Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	bold_a	concern_v	great_a	61	3	2.1088	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A31173	The Case of the people of England in their present circumstances considered shewing how far they are, or are not obliged by the Oath of allegiance.		1689 (1689)	Wing C1132; ESTC R36280	14,605	23

legally and formally renounced or abdicated If he had done this after that time when Constantine was in possession of the Power and had declared himself a Christian and resolved to support Christianity I say what if he or his Friends at that time had made their Argument and sent abroad this Plea in his behalf That he was once Emperor owned and acknowledged as such in full exercise of the Power he had never Demised or Abdicated or Deserted the Government for so his Colleague Maximianus Herculeus really thought and did actually reassume and persuaded Dioclesian to do the same he had withrawn indeed and stept aside to his Gardens at Salonae to see how his Cabbages thrived to take care that they were well ordered so that they might live and grow and become at length great according to his Wishes but he is now returned and demands his former Rights and expects that the People should come in to his Assistance Here the Query is what the Christians would and what they ought to do And what can we think Would they leave their Constantine their dearest Friend their Brother Christian their Deliverer the greatest Blessing that God had ever given to the Christian Name one that freed 'em from Slavery and Misery from the Racks and Gibbets by which other Christians had formerly suffered and were then anew designed against them and actually preparing for them One who had secured to them the common Rights of Liberties and Properties which by Law they ought to have and which others were complotting injuriously by Force and Violence to snatch from them What can we think That Dioclesian their Enemy a known Persecutor a furious Designer against themselves their Lives their Religion might be able to execute all the mischievous purposes which he or the naughty People about him might contrive He that can think that the Christians would have done this he must have express clear Texts to prove that this was their Duty or else he must think that they were mere Bedlams and Mad Men. And when he has done that he must conclude too that God the Father had resolved that his Son Christ should never have a Kingdom in this World to be sure not that which is promised to be set upon a Hill unto which all Nations might resort but that he had predestinated Christians not only to a Purgatory but a Hell in this World from whence there is no Redemption For if they must choose Misery when they have the greatest Appearances possible that he by his Providence works most effectually for their delivery then they must be miserable without hope of Recovery Many more things might be added to shew that the Christians Duty and Interest go the same way in this and such like Cases but it belongs to the Adversary if there be any such to prove Christians under duty by Christs Law to give Active Assistances either to Nero or Dioclesian or any like them for the recovery of their Rights after they have withdrawn from the Government and left the Community without any benefit of Protection and Defence from them It was enough for them to be submitted unto to be not resisted whilst they were the powers and bore he Sword. And it was enough for the Christians to be under Passive Obedience all that time and they were sufficiently exercised with it Beyond this it is not conceivable that God would lay any farther Duty upon them He might as well command them to put Swords into mad-mens hands as oft as they find them disarmed He may as well command them to hang themselves for the sport of Fools for it is much the same thing to assist those in the regaining of lost power who will certainly rack hang and gibbet them No publick Good no true Right of Princes no Interest of Religion can be forced to speak one word in this Case tho each of them most apparently and strongly plead for the Duty of Passive Obedience It is not for the Publick Good to favor the Cause of fierce violent heady bold presumptuous men or of those that set lip their own wills and humours against Law and Justice Whilst they are Powers the publick Good requires that we should suffer 'em and suffer for them But if they divest themselves of Power Whether with design or by mistake their Cause is not favorable the Publick Good is no way concerned for them if it be not for the avoidance of a greater Evil. If they be catched with a Why-not who can help it if they will go none are bound to fetch them back their Rights as they are Princes do not require it and there is no Vertue no point of Religion that does oblige men to it I have been long in this point on purpose to free mens thoughts from Confusion and Mistake that they may see what vast difference there is betwixt the Duty of Passive Obedience and the false plea's for Active Assistances I shall end this by hinting a known Apologue which seems to speak clearly common Sense and Reason and may help the apprehensions of some Men. It is said that a fierce wild Beast was catched in a snare and there held till he was almost famished a man passing by the Beast beseeches him to unty and loose his bonds and set him at Liberty and for that favour promises Amity and perpetual Friendship the man complies and the Beast is freed He must live by prey and since he had no other to supply his necessities he must prey upon him The man pleads his merits that he had saved the Beast's life and therefore ought not to lose his own for it The Beast alledges present Urgences and insuperable Necessities Whilst they are high in this altercation they are both cited to the Lyons Den and the Fox is appointed to hear and decide the Controversie betwixt them Upon hearing he finds there is much in the Mans Plea and much in the Beasts and would not positively determine against either But that he might judge fairly and equitably at last he fix'd upon this Expedient That all things should be put into the same state wherein they were before the Controversie began Let the Beast says he be put into the snare again and let the Man pass by him again and if at the request of the Beast the Man think good to loose him again let the Beast e'en devour him if he will. FINIS