Selected quad for the lemma: tradition_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
tradition_n	church_n	judgement_n	scripture_n	1,546	5	5.9918	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60972	Davvnings of light wherein the true interest of reformation is opened in generall, and in particular, in this kingdome for the establishment of weaker judgements, and many other things impartially hinted, to a further discovery of truth and light in many of our present controversies : with some maximes of reformation / by John Saltmarsh ...	Saltmarsh, John, d. 1647.	1646 (1646)	Wing S477; ESTC R40634	39,746	130

exactly compleatly sent down from Heaven with laws and cautionary precepts for the just observance and to these under the Gospel the notions in Scripture of Kingdom City Family Officers Offices Church-censures Administrations Applications with many things of spirituall policy both in principles and practice with necessary inference from Gods first method On the other side all this is acknowledged yet in a little more latitude and godly prudence is let in for making up some●hing where there is not a deficiency suspected but no clear principles or rul●s revealed Pretended Heresies Divisions AS we should not go about to excuse or defend any errour clearly convicted so not to condemn any thing for errour which seems not to beare up equally to our received principles and here wee must observe that there are many who when the notion of errour or heresie is abroad are only Pentioners to the multitude and measure the errour or heresie by those that are for it or against it and are resolved however to write that way that they see the most condemn and these are such who though they do not kindle yet they blow the fire amongst us and I have observed that these do so overwrite a cause that at length they improve an errour and arme it more against the truth then it was before by charging things on the wrong side of it as we have seen of late and thus while we think to gain by letting in such a promiscuous stream of opposers we rather lose as in the case of some present controversies who cōplain that they are rather oppressed then convinced and bo●n down then writ down certainly that wch makes us on all sides so far from peace and issue or successe the more we dispute is our intemperancy and unnaturall heats in which we spend as much paper as in the cause it self and I am sure in some differences I could name the truth stands by while we wrangle beside it and the dust that we raise in arguing makes the truth lesse discernable and that which is considerable amongst us here is the exceeding prejudice received against difference of judgement and divisions not considering that it is Gods secret or engine for discovery as well of truth as errour and for advantaging the one as well as disadvantaging the other To instance in our late debates about Government it will appear that truth is improved and hath received advancement frō those very principles that seemed to oppose it and I am sure in the case of the Antinomians that errour about Free-grace hath drawn our Divines into more studying and preaching it then before and stating it clearer and the very Heresies almost of all times have accidentally 〈◊〉 advanced some particular Scripture truth And that very controversie about the Ministery received from Bishops hath brought forth some advantage amongst many of the godly even a deep humiliation because it came to us with a mark of the beast with it and let not any jealousie or fear of derogation or disparagement cause us to fold it up without any Nationall contrition or acknowledgement now in a season when we are laying new spirituall fundamentals as in that late Act for Ordination let the Prelates own designes of connivence whose principles dare not look the Light in the face Selfe indulgency with the right use of Heresies and Errours FIrst it is impossible but Heresies and Errours should be though there be a woe upon the Authors and Abettors so as one would think this prediction of Christ should coole us in the heat of our tumults about them and we should make no wonder at that which Christ hath prepared us so long before hand to receive yet here we should do as the Disciples did when their Lord had foretold them of a treachery to befall him every one said Master is it I this reflective disposition or selfe-jealousie I finde much wanting in many while every one rather ●its armed at his own door and will neither search his house himself nor suffer another to go in without opposition and thus all count their opinions truth and will not do so much as suspect their own judgements which was not the Disciples practice and so we are forced to confute one another while no man will confute himself and thus differences are inflamed And be it that the things we condemn for Heresies and Errours be so then there is this left us to work up to Gods designe in such cases and to turn them into advantages for the truth and such a work is next to Gods who takes in every sinne and distemper and makes it act something to his glorious ends He hath commanded light to shine out of darknesse Are they Anabaptists as they call them Let it provoke us to awaken the Scriptures more for what we do let us study the substance of the Covenant more let us study Scripture inference and deductions more let us study the correspodency of the Seals under both dispensations more and we shall gain this to be able to do what we do upon clearer and stronger principles Are they Brownists or Separatists as they call them Let it stir us up to look to our Fundamentall truths better to our Ministery to our Churches to our Practices and sure while these controversies involve us more into the Scriptures we shall only come forth more refined and clearer in judgement and practice and what we might possibly have taken in under the notion of Tradition or Authority and so have engaged our selves implicitely to the truths we professe we shall now give up unto God a more reasonable sacrifice Are they Antinomians as some cal them or these that cry down Law or duties Let us draw this advantage to seek out how the riches of Free grace are offered and how the Law is established by the Gospel and what power of it is annulled how Christ is to be advanced above all and how he is all in all and the true Fountain in whom our life is hid and that our being in him and he in us is the cause of all graces and duties in us and that our life now in grace ought to be in conformity to that we shall live hereafter in glory where being filled with Christ we shall only live to the obedience and praise of him for that work of justification and redemption we had by him and let us study to give duties their right origination order and end Prayer Repentance Obedience c. as gr●●●s that flow from Christ into his and back again from his into Christ and that we interpret all Scriptures that concern either Christ or the Law or Sin or Obedience or Duty into the glory of God in Christ that all our conclusions may exalt him whom God had in designe only to exalt To be a Prince and a Saviour And thus we should drive on Gods ends more then we doe in making every thing serve his glory and our own edification and not dash