Selected quad for the lemma: end_n
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A35705
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The deplorable state and condition of the poor French Protestants commiserated, and humbly represented to all princes and people of the true reformed church with reasons for a Protestant league.
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1681
(1681)
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Wing D1076; ESTC R38
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14,092
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12
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care of a portion of the Church as that of Germany and Holland doth notwithstanding neglect and forsake another part that is oppressed and which he might succour He doubtless abandons the Church Christ having but one only Spouse which the Prince is so bound to preserve and defend that she be not violated or corrupted in any part if it be possible And in the same manner as every private Person is bound by his Humble and Ardent Prayers to God to desire the Restoring of the Church So likewise are the Magistrates tyed diligently to procure the same with the utmost of that Power and Means which God hath put into their Hands Now it were ridiculous and worthy of Punishment in the Church wardens who had care only of some small part of the Church and suffer'd all the rest to be spoil'd with Rain and Water In like manner all Christian Kings when they receive the Sword on the day of their Coronation solemnly Swear to maintain the Vniversal Church and the Ceremony then used doth fully express it for holding the Sword in their hands they turning to the East West North and South Brandish it to the end that it may be known that no part of the World is excepted And that this was accordingly the Practice of Ancient Princes we have their Examples to instruct us In the time of Ezechias King of Juda 2 Chro. 30. the Kingdom of Israel had been a long time before in Subjection to the Assyrians to wit ever since the King Osea's time And therefore if the Church of Juda only and not the whole Vniversal Church had been committed to the Custody of Ezechias and if in the preservation of the Church the same course were to be held as in the dividing of Lands or imposing of Tributes then questionless Ezechias would have contained himself within his own Limits especially when the Exhorbitant Power of the Assyrians Lorded it every where Now we read that he sent express Messengers throughout Israel to wit to the Subjects of the King of Assyria to invite them to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Paschal Feast and moreover he assisted the faithful Israelites of the Tribes of Ephraim and Manasses and others the Subjects of the Assyrians to ruin the High Places which were in their Quarters We read also that the good King Josias expell'd Idolatry not only out of his own Kingdom but also even out of the Kingdom of Israel 2 Kin. 22. 2 Chro. 22. and 35. which was then wholly in subjection to the King of Assyria And no wonder is it for where the Glory of God and Kingdom of Christ are in question certainly no Bounds or Limits should there confine the zeal and fervent Affection of Pious and Godly Princes Though the Opposition be great and power of the Opposers greater yet the more they fear God the less will they fear Men. These generous Examples of the aforesaid Godly Princes have since been imitated by sundry Christian Kings by whose means the Church which was heretofore restrain'd within the narrow Limits of Palestine hath since been dilated throughout most part of the Universe Constantine and Licinius Govern'd the Empire together one in the East the other in the West they were Associates of equal Power and Authority Nevertheless for as much as Licinius doth every where Banish Torment and put to Death the Christians under pretence of Religion Constantine makes War against him and by force compels him to give free Toleration of Religion to the Christians and because afterwards he broke his Faith and relapsed into his former Cruelties against them Constantine caused him to be Apprehended and put to Death in the City of Thessalonica Which Pious Action of this Emperours was with so great an Applause Celebrated by the Divines of those times that they suppose that saying of Isaiah to be meant by him that Kings should be Pastors and Nursing Fathers of the Church Again after Constantines Death the Roman Empire was divided equally between his Sons without any Priority or Advantage one more than the other Constance the Younger favour'd the Orthordex Christians and Constantius the Elder enclined to the Arrians for which reason he Banished the Learned Athanasius from Alexandria as being the greatest professed Adversary of the Arrians Here if any Consideration in matter of Conscience were absolutely requisite it would certainly be amongst Brethren But nevertheless Constance threatens to wage War on his Brother if he restore not Athanasius and had undoubtedly performed it if Constantius had not readily Complied with his desire Now if he proceeded so far for the Restauration of one single Bishop had there not been much more reason for him to have assisted a great part of the People if they should have implored his Aid against the Tyranny of Wicked Princes who refuse them to exercise the only True Worship of God Sozom. lib. 7. Ch. 18. In like manner at the Perswasion of Atticus the Bishop Theodosius made War upon Cosroes King of Persia to force him to deliver the Christians of his Kingdom from Persecution although they were but particular and private Persons which certainly those most Just Princes who instituted so many worthy Laws and had so great a regard to Justice would never have done if by so doing they had conceived any thing were Vsurped on another Mans right or the Law of Nations violated But to what end were so many Expeditions undertaken by Christian Princes into the Holy Land against the Sarracens Wherefore were demanded and raised so many of those Saladine Tenths To what purpose were so many Confederacies made and Croysadoes Proclaimed against the Turks if it were not lawful for Christian Princes yea those farthest remote to deliver the Church of God from the Oppression of Tyrants and to free Captive Christians from under the Yoke of Bondage What were the Motives that led them to those Wars And what were the Reasons that urged them to undergo those Dangers but only their care of the Church Vnion Christ Summoned every Man from all parts to undertake the defence thereof All Men are bound to repel Common dangers with a joynt and Common Opposition which hath a natural Consent and Relation with what we now treat of For if this were lawful in them against Mahomet and not only lawful but that the backward and Negligenti were ever made liable to all Infamous contempts and the forward Vndertakers always recompenced with all Honourable respect and reward according to the merit of their Vertues Wherefore not now against the Enemy to Peace and Righteousness If it be a lawful War to fight against the Greeks when they Assail our Troy wherefore is it unlawful to pursue and prevent that Incendiary Lewis the Fourteenth who hath set all the European World in a Flame for no other reason but pour sa Gloire Do we pray God to abate a Pestilence and to take away a Famine why should we not in the same manner Pray against