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
A57696	The lawfulnes of obeying the present government and acting under it with some other additions to a former edition / by one that loves all presbyterian lovers of truth and peace and is of their communion.	Rous, Francis, 1579-1659.	1649 (1649)	Wing R2021; ESTC R28815	21,204	27

parliament_n and_o all_o have_v to_o one_o in_o every_o three_o thus_o subject_v themselves_o upon_o term_n of_o power_n and_o not_o of_o right_a what_o can_v be_v expect_v but_o that_o what_o have_v be_v do_v may_v or_o shall_v be_v do_v hereafter_o especial_o when_o in_o this_o present_a age_n obedience_n be_v give_v to_o the_o law_n and_o command_n of_o those_o prince_n but_o some_o say_v that_o there_o be_v oath_n that_o justify_v disobedience_n to_o the_o present_a government_n sure_o oath_n be_v sacred_a bond_n and_o reverent_a obligement_n and_o where_o they_o do_v not_o themselves_o leave_v or_o make_v we_o free_a we_o be_v not_o to_o cut_v or_o break_v they_o in_o piece_n yet_o concerning_o these_o there_o be_v fault_n on_o both_o hand_n on_o the_o one_o side_n the_o slight_n of_o a_o oath_n and_o such_o be_v the_o compare_v it_o with_o a_o almanac_n which_o be_v a_o light_n aswell_o as_o a_o unproper_a comparison_n except_o it_o be_v such_o a_o oath_n as_o be_v make_v only_o for_o a_o year_n but_o we_o find_v some_o part_n of_o the_o vow_n and_o covenant_n to_o speak_v of_o all_o the_o day_n of_o our_o life_n which_o doubtless_o may_v lie_v on_o many_o of_o the_o taker_n for_o many_o year_n true_a it_o be_v that_o the_o obligation_n of_o some_o thing_n may_v end_v because_o they_o can_v no_o long_o be_v keep_v as_o that_o of_o the_o king_n person_n oblgatio_fw-la for_o to_o impossible_a thing_n there_o be_v no_o obligation_n but_o will_v any_o man_n that_o understand_v and_o savour_v religion_n and_o piety_n say_v that_o the_o clause_n which_o concern_v religion_n and_o piety_n be_v expire_v do_v we_o promise_v to_o god_n in_o our_o several_a place_n and_o calling_n to_o extirpate_v profaneness_n heresy_n and_o blasphemy_n and_o to_o endeavour_v a_o reform_a life_n in_o ourselves_o and_o we_o only_o till_o our_o enemy_n be_v overcome_v and_o then_o to_o make_v a_o end_n what_o be_v this_o but_o to_o say_v unto_o god_n if_o thou_o will_v deliver_v we_o we_o will_v be_v bind_v to_o thou_o till_o we_o be_v deliver_v and_o no_o long_o will_v this_o invite_v god_n to_o deliver_v we_o from_o our_o enemy_n or_o rather_o to_o keep_v our_o enemy_n still_o in_o strength_n against_o we_o least_o we_o be_v deliver_v from_o our_o enemy_n shall_v not_o serve_v he_o in_o righteousness_n and_o holiness_n all_o our_o life_n sure_o this_o be_v too_o like_o that_o course_n of_o carnal_a israel_n 34._o of_o who_o it_o be_v write_v when_o he_o slay_v they_o than_o they_o seek_v he_o and_o they_o inquire_v early_o after_o god_n but_o their_o heart_n be_v not_o right_a with_o he_o neither_o be_v they_o steadfast_a in_o his_o covenant_n much_o more_o pious_o and_o faithful_o a_o reverend_a and_o true_o spiritual_a divine_a a_o well_o ground_a covenant_n be_v a_o sure_a covenant_n a_o firm_a and_o a_o irrevocable_a act._n when_o you_o have_v such_o a_o all_o this_o and_o such_o you_o have_v as_o be_v here_o concentre_v in_o the_o text_n to_o lay_v into_o or_o for_o the_o foundation_n of_o the_o covenant_n the_o superstruction_n be_v aeternitati_fw-la sacrum_fw-la and_o must_v stand_v for_o ever_o 1643_o but_o on_o the_o other_o side_n there_o be_v other_o fault_n such_o be_v the_o urge_n of_o a_o oath_n or_o covenant_n against_o enemy_n and_o not_o against_o friend_n in_o one_o and_o the_o same_o action_n and_o if_o not_o altogether_o so_o yet_o a_o slight_a and_o diminish_v charge_n of_o it_o upon_o one_o and_o a_o vehement_a and_o aggravate_v charge_n of_o it_o upon_o the_o other_o another_o fault_n may_v be_v a_o stiff_a insist_n on_o one_o part_n and_o a_o neglect_n or_o at_o least_o silence_n in_o another_o part_n as_o likewise_o when_o by_o event_n two_o part_n of_o it_o come_v to_o be_v inconsistent_a to_o choose_v and_o enforce_v the_o keep_n of_o the_o light_a or_o less_o necessary_a part_n and_o to_o give_v way_n to_o the_o loss_n and_o not_o keep_v of_o the_o great_a there_o be_v another_o in_o rack_a a_o oath_n or_o covenant_n to_o make_v it_o speak_v that_o which_o it_o mean_v not_o and_o here_o it_o be_v good_a to_o consider_v whether_o there_o be_v any_o clause_n in_o any_o oath_n or_o covenant_n which_o in_o a_o fair_a and_o common_a sense_n forbid_v obedience_n to_o the_o command_n of_o the_o present_a government_n and_o authority_n much_o less_o when_o no_o other_o can_v be_v have_v and_o so_o the_o commonwealth_n must_v go_v to_o ruin_v 12._o and_o whether_o it_o forbid_v obedience_n to_o the_o present_a authority_n more_o than_o to_o law_n that_o have_v be_v former_o enact_v by_o those_o which_o come_v in_o authority_n mere_o by_o power_n if_o it_o be_v say_v that_o in_o the_o oath_n of_o allegiance_n 13._o allegiance_n be_v swear_v to_o the_o king_n his_o heir_n and_o successor_n if_o his_o heir_n be_v not_o his_o successor_n how_o do_v that_o oath_n bind_v either_o the_o word_n successor_n must_v be_v superfluous_a or_o else_o it_o must_v bind_v to_o successor_n as_o well_o as_o to_o heir_n and_o if_o it_o bind_v not_o to_o a_o successor_n that_o be_v not_o a_o heir_n how_o can_v it_o bind_v to_o a_o heir_n that_o be_v not_o a_o successor_n and_o if_o you_o will_v know_v the_o common_a and_o usual_a sense_n which_o shall_v be_v the_o meaning_n of_o a_o oath_n of_o the_o word_n successor_n you_o need_v not_o so_o much_o ask_v of_o lawyer_n and_o learned_a person_n usum_fw-la as_o of_o man_n of_o ordinary_a knowledge_n and_o demand_v of_o they_o who_o be_v the_o successor_n of_o william_n the_o conqueror_n and_o see_v whether_o they_o will_v not_o say_v william_n rufus_n and_o who_o succeed_v richard_n the_o three_o and_o whether_o they_o will_v not_o say_v henry_n the_o seven_o and_o yet_o as_o it_o appear_v before_o neither_o of_o they_o be_v heir_n so_o it_o seem_v in_o the_o ordinary_a acception_n the_o word_n successor_n be_v take_v for_o he_o that_o actual_o succeed_v in_o government_n and_o not_o for_o he_o that_o be_v actual_o exclude_v and_o as_o in_o language_n the_o ordinary_a acception_n of_o a_o word_n be_v to_o be_v take_v for_o the_o meaning_n 13._o so_o that_o meaning_n be_v to_o be_v understand_v as_o most_o proper_a to_o have_v be_v take_v in_o a_o oath_n 32._o yet_o withal_o this_o quaere_fw-la may_v be_v add_v while_o the_o son_n be_v in_o the_o same_o posture_n in_o which_o the_o father_n be_v how_o come_v this_o oath_n at_o this_o time_n to_o stand_v up_o and_o plead_v for_o disobedience_n in_o regard_n of_o the_o son_n that_o be_v asleep_a and_o silent_a in_o regard_n of_o the_o father_n but_o now_o let_v we_o enter_v into_o the_o question_n of_o active_a obedience_n 88_o and_o act_v under_o this_o present_a power_n and_o government_n but_o first_o let_v this_o be_v premise_v that_o this_o present_a power_n be_v in_o possession_n of_o the_o whole_a land_n and_o no_o visible_a force_n to_o oppose_v or_o overbear_v it_o and_o so_o it_o be_v not_o like_o that_o between_o david_n and_o absalon_n where_o david_n have_v a_o army_n in_o view_n that_o may_v and_o do_v overcome_v and_o next_o that_o a_o course_n of_o justice_n or_o give_v right_n be_v open_v at_o westminster_n and_o through_o the_o whole_a nation_n and_o this_o be_v the_o present_a state_n of_o the_o nation_n let_v we_o examine_v whether_o it_o be_v lawful_a to_o act_v in_o such_o a_o state_n true_a it_o be_v that_o some_o hold_v it_o wisdom_n and_o some_o hold_v it_o duty_n to_o be_v quiet_a and_o not_o to_o act._n but_o first_o it_o have_v be_v prove_v before_o that_o obedience_n to_o such_o a_o power_n in_o good_a thing_n be_v lawful_a now_o if_o obedience_n in_o good_a thing_n be_v law_n full_a then_o act_v for_o justice_n and_o order_n be_v good_a thing_n and_o command_v it_o be_v lawful_a to_o obey_v that_o command_n second_o if_o all_o shall_v not_o act_n i_o think_v the_o not_o actor_n will_v fall_v short_a of_o their_o suppose_a and_o intend_a quietness_n and_o the_o wisdom_n they_o place_v in_o it_o for_o by_o non-acting_a in_o the_o way_n of_o justice_n the_o whole_a and_o themselves_o among_o the_o rest_n will_v lie_v open_a to_o injustice_n spoil_n and_o destruction_n and_o so_o be_v far_o from_o quietness_n and_o indeed_o what_o reason_n be_v it_o that_o those_o that_o will_v not_o act_n because_o they_o hold_v it_o unlawful_a shall_v expect_v that_o other_o shall_v do_v a_o unlawful_a act_n to_o benefit_v they_o and_o why_o shall_v other_o give_v right_a to_o they_o that_o will_v not_o give_v right_a to_o other_o three_o it_o be_v clear_v in_o this_o discourse_n that_o those_o who_o have_v get_v to_o be_v power_n though_o by_o force_n yet_o ought_v to_o give_v justice_n to_o those_o who_o government_n they_o have_v undertake_v and_o again_o that_o

the_o people_n may_v lawful_o demand_v it_o but_o be_v it_o possible_a that_o one_o or_o a_o few_o person_n in_o supreme_a power_n can_v distribute_v justice_n to_o a_o whole_a nation_n without_o subordinate_a agent_n so_o that_o to_o say_v none_o may_v lawful_o act_n under_o the_o supreme_a power_n in_o distribute_v of_o justice_n and_o government_n be_v to_o say_v upon_o the_o matter_n that_o he_o shall_v give_v no_o justice_n and_o that_o the_o people_n shall_v have_v no_o justice_n at_o all_o and_o then_o how_o absurd_a be_v it_o to_o teach_v that_o the_o people_n may_v lawful_o seek_v justice_n of_o he_o which_o they_o can_v receive_v and_o that_o he_o be_v bind_v to_o give_v justice_n but_o none_o be_v allow_v by_o who_o he_o may_v give_v it_o four_o this_o doctrine_n of_o not_o act_v be_v the_o very_a doctrine_n of_o level_v for_o when_o no_o man_n may_v act_n to_o give_v justice_n may_v not_o every_o man_n take_v free_o from_o his_o neighbour_n what_o he_o list_v and_o so_o level_v the_o rich_a with_o the_o poor_a unless_o this_o make_v it_o unlike_o because_o worse_a than_o level_v that_o those_o who_o have_v most_o force_n will_v have_v most_o yea_o some_o all_o and_o other_o nothing_o and_o so_o to_o avoid_v act_v under_o a_o suppose_a tyrannical_a government_n unto_o justice_n and_o order_n there_o shall_v be_v tyrant_n in_o every_o place_n or_o parish_n who_o shall_v act_n to_o disorder_n and_o oppression_n and_o no_o property_n justice_n nor_o government_n at_o all_o left_a among_o we_o and_o sure_o i_o think_v david_n out_o of_o his_o love_n to_o israel_n will_v not_o have_v wish_v such_o a_o estate_n to_o israel_n under_o absalon_n have_v he_o the_o whole_a in_o possession_n and_o himself_o no_o force_n on_o foot_n to_o recover_v it_o nor_o will_v he_o have_v desire_v such_o a_o unsettlement_n to_o procure_v his_o settlement_n and_o hence_o arise_v that_o which_o they_o call_v a_o interpretative_a consent_n of_o the_o people_n because_o it_o be_v understand_v and_o suppose_v that_o every_o rational_a man_n do_v consent_v that_o there_o shall_v be_v order_n property_n and_o right_n give_v to_o every_o member_n of_o a_o commonwealth_n under_o a_o tyrant_n rather_o than_o all_o to_o be_v under_o confusion_n oppression_n robbery_n and_o murder_n five_o 25._o how_o can_v ezra_n and_o nehemiah_n justify_v their_o act_n under_o the_o persian_a monarch_n who_o have_v no_o right_a to_o the_o crown_n of_o judah_n either_o by_o blood_n or_o just_a conquest_n yet_o ezra_n be_v authorize_v by_o he_o to_o set_v magistrate_n 8._o fine_a and_o imprison_v and_o put_v to_o death_n and_o he_o exercise_v authority_n in_o make_v the_o people_n of_o israel_n to_o swear_v and_o to_o enter_v into_o a_o covenant_n and_o in_o send_v forth_o a_o proclamation_n to_o all_o the_o child_n of_o the_o captivity_n that_o they_o shall_v gather_v themselves_o together_o to_o jerusalem_n and_o that_o whosoever_o will_v not_o come_v within_o three_o day_n all_o his_o substance_n shall_v be_v forfeit_v nehemiah_n etc._n also_o act_v as_o governor_n and_o rebuke_v the_o noble_n and_o ruler_n and_o set_v a_o great_a assembly_n against_o they_o because_o of_o their_o usury_n he_o also_o call_v the_o priest_n and_o take_v a_o oath_n to_o perform_v the_o promise_n of_o leave_v that_o usury_n he_o acknowledge_v also_o that_o he_o be_v governor_n there_o about_o twelve_o year_n and_o he_o give_v his_o brother_n hanani_n and_o hanaiah_n ruler_n of_o the_o palace_n charge_n over_o jerusalem_n 2._o so_o he_o do_v both_o act_n himself_o and_o other_o act_v under_o he_o we_o find_v also_o that_o at_o that_o time_n there_o be_v ruler_n of_o the_o people_n that_o dwell_v at_o jerusalem_n and_o nehemiah_n 13._o contend_v with_o the_o ruler_n and_o noble_n make_v treasurer_n command_v the_o gates●to_o be_v shut_v before_o the_o sabbath_n threaten_v to_o lay_v hand_n on_o the_o merchant_n that_o lie_v at_o the_o gate_n smite_v certain_a of_o the_o jew_n and_o pluck_v of_o their_o hair_n because_o have_v marry_v wife_n of_o ashdod_n their_o child_n speak_v half_o in_o the_o language_n of_o ashdod_n six_o let_v we_o hear_v what_o before_o these_o time_n and_o before_o our_o case_n be_v in_o be_v have_v be_v teach_v in_o point_n of_o act_v and_o upon_o what_o ground_n it_o have_v be_v approve_v a_o author_n eminent_o learn_v and_o skilful_a in_o the_o doctrine_n of_o lawgiving_n say_v thus_o 10._o no_o man_n may_v punish_v or_o condemn_v another_o even_o with_o a_o just_a punishment_n except_o he_o have_v public_a power_n which_o a_o tyrant_n can_v give_v but_o in_o this_o there_o must_v be_v a_o consideration_n or_o subdistinction_n for_o in_o rigor_n this_o be_v true_a as_o to_o the_o tyrant_n part_n yet_o it_o so_o happen_v that_o the_o commonwealth_n because_o it_o can_v resist_v he_o do_v tolerate_v he_o and_o suffer_v itself_o to_o be_v govern_v by_o he_o and_o do_v tacit_o consent_v and_o will_v that_o justice_n be_v administer_v by_o he_o for_o the_o reason_n already_o touch_v because_o it_o be_v a_o less_o evil_a to_o be_v govern_v by_o he_o than_o altogether_o to_o want_v just_a coaction_n and_o direction_n and_o than_o it_o shall_v not_o be_v a_o sin_n to_o obey_v even_o in_o the_o thing_n aforesaid_a because_o the_o consent_n of_o the_o commonwealth_n do_v supply_v the_o defect_n of_o the_o tyrant_n power_n another_o thus_o habere_fw-la that_o his_o sentence_n be_v valid_a be_v prove_v because_o his_o sentence_n and_o just_a command_n although_o they_o have_v not_o force_v from_o a_o tyrannical_a power_n yet_o they_o have_v it_o from_o elsewhere_o first_o and_o inchoative_o from_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n which_o such_o a_o state_n of_o thing_n be_v suppose_v do_v dictate_v that_o obedience_n must_v be_v give_v for_o the_o common_a good_a otherwise_o all_o will_v be_v full_a of_o theft_n and_o robbery_n second_o and_o complete_o from_o the_o commonwealth_n and_o that_o either_o because_o while_o that_o state_n endure_v it_o give_v authority_n to_o he_o by_o a_o tacit_a consent_n while_o it_o his_o that_o he_o administer_v justice_n and_o use_v his_o usurp_a office_n in_o a_o due_a manner_n or_o rather_o because_o it_o do_v tacit_o approve_v his_o command_n and_o act_n be_v agreeable_a to_o the_o law_n and_o common_a good_a and_o be_v that_o his_o just_a sentence_n whereby_o the_o suit_n of_o the_o people_n be_v decide_v and_o the_o guilty_a be_v punish_v shall_v be_v valid_a and_o bind_v the_o subject_n for_o except_o they_o be_v valid_a and_o do_v bind_v no_o man_n will_v obey_v but_o only_o in_o show_n but_o every_o man_n will_v secret_o do_v the_o contrary_a with_o a_o great_a inconvenience_n to_o the_o commonwealth_n now_o the_o commonwealth_n may_v give_v this_o force_n to_o the_o sentence_n and_o act_n of_o a_o tyrant_n because_o it_o be_v superior_a to_o all_o single_a person_n though_o it_o be_v oppress_v with_o tyranny_n and_o may_v account_v the_o just_a sentence_n of_o a_o tyrant_n as_o its_o own_o thou_o will_v ask_v 9_o whether_o a_o tyrant_n do_v sin_n the_o sin_n of_o murder_n and_o be_v bind_v to_o restitution_n if_o he_o put_v to_o death_n guilty_a person_n or_o deprive_v they_o of_o their_o good_n according_a to_o law_n i_o answer_v negative_o because_o the_o commonwealth_n do_v tacit_o give_v he_o authority_n hereunto_o while_o it_o do_v consent_n and_o desire_n that_o this_o shall_v be_v do_v by_o he_o thus_o be_v the_o authority_n of_o act_v in_o this_o case_n ground_v upon_o a_o tacit_a or_o employ_v consent_n which_o consent_n be_v the_o very_a dictate_n of_o nature_n or_o common_a reason_n because_o it_o be_v better_a to_o have_v some_o justice_n than_o none_o at_o all_o some_o coercive_a power_n and_o government_n then_o that_o all_o be_v leave_v to_o disorder_n violence_n and_o confusion_n i_o will_v shut_v up_o all_o with_o the_o result_n of_o a_o disputation_n more_o full_a and_o comprehensive_a then_o most_o i_o have_v meet_v with_o on_o this_o subject_a and_o therein_o i_o present_v to_o consideration_n first_o the_o moment_n and_o weight_n of_o the_o author_n reason_n second_o the_o probability_n and_o likelihood_n of_o the_o clearness_n of_o his_o reason_n bebause_n they_o seem_v to_o proceed_v from_o a_o judgement_n clear_a and_o free_a from_o the_o bias_n of_o affection_n yea_o his_o judgement_n herein_o do_v swim_v against_o the_o stream_n of_o his_o affection_n for_o he_o persuade_v a_o obedience_n to_o the_o government_n of_o a_o governor_n that_o he_o love_v not_o and_o i_o wish_v this_o ingenuity_n and_o clearness_n be_v at_o lest_o no_o less_o among_o we_o he_o write_v in_o the_o reign_n of_o queen_n elizabeth_n to_o who_o in_o the_o language_n of_o rome_n he_o give_v the_o term_n of_o impious_a etc._n etc._n and_o take_v notice_n of_o she_o as_o a_o tyrant_n and_o