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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	authority_n	jurisdiction_n	power_n	1,683	5	4.9363	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47873	Interest mistaken, or, the Holy cheat proving from the undeniable practises and positions of the Presbyterians, that the design of that party is to enslave both king and people under the masque of religion : by way of observation upon a treatise, intitutled, The interest of England in the matter of religion, &c. / by Roger L'Estrange.	L'Estrange, Roger, Sir, 1616-1704.	1661 (1661)	Wing L1262; ESTC R41427	86,066	191

the Scale of Order as a more regular Subordination of Duties and Relations Nature and Providence do not move by Leaps but by Insensible and Soft Degrees which give Stability and Beauty to the Universe Is not the World compos'd of Disagreements Hot and Cold Heavy and Light And yet we see those Oppositions are by the means of middle and Conciliating mixtures wrought into a Compliance 'T is the same case in Subject and Superior Higher and Lower betwixt Top and Bottom are but as several Links of one providential Chain where every Individual by vertue of this mutual Dependency Contributes to the Peace and Benefit of the Whole Some are below me and This sweetens the Thought that I am below Others By which Libration are prevented those Distempers which arise either from the Affectation of more Power or the Shame of having none at all As these Degrees of Mean and Noble are beyond doubt of Absolute Necessity to Political Concord so possibly the Closer the Remove the better yet as to the point of Social expedience provided that the Distances be such as to avoid Confusion and preserve Distinct Offices and Powers from enterfering Nor is this Gradual method onely suited to Humane Interest as being most accommodate to publick Quiet and to defend the Sacredness of Majesty from popular Distempers But 't is the very Rule which God himself Imposes upon the whole Creation Making of the same Lump one Vessel to Honor and another to Dishonor Subjecting by the Law of his own Will This to That That to what 's next above it Both to a Further Power all to Himself And here we rest as at the Fountain of Authority From God Kings Reign They appoint their Substitutes and so on to inferior Delegations All Powers derive from a Divine Original This Orderly Gradation which we find in Prelacy must needs beget a Reverence to Authority the Hierarchy it self depending upon a Principle of Obedience whereas our Utopian Presbytery advances it self upon a Level of Confusion It is a kind of Negative Faction united to dissolve a laudable and setled frame of Government that they may afterward set up they know not what We may have learn'd thus much from late and sad experience Let him that would know more of it read the Survey of pretended Holy Discipline I think it would be hard to shew one eminent Presbyterian that stickles not for an Aristocracy in the State as well as in the Church and he that said No Bishop No King gave a shrewd judgment not as implying a Princes absolute dependance upon Bishops but in effect the King's Authority is wounded through the Church the Reformation of what is amiss belonging to the Ruler not to the People I do not yet condemn all Presbyters nor justifie all Prelates We are told That in antient times and for a series of many Ages the Kings of England have had tedious conflicts with Prelates in their Dominions 'T is Right and the same cause is now espoused by our more than ordinary Papal Presbyterians to wit Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction over the Civil Power But we are further Question'd If Presbytery and Rebellion be connatural how comes it to pass that those States or Kingdoms where it hath been established or tollerated have for any time been free from broils and commotions Observation It is as true that those places have been quietest where Presbytery hath gain'd footing as 't is that Presbyterians have never disclaimed or abandoned their lawful Prince that they have never ceased to solicite and supplicate his Regards and Favours even when their power hath been at the highest and his sunk lowest This is something which in good manners wants a name How far the Presbyterians have Abandon'd their Prince I shall not press but rather refer the Reader to examine how far and in what manner they have Solicited him Cujus contrarium His late Majesty after forty messages for Peace and a Personal Treaty finding himself most barbarously laid aside in a Declaration from Carisbrook Castle Dated Janu. 18. 1647. Expostulates the matter in these Termes Now would I know what it is that is desired Is it Peace I have shewed the way being both willing and desirous to perform my part in it which is a just Compliance with all chief Interests Is it Plenty and Happiness They are the inseparable effects of Peace Is it Security I who wish that all men would forgive and forget like Me have offered the Militia for My time Is it Liberty of Conscience He who wants it is most ready to give it Is it the right Administration of Justice Officers of trust are committed to the Choice of My two Houses of Parliament Is it frequent Parliaments I have legally fully concurr'd therewith Is it the Arriers of the Army Upon settlement they will certainly be paid with much ease but before there will be found much difficulty if not impossibility in it Thus all the world cannot but see My real and unwearied endeavours for Peace the which by the grace of God I shall neither repent me of nor ever be slackned in Notwithstanding My past present or future sufferings But If I may not be heard let every one judge who it is that obstructs the Good I would do or might do Where the right lies a Presbyterian may better Determine than a Royallist Question Magno se judice quisque tuetur Here 's the Testimony of a Pedant in Ballance against the Authority of a Prince He tells us by and by that Prophaneness Intemperance Revellings Out-rages and filthy lewdness were not at any time in the memory of the present age held under more Restraint than in the late distracted times by means of a Practical Ministery Observation These Generals spell nothing and to name Particulars were not so candid I could else make up Scot and Peters at least a score even out of the select Tribe of the Reformers and these I think are not as yet Canoniz'd for Saints 'T is no prophaneness is it to play the Hocus Pocus in a Pulpit with Rings and Bodkins to talk Treason by Inspiration and entitle the holy Ghost to Murther and Rebellion To appoint Mock-Fasts and thank God for Victories he never gave them To swear for and against the King in the same breath To convert Churches into Stables and for fear of Superstition to commit Sacrilege Nor is it Out-rage sure or Intemperance to seize the Patrimony of the Church the King's Revenues pillage and kill their fellow-Subjects To set up Ordinances against setled Laws and subject the Ten Commandements to the superior Vote of a Committee To justifie Tumults against Authority and suffer the most damnable Heresies to scape without reproof But what if there were Disorders by whom were they caused It is most unreasonable to object that the late wild postures extravagancies and incongruities in Government were the works of Presbytery or Presbyterians The Nation had never proof of

Interest Mistaken OR THE Holy Cheat PROVING From the undeniable Practises and Positions of the Presbyterians that the Design of that Party is to enslave both King and People under the Masque of RELIGION By way of Observation upon a Treatise INTITULED The Interest of England in the Matter of RELIGION c. By ROGER L'ESTRANGE The Second Impression Aug. De Civ Dei Nullo modo his artibus placatur Divina Majestas quibus Humana Dignitas inquinatur LONDON Printed for Henry Brome at the Gun in Ivy-lane 1661. To the Honourable HOVSE of COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT Most Honourable TO begg your Pardon or Protection were to suppose a Fault or Hazzard but in this Dedication finding neither I shall waive that Formality humbly submitting what I have to say my Reasons and my Self to your Authority and Wisdom without more Prologue or Apology There is a Faction which under the note of Presbyterian seems much concerned to stickle against Bishops Church-rites on the behalf of tender Consciences Their Writings and Opinions are with great Freedom Craft and Diligence dispers'd throughout the Nation to the great Scandal of the true Church and the Encouragement of those of the Revolt But this is yet the least part of the Mischief or in effect of their Design Their Ayme being to Tumultuate the People and make a Partie against the Civil Power Indeed their Pamphlets wear the Face of Church-disputes and Modells but he that reads them through and marques them narrowly shall find the King's Authority the Question That the late War against the King was Lawfull is a Position common to them all and this they publiquely maintain as the main Basis of the Cause By which assertion they cast the Bloud and Guilt upon His Majestie make his Adhaerents Traitors place the Supreme Authoritie in the two Houses subject the Law to an Ordinance the Government to a Faction and animate the Schismatiques to serve His Majestie in beeing as they did His Father This is the drift of their seditious Libells and of their Projects too if any judgement may be made upon their strict conformity of Argument and Methode to those that first embroyl'd us How farr this matter may require your Care becomes not me to meddle I thought it might be worth your Honours Knowledge and led by an Opinion of my Duty this state of the Affair such as it is I doe most humbly lay before you His Majesty had no sooner set Foot upon English ground but swarms of Pestilent papers were in a Readiness to enterteyn him Some of the sharpest of them I delivered to several Members of that Session with the Stationers name for whom they were Printed Smith at the Bible in Cornhill Croftons Agent but all too little to suppress them One Passage is this that Follows speaking of the limited Power of Kings This may serve to justify the proceedings of this Kingdom against the late King who in a hostile way set himself to overthrow Religion Parliaments Lawes and Liberties Hand in hand with this Pamphlet came forth Smectymnuus Reviv'd and recommended by Mr. Manton and since that time some Hundreds more of the same stamp whose common business 't is by Affronting of the Law and Flattering of the Rabble to cast all back into Confusi●n Among the many other Actours of Religion I find not any man playes his part better then the Author of That Treatise which hath extorted This who indeed abuses the People in very good terms Some hasty Observations I have pass'd upon him in favour of the easie and deceivable Vulgar which Prailties I submit to your Honours Charity but the main Equitie of the Cause I hope will stand the test of your severest Justice for doubtlesse much is due to the late King's Honour as well as to his Blood And somewhat with submission to your Wisdoms may be allow'd to his Partie at least sufficient to protect them from Popular contempt and the Infamous lash of every daring Libell I dare not trust my self further with my own thoughts and yet I take them to be such as very well consist with the Duty of Your Honours most Obedient and Humble Servant Roger L'estrange TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF ENGLAND THe Cm mon good is the Common pretence of all seditious Combinations and it is no new thing for a Crafty Faction to impose upon a simple Multitude empty Appearances for Truths and Reason But our Reformers scorn to stop at this dull general method of Confusion The Law of God must be subjected as well as that of the Nation we must call Treason Loyalty and commit Murther as a point of Conscience No lesse than this is hinted in the Presbyterians Justification of the Scotish League and Quarrel nor have they any other aim than by procuring an Allowance of That War to make way to Another To this end they disperse their poysonous Infusions into all Quarters of the Kingdom under those very Forms of Piety and Tenderness by which they first betrayed us and by those very means do they now prosecute afresh their first Intentions That is they labour to promote the Cause by scandalous and rank Invectives against the Church and stirring up of Tumults to Reform it by a loud Pharisaical ostentation of their own Holyness a sour churlish Censure of all Others by sharp and sawcie Aspersions upon the Royal Party and by Reflections yet more bitter and Audacious upon his Sacred Majesty and his Murtherd Father To see these Libells passe with Freedom and Impunitie as if they were Authorized and to observe what foul Mistakes are grounded upon these grosse Allowances to the Kings Disadvantage and all without Controll or Confutation This and no other Reason so God blesse me that is of private Passion or Animosity of temper hath drawn this honest Folly from me I reckon it my Duty to my Prince and Country to my own Honour and to the Oath I have taken Where ever I find a publique Enemy to discover him And being thus Commissioned both by Authority and Conscience I proceed The Benefit of this Treatise is directed to the People and the Design of it is onely to lay open the Presbyterian Juggle that in one Age they be not twice deluded by the same Imposture My Arguments are Drawn from their own Practises and Positions from Presidents of Former times Cartwright and his Disciples from what hath passed within our own Experience from what these very men have done and from the very Logique of their own Writings what they professe they do intend to doe As the Delusion is apparent so is the Justice of Discoursing it Can it be thought that by the Act of Pardon his Majestie ever meant to subject all the Sober and Legal Interests of the Nation to be worried by a Faction Who of the Royal Party charges them Or if they did what has the Law done to offend them Or say the Law be sharp against them his Majesties unparalell'd Mercy has by

their Mungrel Magistrates that Din'd with the Mayor and Supp'd with the Committee of Safety those honest people will if need be bear witness for us and in like manner the whole Nation that by Action Counsel Writing we did all that was possible in the Business Neither does what I have delivered in defence of the Royal Party disagree with his Majesty's testimony of the Other in His Gracious Speech to the House of Peers for hastning the Act of Indempnity which yet our Author cites against us My Lords If you do not joyn with Me in extinguishing those fears which keep mens hearts awake and apprehensive of safety and security you keep Me from performing My promise which if I had not made I am perswaded that neither I nor you had been now here I pray you let Vs not deceive those who brought Vs or permitted Vs to come together Observation The King does not There say so much who Brought Him in as who Permitted His Restoring implying that He was fain to Condition for that too but withal a great Earnestness to perform His promise Had but this Gentleman considered as well what the King said at the Passing of the Indempnity as at the Hastning of it this wrangle would have been saved I 'l do him the service to mind him of it I do very willingly pardon all that is pardoned by this Act of Indempnity to that time which is mentioned in the Bill Nay I will tell you That from that time to this day I will not use great severity except in such Cases where the Malice is Notorious and the Publick Peace exceedingly concern'd But for the time to come the same Discretion and Conscience which disposed me to the Clemency I have express'd which is most agreeable to My Nature will oblige me to all Rigour and Severity how contrary soever it be to My Nature towards those who shall not now Acquiesce but continue to manifest their Sedition and Dislike of the Government either in Actions or Words And I must conjure you all My Lords and Gentlemen to concur with me in this just and necessary Severity and that you will in your several Stations be so jealous of the publick Peace and of My particular Honor that you will cause Exemplary Justice to be done upon those who are guilty of Seditious Speeches or Writings as well as those ☜ who break out into Seditious Actions And that you will believe those who delight in reproaching and traducing My Person not to be well affected to you and the publick Peace Never King valued himself more upon the Affections of his People than I do Nor do I know a better way to make My Self sure of your Affections than by being Just and Kind to you all and whilst I am so I pray let the World see that I am possessed of your Affections Thus far the Ground-work now the goodly Structure His Majesty thus brought back to a willing and free-spirited people by their own Act beholds his undoubted Interest set forth to his hand and made plain before him which is no other than a well-tempered and composed state of Affairs both Religious and Civil in all his Dominions by the abolishing of former Differences and the reconciling of all reconcileable Parties and especially of those grand Parties which if made one do upon the matter carry the whole Nation And this His Majesties Wisdom hath already observed in that excellent Proclamation against vitious debauched and prophane persons in these words That the Reconciliation and Union of hearts and affections can onely with God's blessing make Us rejoyce in each other and keep Our Enemies from rejoycing And this is the earnest expectation and hope of the Religious and well affected to the publick Tranquillity that the King our supreme Head and Governor whose gracious Disposition doth not suffer him to cleave to any divided part of his Subjects and to reject others that are alike Loyal will as a common Father protect and cherish all those that are found capable and worthy and become our great Moderator by his Authority and Wisdom to lessen Differences and allay Animosities between dissenting Brethren which already agree in the main points of Religion Having hitherto asserted that those who fought under the late King's Banner were not his Majesty's Friends and that those who fought against it ever were he proceeds now to a Conclusion suitable to his premises and states the Interest of the King in favour of that Voluntary Mistake directing an Accord betwixt all Reconcilable Parties and an indulgence toward all those that are found Capable and Worthy In Both and in All Cases the Presbyterian himself must be the Judge and then we know what will become of Royallists and Bishops The Kings Friends have ever had the Honor to be Divided by these People into persons Popishly affected Evil Counsellors and Loose Livers and it is evident that they design under these Limitations of Reconcilable Capable and Worthy to cast all such as Conscientiously and frankly adhere to Monarchy and Episcopacy out of the terms of their pretended Pacification All those that They find Capable and Worthy and esteem Reconcilable shall be admitted Now to the Question 1. Quest. Whether in Justice or Reason of State the Presbyterian party should be Rejected and Depressed or Protected and Encouraged Observation It would be first agreed what 's meant by the Presbyterian Party We 'l weigh the Justice and Reason of the Proposition after His own Remarque upon it is not amiss As concerning their true Character the Notation of the name whereby they are called is both too shallow and too narrow for it The word Presbyterian hath not sufficient depth to go to the root of the Matter nor breadth sufficient to comprehend this sort of men That Form of Ecclesiastical Government by Parochial and Classical Presbyteries Provincial and National Assemblies is remote enough from their main Cause and those firm Bonds that make them eternally one in respect whereof many that approve a regulated Episcopacy will be found of their number Observation 'T is truly and well said Their Cause is not the Form but the Exercise of Government for they like well enough to have that Power Themselves which they condemn in Others Nor do I doubt but that many of them approve a regulated Episcopacy that is a Presbyter in a Bishop's seat where the Office appears Regulated by the Person as 't is in a Regulated Monarchy Where the King 's subject to the Law and the Law to the two Houses But I condemn not All that wear that Character The Wise and Honest Few of that Denomination who keep themselves within the terms of Duty and the Question such as can talk of the Church without disturbing the State and debate their private Opinions without giving publick Scandal For these I have much Charity and Reverence and wish as great a tenderness toward them as they themselves desire But where I see

Impostors and after all our wandrings brought once again into the Channel We have our Prince our Laws our Freedoms our Interest lies before us and certainly we cannot be so mad as now to dash a second time upon the same Rock Yet they shall lose nothing for want of offering at it The Arguments of 1641. are set on foot again The very same with Cartwright's that Consistorian Patriarch as Bancroft terms him nay they are advanc'd already beyond pleading of their Cause to pressing of it by sawcy Importunities and peremptory threatnings From what I have deliver'd it cannot be deny'd but their Positions are destructive to all Civil Government And for their Practices the story is written in Blood This might suffice to end the Controversie concerning Reason of State for certainly a Faction so Principled cannot with safety to the Publick be incorporated into any Politick Constitution But I shall add some further Reasons why by no means they are to be admitted 1. They 'r a Party never to be gain'd by Obligations and this is manifest from their proceedings toward the late King whose most unhappy Tenderness of Nature rost him his Life And at this instant that irreclaimable ingratitude is yet more clear toward his Majesty in beeing whose unexampled Mercy so much as lies in them is converted to his Dishonor and Destruction 2. They ground their claim upon the Equity of their Cause which if allow'd by the same reason they may serve this King as they did his Father 3. Their Demands are Endless as well as Groundless and it is not prudential to grant any thing to a Faction that will be satisfi'd with nothing It is but Giving them a power to Take the rest 4. They Expostulate and what they get upon those Terms they look upon rather as a Submission than a Concession The very manner of their Address has a spice of Mutiny in it and they will hardly make an honest use of what they compass by dishonest means 5. It is not advisable to encourage Tumultuary combinations by Rewarding them 6. The Dispute is not so much what their Consciences will Bear as what their Importunities can Obtain and to feel the Pulse of the Supreme Authority In fine It is a contest betwixt the Law and a Faction and a fair step toward a New Rebellion So much for Reason of State Now to the Justice of their pretences The Quaere is Whether in Justice or Reason of State the Presbyterian Party should be Rejected and Depressed or Protected and Incouaged 'T is one thing what the King may do in point of Justice and another thing what the Presbyterians may demand upon that score There is a Justice of Conscience Honor and of Prudence By the First His Majesty is ty'd up in common with the meanest of his Subjects That is if the King find himself in Conscience bound to maintain Episcopacy in the state he found it Legally settled he is not free to alter it In point of Honor There 's more Liberty and whatever the King does in that particular is well done But his Majesty not having as yet declar'd himself what do we know how far even upon That Point he may concern himself to reject the Presbyterian's Demands Partly out of Reverence to his Royal Father In part out of a Princely Strictness to His own Dignity and partly out of a Generous tenderness toward his Ruin'd Party First as to what may seem relating to His Majesty's Father That which these people urge is what the late King chose rather to Die than Grant which in His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is intimated in these words In these two points the preservation of establish'd Religion and Laws I may without vanity turn the reproach of my sufferings as to the worlds censure into the honor of a kind of Martyrdom as to the testimony of My own conscience the troublers of My Kingdoms having nothing to object against me but this that I prefer Religion and Laws established before these alterations they propounded Every word hath its weight which fell from the Pen of that pious and judicious Prince Nor can I over-pass a Caution of his learned Father's when I consider the sum of their Proposals which in effect is but a condemnation of the late King in the bold needless justification of Themselves These are the words As for offences against your own Person and Authority since the fault concerneth your self I remit to your own choice to punish or pardon therein as your heart serveth you and according to the circumstances of the turn and the quality of the Committer Here would I also eike another Crime to be unpardonable if I should not be thought partial But the Fatherly love I bear you will make me break the bounds of shame in opening it unto you It is then the false and unreverent writing or speaking of malicious men against your Parents and Predecessors And a little further It is a thing monstrous to see a Man love the Child and hate the Parents as on the other part the infaming and making ●dious of the Parents is the ready way to bring the Son into contempt And for conclusion of this point I may also alledge my own experience for besides the judgments of God that with mine eyes I have seen fall upon all them that were chief Traitors to my Parents I may justly affirm I never found yet a constant biding by me in all my straits by any that were of perfect ☞ age in my Parents days but onely by such as constantly bode by them I mean specially by them that served the Queen my Mother for so that I discharge my Conscience to you my Son in revealing to you the truth I care not what any Traitor or Treason-allower think of it Thus far his Majesty may find himself concern'd in Honour to his Fathers Ashes now to his dying Counsels Take heed of abetting any factions or applying to any publick Discriminations in matters of Religion contrary to what is in your judgement and the Church well setled I cannot yet learn that lesson nor I hope ever will you that it is safe for a King to gratifie any Faction with the perturbation of the Laws in which is wrapt up the publick Interest and the good of the Community What in effect do these people now desire but that his Majesty would rather take their Counsel than his Fathers In the next Page the King expresses a more than ordinary earnestness in these words My Counsel and Charge to you is that you seriously consider the former real or objected miscarriages which might occasion my troubles that you may avoid them Herein his Majesty is tacitly conjured against them it being a most notorious Certainty That The late King lost both his Crown and Life by Over-granting The now-pretended cause of the quarrel was not mentioned till after the War was begun The colour of raising an Army being to