Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	good_a	hold_v	try_v	1,158	5	9.9291	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47283	Ichabod: or, Five groans of the church: Prudently foreseeing, and passionately bewailing her second fall: Threatened by these five dangerous, though undiscerned, miscarriages that caused her first: Viz. [bracket] 1. Undue ordination, 2. Loose prophaness, 3. Unconscionable symony, 4. Careless non-residence, 5. Encroaching pluralities. Humbly presented to her supreme head and governour, the kings most excellent majesty, and his great council, the Parliament of England.; Ichabod.	Ken, Thomas, 1637-1711.	1663 (1663)	Wing K264A; ESTC R22531	49,473	66

converted ten thousand Ministers with one glance of his eye Ah blessed Hammond thou didst write rationallie excellent Gauden thou didst perswade powerfullie devout Taylor thou didst urge patheticallie honest Nicholson thou didst answer satisfactorilie solid Sanderson thou didst 〈◊〉 clearly holy Vsher and Hall you did offer moderatelie heartily and learnedly But who O ye worthies believed your report who would hear you who was convinced by you The King is restored I flourish and dispose of all Preferments and my Converts are innumerable Well I have but two Wishes the first is That all who have gone astray may be reclaimed to the way of truth the second is That all who are reclaimed may be reclaimed from mature deliberation and a serious consideration of all that can be alleadged on all hands trying all things and upon good grounds holding fast that which is good Give me the men who conform upon the conscience of my principles and not upon the prosperity of my Cause who can neglect the most successful errour and own the most afflicted truth who are settled upon my principles which are constant and not upon my preferments which are uncertain Is it the Kings Majesties favour they depend upon he may fail Is it the Church-Government they depend upon that may fail Is it Church-encouragement they stick to that may fail Is it the ancient Truth and Faith they comply with that hath never failed and that will never fail Give me Ministers who as they preach so live upon the things which are not seen and not the things which are seen the things which are seen are temporal the things which are not seen eternal And must I have a Samaritan of Religion serve the true God in the Temple and the Calves at Bethel Must I have a sound form of words in the Desk and an extempory effusion in the Pulpit must I have the same man read Episcopally to walls and preach factiously to a throng use the Ceremonies and say to his confidents They are a burden to him use the Surplice yet unwilling to give offence use the Crosse in B●ptism yet say I wish it were forborn Well I shall never forget the words of a wise and judicious Father now with God They themselves meaning the Non conformists when time was seemed to be and if they dissembled not which we are unwilling to believe were indeed reasonable well affected for they submitted to Government used the ●●t●rgie and observed the Ceremonies appointed according to Law and order and gave their own professed approbation of the same as well by express words from their mouths as by subscription under their hands yet remaining upon record what hath wrought this change in them evidence of reason or worldly interest and how f●r it hath wrought upon them in reality or but in complyance and in what order too by immediate assault upon their judgment or by dealin● under hand first with their affection themselves do or should best know It highly conce●neth them as much as the peace of their consciences are worth and much more then so to be well assured that their hearts are upright in this affair and in order thereunto not to content themselves with slight and overly examination there is more wickedness and deceitfulness in the hearts of all men then most men are aware of but to make the more diligent distr●ct and impartiall search possible into the true Causes and Motives of this Change and for so much as fears and hopes have been ever found the fittest engines to work such seats to enquire particularly what influence or opperation either the fear of loosing what they had or the hope of getting more might have in this work towards the producing such an effect ●t will best become others to judge as charitably as they may but doubtlesse it will be safest for them to be very jealous over themselves lest so great a Change could not have been wrought in so short a space without a strong infusion of the one or of the other or both into the Medicine that wrought it especially since the conjuncture of time wherein this change happened may very probably raise some suspition that a visible hope and advantage had some co-operation at lest with whatsoever was the principal cause of this so sudden an alteration If not so nor so but that they find themselves clearly convinced in their judgements of their former errour and that they are fully perswaded that they are now in a better way then that wherein they formerly walked it is happy for them and I doubt not but that they will fi●de matter of rejoycing in it if they be not mistaken a thing not impossible in the tryal of their own hearts O that I had men that in the change of times were unchangeable in their mind and opinion and to hold to their former and well-grounded Principle so long as they can neither apprehend any reason of sufficient strength to convince 〈◊〉 understandings that they are in the wrong or to mainfest unto them the necessity of making such a change CHAP. II. The Church of England's resentment of Scandalous Profanenesse OH you my Sons why doe you these things for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people Oh Sirs m● God above looks upon you and is provoked t●e ble●●ed Angels see you their fellow-servants for you are a spectacle to God and Angels and are grieved wicked men observe you and blaspheme God good men behold you and are ashamed Is it for this that you are delivered that you may work wickednesse Hath God punished you and will you yet sin more and more Will not twelve years sufferings reform will not twenty years reproaches awake you will not miracles of judgement decer you from evil will not miracles of mercy oblige you to good Oh despise you the riches of Gods goodness towards you not knowing that the goodness of God should lead you to repentance But after your hardnesse and impenitency of heart will you treasure up more wrath against another day of wrath Is this the return you make to a gracious God to dishonour him Is this your kindnesse to me to undoe me Is this your gratitude for the publick favours of King and Parliament to be utterly unworthy Religion hath honoured you with a high Calling you betray it Your Prince vouchsafed you Royal Favours you shame him Honest people afford you their pity and compassion you deceive them Is this your kindness to your friends I saw indeed the late scandalous Centuries but I neglected them as slanders and calumnies I heard the late complaints and outcries but slighted them as I do envy malice and hatred Dreadful things were daily suggested against you great things were daily offered for you the Faction reviled the Orthodox maintained you sober men writ for you but now you confute them holy men excused you but you contradict them good and great men spoke for you but who will now believe them Must you

ICHABOD OR FIVE Groans of the CHURCH Prudently Foreseeing and passionately Bewailing Her Second Fall Threatned by these five dangerous though undiscerned miscarriages that caused her First Viz. 1. Undue ORDINATION 2. Loose PROPHANESS 3. Unconscionable SYMONY 4. Careless NON-RESIDENCE 5. Encroaching PLVRALITIES Humbly presented to her supreme Head and Governour The Kings most excellent MAIESTY and His great Council the PARLIAMENT of ENGLAND The Church of England Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain and are ready to die Rev. 3. 2. Cambridge Printed for I. Greaves 1663. ICHABOD OR The Five Groans of the Church CHAP. 1. O All you that pass by me stand and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow if it hath been done to any Reformed or Protestant Church under Heaven as it is done unto me O now my wounds were ready to be closed my Ruines to be repaired my Desolations and Wastes to be finished when the Barbarous was checked the Licentious was restrained the usurpers were removed the professed Enemies of different Interests and Religion which persecuted me were subdued and I ready to settle upon the Eternal Foundations of sound Doctrine of Primitive Government of an holy and pure Worship of a decent and comely order to the amazement of the World to the honour of Religion to the glory of God to the peace of the whole Earth and for good will among men behold my children are discontent my Government is complained of my Ordinances are neglected my Ministers are despised my peace is disturbed and my safety endangered Hear O Heavens and give ear O Earth What could I have done that I have not done Have I not taught the truth of God sincerely giving Milk to babes and stronger meat to them that were able to bear it and the Oracles of God to all in a Language they best understood Have I concealed any part of Gods sacred Counsell from you Have I not set forth with all plainness and freedome the blessed fulness and excellencies of my Lord Jesus Christ in such a manner and measure as I received from the Word and Spirit Have I not administ●ed all the Ordinances of God faithfully Have I not enjoyned and taught all vertue and all grace carefull reconmending to my Children whatsoever things are good whatsoever things are true ●hatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are l●vely whatsoever things are of good report every holy Du●y every necessary Rule and every immitable Example with all the Advantages of sound Knowledge powerfull ●reaching which at once was able to inform the weak to reclaim the most erroneous to reform the most debauched to satissie the most curious and to silence the most refractory Have I not prepared with much study and industry with many prayers and tears with long education and di●igent care Reverend Bishops Orderly Presbyters able Ministers workmen that need not be ashamed duly ordained and called after an uninterrupted and Catholick succession through all Ages agreeable to that original institution which was from Jesus Christ the great High Priest the true Prophet the soveraign King of the Church the chief preacher of righteousnesse and Bishop of our souls Have I not I say taken an holy care of a succession of Ministers about holy things who might divide the Word aright by solid preaching mi●ht wait upon God solemnly by a devout and discreet Praying might convince Gain-sayers by acute Disputing might instruct the world by exact Writing might maintain peace and order by wise Governing might reform the world by holy living Hath it not been my care and endeavour to keep up the soundness power and life of Christian Religion Have not I laboured that my good people might every where have what is necessary and wholesome for their souls good in devout Prayers in holy Sacraments in powerful Sermons whereby I desired God knoweth to preserve wholesome and saving truth to promote true holiness to set up an holy decency to maintaine the wholesome form and power of godliness in truth peace order and unity Have not I held forth an holy Light Rule and Life in the plain parts of Scripture every where read in the Articles every where acknowledged in the Creeds and Catichism every year explained in the Liturgy constantly used whereby poor souls had a plain easie and sure way to Heaven through an un●eigned Faith sincere Repentance a Catholick Charity a devout humility a good conscience and an holy obedience to God and man according to the will of God unto all well pleasing Doe not I take care to instruct the ignorant diligentl● to comfort the weak hearted tenderly to raise up them that fall compassionately to visit those that are sick charitably to relieve those that want mercifully to bury my dead that sleep in Jesus solemnly to punish those that doe amisse severely to restore them that have gone astray pitifully to instruct them that oppose themselves meekly to frame a way of Peace Order and Communion in which Brethren might happily dwell together in unity prudently rationally and discreetly O what failings of mine then have occasioned these impatient murmers which I hear What faults of mine have raised those bitter reproaches which I bear What enormities of mine have provoked those imminent dangers which I fear O why is it that ye who own my Saviour who have submitted to my Doctrine as your Rule who have par●aked of my Sacrament as your refreshment and comfort O why is it that ye hate and dispise me that ye strip and wound me that ye tear and mangle me that ye impoverish and debase me that ye make me a scorn an abomination an hissing and astonishment to all that see me a derision and a mocking to my enemies round about me Alas all men of weight and worth for parts and piety for judgement and ingenuity for conscience and integrity for grace learning and renown know my innocency thus far that as to the foundation of Faith and Rule of holiness I have only adheared to Gods blessed Word as for the Circumstances and Ce●emonies of Religion I use in them prudently and charitably that liberty and power which I suppose is allowed here for peace order and decency by that blessed God who is not the Author of Confusion but of peace as in all the Churches of the Saints If we may believe the integrity of those Reformers that setled this Church whose learning worth and piety hath been confirmed by the testimony of so many wise and religious Princes by the approbation of so many learned and reverend Convocations by the applauses of so many other reformed Churches if we may believe the preaching living and dying of so many hundred excellent Bishops and Ministers or the Prayers and proficiencies of so many thousand of godly Christians or if we may believe the wonderfull blessings and special graces of a mercifull God attesting the verity integrity and sanctity of my Christian

best sort of Commons ●allow only such Ceremonies as make religious Duties not more pious but more conspicuous not more sacred but more solemn not more spiritual and holy but more visible imitable and exemplary to quicken my children to allure others to instruct and edefie all 5. Are ye offended with my Canons and Injuctions Is it fit that a few men whom Order and Policy hath made inferiour to others as the Rulers and Representatives of the whole society should prefer their own private Opinions and Judgements before the well-advised Results the learned Counsels the pious Endeavours and solemn Sanctions of so many eminent for piety prudence integrity publick influence and just Authority 6. Are my solemne Fasts and Feasts your grievances those solemn remembrances of Gods mercy to men in Christ celebrated with prayer praises preaching and communicating to Gods glory and all sober Christians improvement according to the known president of the Jews and the general practise of the Christian Church What harme is there is some good men observing a day observe it to the tho Lord and others not observing a day observe it not to the Lord 7. Do you-resent my Endeavours for Unity and Uniformity Alas I desire onely that men sincerely worship one true God and pro●ess the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ that they may be partakers of the gifts and graces of the blessed Spirit and may have an holy communion with that adorable T●inity and with one another in love and charity as Christians enjoying the noblest life the sweetest society and most heavenly ●raternity imitating God emulating Angels Children and expectants of happinesse Partakers of grace and daily preparing for eternal Glory that all men who have been called baptized and instructed by lawful Ministers here in the mysteries and duties of the Gospel may make a joynt and publick profession of the Christian Faith and Reformed Religion in the name and as the sense of the whole Nation grounded upon the holy Scripture guided also and administred by that uniforme order due authority and holy Ministry for Worship and Government which according to the mind of Christ the pattern of the Apostles and the practise of all primitive Churches hath been lawfully established by the wisdome and consent of all Estates in this Kingdome for Gods honour the Churches safety the publick peace and the common good of souls 8. Doe I not allow you a just liberty to dot such things constantly and chearfully which are most proper and advantagious to the nature and excellency of men to think what is true to do what is fit and enjoy what is just in reference to God others and your selves I have taken from you no liberty but that of doing evil you are at liberty to enjoy all the comforts priviledges and Ordinances which Christ hath instituted in an holy order and regular way for private or publick good and to hope for that reward and crown which God the righteous Judge hath promised those that persevere in well doing My highest aim is that you may have liberty to exercise a good conscience void of offence towards God and towards man that they may willingly in all things live honestly 9. Are ye displeased with my Members Alas innocent men they pursue after the knowledge of and communion with God in order to a rational religious spiritual gracious perfect and unchangeable life enjoying themselves in the blessed enjoyment of God the enjoyment of whom satisfieth all their desires rewards all their duties requites all their sufferings compleats all their happiness crowns and perfects true Religion They endeavour that on earth which they hope for in heaven viz. a right knowledge and a willing performance which as reasonable they owe for ever to God their Maker Preserver and Redeemer in Christ. With this religious frame and temper of which themselves only are consciencious they prepare for a glorious and blessed immortality with a sincerity of heart and uprightness of conversation which hath no other Rule but Gods Word no other End but Gods Glory no other Comfort but the Constancy of this Disposition to their Lives end Innocent men they look for one common Salvation they use one common Sacrament they professe one Faith and Rule of Holinesse they have one Gracious Temper the same inward sense of Duty and Devotion they walk in the same order with the Catholick Church over the face of the earth 10. Doe you envy me my Patrimony and Maintenance what the Law of God allows me what the Gospel hath provided me what the piety of elder times hath bestowed upon me what good Kings Peers and people of their own endowed me with freely honouring the Lord with their substance that they that served the Altar might live by the Altar O why may not my children who attend the Gospel live by the Gospel since they attend a Ministry as venerable in its Mysteries as clear in its Doctrine as glorious in its chief Minister Iesus as painful to it's Ministers and as comfortable to pious and devout souls as the Ministry of the Law Why are you offended that they of my children that are taught should communicate to them of my children that teach in every good thing 11. Do you envy my just Power and Authority whereby with the wisdome gravity and integrity of such men as are invested with that power I may chekc all abuses and disorders in the Church and by a well ordered discipline I may recover my self to my former glory and renown for which I was spoken of throughout the world 12. Doe you except against the private infirmities the personal failings of my Bishops and Ministers as lesse strict and unblameable in their lives less painful in thir calling lesse prudent in their undertakings or lesse compassionate in their Government though all the world knoweth that within me Learning flourisheth Knowledge multiplyeth Grace aboundeth ●xcellent Preaching thriveth Sacraments are duelie administred the fruits of Gods spirit are mightihe diffused hospitable Kindness is exercised Christian charity is main●ained plain heartednesse and goods works are emi●●ent though I know the Christian world cannot shew men more eminent then some of my Clergy are for well-weighed knowledge for Christian Courage and Patience for sincere piety for indefatigable industry for Care and Vigilancie for exemplary Vertue for sound Doctrine useful Writing prudent Governing for a firm Co●stancy for fatherly I●●●ructions charitable Corrections and imitable Conversations who guide the people without any allowed ●centiousnesse in conversation any undecency in Devotion any irregularitie in Administration in all which according to the ●acred direction of Gods Word according to the heave●lie assistance of Gods spirit through Faith in Jesus Christ they ●each them to worship the only true God who is blessed for ever as the admirable instruments of Gods glory and the good of mens souls teaching them a fruitful and effectual Faith a sound and judicious Knowledge an hearty and sincere Love a discreet and prudent Zeal a