Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	bishop_n	church_n	person_n	1,806	5	4.8836	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A95952	Brittish lightning or suddaine tumults, in England, Scotland and Ireland; to warne the united Provinces to understand the dangers, and the causes thereof: to defend those amongest us, from being partakers of their plagues. Cujus aures clausæ sunt veritati, ut ab amico verum audire nequeat, hujus salus desperanda est. The safety of that man, is hopelesse, we, may feare, that stopps his eares against his friend, and will the truth not heare. Mors est servitute potior. Grim-death's fierce pangs, are rather to be sought; than that we should to Babels-yoke, be brought. VVritten first in lowe-dutch by G. L. V. and translated for the benefit of Brittaine.; Britannischen blixem. English	G. L. V.	1643 (1643)	Wing V5; Thomason E96_21; ESTC R20598	42,972	73

things unto you that so you may the more heartilie pray unto God for us if need so require afford us all the assistance you can also stirre up others to doe the like N. I will verie willingly goe along with you give you the welcome for I love the English nation with myne heart would be angry with all such Netherlanders as should not take compassion on the heavinesse of England that had so great compassion on us when we were wrestling against the tyrannie of Spaine when they came to helpe us both with their goods and bloods were the principall instruments of our freedome No true hearted Netherlander shal forget that favour but by all meanes seeke to requite it Seing then that we are come to a good fire I pray you relate unto me in order what are the occasions of all these stirres in England also who be the causes thereof E. The causes thereof are divers the Jesuiticall papists the Bishops those politicke flatterers that are about the King at Court other malignant persons besides who have each his particuler end yet all tending to the falsifying of religion changing of government suppressing of the subjects and ruine of church and common-wealth N. You tell me strange things how could all these persons weave one webbe seeming so contrary one to another as light and darknes heat and cold the Jesuits and bishops are alwayes so farre different one from an other as truth and falsehood Christ and Antichrist the one being supporters of the popes kingdome the other heads of the reformed Religion they serve divers masters are of a divers Kingdome yea religion the one seeketh alwayes to build up what the other seeketh to pull downe How can these two walke together when they are not a greed E. We thought so too that the Papists and our Bishops were so farre from one another as the east is from the west and that they were deadly enemies the one to the other because in former times many of the Bishops have resisted the Romish kingdome even unto bloud yea many of them have been martyred by the papists beheaded burnt and in all places in the pure religion persecuted unto death But we have in our times of peace and wealth all too well observed that our Bishops have forgotten and slighted their office their promises before God and the congregation the example of their predecessors and in stead of leaders are become misleaders of defenders of the pure worship of God falsifyers and corrupters of the doctrine of salvation and extinguishers thereof N. You relate unto me such things as I should never have beleeved What! I have sometime heard as I thinke propounded by our best polititians that it were good that we had also Bishops in our land or at least super intendants that then all things would be better carried in the church for the preservation of order to breed reverence whereas now every one being master alike great confusiō by that meās is bred in the church trouble and an heavy burthen upon the goverment for when any man will now prosecute a matter in the church before church men he is so retroubled then it were no more but speaking to the head and he should give order to the rest hereby also those Synods which cost the land so much should be cut off which seemed to me not so unreasonable a proposition but if the Bishops or Superintendants should make such worke as you tell me the Lord deliver us from them E. O friend call you them good yea your best polititians that are with childe of such a pernitious conceit that were the right high-way to turne all things upside-down amongst you to disturbe the peace both of Church and common weal and to put to hazard the purity of religion which by Gods speciall blessing is established amongst you in spight of so many enemies and wicked opposers and crowned with many blessings from heaven for that your free order and Church government agreable to Gods word not without reason so highly commended among us is the hedge whereby the truly reformed religion must be preserved and maintained which our brethren the Scots well knowing have judged that they could not answer it before God and their posterity if they should suffer their old church-government and order which as I am informed differeth not much from that of yours to be changed and will rather loose their lives and goods in Gods cause than suffer the purity of religion which is the foundation of all prosperity both in church and common weale to be given over as a prey to the enemies and suffer a company of half papish Bishops to dominere over their consciences And we hope that our Lords and Burgesses of Parliament perceaving how farre we are run out in this point of Church-government worship wil labour to bring our churches into the same church order with our brethren the Scots at least that they will utterly roote out the Episcopall goverment together with all its hurtfull rootes and branches And should you have such persons amongst you that would bring in these evil plants which God hath not planted then were you utterly undone Let not therefore the ancient land-marks be removed hold that you have that no man take your crown N. You open mine eyes more and more I had not so deepe an insight into these things before and I perceave that our Churches and the land wherin we dwel as a free people can not have peace if they should remove the land marks of civill and ecclesiasticall government the whole house should by that means totter And now I thinke upon that which was written to me a while since concerning those stirs which here and there appeare in our provinces where men under pretence of a papish right which yet ought to be nullified and cashiered by the power of our reformation seeke to rob the churches of that godly right which they have receaved from Christ their King in the free election and choice of their teachers how that the pretended patrons thrust in preachers against the wils and liking of the assembly and if they refuse to receive them they shut the church doors and thrust the lawful preachers out of the pulpit so that publike worship could not be performed without danger of blood shedding quarrelling and unsupportable insolencies God preserve us that it break no further out and therfore I will pray to God that all good and godly governors of the land may maintain the authority of Synods and Church-assemblies for the redresse of such like evils and that they may not be hindered in their proceedings in those things which concern the churches then should not the assemblies many times last so long but the land be unburthened of unnecessary charges which otherwise are here very narrowly reckoned on But I am wholy inclined to hear the state of your church tell me then what might be the intention of the Bishops and

and that the King condescended so far unto them that they also would then be ruled by the Kings religion to give him content and hereby have they blinded the eyes of the King and brought him so far that he in stead of hindering this bringing in of papistrie hath judged it convenient and maintained it by his authority to the grief and astonishment of all the godly and joy of papists N. What! were the Bishops such lads to deale by such false practices then 't is no wonder that all the honest men in England care not for them but tell me yet again were they also papists in their forme of doctrine or was it onely in the outward ceremonies and worship E. You can easily imagine whither it be possible that any man can come so neer the popish Religion in the outward worship with such zeal for those Idolatrous institutions without beeing one with them indoctrine also It is very true that the Bishops and their adherents will not go to church with such a cloak that they should be thought papists in doctrine they have kept that a longtime hid but the oulder they grow the more their painting falls off and the more their Esaws coate is worne out So that all men by little and little begin to see what was hid under it so that they could not alwayes play behinde the curtain as also was not their intention but they have now and then begun to appear on the stage and made it apparent that their mouth was reformed but their heart papish N. You say true for he that is a true protestant he will hate even the garment spotted with the flesh she that is not a whore in her heart will not put on a whorish attire he that is a right Reformed one will not be burthened with such traditions he will not touch tast or handle them as being brought in according to the institutions and doctrines of men much lesse he will defend them himselfe appoint them be zealous for them more then for the truth it self But I pray you tell me yet wherein have the Episcopall Clergie manifested that they are one with the papists in Doctrine also E. There can plentifull proof be given of that for they have not onely caused these foresaid things to be observed as indifferent but they have with the papists placed holinesse therein as by this appeares seeing they compell the people to do reverence to those things for when the bare name of Iesus is uttered then must every one bow also no man may approach to the meanest of those Altars which they have set up and named by the name of the mercy seate the place of Gods gif●s without bowing three times before it and then fall upon his knees They have consecrated and hallowed their Churches Chappels pavements of the same the pulpit cups church yarde and many other places pretending that without this consecration the places are unholy and unclean and therefore no service might be performed therein till that were first done yea if by any occasion they were never so little defiled then they were pronounced unclean till they were again purified by the Bishops Who may not from hence cleerly see that their faith concerning humane traditions is all one with that of the Papists N. You are in the right for such administrations are altogether according to the faith of papists so that I hold it for certain that the Bishops and Iesuits understood one the other in their doctrine also but tell me I pray is there yet any thing els whereby we may Iudge that they were papists in the faith also E. O yes for I scarcely know any thing exercised in papistrie which may not be found amongst them They administer the L Supper upon an Altar and they must receive it kneeling they administer Baptisme out of a font with a crosse on the fore head of the childe they have had that forme of confirmation whereby the Bishops must consecrate the children they have made marriage purely Ecclesiastical as depending on the bishops who have forbidden Mariage at some certaine times and almost half rhe year and unlesse their consent be gotten either by favour or mony none must Marry yea some Clergie-men amongst them may upon no condition Marry tho it be against the mindes and allowance of their parents and friends They have caused the Holy dayes to be more precisely observed then the Saboth forbidding all work therin upon great penalties They pray over the dead They make women after childbirth to appear in the church with white consecrated garments and then they are purified and many more such like things according to the papists institution are very precisely enjoyned by order from the Bishops N. You move my heart so that I am at the Highest pitch to hear such things of the goverment of Bishops I have alwayes thought England to be the most reformed land in the world because I have seen so many excellent bookes that were penned in England against all such popish institutions for the advancing of the doctrine of salvation and the purity of worship and therefore I can not enough wonder that so many unclean things should bear such sway there E. It makes you wonder and it hath made us many times exceeding sorrowfull and to fear unlesse God speedily prevent it that we should shortly see all our land papists which we may perceive by their generall bent that way for in the universities they began openly to defend that we must pray for the dead yea it was preached in London at Pauls Cross there are bookes written of it as also that the Pope is not that Antichrist that men may very well be saved in the papish Religion as the Arch Bishop made it manifest to the Queen therefore he hath forbidden to pray for her any more that God would convert her and open her eyes as being a Papist They have publikely taught that men may be saved by their good workes and that with the approbation of the Arch bishop as from hence may appeare when he perused the Lithurgie of the Scots in the place concerning good workes it stood that they were not causa regnandi the cause of our salvation but via regni the waye to salvation which he caused to be put out and willed them to exhort the people to good works simply without such distinctions where hence we might easily perceive what he bare in his buckler as he hath also approved the foresaid bookes and by all meanes countenanced the pen men therof From all which it cleerly appeareth that they were right Papists both in faith and doctrine N. This cuts deepe and is something more than Caeremonies by such stalking we often see that the catt leaps quite out of the sack and that they were altogether Papists and would have made the whole land papists They must without doubt have had great correspondence with the papish Clergie that have so infected them E. You have read

and all manner of Seminaries that have so done their indeavor to turn England from their Religion that they have heartened or won many thousands to the papish religion to the unspeakable weakening of our state trouble of the reformed that were where they were mightie oppressed by them yea must suffer great distresse without being heard therin when they came to complaine of it to the clergie where the favour not withstanding was continually on the papists side N. There hath been then a great fall in England for I have allwayes heard that every man was compelled to come to church and attend upon Gods service so that none were excused no not the greatest and that there were very strict orders against the Papists made in divers Parliaments so that I heare wel that it hath gone amongst you as it doth amongst us for the more is the pittie there were many times strict Proclamations read against the breaking in of papistrie but notwithstanding papistrie is openly set up in the middest of us for they have their formall churches with stooles benches Altars ovals quiers Candelsticks cupps in sundrie cities as also in the countrie and they say service at the sound of our bels going openly thereunto the Priests are knowne amongst us preaching against this goverment that it is unlawful exhorting the people to helpe the King to his land will absolve no man in shrift but such as hold the king for the lawfull Lord of the land goe publike processions with an hundred at a time place crucifixes in the church-yards at the graves of the dead come to torment the people of our religion upon their death-beds with their Idol and oyle Yea they have their whole church-goverment amongst us and have divided the whole land amongst Bishops Arch-Bishops Deacons Arch-deacons every one knowing his Iurisdiction they have also given all the civill offices unto certaine persons and when they dye then they confer them upon others againe upon hope that though now they be but titular yet ●hat once they shall have the reall possession therof So that if any change through any stir or other waies should come which God prevent each should know his place and office both in Ecclesiastical and civil affairs that so they might at once over rule the land E. You wondered that it went so in England but I wonder exceedingly that it should go so amongst you for while you give such liberty to the papists you put the souls of the inhabitants yea the whole church and land in a scale and suffer your sworn enemies that are bound by oath to the King of Spain and the Pope to set up a goverment in your goverment Who if it should go ill but in the least or that there were any likely hood to make the King of Spain master would strait fall off so that you foster an Adder in your bosoms N. You are in the right and all good Patriots understand it so it hath also sundry times appeared to be so when the land was in any trouble as when the enemie was in the valle all papists prickt up their ears spake exceeding bouldly said openly out now shortly it shall be our time and the further the enemy brake into the land the boulder they were as also when we lost Schenk-Scans and that the enemie meant thereby to come in the countenances of the papists were then cheerfull and yet when there cometh any bad newes you may easylie perceive with which fide they hold although peradventure they should be no more the better for it than wee as it appeares in manie places yet their hate is so great that they would willinglie wish to perrish them selves so that we might but perrish with them yea they are yet so bould in some places that when any godly preachers are somthing zealous to bridle their insolencies they dare send word to such persons that they should consider how it now goes in Ireland yet not withstanding these deadly enemies of our state are winked at because they blinde the eies of the Officers and great ones with great guifts and yearlie pensions as they them selves do say that they are beholding to no man for their freedome but their monie by which means they cannot be effectuallie proceeded against notwithstanding those Remonstaunces given against them by the church so that the Synods were necessitated to leave it to God and protest before all the world that they would be free of the sowles by this meanes lost having done according to their places what they could as also from that distruction which shall certainlie come upon the land therby if not speedily prevented Whereunto I pray God the Lord to stirr up all Corporations and their particuler members to take the redresse of these thinges into their hands and not to let it hang upon the officers or a few persons as it is here and thereunto the great advantage of this cause E. Yea I heare then that thinges go ill not onely in England but that in this matter it stands ill enough amongst you also although you have no Bishops to let such mischiefs break in but hold this for certaine that the whole heap of papists if they can master us and it hit right shall be quicklie a tip toe against you for I have latelie seen a letter out of the Netherlands to one of our papists which earnestlie stirreth ours up to use all meanes possible to become masters and to advance poperie assuring them that they with the helpe of England should be here strong enough to make them selves masters both of land and Religion therfore their breaking in groweth and increase of such is not to be slightlie esteemed for they can all wayes at a start be seconded by your neighbor enemies if they but make them selves masters of one passe or other so as they can not do with us because they must fetch all assistance from beyond Sea N. You say right and I know not how our goverment is so besotted that they do not better consider it for every one knoweth that there cannot be a more hurtfull nor dangerous enemy than that within especially if it be one with a powerfull enemy without and therefore God open all eyes to see it You have now told me much concerning the designs of the Bishops and the means they used to bring in papistry but tel me now once wherin the malignant Courtiers and other infected statesmen were the cause of the stirs in England E. You well remembred what I told you in the beginning that the Bishops and the malignant Politiks besides the papists have occasioned all our heavinesse for it is certain that the Bishops have spoiled all in the church and together with the Politiks have turned all things up side down in the common weal also N. How understand you that together with the Politikes I think not that the Bishops had also the care of worldly matters E. How have you not known that O yes the Bishops