A second discourse of the religion of England further asserting, that reformed Christianity, setled [sic] in its due latitude, is the stability and advancement of this kingdom : wherein is included, an answer to a late book, entitled, A discourse of toleration.
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Title
A second discourse of the religion of England further asserting, that reformed Christianity, setled [sic] in its due latitude, is the stability and advancement of this kingdom : wherein is included, an answer to a late book, entitled, A discourse of toleration.
Author
Corbet, John, 1620-1680.
Publication
London :: [s.n.],
1668.
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Subject terms
Perrinchief, Richard, 1623?-1673. -- Discourse of toleration.
Church of England -- Customs and practices.
Dissenters, Religious -- Great Britain.
Church and state -- Great Britain.
Reformation -- England.
Cite this Item
"A second discourse of the religion of England further asserting, that reformed Christianity, setled [sic] in its due latitude, is the stability and advancement of this kingdom : wherein is included, an answer to a late book, entitled, A discourse of toleration." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A34543.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 1, 2024.
Pages
SECT. XI.
The propounded Latitude leaves out nothing necessary to secure
the Church's Peace.
TO set forth the propounded Latitude in the particu∣lar
Limits thereof, is not agreeable to a Discourse
of this nature: For it were presumptuous both in refer∣ence
to Superiors, and to the Party concerned in it. And
it is unnecessary; for Prejudices being removed, and the
Conveniency of a greater Latitude being acknowledged,
the particular Boundaries thereof will easily be descried:
And indeed, the generals that are expressed, are a sufficient
indication thereunto. His Majesty's Declaration concern∣ing
Ecclesiastical Affairs, hath mentioned particular Con∣cessions
on both sides, and that Harmony of Affections
therein, He calls excellent Foundations to build upon. The
Moderation and Indulgence there specified, would do the
work; I mean not so as if all Dissenters would instantly be
thereby brought in; but that our wide breach would pre∣sently
be healed in great part, and be in the surest way for a
total and absolute healing; and so much would be gained
at present, as might be able to conquer the remaining Diffi∣culties.
descriptionPage 23
The former Discourse had this position, That the Ends
of Church-Discipline do not require a Constitution of
narrower bounds, then things necessary to Faith and Life,
and Godly Order in the Church. The Answerer saith,
That this Establishment is not enough for a Settlement, because
it doth not secure the Peace. And to shew the insufficiency
thereof, he giveth two instances of Discord between the
Parties; First, about the Persons to whose care the great
things of Christianity should be intrusted to see them conveyed
unto Posterity, whether they shall be a Single Person, or a Con∣sistory,
or each single Congregation. Secondly, About the
means of conveying those things, the Worship of God, and the
Circumstances thereof. From hence he draws this Conclusi∣on,
Therefore to preserve Peace among her Members, the
Church had need to determine more then the great things of
Christianity; and to injoyn more then what is barely necessary
to Faith and Order. Verily, it may much amuse one to think
what that thing should be in the Ecclesiastical Polity, which
is not necessary to Christian Faith and Life, and godly Order
in the Church, and yet necessary to secure the Church's
Peace. And if the aforesaid Instances of discord between the
Church of England and the Dissenters are not necessary to
Faith or Order, what reason can be rendred of the inexo∣rable
Imposition thereof, upon dissenting or doubting
Consciences? Can it be necessary to the Church's Peace,
to exclude or deprive men for such Differences in which
neither Faith nor Order are concerned? Or is this the An∣swerer's
meaning, That the Church's Peace consists in the
exclusion of the Nonconformists; and that the necessary use
of some Injunctions, stands in keeping them out; so that
not their Conformity, but their Exclusion is the thing ther∣by
intended?
The Comprehension doth not suppose (as it is mis-report∣ed)
That Presbytery should be permitted or encouraged. All
descriptionPage 24
intermedling with the Form of Church-Government, was
declined; only the prescribed Uniformity was considered.
Besides, for the exact Presbyterial Form to be comprehend∣ed
in Episcopacy, is contradictory; yet that something of
Presbytery should be included in it, is not repugnant. And
such a Comprehension is approved in His Majesty's afore∣said
Declaration. Likewise King CHARLES the First,
in His Discourse touching the Differences between Himself
and the Two Houses, in this point, declares that He is not
against the managing of the Episcopal Presidency in one man,
by the joint Counsel and Consent of many Presbyters; but that He
had offered to restore it as a fit means to avoid those errors, and
corruptions and partialities which are incident to any one man;
also to avoid Tyranny, which becomes no Christians, least of all
Church-men. But neither this nor the former Treatise, inter∣poseth
in this Matter, but leaves it to the Wisdom of our
Superiors.
The desired Latitude leaves not the Concernments of
Church or State to the Ingenuity of Men, nor casts out any
Injunctions that are means of Peace and Unity; yea, or of
that necessary Decency which the Apostle requires; only
of Rites and Opinions long disputed, it would take in no
more then needs must; and not meerly because they have
been long disputed, but because they are also of little va∣lue,
(and here confessed not to be necessary to Faith and
Order) yet are matters of endless Controversie in this
Church, and occasions of great separation from it.
It being asserted, That the indisputable Truths of
Faith, and the indispensable Duties of Life, are the main
Object of Church-Discipline, the Answerer demands, What
are those indisputable Truths, since there is scarce any Truth
of Faith that hath not been disputed against? What manner
of arguing is this? Because All Truths have been disputed,
doth it follow, that there are no indisputable Truths? That
descriptionPage 25
is called Indisputable, that cannot reasonably or justly be
disputed, though men of corrupt minds, and reprobate
concerning the Faith, will call the greatest Truths in que∣stion,
and resist the clearest Evidence. When the Apostle
mentions matters of doubtful disputations, he implies there
be matters that are indubitable.
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