Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	church_n	government_n	kingdom_n	3,695	5	5.8013	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B02273	An additional word to The body of divinity, or Confession of faith; being the substance of Christianity. Added on special occasion, tending further to confirm some truths therein. With a further discourse about the doctrine of election, universal, and special grace, &c. All which were touched in the said Confession of faith, but in this more plainy and fully (though briefly) discoursed and designed for the good of all. Whereunto is annexed a seasonable word of advice, being an essay for peace and union among all the sons and daughters of peace. / Written by Thomas Collier.	Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691.; Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691. Body of divinity.	1676 (1676)	Wing C5267AB; ESTC R174082	85,720	108

Marriage of differing Perswasions may perform the several Duties of each other of that Relation Yet it savours most of Christianity that our nearest Relations be such as with whom we may walk and worship God as Heirs together of the Grace of Life 1 Pet. 3. 7. And as for the matter of Oaths in the Cases of late commonly controverted and on which hath been many Breaches I believe if Persons knew what it is to walk by Rule and not by Will this matter will be soon over though Repentance is needed for the uncharitable Breaches on this account And as for Blood and Things strangled though I am much of the same mind that Blood is forbidden and that on the same grounds as mentioned viz. That which was forbidden before the Law under the Law and under the Gospel must needs be unlawful viz. That which was ever unlawful must be so still without some new Law to make it lawful And I may add That Blood was at first forbidden on a Moral and not a Ceremonial ground viz. The Blood is the Life thereof Gen. 9. 4. So it was and so it is the Life still The Law of forbidding Blood is as antient as the Law of allowance to eat the Flesh and is the general Law to mankind not Ceremonial but Moral and Perpetual Yet notwithstanding I see no ground of Separation from Persons or Churches that are of another mind not only because such things are not stated as the ground of Fellowship but like-wise we are forbidden to make Breaches on such accounts Rom. 14. 17. And because there are various Expressions in the Scripture which many yea most of the Godly understand gives an allowance in this matter and think it weakness in those who make Conscience thereof as Rom. 14. 14. I know and am perswaded by our Lord Jesus Christ that there is nothing unclean of it self viz. by any Law of God For it is Legal-Uncleanness that is here intended And that the first Part of that Injunction of the Apostles Elders and Church Act. 15. 28 29. forbidding the eating of Things offered to Idols c. is in some case allowed else-where and forbidden only in case of Offence 1 Cor. 8. 4. 8 9. 10. 27 28 29. 32. Though as for my self I can satisfiedly understand these Scriptures and the Law against eating of Blood stand unaltered yet I durst not force my understanding on others nor with-draw from those who differ from me herein And I heartily desire that all the true Lovers of Truth and Peace would not make disputable and doubtful Things the causes of Division but to receive each other not to doubtful Disputations Rom. 14. 1. knowing that The Kingdom of Heaven consisteth not in Meat and Drink but in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit Rom. 14. 17. And as for these grand causes of Division viz. The differing Notions about Election special and general Grace I hope what I have said about this matter in the preceding Discourse may tend in time to help over those Extreams when others shall see cause to set to their helping-hand in this Matter CHAP. V. A few brief Words to some other Christians that may tend to Peace ANd as for others who make the way of Church-Communion so wide as either to endeavour to make up a Union and Communion with all sorts of prophane Persons or Sprinkle Infants which answers not that one Baptism commanded in the Gospel or would force a Union and Communion on a Church-account by a human Coercive-Power which is contrary to the Law of Christ who will have all the Subjects of His Kingdom His Church to be a willing People Psal 110. 3. made so by His Word and Spirit Act. 2. 41. 2 Cor. 8. 5. and not by Human-Power and Force I know not what to say to them to work them into the Regular-Union and Fellowship of the Gospel on a Church-account being perswaded that there are many yea very many who fear God among them yet-while walking not only contrary to the Gospel but contrary to their own avowed Principles who confess that Faith and Repentance is required of Persons that are to be Baptized This is the Acknowledgment of all profest Christians and Churches That this answers the Law of Christ and yet do contrary to it which seems to stand up as a Bar of Separation and Breach of Fellowship on a Church-account But this I am willing to hope That such as are Godly among all that thus practice when they coometsee how inconsistent Infant-Baptism is with that of Believers and that they holding the first on solid Scripture-grounds which are innumerable the Second at best but on supposed grounds and that in so much Inconsistency and Contradiction both to the Thing it self and true state of the Gospel-Church who are or should be all at least Profest-Believers called to be Saints I say I am willing to hope That when they come to see into these so great Contradictions that they will be as willing and ready to lay down and fall in with the Gospel-Practice as ever they were to withstand it And 2dly I am willing to hope That they will for time to come be more heedful of opposing reproaching and persecuting a People for owning and practising their profest-Principles if they suppose weakness in those that cannot in Conscience fall-in with their Practice of Infant-Baptism whiles they are sure it is Truth they fall-in with in Believer's-Baptism I hope they may come to see it not so great a Crime as they perswade themselves and others it is especially in as much as they cannot nor pretend not to Infallibility in the Matter I would therefore humbly pray all such serious and godly Persons seriously to ponder this Matter and to search after the Mind of the Lord herein in order to the true Gospel-Peace of the Church that there may be no more biting and devouring one of another and to try how they can reconcile their own Principles in this Matter and to weigh all in the Ballance of the Sanctuary and what ever is found too light there to let it go as it is and to be of a Caleb and Joshua-like spirit to follow God fully And above all to take heed of an opposing persecuting-Spirit I am perswaded that a Gospel-Spirit and Persecution can or do rarely dwell together in one Man To Persecute or use a Coercive-Power in matters of Religion is inconsistent with the christian-Christian-Church relative to Christ the Head and Lord thereof who uses not Worldly-Weapons or Power in His Kingdom or Church Neither hath He Authorised His Ministers so to do worldly-Worldly-Government is to be managed with Worldly-Power christ's-Christ's-Government in His Church by His Word and Spirit administring His Censures in His Name So that to use Coercive-Power in Christ's immediate Concerns in His Church derogates from His Authority and it like-wise derogates from the true Nature of His Church which are His Sheep For Sheep under any pretence to persecute Wolves or

Accountableness of His Proceedings in the Whole which will tend to satisfie gracious Souls and silence all Gain-sayers if not here yet certainly hereafter from His general Design of Good to Men and the Rationalness and Equity of his proeeeding therein 5thly It 's that which renders the Scriptures reconcilable and discovers the sweet Harmony thereof that tells us of God's Design of good to all men and layeth the blame on Man in failing of Receiving the Good designed And the special Grace of God therein to some and that without any Derogation at all from His general Grace and leadeth out of those confused Labyrinths which the contrary and unaccountable Notions hath brought men into viz. Of God's sending His Son to dye for the Elect only in the strictest Sense determining to damn all the World besides That no man hath a Power in any Sense to believe and obey the Gospel and yet must be damned eternally for not believing which imports no less were it true than that God sent His Son not to save but to destroy the World And like-wise delivers from the unquoth Notions of denying Election and special Grace and the certainty of such to obtain The Liberty of the Will of God in this matter without any wrong at all to His general Grace The laying too much Stress in the Creature 's Will derogating from the Spirit 's Work in the Gospel These with sundry like Notions this Understanding delivers from and renders the wayes of God towards Men in the Gospel-way and work to be righteous even rational men themselves being Judges which will make all miscarrying Persons silent and speechless in the great Day of Account God's design in Scripture being to render himself and wayes to be understood of men rationally to convince them of His Mercy Truth and Justice suitable to his Name and Nature that what may be known of Him who is Invisible may be understood by men and it concerns us not to cloud Him under Darkness and so to render both Him and His wayes Unaccountable Irrational and Ungodlike who is the fountain of all Light Reason Truth Holiness Justice and Equity and is and must be so in all His wayes and hath designed by his Word and Works so to make known himself to men Psal 145. 17. Rom. 3. 3 4. 5thly It renders those divided Notions about Election and Reprobation general and special Grace that have unjustly made Divisions among Christians to be reconcilable and tendeth rightly to end the strife in this matter there being a Truth in both if rightly understood and held But as held in opposition are both contrary to the Truth and dishonourable unto God Let those that are for special Grace believe and own the general Grace of God to All and those that are for general Grace believe and own the special Grace of Election in the true sense as hath been declared and the Controversy will be over God will be honoured and His People comforted and edified 6thly It 's that which tends not only to render God and Christ truly lovely in the Eyes of all men and effectually to draw the Hearts of Sinners to Him when they understand that his Love is General and Universal Hos 11. 4. Matt. 11. 28. Joh. 3. 16. and 6. 37. But effectually worketh the Hearts of Saints to Duty and Diligence in all His wayes 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. working in them Love to God and Christ above all as their chiefest good and as the Word doth require Matt. 22. 37. Which can never be but from the Apprehension of the truth of Love to them 1 Joh. 4. 19. v. 10. 7thly It tends to render God to be infinitely Glorious in the Restauration As in the Creation-Work in which he deljghteth himself in variety and that as to us infinitly in which his Infinitness is wonderfully declared So in the Restauration and Redemption-Work there will be Infinitness in variety to Eternity though all shall stand in Unity as to the Head Eph. 1. 10. who is not only Head of the Church but Head over all things to the Church v. 22. Yet a variety beyond all Human Capacity both as to Glory and Punishment distinct and suitable to the various states of All respecting both Persons Actions and times of Restitution and some as wandering Stars to whom is reserved the blackness of Darkness for ever Jude v. 13. I say That things thus considered will render God infinitly glorious in His whole Name and that to Eternity the New-World being set in the whole State thereof to glorifie Him in all His Names CHAP. IX The Result and Conclusion of the Whole in a few Brief Words of Application Use 1. Of Information 1. IT Informs us How greatly it concerns us to be searching after and enquiring into that so we may obtain a greater measure of the knowledge of the Will of God in the Gospel it Informs us of the Weight and Worth of that Exhortation 2 Pet. 3. 18. But grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ To grow in the Knowledge of the Dignity and Unity of his Person Name and Offices and not to separate what God hath united To grow in the Knowledge of the Greatness and Universality of his Love to Sinners and the Work he undertook when He came to offer himself a Sacrifice for Sin Surely there is a Mystery in the Knowledge of Christ His design of Love and Grace to Sinners that is unsearchable O be dayly enquiring more into it and live more therein and you need not doubt of your falling from Him or the loss of your Consolation in Him Eph. 3. 17 18. 1 Joh. 3. 18 19 20. and 4. 16 17 18. Christians go the wrong way to work for Assurance and Consolation when they go to Election in the strictest and hidden Sense to plead Assurance from thence Alass that is a Mystery hid in the Father and the Son and must lose all that will lay the Foundation there therefore learn to live much in the Apprehension of and Faith in the Love of Christ Grow in the Knowledge thereof and so that it work you to a holy Conformity to his Will Love him and live to him under his Law of Grace and you need not doubt your good Estate to God-ward 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. 1 Pet. 1. 10 11. 2dly It Informs us of the great miscarrying of those who in their Notions do not distinguish but divide and separate the ●eneral and special Love of Christ in the Gospel By reason of which they have faln into not only Oppositions and Contentions but Separations each from other to the great trouble of the Church and scandal of Religion whereas both are Truth One takes one Part and the other takes the other Part and here the Gospel of Salvation is rent to pieces and the Church rent thereby and all as the Effects of Men's mistakes and Passions Let us learn better to distinguish and not to Divide what God hath

understand it to intend in the Fear of the Lord as His Ordinance And that 1. Because though the word in the Lord and in Christ do mostly intend in the Faith Profession of the Lord the word In the Lord is never spoken of a Second Person viz. When it speaks of any Person doing any Act as In the Lord it intends the same Person and not another So when it speaks of the Woman's Marrying In the Lord it intends her own Act and not the Person with whom she Marryeth That he must be in the Lord i. e. in the Church 2. Because there are other-like sayings in Scripture that must be thus understood viz. The Fear of the Lord according to Hi● Appointment and Ordinance as 1 Cor. 11. 11. Nevertheless neither is the Man without the Woman neither the Woman without the Man in the Lord In the Lord in this Place cannot intend in the Faith and Profession of the Lord For so Paul was without a Wife and perswaded others both Men and Women so to be because it brings not only Worldly Troubles but Distraction in Religious Things which clearly importeth That they might be without each other as in the Church and that to the best advantage on the Religious account But as v. 11 12. do fully explain They cannot be without each other on the Worldly-account for Procreation and maintaining the World which is God's Ordinance And to do it in the Way of Marriage is to do it in the Lord For the Woman is of the Man and the Man is by the Woman but both of God Taking and living together In the Lord i. e. in Lawful Matrimony and not in Adultery is to Marry in the Lord Heb. 13. 4. So Eph. 6. 1. Children Obey your Parents in the Lord It cannot import their Parents in the Church only then it would be a Law of Liberty and Disobedience to Parents out of the Church But In the Lord relates to the Children themselves to do it in the Fear of the Lord as His Ordinance in all lawful and rightful Things whether their Parents be in or out of the Church So Col. 3. 18. Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as it is fit in the Lord must be thus understood viz. of Wive's Submission in Lawful Things to their Husbands in the fear of the Lord and that to those out of the Profession of the Lord as well as to those in the Church 1 Pet. 3. 1. 3dly There are many Sayings in Scripture which seem to take off the force of what seems to be said to the contrary as 1 Cor. 7. 2. Let every Man have his own Wife and every Woman her own Husband He doth not limit to the Church compared with v. 13 14 where the unbelieving-Husband and the unbelieving-Wife are Sanctified to each other's use in that Relation And what is said in this matter is but a Supposition and no insallible Conclusion viz. That it intends such as were Marryed before Believing and urged from v. 20. Let every one abide in the same Calling wherein they were called This is but a Supposition and no undoubted Conclusion But v. 17. seems more proper to this case But as God hath Distributed to every Man or Divided which seems to relate most properly to the matter of Marriage it being God's Distribution whether the Husband or VVife be good or bad one in Mercy the other in Judgment And to this like wise agreeth 1 Pet. 3. 1 2. which fully cleareth That believing-VVomen had unbelieving-Husbands but whether marryed before Believing is unintelligible as to us unless by Divine-Revelation which now none can pretend unto 4thly Marriage it self is of Natural and VVorldly concernment and not Religious any other-wise than Eating and Drinking which is God's Ordinance and by Christians to be done in the Lord viz. in His Fear with Prayer and Thanksgiving 1 Tim. 4. 4 5. 1 Cor. 10. 31. Religion in both Parties adds to the Comfort of the Relation but not to the Being thereof That it 's of VVorldly Concernment in it self is clear not only from Reason but from the Scripture Luk 20. 34 The Children of this World Marry and are given in Marriage Though in some respect the Kingdom of Christ is distinct from the VVorld and is not of the VVorld and the Children of Light distinct from the Children of this VVorld Yet in this and in many other Cases as Eating Drinking Sleeping and in VVorldly Employments they are as the Children of this World and act as in the Faln-state though Grace directs them to a higher end in all 1 Cor. 10. 31. than they who are only the Children of this World do attain unto Yet Marriage both of good bad is a Worldly work performed by the Children of this World one with another to Worldly-ends as you may see Gen. 1. 28. 2. 18. 1 Cor. 7. 2. Which ends of Marriage Men Women only as so are capable to perform Neither can I be of the mind of those who judg such Marriages to be positively unlawful and sinful and yet that it is unlawful for such to be separated one from the other the grounds stated not reaching the Case For if it were so I do not yet understand How any Repentance for a Fact done contrary to the Law of God can be accounted true without Reformation How the Way can be made plain over this Block I know not 5thly The Case with us much differs from what it was in the Primitive Times all then of the Gentiles that were not of the Church were of the Idolatrous Heathens yet some Believing-Husbands had Unbelieving-Wives and some Believing-Wives had such Unbelieving-Husbands But now all profess Christianity and in a sense may be said to be Believers And in all the differing Opinions about the VVays and VVorship of God as Christians there may be some fearing God among All For God hath His People in Babylon Rev. 18. 4. And so 6thly Hence it comes to pass That some Husbands and VVives prove better and more comfortable Yoke-Fellows in that Relation that are not Church-Members than some that are though a shame and reproof it is to Church-Members that it is so And indeed some Church-Members become vile and wicked and worse Relations than is ordinary among the worst of Men which renders the uncertainty of Comfort to Christians in their Relations in this matter though both religiously rationally and ordinarily it may be expected better Yet I have seen as great disappointments on this account as of any by Marrying out of the Church Yet 7thly and finally I would not be mis understood by any For I judg it to be most suitable most religious most honourable and most likely for Peace and Comfort for all sorts of Opinions in matters of Religion to unite in this near Relation where Unity may be both religiously and rationally expected though I earnestly desire more Love among all Christians of differing Apprehensions and that Persons united in