Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	church_n	england_n	king_n	3,792	5	4.0738	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A27153	The journal or diary of a thankful Christian presented in some meditations upon Numb. 33:2 / by J.B., Master of Arts, and Minister of the Gospel at Barnstone in Essex.	Beadle, John, d. 1667.; Fuller, John, b. 1640 or 41.	1656 (1656)	Wing B1557; ESTC R20752	111,367	248

they differ much amongst themselves yet agree all in this an irreconcileable hatred of and a bitter opposition against a godly faithfull Ministery But it is no wonder for if the Cart-wheel turn round it is impossible that the spokes should stand still if the Church and her discipline suffer under so many turnings and changes surely her officers can have no rest Now if any ask what the reason is that this government formerly so much commended so much desired is now so mightily opposed as the most tyrannicall I answer It is not because we have attained to more light then our Forefathers had as is pretended but 1. Partly because the instruments are changed the actors upon the stage that oppose it are new men It was notable advice that Benhadad's Councel of War gave him after that Ahab had beaten him in that first battle Take the Kings away every one out of his place and put Captains in their roomes It is an old and a most politick device If a designe receive a check it may easily be driven on by changing the instruments and hath often prevailed where God hath not stept in and prevented it as he did here That which is unsufferable in a Prince may be commendable in a Captain The same errors that were formerly taught and as generally loathed because the broachers of them were Prelaticall are now embraced gladly and swallowed downe greedily because taught by such as have a name of Sanctity Take away the Bishops every one out of his place that so mightily opposed this discipline and set up some rare gifted men in their room that shall as much persecute and oppose it and then the same people that earnestly laboured for this government will now as violently resist it 2. Because of the wickednesse and perversnesse of mens spirits this being the last and worst age of the world and we are faln upon the very dregs of time This government is very strict and mens secure lives will not easily submit to Christs severe laws We are become their enemies because we tell them the truth 3. But chiefly because of the crosse and froward disposition of most men If they be commanded any duty they peremptorily reply There is no hope we will walk after our owne devices and we will every one do the imaginations of his evill heart If they be forbidden any thing nititur in vetitum they eagerly pursue what before they stubbornly refused Let people be denyed what is petitioned they grow the more boldly importunate even to a kinde of violence let their desires be granted they not onely loath what before they liked but grow higher in their demands Whence Franciscus Sodorinus Cardinall of Preneste was heard to say to Pope Adrian the sixth that to grant to some people their petitions was but the way to slight the grant and prepare for more How many instances may we give of this When God commanded Circumcision though under the sharpest penalties how unwillingly did people submit to it The neglect whereof had wel-nigh cost even Moses his life And now the Lord hath taken it away both Jews and Gentiles will be circumcised Time was when Christians met in Lanes and Woods to hear the Word even with the perill of their lives being wholly restrained from all places of publick meetings Oh! how much did they desire that Temples might be granted to them And what cost were they at when they had liberty given them to enjoy them But in our dayes when we assemble freely in such publick places every thing is too much that is bestowed on them with Judas and Jeroboam we cry out What needs this waste and It is too much And with what scorn and contempt do many turn their backs against those places and creep into corners The same people when they were restrained from hearing Sermons especially the Sermons of some men How did they then flock to our Congregations as Doves to the windows they went from strength notwithstanding the many penalties they endured But now they have liberty to attend the same persons and places they say Depart from us we desire not the knowledge of those wayes Time was when Baptisme was willingly and generally embraced by most provided that their children might not be baptized with the signe of the Crosse which was then enjoyned but now when that offensive ceremony is removed many of these care not whether ever their infants be admitted into the Church by that Sacrament or no. Heretofore people came most willingly and frequently to the Lords Supper provided they might not be brought up to the Rail at which most stumbled and be dispensed with as touching their gesture but now when what was desired is granted and that burthen that neither we nor our Fathers were able to bear is removed they loath that spirituall Manna and ordinarily turn their backs upon that royall feast and company These people when they were sorbidden to meet together in private where they used to afflict their souls before the Lord for their own sins and the evils of the times by prayer and fasting and that notwithstanding the severest censures of those in power who condemned such meetings as unlawfull Conventicles yet did meet and that frequently and it is hoped fruitfully Now having free liberty granted so to assemble themselves seldome come together for such a purpose Martyrs have formerly gone more willingly to the stake to be burned then these to this excellent ordinance where their hearts may be warmed and refreshed Even so when this government was strongly opposed by the State and all hopes of enjoying it altogether frustrate how did our Fore-fathers pray for it preach for it dispute for it print for it yea suffer even to bonds and imprisonment for it Insomuch that divers lost their liberties and some hazarded their lives Amongst the rest Mr. Vdall a learned and godly Minister was at a generall Assizes condemned to dye for writing in defence of it the Story of whose Imprisonment Examinations and Arraignment I have seen Yea of so high account it was with some in those days that the King of Denmark and the King of Scots wrote their Letters in his behalf to Queen Elizabeth requesting that he might not suffer for that Cause Yea King James then King of Scotland in a Speech of his to the Generall Assembly told them that he blessed God that he was born in Scotland and was a member of such a Church his reason was because the Church of Scotland excell'd other Churches in discipline England had true doctrine but wanted true discipline And now that we may enjoy it the State in a full Parliament declaring for it men loath and abhor it as the most tyrannicall and Antichristian and cry out Not him but Barabbas and choose rather to put their necks under any heavy yoke then submit to this gracious discipline formerly so much desired Now the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ advance the Kingdome