Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A52594
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A discourse of ecclesiastical lawes and supremacy of the kings of England, in dispensing with the penalties thereof by Mr. Philip Nye.
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Nye, Philip, 1596?-1672.
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1687
(1687)
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Wing N1490A; ESTC R41353
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35,351
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41
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done yet in what His Majesty had promised in way of relief to tender Consciences Hereupon not only multitudes of faithful Preachers of the Gospel in several Shires in this Kingdom were put from their Imployment but also the Minds of men are much disturbed and filled with hard Thoughts and Jealousies upon this account Insomuch as His Majesty was enforced to Publish that Declaration of Dec. 26. In which he expresseth the surmises of the People occasioned by this Severity thus That having made use of such solemn Promises from Breda and in several Declarations since of Ease and Liberty to tender Consciences instead of performing any part of them we have added straiter Fetters than ever and new rocks of Scandal to the scrupulous by the Act of Uniformity To this surmise and jealousie His Majesty condescends to make a reply thus As concerning the non-performance of our Promise we remember well the very words of those from Breda c. and the Confirmation we have had of them since upon several occasions in Parliament and as all these things are still fresh in our memory so are we still firm in the resolution of Performing them to the full But it must not be wondered at since that Parliament to which those Promises were made in relation to an Act never thought fit to offer us any to that purpose The House of Commons took his Declaration into Consideration and represented to His Majesty divers Objections against it and laid it aside so that nothing was effected thereby to His Majesty's purpose the Parliament being otherwise minded And certainly it is not only their Liberty but Duty to proceed in reforming Abuses by such means as are in their Perswasion most suitable and likely to be effectual otherwise they would not be faithful in their trust So now greater Severities against Nonconformists are provided in several Acts upon occasion As the Act against Private Meetings 16 Car. 2. The expelling Ministers five Miles from Burrough Towns 17 Car. 2. Especially that Act of 22 Car. 2. intituled An Act to prevent and suppress Seditious Conventicles and all very high and heavy in the Penalties expressed both upon Ministers and People His Majesty notwithstanding condescended to give his Royal Assent to that Bill It being judg'd this Severity was taken up by them from good intentions and as the likeliest means of Peace and Union as also if it proved not to be so that they might yet be more fully convinced of the insufficiency of such a way having had hitherto for some years experience how little effectual it hath proved Yet this Bill containing nothing for Substance but what was proper to his Ecclesiastical Power being an ordering the Externals of the Church and nothing of immediate concern in Civil Affairs in the whole Act and His Majesty having intentions to take the other course if this of Severity effected not what was aimed at a Proviso is inserted in the Act in these words Provided also that neither this Act nor any thing contained therein shall extend to invalidate or avoid His Majesty's Supremacy in Ecclesiastical Affairs but that His Majesty his Heirs and Successors may from time to time and at all times hereafter exercise and enjoy all Power and Authority in Ecclesiastical Affairs as fully and amply as himself or any of his Predecessors have or might have done the same any thing in that Act c. notwithstanding As this Act of 22 Car. 2. was very strict and severe in it self so the execution of it was with much violence and rigour in most parts of the Nation there being Provision made in it that such as even loose and indigent Persons may intrude themselves in the promoting thereof with encouragements not only of their lusts satisfied in persecuting those they so much hate but their Necessities supplied from large rewards for the same having Power given to inform against Justices Mayors Constables and such who are intrusted with the Execution hereof who are under great Fines and Penalties for omissions limited in this Act and the Informer to have a moiety hereof himself insomuch that by the rigorous execution of it Thousands of His Majesty's good Subjects were utterly ruined Persons industrious and diligent in their Callings driven from their Habitations their Houses broken open their Goods imbezziled the Materials of their Trade the Tools they wrought with and the Beds they lay on seized and our Trade every where decayed Rents of Lands falling Poverty coming on like an armed Man Persons haled from these Meetings for the Worship of God through the open Streets to Prisons being of the same Faith with us and so peaceable and unblameable in their Conversation as that nothing could be objected against them but in the Matters of their God nor for any thing upon that account but their endeavouring to practise as those reformed Churches we our selves own as such and hold a brotherly Communion with as the true Churches of Christ. The Nation generally being thus distracted and distressed those in Power going on still to make Lawes to afflict and punish and others ingaged quietly to suffer whatsoever they should be exposed to for their Consciences Matters being at this pass there was apparent Necessity that some remedy in the case should be seriously and speedily applyed His Majesty considering they are all his Subjects and how much by such Severity the Interest of his Sovereignty is narrowed so great a number of his People rendered unworthy of his Countenance and Protection and upon no other account or crime but their being of different Perswasion in some Externals of Religion Persons otherwise wise for Industry Faithfulness and Loyalty every way qualified to dâ—… His Majesty and their Country as good Service as any others of His Majesty's Subjects whatever His Majesty also did call to Mind that Prudent caution which his Royal Father left him in these words Take heed saith he that outward Circumstances and Formalities in Religion devour not all or the best incouragements of Learning and Industry but with an equal Eye and impartial Hand distribute Favours and Rewards to all Men as you find them for their real goodness both in Ability and Fidelity worthy and capable of them This will be sure to gain you the hearts of the best and most too It was likewise impossible for His Majesty to imagine that so ma-many thousand in his observation who have suffered so grievous things with such humble submission should daily thus expose themselves and Families to ruine upon no other or better Principles than a Spirit of obstinacy and stubbornness Great Sufferings and by great Multitudes yet no Tumults no resisting whereas in the beginning of the Reformation what Armies in the North and in the West upon this account by those of another Perswasion were raised altho yet they had suffered but little His Majesty as was said as a Common Father beareth Affection to all his Subjects but who of them deserves it and who not can nover