Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	authority_n	church_n	law_n	1,028	5	4.5738	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49349	The loyall convenanter, or, Peace & truth revived being certaine seasonable considerations presented to the whole kingdome in generall, but more particularly intended for that famous and honourable city of London, and therein in a more peculiar manner all those citizens, as also all other persons whereoever, who have taken the Solemn league and covenant.	Rexophilus Londinatus Christianus Protestans.	1648 (1648)	Wing L3344; ESTC R25487	49,454	81

assistance protection and efficaciously working of Gods Spirit in the hearts of many glorious pillars of our Church reverend Bishops and other pious and learned Divines stood like a rock unshaken their tongues preaching their pens maintaining their bloods confirming the irresistable prevailing truth thereof against Turke Jew Jesuite and all other hereticall and schismaticall opponents whatsoever Thus much I am confident all neighbouring Protestant Churches will condescend unto therefore I shall proceed In Doctrine and Worship Covenant That is all erroneous tenents and practices whether Papisticall Schismaticall or others of those qui ambulant post spiritum suum against whom the Prophet denounceth a woe Ezek. 13.3 who being departed from the * 1 Tim. 4.1 faith which they once professed are guided by the spirit of error leading silly women and unstable mindes captive by the whistling of every breath of their windy doctrine being clad in sheeps cloathing Mat. 7.15 but inwardly ravenous Wolves Examples of which nature too too many offer them-themselves in these unhappy times wherein almost all things are countenanced or at least connived at as lawful but lawful things therefore let us pray That the God of Peace and Truth would bring into the way of Truth and Peace all such as have erred and been deceive● by seditious Schismatical guids and erronious directions and prosper thou oh Lord all their endeavours tending to such a Reformation Amen Discipline Government according to the Word of God Covenant and the best Reformed Churches Now the question will be which cometh nearest to the Word of God That Episcopacy claimeth the nearest alliance truly entituling it self to be of Apostolical Institution is a truth that hath been made good in all ages That for 1500 years continuance of Christianity there is no example of the Church Governed otherwise An Argument sufficient to suspect Novelties in opposition unto it That it hath been approved of by most of the Protestant Divines beyond the Seas Vide Ecclesiast Histories who are rather induced by necessity to the practise of Presbytery there wanting means to maintain or abilities lawfully to compass Episcopal Government then wills and desires to enjoy the same A strong Argument perswading that our Church is the best Reformed is also an apparent truth That in all disputes especially this latter Doctor Hall against 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11 SMECTYMNVVS Since the War of the reverend and learned Remonstrancer against that odd Combination of * Letters Episcopacy hath stood the field triumphing in Reason and Religion which have only perswaded my judgment to an inclination thereunto and an approbation thereof and I presume any one not obstinately prejudicate in their judgments will soon be satisfied thereof and agree with me herein by the perusal of that learned Bishops writings or by any whose learning and judgments are able to inform them therein But to write truth whether Episcopacy or Presbytery come nearest to the Word of God never was nor at present is the dispute between His Majesty and the two Houses but quis regnabit Where the supream power in Gauses Ecclesiasticall and Civil shall practically remain for the future either in Prince or people Nor indeed was it the end that these Covenant-Contrivers did aim a. Witness their second Article wherein before tryal and examination whereby truth or falshood is made evident they contrary to reason pase sentence of condemnation upon it therein positively swearing without respect of persons a strange expression whereas the King is the first moving wheel of a new Law to extirpate the Government it self that indeed being a Marble pillar which first must be removed by them before they can introduce their bloody-colour'd post of Presbytery endeavouring in that Article to ingage the common peoples Consciences though I shall by and by make good that no mans Conscience is thereby ingaged to assist them I mean the Plotters to attain that which they had a pre-resolution to effect si non Precibus tunc vi armisqne Since that plainly appearing as I have already shewed However that my deceived Countrymen may see how they have been abused into a belief of enjoying I know not how much happiness under the term of Reformation in Church now generally re-baptized Presbytery I shall present to your veiw a short Paralel collected out of the writings of a pious learned and conscientious Divine of these two Governments Episcopal and Presbyterian Doctor Fearne For as for that illegitimate thing that new-born brat Independency it hath such variety of shapes and each of them also so monstrous that I shall not need to meddle with it at all being Confident that it will soon be hissed out of the Kingdom by a Universal Consent or like Jonah's gourd vanish away unthought of in a moment And here I cannot but insert my admiration to perceive so many men still so firmly in their affections and Judgments adhering to the present conclusive determinations of that changeable-coloured thing nay that word Parliament when as it is that which hath so much abused even these first affecting persons the City of London in general their mis-lead supporters Witness in particular the present continuing imprisonment of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and that strange and uncivil expulsion out of the Leiutenan cy of the Tower that deserving Gentleman Col. Francis West without the least pretended cause even in the very middest of his expressed courtesies and feasting favours cofent'd upon their great Don and his followers although he formerly was chosen by the general Vote nay acclamation of the whole City approved of by themselves and indeed beloved by all Only to make way for that unfl●dg'd Titmouse of Manhood and Wit that Imp of Independency Tichbourn fitter by far mimically again in his Fathers Chamber to act a wanton girles part in a Commedy then to have so great a part of rust and commanding power as he now hath conterred upon him Oh Lord open the eyes of poor deceived England especially the City of London and suffer them no longer to walk in darkness and in the shadow of a senceless stupidi●y thus like blind men groping for the path of peace and truth even at noon day But I proceed to the Paralel of these Ecclesiastical Governments And in the first place take their definitions in general Episcopacy in it self considered is a prelacy or superiority of one above all the Presbyters within such a precinct or diocess which one is appointed to have care of all the Churches within that compass and furnished with Power and Authority for Ordination and Jurisdiction that Authoiity not being Arbitrary but bounded by Laws and administred or exercised with advice andassistance ofcertain choyce Presbyters to the intent that all Churches or Congregations under him may be provided of able Pastors and that both these inferior Pastors and people may perform the duties required of them Pressbytery is such a form of Church-Government Doctor Fearn in his book of Episcopacy

the making of Canons and Constitutions nor publish and put in ure any of them being made Now Presbyterians take upon them to set up their Discipline in a Kingdom therein indeed shaking hands with Jesuited Papists maugre all opposition It is true for external peace sake they hold it fit to crave leave first and beg the assistance of the Civil Power but if denyed will proceed without it assembling together and making their own Laws without regulations from the Civil Power for the manner and form of exercising their Discipline allowing only the Prince Potestatem Cumulativam as they speak a power to add more strength and vigour not Privativam to interpose or hinder their assemblies or decrees And in this respect it were to be wished that England had never proved exemplary as now in these latter times it doth by such kind of proceedings The fountain from whence hath issued too ny bloody streams And here it will not be amiss to present the Reader with the grounds and reasons enforcing his Majesty with his loyal Subjects assistance to defensive Arms and in that a Declaration of my own in particular and many thousand English Protestant Judgments more whose pens tongues and hands only endeavored a restoration of his Royal Majesty to his just regal honor and authority Themselves and their fellow-subjects unto their due liberties both Parliamentary and private The preservation of the Protestant Religion in the Doctrine and Profession of the Church of England against all Papists and Sectaries The maintenance of the Government of the Church of England as it standeth still by Law established until the Law of the Land shall make alteration thereof not so peremptorily maintaining the continuance of Episcopal Government as to enforce the remaining of its general practice in England by force of Arms in opposition and against his Majesties suppose that the King could or would dispence with his Coronation Oath will and consent to that purpose cheerfully and voluntarily ratified not by the pressing violence of almost unavoydable necessity or tyrannizing power of the prevailing Sword but freely confirmed and declared by Act of Parliament although peradventure they may mourn the alteration and abrogation of so ancient and apostolical a Government But because my Judgment pleadeth for Episcopacy and it hath been an argument much urged against the Bishops and in them the Government it self defamed That formerly they silenced severall godly Ministers prohibiting them and others the exercise of holy duties because they did only exercise duties that were holy I shal write my thoughts freely herein For far be it from me to speak against or any to forbid the Exercise of holy duties as hearing praying reading living strictly Endeavouring to have a Conscience void of offence towards God and towards Men No no the practice of them in sincerity is the high way to Heaven for without holinesse none shall see God but in the mean time take heed what you hear beware of swallowing poyson wrapped up in Leaves of gold take heed of these who have a forme of Godlinesse a forme in Practice onely that under pretence of long Prayers and outside piety devour Widdows houses that deny the truth of the word of God the holy Scriptures by their false Doctrines seducing many into erronious Opinions the parents of worse succeeding actions For my part if any did so forbid performance of holy duties as I am altogether ignorant of any such nor can easily be induced to believe it howsoever were I assured of its truth I would not minima defendere peccata plead an excuse for them But if then they did as I believe they did onely by suspensions endeavour to prevent the sowing of the seeds of sedition schisme and heresie or the growth thereof to any strength either in publick or in private as it was there and is the duty of all Ecclesiasticall Governours they did no more then what the law of God and the land gave them a warrant for therefore let every one as well take heed of calling good evill as tearming evill to be good for in all probability had such preventing-remedies as these been timely applied when sedition schisme and heresie first opened their black mouths we never had arrived at this high degree as at this present we are of variety of Errours and pernicious destructive Opinions O Lord have mercy upon us But grant that some of them stretched the exercise of power beyond its lawfull bounds and in that respect were guilty deserving punishment What is the fault of one or more Bishops to the Government it self could not the errours of particular persons be reformed or punished but by an extirpation of the whole Government durus est hic sermo it is hard indeed if God for the sin of two Adam and Eve nay of many thousands more should have therefore denied mercy and reconciliation to all mankind How everlastingly unhappy would the residue of the world have been Deliver us good God from the cruell dealings of men and if affliction must be our portion let us fall into thy hands O Lord for thy mercy endureth for ever As for the remaining clauses in the first Article viz. Of bringing the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the nearest uniformity c. these things considered That the Discipline of the Church of God is most Consonant to the word of God Covenant approved of and desired by forraigne Divines and therefore the best reformed not intrenching with the Papists upon the Civill power nor with them denying the Kings supremacy in causes Ecclesiasticall agreeing best with Monarchy confirmed by the Law of the Land Other Churches therefore according to the rule of reason and religion within His Majesties Dominions should rather conform to ours then the uniformity of ours in Religion Government and Worship admit a change or be transformed into any other form To this purpose O Lord inspire the universal Church with the spirit of truth unity and concord and grant that all that do Confesse thy holy name may live in peace and godly love one with another Amen That we shall in like manner Covenant This limitation is approved by the Parliament as behind fol. 53. that is in a lawfull manner according to the word of God endevour the extirpation of Popery that is their tenents of transubstantiation worshipping of Images praying to Saints Preaching good works as meritorious to everlasting life and salvation that Kings for diverse respects may be Deposed by the people that then Subjects Oaths of Alleagiance may be dispensed with King James Apol. Oath Alleg. with their deniall of the Kings Supremacy in all Canses as well Ecclesiasticall and Civill and the like Endeavour extirpation of these by execution of good Laws already established against their Errours and Professours thereof by that meanes preventing their further growth hindring their seducing of ignorant and unwary people and in case of Conspiracy and Treason against the Kings Majesty His Queen or

command desolation whose Consultations should tend to the prevention of Treasonable and Rebellious excursions their concatenated effects dissolution of the band of a nationall Peace effusion of bloud by imposing to that purpose penalties punishments upon the offenders should amidst such consultations be practically guilty themselves of the same Crimes they should be guiltless that condemne the guilty Quae culpare soles ea tu ne feceris ipse Turpe est doctori cum culpa redarguit ipsum Preserve the Liberties of the Kingdomes That is as Kingdomes having liberties by the Law and Custome thereof distinct one from the other Covenant to preserve each of them free from any usurping power and unlawfull intrenching one upon the Other And in this respect it were to be wished that our Northern friends had kept close in their practice and that England for the future would take care to defend its particular Interests Liberties of the Kingdomes not Libertinisme in a Kingdome But Liberties that is the Liberty of each man therein which as Natives or otherwise belong unto them according to the fundamentall Constitution and Law of each respective Nation now this Liberty must necessarily have a respect to all degrees of men therein Pray then let us not exclude the head of all the King as I have touched in my observation upon the preamble especially having sworn in the next Clause to Preserve and Defend the Kings Majesties Person Covenant c. That is Not to hazard His Person by opposing Armies in the field where the ignorant Bullet cannot distinguish persons Nor by administring the least occasion of heart-grieving melancholy sadnesse the slie yet certain impairers of health menacers of the bodies ruine nor by and actions or speeches derogatory to the honour of a King and not becomming the duty of a Subject for you all know what greived David most and who it was that said At quod tu facis hoc mihi dolet Subjects insurrections against and insolent abuses of their King like the apprehension of an injury received from an intimate friend non tam cito tangit quam penetrat like an arrow pierceth the very heart upon an instant therefore this is not the way to preserve the Kings person And Authority Now Covenant Vide more to make this good backward what that is I have already shewed how that to Him belongeth the power of making and repealing Lawes War or Peace c. In the preservation of the true Religion Liberties of the Kingdom Covenant This upon Rationall grounds must necessarily imply Religion and Liberties in esse not posse or velle as I have already observed Now both this Religion in esse by Law established and the Kingdomes Liberties His Majesty hath preserved stil doth even with the losse of his own Defence the Kingdomes true Liberties And for His Religion I attest His very Enemies confession to make good His constant Perseverance therein and preservation thereof my self in this particular esteeming it melius silere quam pauca dicere admiration supplying the place of Expression O therefore that the world may bear witnesse with your Consciences of your Loyalty that is Covenant faithfull obedience to your Soveraigne notwithstanding former aberrations through ignorance and that you for your parts had no thoughts or intents to diminish that just power and greatnesse which belongeth unto him by the Law Use your best endeavours to free Him from this unparallel'd and unjust restraint and restore Him to His Regall power and possession of His Royall prerogative Thus you will be instrumentall restorers of Englands Honour Peace and Glory and doe not content your selves as too many doe that you have only sworn to maintaine the Kings Just Rights when as your actions Endeavour the contrary or endeavour not at all the maintenance of them contrary unto this Clause of your Covenant We shall also with all faithfullnesse endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants 4. Article Covenant orevill Instruments by hindring the Reformation of Religion c. Who hindreth Reformation and a reduction of Religion to the purity of practice but those who hitherto have countenanced and still connive at a Toleration of all Erroneous practices Schisme c. contrary to the second Article of this Covenant hereby making themselves guilty for Qui non vetat peccare cum potest Jubet Dividing the King from His people Are not they such dividers who have taken up armes only to deprive His Majesty of His Regall Power Declared him not in a condition to governe Covenant Answers to Scots Papers Novemb. 1647. Dec. Answer to Scots Papers 13 March 1647. band by imprisoment of Him disabled Him from performing His duty as a King by protecting His Subjects and by Proclamations enjoyning their Obedience to the established Lawes Who have divided the Kingdome from the King but such as by their actions Negat Oath Oathes and Declarations have endeavoured to frame Rem publicam in Regno Supreamacy in the people never heard of nor ever practised in this Nation before in opposition to His Majesties justly Supream power going about to transforme this Kingdome into a body with two heads which is monstrous and contrary to nature and to contrive two shining Suns in Englands Hemisphear which was ever ominous and Prognosticatours of Destruction O Deus bone in quae tempora reservasti Preserve us good God from confusion and suddaine ruine Who divide one Kingdom from another making factions among the people and causing fractions in their duties and affections but they that invite the assisting invasion of neighbour Nations maintaining Armies within its one bowells to effect an alteration of Government by force Who divide one Kingdome from another but they that neglect nay deny timely supplies whereby Ireland might have been reduced in Obedience to His Majesty and the Law of the Land the want whereof disabled the Protestant party there and enableth the Irish Papists to divide themselves from the Crown of England and Ireland endangering also the ruine of our own Nation and all these contrary to the common rules of Humanity much more Christianity and in opposition also to the Law of the Land and this League and Covenant thus rightly Rationally and Religiously expounded That they Covenant that is Incendiaries Malignants c. may be brought to publick triall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their Offences shall require For this part of the Article I have nothing to write but this Secundum Leges fiat Justitia may Justice take place running down like a stream yet because non sanguinis homo Misericordia praevaleat opto may they all finde pardon for their Treason and Rebellion against our Soveraign Lord the King the Laws in this world mercy forgiveness for all their sins against the God of Heaven in the world to come To this purpose it were to be wished