Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	great_a	king_n	part_n	3,340	5	4.2304	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59543	The addres [sic] of the University of St. Andrews to the King by the rector, vice-chancellor, heads of the colledges, deans of faculties and the rest of the masters and professors of the University of St. Andrews, whose names are insert at the end of their address; also a letter from the arch-bishops and bishops to the Kings Most Excellent Majesty.	University of St. Andrews.	1689 (1689)	Wing S297; ESTC R33582	14,817	22

such Governments and that the happiness of a State consists not in the Greatness and Extent of its Bounds and Empire but in its Internal order and Tranquillity Eleventhly As to the great publick inconveniencies of a Monarchs turning a Tyrant It is observable First That the marks of a Tyrant are so variously and dubiously given by the enemies of Monarchy that it is very hard for the most Ingenious much more for the Vulgar to determine where any Governour deserves this odious Character 2dly If every man would industriously imploy himself in the proper business of his own calling and capacity there would be little time and less occasion for these unprofitable Inquiries into the Councils and Actions of Princes which of necessity must be kept more closs and mysterious then these of private men And yet we see how lyable these are to be often and greatly misrepresented 3dly Tho there is no shadow of true reason to imagine that Monarchs are accomptable to their Subjects for their Administration which is an Errour no less absurd an accomptable Monarch being an inferior Supreme then it is pernicious both in Government and Religion Yet Princes cannot but remember that as Subjects are accountable to their Soveraign and Superior So Monarchs are to theirs the Great GOD and Governour of the World by whom Kings reign and against whom only they sin 4ly We cannot fancy very few Monarchs so void of common sense as not to understand that their Honour and safty does depend on the happiness and prosperity of their Subjects so it is next too impossible that they can design their general hurt and oppression 5ly When some Severities actually happen which are generally lookt upon as excesses of Government they are never so heavy in Nature nor so Universal in their Extent and Duration as the dreadful Calamities of Civil War which is the common cause of the frailtie and mortality of Empires and which is thus always so unluckie as to produce the same and more and greater Evils then are pretended to be feared or suffered from the Lawful Superior and whoever by his fears discontents and grievances will needs disturb the Government or would circumscribe it must asurdly suspect himself to a power which he must acknowledge to be greater otherways he cannot dream how he can set Limits to the former But lastly which is a sufficient answer when it is asked what if a Monatch abuse the Power neglect the dictates or Laws of his Kingdom we ask the enemies of Monarchie what if in their forms of Government the Major part or Respresentatives and Trusties of the People do the same If they say that these can be resisted or judged by the rest then it seems very evident that there can be no Government at all or at least none that can be promised to be of a weeks continuance if these cannot be justly opposed or resisted then it is clear that the difficultie proposed is at least equal in all forms of Government but that it is greater on the Re-publicans side we are able to bring from impartial History many more example of Popular Governments generaly vitiated or in which avaritious irreligious and licentious Men have had the whole swey then can be produced of wicked Monarchs And this one matter of Fact being true is enough to destroy all the empty Objections of the Enemies of Monarchie as to that case of the Alteration of Civil Laws besides that these have no force nor obligation but what they intirely derive from the Soveraign And we are by all the Rules of Discretion and Charity to suppose that when ever there happens any change in any of them it is intended for the better and for the more general convenience of which the Soveraign always is Judge who ever thinks the perpetuity of Laws an advantage to a State or Society most have the less esteem of Popular Government when after examination ye shall find that never was there a greater number of partial and ridiculous constitutions never more frequent abrogations vicissrudes and changes of Laws then in the Roman Athenian and such other Republicks which has given occasion to that remark of some Lawyers That any considerable alteration in the Civil Laws cannot be expected in Monarchies in less then the Revolution of 30 years generally speaking but in the Popular Governments with every Callends of January Twelfthly From what has been said in the general concerning Monarchy it is easie to observe that these Monarchies are most perfect which are Hereditary Being in their Nature of the most equable Stability for seeing every Successor in such a Series has a full right to the intire Soveraignity This Right can never prescribe or be diminished And tho the Wisdom of the most Absolute Monarchies is in all Ages thought to use several Methods and Forms of Consulting their Subjects in the great and weighty Affairs of the Government yet no Concession whatsoever to subjects no custom be it never so long of imploying them or any number of them for private or more solemn Counsels or in administration of Justice can Allienat any part or making any shares of the Supreme Authority the Society may also Reasonably expect the greatest care and sincerest love from Hereditary Princes who considering the Government and Society as their Property and Inheritance will watch over it with the more dilligent and circumspect exactness that they may transmit it in the more secure and flourishing condition to their posterity Thriteenthly And now in the last place what is the fixed and established Government of this ancient Kingdom we cannot explain or assert in words more clear and comprehensive then these In which at several times and different occasions the Subjects of this Realm have solemnly sworn either inviolable fidelity and allegiance and in which the Representatives of the Body of this Nation in their most solemn and lawful Convocations have openly declared to the World the unquestionable Rights of this Monorchical Government in these it is solemnly owned and acknowledged for Subjects give no Prerogative but assert them in several publick Oaths and Declarations that the Kings Majesty is the alone Supreme Governour of this Kingdom and above all Persons in it whatsomever that he is a free Prince of a Soveraign Power having as great Liberties and Prerogatives as any other King Prince or Potentate whatsomever that his Majesty is a Soveraign Monarch Absolute Prince Judge and Governour over all Persons Estates and Causes in this Realm That the Kings sacred Majesty and his Heirs and Successors for ever hold the Royal Power from God Almighty over this Kingdom And that there are great Obligations from the Laws of GOD the Laws of Nations the Municipal Laws of the Land and Oath of Allegiance to maintain and defend the Soveraign Power and Authoritie of the Kings Majesty and that sad consequences do accompany any incroachments upon or diminitions thereof they acknowledge the great happiness that this Kingdom hath for many Ages

which this is most Distinctly and Universally known 2dly When we are inquiring into the best form of Government is not to be expected that any one can be found which is absolutly perfect for in this our frame and imperfect State it is impossible to find any humane Administration that is attended with no inconveniencie or imperfection but by the most perfect Government in this State of things we are to understand that which is lyable to the fewest inconveniencies and from which the most advantage and the more solid and permanent can be justly expected to the Society Ninthly And so tho we are not rashly or dogmaticaly to condemn the ancient and established Government of any Nation by which it has enjoyed its security yet we cannot be so blind as not to understand that of all the several forms of Government which the witt or subtility of man can imagine the Monarchical that is where the Soveraiguty is lodged in one single person in the natural sense is evidently lyable to the fewest and smallest inconveniencies and is most exactly proportionated for the attaining and preserving the Peace and Security and all the other ends of Society and Government when we consider first that it is the most natural Being the Modal and Draught of the Paternal or Patriarchicall Power from which it has its Original In the constituted Order of the World Men are not dropt down from the clouds but Born and Educated in some Family and Society which thing is enough to destroy the vain presence of the natural Liberty and equality of all men from the subjection of the Children to their Parents from whom they have their Being by whom they are Preserved and Educated is so clear by the light of Nature and has been so universally acknowledged by all Nations and People that it were but a loss of time to prove it in the particulars And it being also certain from the most Ancient Authors that all the Primitive Governours were Paternal and Monarchical Kingdoms then being nothing else but larger and more extended Families has given occasion to the later Authors to observe that all Governments by plurality as they are in themselves unnatural so they appear from the Historie to have had their Beginning from some odd and mutable change or from most unjust usurpation and violence But then 2dly not to insist in resembling Monarchy to the Supreame Providence and Government of the World or in illustrating the Argument of most part of all Divines to prove the unity of the Deitie from Its Being unconceiveable how there can be two or moe supream Governours of all things there seems to be in all pluralities of Humane Governours a fatal necessity and perpetual natural occasion of Faction and Division things directly opposite to all the good Designs of Laws Government and Society it being next too impossible but that among many equal sharers of Authority there will be always some who are acted by partial Interest some by Ambition and the Emolation of their Rivals some by a vanity of shewing their Parts some by an uneasie pride and singularity and tho there were no thing else the diversity of Opinions which is unavoidable is able to produce Jealousies Envy and Animosities and these are able to weaken embroyl or disturb any Society 3dly In a plurality any one that is disaffected to a Design if he have sense or a little popularity can create more difficulties and delayes then many are able to answer or overcome the just opportunity of doing publick affairs are often lost by their contentions tedious consultations and even when they come to a conclusion it happens frequently that as some of the Ancients were wont to rail the Athenian Councils tho wise men consult and deliberat fools and mad men determine 4hly In a multitude of Governours the publick is neglected frequently whiles any single man thinks himself but little concerned and that he will be blamed for the Errors of the Government and these who are more active and have been esteemed the wisest men in such Governments have alwayes endeavoured to gain Reputation to their Councils by being supported by the popular favour And by what mean and unworthy Arts that is procured and when attainted how light and inconstant it is all the World knows 5ly Secrecie which is a thing undoubtedly requisite for the safety and expedition of publick Councils is very rare and almost impossible in a Plurality 6ly A Monarchical Government be cause it is free of these and the like heavy inconveniencies because it is casier to find a good and wiseman then many because the Vulgar which is always the greatest part of any multitude or plurality is ever ignorant rash and untractable and because of the manifold advantages of this Government it has been always thought in all Ages and Nations absolutely necessar in Armies and the same reasons hold as naturaly and clearly in Civil Societies And therefore it is no wonder that Monarchs have been more solid and permanent and of far longer duration then Popular Governments and their Subjects more universally pleased under the exercise of their Authority Tenthly That those inconveniencies of Government by plurality are not airly speculations will be clear to any who seriously considers the miserable face of that Republick which by the Admirers of Popular Government was set up as the greatest beloved Idol for when we see that after the most unjust expulsion of the Roman Kings the Consuls usurped their Authority and carried it higher than ever they did that the Tribunies these Incendiaries of the Rable when they had got their Being and a little footing managed a continual design sparing no Artifice or violence to diminish the consular Authority as being to Arbitrary and Tyrannical and to get it into their own hands in which they became by desires more and more succesful on pretence of giving it to the People that during the more seemingly Popular form of Government never were their greater roarings and complaints of Oppression in any state of the World that the constant Discentions betwixt the Nobility and the People produced perpetual Tumults where the Streets were filled with the Blood and Gore of their Citizens and all places with the sad Calamities of Civil War and Confusion And when we consider that in all their greatest hazards and difficulties they were found to run to the expedient of a Monarchical Dictator And that as all their Authors Confesses they had been at last utterly destroyed and sunk under their civil Calamities if they had not again fallen under a lasting Monarchical Government These are sufficient demonstrations when People Sacrilegiously encroach on the Right of their lawful Superiours It is hard for them ever to fix on any thing of solid duration that the famous Roman Libertie was properly but an Impunity for cutting one anothers Throats that Faction and Disorder which all the wisdom strength of that people could not prevent all the natural effects of