Selected quad for the lemma: doctrine_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
doctrine_n	church_n	england_n	reform_a	3,931	5	9.9167	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A69969	Eikōn basilikē The porvtraictvre of His sacred Maiestie in his solitudes and svfferings. Together with His Maiesties praiers delivered to Doctor Juxon immediately before his death. Also His Majesties reasons, against the pretended jurisdiction of the high court of justice, which he intended to deliver in writing on Munday January 22, 1648.	Charles I, King of England, 1600-1649. Reliqiæ sacræ Carolinæ.; Marshall, William, fl. 1617-1650, engraver.; Dugard, William, 1602-1662. aut	1649 (1649)	Wing E311; ESTC R39418	116,576	254

superfluous where former religious and legall Engagements bound men sufficiently to all necessary duties Nor can I see how they will reconcile such an Innovating Oath and Covenant with that former protestation which was so lately taked to maintain the Religion established in the Church of England since they count Discipline so great a part of Religion But ambitious minds never thinke they have laid snares and ginnes enough to catch and hold the Vulgar credulity for by such politique and seemingly-pious stratagems they think to keep the populacy fast to their Parties under the terrour of perjury Whereas certainly all honest and wise men ever thought themselvs sufficiently bound by former ties of Religion Allegiance and Laws to God and Man Nor can such after-Contracts devised and imposed by a few Men in a declared Party without My Consent and without any like power or precedent from Gods or mans lawes be ever thought by judicious men sufficient either to absolve or slacken those morall eternall bounds of duty which lie upon all My Subjects consciences both to God and Me. Yet as things now stand good men shal lest offend God or Me by keeping their Covenant in honest lawfull ways since I have the charity to think that the chief end of the Covenat in such mens intentions was to preserve Religion in purity and the kingdoms in peace To other then such ends and meanes they cannot think themselves engaged nor will those that have any true touches of Conscience endeavour to carry on the best designes much lesse such as are and will be daily more apparently factious ambitious by any unlawfull means under that title of the Covenant unlesse they dare preferre ambiguous dangerous and un-authorized novelties before their known and sworn duties which are indispensable both to God and My self I am prone to believe and hope That many who took the Covenant are yet firm to this judgment That such later Vows Oaths or Leagues can never blot out those form●r gravings and characters which by just lawfull Oaths were made upon their Soul That which makes such Confederations by way of solemn leagues covenants more to be suspected is that they are the common road used in all factions and powerfull perturbations of State or Church where formalities of extraordinary zeal and piety are never more studied and elaborate then when Politicians most agitate desperate designes against all that is setled or sacred in Religion and Laws which by such scrues are cunningly yet forcibly wrested by secret steps and lesse sensible degrees from their known rule wonted practise to comply with the humours of those men who aym to subdue all to their own will and power under the disguises of Holy Combinations Which cords and wythes will hold mens Consciences no longer then force attends and twists them for every man soone growes his owne Pope and easily absolves himselfe of those ties which not the commands of Gods word or the Lawes of the Land but only the subtilty and terrour of a Party casts upon him either superfluous and vaine when they were sufficiently tied before or fraudulent and injurious if by such after-ligaments they find the Imposers really ayming to dissolve or suspend their former just and necessary obligations Indeed such illegall waies seldome or never intend the engaging men more to duties but only to Parties therefore it is not regarded how they keep their Covenants in point of piety pretended provided they adhere firmly to the Party and Designe intended I see the Imposers of it are content to make their Covenant like Manna not that it came from heaven as this did agreeable to every mans palate and relish who will but swallow it They admit any mens senses of it though diverse or contrary with any salvoes cautions and reservations so as they crosse not their chief Designe which is laid against the Church and Me. It is enough if they get but the reputation of a seeming encrease to their Party So little do men remember that God is not mocked In such latitudes of sense I believe many that love Me and the Church well may have taken the Covenant who yet are not so fondly and superstitiously taken by it as now to act clearly against both all piety and loyalty who first yeil●ed to it more to prevent that imminent violence and ruine which hung over their heads in case they wholly refused it than for any value of it or devotion to it Wherein the latitude of some generall Clauses may perhaps serve somewhat to relieve them as of Doing and endeavouring what lawfully they may in their Places and Callings and according to the Word of God for these indeed carry no man beyond those bounds of good Conscience which are certaine and fixed either in Gods Lawes as to the generall or the Lawes of the State and Kingdome as to the particular regulation and exercise of mens duties I would to God such as glory most in the name of Covenanters would keepe themselves within those lawfull bounds to which God hath called them Surely it were the best way to expiate the rashnesse of taking it which must needs then appeare when besides the want of a full and lawfull Authority at first to enjoyne it it shall actually be carried on beyond and against those ends which were in it specified and pretended I willingly forgive such mens taking the Covenant who keep it within such bounds of Piety Law and Loyalty as can never hurt either the Church My selfe or the Publique Peace Against which no mans lawfull Calling can engage him As for that Reformation of the Church which the Covenant pretends I cannot think it just or comely that by the partiall advice of a few Divines of so soft and servile tempers as disposed them to so sudden acting and compliance contrary to their former judgements profession and practise such foule scandalls and suspitions should be cast upon the Doctrine and Government of the Church of England as was never done that I have heard by any that deserved the name of Reformed Churches abroad nor by any men of learning and candour at home all whose judgments I cannot but perfer before any mens now factiously engaged No man can be more forward than My selfe to carry on all due Reformations with mature judgement and a good Conscience in what things I shall after impartiall advise be by Gods Word and right reason convinced to be amisse I have offered more than ever the fullest freest and wisest Parliaments did desire But the sequele of some mens actions makes it evident that the main Reformation intended is the abasing of Episcopacy into Presbytery and the robbing the Church of its Lands and Revenues For no men have beene more injuriously used as to their legall Rights than the Bishops and Church-men These as the fattest Deer must be destroyed the other Rascal-herd of Schismes Heresies c. being lean may enjoy the benefit of a Toleration Thus Naboth's Vineyard made

smooth pretensions of Religion Reformation and Liberty As the Wolfe is not lesse cruell so he will be more justly hated when he shall appear no better than a Wolf under Sheeps cloathing But as for the seduced Train of the Vulgar who in their simplicity follow those disguises My charge and councel to You is That as You need no palliations for any designes as other men so that you study really to exceed in true and constant demonstrations of goodnesse piety and virtue towards the People even all those men that make the greatest noise ostentations of Religion so You shall neither fear any detection as they doe who have but the face and mask of goodnesse nor shall You frustrate the just expectations of Your People who cannot in reason promise themselves so much good from any subjects noveltis as from the vertuous constancy of their King VVhen these mountains of congealed factions shall by the sunshine of Gods mercy and the splendour of your virtues be thawed and dissipated and the abused Vulgar shall have learned that none are greater Oppressours of their Estates Liberties and Consciences than those men that entitle themselves The Patrons and Vindicators of them onely to usurp power over them Let then no passion betray You to any study of revenge upon those whose own sinne and folly will sufficiently punish them in due time But as soon as the forked arrow of factious emulations is drawn out use all princely arts and clemency to heal the wounds that the smart of the cure may not equall the angnish of the hurt I have offered Acts of Indempnity and Oblivion to so great a latitude as may include all that can but suspect themselves to be any way obnoxious to the Laws and which might serve to exclude all future Jealousies and securities I would have You alwayes propense to the same way when ever it shall be desired and accepted let it be granted not only as an Act of State-policy and necessity but of Christian charity and choice It is all I have now left Me a power to forgive those that have deprived Me of all and I thank God I have a heart to do it and joy as much in this grace which God hath given Me as in all My former enjoyments for this is a greater argument of Gods love to Me than any prosperity can be Be confident as I am that the most of all sides who have don amisse have don so not out of malice but mis-information or mis-apprehension of things None will be more loyall and faithfull to Me and you than those Subjects who sensible of their Errours and our injuries will feel in their own Soules most vehement motives to repentance and earnest desires to make some reparations for their former defects As Your quality sets You beyond any Duell with any Subject so the Noblenesse of Your mind must raise you above the meditating any revenge or executing Your anger upon the many The more conscious You shall be to Your own merits upon your People the more prone You will be to expect all love and loyalty from them and to inflict no punishment upon them for former miscarriages You will have more inward complacency in pardoing one than in punishing a thousand This I write to you not despairing of Gods mercy My Subjects affections towards you both which I hope you wil study to deserve yet we cannot merit of God but by his own mercy If God shall see fit to restore Me and You after Me to those enjoyments which the Lawes have assigned to Us and no Subjects without an high degree of guilt and sinne can devest us of then may I have better opportunity when I shal be so happy to see you in peace to let you more fully understand the things that belong to Gods glory your own honour and the kingdoms peace But if You never see My face againe and God will have Me buried in such a barbarous Imprisonment and obscurity which the perfecting some mens designes require wherein few hearts that love me are permitted to exchange a word or a look with Me I do require entreat You as Your Father and Your King that You never suffer Your heart to receive the least check against or disaffection from the true Religion established in the Church of England I tell You I have tried it and after much search and many disputes have concluded it to be the best in the world not only in the Community as Christian but also in the speciall notion as Reformed keeping the middle way between the pomp of superstitious Tyranny and the meannesse of fantastique Anarchy Not but that the draught being excellent as to the maine both for Doctrine and Government in the Church of England some lines as in very good figures may happily need some sweetning or pollishing which might here have easily been done by a safe and gentle hand if some mens precipitancy had not violently demanded such rude Alterations as would have quite destroyed all the beauty and proportions of the whole The scandall of the late troubles which some may object and urge to you against the Protestant Religion established in England is easily Answered to them or Your owne thoughts in this That scarce any one who hath been a Beginner or an active prosecutor of this late VVarre against the Church the Lawes and Me either was or is a true Lover Embracer or Practiser of the Protestant Religion established in England which neither give such rules nor ever before set such examples 'T is true some heretofore had the boldnesse to present threatning Petitions to their Princes and Parliaments which others of the same Faction but of worse Spirits have now put in execution but let not counterfeit and disorderly zeal abate Your value and esteem of true piety both of them are to be known by their fruits the sweetnesse of the Vine Fig-tree is not to be despised though the Brambles Thorns should pretend to bear Figs and Grapes thereby to rule over the Trees Nor would I have You to entertaine any aversation or dislike of Parliaments which in their right constitution with Freedome and Honour will never injure or diminish Your greatnesse but will rather be as interchangings of love loyalty and confidence between a Prince and His People Nor would the events of this blacke Parliament have been other then such however much biassed by Factions in the Elections if it had heen preserved from the insolencyes of popular dictates and tumultuary impressions The sad effects of which will no doubt make all Parliaments after this more cautious to preserve that Freedome and Honour which belongs to such Assemblies when once they have fully shaken off this yoke of Vulgar encroachment since the publique interest consists in the mutuall and common good both of Prince and People Nothing can be more happy for all than in faire grave and Honourable waies to contribute their Counsels in Common enacting all things by publique

annexed rather then perturb the publick peace The truth is some men thirst after Novelties others despaire to relieve the necessities of their Fortunes or satisfie their Ambition in peaceable times distrusting Gods providence as well as their own merits were the secret but principal impulsives to those popular Commotions by which Subjects have been discharged to expend much of those plentifull Estates they got enjoyed under my government in peaceable times which yet must now be blasted with all the odious reproaches which impotent malice can invent My self exposed to all those contempts which may mostdiminish the Majesty of a King and encrease the ungratefull Insolencies of My People For Mine Honour I am wel assured that as mine Innocency is clear before God in point of of any calumnies they object so My reputation shall like the Son after Owles and Bats have had their freedome in the night and darker times rise and recover it selfe to such a degree of splendour as those ferall Birds shall be greived to behold and unable to bear For never were any Princes more glorious thē those whom God hath suffer'd to be tried in the fornace of afflictions by their injurious subjects And who knows but the just and merciful God will do Me good for some mens hard false evill speeches against Me wherein they spake rather what they wish than what they believe or know Nor can I suffer so much in point of honour by those rude and scandalous Pamphlets which like fire in great conflagration● fly up down to set all places on like flames than those men do who pretending to so much piety are so forgetfull of their duty to God and Me By no way ever vindicating the Majesty of their KING against any of those who contrary to the precept of God and precedent of Angels speak evill of dignityes and bring rayling accusations agaynst those who are honoured with the name of Gods But 't is no wonder if men not fearing God should not Honour their Kings They will easily contemn such shaddowes of God who reverence not that Supreme and adorable Majesty in comparison of whom all the glory of Men Angels is but obscurity yet hath he graven such Characters of divine Authority and sacred power upon Kings as none may without sin seek to blot them out Nor shal their black veiles be able to hide the shining of My face while God gives Me a heart frequently humbly to converse with him from whom alone are all the traditions of true glory and Majesty Thou O Lord knowest My reproach and My dishonour My Adversaries are all before thee My Soule is among Lyons among them that are set on fire even the Suns of Men whose teeth are spears and arrows their tongue a sharp sword Mine Enemies reproach Me all the day long and those that are mad against me are sworn together O My God how long shall the sons of men turne my glory into shame how long shall they love vanity and seek after lies Thou hast heard the reproaches of wicked men on every side Hold not thy peace least My Enemies prevaile against me and lay mine Honour in the dust Thou O Lord shalt destroy them that speak lies the Lord will abhor both the bloud thirsty and deceitfull men Make my righteousnesse to appear as the light and mine innocency to shine forth as the Sun at noone day Suffer not my silence to betray mine innocence nor my displeasure my patience That after my Saviours example being reviled I may not revile againe being cursed by them I may blesse them Thou that wouldst not suffer Shimei's tongue to go unpunished when by thy iudgements on David he might seem to iustifie his disdainfull reproaches give me grace to intercede with thy mercy for these my enemies that the reward of false and lying tongues even hot burning coals of eternall fire may not be brought upon them Let my prayers and patience be as water to coole and quench their tongues who are already set on fire with the fire of Hell and tormented with those malicious flames Let me be happy to refute and put to silence their evill-speaking by well-doing and let them enioy not the fruit of their lips but of my prayer for their repentance and thy pardon Teach me Davids patience and Hezekiahs devotion that I may look to thy mercy through mans malice and see thy Iustice in their sin Let Sheba's seditious speeches Rabsheka's railing Shemei's cursing provoke as my humble prayer to thee so thy renewed blessing toward Me. Though they curse do thou blesse and I shall be blessed and made a blessing to my people That the stone which some builders refuse may become the head-stone of the corner Looke downe from heaven and save me from the reproach of them that would swallow me up Hide me in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man keep me from the strife of tongues 16. Vpon the Ordinance against the Common-Prayer-Booke IT is no news to have all Innovations ushered in with the name of Reformations in Church and State by those who seeking to gaine reputation with the Vulgar for their extraordinary parts and piety must needs undoe whatever was formerly setled never so well and wisely So hardly can the pride of those that study Novelties allow former times any share or degree of wisdome or godlinesse And because matter of prayer and devotion to God justly beares a great part in Religion being the Souls more immediate converse with the divine Majesty nothing could be more plausible to the peopl than to tel them They served God amisse in that point Hence our publique Liturgy or Formes of constant Prayers must be not amended in what upon free and publique advice might seeme to sober men inconvenient for matter or manner to which I should easily consent but wholly cashiered and abolished and after many popular contempts offered to the Booke and those that used it according to their Consciences and the Lawes in force it must be crucified by an Ordinance the better to please either those men who gloried in their extemporary veyn and fluency or others who conscious to their own formality in the use of it thought they fully expiated their sin of not using it aright by laying all the blame upon it and a totall rejection of it as a dead letter thereby to excuse the deadness of their hearts As for the matter contained in the book sober learned men have sufficiently vindicated it against the cavils and exceptions of those who thought it a part of piety to make what profan objections they could against it especially for Popery Superstition whereas no doubt the Liturgy was exactly conformed to the doctrine of the Church of Engl. and this by all reformed churches is confessed to be most sound and Orthodox For the manner of using Set prescribed Formes there is no doubt but that wholsome words being known fitted to mens