A77847:68
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.
4. The consequents of it are damnable, for error is like the plague and infection, which destroyeth many others. Arius una scintilla fuit; and yet how did it fire the whole world? and how well were it, if Luther's temptation were upon many men, Tune solus sapis? art thou only wise? what if thou be damned, and drawest many thousands to hell with thee? therefore it is a true saying, Quicquid in religionem divinam committitur, in omnium fit injuriam. Again, these sins of errors pollute the mind and understanding, which are the choicest parts of man: always the sins that are majoris infamiae, greater reproach among men, are not presently majoris reatus, of the greater guilt before God. Is not the devil called an unclean spirit? yet he hath no bodily wickedness, therefore doctrine being the foundation of practice it is dangerous to err there. And then lastly, such sins we are hardly convinced of. An outward gross sin natural conscience may condemn, but it cannot do so in matters of faith, because they are supernaturally revealed. These things duly considered, may make men pray, and again, pray that God would not leave them to their own understandings.
4. The consequents of it are damnable, for errour is like the plague and infection, which destroyeth many others. Arius una scintilla fuit; and yet how did it fire the whole world? and how well were it, if Luthers temptation were upon many men, Tune solus sapis? art thou only wise? what if thou be damned, and drawest many thousands to hell with thee? therefore it is a true saying, Quicquid in religionem divinam committitur, in omnium fit injuriam. Again, these sins of errours pollute the minde and understanding, which are the choisest parts of man: alwaies the sins that are majoris infamiae, greater reproach among men, are not presently majoris reatus, of the greater guilt before God. Is not the devil called an unclean spirit? yet he hath no bodily wickednesse, therefore doctrine being the foundation of practice it is dangerous to erre there. And then lastly, such sins we are hardly convinced of. An outward grosse sin naturall conscience may condemn, but it cannot doe so in matters of faith, because they are supernaturally revealed. These things duly considered, may make men pray, and again, pray that God would not leave them to their own understandings.