Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	authority_n	bishop_n	church_n	2,351	5	3.9478	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A11621	Vox vera: or, Obseruations from Amsterdam Examining the late insolencies of some pseudo-puritans, separatists from the Church of Great Brittaine. And closed vp with a serious three-fold aduertisement for the generall vse of euery good subiect within his Maiesties dominions, but more especially of those in the kingdome of Scotland. By Patricke Scot, North-Brittaine.	Scot, Patrick.	1625 (1625)	STC 21863; ESTC S116886	33,610	74

the place of Bishops as well to admit and exauctorate Ministers as to administrate diuine seruice Philadel ibid. pag. 3. Statuit Ecclesia ex selectissimis Pastoribus duodecem eligi quibus daretur in designatis sibi prouinciis potestas sacra administrandi auctorandi exauctorandi pastores hos superintendentes apellabant insumptum maiori stipendio instruebant Not long after whether the emenencie of superintendents did become suspicious to generall assemblies Ibid. p. 4. or whether they did not keepe their accounts streight they were first tied to a yeerely account to the brethren assembled after that certaine Commissioners of the Ministrie were adioyned to them as it seemeth to keepe them within the limits of their iniunctions howsoeuer superintendents and the former Bishops were onely fires to premature the ensuing anarchy thundred out by Iohn Knox by whom the gouernment of the Church was wholly directed In hoc negotio nemo nescit maiorem Knoxii quam omnium superintendentium luudem fuisse Vind. Phil. pag. 27. Phila. p. 5. In the assembly holden at Leeth anno 1571. Ianuary 12. Bishops were againe established but not without opposition following the next yeere in the Sinod holden at Pearthe wherein the disciples of Knox made earnest protestation against the gouernment of Bishops Anno 1573. the generall assemblies did inioyne Bishops to haue no further authoritie then superintendents had before Ibid. In the assembly holden at Edenborrough ann 1575. it was disputed whether the office of a Bishop was a place of charge or of dignitie a Thesis not vnlike that of the Popish Clergy making question to whom the Lords Prayer should be directed Pag. 6. In the assembly following at Edenborrough anno 1576. the office of Bishops is declared titular and they tyed to the gouernment of one Flocke without supremacy at all ouer other Pastours so that now they are a Stage lower then superintendents with whom they were equals by the Canons of the former assembly Ibid. Anno. 1577. the second booke of Church gouernment was confirmed and published the Hierarchy of Bishops condemned and new lawes of discipline established Ibid. In the assembly holden at Dundie anno 1580. Bishops were deuested of all authority their office declared to be a humane inuention receiued to the preiudice of the Church to bee razed out of the gouernment thereof and they inioyned to yeeld to this decree vnder the paine of excommunication But lest such dayly nouations might argue Proteus-like changes in this gouernment Ibid. Philadelphus subioyneth a reason multae erant de negligentia ignorantia Episcoporum quaerelae Such lips such latice or a mad conclusion of a fond proposition as if I should say because Philadelphus Didoclauius and the like fire-brands are the staines of the Ministry and disturbers of the Church therefore the office of all Pastors is vtterly to be defaced and forbidden the cases are matches if the one may stand in Law the other may and if we condemne the one wee must condemne the other for if we reason from the abuse of good things to the remouing of them we shall fall into an anarchy and ouerthrow all reason In the assembly holden at Glascow 1581. Aprill 24. Ibid. pag. 6. Presbiteriall gouernment and what else might aduance democratie was established and continued without great encrease till the assembly holden 1590. that paritie began to waxe like a gourd then were Commissioners or Prouinciall ouer-seers discharged and their power conferred vpon Presbiteriall assemblies as the vndoubted right of those pupils that were but nine yeeres of age Comissionariorum siue visitatorum prouinciarum potestas abrogata est Phil. p. 6. eorumque munus Presbiteriis tanquam ius suum concessum est Phil. p. 6. From the beginning of Presbiteriall gouernment vnto anno 1600. or thereabouts by the records of generall prouincial presbiteriall assemblies and Parochiall sessions nothing is to be found but the Austrian plus vltra dayly encroacht vpon and euery day new deuises In the time of this raging confusion Maiesty was ouer-swayed with clamourous railing faction incited maintained and defended by adherence of most part of the Ministrie to the strongest partie of those combustions that were too common in those dayes but now are happily remoued by the wisdome of that King whom refractarie furies hath from his very infancie so barbarously insolently and vnthankefully opposed that by diuine and nationall Lawes iustly might hee haue curbed such madnesse with a more strict censure then by his milde and royall regrate in his learned Princely Basilicon Doron Epist Altar Damasc that he had found more trueth and loyaltie amongst the dregs of his Subiects then with those who against all moderation and the conscience of their profession had left no practise vnassayed against Soueraigntie that either faction or vulgar applause could conciliate I might add here many rare paradoxes insolent misdemeanours and bold attempts not beseeming Christian sobrietie much lesse the approbation of a well settled gouernment but if it appeare that eithet the frame or administration pictured by Philadelphus bee orderly or any way sorting with an happy gouernement I desire to know what is anarchie disloyaltie and sedition but I leaue the pressure of such festered sores and continue my enquirie in the late actions of that impure Spawne of those Separatists whose Grachus doctrine Catechisme of sedition schoole of faction is neither compatible with the Lawes of God or Empire or any thing else then the ouer flowing of the surfetting stomach of Muncer the Anabaptist who drunke in selfe-conceit did bost to conquer the world with the sword of the Spirit Et cogere vniuersum orbem gladio Gedeonis ad nonum Christi regnum instituendum Gual Tug But lest any man should doubt of the perfection of the gouernment so highly aduanced Philadelp p. 7. Philadelphus crownes it with tum quidem bene currebamus It is well said Sir yet giue me leaue to tell you that oft times the more haste the worse speede and that festina lente in gouernment is more sure and commeth oft times more safely home then that hot spurre that either spoyles his horse or runneth himselfe out of winde or ioynt or as your anarchie that was rotten before it was ripe Yet let vs heare an vncharitable glosse vpon an Apocriphall text or the reason which Philadelphus giueth that this happines was interrupted by the bringing in of Bishops Diabolus sayth he hanc faelicitatem inuidens tertium Episcoporum genus noua arte supposuit Philad ibid. For answer to such prophane censures I can say no lesse then that as his former running course did shew more will then wisdome and hath shortned the life of consistorian discipline and prematured violence so is his ragged reason against all reason or probabilitie that the Prince of darkenesse and confusion should enuy anarchy and haue any hand in the frame of good gouernment which is a chiefe type

and euill so hath he giuen him a strong Arme to cast out from his people euery root that bringeth forth Wormewood and Gall. Epist Mirror of holy Warre dedicated to the high Court of Parliament of England He needeth not a Speculum belli sacri or a Looking Bable to informe him that the open enemies of State are quickly discouered but the Mothes Cancers vlcerous sores and Hecticks arising from seditious subiects are seldome seene till they be past cure and become the spoyle of State and opprobrie of States-men Neither is hee ignorant that whatsoeuer subiect repineth against iust Lawes or incroacheth vpon the Regalities of the King either seeketh to weare his Crowne commaund it or to disclayme his allegeance Thinke not then that a King so religiously wise for satisfaction of fond iealousies which hee hath further secured then modestie or reason could haue entreated farre lesse importuned will re-establish a confused Anarchie or giue way that an Oligarchie of Elders composed for the most part of ignorant and mutinous members shall be the Lesbian Rule to square iudge direct gouerne and be the Dictator of Church and State at home and abroad As his Maiesties long experience hath taught him that such tumultuous Councels of orderlesse paritie are the dis-tuned strings that marreth the Harmonie of the Church and disturbe the quiet of the State so in thankefull acknowledgement that God hath beene so propitious vnto him in giuing him an vnderstanding heart endued with prouidence prudence moderation and goodnesse whereby hee hath happily diuerted and dispersed all maleuolent aspects of disasterous starres which haue threatened the least eclipse of the sunne-shine of those peaceable dayes which wee haue so long possessed hee can doe no lesse then continue his former care and prouide for the safetie and bodie of his Empire that euery good subiect may sleepe in his Watchings and rest in his Labours Adde to these Considerations that his Maiesties white Colours haue long attended your submission at the Gates of your Rebellion if his approaches draw neerer who knoweth what may follow An aduised Fabius is no lesse to be feared then a fighting Marcellus True wisdome knoweth as well how to sacrifice at the Altar of Mars as to offer in the Temple of Minerua and is no lesse seene in the Mysteries of Warre then in the Councels of Peace Sometimes the day that beginneth with Sunne-shine endeth with Stormes and some who now refuse to sing Gloria Patri Some of this pure profession hath bin lately so mad as to impugne that Gloria Patri should bee read in the Church Liturgie or sung after the Psalms perhaps hereafter may be taught a Lesson of obedience Sicut erat in principio You cannot iustly complaine but that patience hath beene admirable which hath giuen way to those violent Spirits whose actions now shew that without pulling of them vpon their knees they can be hardly reduced to order but if others be wise they may make good vse of such madnesse Optimum consilium aliena frui insania It is bad policie to let danger knocke at the doore and it is a worthie saying beseeming a States-man That solid and grounded courses which keepe dangers aloofe L. Verul are better then fine shifts and deliueries when they are neere Damb in caus Crim. Dec. lib. 7. Farin Bod. de repub Iac. 1. parl 2. c 43. Iac. 5. parl 6. c. 83. Iac. 6. Parl. 8. c. 134. Parl 10. c. 10. Parl. Parl. 14. c. 259. Ed. 1. an 3. c. 25. Hen. 8. an 37. c. 10. Phil. and Mar. an c 3. Eliz. an 8. c. 7. I will not act the Ciuilian in resoluing whether or not Conspiracies entertainment of intelligence for Faction priuate Conuenticles inciting Commotion or the abaters and Ministers of instruction to treasonable attempts be within the compasse of Treason because it is euident by our auncient and moderne Municipall Lawes which are or ought to be the bridles to breake and curbe vnruly Colts If a friendly interest might haue place I could wish that such of you as know the danger to which you are lyable should appeale to a Pardon in mercie by tendering your obedience to conformitie whilest you haue time and not to stand to a tryall in Iustice when perhaps it will be too late for those Royall Offers and Remonstrances so oft reiected to yeeld to those Metaphysicall repining Spirits who can discerne the face of the skie but cannot discerne the difference of times or their owne danger when destruction like Damocles sword hangeth perpendiculer ouer their heads It is obiected by Demades against the Athenians that they neuer intreated for peace but in mourning gownes that is after great calamitie in warre After wit is oft times bought at a deere rate by the disloyall children of pride singularitie and disobedience In nobis id verum quibus hostis in latere non tantum ad Portas Hanniball tamen dulci fortuna litigamus It cannot bee expessed how much it greeueth the heart of euery sober Christian that soueraigntie Magistracy and things of speciall excellency should be thus bitten at by men ouerflowing with peace whom God hath endued with graces of wit and learning to better purposes and that gentle admonitions which ought to reforme them doe but encrease their obstinacy and are occasions of labouring more earnestly to entangle vnwary minds in the snares of their opinions Gens hominum fertur rapidis obuia fatis Incerta sui stigiasque vltro querimus vndas There is none so ignorant amongst you bur knoweth vos estis dii is a prerogatiue or summum imperium giuen to Kings and estote subditi a command of obedience telling subiects that as the hand must wither that toucheth so the tongue must fall out that taxeth the Lords annoynted against whom the very Angels of heauen giue not railing iudgement before the Lord. Epist Iud. 1.9 When Michael the Archangell desputed with Sathan the Prince of darkenesse about the body of Moses hee durst not blame him with cursed speaking but sayd increpet te dominus the Lord rebuke thee In the old Testament Kings were directly gouernours euer the Church they did purge corruption reforme abuses brought the Arke to her place builded the Temple dedicated the same 1. Sam. 6. 1. Reg. 16.3.8 and renued the couenant betwixt God and the people To these actions their titles giuen by the Almighty are sutable They are called the sonnes of the most high Esay 49.23 Gods Angels of God nursing Fathers of the Church and the Lights of Israel Tit. 1.3 Rom. 13.1.2.3.4.5 2. Pet. 13.14 Mat. 22.21 In the new Testament obedience to Princes is euery where inioyned and euery soule commanded to be subiect to them for conscience sake in the whole booke of God they are vindices vtriusque tabulae by commanding due obedience to be giuen to Gods cōmandeements and in giuing life to the ordinances of the Church by their ciuill sword August Epist