Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	according_a	england_n	word_n	3,495	5	3.6207	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96456	The kingdoms remembrancer or, The protestation, vow, and covenant, Solemne League and Covenant, animadverted. So far as it concerns religion. / By W. Wickins, late minister at St. Geo. Southwarke.	Wickins, William, 1614-1699.	1660 (1660)	Wing W2084; Thomason E1045_2; ESTC R204166	8,034	16

in the Church of Scotland in doctrine worship discipline and government against our common enemies The discipline and government of the Church of Scotland is here undertaken to be preserved against the common enemy and enemies to them are the Papist Prelate Erastian Schisma●ick he●etick and prophane 2. The Reformation of Religion in the Kingdomes of England and Ireland in doctrine worship discipline and government according to the word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches 1. It was then thought that in all these there was something amiss and that they might admit of a Reformation 2. That the word of God would be the best rule 3. and the best reformed churches the pattern and that we should never attain to this desirable reformation by 1. seeking to accommodate or comply with Rome 2. Making the politicians head the fountain of our rule or 3. to continue in our old-way without any progress of amendment but surely hereby Covenanters are bound to go on toward perfection working by divine rule and not serving the times eying the best reformed not the most corrupt 3. And shall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the 3. Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformitie in Religion confession of Faith form of Church-government Directory for worship and catechising 1. The uniformity of all is the engaged endeavour one must not be looked upon as independent there should not be built up a wall of partition but a regular line should be stretched over the whole 2. And that not only as to faith but to discipline government and worship 3. Whereupon it was that the Parliament advising with an Assembly of Divines did ratifie by their civill Sanction a Confession Directory form of Church-government and Catechisms greater and less if we could be so happy as to go on and not so unhappy as to pull down 4. That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church-government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellours Commissioners Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on that Hierarchie Superstition Heresie Schism Prophaness and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound doctrine and the power of godliness 1. That sound doctrine and the power of godliness might thrive and prosper to the glory of God and salvation of soules there are sundry evils to be endeavoured against even to an extirpation of them 2. Not onely prophaness heresie schisme but superstition and particularly Popery and Prelacy and that Prelacy particularly named as a thing not only to be reformed and moderated but even extirpated and not only the head and tail but even the whole body of that Hierarchy 3. This is to be endeavoured in like manner that is sincerely really and constantly in our severall places and callings Lastly without respect of persons though never so high neer or numerous so that the turning of the tide alterations of time gives not a disobligation to the so endeavouring 5. We shall also according to our places and callings in this common cause of Religion assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in the maintaining and pursuing thereof and shall not suffer our selves directly nor indirectly by whatsoever combination perswasion or terrour to be divided and with-drawn from this blessed union and conjunction whether to make defection to the contrary part or give our selves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause but shall all the dayes of our lives zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition and promote the same according to our power against all lets and impediments whatsoever Here is 1. an engaging to persevere even to the end and that not onely constantly but zealously 2. To the assisting and defending all those that enter into Covenant in the maintaining persuing thereof 3. To be so far from falling off to the contrary partie as not to be indifferent or neuters in the matter 4. And all this against all lets oppositions combinations perswasions or terrours 6. We profess and declare before God and the world our unfeigned desire to be humbled for our own sins and for the sins of these Kingdomes especially that we have not laboured for the purity and power of the Gospell and our true and unfeigned purpose desire and endeavour for our selves and all others under our power and charge both in publike and in private in all duties we owe to God and man to amend our lives and each one to go before another in the example of a reall Reformation A profession of true repentance 1. In godly sorrow for our own and others sins in special not endeavouring after the purity and power of the Gospel 2ly Resolution of amendment 1. in all duties to God and man 2. In all ways publique and private 3. In respect of our selves and others under our power and charge Lastly so far as to be examples one to another in reall Reformation to strive 1. not to draw back or 2. to go along but 3. even to be for most in reformation 7. This Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of all hearts with a true intention to perform the same as we shall answer at that great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed 1. God is called to witness of the sincerity of our hearts 2. We bind our selves over to answer it at the generall Sessions where not onely actions shall be tryed secundum allegata probata but even hearts de quibus non judicat Ecclesia nec judex terrenus of which no man judges Lastly Grace is begged to perform this Covenant with such success that it may be encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or in danger of the yoak of Antichristian Tyranny to joyne in the same or like Association Covenant And indeed it is not the taking but keeping of Covenants that produce good effects and give encouragement to others We may safely say had this whole Covenant been kept we had escaped a world of evill with which we are almost sunck and had been so amiably provoking to others that they would have long since said Come let us joyne our selves unto the Lord in a perpetuall Covenant that shall not be forgotten But alas the breaking of our Covenant hath almost broken us and what it may yet do in the end who knoweth when we shall be found partial in the Covenant and not have respect to the whole of it there is that we have recovered but there are other greater things to be looked after God is more tender of his owne honour then we are desirous of our safety since there is given to Caesar the things which are Caesars let none of us dare to with-hold what we have devoted to God for God can 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 destroy both us and our King There are of the then House of Commons that not onely

THE KINGDOMS REMEMBRANCER OR The Protestation Vow and Covenant Solemne LEAGUE and COVENANT Animadverted So far as it concerns Religion By W. WICKINS late Minister at St. Geo. Southwarke Gen. 28.20 21 22. And Jacob vowed a vow saying If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go and will give me bread to eat and raiment to put on so that I come again to my fathers house in peace Then shall the Lord be my God And this stone which I have set for a pillar shall be Gods house and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee Gen. 35.1 And God said unto Jacob arise go up to Bethel and dwell there and make thee an Altar unto God that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother Sept 19 LONDON Printed for John Rothwell at the Fountain in Goldsmiths-Row in Cheapside 1660. To the engaged Reader GOD requires of thee the use of thy memory three things he would have thee not forget his mercies judgements and thine own engagements that therefore in this last thou mayest not be wanting Thou art minded of Protestation Vow and Covenant so far as concerns Religion which thou canst not but take well if thou mindest to perform that good which thou didst so solemnly promise in the day of Englands distress W. W. I. PROTESTATION In the Preamble to the Protestation 1641. THAT divers Innovations and Superstitions have been brought into the Church multitudes driven out of his Majesties Dominions How brought in may be collected by what spoken a little before viz. That the designes of the Priests and Jesuites and other adherents to the See of Rome have of late been more boldly and frequently put in practice then formerly to the undermining and danger of the ruine of the true reformed Protestant Religion in his Majesties Dominions established By which it appears 1. Whose designe innovations and superstitions are the Preists and Jesuites and other adherents to the See of Rome 2. Whether it tends to the undermining and ruine of the true Religion And further we have one very ill consequence thereof The driving of multitudes out of his Majesties Dominions All which is sufficient to provoke 1. true Christians to withstand in their respective places Innovations and Superstitions 2. The wel-affected Statesman to prevent the rise and growth of these things for the multitude of Subjects is the honour and may be the safety of a Land In the Protestation I A. B. in the Presence of Almighty God promise vow and protest to maintain and defend as far as lawfully I may with my life power and estate the true Reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England against all Popery and Popish Innovations within this Realm contrary to the same doctrine where should be remembred 1. What vowed promised and protested viz. To maintain and defend the true reformed Protestant Religion 2. Against what All Popery and Popish innovations 3. How far As far as lawfully I may 4. With what Life power and estate 5. Where Within the Realm Lastly That length of time doth not disoblige from this vowed promised and protested in the presence of Almighty God Yet more ANd to my power and as far as lawfully I may I will oppose and by all good wayes and meanes endeavour to bring to condigne punishment all such as shall by force practise counsels plots conspiracies or otherwise do any thing to the contrary Which bindes not onely to a withdrawing of the hand from promoting Popery Popish innovations but to a putting forth of the hand as farre as lawfully I may against those that shall any manner of way attempt it Conclusion And neither for hope feare nor other respect shall relinquish this promise vow and protestation which hinders the working of inordinate affections and baracado's against temptations from without But if it be queried whether this doth not binde to the forme discipline rites and ceremonies of th● Church the House of Commons answer by what explicative follows WHereas some doubts have been raised concerning the meaning of these words The true reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England against all Popery and Popish innovations within this Realm contrary to the same doctrine this House doth declare that by those words was and is meant onely the publique doctrine professed in the said Church so far as it is opposite to Popery and Popish innovations and that the said words are not to be extended to the maintaining of any form of Worship Discipline or Government nor of any rites or ceremonies of the said Church of England And this was thought so meet then to be taken that Die Veneris 30. July 1641. Resolved upon the Question That this House doth conceive that the Protestation made by them is so to be taken by every man that is well affected in Religion and to the good of the Common-wealth and therefore doth declare That what person soever shall not take the Protestation is unfit to beare office in the Church or Common-wealth 2. The Vow and Covenant appointed by the Lords and Commons to be taken by every man throughout the Kingdome THere then being a Popish plot for the subversion of the true Protestant reformed Religion therefore they declare That in order to the security and preservation of the true Protestant Religion they have thought fit that all who are true-hearted should bind themselves each to other in a sacred vow and Covenant In it I A. B. in humility and reverence of the Divine Majestie declare my hearty sorrow for my owne sins and the sins of this Nation which have deserved the calamities and judgements that now lie upon it and my true intention is by Gods grace to indeavour the amendment of my own wayes If our calamities and Gods judgements were cause sufficient 1. for us to justifie God 2. To be heartily and truly sorrowfull for our own sins and the sins of this Nation as 3. also to promise the amendment of our wayes how should his wonderfull works and great mercies affect our hearts and oblige us so much the more to repentance and amendment considering that the goodness of God leads to repentance and that of Christ to the man that was healed go and sin no more lest a worse thing befall thee But most emphatical is that of Ezra c. 9.13 And after all that is come upon us for our evill deeds and for our great trespasses seeing that thou our God hast punished us less then our iniquities deserve hast given us such a deliverance as this should we again break thy commandements wouldst thou not be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us so that there should be no remnant nor escaping 3. The Covenant In it 1. THat we shall sincerely really constantly through the grace of God indeavour in our severall places and callings the preservation of the reformed religion