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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	according_a	time_n	word_n	3,498	5	3.4534	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80106	A collection of divers papers presented unto the Houses of Parliament by the Commissioners of Scotland since May last, 1645.	Scotland. Parliament.; Buchanan, David, 1595?-1652?	1645 (1645)	Wing C5144; Thomason E305_1; ESTC R200320	22,259	40

A COLLECTION Of divers Papers Presented unto the Houses of Parliament By the Commissioners of SCOTLAND since May last 1645. Published by Authority LONDON Printed by Moses Bell. 1645. Ingenuous and Courteous Reader HEre I present unto thee a Collection of some Papers of which I shall onely say that in them thou wilt finde Reason and Truth the publishing whereof I am perswaded in the first place will give content to men of judgement and integrity concerning divers things murmured and rumored every where almost against men so well deserving in the service of this Cause of God and of his people and consequently against the Cause it selfe for which they have and doe undergoe so much hardship toyling care and hazard c. in all these three Kingdomes not only in opposing the violence and plots of the open and declared enemy but also in declining and stopping the undermining devices of counterfeit friends and false brethren In the next place it will make false-hearted and by-ended men blush for shame if they have any as also the simpler ones acknowledge their owne sillynesse suffering themselves thus to be deluded and as it were led by the Nose by the specious lyes of crafty and deceitfull men but before thou goe to the reading of the papers themselves give me leave to detaine thee a little with these ensuing lines Of late many reproaches have been cast upon the Scots in the pursuance of the service in this common Cause namely for three things First on the one side the Malignants that is the enemies of Church and State adversaries to our solemne Covenant blame the Scots for pressing and urging the setling of the Church-Government to the end that all grosse Idolatry and Superstition with Tyrannie may be pulled downe as also all fanaticall errours and Heresies with confusion may be repressed in the Church and it preserved pure as the Spouse of Christ according to his holy Word and conforme to the practice of the first times and example of the best reformed Neighbour Churches as we are all bound by our solemne Oath on the other side divers men of zeale to the glory of God and good of his people blame the Scots that they are too white-lipp'd and doe not put home with vigour enough the setling of the Church as they are conceived to have done in their owne Country and so they are wish'd by these Zelots to make their stoutnesse more clearely appeare in this businesse of the Church for these well-meaning men are grieved from their heart to see the setling of the Church these five yeares in hand so slackly pursued yea in the latter times stopped by some of those who formerly did make a shew of an earnest affection for the setling of the same as aforesaid but now with an unparallel'd impudency doe publickly affirme that Religion was not the first and maine quarrell betwixt the Parliament and the common enemy against the Declaration of both Houses when they tooke Armes and against the Declaration of both Kingdomes joyntly and more particularly against the Nationall Covenant To this it is answered the Scots in conscience and duty to God and his people and particularly by solemne Oath are bound to put on the setling of the Church with all faithfulnesse and earnestnesse and yet they have to this day proceeded therein with all meekenesse longanimity and tendernesse studying to gaine by faire meanes those who are so backward to the setling of the Church if it were possible 2. The Scots on one side are blamed by those who are enemies to the setling of Government in the Church and good order in the State for expressing so seriously their desires of peace the Church being setled in truth and purity and the State secured with due Priviledges and lawfull liberty And on the other side divers blame the Scots for not pressing home enough the obtaining of Peace so much the rather that they are affraid to have a Peace both long in comming and uncertain when it is come except the Scots presse it and be engaged in it To this it is likewise answered the Scots have undertaken war not to make a Trade of it but to obtaine peace and the sconer the better for the stopping of the torrent of wickednesses of all kinds so openly and with so high a hand committed against God and the wrongs done unto his people in warre for they finde by woefull experience that the Sword is the heaviest of the three maine scourges wherewith God punisheth the children of men for their iniquities yet they conceive the thing is to be done with judgement and discretion for fear of surprisall and circumvention by the common enemy who studieth to undoe us by deceit in making an uncertaine peace if not prevented by wisedome since he failes in his plots and open violence by warre to destroy us 3. The Scots are blamed that their Army hath done nothing this Summer and hath laine heavily upon the people yea and put Taxes upon them to a huge and immence value if it went through the whole Country To this also it is answered If the Scots have done nothing I pray you where doth the fault lye for they have been ever willing and ready with us when we will have the Plough to goe first we give meate both to man and beast next we furnish the Plough with all instruments as sock culter c. fit for the worke then let it be knowne with what and in what measure the Scots have been furnished for any undertaking yea in downe-right tearmes they have been so dealt withall that it seemeth there hath been a set designe to keepe them from doing and to make them odious to the people yet they have not been idle notwithstanding their wants for the sending of the King twice South-ward and the breaking his Northerne design is as advantagious to the main service of the common Cause as any thing hath been done any where this yeare all wise and judicious men doe acknowledge and confesse this To lay aside divers other particulars done by the Scots this yeare but as for the Taxes or Assesments said to be against the liberty of the people it is answered that first they are moderate and reach no further then the places nearest unto their quarters not going through the whole Country as some doe seeme to intimate in their letters then if it be against the liberty of the people without Ordinance from Authority to lay Assesments upon the Country it is against the nature of men to live upon nothing or starve till Order from Authority come Againe I pray you whether or not is it more convenient for the people that moderate Assesments should be laid upon them then that the Souldier driven by necessity should take at discretion Further whether or not is it better for keeping an Army of foot for the good of the people to have a set Taxe paid and appointed in a place then to run up and downe at all times

matter of the Directory for the publike worship of God But cannot wonder enough what should be the cause that the government of the Church which is the wall of Ierusalem and the hedge for preserving of other parts of Religion is so long expected by all the Reformed Churches especially by the Church of Scotland so earnestly desired by the Assembly by the godly of the Ministry and people both in City and Countrey is opposed by the enemy as the finall determination of the controversies of Religion and the ruine of all their presumption and expectation ever to recover themselves and would so much conduce for Order and Peace both in Church and State should stay so long in the birth and not be brought forth and established We cannot conceive the want of the love of Religion which is so acceptable to God that without it nothing can be accepted and so profitable both to the publick and to every mans private that it is the one thing that is necessary to be the cause when wee remember that the honourable Houses by their Commissioners and in their Declarations to the Kirk and Kingdome of Scotland and the reverend Assembly of Divines in their letters by their direction have so fully and frequently professed That Religion was the controversie betwixt them and the contrary party And the chief ground of craving aid and assistance from the Kingdome of Scotland And of the solemne League and Covenant now known to all the World the prime Articles whereof are for the Reformation of Religion as well in discipline and government as in doctrine and worship and for unity and uniformity in all these in the three kingdomes Like as upon the other part it was the principall cause that moved the Kingdome of Scotland to deny themselves to forsake their own peace and ease and to joyne with their Brethren in the time of their distresse for prosecuting this war wherein they have spent so much bloud in this Kingdome and at home lost so many worthy and pretious men and endured so many miseries In all which and against death it selfe their chiefest comfort hath been the testimony of their consciences that they were contending suffering and dying for Religion And for the Cause and Covenant of God which is also the consolation of their Widdowes Orphanes and Friends whom they have left behind them Nor do we apprehend how the judgement or obstruction doth come from any other party Such as have wilfully refused to joyn themselves in Covenant or do deale falsely in the Covenant are not to be regarded but are to be reckoned amongst the enemies And what ever their professions or pretences be are not indeed serving the Lord Jesus Christ or the publick but seeking themselves and their own ends And such as have taken the Covenant and make conscience of the Oath of God will not sleight Reformation Vniformity or the extirpation of superstition heresy schisme and profannesse far lesse appeare against the setling of the government of the Church But will with all their strength endeavour it as the meane appointed of God for so necessary ends No man can be so destitute of sense and reason as to thinke such an Anarchy and confusion as now prevaileth in the Churches of this Kingdome to be the Ordinance of God No Christian can be so void of knowledge and faith as to imagine such a monstrous deformity to be the beauty and glory of the Kingdome of Christ on earth No brother can beare a mind so contrary to charity as to judge such an intolerable condition to be the reward of so much bloud as hath beene shed in this cause And of the so many and greevious sufferings of all the three Kingdomes Nay wee are perswaded that God hath provided better things for us that necessity will bring all that tender the preservation of Religion and the peace of the Church to joyn at last in the right order and government of the Church and that both Houses which is all our desire concerning this will adde from that authority wherewith God hath vested them their civill Sanction to what the pious and learned Assembly after long and serious debates have advised as most agreeable to the Word of God There be alwaies some Incendiaries and evill instruments who will be raising jealousies against Church-government as a collaterall power erecting it selfe at the side of the Civill and in the ●nd overtopping it which is nothing else but to raise jealousies against the spirituall Kingdome of Christ as if it were inconsistent with the Kingdome of this World In other places where Civill powers are no lesse tender to their greatnesse and superiority there is no such thing Upon the contrary the Civill powers finde their honour and authoritie increased the people under them more dutifull and obedient and their places more comfortable both in peace and war by the Discipline of the Church in Presbyteries and Synods Ministers in their persons and professions are subject to Civill authority and though they receive the rules and directions of their Ministerie from Christ yet may the Civill power command and compell them to doe their duty in preaching administring the Sacraments and exercising of Discipline and may hold them to such principles as are well knowne by the confessions of the Reformed Churches and their long peaceable practice agreeable thereunto And therefore no danger is to be feared from their power but much helpe and happinesse from their faithfulnesse if they finde encouragement from the Civill power which they will greatly need against so many difficulties as they have to wrestle with before this Church be setled in purity and peace It is no mervaile that wicked men the sonnes of Belial are unwilling to submit their necks to this yoke that Christ may raigne over them this is their corruption and will prove their misery But it is the excellencie and praise of Church-government that it is terrible to such as an Army with banners Nor should it seem strange that some of the godly who have been sore pressed with Prelaticall tyranny and usurpation should be afraid of all Ecclesiasticall government But this will appeare to be needlesse feare when they cast their eyes upon the sweet and peaceable government of all the reformed Churches for so many yeeres and when they consider that the power of the Keyes is not to be exercised at the pleasure of any one in a Monarchicall way but by a Company and Colledge of Ministers and Elders chosen with the consent of the people Or that others of the godly measuring the constitution of Presbyteries and Assemblies by the corruption and prophanenesse of many Presbyters in the Prelaticall times should conceive of them as formidable to the power of godlinesse But when they shall perceive that by the wisdome and care of the Parliament the Presbyters and Assemblies are constituted and made up of orthodox pious and select persons zealous of the honour of Jesus Christ and of the edification