Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	according_a	church_n	doctrine_n	4,717	5	6.8021	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91146	Unitie, truth and reason. Presented in all humility petition-wise to the honourable, the knights, citizens and burgesses for the Commons House of Parliament. / By some moderate and peace-desiring ministers, for the more happy and certaine reconciling of the church differences.	H. P.	1641 (1641)	Wing P39; Thomason E170_1; ESTC R9441	6,067	16

UNITIE TRVTH and REASON Presented in all Humility Petition-wise to the Honourable the Knights Citizens and Burgesses for the Commons House of PARLIAMENT By some moderate ●nd Peace-desiring Ministers for the mo 〈…〉 and certaine reconciling of the C●●●ch d 〈…〉 s. LONDON Printed for Thomas Vnderhill in the yeare 1641. To the READER IT was not at first intended that this following Discourse presented Petition-wise should fly so pub likely but such modesty and truth withall are both so evenly expressed that the eyes of envie malice and uncharitablenesse which usually are most quicke upon actions of this nature cannot take just advantage as farre as we can apprehend We therfore on the behalfe of our selves and others doe humbly crave that what is here presented with a dexterous intention may not have a sinister acception TO THE HONOVRABLE the Knights Citizens and Burgesses for the Commons House of Parliament Humbly representeth THAT Episcopacie is a frame anciently raised out of the Pastorall place built up with Chancellors Deanes Arch-Deacons Commissaries Surrogates Officialls Apparitors c. And further finished with their Consistories High-Commission Oath Ex Officio Books of Canons old and new Books of Recreation and Liberty Ceremonies and manifold Innovations enlarged especially in latter times by violent and intemperate Spirits which have pursued many of the best lived of the Ministry and People with too much heate insomuch that many choice Men have bin wormed out the most scandalous cherished Doctrine adulterated the fire of zeale quenched Tyrannie exercised especially over the Consciences of their Brethren Primitive Discipline defaced the judgements of many engaged for Episcopacie Jure divino Civil Warres incouraged the most dangerous and hazardous undertaking of a State In the mean time the Prelates not sufficiently sencible of the dishonour of our gracious Soveraigne and securitie of these happy and Illustrious Kingdomes Nay besides all this many of the late Church-Governours have also complyed too much with the Popish Faction and drawn quantum in illis the odium of the late disturbances upon his Majestie let them pretend what they please and dishonour upon the Protestant Religion in the eyes of the Romish party and the whole world by their tongues pennes and indeavours May it therfore please this Honourable House to take Episcopall Government into your grave and serious Consideration And if it may stand with the wayes and customes of this Honourable House That our Petition may be presented to the House of the Lords and finally to his most excellent Majestie 1. First that a speedy survey may be taken of this old-ruinous and decayed building by a Commission ad inquirendum concerning the truth of the numerous Complaints from all parts of this Kingdome When God visited Sodom in Judgement he first sent his Angels to inquire of the truth of the crimes thereof 2. If upon just and exact triall the whole building from the foundation to the highest part of the superstructure prove sound God forbid any moderate spirit should desire the alteration of a Government so long established but if in toto composito there be an universall dissolution and weaknesse of all parts that then the old decayed frame may be taken down and such a new modell propounded as may most nearely agree with the Word the Apostles and Primitive times with the Assistance of a select Company of grave pious-learned and Orthodox Divines in nature of a Nationall Synod which may be chosen by your singular care and wisdome gathered out of all parts of the Kingdome and authorised for that purpose And in case it may stand with the pleasure of his Majesty and this High and Honourable Court of Parliament that some Scots and Irish Divines may be also admitted to such Assembly which may happily tend not only to mutuall information of themselves but to a more firme obligation of all members in these Churches in Civill or Ecclesiasticall affaires under our most gracious Soveraigne as Supreme Governor unto a more firm union and obedience Notwithstanding all this it is not the desire of your Petitioners with the Sonnes of Zebedee that fire should come down from heaven and destroy this frame of Government neither any illegall or precipitant violence should demolish it such reverence doe we owe to the memory of those industrious-pious-learned Bishops which have somtimes sealed the testimony of the Gospel with their blood And to our happie Princes whose Names are ever blessed with us who have yielded all Princely indulgence unto Episcopall dignities Only thus farre do your Petitioners humbly sue for asmuch as there is such a considerable number of grievances and complainants through the whole Kingdome as may appeare by the numerous Petitions and Remonstrances to this Honourable House That in the meane time whilest a Commission issues out for a more full discovery of Corruptions in Ecclesiasticall Government and Ministers notoriously scandalous the above-named Ecclesiasticall Assembly be called and Episcopall Governours allow'd a faire and legall tryall by Ministers men of their own Order as Lords are tryed by their Peers but impartiall and not ingaged by the dignities and preferments of the times And if it may not savor of sawcines or too high presumption May it please this Honourable House to require the Episcopall party to assigne some of their own choice to answer in such a well constituted Assembly and to give liberty to the Presbyteriall Disciplinaries as in Scotland or them of the Pastorall and more Independent way as in New England to come in and oppose only give leave we beseech you that the Word may be the moderator in this Nationall Synod And if we may not be thought to presume upon this intelligent and Religious House we humbly sue First that in such a well dispos'd Assembly the Doctrine of the Church may be cleared and explaine Secondly the Discipline questioned First by what tenure Episcopacie holds whether Jure Divino vel Ecclesiastico If Divino it must necessarily stand for ever Secondly if Ecclesiastico whether it be not alterable according to Corruptions attending it or the varying Constitutions of particular Churches or the like considerable Circumstances 3. If alterable whether this Government may safely be altered in this Church of England 4. If it may be altered what Government can be propounded more nearely agreeing to the Word and more fit for these times 5. Whether Christ left any certaine and necessary Discipline to be observed in his Church for ever 6. Whether Examples which have not grounds on expresse Rules or necessary Consequences out of those Commands doe bind the Conscience to subjection as to an Ordinance of Christs 7. Whether it be not fit for Christians rather to follow the Examples of Christ his Apostles or the purer times for Presidents then the more degenerate and corrupt times of the world When these or the like Questions are well discussed and decided The confirmation of such Acts of Assembly as shall be then determined we submit unto the wisdome