Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	action_n	law_n	moral_a	1,065	5	9.0930	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A01076	A defence of the right of kings Wherein the power of the papacie ouer princes, is refuted; and the Oath of Allegeance iustified. Written for the vse of all English romanists; more especially, for the information of those priests, or Iesuits, which are by proclamation commanded to conforme themselues, or depart the kingdome. By Edvvard Forset, Esquire.	Forset, Edward, 1553?-1630.	1624 (1624)	STC 11189; ESTC S119405	55,644	106

soldiers than by any ordinary censure or proceeding of Law or Iustice much lesse is hee to alleadge or propound any 〈◊〉 wherein priuate or Phanaticall spirits out of humor 〈◊〉 reuenge reward or glory haue attempted or 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of Hostile bloudy assault vpon the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of Soueraignes Hee must for very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the mention of such left the may by naming vnto vs either the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 K. Henry of France was by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 and Acclamations or the English 〈◊〉 who of a deuotion to the Pop 〈◊〉 faction poysoned King Iohn of England yea he might so bring in diuers Popes Cardinals that haue in such good zeale destroyed and made away Princes and Emperors I am yet to 〈◊〉 him a little shorter I must take from him his discoursing vaine of mitigating and blanching the matter in a disguise of some selected phrases whereby hee intendeth to aduantage himselfe For example when we are at this issue whether there hath euer beene in any Common-wealth any sufficient Authoritie left by God and Nature for the lawfull and orderly deposing of Princes hee inserteth the repressing of euils euen in the highest persons so that when hee shall bee put to it and the weight of his vndertakings is likely to breake his backe or his braine then will hee take the benefite of this shift of repressing of euills euen in the higeest and rather then faile of matter tell vs a stale tale of the Ephori or Tribuni and such like politike Constitutions tendering the liberties or safety of the people against the cruell oppressions or encrochments of the mightie placed in Authoritie neither is it yet my mind at this time against the vniuersall affirmatiue of all Countries all Philosophers c. or the Decrees of Law-makers or the sage sayings of Senatoricall States-men or the Reports and Obseruations of Historiographers Poets and Orators 〈◊〉 and proouing the trueth of our contradiction All the worthy Sentences and examples in 〈◊〉 of best acccount either expressing the excelencie and Maiestie of Soueraigntie or the 〈◊〉 and submissiue demeanour of Subiects are aplyable to this Theame and would easily bee wrought and as it were embroydered into the contexture of a Treatise vpon this Subiect To that which resteth in this Assertion auouching that GOD and Nature hath left sufficient Authoritie in euery Common-wealth c. I pleade ignorance of his meaning not vnderstanding except hee meaneth the Creation in which sense hee should haue said God in Nature or by Nature how God should leaue or institute any such authoritie but by his reuealed word I trust hee will not obtrude vnto vs any long concealed or closited Tradition or any iuggling tricke of Reuelation and vnwritten Veritie wherewith the Christian world hath beene so notoriously 〈◊〉 and I am sure that in the written Law of God there is not any sillable sounding so harshly or rather horribly as to giue any order or rule to dispoyle Princes of their Diadems or to depose the Anoynted of God Now for Nature if shee haue any part in the frame and workemanship of the publique body of the State as shee hath in the particular and naturall bodies of men certainely shee hath allowed the like right to the Head of the Common-wealth as shee hath done to the head of this fleshly Fabrifacture Doeth not the inferiour members patiently and without repugnance beare all the offences and surcharges descending vpon them from the head Is there in Nature any so much as desire much lesse meanes of remoouing or repressing of the Head I acknowledge that Medicines are often applyed for the curing of the griefes and diseases of the Head but what more ready course is either deuised in 〈◊〉 or assented vnto by Nature for the cure of the infirmities and faults of the head then to vnload the annoyances thereof vpon the subiected parts of the body Will you examine another degree of the opperation of Nature Next vnto the body it selfe is the issue and off-spring of the bodie what bounds of dutie hath nature made of the children towards the Father Hath shee left any such Law or libertie that in any respects the childe may renounce or disclaime his parents yea though the father should as oft as out of iudgement hee doth cast off or disinherite his sonne Let vs now but applyingly remember that the Prince is Pater Patriae the Father of the Countrey then will our cogitations aptly accommodate this similitude in Nature vnto the dutious dependancy of the Subiect vpon the person of the Soueraigne with a true naturall relation and recognition of all loue and obedience hauing from nature out of the resemblance of these two paternes no other Law then parendi patiendi Where shall we find more representatiue obedience of Natures intentions and operations then in these originals and fountaines of Loue Then from what stepdames milke hath hee sucked this impuritie of opinion That Nature hath left some sufficient authoritie in euery Common-wealth for the repressing c. I will not deny but that there be some axioms of Reason ingrauen in our nature which perhaps being not rightly vnderstood hath occasioned this imputation and slander against Nature Omnis natura est conseruatrix sui quisque sibi melius vult quam alteri f●●●e nequimus eum qui infert iniuriam and the like which as they argue a sense and sting in Nature to vpholde our owne welfare to feede our owne humour to further our owne desires to hate our enemies and wrong doers so they must admit the brideling limitation and exposition of reason which also Nature hath giuen to rule the rest that all the foresayd priuate and indiuiduall respeets must haue no place in the question of our naturall obligation to Superiours as Fathers and of our naturall vnion in the communitie of humane Societie for the preseruation whereof Nature hath ordeined Gouernment and the Soueraigntie thereof to bee sacred and inuiolable The want of vpright consideration heercof hath oftentimes been cause of precipitation in vntempered and ill gouerned natures when seeking to serue their owne purposes in matters of affection or faction they will easily make pretences of wrong to become auengers thereof against whatsoeuer lawfull authoritie There bee too many such combinations in all Countreys wherein euery Sect or side with intention to aduaunce that part whereunto it is 〈◊〉 doth dreame of these redresses and repressings of their opposites extending their strength and endeauour euen to the highest persons Such actions or pretences haue no more ground in 〈◊〉 then if any adulterer should maintaine his 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 pronenesse of appetite The Thiefe by the naturall instinct of prouiding 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Murtherer by the naturall 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of reuenge But we stand assured that whatsoeuer nature by her vncorrupted rules doth induce or perswade vs vnto touching our duties in Morall actions the same as it was written by the finger of God in

the heart of man at the Creation so was it also reduced and comprised by the Wisedome of God into the Tables of the Morall Law in the which for as much as we haue an expresse commandement of honor and obedience to gouernors that must remaine fixed in our hearts to hold vs firme in the Bond of allegiance Then let P. R. and all his conjoyned Catholikes as hee vaunteth make it plaine vnto vs that eyther Nature hath implanted or the Commandements of God haue enioyned therepressing or deposing of such Princes vppon any exceptions surmizes or accusations whatsoeuer As for the Law of Nations because that is but secundary and derivatiue from the other what hath beene averred of the one holdeth the same respect and certainty as doth the roote it selfe from whence it issueth yet before wee depart from this Argument of Natures working I haue to note that this cunning and curious Composer of Bookes and Contriuer of cases doth in this his chiefe proposition worke himselfe quite out of the question and putteth the Pope cleane out of the doores for the question being of the power of the Pope that is of the power authority and iurisdiction of a Forraine Commander and Iudge he telleth vs that God and Nature hath left some sufficient authority in euery Common-wealth c. which directly maketh the Popes preheminency with vs altogether needelesse and a very nullity sith by his owne sayings and that more agreeable to reason there is sufficient authority within the Land not requiring any his 〈◊〉 or vsurpations to the gouerning of that body which is of it selfe compleate and liueth by the vigor spirit and powerfull opperation of his owne soule his lawfull Soueraigne Thus is the Pope as touching the first reason drawne from the Law or Right of Nature or Nations either left out by him or cast out by me from repressing of Princes or 〈◊〉 himselfe within these our Countries or Territories The second reason bringeth a better Commission that will make way through all repugnances it is inforced in the name and authority of Christ himselfe and it is thus chayned together for impregnable strength Christ was to found is Common-wealth of Christians the farre more perfection then other states had before been establishe subjecting temporall things to spirituall and appointing a Supreame Vniuersall gouernour in the same with a generall charge to looke to all his sheepe without exception of great or small people or Potentates Therefore hee inferreth that the Supreame care iudgement direction and censure of the matter in question was left by Christ vnto the sayd Supreame 〈◊〉 or Pastor of his Church and Common-wealth But it was doubted whether this power was committed to the supreame Pastor directly and immediatly or indirectly and by consequence The Canonists out of the Commission vnto St. Peter Pose ones meas do hold the direct and immediate authority charge and ouersight in temporallities The Catholike Diuines vpon whom the brunt and pressure by 〈◊〉 must bee sayed haue thought it safer to chuse the indirect and consequentiall which they expresse in this manner When the gouernment of spirituall affaires is impugned by any temporall Gouernors so as the sayd spirituall Commission cannot be executed without redresse or remedy 〈◊〉 and in such cases the said Supreame Pastor is to haue authority to proceede against the temporall gouernors Also for the defence and preseruation of his spirituall charge but both parts fully are agreed that there is such authority left by Christ in his Church for remedy of vrgent causes otherwise he should not haue sufficiently prouided for the necessity thereof Here is goodly building of Castles in the ayre Castles did I say Nay of the Tower of Babell in the steede of the City of God Christ sayth hee was to found his Common-wealth of Christians in farre more perfection then other states c. why Christs intentions erections and perfections were all to saue sinners and to bring them vnto Heauen what proofe is this that hee was to found the Popish Hyerarchy or the Antichristian Monarchy and what is this farre more perfection c. Is it an outward pompe or power to chayne and fetter Princes vnder a temporall obedience of a Spirituall Vsurper What is this same subjecting of temporall things to spirituall is it to make a Minister or Bishop of Heauenly matters tyrannous and rampant ouer the temperall states setting their imperiall feete vppon the neckes of Lyons and Dragons what is the nature end and eminency of the spirituall Kingdome of Christ is it any other then the Preaching of the Gospell the way of salvation and the possessing of euerlasting life Then what straightnesse what extractions doth the Limbeckes of their braines bewitched with temporall vanities make of a worldly rule and Dominion He was to appoint one Supreame and 〈◊〉 Gouernor c. we on the other side constantly denying this their principle doe easily bring them to the end of their wits yet wee will pocket vp one confession in this place which hee is likely to forsake and not acknowledge another time In more perfection sayth hee then other states had before beene established acknowledging thereby that vnder the Law and in the old Testament the temporall was not subject to the spirituall Hath hee not well collected and conected his propositions to bring out this grand conclusion of superiority ouer Princes doth he not neede a distinction of proofe to make these parts that cleaue like sand to hold together against the breach which wee are to make vppon him His distinction of direct or indirect shal be directly anoyded and his great Mace which hee beareth vp in his March of state of Ordine ad Deum must bee directed and ordered to a better sence and his commission of pasce shall bee examined how farre it can authorize him to assume the pretented power If hee will but thanke me for it I will befriend him a little with my directions I will chalke him out his way with a straight line by the which hee must be brought and passe along if he desireth to come right vppon the conclusion I will distribute his journey into seuerall baytings or reposes otherwise called common places I doubt it will prooue a long labour and very troub esome to carry his commission along with him hee is like to venture himselfe in many straights and hazardable passages and will be often stayed by the Kings Watch but more often foundred by the rubs and roughnesse of the way which hee is to walke through He must begin and set forth at this poynt 1 That Christ purposing to found his Common-wealth of Christians in farre more perfection c. hath appoynted the same to be an absolute Monarchy vnder one supreame and vniversall Governour visible eminent and knowne as the head on earth in all causes of Christs kingdome 2 Next who that individuall person is whom Christ appointed to be such a Monarche and by what commission is he assigned thereunto and

Kingdomes or Dominions or to authorize any Forraigne Prince to invade or annoy him in his Countries or to discharge any of his Subjects from their allegiance and obedience to his Maiesty or to giue Licence or leaue to any of them to beare Armes rayse Tumults or to offer any violence or hurt to his Majesties Royall person state or government why doth not he in justification of the vnlawfulnesse of this oath by as playne full and broade termes tell vs that the Pope by the capacity of his omnipotency is indued with so plenary a power as that he may depose the King dispose his Kingdomes authorize Forraigne invasions discharge his Subjects from allegiance licence them to offer violence to his Royall Person state or gouernment And that for that regard the conscience of the Catholikes may not be obliged by any such prophane oath impyous against the Pope and the amplitude of his Pastorall primacy But doth hee in any-one line of his whole Volume let slippe any word expressely declaring naming or mentioning any power of this nature and that Lawfully may produce these effects to be invested or bestowed vpon his Holinesse I am perswaded that the igniculi of naturall duty the morsus of an acknowledging conscience and the pudor of his face which perhaps yet retayneth some remnants of modesty would not suffer him so far to degenerate from naturall notions so farre to be alienated from his dutious recognicion or so farre to passe all the bonds of shame as directly and roundly to deliuer vnto the World any sentence so monstruous and so full of horror and heynousnesse Neuerthelesse hee hath taken such a taste of the sower grape of Rome and is dipped so deepe into the venome and malice of that imperious and persecuting Church as that yet indirectly and by a subtile conueyance of his meaning hee giueth vs to vnderstand that his inward soule hath pronounced this doome and judgement against his annoynted Soueraigne and therefore that soule must not be entangled stayed or bound by any brideling or restrayning oath to the contrary But how doth his outward man manage these difficulties Iust in the same manner to an hayres breadth as Mr. Mittigator whom hee may call his ille ego doth that is closly dissemblingly timorously and treacherously In the place of the Pope hee vseth the entitleings of Supreame Pastor the deposing and killing of Princes hee compriseth and couereth vnder the words of proceeding against and restrayning of them what is done by inuasion insurrection or force of armes is included in the word temporalty the stirring vp and appoynting of other Potentates to partake in the quarrell is brought in very gently in this good shew of permitting other Princes c. Now fie vppon this blaunching and disguising Oratory If hee could passe away cleanly with these easie and fauouring phrases hee would steale out against vs as not suspecting his harmefull intentions his deadly writ of execution This one word of restrayning would like to a ball of wild-fire disclose it selfe and breake a sunder into censuring depriuing deposing destroying and murthering of Soueraignes and would haue no meane or end of oppression or Tyranny Next admitting him to this liberty as not to single out any speciall or particular clauses of the oath let vs examine how hee prooueth that there bee enwrapped within the sayd oath poynts of religion as well as of 〈◊〉 obedience he maketh reckoning to haue shewed it by foure seuerall distinct wayes I will beare him witnesse that the wayes be seuerall for onely one of them hath shewe of leading vs to the scope and conclusion fore-intended the rest are all straggling pathes quite from the purpose for are not these I pray you good arguments The Pope telleth the Catholikes that hee hath heard that they are compelled to go to the Churches and Assemblies of Heretickes and to be at their Sermons Ergo the oath of Allegiance contayneth matter of Religion as well of ciuill obedience Againe Bellarmine compareth the oath to the crafty composion and commixture of the Images of the Emperor Iulian and the Pomim gods all coupled and combined together in this Imperiall banner Ergo by an argument ab authoritate there be in that oath poynts Spirituall and Temporall conjoyned together Lastly the good Gentleman doth kindly make this reall offer for satisfaction of his Majesty that hee will sweare vnto him as much Loyalty as euer any Catholike Subject of England did vnto the lawfull Kings in former times before the change of King H. 8. Ergo there lurketh articles of sayth in the sayd oath vnder the pretence of ciuill duties The first of the foure seemeth to shute faire and and at the least to sticke in the Butt though farre enough from the marke and thus it speaketh from the plaine expresse words sence and drift of the oath it selfe That besides the acknowledgment of our Soueraigne to be true King and rightfull Lord ouer all his Dominions and that I will be a true loyall Subject vnto him and such other clauses whereat no man sticketh or maketh any difficulty the sayd oath contayneth further that I must sweare in like manner some poynts concerning the limitation of the Popes authority to wit what hee cannot doe towards his Majesty or his Successour in any case whatsoeuer Which question brought vnto the Thesis of all Kings toucheth sayth he a poynt of Doctrine and Catholike beliefe concerning the sufficiency of of Pastorall authority left by our Saviour in his Church vnto St. Peter and his Successours for redressing of all inconueniences that may fall out and this to forsweare hath perill of euerlasting Damnation There must be a monstrous strayne nay hee must breake through and steale before his Holinesse with his predominate power can get into the Creede 〈◊〉 haue before set in his way crosse barres and obstacles ●● nough which hee will neuer be able to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 impeach his assention into any such height as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our consciences The article of Catholica Ecclesia 〈◊〉 be no cloake or conductor for him nor shall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Canopy over his high estate of ● 〈◊〉 callity The Argument wherewith this Gent. doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pope to so eminent a place of power and reputation that his prerogative is past questioning and that vpon paine of 〈◊〉 is this every oath that conteyneth poynts concerning the limitation of the Popes Authority is an oath belonging to Religion but this oath expressing what the Pope cannot doe towards his Majestie or his successor in any case whatsoever is an oath concerning the limitation of the Popes authority therefore this oath is belonging to Religion If the Maior propofition be vntrue or vncertaine all the rest tottereth and falleth as without foundation I will examine the same by the pondering of the particuler words thereof First belonging to Religion in a generall sence may comprehend all the actions and resolues of men yea ciuill duties also are within the spaciousnes thereof because a true