Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	bishop_n	ordination_n	presbyter_n	9,874	5	10.5221	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44838	The Common-wealtsh's [sic] remembrancer for discovery of the disturbers of her peace with a loving reproof to such offendors and a caveat to others to beware of them / by a friend to peace with truth and true liberty, R.H.	Hubberthorn, Richard, 1628-1662.	1659 (1659)	Wing H3222A; ESTC R6707	26,466	36

them and provoking the people to disobey that Authority supposing to carry on their design by interrupting and preventing the Parliaments proceedings in order to your Rights and Liberties 7. Who were they that seeing they could not be advanced by means of the Bishops preached against railed on and earnestly endeavoured to have them supprest whom but little before they prayed for as their Right Reverend Fathers saying The Bishops did them wrong by taking upon them as they did that as Presbyters they the said men ought to have been authorized and called for to join in the choice and ordination of Ministers Did it not thereupon generally ring in their Sermons That Presbytery is the true Clergy and the Church of Scotland a true Church then contending for the Scots and Scottish Religion which but a little before they cryed outagainst and also proclaimed the Scots Rebels and prayed against them because that then seemed their hopeful way of rising into the like Authority as the Bishops had each to be at least a Master Bishop or Presbyter in his Parish and the chief men there his Lay-Elders and yet herein they did not then very well agree amongst themselves 8. What sort of men and who were they that divided themselves as nncertain whether by the help of Rome or Scoeland might be their readiest way of rising into Authority and Estates into several Parties and by Writing Praying Preaching and pressing Arguments perswading you to go forth from your dwellings some to fight ●or the King some for the Parliament others taking all advantages in their Parish-Meetings and elsewhere to stir up discontents and enmity in your spirits one against another thereby hasting you into a bloody and desperate War one party against another And what was this for but the obtaining of their ends by the first Way of Rome or the other of Scotland Either of which it seemed would have served their turns to maintain them their Wives and Children in ease pride and idleness with Authority to punish all such as should presume to contradict them or deny what they would have by way of tythes or otherwise or impose any publike Charges on them Thus prevailing with you to enlist your selves into two great Bodyes or Armyes one against another and by several inventions and execrations against those that were afraid or unfree to go forth in Arms to shed the blood of their Neighbours Brethren Fathers c. one party of the said men crying Come forth fight for God and your King the Lords annointed and the Protestant Religion come forth willingly you fear not God unless you serve and honor your King The fearful shall have their portion in the Lake c. said another party Come forth fight for Christ your Religion Laws and Liberties c. And a third party so on both sides by Preaching Praying and Writing as they stood affected and as either Army came near their beings I say Was not this the means used And who were those men that then took this way to beget and encrease your enmity and hatred one against another so between nearest Relations as is scarce to be found or named amongst sober men such as some call Heathens that have but natural affections to the end that through these storms they might find out an easie way to their desired Haven wherein to sport themselves and rant it over other persons souls bodies and estates and this all under colour and vizard of Religion duty to God and your good so must the King by some of these men be perswaded to take Oaths and Protestations and set forth Declarations that all he did was for the Protestant Religion and your Liberties thereby to strengthen his Party and perswade you to believe it and also perswaded him to seem to comply in several Treaties with the Parliament even to the very last at the Isle of Wight c. Shall I need to ask or remember you how active some of these men were in plundering on each side and encouraging Officers Souldiers thereto under pretence of weakning that party they set themselves against Or of the Contrivances Means and Friends many of them made use of to get into each others Livings or Benefices if greater then they had before of some thereby so entering into two or three such Benefices Or how divers of these men strove to give content to both Armies to pray for preach for and sometimes give thanks on either side as they come near the places of such mens residence and either had prevailed in any storm or Victory or did but say so Were not some then so forward as to commend any killing of English men on the one side or other for exrellent service and thereupon rejoice and give thanks as they call'd it in somuch that sometimes there hath been such Thanksgivings and Rejoicings on both sides for one and the same Victory Or shall I need to remember you of their Railings Revilings and evil● speakings against those they call'd Antinomians Anabaptists Arminians Sectaries Schismaticks Hereticks c. Or some of these mens petitioning against such sundry times blowing the Coles on both sides the fire as they got room and still adding Fuel thereto for their design sake when a fit opportunity might serve the particulars whereof when collected may swell to a very great Volume which Work its like may be by some other more diligent observer thereof their Ways and Deeds of darkness being not easily discerned and therefore I mention some most obvious least they should think them altogether buryed in oblivion and continue impenitent and you in security Let me here add this also not to be forgotten that the Parliament were necessitated for your and their own safeties rights and liberties to call upon you to enlist and maintain each other in a defensive way when the late King had set up his Standard and proclaimed a War in his own Land amongst and against his own Subjects was not this the real difference between his Case and their endeavours for you but how far that will justifie any the aforesaid mens designs I leave to you to consider of and them to the light of Christ in the conscience c. Which of these parties of this sort of men are your Ministers of Christ Or did he or his Ministers at any time so seek to destroy mens lives 9. When many of the aforesaid sort of men saw they were not like to obtain their desires by the King in the way of Rome What Art Industry and Diligence did they use in their next design to have the help of their said Brethren of Scotland which they saw could not be plausibly carried on and established to their Wills without some consultations about it and therefore would needs have it by an Assembly of themselves which they called a Synod or Assembly of Divines scarce taking rest until they were so owned though called together upon their entreaties only to offer their humble Advice to the Parliament