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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	authority_n	ecclesiastical_a	person_n	2,380	5	5.2603	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45318	The shaking of the olive-tree the remaining works of that incomparable prelate Joseph Hall D. D. late lord bishop of Norwich : with some specialties of divine providence in his life, noted by his own hand : together with his Hard measure, vvritten also by himself.	Hall, Joseph, 1574-1656.; Hall, Joseph, 1574-1656. Via media.	1660 (1660)	Wing H416; ESTC R10352	355,107	501

fastidious they may in such a case be over-ruled by just authority As for matter of censures it may not be denyed that there hath been great abuse in the managing of them both upon Ecclesiastical persons and others suspension of Ministers upon slight and insufficient causes both ab officio and beneficio hath been too rife in some places of latter times and the dreadful sentence of excommunication hath too frequently and familiary passed upon light and triviall matters How happy were it if a speedy course may be taken for the prevention of this evil In the conference at Hampton-Court a motion was strongly made to this purpose but without effect if the wisdom of the present Parliament shall settle some other way for the curbing of contumacious offences against Church-authority it will be an act worthy of their care and justice In the mean time as for this and all other Ecclesiastical proceedings it may with much facility and willing consent of all parts be ordered that the Bishop shall not take upon him to inflict either this or any other important censure without the concurrence of his Presbytery which shall be a means in all likelyhood to prevent any inconvenience that may arise from the wonted way of Judicature As for the co-assession of a Lay-presbytery in swaying these affairs of Church-government Ye well know how new it is some of you might have been acquainted with the man that brought it first into any part of this Island and what ground there is for it either in Scripture or antiquity I appeall to your judgment Surely the late learned Author of the Counsail for the reforming the Church of England although otherwise a vehement assertor of the French Discipline ingenuously confesseth that however those Protestants which live under Popish Governours have done wisely in deputing some choise men selected out of their congregations whom they call Elders to share with their pastors in the care and management of Ecclesiasticall affairs Yet those Protestant Churches which live under the government of Protestant Princes may with the safty of those respects which mutually intercede betwixt Pastors and People forbear any such deputation for as much as the supreme Magistrate transferrs for the most part to himself that which is the wonted charge of those deputed Elders concluding that those men do meerly lose their labour who so busily indeavour on the one side to disprove the antiquity of the Lay-Eldership and on the other by weak proofes to maintain clean contrary to the mind of the Apostle that the text of Saint Paul 1 Tim. 5.17 is to be understood of Pastors and Lay-Elders Thus he with what fair probability I leave to your judgment Neither is it any intention of mine to meddle with any piece of that government which obtaineth in other the Churches of God but onely to contribute my poor opinion concerning the now-to-be-setled affairs of our own What shall I need to suggest unto you the dangerous underworkings of other Sects secretly indevouring to spring their hidden mines to the overthrow both of the one government and the other whereof without speedy remedy perhaps it will be too late to complain no doubt the wisdom and authority of that great Senate whom ye also serve to advise will forthwith interpose it self to the prevention of those mischiefs which the variety of these heresies and sects though some of them cloaked with the fairest pretences threaten to this poor Church It is no boot for me to tell you that the less disunion there is the more ground of safety and that where the holy purposes of Reformation may be effected with the least change there must needs be the most hope of accordance The rest to the wise application of the powerfull and judicious It is enough for me to have thus boldly shot my bolt amongst you and to have thus freely discovered my honest and wel meant thoughts to so able judgments What I want in my poor indevours shall be supplyed with my prayers that God would be pleased to compose all our miserable distractions and to put an happy issue to the long and perilous agitations of this wofully tottering and bleeding Church and Kingdome Which the good God of Heaven vouchsafe to grant for his great mercies sake and for the sake of the dear Son of his love Jesus Christ the Just Amen Philalethirenaeus Septemb. 12. 1644. Certaine IRREFRAGABLE PROPOSITIONS WORTHY OF SERIOUS CONSIDERATION By J. H. B. of EXON 1. NO man may swear or induce another man to swear unlawfully 2. IT is no lawfull Oath that is not attended with Truth Justice and Judgement Jer. 4.2 the first whereof requires that the thing sworn be true the second that it be just the third that it be not undue and unmeet to be sworn and undertaken 3. A Promissory Oath which is to the certain prejudice of another mans right cannot be attended with Justice 4. NO prejudice of another mans right can be so dangerous and sinfull as that prejudice which is done to the right of publique and Soveraign Authority 5. THe right of Soveraign Authority is highly prejudiced when private subjects incroach upon it and shall upon suspicion of the disavowed intentions or actions of their Princes combine and bind themselves to enact establish or alter any matters concerning Religion without and therefore much more if against the authority of their Lawfull Soveraign 6. A Man is bound in Conscience to reverse and disclaim that which he was induced unlawfully to ingage himself by Oath to perform 7. NO oath is or can be of force that is made against a lawfull oath formerly taken so as he that hath sworn Allegeance to his Soveraign and thereby bound himself to maintain the right power and authority of his said Soveraign cannot by any second oath be tyed to do ought that may tend to the infringement thereof and if he have so tyed himself the Obligation is ipso facto void and frustrate COROLLARIE IF therefore any sworn Subject shall by pretenses and perswasions be drawn to bind himself by Oath or Covenant to determine establish or alter any act concerning matter of Religion without or against the allowance of Soveraign Authority the act is unlawful and unjust and the party so ingaged is bound in conscience to reverse and renounce his said act Otherwise besides the horrible scandal which he shall draw upon Religion he doth manifestly incurr the sin of the breach of the third and fift Commandements Two as undoubted Propositions concerning Church-government 1. NO man living no History can shew any well-allowed and setled Nationall Church in the whole Christian World that hath been governed otherwise then by Bishops in a meet and moderate imparity ever since the times of Christ and his Apostles untill this present Age. 2. NO man living no record of History can shew any Lay-Presbyter that ever was in the whole Christian Church untill this present Age. COROLLARIE IF men would as easily learne as Christian wisdome

done 1. By withdrawing the fuell of contention mitigating what we may the grounds of dissension those grounds are the matters controverted these our Christian charity and love of peace will teach us either to decline or to abate lessen by all fair interpretations according to that of the blessed Apostle Charity thinks not evill beareth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things 1 Cor. 18.5.7 So when Isaacs Servants found the Philistims to st●ive with them for their two wells of Esek and Sitnah th●y did no● stand upon points with them but removed and digged another which was out of the reach of the strife and called it Rehoboth elbow-room Gen. 26.22 And thus the Servants of Isaac made the Philistim quarrells to cease though by Abimelecs own confession Isaac was much mightier then himself Gen. 26.16 Thus when the main difference grew betwixt Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh and the rest of Israel concerning the altar beyond Jordan a fair construction stinted that strife which might have embroyled both parts in a bloody war Thus it was in the Synod of Ephesus betwixt our good Bishops Cyrill and Theodoret whose differences had like to have rent the Church in pieces but upon better understanding were alay'd Thus it was in the more generall and dang●rous quarrell bewixt the East and West Churches concerning the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 subsistences and essence in the Trinity had not holy Athanasius interposed showing them their own unknown and unacknowledged accordance would God I could give this phrase to these times we should not be in the condicion we are How many are rather apt to cast oyle then water upon this flame to enlarge rather then heal this wound of the Church 2. By giving seasonable counsels of peace so the Father of the faithfull to his nephew Let there be no contention between me and thee and thy herdmen and my herdmen for we are brethren Gen. 13.8 So Moses to the contending Israelites wherefore smitest thou thy fellow Exod. 2.12 So the wise woman of Abel to Joab Thou seekest to destroy a city and a Mother in Israel why wilt thou s● allow up the inheritance of the Lord 2 Sam. 20.19 So Abner the Son of Ner after he had set the two armies together by the eares by the pool of Gibeon yet at last moves for a retreat calling to Joab whose men he had challenged Shall the sword devoure for ever knowest thou not that it will be bitternesse in the latter end how long shall it be then 2 Sam. 2.26 Oh for these counsails of peace in these distracted times how beautifull would their feet be that should bring these glad tidings of peace Alas m●n are more ready to clap their hands as boy●s are wont to do in dog-fights and to say Eia Socrates Eia Zantippe How much more justly may we take up that word of the Psalmist Wo is me that I so●ourne in Mesech that I dwell in the tents of Kedar my soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace I am for peace but when I speak they are for war Ps 120.5 6 7. 3. By opposing restraining the known make-bates of the Church and State If Corah and his Company rise up against Moses and Aaron God takes the quarrell in hand and they are swallowed up of the earth If Sheba the Son of Bicri blow a trumpet of sedition he must be speedily pursued to the gates of Abel 1 Sam. 20. Would God those were cut off that trouble you saith the charitable Apostle Neither know I whether this be a greater act of Justice or of Mercy of Justice in respect of the delinquents or of mercy to the Church and Common-wealth Wo is me with what words should I bewail the d●plorable estate of these late times in this behalf Let me appeal to your own eyes and ears I know I speak to judicious Christians Tell me whether ever you lived to see such an inundation of libellous scandalous malicious pamphlets as have lately broke in upon us not only against some particular persons which may have been faulty enough but against the lawfull and established government it self against the antient allowed legall formes of divine worship Certainly if we love the peace of this Church and kingdome we cannot but lament and to our power oppose these insolences If Reformation be the thing desired and aimed at let not that man prosper which doth not affect it pray for it bend his utmost endeavours to accomplish it but is this the way to a Christian reformation to raise slanders to broach lying accusations against the innocent to callumniate lawfull established authority God forbid these are the acts of him that is the man-slayer from the beginning the holy God hates to raise his kingdome by the ayd of the Devill Be as zealous as you will but be withall just be charitable and endevour to advance good causes by only lawfull means And then let him come within the compasse of this Curse of Meroz that is not ready to assist and second you 4. By cherishing the moderately affected and incouraging those that intercede for peace as those who do the noblest offices both to the Church and Common-wealth if we meet with a man that can truly say with the woman of Abel ego sum ex colentibus pacem as Tremelius turnes it 2. Sam. 20.20 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithfull in Israel make much of such To the Counsellors of peace shall be joy Pro. 12.20 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem saith the Psalmist they shall prosper that love thee certainly thus it should be but alas we are fallen upon times wherein it is cause enough for a quarrell to plead for peace too well fulfilling that of the Psalmist They speak not peace but they devise deceitfull matters against them that are quiet in the Land Ps 35.20 A man in this case is like the sheepheard that would part the fray betwixt his two rams they both met together upon his bones and send him halting out of the field The God of peace in his good time remedy these distempers but in the mean time let us comfort our selves in the conscience of our happy indeavours with that of St. James The fruits of righteousness are sown in peace of them that make peace James 3. ult And thus much for our duty in seconding and immitating this act of God in making this cessation of wars by withdrawing the feuell of contention by giving seasonable counsails of peace by opposing known make-bates by cherishing the peaceable minded We descend to our third use proper for this day which is the challenge of our thankfulnesse And surely wheresoever God vouchsafes to bestow this mercy that he causes wars to cease unto any nation he looks for no lesse and we shall be foulely ungratefull if we disappoint him whereto we shall the better be excited if we shall

but know hath been and is miserably infested on both sides with Papists on the one side and Schismaticks on the other The Psalmist hath of old distinguisht the enemies of it into wild Boars out of the Wood and little Foxes out of the Burroughs The one whereof goes about to root up the very foundation of Religion the other to crop the branches and blossomes and clusters thereof both of them conspire the utter ruine devastation of it As for the former of them I do perceive a great deal of good zeal for the remedy and suppression of them and I do heartily congratulate it and blesse God for it and beseech him to prosper it in those hands that shall undertake and prosecute it but for the other give me leave to say I do not finde many that are sensible of the danger of it which yet in my apprehension is very great and apparent Alas my Lords I beseech you to consider what it is that there should be in London and the Suburbs and Liberties no fewer then fourscore Congregations of several Sectaries as I have been too credibly informed instructed by Guides fit for them Coblers Taylors Feltmakers and such like trash which all are taught to spit in the face of their Mother the Church of England and to defye and revile her government From hence have issued those dangerous assaults of our Church Governours From hence that inundation of base and scurrilous libels and pamphlets wherewith we have been of late overborne in which Papists and Prelates like Oxen in a yoke are still matched together O my Lords I beseech you that you will be sensible of this great indignity Do but look upon these reverend persons Do not your Lordships see here sitting upon these benches those that have spent their time their strength their bodies and lives in preaching down in writing down Popery and which would be ready if occasion were offred to sacrifice all their old blood that remains to the maintenance of that truth of God which they have taught and written and shall we be thus despightfully ranged with them whom we do thus professedly oppose but alas this is but one of those many scandalous aspersions and intolerable affronts that are daily cast upon us Now whither should we in this case have recourse for a needful and seasonable redresse The arme of the Church is alas now short and sinewless it is the interposing of your authority that must rescue us You are the Eldest sons of your dear Mother the Church and therefore most fit most able to vindicate her wrongs you are amici Sponsae give me leave therefore in the bowels of Christ humbly to beseech your Lordships to be tenderly sensible of these woful and dangerous conditions of the times And if the government of the Church of England be unlawful and unfit abandon and disclaim it but if otherwise uphold and maintain it Otherwise if these lawless outrages be yet suffred to gather head who knowes where they will end My Lords if these men may with impunity and freedom thus bear down Ecclesiastical authority it is to be feared they will not rest there but will be ready to affront civil power too Your Lordships know that the Jack Straws and Cades and Watt Tylers of former times did not more cry down Learning then Nobility and those of your Lordships that have read the history of the Anabaptistical tumults at Munster will need no other Item let it be enough to say that many of these Sectaries are of the same profession Shortly therefore let me humbly move your Lordships to take these dangers and miseries of this poor Church deeply to heart and upon this occasion to give order for the speedy redressing of these horrible insolencies and for the stopping of that deluge of libellous invectives wherewith we are thus impetuously overflown Which in all due submission I humbly present to your Lordships wise and religious consideration A SPEECH IN PARLIAMENT In Defence of the CANONS MADE IN CONVOCATION My Lords I cannot choose but know that whosoever rises up in this cause must speak with the disadvantage of much prejudice and therefore I do humbly crave your Lordships best construction were it my Lords that some few doubting persons were to be satisfied in some scruples about matter of the Canons there might have been some life in the hope of prevailing but now that we are borne down with such a torrent of generall and resolute contradiction we yield but yet give us leave I beseech you so to yield that posterity may not say we have willingly betraid our own innocence First therefore let us plead to your Lordships and the World that to abate the edge of that illegality which is objected to us it was our obedience that both assembled and kept us together for the making of Synodicall acts We had the great Seal of England for it seconded by the judgments of the oracles of law and justice and upon these the command of our superiour to whom we have sworn and owe canonical obedience Now in this case what should we do Was it for us to judg of the great seal of England or to judg of our Judges alas we are not for the law but for the Gospell or to disobey that authority which was to be ever sacred to us I beseech your Lordships put your selves a while in to our condition had the case been yours what would you have done If we obey not we are rebels to authority if we obey we are censured for illegall procedures Where are we now my Lords It is an old rule of Casuists nemo tenetur esse perplexus Free us one way or other and shew us whether we must rather hazard censure or incurr disobedience In the next place give us leave to plead our good intentions since we must make new Canons I perswade my self we all came I am sure I can speak for one with honest and zealous desires to do God and his Church good service and expected to have received great thanks both of Church and Common-wealth for your Lordships see that the main drift of those Canons was to repress and confine the indiscreet and lawless discourses of some either ignorant or parasiticall I am sure offensive Preachers to suppress the growth of Socinianism Popery Separatism to redress some abuses of Ecclesiastical courts and officers In all which I dare say your Lordships do heartily concurr with them And if in the manner of expression there have been any failings I shall humbly beseech your Lordships that those may not be too much stood upon where the main substance is well meant and in it self profitable In the third place give me leave to put your Lordships in mind of the continuall practise of the Christian Church since the first Synod of the Apostles Act. 15. to this present day wherein I suppose it can never be showed that ever any Ecclesiasticall Canons made by the Bishops and Clergy in Synods