Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	common_a	prayer_n	prescribe_v	2,797	5	9.8241	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61586	Proposals tender'd to the consideration of both Houses of Parliament for uniting the Protestant interest for the present, and preventing divisions for the future together with the declaration of K. Charles II, concerning ecclesiastical affairs, and some proposals of terms of union between the Church of England and dissenters / long since published by the Reverend Dean of S. Pauls.	Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.; Charles II, King of England, 1630-1685.; England and Wales. Sovereign (1660-1685 : Charles II). Declaration to all his loving subjects of his kingdom of England and dominion of Wales concerning ecclesiastical affairs.	1689 (1689)	Wing S5621; ESTC R8098	25,861	37

promise of the Use of it may not be sufficient in stead of the late Form of declaring their Assent and Consent which hath been so much scrupled by our Brethren These are all the things which appear to me reasonable to be allowed in order to an Union and which I suppose may be granted without detriment or dishonour to our Church There are other things very desirable towards the happiness and flourishing of this Church as the exercise of Discipline in Parochial Churches in a due subordination to the Bishop the Reforming the Ecclesiastical Courts as to Excommunication without prejudice to the excellent Profession of the Civil Law the Building of more Churches in great Parishes especially about the City of London the retrenching Pluralities the strictness and solemnity of Ordinations the making a Book of Canons suitable to this Age for the better Regulating the Conversations of the Clergy Such things as these might facilitate our Union and make our Church in spight of all its Enemies become a Praise in the whole Earth A Specimen of a Bill for Vniting Protestants being a rough Draught of such Terms as seem equal for the Conformist to grant and the Non-conformist to yield to for Peace sake Provided a good while and Published on purpose only for the farther better and more easie Consideration of the Parliament WHereas there are many Jealousies risen about Popery which makes it even necessary to the peace of the Nation that the Protestant Interest be united and strengthened by all Good and Lawful Means And to this end there being this one proper Expedient to wit The removing the Occasion of Divisions which several persons do find to themselves in those late Injunctions which yet were intended to the same purpose of Concord in the Nation Be it Enacted That an Explanation of these Impositions and such Alleviations be allowed to the tenderly Considerate and peaceably Scrupulous as follow In the Act of Uniformity By the Declaration of Assent and Consent to all things and every Thing contained in and prescribed by the two Books of Common Prayer and of Ordering Priests and Deacons we understand not that these Books are in every Minute particular infallible or free from that Defect which is incident to all Human Composure But that they are in the main Contents to be sincerely approved and used And we do therefore allow this Declaration to be sufficient if it be made to the use of the Book in the Ordinary Constant Lords-Days-Service notwithstanding any Exceptions some may have against some Things in the By-Offices and Occasional Service the Rubrick and otherwise And for the Ceremonies which are made and have been always and on all hands held to be only indifferent Things we think fit that they be left to the Consciences and prudence of Ministers and People every where excepting the Cathedrals to use them or forbear them as they judge it most meet for their own and others Edification provided that if any person will have his Child Baptized with the Sign of the Cross or stands upon any thing else hitherto required by the Service-Book if the Minister himself scruple the performance he shall permit another to do it In the same Act By those Words in the Subscription that It is not lawful to take Arms against the King upon any Pretence whatsoever we intend no new or strange Thing but the Rightful Maintenance only of the King's Authority against Rebellion according to the common determination of Learned Writers in the Case of Subjection to Princes By the Words I abhor the Position of taking Arms by the Authority of the King against any Commissionated by Him we never thought of advancing the Arbitrary Commissions of the King above Law but by those Commissionated by Him we understand such as are Legally Commissionated and in the Legal pursuit of such Commissions By the Clause which follows that requires a Renunciation of all Endeavour of any Alteration of Government in the Church or State we never meant to deny any Free-born Subject his Right of Choosing Parliament-Men or Acting in in his place for the Common Good any way according to Law but that he shall Renounce all such Endeavour as is Seditious or not warranted by the Constitution of the Nation and particularly such an Endeavour as was Assumed in the late Times without and against the Consent of the King And for the rest of the Subscription which is enjoyned but to the Year 1682. Be it Enacted that it cease presently and be no longer enjoyned And forasmuch as there is an Oath prescribed and required of all Non-conformists Preachers that reside in any Corporate Town by a certain Act of the former Parliament made at Oxford in the 17 th Year of His now Majesties Reign Entituled An Act for restraining Non-conformists from inhabiting Corporations We do further declare That it shall suffice any Man for the Enjoyment of his Free born Liberty of Inhabiting where he thinks best and serve him also instead of the fore-mentioned Subscription to take that Oath in this form of Words following I A. B. do swear That I hold it unlawful upon any pretence to take Arms against the King His Government or Laws And that I disclaim that dangerous Position of taking Arms by his Authority against his Person or any Legally Commissionated by him in the Legal pursuit of such Commissions And that I will not endeavour any Alteration of Government in the Church or State in any way or manner not warrantted by the Constitution of the Kingdom or any otherwise than by Act of Parliament And as soon as any Man has taken the Oath thus he shall be discharged of all penalty for his omission before We do Declare moreover That whereas it is required also in the Act of Uniformity that every Minister who injoys any Living or Ecclesiastical preferment shall be Ordained by a Bishop and there are several persons of late who in case of Necessity for want of Bishops took Presbyterian-Orders Our meaning is not in any wise to disgust the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas and make it necessary for such to be Re-ordained to the Office but that they receive this Second imposition of Hands to the Exercise of their Office in the new charge unto which they are or shall be called and that the Bishop shall frame his words accordingly And whereas there is a Subscription also in the Canons and the Canonical-Oath of Obedience imposed on most Ministers by the Bishops that have given some of the greatest Occasion to Non-conformity heretofore which yet never passed into Law by any Act of Parliament We do further Declare That nothing more of that kind shall be required of Ministers hence forward than was made and held necessary by the Act of the Thirteenth of Elizabeth And in regard there hath been great Offence taken by Conscientious Ministers at the Bishops or their Courts commanding them to read the Sentence of Excommunication against some or other of their Parish