Selected quad for the lemma: country_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
country_n	church_n	city_n	presbyter_n	1,849	5	11.3706	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78780	Effata regalia. Aphorismes [brace] divine, moral, politick. Scattered in the books, speeches, letters, &c. of Charles the First, King of Great Brittain, &c. / Now faithfully collected and published by Richard Watson, fellow of Gonvile and Caius Colledge in Cambridge.	Charles I, King of England, 1600-1649.; Watson, Richard, 1612-1685.	1661 (1661)	Wing C2302; Thomason E1843_1; ESTC R204018	121,126	500

obscurity 6. They who seek to gain reputation with the vulgar for their extraordinary parts and piety must needs undo whatever was formerly setled never so well and wisely 7. I could never see any reason why any Christian should abhor or be forbidden to use the same forms of Prayer since he prayes to the same God believes in the same Saviour professeth the same Truths reads the same Scriptures hath the same Duties upon him and feels the same daily wants for the most part both inward and outward which are common to the whole Church 8. A serious sense of that inconvenience in the Church which unavoidably followes every mans several maner of officiating no doubt first occasioned the wisdom and piety of the ancient Churches to remedy those mischiefs by the use of constant Liturgies of publick composure 9. It was either the tumultuariness of People or the factiousness and pride of Presbyters or the covetousness of some States and Princes that of late years gave occasion to some mens wits to invent new models of Church-government and proposed them under the specious titles of Christs Government Scepter and Kingdom the better to serve their turns to whom the change was beneficial 10. As the full and constant Testimony of all Histories may sufficiently convince unbiased men That the Primitive Churches were undoubtedly governed by the Apostles and their immediate Successours the first and best Bishops so it cannot in reason or charity be supposed that all Churches in the world should either be ignorant of the rule by them prescribed or so soon deviate from their divine and holy pattern 11. Since the first Age for 1500 years not one Example can be produced of any setled Church wherein were many Ministers and Congrations which had not some Bishop above them under whose jurisdiction and government they were 12. Use is the great Arbitratour of words and Master of language 13. Not only in Religion but also in right Reason and the true nature of Governments it cannot be thought that an orderly Subordination among Presbyters or Ministers should be any more against Christianity than it is in all secular and civil Governments where Parity breeds Confusion and Faction 14. I can no more believe that such order is inconsistent with true Religion than good features are with beauty or numbers with harmony 15. It is not likely that God who appointed several orders and a Prelacy in the Government of his Church among the Jewish Priests should abhor or forbid them among Christian Ministers who have as much of the Principles of Schism and Division as other men 16. I conceive it was not the favour of Princes or ambition of Presbyters but the wisdom and piety of the Apostles that first setled Bishops in the Church which Authority they constantly used and injoyed in those times which were purest for Religion though sharpest for Persecution 17. Tyranny becomes no Christians least of all Churchmen 18. The late Reformed Churches whose examples are obtruded for not retaining Bishops the necessity of times and affairs rather excuseth than commendeth for their inconformity to all Antiquity 19. I could never see any reason why Churches orderly reformed and governed by Bishops should be forced to conform to those few rather than to the Catholick example of all Ancient Churches which needed no Reformation 20. It is no point of wisdom or charity where Christians differ as many do in some points there to widen the differences and at once to give all the Christian World except a handfull of some Protestants so great a scandal in point of Church-Government as to change it whom though you may convince of their Errours in some points of Doctrine yet you shall never perswade them that to compleat their Reformation they must necessarily desert and wholly cast off that Government which they and all before them have ever owned as Catholick Primitive and Apostolical 21. Never Schismaticks nor Hereticks except the Arians have strayed from the Unity and Conformity of the Church in point of Government ever having Bishops above Presbyters 22. Among those that have endeavoured or effected a change in the Government of the Church such as have rendred themselves guilty of inconstancy cause a great prejudice against their novelty in the opinion of their King whose consent they would have 23. Their facility and levity is never to be excused whose learning or integrity cannot in charity be so far doubted as if they understood not what before they did or as if they conformed to Episcopal Government contrary to their consciences and yet the same men before ever the point had any free and impartial debate contrary to their former Oaths and practice against their obedience to their Lawes in force and against their Kings consent have not only quite cried down the Government by Bishops but have approved and encouraged the violent and most illegal stripping Bishops and other Churchmen of all their due Authority and revenues the selling away and utter alienation of those Church Lands from any Ecclesiastical uses 24. The Desertors of Episcopacy will at last appear the greatest Enemies to and betrayers of their own interest whose folly will become a punishment unto it self for 25. Presbytery is never so considerable or effectual as when it is joyned to and crowned with Episcopacy 26. Those secular additamen●● and ornaments of Authority Civil Honour and Estate which Christian Princes in all Countryes have annexed to Bishops and Church men are to be lookt upon but as just reward● of their learning and piety who are fit to be in any degree of Church-Government also enablements to works of Charity and Hospitality meet strenthnings of their Authority in point of respect and observance 27. I would have such men Bishops as are most worthy of those encouragements and be ablest to use them 28. A Kings good intention whose judgment faild at any time makes his errour venial 29. It is neither just for Subjects nor pious for Christians by violents and indignities with servile restraints to seek to force their King and Soveraign against the well-laid gounds of his judgment to consent to any their weak and divided novelties touching the Government of the Church 30. I could never see any probable shew in true Reason and in Scripture for the Government of the Church otherwise than by Bishops the greatest Pretenders of a different sense either contenting themselves with the examples of some Churches in their infancy and solitude when one Presbyter might serve one Congregation in a City or Countrey or else denying these most evident Truths 1. That the Apostles were Bishops over those Presbyters they ordained as well as over the Churches they planted 2. That Government being necessary for the Churches wellbeing when multiplied and sociated must also necessarily descend from the Apostles to others after the example of that power and Superiority they had above others which could not end with their persons since the use and ends of such Government still

and passive vertues most Glorious King The benefit I mean you by it my Lord is not only the too-late-admiring the superexcellency of that Royal Soul which was the Casket of such Jewels the Treasury of such divine and humane Wisdom as if He had been heir of all the concealed riches of this sort that had been amass'd for Solomon or since for the whole succession of Emperours among the Greeks Nor to give you some short diversion between the periods of your Studies or stages of your Lordships most serious and urgent business but your modelling and forming by it at your choicest and severest hours a Christian Canon both for a practick and contemplative holy life a litle Rationale of the Doctrine and Discipline of that Church into the Communion whereof after an unavoidable conflict and intrinsic contestation with the importunity of Presbyterian Independent Anabaptistical and other fallacies the principles of all which Sects and Heresies had been for many years lowdly sounded by the Trumpet of a bloudy Rebellion in your Lordships ears with how much devout affection with what profess'd satisfaction and resolution you know you enter'd The best Exemplar and fairest Copy that was ere presented unto the Princes and Great Peers of the World for regulating their Councels Words and Actions by Conscience Reason Honour for your abominating all Sacriledg as that which would be the Cancer no less of your Soul than your Estate chusing rather if put upon it to part with your inheritance than with so much breath as may form your vote to the prophaning and sequestring what the religious Charity of your Ancestors dedicated to pious uses of adhering inseparably to the Holy Order of Episcopacy never questioned by any but such Wretches as had desperately plunged themselves into either Heresie Schisme Sacriledg or Rebellion A Caveat never to make the counterfeit of religious zeal serve the purpose of Ambition nor to torture your King's Conscience under a pretence to ease your own A Monitory how much the prudence of Nobles may fix a due temperament in the Commons as likewise how their chief interest consists in their fidelity to the Crown not in their ignoble compliance with any factious Party of the People A perpetual Memorial of the affronts and injuries done to so excellent a King no otherwise now to be repaired and recompensated than by paying and exacting all possible duty and allegiance accumulating all honour and state and wealth that each one can contribute to his Royal Successour who it may be hoped will persevere in the happy government of his Nations according to the incomparable Maxims of piety and policy that are scattered in those sacred Oracular books and papers composed not according to Plato's Ideas or other speculative conceits and fancies but out of Divine emanations by what means in what manner instilled need not be enquired out of the various alternate experiments of a flourishing and fading condition a calm and stormy season of his Reign a quiet and scrupulous a self-clearing and sometimes a self-condemning disposition of Conscience the sense of love and loyalty from some of Rebellion and malice from other of his Subjects the several events from prudent results and mistakes in his Councel the flattery and folly the sincerity and sapience in the diversity of his Nobles the learning and ignorance zeal and moderation luke-warmness and absolute coldness in his Clergy the steady resolution and giddiness of his Commons the courage and cowardise the conscientious care and negligence of his S●ldiers the liberty and restraint the entredeux or state of indifference such as may be call'd the Royal durance or free Imprisonment of his person the apprehensions of a violent death and hope of a kind reconciling deliverance finally such variety of all sorts in Himself and others that were or should have been under His Majesties Dominion that no Prince of like natural endowments of so just and pious inclinations had such Religious Civil and Military advantages to raise such a fabrick of Policy and Religion such a structure of Lawes and Counsells of secur'd assertions and weigh'd experiments as by which not only the Princes and People of our age at whose ports and Palaces the rumours and terrours of our Troubles have arriv'd but all Posterity may prevent if they please to regard and practise whatsoever misery and mischief the infernal Spirits of Discord and Confusion may intend them All these my Lord and many more which I leave to your own discovery being the natural issue of emolument from the book my advice is that you would improve and multiply them in each particular by your Lordships reading and hearing and observing applying to each Oracle or Apharism here presented whatsoever may occur relating with any significancy unto it whether in ancient or modern History in the Policy of our own or other Nations in the Relations and Discourses of wise and understanding men in the practises right or wrong of any whomsoever your Lordship may have reason and opportunity to regard This done my Lord and ought else your Lordship may see necessary if after some few years resolution I have the honour to kiss your hand I shall expect with much confidence your Lordships thanks which I desire not before you shall have reapt the profit of my pains and become sensible of the service done you by this Collection how affectedly indigested soere it be toward the regulating your Life whether in publick imployment or private conversation toward the confirming you in the still-opposed still undermined Religion of our Church toward your conduct of any Government or Command you may have in your Country and your influence upon the well or ill-affected People there toward the honour may be I hope conferred upon you for promoting the interest of the Crown to the very uttermost extent and efficacy of your own and after all above all toward your reward in heaven for your devotion to God and fidelity to your King which no man wisheth you with more affectionate unfeigned zeal than My Lord Your Lordships most humble Servant RICHARD WATSON From my Friends Lodgings in Doctor 's Commons February 21. 1660 -61 To the Reader Friend HAving in my Epistle Dedicatory shewed at large the worth and use of the ensuing book I have the less wherewith to trouble you if that it self do not before you read it For although you see the design was laid in order to the private benefit and satisfaction of the noble Lord to whom addressed yet since it becomes thus publick I shall plainly tell you that the common neglect I discovered and is by the booksellers themselves confessed of the most excellent piece that ever passed a Monarch's Pen was a principal incentive to me to put it again thus trasformed upon the World Alas it may easily enough be judged what has brought the Original and with whom into disrepute the cry of blood is lowd and summons the least guilt de profundis from the depth of