Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	lord_n	people_n	sin_n	3,287	5	4.6566	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A75429	An ansvver to the cities representation set forth by some ministers of the Gospel, within the province of London. Concerning the proceedings of the army. By a Presbyterian patriot, that hath covenanted to preserve the rights and priviledges of Parliaments, and the Kings Majesties person and authority; in the preservation, and defence of the true religion and liberties of the kingdoms; and not otherwise. February 7. 1648. Imprimatur Gilbert Mabbot.		1649 (1649)	Wing A3399; Thomason E541_23; ESTC R205927	13,928	26

no necessity can justifie perjury or dispence with lawfull Oathes and for example instanceth the judgement which befell Saul and Israell for breach of Covenant with the Gibeonites But the question is if the Gibeonites had raised a first and second war or taken parts and shared in Councels with the Cavalerish Canaanites their enemies what then Saul and Israell would have done or might have done for all their Covenant But to spenke a little to the Position it selfe That no necessity can dispence with Lawfull Oathes not to insist upon the forementioned Act of the Israelites in saving Jonathan I answer two things 1. That no Oath binds when through want of foresight by time or accident it come to crosse a morrall duty as if that I am sworne to prove be against my owne or the publicks preservation and so a violation of the Lawes of nature nor if it prove an impediment to the proceed of justice and so prove a violation of the Lawes of Righteousnesse Nor if it prove though Lawfull in itselfe a wrong to another as that of Saul to Jonathan for so it is against the Law of Charity 2. That when the Oath becomes disputable then the intent of its giving and the occasion of its taking is to give light in the solution Now what was our intent in protesting and covenanting the preservation of the King Why to testifie to the World that it was for no sinister end nor to drive no designe that the Wars were undertaken no lack of Loyalty but meere necessity to preserve the people and their Liberties and therefore was the Wars prosecuted against the King notwithstanding the Protestation and Covenant for him which loyalty may be and is still the same in giving him up to justice the Impulse of necessity In regard of publike safety being the same wofull experience having made it manifest that he cannot be and the Kingdome safe nor the Covenant kept in the maine if not broken in the Branches and so of Parliament Privilidges and Authority as wee sweare not the Kings safety to their wrong so not their preservation to the peoples ruine and destruction but the intent of our swearing to defend them was that being joyntly asserted by the two Houses wee would maintaine them against the King that then was in Armes against them but when they come to be contested betwixt the two Houses and the question be to which wee are to adhere whether to the Commons affirmative or the Lords negative 1. Wee are not tyed to impossibilities wee cannot make good contradictions 2. Wee are to consider in our judgements and consciences which is most conducing to the ends for which those Priviledges were granted to wit the promotion of publique good and accordingly to cast the scales But 3. Caeteris paribus the judgement of the Commons is to be adhered to and preferred above the Lords they being more more concerned in the Kingdomes Liberties the peoples creature and not the Kings a Representative of Trustees and to be reduced againe into a private condition for though in the formality of Authority the Lords be above the Commons yet in the materiall and substantiall parts they are above the Lords The next thing insisted upon in this 15 Page after an exhortation to the Army to recede is some threats from Mr. Peters not unlike his discretion in case they persisted to stirre up the people to sedition For so it seemes say they our bewailing your sinnes before the Lord is interpreted It 's well you bewaile their sinnes I hope it is not with a spitefull but a spirituall sorrow for too many of your Parishioners bewaile their successes I hope in the Lord you doe not so and yet I perceive not a like spirit of jealousie in you over the sinnes of your owne people as over the Army for I call them sinnes because you doe so If your cause were good your resolution were commendable in that which followes when you say that if you must suffer yet in the discharge of your duties you will commit the keeping of your soules to the Lord as to a faithfull Creatour But I hope the Army will be as they have been as eminent for their meekenesse as their valour and convince their gainesayers by their owne long suffering and not your suffering and yet take heed of being the cause of other mens sufferings though you are carelesse of your owne either by your advice to the Army to recede who I hope will be twice advised before they take your counsell or by your instigations which if it should happen may more afflict you then any personall sufferings of your owne But I hope God will open your eyes and restraine the Armies hands I will end with a saying of Queene Elizabeth to her Secretary Walsingham when in a conspiracy against her but in part discovered he advised her for further evidence to delay the seizing on the Conspirators and to let the businesse lengthen out it selfe But she refused lest as she sayd in not taking heed of a danger when she might she should seeme more to tempt God then to hope in him Febr. 7. 1648. Imprimatur Gilbert Mabbot FINIS