Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
book_n apostle_n church_n doctrine_n 1,965 5 6.0236 4 false
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A61148 The history of the Church of Scotland, beginning in the year of our Lord 203 and continued to the end of the reign of King James the VI of ever blessed memory wherein are described the progress of Christianity, the persecutions and interruptions of it, the foundation of churches, the erecting of bishopricks, the building and endowing monasteries, and other religious places, the succession of bishops in their sees, the reformation of religion, and the frequent disturbances of that nation by wars, conspiracies, tumults, schisms : together with great variety of other matters, both ecclesiasticall and politicall / written by John Spotswood ... Spottiswood, John, 1565-1639.; Duppa, Brian, 1588-1662. 1655 (1655) Wing S5022; ESTC R17108 916,071 584

There are 3 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

of Englands friendship And in her own Kingdome the late troubles not being fully appeased they considered her peril would be great and that she should be cast in many difficulties yet finding her own mind to incline that way and hoping to have her more subject to their counsels whilest she lived at home then if she remained in France they resolved to give way to her return and to provide a fleet for her safe transport Lord Iames at his coming though he was advertised of the conclusion taken yet dissembling his knowledge thereof did signify the great desire that the subjects had to enjoy her presence and their longing for her return using the best reasons he could to perswade her unto it Hereby she was much confirmed in her purpose and after a day or two imparting to him her resolution willed him to return with diligence and making advertisement of her journey take care that nothing should be attempted against the pacification made at Leth before her coming In March following there arrived at Leth one Noalius a Senator of Burdeaux bringing a Commission from the King that had now succeeded his brother whereby three things were craved First that the old league betwixt France and Scotland should be renewed Secondly that the late confederacie with England should be dissolved Thirdly that the Churchmen should be restored to their places from which they had been thrust The Councel not willing to medle with matters of that importance delayed his answer to the Convention appointed in May at which time Lord Iames returned he had audience and answer given him to this effect That the Scots were no way conscious to themselves of any breach of the ancient league but contrariwise the French had broken to them seeking of late 〈◊〉 deprive them of their ancient liberties and under the profession of friendship to bring them into a miserable servitude That they could not violate the contract made with England except they would 〈◊〉 accompted of all men living the most ingrate for having received the greatest 〈◊〉 and benefit at the hands of the English which one neighbour Nation could possibly 〈◊〉 another if they should requite them with such ingratitude they would bring upon themselves a perpetual and everlasting shame And for repairing the Churchmen in their places they said that they did not acknowledge those whom they so styled to be Office-bearers in the Church and that Scotland having renounced the Pope would maintain no longer his Priests and vassals Noalius dismissed with this answer the Earls of Morton and Glencarn who a little before this time were returned from England did relate the good acceptance they received from the Queen and the promises she made to assist them in the defence of the liberties of the Kingdome if they should stand in need at any time of her help which was heard with great content They had been trusted with a more private businesse this was to try if the Queen might be pleased to take the Earl of Arrane to her husband and that way to unite the Kingdomes in a more firm amity But to this she did in fair terms answer That she was not as yet wearied of the single life and professing her self adepted to the Noblemans good affection said that if she should try her kindnesse in any other matter he should find his love not ill bestowed The Earl took the repulse more patiently because of the French Kings death and trusting he should gain the favour of his own Queen whom he greatly affected but of this he was likewise disappointed as we will hear IN the Convention kept at Edinburgh in Ianuary preceding a form of Church-policy was presented and desired to be ratified Because this will fall to be often mentioned and serveth to the clearing of many questions which were afterward agitated in the Church I thought meet word by word here to insert the same that the Reader may see what were the grounds laid down at first for the Government of the Church so we shall the better decerne of the changes that followed The first Head of Doctrine SEeing that Christ Iesus is he whom God the Father hath commended onely to be heard and followed of his sheep we judge it necessary that his Gospel be truly and openly preached in every Church and Assembly of this Realm and that all Doctrine repugning to the same be utterly suppressed as damnable to mans salvation The Explication of the first Head Lest that upon this our generality ungodly men take occasion to cavill this we adde for explication By preaching of the Gospel we understand not only the Scriptures of the New Testament but also the Old to wit the Law the Prophets and Histories in which Christ Iesus is no lesse contained in figure then we have him now expressed in vertue And therefore with the Apostle we affirm that all Scripture inspired of God is profitable to instruct to reprove and to exhort In which books of Old and New Testaments we affirm that all things necessary for the instruction of the Church and to make the man of God perfect are contained and sufficiently expressed By the contrary Doctrine we understand whatsoever men by Lawes Councels or Constitutions have imposed upon the consciences of men without the expresse Commandment of Gods word such as are the vowes of chastity forswearing of marriage binding of men and women to a several and disguised apparel to the superstitious observing of Fasting-dayes difference of meats for conscience sake prayer for the dead and keeping of Holy dayes of certain Saints commanded by man such as be all these the Papists have invented as the Feasts so as they term them of the Apostles Martyrs Virgins of Christmas Circumcision Epiphany Purification and other said Feasts of our Lady which things because in the Scriptures of God they neither have commandment nor assurance we judge them utterly to be abolished from this Realm Affirming further that the obstinate maintainers and teachers of such abominations ought not to escape the punishment of the Civil Magistrate The second head of Sacraments TO Christ Iesus his holy Gospel truly preached of necessity it is that his holy Sacraments be annexed and truly ministred as seals and visible confirmations of the spiritual promises contained in the words These Sacraments are two to wit Baptisme and the holy Supper of the Lord Iesus which are then rightly ministred when by a lawful Minister the people before the administration of the same are plainly instructed and put in mind of Gods free grace and mercy offered unto the penitent in Christ Iesus when Gods promises are rehearsed the end and use of the Sacraments preached and declared in such a language as the people do understand when also to them nothing is added and from them nothing diminished and in their administration all things done according to the institution of the Lord Iesus and practice of his holy Apostles And albeit the order of Geneva which now
much kindnesse of this Gregory at Tholouse in the year 1527. and saith that he died in that City having left divers monuments of his ingenie to the posterity the Catalogue whereof you may see in the place With this I shall joyn another not for any commendation of his learning for he had none nor for his good qualities which were as few but for strange and extraordinary things seen in him which in the time ministred occasion of great talk and wondring to many This man named Iohn Scot having succumbed in a plea at law and knowing himself unable to pay that wherein he was adjudged took sanctuary in the Abbey of Halirudhouse where out of a deep displeasure he abstained from all meat and drink the space of 30 or 40 dayes together Publick rumour bringing this abroad the King would have it put to trial and to that effect shut him up in a private room within the Castle of Edinburgh whereunto no man had accesse he caused a little bread and water to be set by him which he was found not to have tasted in the space of 32. days This proof given of his abstinence he was dimitted and coming forth into the street halfe naked made a speech to the people that flocked about him wherein he professed to do all this by the help of the Blessed Virgin and that he could fast as long as he pleased Many did take it for a miracle esteeming him a person of wonderful holinesse others thought him to be phrentick and mad so as in a short time he came to be neglected and thereupon leaving the countrey went to Rome where he gave the like proof of his fasting to Pope Clement the seventh From Rome he came to Venice apparelled with holy vestures such as the Priests use when they say Masse and carrying in his hand a Testimonial of his abstinence under the Popes Seal he gave there the like proof and was allowed some five Duckats to make his expence towards the holy Sepulcher which he pretended to visit This voyage he performed and then returned home ● bringing with him some palm-tree leaves and a scripful of stones which he said were a part of the pillar to which our Saviour was tied when he was scourged and coming by London went up into the Pulpit in Panls Church-yard where he cast forth many speeches against the divorce of King Henry from Katherine his Queen inveying bitterly against him for his defection from the Roman See and thereupon was thrust in prison where he continued 50. dayes fasting After that being dimitted for they held him to be a mad man he came directly into Scotland and remained in company with one Thomas Doughty who a little before was returned from Italy and had built a little Chappel to the holy Virgin with the money he had begged in his travel This man by his counterfeit miracles made great advantage amongst the simple people and albeit he was known to be a cousening fellow and in life extremely vicious yet was he suffered by the Clergy to abuse the ignorant multitude for that the opinion of Purgatory Pardons and prayers to Saints which began then every where to be despised was by this mean nourished amongst the people Scot grudging that Doughty did appropriate all the gain he made to himselfe did not admit him a partner in the same retired to a house in the suburbs of Edinburgh at the Western part of the Town and therein erected a religious Altar which he adorned in the best manner he could setting up his daughter a young maid of reasonable beauty upon the Altar and placing lights and torches round about her the simple sort for a long time believed her to be the Virgin M●ry and frequented the place in great numbers to do her worship but the knavery coming to be detected he forsook his Altar and forgetting all his devotion returned to his first trade and manner of life Lesley in his story saith that he prophesied many things concerning the decay of the Romish Religion and the restitution of it in a short time of the decay he might speak having seen it begun but for other things he was a dreamer rather then a Propher 40. The first act of the Cardinal after his promotion did shew what an enemy he would be to those who in that time were called hereticks for he was not well warmed in his seat when to make his greatnesse seen he brought to S. Andrews the Earles of Huntley Arran Marshall and Montrosse the Lords Fleming Lindsay 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 with divers other Barons and men of quality There came thither also Gawine Archbishop of Glasgow Chancellour William Bishop of Aberdene Henry Bishop of Galloway Iohn Bishop of Bri●●en and William Bishop of Dumblane The Abbots of Melross Dunfermlin Lindors and Kinlosse with a number of Priors Deans and Doctors of Theologie And they all having convened in the Cathedral Church he sitting in a Chair somewhat erected above the rest for that he was a Cardinal began to expone the dangers wherein the Catholick faith stood by the increase of hereticks and the boldnesse they took to professe their opinions openly even in the Kings Court where he said they found too great countenance In special he named Sir Iohn Borthwick commonly called Captain Borthwick whom he had caused cite to that Diet for dispersing heretical books and for maintaining divers Articles contrary to the doctrine of the Romane Church desiring their assistance in the procedure of Justice against him The heads of the accusation were read 1. That he held the Pope to have no greater authority over Christians then any other Bishop or Prelat had 2. That Indulgences and Pardons granted by the Pope were of no force nor effect but devised to abuse people and deceive poor ignorant soules 3. That Bishops Priests and other Clergy men may lawfully marry 4. That the heresies commonly called the heresies of England and their new Liturgy was commendable and to be embraced of all Christians 5. That the people of Scotland are blinded by their Clergy and professed not the true faith 6. That Churchmen ought not to enjoy any temporalties 7. That the King ought to convert the rents of the Church into other pious uses 8. That the Church of Scotland ought to be governed after the manner of the English 9. That the Canons and Decrees of the Church were of no force as being contrary to the law of God 10. That the Orders of Friers and Monks should be abolished as had been done in England 11. That he did openly call the Pope Simoniack for that he sold spritual things 12. That he did read heretical books and the New Testament in English and some other Treatises written by Melanchthon Oecolampadius and Erasmus which he gave likewise unto others 13. The last and greatest point was that he refused to acknowledge the authority of the Romane See or be subject
desired in a King The priviledges and immunities granted by him to the Church do witnesse his piety for in a convention held at Forfare by an unanime consent of his Estates he ordained That all Priests should from thenceforth be exempted from paying tribute keeping watch and going in warfare That they should not be drawne before temporal Judges for any civil cause but that all matters concerning them should be decided by their Bishops the judgement of Matrimonial causes right of Tithes Testaments Legislatory actions and all things depending upon simple faith and promise should be committed to the Bishops with power to them to make Canons and constitutions Ecclesiastical to try hereticks blasphemers perjured persons and Magicians and censure such as they did finde delinquent in that kind And that all Kings succeeding should at the time of their coronation take oath for maintaining the Church in their liberties These favours had the Clergy in the following ages used with that moderation and equity which they ought we should not have seen nor felt the interruptions that have been made upon Church liberties with the incroachments which in our time have been justly complained of In this time lived that famous Scholar Ioannes Scotus called Aerigena from the place of his birth which was the town of Aire in the West parts of Scotland This man being very young went to Athens and followed his studies there some years attained to great perfection in the Greek Chaldaick and Arabick languages Returning afterward to France at the request of Carolus Calvus he translated in Laetine the work of Dionysius de coelesti Hierarchia at which Pope Nicolaus took exception and wrote to King Charles on this manner Relatum est Apostolatui nostro quòd opus Dionysii Arepagitae quod de divinis nominibus vel coelestibus ordinibus Graeco descripit eloquio quidam vir Joannes genere Scotus in Latinum transtulit quod juxta morem nobis mitti nostro debuit judicio approbari praesertim cùm idem Joannes licèt multae scientiae esse praedicetur olim non sanus in quibusdam frequenti rumore dicatur We have been informed that one called Iohn of the Scottish nation hath translated the work which Dionysius the Areopagite did write of the names of God or of the heavenly Orders into the Latine tongue which book ought according to the custome have been sent to us and approved by our judgement especially since the said Iohn albeit he be esteemed of good learning hath been of long time held to be unsound in certain points of doctrine Now the point which the Pope did chiefly quarrel was his opinion of the Sacrament for he had published a Treatise De corpore sanguine Domini wherein he maintained Bertram his doctrine of that point Scotus having knowledge of this and thinking he could not be safe in those parts because of the Popes dislike came into Britain and was welcomed by King Alfred a great favourer of learned men by whom he was employed to teach the languages at Malmsbury Abbey and by some Scholars who could not indure the severity of discipline was stabbed to death in the year 884. and buried in the same Abbey 4. Bishop Malisius dying Kellach the second the son of one Ferlegus succeeded in his place he was the first Bishop of this Kingdom that went to Rome to seek confirmation and lived to a great age for he sate Bishop 35. years In his time Constantine the third King of that name wearied with the troubles of a publick life renounced his temporal dignity and betook himself to solitude among the Culdees in St. Andrews with whom he spent his last five years and there died After this Killach these successively were Bishops 5. Malmore 6. Malisius the second 7. Alwinus who fate three years only 8. Maldwin the son of Gillander and 9. Tuthaldus In this time the coelibate of the Clergy was violently urged and married Priests thrust from their livings which raised great stirres in the Church but the particulars are not recorded nor the broyles which thereupon insued I read in the Antiquities of the Britannick Church that in the year 977. a Councel was gathered at Calne in Wiltshire for that businesse to which Beornellus a Bishop of Scotland was called by Alfrithe the widow of King Edgar who favoured the cause of married Priests This Bishop a man of great learning and eloquence is said to have defended the conjugal life of Priests by solid reasons taken out of Scripture and to have put all the opposites to silence But Dunstane the Archbishop who presided in that Councel when he saw that reason could not bear out the earand fell a threatning and said that notwithstanding all their arguments they should not carry away the victory which he had no sooner spoken then the beames of the house wherein they sate at Councel bursting asunder all were overturned and fell headlong to the ground many were bruised and some killed with the fall Dunstan himself only escaped without harm the beam whereon he stood remaining whole and entire Such as favoured the cause of Monks did interpret this accident to be a sentence given by God on their side others said that Dunstan had wrought this mischief by sorcery for many supposed him to be a Magician However it was the married Priests though repining were forced indeed to yield and submit themselves What became of Beornellus I read not nor whether he returned to his countrey The names of some other Bishops we have who were in good accompt at that time such as Blaanus Englatius Colmocus and Moveanus Confessor to King Kenneth the third a wise and valiant King and one who might have been reckoned amongst the best Princes if about his latter end he had not stained his fame with the murther of Malcolm his Nephew whom he made away by poyson but the ambitious desire he had to settle the succession in his own posterity let him to work this villany which he carried in so covert a manner as no man did once suspect him thereof the opinion of his integrity being universally great but as wicked facts can never be assured though possible they may be concealed his mind was never after that time quiet the conscience of the crime vexing him day and night with continual fears In end whether it was so in effect or if his perplexed minde did form the self such an imagination whilest he lay asleep he heard a voyce speaking to him in this sort Doest thou think that the death of Malcolm that innocent Prince treacherously murthered by thee is hidden from me or that thou shalt passe any longer unpunished No there is a plot laid for thy life which thou shalt not escape and whereas thou didst think to transmit the Crown firm and stable to thy posterity thou shalt leave the Kingdom broken distracted and full of trouble The King awaked with the voyce was