation rising up against Nation So that the whole world seemes to be on fire before its time These dayes not I but the Lord Jesus the great Prophet of his Church dictates and points out to be the time when many false Christs and Prophets or teachers of Christianity shall arise who by their applause excellencie of parts and externall holinesse by which they shall shew forth as it were signes and wonders and gather a multitude of Disciples declaring that in such a meeting be it in woods or deserts or in secret chambers the true way of Christ is to be found deceiving if it were possible the very elect Our Lord teaching us from hence how neere a similitude these new Doctrines shall have to truth and true holinesse But be they as Paul or Cephas in the Church or as Angels from heaven believe them not for as the lightning comes out of the East and shines even to the West so shall also the glorious comming of the Son of man be that is as I humbly conceive that his Gospell which at first broke out like lightning in the East shall in this last age upon the ruins and through the clouds of spirituall Babilon dart it selfe and shine gloriously in our Westerne Churches even to the Indies that th' other paralell prophesie may be fulfill'd by the subjecting and uniting the Kingdomes of the Earth unto the Kingdome of the Lord and of his Christ Let us not then be carried about with every wind of Doctrine but hold fast the Gospell delivered to us by Christ and his Apostles in the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace since other foundation can no man lay it being a sinne so much as to doubt much more to defend that the fundamentalls of our Religion some of which are mentioned by the Author to the * Hebrews and received by the Church in all ages are not to bind as de futuro as having a possibilitie upon new notions to be nuld or chang'd which is to make God a lyer to undermine his Church and to pull downe the Pillers thereof For if the foundations bee destroyed what shall * Nay what can the righteous doe Wherefore my humble suit unto our master Builders is to keepe the Foundation unmoveable not permitting a resurrection to ancient heretiques before their time that so whatsoever men build thereon whether it be gold or stubble may be brought to the Test in this Fiery triall Stand fast therefore Brethren in that libertie wherein Christ hath made us free not making your libertie a cloake for malitiousnesse not for an occasion to the Flesh but by love serve one another judging thus of one another that he that loves his Brother abides in the light but * he that hates his Brother whatsoever he may boast of new discoveries walkes in darknesse and knowes not whither he goes because that darknesse hath blinded his eyes and that whosoever seemes to be religious and yet bridles not his tongue he deceives his owne heart and his Religion is vain * But that I may not only perswade but offer my Mite I shall in all humilitie propose a medium which if found agreeable to the word of God may through the blessing of the Almighty make up the Breach and reconcile your greatest difference I conceive you both agree in these particulars That all that shall be Members and have right to Vote in your Churches from which Votes Women are excepted shall not only be free from just scandall that is Prophannesse and the impenitent practise of any knowne sinne but be indued with a sufficiencie of knowledge to which end since you accord in the Principles of Religion I hope there will speedily be set forth and establisht one short Catechisme for information and examination Next in condiscention to the Independants I heare it is mutually resolved that the government of their respective Members reconciling of Inferiour differences and ordering their conversations even as farre as Ordination and the censure of Excommunication respect being had in Appeals to the advice and results of the Classes and Provinciall Synods and saving to the Presbyterians their right be ordered by their paricular Congregations Thus farre we are knit together in one spirituall building and temple of God The great difference if I understand it is in the Tegument and covering which is indeed the ornament coupling and strength of the whole Aedifice As where shall rest as to us under the same Scepter the determinative and concluding power the end of Appeals the regulation of that unlimited Plea and over-much extended libertie of conscience that so we may be one as Christ and his Father are one this some of you fixe in a generall Assemblie others limit to a particular Congregation The first pleads not only Scripture analogically but prudence for preserving union and preventing of Tumults as also Antiquitie from

the paralell in generall Counsells and Parliaments affirming that the other way hath no grounds in Scripture since Churches were necessarily Independant no State being then Christian that this way by reason that our corrupt nature hath no check is destructive to the unitie of Religion Since according to the number of the Congregations will be their opinions as also pernitious to Common-wealths their being no feuds so bloody and irreconciliable as those that breake out about points of Faith instance in the wars betweene the Turke and Persian Papists and Protestants in the Lutheran contestations and Arian persecutions Lastly they conclude an inconsistencie in this way with relations and callings disaffection and departure from Bed Board Families and Imployments being experimentall consequences of Religious differences On the other side the contradicting partie affirme that a generall Assembly differs but in name from a Conclave of Cardinals or Prelaticall Synod that every member of the Church is free and ought not in matters of Faith to conclude himselfe by Proxie that no Church hath power over another or Brethren since the Apostles have Dominion over the Consciences of their Brethren that their Platforme of Church Government ought to be and is jure divino that the Eavngelicall Scripture sets foorth theirs and no other Now deare Brethren give me your pardon and leave with Moses to step in betwixt your Combatings with his and Abrahams words why doe ye contend being ye are Brethren it may be God giving a blessing and each of you in his hand I shall in my Proposition be a medium to unite you only dispise not my indeavours since the Lord hides many things from the wise and prudent and reveales them to Babes But to proceed I observe neither of you arrogate to your selves an infallability but piously seeke an Orthodox and Prudentiall way of Government for the attaining and preserving Gods truth blessed are your indeavours yea they shal be blessed Wherefore I aske the Presbiterians why doe ye extoll and lift up a generall assemblie above the rest of the flocke of Christ To the Independants I say why doe ye preferre the judgement of one particular Congregation before the ioynt votes of all the refined Christian Churches of the Kingdome surely the first will yeild to me that where most of Gods People are in their judgement there is the greatest measure of his spirit and to such Assemblies principally and to their votes are made all those gratious promises I neede not coate the places concerning Christs spirit and presence I mean to such a Multitude not of Men only but of purged and visible believers The other I presume both from grounds of Scripture and reason will grant that could the votes of all the reputed and received Members of Christ of their severall Churches be joyntly taken and in one place they must be accepted and are but as the vote of one great Congregation which though it have an increase of Ministers and Elders yet according to a true difinition for essence is a Church and that more eminently though not more truely then the particular Congregations of whom it consists even as an Assembly made up of many Families called by the * Apostle Churches of God is more excellent then its subdivisions But that I may make good by Scripture this incorporating of Churches conjuncture and union of votes I shall remember you of those three chiefe proofes and lights of Church Governmrnt both for Doctrine and manners The first shewes the Primitive and Apostolique way of ending controversies in Doctrine by the summoning of that great Assembly of the members of the Churches of Ierusalem and Iudea of which Churches read Acts. 11. 1. and Galat 1. 22. Therefore called a Multitude Acts. 15. 12. in which the Apostles although indued with an infallible spirit and the Elders of the Churches did not alone vote and decree matters though that in many cases wherein the People consents such votes may be and are necessary expedient lawfull but the whole Church verse 22. which compar'd with Acts. 2. verse 41. Wherein three thousand are said to be converted and with Acts. 4. verse 4. Wherein five thousand were by one Sermon converted clearely demonstrates that this Assembly was composed of many Congregations as further appeares from the Apostles teaching and preaching in every house Acts. 5. 42. How else could eight thousand Men besides Women and Children be taught and edified The like is proved from the election and choise of the seaven Deacons by the vote of the Multitude Acts. 6. 5. Where the Apostles and Elders also were present yea those whom the holy Ghost Acts. 2. 47. Calls a Church in a Nationall respect he calls Churches Acts. 9. 31. In a Congregationall consideration And lastly in Corinth there more then probably appears to be many * Congregations else whence or where were these discentions and divisions some saying I am of Paul others I am of Apollo of Cephas 1. Cor. 1. 12. All the Members of which were commanded to meete in one Assembly for the excommunication of the incestuous person 1. Cor. 5. 4. Where note they were to meete to whom the Epistle was directed who are admonished to mourn But the Epistle and exhortation was directed to the whole Church of Corinth and not to the Elders only ergo the whole Congregation when they shall desire it have a right to vote and censure Having thus fully proved by Scripture that in Cities and Provinces and consequently in Kingdoms the Members of particular Congregations may and were by command to meete for the deciding of any great difference yea the Apostles though of an infallible spirit did not contradict but give both approbation and institution to that liberty I shall with humblest submission offer this following Proposition as a right and fit medium of reconciliation That in all great scisms and heresies over spreading whole Churches if the breach cannot be made up by advice argument and subordinate discipline either Congregationall or Presbiteriall an appeale be made to a Generall Assembly who after the stating disputing and voting such points in difference together with the merrit of the offence the recusant Church or Churches notwithstanding continuing unsatisfied that then the Assembly adjourne that sessions for three moneths in which time the Assembly members of each Congregation to be ordered after fasting and prayer to state the Question and declare the Arguments and Judgement of the generall Assembly to their particular Churches and so accordingly at that meeting receive and bring up each Churches vote and sentence with the number because of the disproportion of Parishes sum'd up of those that affirme and those that discent that so at the next Session the Question may be decided and concluded by the Major vote both of Churches and Members which Scripture way will not only by a religious Policy from time to time discover the temper pulse inclination of the whole Kingdome and consequently administer a great help and direction to Government but will give full satisfaction to all unlesse to obstinate heritickes as being the judgement and vote even by the Poale of all the visible and individuall Christians of the Kingdome politically united as in one Congregation yea the disobedient wil be left without excuse and justly liable to their sentence of excommunication But put the Question a considerable number of the Churches in the Kingdome give in their vote with a new opinion hazarding a rent and division in the Nation I answer that upon so sad an occasion our Church in imitation of the ancient callings of Generall Counsels upon the over flowing of heresie ought to desire the judgement and assistance and that by additionall votes if it may be of all the reformed Churches in the world which comes neerest to the judgement of the holy Catholicke Church the body of Christ to which he hath promised his presence and spirit of truth to the end and therefore must as to each particular State or Church though not infallibly yet prudentially end and conclude by obedience either active or passive the discenting Churches whom the civill Magistrate after the Churches excommunication is to order by banishment or lesser punishment according as their doctrines shal be more or lesse prejudiciall to the State wherein they live Which since they suffer as evill doers is as to that Common-wealth a civill and necessary act of preservative Justice not an inforcing of Conscience or persecution Thus fervently beseeching the blessing of the all-wise God upon my poore and weake indeavours trusting that in the bowells of love and charity I have in sincerity and plainnesse declared unto you the mind of Christ in all humility I conclude The unworthiest of the servants of the Lord Iesus J. H. FINIS Imprimatur Joseph Carill Gen. 25. 22. Malach. 1. 3 Gen. 45. 24. Eph. 4. 4 5 6 Rom. 12. 1. 1 Cor. 13. 4. Galat. 5. 22. Math. 11. 29. John 13. 34 35. 1 Cor. 6. 5 6. 7. 10. Math. 24. 12. Vers 7. 10. Vers. 11. and 24. Vers. 26. and 24. Vers. 27. Gal. 1. 8. 2 Cor. 11. 13. Rev. 11. 15. Eph. 4. 14. Eph. 4. 3. 1 Cor. 3. 11. Rom. 14. 23. * Heb. 6. 1. 2. * Psal. 11. 3. 1 Cor. 3. 12. Gal. 5. 1. 13. * 1 Joh. 2. 9. 1. * Jam. 1. 16. 1 Cor. 14. 34. 1 Tim. 2. 11. 1 Cor. 5. 11. 2 Cor. 6. 14. 17. Ephes. 2. 21. Joh. 17. 21. Exod. 2. 13. Gen. 13. 8. Mat. 11. 25. * Colos 4. 15. Rom. 16. 5. * Compare Rom. 16. 16. with the postscript of that Epistle Acts 1. 15. 23. Act. 21. 22. Math. 28. 20 2. Chro. 15. verse 12. 13. 14. Matthew 18 verse 17.