Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	ordinance_n	power_n	resist_v	1,861	5	9.7674	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66602	The vanity and falsity of the history of passive obedience detected Wherein is briefly demonstrated, that the first reformers were far from maintaining it in the author of that history and his party's sence. As also it is plainly evinced that it cannot be deduced from the homilies, articles, injunctions or canons, liturgy and bishops of the primitive English Church. And all the specious pretences he makes for it are fully answered. By Tim. Wilson, M.A. and rector of the Kings Noth in Kent. Licens'd according to order.	Wilson, Timothy, 1642-1705.	1690 (1690)	Wing W2952; ESTC R217174	15,141	14

THE Vanity and Falsity OF THE HISTORY OF Passive Obedience DETECTED Wherein is briefly Demonstrated That the First Reformers were far from Maintaining it in the Author of that History and his Party's Sence AS ALSO It is plainly Evinced that it cannot be deduced from the Homilies Articles Injunctions or Canons Liturgy and Bishops of the Primitive English Church And all the specious Pretences he makes for it are fully Answered By Tim. Wilson M. A. and Rector of Kings Noth in Kent Licens'd according to Order Prov. XXIII 23. Buy the Truth and Sell it not Beloved believe not every Spirit but try the Spirits whether they are of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the World 1 St. John IV. 1. LONDON Printed by George Croom at the Blew-Ball in Thames-street near Baynard's Castle 1690. THE Vanity and Falsity OF THE HISTORY OF Passive Obedience c. THE History of Passive Obedience since the Reformation tells us That it was the Doctrine of all Ages To which I return this plain Answer Our Noble and Blessed Reformers and all Protestant Divines as we who oppose Passive Obedience do at this day declare that the King's Power is of God yea that all Power is of God that Kings are God's Ministers and Vice-gerents that they are God's Ordinance and are not to be Resisted but Obeyed not only for Wrath but also for Conscience sake That God is the only Ruler of Princes that neither Heresie nor Infidelity absolve Subjects from their Allegiance and Duty to Kings This and the like is granted on all hands And this is all that I could ever Collect from the Homilies Articles Injunctions or Canons Liturgy and first Bishops of the Protestant English Church So that I shall premise these General Rules for the understanding of the Judgment of the first Reformers and of other later Divines by him mentioned First Either they speak against Faction Sedition and Rebellion in very large and general Terms as all Divines even those of our Perswasion do as a most heinous and unnatural wickedness without stating any particular Case Or Secondly They speak of Kings Ruling according to the Laws of their Country Suppose I should say in a Sermon Good Christian People ye must in no case or for no cause Resist King William for he that Resisteth shall receive to himself Damnation Would any Man who knows my judgment from such words conclude that I am for Passive Obedience Would they not rather conclude that I am zealous for obedience to the King and harbour no jealousie of my Governors but have a strong presumption that he will Rule according to Law do what is Right and that his Subjects may lead a quiet and peaceable Life in all Godliness and Honesty And doing their Duty may assure themselves of all the benefits of good Government The Apostle saith Whosoever resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that Resist shall receive to themselves Damnation The Homilies ●●y We must in no case resist and that it 〈◊〉 not Lawful for Inferiors and Subjects in any ●●se to resist and stand against the Superior Pow●●s I hope this Author will acknowledge that ●●e Homilies speak in the same sence with St. ●aul We say so too But the Question is whether Paul calls Defen●●ve Arms against Illegal Proceedings and Univer●●l Oppression Damnable Resistance We say ●hat it is not the Resistance of which St. Paul ●peaks And the Author brings no Reason to ●rove it is But we give Reasons for our Inter●retation And this is one Neither God nor Man gives Authority to Governors to Oppress Hear what a Learned Man and a grave Divine saith The Apostle doth not say expresly Whosoever resisteth the Highest Men shall receive Damnation but whosoever shall resist the Power Let every one be subject not to the will of the Highest Men but to the Higher Powers There is a great deal of difference between these two The Higher Powers that is that Authority that God and man hath put upon such a Man It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that must be Subjected to and not Resisted We profess against resisting Power Authority though abused If they who have power to make Laws shall make sinful Laws and so give Authority to any to force Obedience we say here there must be either Flying or Passive Obedience But if one that is in Authority commands out of his own will and not by Law I Resist no Power no Authority at all if I neither Actively nor Passively Obey No I do not so much as resist abused Authority This may seem strange at first but if you think of it you will believe it We distinguish between the Man that hath the Power and the Power of that Man and say though the Power must not be Resisted according to the letter and sense of the Text yet the Illegal Will and Ways of the Man may be Resisted without the least Offence against the Text. But of the Homilies I shall speak in due place Or Thirdly They speak of Personal Infirmities and Crimes of Princes of which God alone is the Avenger and Judge Or Fourthly They speak of Tyranny in Exercise when Laws enable Princes to Execute cruel Edicts or when wicked Laws are made and put in Execution which is called the Abuse of Power In which case we own Passive Obedience in Imitation of the Primitive Christians And so it was in Queen Mary's days Or Fifthly They hyperbolize in zealous Expressions from an abhorrence of ●ebellion and due Reverence of Sacred Majesty and Crowned Heads God's Anointed and Princes of greatest Merit and Renown As if I should say of His present Majesty in an Extasie of Joy upon Meditation of our great Deliverance He is the Earthly God and Saviour of England Could any from hence rationally infer that I den● Defensive Arms in some case Or Sixthly They Write in times wherein Arbitrary power and Innovations got footing And so out of blind Zeal and as I may say Superstitious Devotion to Princes or out of Prejudice or they were Court-parasites and Flatterers as Mountague Manwaring Sibthorp Parker Cartwright c. or possessed with some other evil Affection Or they wrote zealously against the Pope's Supremacy and his pretended power of Excommunicating and Deposing Kings and against the Assassination and Murdering of Princes justified by some Jesuits most Audaciously Or Lastly They have spoken their own Sentiments and private Opinions not the Doctrine of the Church of England and have been opposed by others in all times sometimes Secretly sometimes Openly of the same Communion and Church and by Men of as great Knowledge Piety and Loyalty both to King and Country And these have been both of the Clergy and Laity as far as with due Reverence to their Superiors they could But surely no man in his Senses can think that a whole Kingdom is to be made a Sacrifice to the perverse Will and Lust of a Tyrant who dispenseth