Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
cause_n according_a law_n person_n 1,451 5 4.8874 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
A40767 A faithfull and conscientious account for subscribing the engagement discussed in four sections : I. Motives for just expediency of giving such account, 2. The account truely stated and explained, 3. Reasons justifying the faithfulness of it, 4. Objections against it, satisfactorily answered. Paget, Thomas, d. 1660. 1650 (1650) Wing F265; ESTC R25205 22,683 38

There are 2 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

the children of the captivity did witnesse his truth and faithfulnesse unto the Persian Monarchy by his ingenuous discovery of the treasonable and murderous designe of Bigthan and Teresh two of the Kings Chamberlains against King Ahashuerus reigning in Persia at that time see Esther 2. 21 22. 3. Nehemiah an eminent servant of God served Artaxerxes the King of Persia and was true and faithfull unto the supreme Power both in submitting unto and observing of his directions and appointment see Neh. 2. 6. cap. 13. 6. 4. Our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ in the dayes of his flesh here on earth declared his mind touching faithfulnesse to Tiberius Caesar the Romane Emperor being at that time supreme Commander over the Jewish Nation so far as did concern that his supreme power whatever difficulties and confusions the Jewish Nation was involved into in those daies see Mat. 22. 19 20 21. 5. The holy Apostle Paul approving his Apostleship to the Gentiles as became him instructeth the Christians at Rome to submit faithfully and conscientiously to the present supreme power there though the Emperors in those times were monstrous and bloody usurping Emperors see Rom. 13. 1 2 3 4 5 c. 6. The great Apostle Peter saw just cause that the brethren of the dispersion throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bythinia should submit themselves unto the present power they were under in those severall Territories what ever the power was for its kind and this for the arguing their faithfulnesse unto those Powers and their Christian faithfulnesse in so doing see 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 15 16 17. These instances may beyond all exception vindicate the person who is an English Subject and hath his subsistence and livelihood in England for his ingaging unto the now established Common-wealth of England the tie of this relation being more naturall and fundamentall then those before mentioned Hereunto might be added of how good report it is Philip 4. 8. that in case any prisoners amongst us have liberty to go abroad upon their parole and ingaging themselves to their Goalers and Keepers to faithfulnesse that they approve themselves unto them therein how much more in the case in hand 2. The second branch in the form of Engagement is the Act of subscribing in its peculiar nature and it is expressed in these words I declare and promise to be true and faithfull to c. Now this peculiar Act doth afford another ground to argue the reasonablenesse of the Engagement according to Scripturall Reason Sith truth and faithfulnesse in any persons in any concernments doth hear well on all hands as on the contrary falshood and trechery doth hear ill This may be manifested and evinced in these ensuing assertions 1 God himself is glorified by his Attribute of faithfulnesse Deut. 7. 9. Psal. 36. 5. 2. Christ stileth himselfe the faithfull and true witnesse Apocal. 3. 14. 3. Gods gracious respect is unto faithfull ones Heb. 3. 2. 5. Mat. 25. 21. 23. 4. Faithfulnesse is a character of approved ones See instances viz. 1. A faithfull man fearing God above many Neh. 7. 2. 2. A faithfull Priest doing according to Gods heart 1 Sam. 2. 35. 3. Faithfull with the Saints ruling with God Hos. 11. ●2 4. A faithfull Ambassador is health Prov. 13. 17. 5. It is required of Stewards to be found faithfull 1 Cor. 4. 2. 6. A faithfull and wise servant Mat. 24. 45. 7. A faithfull Martyr Apocal. 2. 13. c. 5. Falshood and unfaithfulnesse is a character of the wicked Psal. 5. 9. as being 1. Prohibited Exod. 23. 7 2. Reproved Psal. 1 20. 3. 3. Punishable Deut. 19. 18 19. c. These particular assertions being duly weighed are grounds and motives to attract and perswade evermore to act truly and faithfully as the nature of the object doth also further require nextly to be insisted on 3. The object of the Act of subscribing the Engagement doth give yet further ground of evidence and confirmation of the first Scripturall Reason viz. I declare and promise to be true and faithfull to the Common-wealth of England Sith the Common wealth of England is the same Common-wealth that it hath been for very many ages and generations successively as it may appeare divers wayes 1. It is of the same English language and native Mother tongue 2. It is the same Continent and hath the same borders and bounds 3. It hath the same great Charter of its Laws Magna Charta 4. It acteth in the doing of Justice and Judgment in the same way of open Courts at Westminster and in the severall Counties of the Nation at Assizes and Sessions and inferior Judicatories and these transactions are managed by the learned Judges Justices of Peace Stewards Juries and Witnesses c. as hath been antiently accustomed 5. It professeth and establisheth the true Christian Religion according to the sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testament 6. And principally it enacteth Lawes by Parliamentary Power and it onely enacting some new Laws and repealing some old Lawes pro re nata as occasion and cause requireth and as it hath been wont to do And herein the very form of the Commonwealth consists Yea and howbeit there have been and are various conditions of persons and also of wayes of governing by Britains Saxons Danes and Normans both in Civill and Ecclesiasticall Affairs unto this day refining and reforming Laws and Government as need hath required yet none of these variations may be said to abrogate or disanull the identity of the Common-wealth of England It is true indeed that as in some part heretofore so in the later times very much that was amisse hath been amended not only in the expulsion of Antichrist in the branch in Queen Elizabeths time but also in the root by this present Parliament as also much good hath been by the Parliament in suppressing of arbitrary power taking away the High Commission Court Star-Chamber Hierarchie and superstitious monuments of Popish Idolatry c. but yet notwithstanding it is the same Common-wealth still yea and English blood and spirits are yet remaining amongst us It is in great part with us in England as it was with the Commonwealth of Israel Chronichled in the Canonicall Scriptures of the Old Testament viz. They were the same Common-wealth of Israel from their first establishment to be a National Commonwealth in Sinai Exod. 19. 1. c. untill the utter ruine of their Commonwealth fore-told and prophecied of by our Saviour Christ Mat. 24. and afterwards effected by Vespasian the Roman Emperor as may be seen in these instances 1. They were all along of the same Hebrew language 2. They had the same great Charter of Moses Lawes both for Civill and Church Affairs 3. They had the same borders and bounds still reckoned on albeit sometimes more or lesse extended or restrained 4. They reformed amisses both in Church and State as their condition did admit as occasion was and their hearts bent thereto 5. And although
are to be continued as also Courts of Justice and Judicature in a due way See Declaration Cause Lastly the Parliaments Declaration sheweth their just and well-grounded ends in the establishing the Common-wealth as now it is without King and Lords Let the Declaration it self be exactly skanned in its full and effectuall expressions and it may appeare it was not force on some without the Parliament doors but the force of right reason on the Members within the House which hath so declared How forcible are right words See Iob 6. 25. II. Assertion The second Assertion touching the Soveraign Power of the English Parliament is taken for granted not only by the Parliament themselves groundedly demonstrated in their Declaration above mentioned in the first Assertion and likewise in their exercise of supreme power in issuing out Commissions both to subordinate Magistrates for the doing of justice and to the Souldiery for defensive and offensive warres but also it is taken for granted by others rationall men in the Common-wealth who have acted by their Commissions and this from year to year of late whilest the King lived as well as this present year 1649. yea and there are many who have published their minds touching this matter This hath been done by Mr. Prynne though now an adversary hereunto in foure voluminous parts of one of his books with a large Appendix thereunto intituled The Soveraigne Power of Parliaments whither the Reader may be referred only I doe observe hereabouts That God the onely Law-giver and Soveraign King of Kings and all supreme powers having been graciously pleased to preserve unto us in England the substance of our Common-wealth hitherto surely he hath appointed and continued unto us the Law of Nature contained in the Decalogue to be our rule of life in our severall capacities of inferiority and superiority whether supreme or subordinate as well in Civill Government as in Church and Family yea to have a Magistracy to be keepers of both the Tables see Rom. 13. 4. compared with Exod. 19. 6. cap. 20. 1. 12. And therefore our transactions in England touching our Lawes and the executing of them areby lawfull commissioned persons of severall sorts otherwise the Law of Nature feemeth to fail and so consequently are lawfully administred by them Oh that all men fearing God amongst us specially such as have complied with the Parliament after the King his leaving the House and withdrawing from it would consider soberly and seriously hereof and so take heed of daring to think or speak or act against those in Authority lest they do incurre Gods fierce displeasure See Numb. 12. cap. 2 Pet. 2. 10. Psal. 2. 12. It is hard for any to kick against the pricks Acts 9. 5. and to resist the Ordinance of God Rom. 13. 2. III. Assertion The third Assertion That there is no just cause of refusing to subscribe the Engagement in regard of the present establishment of the Common-wealth of England without a King and House of Lords It may be argued as otherwise so from the rule of our own practice who doe professe our due respects to Parliaments viz. 1. It was not taken to be prejudiciall or dangerous to the Priviledges of Parliament that the Lords spirituall as they were stiled were cashiered and expelled out of the House of Lords albeit they had been called by Writ and had formerly and very antiently been esteemed and reputed Members of that House 2. It did not infringe the nature and being of the Parliament that the King after a time with-drew himself totally from the House 3. The Parliament did retain its perfect constitution and being when very many yea most of the Lords and when very many of the Commons with-drew themselves pretending to be a Parliament at Oxford sith a competent number remained still in the House 4. It is alledged out of approved Antiquaries that in case all the Lords after a due Summons should fail to appeare and sit in the House that their totall absence doth not nor cannot hinder or nullifie the due Parliamentary proceedings whereas it is destructive to the being of the Parliament if a competent number of Commons constituted to make up an House be absent sith the Commons are the Representatives of the people see Prynnes Soveraign Power of Parliament Part 1. Pag. 43. Edit. 2. 5. It is resolved and declared by the Parliament that the King had not a negative Vote These five particular instances being duely marked together with that which the Parliament hath declared March 17. 1648. as above may abundantly convince that according to this third Assertion there is no cause of just refusall to subscribe the Engagement to the Common-wealth of England as it is now established And so the first Argument justifying the faithfulnesse and conscionableness of the subscription is fully concluded II. REASON Because subscribing the Engagement hath its due consistency and agreement with the main scope and intention of former Oaths Protestations and Covenants prae-ingaged in nationally unto the supreme Power of England approved mostly on all hands so that as right reason did then require the taking of them in their just sense so doth the same reason now require to take the Engagement For the more effectuall arguing the case by this reason these Conclusions are to be opened and considered viz. 1 Conclusion It is presumed and taken for granted that the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance the Protestations and solemn Covenants were made of lawfull things lawfully and in the Lord according to the sacred and divine Rule Thou shalt sweare the Lord liveth in Truth in Iudgement and in Righteousnesse Ier. 4. 2. For otherwise there is an undoubted nullity of them ipse facto sith no man ought to perform what is irrationally sworn and is in it self unrighteous and unlawfull Of this sinfull nature have been the unlawfull and unrighteous Oaths and Subscriptions of many many Ministers in this Land in the times of prevailing Episcopacy and superstitious conformity for which things sake the Land mourneth Ier. 23. 10. And therefore the swearers of Canonicall obedience of the c. Oath and the Subscribers willingly ex animo to the Articles by Cannon required to be subscribed unto have cause to set themselves to sorrow godly so as they may evidence their repentance not to be repented of which will produce the effects of godly sorrow mentioned 2 Cor. 7. 11. for otherwise the Lord will not hold them guiltlesse that have taken his name in vain Exod. 20. 7. 2. Conclusion The main and chief scope and end of the oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance formerly and of the Protestation and Covenant lately and likewise of the Engagement at the present was and is the just safety and preservation of the Common-wealth of England against illegall and violent usurpations and attempts whether of Forreiners or Natives of any sort and condition of persons in what kind or notion soever as may appear by the Statutes Acts Declarations and orders