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	religion_n	word_n	3,061	5	3.7397	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39300	A caution to constables and other inferiour officers, concerned in the execution of the Conventicle-Act with some observations thereupon, humbly offered, by way of advice, to such well-meaning and moderate justices of the peace, as would not willingly ruine their peaceable neighbours, but act (in relation to that act) rather by constraint, than by choice / by Thomas Ellwood.	Ellwood, Thomas, 1639-1713.	1683 (1683)	Wing E616; ESTC R19625	15,083	20

it_o may_v be_v as_o myself_o have_v have_v to_o say_v i_o be_o thence_o again_o embolden_v to_o go_v on_o hope_v that_o what_o be_v so_o well_o intend_v will_v not_o be_v ill_o take_v they_o that_o have_v suffer_v by_o this_o act_n and_o be_v still_o liable_a to_o suffer_v more_o may_v be_v allow_v to_o have_v look_v more_o narrow_o into_o it_o than_o other_o who_o be_v not_o under_o its_o lash_n and_o if_o upon_o a_o thorough_a search_n any_o thing_n can_v be_v find_v in_o the_o act_n itself_o which_o may_v fair_o be_v make_v use_n of_o to_o abate_v in_o any_o measure_n the_o force_n of_o the_o blow_n which_o we_o lie_v under_o i_o hope_v none_o will_v blame_v we_o for_o modest_o represent_v it_o to_o those_o by_o who_o hand_n the_o stroke_n be_v appoint_v to_o be_v give_v and_o in_o this_o confidence_n i_o proceed_v obseru._n 1._o since_o the_o title_n of_o the_o act_n which_o be_v not_o unapt_o call_v the_o key_n because_o it_o open_v the_o intention_n and_o purpose_n of_o the_o lawmaker_n therein_o and_o the_o preamble_n of_o the_o act_n also_o describe_v the_o assembly_n and_o meeting_n design_v by_o this_o act_n to_o be_v suppress_v to_o be_v seditious_a conventicle_n and_o the_o person_n against_o who_o this_o act_n be_v make_v to_o be_v seditious_a and_o disloyal_a person_n who_o under_o pretence_n of_o tender_a cons●t●nces_n have_v or_o may_v at_o their_o meeting_n contrive_v insurrection_n it_o seem_v but_o reasonable_a that_o a_o justice_n of_o the_o peace_n when_o informer_n come_v before_o he_o to_o inform_v against_o any_o person_n for_o be_v at_o a_o conventicle_n or_o meeting_n may_v examine_v they_o severally_z and_o apart_z what_o token_n of_o sedion_n they_o see_v or_o hear_v in_o that_o assembly_n which_o they_o inform_v against_o if_o there_o be_v any_o sedition_n there_o it_o must_v appear_v in_o word_n of_o action_n and_o of_o that_o it_o may_v be_v expect_v the_o informer_n shall_v give_v account_n if_o there_o be_v no_o seditious_a word_n speak_v no_o seditious_a cesture_n use_v why_o shall_v it_o be_v take_v for_o a_o seditious_a meeting_n and_o the_o person_n punish_v for_o what_o they_o be_v not_o nay_o for_o what_o they_o most_o abhor_v to_o be_v beside_o it_o rare_o happen_v but_o the_o justice_n himself_o both_o know_v what_o sort_n of_o people_n they_o be_v that_o be_v inform_v against_o and_o be_v more_o or_o less_o acquaint_v with_o some_o of_o they_o now_o if_o he_o be_v so_o and_o upon_o his_o own_o knowledge_n of_o the_o person_n or_o their_o principle_n be_v persuade_v and_o satisfy_v in_o his_o own_o conscience_n that_o they_o be_v not_o seditious_a or_o disloyal_a person_n that_o they_o never_o have_v contrive_v insurrection_n at_o their_o meeting_n nor_o be_v it_o consistent_a with_o their_o principle_n so_o to_o do_v have_v he_o not_o good_a cause_n then_o to_o reject_v such_o information_n and_o let_v such_o peaceable_a meeting_n and_o metre_n alone_o as_o not_o come_v within_o the_o intention_n of_o the_o act_n 2._o since_o that_o which_o the_o act_n call_v a_o offence_n be_v by_o the_o express_a word_n of_o the_o act_n declare_v to_o be_v any_o person_n of_o the_o age_n of_o 16_o year_n and_o more_o in_o number_n than_o four_o beside_o the_o family_n be_v present_a at_o any_o assembly_n etc._n etc._n under_o colour_n or_o pretence_n of_o any_o exercise_n of_o religion_n in_o other_o manner_n than_o according_a to_o the_o liturgy_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n and_o direct_v that_o this_o offence_n must_v be_v prove_v to_o the_o justice_n either_o by_o confession_n of_o the_o party_n or_o oath_n of_o two_o witness_n or_o by_o notorious_a evidence_n and_o circumstance_n of_o the_o fact_n it_o seem_v reasonable_a that_o the_o justice_n may_v put_v the_o informer_n to_o prove_v every_o part_n of_o this_o offence_n for_o the_o offence_n consist_v of_o many_o particular_n the_o offender_n must_v be_v 16_o year_n old_a he_o must_v be_v a_o subject_a of_o this_o realm_n whence_o quere_z whether_o scottish_n and_o irishmen_n though_o live_v in_o england_n be_v not_o exempt_a he_o must_v be_v one_o above_o four_o beside_o the_o family_n he_o must_v be_v meet_v under_o colour_n or_o pretence_n of_o some_o exercise_n of_o religion_n and_o that_o exercise_n of_o religion_n must_v be_v in_o other_o manner_n than_o according_a to_o the_o liturgy_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n all_o these_o must_v go_v to_o the_o make_v up_o of_o the_o offence_n and_o the_o offence_n so_o make_v up_o must_v be_v prove_v and_o if_o any_o of_o these_o be_v want_v or_o the_o proof_n fail_v in_o any_o of_o these_o it_o be_v then_o no_o offence_n within_o this_o statute_n now_o the_o onus_fw-la probandi_fw-la the_o burden_n of_o prove_v this_o lie_v upon_o the_o informer_n and_o that_o with_o great_a reason_n and_o justice_n according_a to_o the_o know_a maxim_n affirmanti_fw-la incumbit_fw-la probatio_fw-la he_o that_o affirm_v must_v prove_v and_o he_o must_v prove_v all_o that_o he_o affirm_v but_o the_o informer_n must_v affirm_v every_o one_o of_o these_o particular_n in_o order_n to_o make_v it_o a_o offence_n within_o the_o act_n and_o therefore_o they_o must_v prove_v every_o one_o of_o they_o also_o it_o be_v true_a the_o party_n inform_v against_o may_v be_v confession_n convict_v himself_o if_o he_o please_v but_o it_o be_v at_o his_o own_o pleasure_n whether_o he_o will_v or_o no_o and_o if_o he_o do_v not_o the_o next_o way_n of_o proof_n be_v the_o oath_n of_o two_o witness_n and_o i_o conceive_v that_o if_o the_o party_n shall_v confess_v he_o be_v at_o a_o meeting_n and_o that_o there_o be_v more_o there_o present_a than_o four_o beside_o the_o family_n yet_o this_o will_v not_o subject_v he_o to_o the_o penalty_n of_o the_o act_n for_o this_o he_o may_v be_v justifiable_o enough_o unless_o he_o will_v also_o confess_v the_o other_o part_n essential_a to_o a_o offence_n within_o the_o act_n viz._n that_o he_o meet_v there_o under_o colour_n or_o pretence_n of_o some_o exercise_n of_o religion_n and_o that_o it_o be_v in_o other_o manner_n than_o according_a to_o the_o liturgy_n etc._n etc._n now_o as_o the_o party_n confess_v some_o part_n only_o and_o not_o every_o part_n of_o the_o offence_n will_v not_o convict_v he_o of_o the_o offence_n nor_o subject_a he_o to_o the_o penalty_n of_o the_o act_n so_o neither_o will_v the_o informer_n swear_v some_o part_n only_o and_o not_o every_o part_n of_o the_o offence_n convict_v the_o party_n against_o who_o they_o so_o swear_v or_o subject_v he_o to_o the_o penalty_n of_o the_o act._n as_o therefore_o it_o be_v but_o reasonable_a that_o the_o justice_n shall_v see_v due_a and_o full_a proof_n make_v against_o the_o party_n in_o every_o particular_a branch_n of_o the_o offence_n before_o he_o make_v record_n of_o it_o as_o a_o offence_n in_o order_n to_o convict_v the_o party_n thereof_o so_o it_o may_v reasonable_o be_v suppose_v that_o if_o the_o justice_n will_v hold_v the_o informer_n close_o to_o their_o evidence_n and_o examine_v they_o strict_o and_o punctual_o concern_v their_o knowledge_n in_o every_o particular_a of_o the_o offence_n they_o complain_v of_o they_o may_v ease_v themselves_o of_o a_o great_a deal_n of_o trouble_n and_o their_o honest_a neighbour_n of_o a_o great_a deal_n of_o wrong_n for_o how_o can_v informer_n dare_v to_o swear_v that_o the_o party_n inform_v against_o do_v meet_v under_o colour_n of_o pretence_n of_o some_o exercise_n of_o religion_n and_o not_o real_o and_o sincere_o in_o the_o exercise_n of_o religion_n or_o how_o can_v informer_n take_v upon_o they_o to_o swear_v that_o that_o exercise_n of_o religion_n be_v in_o other_o manner_n than_o according_a to_o the_o liturgy_n etc._n etc._n unless_o they_o be_v present_v the_o whole_a time_n of_o the_o meeting_n from_o the_o very_a beginning_n to_o the_o very_a end_n thereof_o which_o they_o rare_o if_o ever_o be_v and_o hear_v and_o see_v whatsoever_o be_v say_v or_o do_v there_o and_o unless_o they_o themselves_o also_o better_a understand_v than_o they_o common_o do_v what_o be_v according_a to_o the_o liturgy_n what_o not_o 3._o since_o by_o the_o stat._n 18._o eliz._n 5._o it_o be_v provide_v that_o informer_n for_o certain_a offence_n therein_o express_v shall_v not_o only_o stand_v on_o the_o pillory_n and_o be_v for_o ever_o disable_v from_o be_v informer_n more_o but_o also_o in_o some_o case_n shall_v pay_v unto_o the_o defendant_n his_o cost_v charge_n and_o damage_n and_o in_o other_o case_n shall_v forfeit_v the_o sum_n of_o 10_o l._n it_o seem_v reasonable_a that_o a_o justice_n may_v demand_v a_o account_n of_o the_o habitation_n and_o ability_n of_o any_o person_n that_o offer_v himself_o as_o a_o informer_n that_o so_o he_o may_v be_v satisfy_v

of_o the_o act_n he_o be_v but_o however_o this_o seem_v clear_a that_o inasmuch_o as_o there_o be_v a_o reasonable_a ground_n of_o doubt_n the_o justice_n do_v not_o incur_v the_o forfeiture_n of_o 100_o l._n in_o case_n he_o do_v refuse_v to_o grant_v such_o warrant_n provide_v he_o ground_v his_o refusal_n upon_o that_o doubt_n and_o declare_v that_o to_o be_v the_o reason_n of_o his_o refusal_n at_o the_o time_n when_o he_o so_o refuse_v for_o than_o he_o can_v be_v convict_v of_o wilful_o and_o witting_o omit_v the_o performance_n of_o his_o duty_n as_o the_o word_n of_o the_o act_n be_v in_o relation_n to_o that_o forfeiture_n and_o which_o must_v be_v prove_v in_o order_n to_o the_o recovery_n of_o it_o 7._o the_o act_n do_v not_o inflict_v the_o penalty_n of_o 20_o l._n or_o 40_o l._n upon_o any_o person_n for_o pray_v as_o it_o do_v for_o preach_v or_o teach_v the_o word_n of_o the_o act_n be_v that_o 〈◊〉_d person_n who_o shall_v take_v upon_o he_o to_o preach_v or_o teach_v in_o 〈◊〉_d ●uch_o meet_v etc._n etc._n and_o shall_v thereof_o be_v convict_v as_o aforesaid_a shall_v forfeit_v for_o every_o such_o first_o offence_n the_o sum_n of_o 20_o l._n and_o if_o such_o offender_n etc._n etc._n shall_v at_o any_o time_n again_o commit_v the_o like_a offence_n etc._n etc._n and_o he_o thereof_o convict_v etc._n etc._n than_o such_o offender_n so_o convict_v of_o such_o like_a offence_n or_o offence_n shall_v for_o every_o such_o offence_n incur_v the_o penalty_n of_o 40_o l._n here_o the_o penalty_n of_o 20_o l._n and_o 40_o l._n be_v restrain_v to_o preach_v and_o teach_v not_o a_o word_n of_o pray_v now_o pray_v be_v neither_o preach_v nor_o teach_v for_o preach_v and_o teach_v be_v direct_v to_o man_n but_o prayer_n be_v direct_v to_o god_n who_o no_o man_n can_v teach_v if_o therefore_o any_o man_n shall_v be_v inform_v against_o for_o preach_v and_o upon_o examination_n it_o appear_v that_o he_o be_v only_o hear_v to_o pray_v he_o can_v be_v thereby_o legal_o convict_v of_o be_v a_o preacher_n or_o incur_v the_o fine_n impose_v by_o the_o act_n on_o such_o as_o preach_v or_o teach_v this_o have_v be_v try_v upon_o a_o appeal_n and_o judgement_n give_v for_o the_o appellant_n 8._o this_o act_n do_v not_o forbid_v woman_n to_o preach_v or_o teach_v for_o though_o it_o seem_v at_o first_o to_o speak_v indefinite_o of_o every_o person_n yet_o it_o immediate_o restrain_v it_o to_o the_o male_a sex_n by_o use_v the_o masculine_a gender_n only_o he_o and_o his._n the_o word_n of_o the_o act_n be_v that_o every_o person_n who_o shall_v take_v upon_o he_o to_o preach_v etc._n etc._n shall_v forfeit_v etc._n etc._n to_o be_v levy_v upon_o his_o good_n etc._n etc._n and_o if_o the_o say_a preacher_n or_o teacher_n be_v a_o stranger_n and_o his_o name_n not_o know_v etc._n etc._n it_o be_v not_o say_v who_o shall_v take_v upon_o he_o or_o she_o etc._n etc._n or_o to_o be_v levy_v upon_o his_o or_o her_o good_n etc._n etc._n or_o if_o his_o or_o her_o name_n be_v not_o know_v etc._n etc._n as_o in_o the_o next_o paragraph_n of_o the_o act_n relate_v to_o the_o meeting-place_n it_o be_v for_o there_o it_o be_v say_v that_o person_n who_o shall_v witting_o or_o willing_o suffer_v any_o such_o conventicle_n etc._n etc._n to_o be_v hold_v in_o his_o or_o her_o house_n etc._n etc._n shall_v forfeit_v 20._o l._n to_o be_v levy_v upon_o his_o or_o her_o good_n etc._n etc._n or_o in_o case_n of_o he_o or_o her_o poverty_n etc._n etc._n here_o the_o gender_n be_v very_o careful_o vary_v and_o as_o this_o variation_n of_o gender_n from_o he_o to_o she_o do_v clear_o subject_a woman_n to_o the_o fine_n for_o suffer_v such_o conventicle_n mention_v in_o the_o act_n at_o their_o house_n so_o the_o omission_n of_o that_o variation_n and_o use_v only_o the_o masculine_a gender_n he_o and_o he_o not_o she_o at_o all_o do_v as_o clear_o exempt_a woman_n from_o be_v fine_v for_o preach_v this_o also_o have_v be_v try_v upole_n a_o appeal_n and_o judgement_n thereupon_o give_v for_o the_o apellant_fw-la 9_o if_o above_o the_o number_n of_o four_o person_n beside_o the_o family_n be_v meet_v together_o and_o sit_v in_o silence_n so_o that_o the_o informer_n be_v not_o able_a to_o prove_v that_o there_o be_v any_o word_n speak_v among_o they_o and_o so_o no_o overt_a act_n of_o religious_a exercise_n such_o a_o meeting_n have_v be_v adjudge_v not_o to_o come_v within_o this_o act_n nor_o the_o person_n so_o meet_v to_o be_v just_o liable_a to_o any_o of_o those_o fine_n ●mposeable_a by_o this_o act._n for_o they_o who_o be_v finable_a by_o this_o act_n must_v be_v such_o as_o be_v convict_v of_o have_v be_v at_o a_o meeting_n where_o be_v some_o exercise_n of_o ●el●gion_n in_o other_o manner_n than_o according_a to_o the_o liturgy_n etc._n etc._n but_o what_o exercise_n of_o religion_n can_v those_o person_n be_v convict_v of_o who_o only_o sit_v still_o and_o neither_o say_v a●y_a thing_n nor_o do_v any_o thing_n if_o their_o mind_n and_o spirit_n be_v inward_o gather_v into_o a_o spiritual_a exercise_n towards_o god_n who_o be_v the_o father_n of_o spirit_n that_o methinks_v shall_v not_o be_v in_o other_o manner_n than_o according_a to_o the_o liturgy_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n however_o that_o fall_v not_o under_o the_o cognizance_n of_o outward_a evidence_n but_o that_o which_o the_o justice_n may_v well_o hold_v the_o informer_n and_o their_o witness_n to_o be_v what_o exercise_n of_o religion_n they_o see_v there_o and_o if_o they_o be_v not_o able_a to_o give_v account_n of_o some_o exercise_n of_o religion_n there_o use_v and_o that_o in_o other_o manner_n than_o according_a to_o the_o liturgy_n etc._n etc._n the_o justice_n have_v very_o good_a ground_n to_o reject_v their_o information_n in_o this_o case_n also_o upon_o a_o trial_n the_o person_n so_o meet_v have_v be_v acquit_v 11._o and_o last_o concern_v the_o house_n or_o place_n where_o the_o meeting_n be_v hold_v there_o seem_v to_o be_v a_o great_a mistake_n for_o some_o eager_a prosecutor_n of_o this_o act_n for_o every_o time_n that_o proof_n have_v be_v make_v to_o they_o of_o a_o meeting_n be_v hold_v at_o such_o or_o such_o a_o house_n have_v impose_v a_o fresh_a fine_a for_o the_o house_n which_o in_o my_o apprehension_n with_o submission_n notwithstanding_o to_o more_o able_a judgement_n the_o act_n afford_v no_o colour_n for_o the_o word_n be_v these_o and_o be_v it_o further_o enact_v by_o the_o authority_n aforesaid_a that_o every_o person_n who_o shall_v witting_o and_o willing_o suffer_v any_o such_o conventicle_n meet_v or_o unlawful_a assembly_n aforesaid_a to_o be_v hold_v in_o his_o or_o her_o house_n outhouse_n barn_n yard_n or_o backside_n and_o be_v convict_v thereof_o in_o manner_n aforesaid_a shall_v forfeit_v the_o sum_n of_o 20_o l._n to_o be_v levy_v in_o manner_n aforesaid_a upon_o his_o or_o her_o good_n and_o chattel_n or_o in_o case_n of_o he_o or_o her_o poverty_n or_o inability_n as_o aforesaid_a upon_o the_o good_n and_o chattel_n of_o such_o person_n who_o shall_v be_v convict_v in_o manner_n aforesaid_a of_o be_v present_a at_o the_o same_o conventicle_n and_o the_o money_n so_o levy_v to_o be_v dispose_v of_o in_o manner_n aforesaid_a this_o be_v the_o whole_a of_o that_o matter_n verbatim_o in_o which_o there_o be_v no_o mention_n of_o any_o more_o or_o other_o than_o one_o fine_a and_o that_o of_o 20_o l._n no_o iteration_n or_o repeat_v of_o the_o fine_a for_o every_o such_o meeting_n as_o in_o other_o part_n of_o this_o act_n where_o the_o fine_a be_v to_o be_v repeat_v it_o be_v express_o say_v for_o instance_n in_o the_o case_n of_o the_o hearer_n there_o be_v not_o only_o the_o fine_a of_o 5_o s._n set_v for_o the_o first_o offence_n but_o a_o double_a fine_a afterward_o for_o every_o such_o offence_n express_o again_o in_o the_o case_n of_o the_o preacher_n there_o be_v not_o only_o the_o fine_a of_o 20_o l._n for_o the_o first_o offence_n but_o a_o double_a fine_a afterward_o for_o every_o such_o offence_n express_o again_o in_o the_o case_n of_o a_o constable_n wilful_o and_o witting_o ●mitting_v the_o performance_n of_o his_o duty_n it_o be_v say_v express_o he_o shall_v forfeit_v for_o every_o such_o offence_n the_o sum_n of_o 5_o l._n but_o in_o this_o case_n of_o the_o meetinghouse_n there_o be_v no_o such_o expression_n use_v no_o such_o provision_n make_v no_o such_o direction_n give_v ●o_z such_o course_n require_v nay_o here_o be_v not_o so_o much_o as_o a_o implication_n of_o a_o second_o for_o the_o word_n first_n be_v not_o here_o use_v as_o in_o the_o other_o case_n of_o preacher_n and_o hearer_n it_o be_v now_o since_o in_o all_o place_n of_o the_o act_n where_o the_o penalty_n be_v to_o be_v repeat_v or_o more_o than_o once_o inflict_v it_o be_v express_o say_a for_o every_o such_o offence_n which_o sentence_n in_o this_o place_n be_v whole_o omit_v take_v it_o for_o a_o very_a persuasive_a argument_n that_o it_o be_v never_o intend_v any_o more_o than_o one_o fine_n shall_v be_v set_v for_o one_o meetinghouse_n how_o oft_o foever_o meet_v in_o but_o if_o any_o apprehend_v otherwise_o and_o shall_v think_v the_o intention_n of_o the_o lawmaker_n reach_v further_o yet_o since_o the_o letter_n of_o the_o law_n extend_v no_o further_o since_o also_o the_o clemency_n of_o english_a nature_n have_v resolve_v it_o into_o a_o axiom_n that_o penal_a law_n be_v to_o be_v take_v in_o mitiori_fw-la sens●_n in_o the_o more_o mild_a and_o favourable_a sense_n there_o seem_v to_o be_v here_o at_o least_o fair_a scope_n for_o all_o who_o will_v not_o be_v severe_a than_o severity_n and_o even_o exceed_v summum_fw-la jus_fw-la to_o exercise_v some_o degree_n of_o compassion_n towards_o the_o afflict_a to_o which_o christian_n temper_n and_o tend_v frame_v of_o spirit_n what_o word_n can_v be_v more_o move_v and_o apt_a to_o dispose_v than_o those_o of_o our_o bless_a saviour_n in_o his_o sermon_n in_o the_o mount_n viz._n bless_a be_v the_o merciful_a for_o they_o shall_v obtain_v mercy_n mat._n 5._o 7._o the_o end_n