Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	church_n	power_n	synod_n	3,603	5	9.6685	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80106	A collection of divers papers presented unto the Houses of Parliament by the Commissioners of Scotland since May last, 1645.	Scotland. Parliament.; Buchanan, David, 1595?-1652?	1645 (1645)	Wing C5144; Thomason E305_1; ESTC R200320	22,259	40

matter of the Directory for the publike worship of God But cannot wonder enough what should be the cause that the government of the Church which is the wall of Ierusalem and the hedge for preserving of other parts of Religion is so long expected by all the Reformed Churches especially by the Church of Scotland so earnestly desired by the Assembly by the godly of the Ministry and people both in City and Countrey is opposed by the enemy as the finall determination of the controversies of Religion and the ruine of all their presumption and expectation ever to recover themselves and would so much conduce for Order and Peace both in Church and State should stay so long in the birth and not be brought forth and established We cannot conceive the want of the love of Religion which is so acceptable to God that without it nothing can be accepted and so profitable both to the publick and to every mans private that it is the one thing that is necessary to be the cause when wee remember that the honourable Houses by their Commissioners and in their Declarations to the Kirk and Kingdome of Scotland and the reverend Assembly of Divines in their letters by their direction have so fully and frequently professed That Religion was the controversie betwixt them and the contrary party And the chief ground of craving aid and assistance from the Kingdome of Scotland And of the solemne League and Covenant now known to all the World the prime Articles whereof are for the Reformation of Religion as well in discipline and government as in doctrine and worship and for unity and uniformity in all these in the three kingdomes Like as upon the other part it was the principall cause that moved the Kingdome of Scotland to deny themselves to forsake their own peace and ease and to joyne with their Brethren in the time of their distresse for prosecuting this war wherein they have spent so much bloud in this Kingdome and at home lost so many worthy and pretious men and endured so many miseries In all which and against death it selfe their chiefest comfort hath been the testimony of their consciences that they were contending suffering and dying for Religion And for the Cause and Covenant of God which is also the consolation of their Widdowes Orphanes and Friends whom they have left behind them Nor do we apprehend how the judgement or obstruction doth come from any other party Such as have wilfully refused to joyn themselves in Covenant or do deale falsely in the Covenant are not to be regarded but are to be reckoned amongst the enemies And what ever their professions or pretences be are not indeed serving the Lord Jesus Christ or the publick but seeking themselves and their own ends And such as have taken the Covenant and make conscience of the Oath of God will not sleight Reformation Vniformity or the extirpation of superstition heresy schisme and profannesse far lesse appeare against the setling of the government of the Church But will with all their strength endeavour it as the meane appointed of God for so necessary ends No man can be so destitute of sense and reason as to thinke such an Anarchy and confusion as now prevaileth in the Churches of this Kingdome to be the Ordinance of God No Christian can be so void of knowledge and faith as to imagine such a monstrous deformity to be the beauty and glory of the Kingdome of Christ on earth No brother can beare a mind so contrary to charity as to judge such an intolerable condition to be the reward of so much bloud as hath beene shed in this cause And of the so many and greevious sufferings of all the three Kingdomes Nay wee are perswaded that God hath provided better things for us that necessity will bring all that tender the preservation of Religion and the peace of the Church to joyn at last in the right order and government of the Church and that both Houses which is all our desire concerning this will adde from that authority wherewith God hath vested them their civill Sanction to what the pious and learned Assembly after long and serious debates have advised as most agreeable to the Word of God There be alwaies some Incendiaries and evill instruments who will be raising jealousies against Church-government as a collaterall power erecting it selfe at the side of the Civill and in the ●nd overtopping it which is nothing else but to raise jealousies against the spirituall Kingdome of Christ as if it were inconsistent with the Kingdome of this World In other places where Civill powers are no lesse tender to their greatnesse and superiority there is no such thing Upon the contrary the Civill powers finde their honour and authoritie increased the people under them more dutifull and obedient and their places more comfortable both in peace and war by the Discipline of the Church in Presbyteries and Synods Ministers in their persons and professions are subject to Civill authority and though they receive the rules and directions of their Ministerie from Christ yet may the Civill power command and compell them to doe their duty in preaching administring the Sacraments and exercising of Discipline and may hold them to such principles as are well knowne by the confessions of the Reformed Churches and their long peaceable practice agreeable thereunto And therefore no danger is to be feared from their power but much helpe and happinesse from their faithfulnesse if they finde encouragement from the Civill power which they will greatly need against so many difficulties as they have to wrestle with before this Church be setled in purity and peace It is no mervaile that wicked men the sonnes of Belial are unwilling to submit their necks to this yoke that Christ may raigne over them this is their corruption and will prove their misery But it is the excellencie and praise of Church-government that it is terrible to such as an Army with banners Nor should it seem strange that some of the godly who have been sore pressed with Prelaticall tyranny and usurpation should be afraid of all Ecclesiasticall government But this will appeare to be needlesse feare when they cast their eyes upon the sweet and peaceable government of all the reformed Churches for so many yeeres and when they consider that the power of the Keyes is not to be exercised at the pleasure of any one in a Monarchicall way but by a Company and Colledge of Ministers and Elders chosen with the consent of the people Or that others of the godly measuring the constitution of Presbyteries and Assemblies by the corruption and prophanenesse of many Presbyters in the Prelaticall times should conceive of them as formidable to the power of godlinesse But when they shall perceive that by the wisdome and care of the Parliament the Presbyters and Assemblies are constituted and made up of orthodox pious and select persons zealous of the honour of Jesus Christ and of the edification