A31961:833
An Exact collection of farewell sermons preached by the late London-ministers viz. Mr. Calamy,…An Exact collection of farewel sermons preached by the late London-ministers viz. Mr. Calamy,…
An Exact collection of farewell sermons preached by the late London-ministers viz. Mr. Calamy, Mr. Watson, Mr. Jacomb, Mr. Case, Mr. Sclater, Mr. Baxter, Mr. Jenkin, Dr. Manton, Mr. Lye, Mr. Collins : to which is added their prayers before and after sermon as also Mr. Calamy's sermon for which he was imprisoned in Newgate : his sermon at Mr. Ashe's funeral and Dr. Horton's and Mr. Nalton's funeral.An Exact collection of farewel sermons preached by the late London-ministers viz. Mr. Calamy, Mr. Watson, Mr. Jacomb, Mr. Case, Mr. Sclater, Mr. Baxter, Mr. Jenkin, Dr. Manton, Mr. Lye, Mr. Collins : to which is added their prayers before and after sermon as also Mr. Calamy's sermon for which he was imprisoned in Newgate : his sermon at Mr. Ashe's funeral and Dr. Horton's and Mr. Nalton's funeral.
London : s.n., 1662
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
There's a three-fold Rule men would set up to deceive poor souls: The name of a Church: Ancient Customs: The Generality of those where they live.
There's a three-fold Rule men would set up to deceive poor souls: The name of a Church: Ancient Customes: The Generality of those where they live.
1. The specious Name of a Church, to make that a rule to Doctrine and to worship. It was the plea of the Popish party in the Marion days, What? will you not believe the Church? hath not the Church ⟨p. 373⟩power to make Institutions and Canons about this, and that, and the other? will you not believe the Church? will you go out from the true Church? Thus do men that go about to deceive; nothing like it as to the catching and deluding many poor souls, by making the Church their rule. It was the way of of the Popish party of old, and if Antichrist ever hath power again over the Church of Christ in that measure and degree it has had, you must expect it again: therefore let me caution you against it. Can we enquire who this Church was? It was only the decree of the proud Church, Antichrist of old, and the Antichristian Clergy, who (as you may read in their Stories) would Lord it over the Faith of Gods heritage. I must tell you, the name, and custom, and way of the Churches of Christ, is a reverend holy thing, even of that that is a true Church: 'Tis a weighty Argument, when the Apostle saith, We have no such Custom, nor the Churches of Christ: And therefore I do fully close with him that said, No sober man will go against Reason: No Christian against the Scripture: and no peaceable minded man against the Church: But then the Church must shine by a Divine Scripture Light: If that be a rule it must be ruled by the Scripture; the Churches power is not Authoritative, as to give Laws against the Laws of Christ; it's only Ministerial: we do believe the Scripture for it self, and not because of the Church; we receive the Scripture by the Church: Hence therefore when we set up the name of a Church, let us see whether that Church walks in the way of Christ, whether she be his Spouse or no, whether she doth act according to his Institutions, whether they bring his light, yea or no; then submit: for it is not what a Church practises, but what they are warranted to practise: not what they hold for a truth, but what they are warranted