Selected quad for the lemma: act_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
act_n	command_n	command_v	lawful_a	2,968	5	9.4987	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50967	The minister's reasons for his not reading the kings declaration, friendly debated by a dissenter.	Dissenter.	1688 (1688)	Wing M2195; ESTC R10242	25,456	24

be_v at_o least_o your_o tacit_a plea_n for_o not_o stir_v up_o or_o trouble_v your_o conscience_n to_o make_v a_o discretive_a judgement_n whether_o the_o act_n of_o your_o superior_a which_o you_o be_v command_v to_o publish_v be_v lawful_a or_o unlawful_a by_o the_o law_n either_o of_o god_n or_o of_o the_o land_n and_o to_o tell_v you_o the_o truth_n i_o do_v not_o think_v you_o be_v in_o the_o eye_n of_o the_o law_n such_o criminal_n as_o on_o this_o particular_a occasion_n you_o will_v render_v yourselves_o to_o be_v in_o case_n you_o shall_v read_v the_o king_n declaration_n in_o obedience_n to_o his_o command_n though_o you_o do_v not_o approve_v the_o matter_n of_o it_o in_o your_o private_a judgement_n it_o not_o be_v your_o province_n positive_o to_o determine_v concern_v it_o in_o point_n of_o law_n you_o may_v with_o better_a pretence_n of_o conscience_n if_o press_v to_o it_o in_o your_o own_o mind_n as_o a_o act_n necessary_a to_o avoid_v a_o sin_n against_o god_n after_o the_o read_n of_o the_o declaration_n have_v take_v your_o exception_n to_o it_o in_o your_o particular_a station_n then_o to_o have_v follow_v the_o course_n you_o have_v take_v as_o it_o be_v by_o common_a consent_n one_o in_o the_o name_n of_o all_o the_o rest_n thus_o open_o to_o declaim_v against_o it_o for_o that_o have_v be_v a_o exercise_v of_o such_o a_o act_n of_o judgement_n and_o reason_n if_o the_o cause_n require_v it_o as_o a_o minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n may_v have_v do_v in_o reference_n to_o god_n whatever_o have_v be_v the_o consequence_n of_o it_o in_o respect_n to_o man_n and_o the_o prospect_n you_o have_v of_o this_o as_o you_o afterward_o manifest_a do_v not_o excuse_v but_o rather_o condemn_v you_o for_o see_v better_a thing_n and_o follow_v the_o worse_o vii_o you_o say_v our_o law_n suppose_v that_o what_o we_o do_v in_o obedience_n to_o superior_n we_o make_v our_o own_o act_n by_o do_v it_o this_o be_v the_o only_a reason_n i_o know_v why_o we_o must_v not_o obey_v a_o prince_n against_o the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n or_o the_o law_n of_o god_n because_o what_o we_o do_v let_v the_o authority_n be_v what_o it_o will_v that_o commandt_n it_o become_v our_o own_o act_n and_o we_o be_v responsible_a for_o it_o if_o you_o state_n this_o as_o a_o general_a case_n of_o every_o subject_a i_o suppose_v you_o mistake_v the_o law_n for_o i_o can_v conceive_v how_o a_o clerk_n in_o parliament_n privy_a council_n court_n of_o justice_n or_o convocation_n who_o write_v and_o afterward_o read_v open_o what_o his_o superior_n have_v dictate_v and_o command_v he_o to_o read_v shall_v be_v suppose_v in_o the_o eye_n of_o the_o law_n to_o be_v his_o own_o act_n if_o you_o mean_v by_o your_o law_n you_o be_v minister_n be_v responsible_a for_o what_o you_o do_v in_o any_o other_o manner_n than_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o king_n subject_n or_o ministerial_a officer_n be_v you_o shall_v have_v do_v well_o to_o have_v show_v it_o for_o till_o that_o be_v do_v i_o know_v not_o how_o to_o distinguish_v of_o your_o case_n as_o different_a from_o other_o ministerial_a clerk_n the_o only_a reason_n you_o allege_v why_o you_o must_v not_o obey_v a_o prince_n against_o the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n or_o the_o law_n of_o god_n be_v both_o complicate_v and_o equivocal_a for_o if_o you_o willing_o walk_v after_o any_o command_n which_o be_v contrary_a to_o the_o law_n of_o god_n let_v the_o authority_n be_v as_o you_o say_v what_o it_o will_v that_o command_v it_o whether_o of_o a_o prince_n single_o or_o a_o prince_n in_o conjunction_n with_o a_o parliament_n i_o grant_v that_o it_o become_v your_o own_o act_n for_o which_o you_o be_v responsible_a to_o god_n but_o it_o be_v not_o so_o in_o many_o case_n where_o a_o prince_n may_v command_v to_o do_v or_o forbear_v what_o a_o particular_a statute_n forbid_v or_o appoint_v because_o he_o may_v therein_o exercise_v his_o prerogative_n according_a to_o the_o common_a law._n beside_o if_o you_o be_v a_o minister_n shall_v obey_v the_o king_n and_o your_o lawful_a superior_n order_n and_o read_v his_o declaration_n by_o which_o some_o penal_a law_n be_v suspend_v and_o this_o act_n of_o prerogative_n shall_v afterward_o come_v to_o be_v question_v in_o parliament_n to_o who_o be_v you_o responsible_a sure_o not_o to_o the_o king_n nor_o to_o your_o ordinary_n who_o you_o have_v obey_v you_o can_v mean_v tha●_n not_o to_o any_o ordinary_a court_n of_o justice_n for_o no_o information_n or_o indi●●ment_n will_v lie_v against_o you_o there_o at_o the_o king_n suit_n you_o must_v be_v then_o arraign_v for_o it_o in_o parliament_n or_o no_o where_o and_o if_o you_o come_v to_o be_v responsible_a for_o it_o there_o i_o think_v your_o rubric_n establish_v by_o law_n and_o our_o ignorance_n of_o any_o other_o law_n will_v be_v a_o sufficient_a plea_n to_o excuse_v you_o for_o it_o will_v be_v a_o precedent_n of_o the_o first_o impression_n i_o know_v not_o of_o any_o parish_n minister_n have_v ever_o heretofore_o be_v question_v and_o condemn_v in_o parliament_n for_o obey_v a_o order_n in_o this_o kind_a of_o his_o prince_n or_o lawful_a superior_a viii_o minister_n be_v bind_v to_o take_v care_n that_o what_o they_o publish_v in_o their_o church_n be_v neither_o contrary_n to_o the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n nor_o the_o good_a of_o the_o church_n minister_n of_o religion_n be_v not_o look_v upon_o as_o common_a crier_n but_o what_o they_o read_v they_o be_v suppose_v to_o recommend_v too_o though_o they_o do_v no_o more_o than_o read_v it_o for_o be_v not_o reading_n teach_v it_o may_v be_v it_o be_v no_o fault_n to_o consent_v to_o the_o declaration_n but_o if_o i_o consent_v to_o teach_v my_o people_n what_o i_o do_v not_o consent_v to_o myself_o i_o be_o sure_a that_o be_v a_o great_a one_o i_o take_v it_o for_o grant_v that_o you_o have_v sufficient_o demonstrate_v to_o all_o man_n that_o read_v and_o not_o preach_v off_o book_n be_v teach_v for_o that_o have_v be_v your_o ordinary_a practice_n for_o many_o year_n and_o it_o be_v true_a by_o read_v you_o teach_v your_o people_n to_o understand_v what_o you_o read_v but_o when_o that_o be_v do_v your_o people_n be_v at_o liberty_n to_o judge_v and_o you_o also_o in_o this_o present_a case_n be_v order_v to_o read_v what_o the_o king_n have_v declare_v be_v at_o liberty_n to_o pen_v a_o sermon_n that_o may_v be_v a_o paraphrase_n upon_o what_o you_o read_v before_o and_o read_v that_o in_o your_o pulpit_n afterward_o so_o as_o therein_o you_o do_v not_o transgress_v the_o law_n of_o god_n or_o of_o the_o land_n and_o by_o that_o your_o people_n may_v understand_v whether_o you_o consent_v to_o or_o dissent_v from_o what_o you_o have_v read_v and_o if_o your_o be_v command_v by_o law_n to_o read_v what_o you_o do_v not_o consent_v to_o in_o your_o own_o conscience_n and_o for_o the_o discharge_n of_o a_o good_a conscience_n towards_o god_n let_v your_o people_n know_v so_o much_o i_o think_v you_o therein_o discharge_v both_o the_o office_n of_o a_o minister_n to_o man_n and_o duty_n of_o a_o teacher_n to_o god_n and_o in_o such_o a_o case_n though_o you_o shall_v afterward_o be_v judge_v by_o man_n law_n yet_o you_o may_v with_o a_o quiet_a mind_n therein_o commend_v your_o cause_n to_o god_n who_o judge_v righteous_o be_v it_o so_o that_o minister_n be_v not_o look_v upon_o as_o common_a crier_n yet_o give_v i_o leave_v to_o say_v you_o be_v minister_n be_v look_v upon_o as_o public_a preacher_n or_o herald_n to_o publish_v the_o order_n of_o your_o superior_n and_o be_v no_o more_o accountable_a to_o any_o man_n for_o the_o matter_n which_o you_o so_o publish_v than_o a_o herald_n who_o publish_v the_o king_n proclamation_n to_o his_o subject_n con●●der_v the_o consequence_n if_o the_o judgement_n of_o what_o i●_n agreeable_a or_o contrary_a to_o the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n the_o good_a or_o hurt_v of_o the_o church_n be_v leave_v to_o the_o private_a determination_n of_o every_o parish_n minister_n what_o will_v become_v of_o the_o authority_n of_o their_o superior_n of_o what_o us●_n be_v the_o rubric_n to_o which_o they_o have_v subscribe_v which_o direct_v they_o to_o read_v what_o the_o king_n or_o their_o ordinary_n enjoin_v for_o in_o this_o case_n it_o be_v all_o one_o as_o i_o say_v before_o whether_o you_o be_v enjoin_v to_o read_v by_o a_o ●_o of_o state_n or_o a_o act_n of_o parliament_n for_o i_o think_v you_o will_v grant_v i_o this_o that_o the_o ●_o of_o a_o eternal_a 〈…〉_z t_o 〈…〉_z t_o of_o parliament_n then_o 〈…〉_z so_o that_o in_o 〈…〉_z 〈…〉_z no_o 〈…〉_z f●r_o in_o your_o s●tion_n to_o 〈…〉_z it_o himself_o of_o evil_a a_o 〈…〉_z

yourselves_o down_o and_o pu_o 〈…〉_z down_o the_o dissenter_n also_o to_o verisie_n your_o subsequent_a prognostication_n iii_o you_o say_v we_o fall_v a_o little_a soon_o for_o not_o read_v the_o declaration_n if_o our_o gracious_a prince_n resent_v this_o as_o a_o act_n of_o a_o obstinate_a peevish_a or_o factious_a disobedience_n as_o our_o enemy_n will_v be_v sure_a to_o represent_v it_o to_o he_o we_o shall_v as_o certain_o fall_v and_o not_o long_o after_o if_o we_o do_v read_v it_o and_o then_o we_o shall_v fall_v unpitied_a and_o despise_a and_o it_o may_v be_v with_o the_o curse_n of_o the_o nation_n who_o we_o have_v ruin_v by_o our_o compliance_n and_o this_o be_v the_o way_n never_o to_o rise_v more_o i_o do_v not_o reckon_v myself_o to_o be_v among_o the_o number_n of_o your_o enemy_n and_o therefore_o though_o you_o be_v somewhat_o peevish_a i_o will_v not_o that_o you_o shall_v be_v represent_v to_o the_o king_n as_o obstinate_a for_o my_o hope_n be_v that_o upon_o better_a consideration_n you_o will_v show_v yourselves_o obedient_a to_o his_o command_n but_o if_o it_o shall_v prove_v otherwise_o as_o your_o enemy_n will_v not_o so_o your_o friend_n can_v excuse_v you_o as_o be_v altogether_o free_a from_o faction_n but_o how_o come_v it_o to_o pass_v that_o you_o be_v a_o minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n shall_v fix_v your_o eye_n so_o steadity_n upon_o the_o dishonour_n be_v unpitied_a and_o despise_a as_o inseparable_a concomitant_n of_o a_o certain_a fall_v not_o long_o after_o you_o have_v read_v the_o king_n declaration_n if_o you_o comply_v to_o read_v it_o a_o settle_a apprehension_n that_o you_o shall_v certain_o fall_v whether_o you_o read_v or_o not_o read_v be_v sufficient_a to_o disturb_v your_o fancy_n so_o as_o to_o interrupt_v the_o make_n of_o a_o solid_a judgement_n in_o reference_n to_o your_o duty_n and_o discharge_v of_o a_o good_a conscience_n towards_o god_n there_o be_v as_o little_a need_n as_o there_o be_v just_a occasion_n for_o you_o to_o surmise_v as_o you_o do_v that_o your_o compliance_n will_v ruin_v the_o nation_n and_o procure_v their_o curse_n for_o i_o can_v see_v any_o such_o moral_a certainty_n attend_v your_o read_n as_o ruine_v the_o nation_n those_o other_o incredient_n may_v have_v be_v pretermit_v if_o you_o have_v no_o disposition_n by_o discover_v your_o seem_a fear_n to_o stir_v up_o a_o real_a fear_n in_o the_o mind_n of_o other_o i_o think_v it_o more_o near_o concern_v you_o set_v aside_o all_o thought_n of_o honour_n and_o dishonour_v good_a report_n or_o bad_a report_n to_o see_v to_o it_o that_o you_o have_v the_o law_n of_o god_n on_o your_o side_n to_o excuse_v your_o disobedience_n to_o the_o king_n for_o otherwise_o the_o ill_a consequence_n of_o contend_v with_o sovereign_n power_n and_o entice_a other_o to_o do_v the_o like_a after_o your_o example_n will_v lie_v heavy_a upon_o you_o for_o though_o you_o mention_v only_o your_o own_o fall_n yet_o you_o intimate_v plain_o enough_o that_o you_o be_v not_o to_o fall_v alone_o and_o never_o to_o rise_v more_o but_o that_o this_o will_v be_v the_o fate_n of_o all_o the_o protestant_n chruch_v also_o and_o therefore_o you_o proceed_v after_o that_o manner_n iv._o may_v i_o suffer_v all_o that_o can_v be_v suffer_v in_o this_o world_n rather_o than_o to_o contribute_v to_o the_o final_a ruin_n of_o the_o best_a church_n in_o the_o world._n so_o that_o it_o seem_v if_o you_o fall_v the_o best_a church_n in_o the_o world_n must_v fall_v also_o and_o that_o not_o partial_o or_o for_o a_o season_n but_o total_o and_o final_o do_v you_o not_o attribute_n too_o much_o to_o yourself_o in_o this_o be_v you_o the_o only_a pillar_n upon_o which_o the_o best_a church_n in_o the_o world_n be_v build_v and_o be_v penal_a law_n the_o only_a strength_n by_o which_o you_o support_v the_o church_n if_o those_o you_o will_v have_v in_o this_o point_n to_o be_v account_v your_o adversary_n shall_v prevail_v as_o once_o you_o know_v they_o do_v do_v for_o twenty_o year_n together_o to_o divest_v you_o of_o your_o coercive_a power_n your_o experience_n may_v dictate_v to_o you_o that_o a_o protestant_a church_n here_o as_o well_o as_o else_o where_o have_v subsist_v and_o may_v subsist_v through_o divine_a assistance_n when_o that_o coercive_a power_n be_v take_v out_o of_o your_o hand_n however_o i_o acknowledge_v no_o man_n can_v justify_v himself_o for_o contribute_v to_o the_o ruin_n of_o any_o true_a church_n but_o in_o this_o you_o be_v not_o singular_a as_o you_o will_v make_v yourselves_o to_o be_v the_o dissenter_n may_v claim_v equal_o with_o yourselves_o a_o share_n in_o such_o a_o resolution_n as_o this_o and_o say_v as_o you_o do_v may_v i_o suffer_v still_o as_o i_o have_v suffer_v all_o that_o you_o have_v inflict_v upon_o i_o or_o what_o else_o the_o providence_n of_o god_n allot_v for_o my_o portion_n rather_o than_o that_o i_o shall_v contribute_v to_o the_o ruin_n of_o the_o best_a or_o any_o church_n of_o christ_n in_o the_o world._n v._o you_o say_v i_o suppose_v no_o minister_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n can_v give_v his_o consent_n to_o the_o declaration_n and_o read_v the_o declaration_n in_o our_o church_n will_v be_v with_o great_a reason_n interpret_v a_o consent_n you_o may_v have_v take_v caution_n from_o your_o own_o postscript_n to_o your_o reason_n concern_v henry_n care_n not_o to_o have_v make_v your_o supposition_n so_o universal_o comprehensive_a of_o every_o minister_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n in_o regard_v you_o say_v read_v be_v teach_v and_o signify_v consent_n to_o the_o matter_n read_v and_o you_o instance_n in_o four_o or_o five_o which_o do_v read_v and_o i_o think_v i_o may_v more_o probable_o suppose_v that_o if_o any_o precise_a disquisition_n shall_v happen_v to_o be_v make_v many_o of_o your_o minister_n who_o do_v not_o read_v may_v choose_v to_o excuse_v themselves_o rather_o by_o their_o not_o receive_v direction_n from_o their_o ordinary_n to_o read_v then_o to_o allege_v as_o you_o do_v that_o ●hey_n do_v refuse_v to_o do_v it_o because_o they_o can_v not_o consent_v to_o the_o matter_n of_o the_o declaration_n vi_o you_o say_v by_o our_o law_n all_o ministerial_a officer_n be_v accountable_a for_o their_o action_n which_o show_v that_o our_o law_n do_v not_o look_v upon_o the_o minister_n of_o the_o church_n to_o be_v mere_a machine_n and_o tool_n to_o be_v manage_v whole_o by_o the_o will_n of_o superior_n without_o exercise_v any_o act_n of_o judgement_n or_o reason_n themselves_o apply_v this_o to_o your_o usual_a practice_n of_o publish_v all_o such_o declaration_n in_o your_o church_n as_o have_v be_v commend_v to_o you_o by_o your_o ordinary_n or_o his_o official_a tell_v i_o in_o what_o case_n you_o have_v charge_v your_o conscience_n so_o much_o as_o to_o make_v a_o private_a judgement_n which_o you_o ought_v always_o to_o have_v do_v whether_o all_o the_o sentence_n of_o excommunication_n and_o ecclesiastical_a censure_n and_o order_n which_o you_o have_v publish_v censure_n of_o churchwarden_n for_o refuse_v the_o oath_n prescribe_v by_o your_o cannon_n censure_n for_o not_o pay_v your_o apparitor_n and_o officer_n the_o fee_n they_o demand_v excommunication_n purposely_o contrive_v and_o improve_v to_o prevent_v many_o of_o their_o vote_n at_o election_n interdict_v any_o divine_a service_n to_o be_v perform_v in_o a_o church_n for_o bury_v of_o person_n excommunicate_v for_o nonconformity_n in_o consecrate_a ground_n till_o the_o churchwarden_n cause_v the_o dead_a corp●_n to_o be_v dug_n up_o again_o and_o remove_v publish_v whole_a sheet_n full_a of_o order_n of_o saint_n 〈…〉_z of_o we_o wherein_o such_o dissenter_n as_o conform_v so_o far_o as_o to_o come_v to_o church_n have_v be_v reproach_v as_o do_v i●_n to_o save_v their_o money_n and_o therefore_o give_v a_o charge_n to_o mark_v all_o such_o 〈…〉_z not_o kneel_v at_o their_o prayer_n and_o stand_v up_o at_o the_o gloria_fw-la patri_fw-la order_n that_o none_o shall_v be_v relieve_v that_o fall_v under_o poverty_n if_o they_o come_v not_o to_o church_n and_o conform_v to_o your_o ceremony_n if_o they_o be_v able_a of_o body_n so_o to_o do_v and_o many_o other_o of_o like_a nature_n have_v all_o these_o in_o your_o private_a judgement_n be_v warrant_v by_o the_o law_n of_o god_n do_v you_o esteem_v it_o a_o light_a thing_n to_o cast_v or_o publish_v any_o man_n be_v cast_v out_o of_o all_o christian_a society_n and_o deliver_v over_o to_o satan_n for_o such_o matter_n as_o be_v no_o crime_n against_o any_o divine_a law_n i_o take_v it_o for_o aught_o that_o ever_o i_o see_v manifest_v to_o the_o contrary_a that_o a_o subjection_n to_o the_o command_n of_o your_o superior_n as_o be_v only_o in_o such_o thing_n ministerial_a office_n have_v