A77847:63
The reformation of the church to be endeavoured more then that of the common-wealth,…The reformation of the church to be endeavoured more then that of the common-vvealth,…
The reformation of the church to be endeavoured more then that of the common-wealth, declared, in a sermon preached before the Right Honourable House of Lords at the public fast, August 27. 1645. / By Anthony Burges, pastor of Sutton Coldfield, and now preacher at Laurence-Jury, London.The reformation of the church to be endeavoured more then that of the common-vvealth, declared, in a sermon preached before the Right Honourable House of Lords at the publike fast, August 27. 1645. / By Anthony Burges, pastour of Sutton Coldfield, and now preacher at Laurence-Jury, London.
London: printed by G.M. for T. Underhill, 1645London: printed by G.M. for T. Vnderhill, 1645
Title page typeset from the transcription.
A SERMON Preached before the Right Honourable the House of LORDS, A… › Part › Application
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.
5. It lieth as a duty upon Churches to improve their talents, as well as particular persons.
5. It lieth as a dutie upon Churches to improve their talents, as well as particular persons.
If persons are to grow in knowledge and Reformation, then why not Churches? not as if that Academical principle of the Socinians were to be received, that it is lawful every month to alter our opinions in the Doctrine of Religion; that is to bring in Atheism at last: yet notwithstanding there is to be a growth in the clearer knowledge even of essentials; as when a child groweth, he doth not get new members or parts: only they grow in their kind: It is profectus, not alteratio, as Lyrinensis called it; and as for those things that are not absolutely essential; we see by experience what need there is, that Churches should daily increase in their knowledge. And so much for this Objection.
If persons are to grow in knowledge and Reformation, then why not Churches? not as if that Academicall principle of the Socinians were to be received, that it is lawfull every moneth to alter our opinions in the Doctrine of Religion; that is to bring in Atheisme at last: yet notwithstanding there is to be a growth in the clearer knowledge even of essentials; as when a childe groweth, he doth not get new members or parts: only they grow in their kinde: It is profectus, not alteratio, as Lyrinensis called it; and as for those things that are not absolutely essentiall; we see by experience what need there is, that Churches should daily encrease in their knowledge. And so much for this Objection.
The next Objection is of those, who say, It's no such dangerous thing to live and die in errors, therefore there needeth not so much strictness and accurateness herein, and the handling of this is necessary in these times, when it is thought that heresy is but a theological fiction, and that it is great innocency. Now though great care ought to be used, for the declining of all tyranny in Discipline against errors; and in opinions of less concernment, a Magistrate is not to make the major proposition; a jailer, the minor, and a prison the conclusion; yet that people may be more afraid & tremble about error then they do. It is good to consider, first, a man may pervert Scripture to his own damnation by error,