Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	holy_a	scripture_n	word_n	8,597	5	4.5046	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53253	A sermon preached at the assizes held at Reading, in the county of Berks, July 12th, 1681 by John Okes ...	Okes, John, b. 1649 or 50.	1681 (1681)	Wing O194; ESTC R9257	9,916	30

every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as supream or unto governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of them that do well But alas Fancy and Opinion sometimes over-rule Reason and Scripture both or else we should never have known such horrid impieties committed among our selves as to see a King dethron'd and murther'd by his own Subjects and the House of God which our Saviour denominated a House of Prayer to become a Den of Thieves which was too truly so indeed when our Churches were profan'd robbed and plundred of their decent Ornaments by wicked and cruel hands and pure Religion which is there professed forced to retire and hide its head in a corner and our Clergie the lawful Ministers of Christ sequestred from their Livelihood and employment too all which was violently carried on under the specious names of Reformation and Liberty of Conscience and the actors all this while the greatest pretenders to Religion and Holiness carrying a fair outside whatever was within But even thus did the Pharisees of old who could devour Widows houses under pretence of their long Prayers How far such practices as these are from that duty we stand obliged to by the Laws both of God and man must needs be plain and clear to every one that is not wilfully blind They are the greatest reproach to the Protestant Religion and even a scandal to Christianitie itself and therefore to be exploded and for ever abominated by all that put on the name of either The obedience required of us is a voluntarie and hearty doing what our lawful Superiour commands or patient suffering what he inflicts though it should be either without just cause or somewhat more excessively than the cause requires but in all lawful commands we stand obliged to do what he requires by Law to be done and a Passive obedience in this case is not a sufficient discharge of our duty much less can an active disobedience find any Plea For such as refuse to do what the Law commands though they may seem content to suffer the punishment it inflicts are no better observers of the Law than a Thief who is content to be hanged after he hath robb'd his Neighbours If either of them suffer the Law it is for their offence in transgressing it and what glory is it if when men be buffeted for their faults they take it patiently This makes them neither the better men nor the better Christians for besides that it is to be supposed that they would not suffer any penalty if they could find a way to escape it This doth not answer the end and design of the Law which requires our obedience in an active performance of the things commanded and the punishment is onely added in case of contempt and disobedience Such therefore a● refuse to obey the Law though they suffer the penalty it inflicts cannot reasonably be thought good observers thereof because it is not the punishment that the Law-giver intends but the doing that which he requires and such as refuse to do this or act contrary to it not onely offend the Magistrate under whom they live but even God himself who commands us to reverence and obey him This therefore can be no refuge for those pretending Zealots who endeavour to make the world believe they are peaceable good Subjects if they quietly suffer the penalty of the Laws Alas this is no discharge of their duty the Magistrate onely suppresses their rebellious practices for which they make Religion a Cloak and punishes their disobedience which they endeavour to palliate with Devotion but the duty required of them remains still unperformed and sin lies at their door who invert St. Paul's rule and think it sufficient to obey merely for wrath and not for Conscience-sake The Authours and Abettors therefore of such absurd Doctrines would do well to consider that when they fall under due correction this doth not acquit or free them from their first offence in breaking the Law but is designed onely to keep them in better order and make them better Subjects for the time to come Nor will it at all justifie our disobedience to lawful Authority what some men urge viz. That the things required are not commanded in the Word of God it is sufficient if they are not therein forbid nor contrary to it That the powers ordained of God and by him set over us have authority to order and determine some things not directly and expresly commanded in the Word of God is plain and evident even from those many Texts of holy Scripture which required and enjoyn obedience to the Magistrate As for those things positively set down in the Word of God there we have directions for the performance of them but then when we are commanded moreover even by the same Word of God to obey the Magistrate this must necessarily suppose him invested with a power to command us some things not before specified but left to his determination and so far as his commands are agreeable to the Word of God we are bound to obey them If the Magistrate command us any thing that is manifestly impious and contrary to the known will of God we are then with reverence to refuse and alledge our duty to God for our Warrant but this refusal must be with submission and reverence still reserving our lawful subjection and Loyalty this must be with a passive obedience not resisting but submitting to the penalties of the Law and in this case we must betake our selves to the weapons of the Primitive Christians viz. Prayers and Tears But thanks be to God we have no ground for any such complaints we have no Commands imposed upon us but such as are easie to be born and very agreeable to a good Christian temper May it therefore please Almighty God long to continue such a Prince among us whose endeavours may always be to protect and support such as are committed to him and to govern them prudently and after a holy manner And may it enter into every Subjects heart to be faithful submissive and obedient to his Soveraign not in outward appearance onely but in truth and sincerity It is not enough for us to own his Supream power and authority unless we assert them in our actions and demonstrate the reality of our intentions by all the outward acts of fidelity and love Nor must we be wanting if need so require to assist him with our Estates We are bid by St. Paul to render Tribute to whom Tribute as well as Honour to whom Honour is due And that Tribute was anciently paid is evident by our Saviour's determination in my Text of the Question proposed to him and elsewhere he confirmed the same though at the expence of a Miracle even by his own practice Matth. 17.27 Go thou to the Sea speaking to St. Peter and cast an hook and take up the fish that first