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	true_a	3,022	5	5.0934	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33301	A collection of the lives of ten eminent divines famous in their generations for learning, prudence, piety, and painfulness in the work of the ministry : whereunto is added the life of Gustavus Ericson, King of Sueden, who first reformed religion in that kingdome, and of some other eminent Christians / by Sa. Clarke ...	Clarke, Samuel, 1599-1682.	1662 (1662)	Wing C4506; ESTC R13987	317,746	561

judgements are the forest judgements What if thou hast but the same words as Christ Mat. 26. 44. thou maist be heard as he was Heb. 10. 11. The song of Moses was a new Song because tendered to God with new affections Rev. 14. 3. 15. 3. What if thy petitions be broken and confused as Exod. 14. 10 11 12. This poor man cried saith David Psal. 34. 6. when he was in a poor case indeed like a Bedlam 1 Sam. 21. 13. and yet he was heard The little lisping children have sometimes a grant of their requests when those that are of greater maturity seem to be set aside Whilst Moses held up his hands though in a poor way Israel prevailed Who can tell what God may do Abraham left asking ere God left granting even for a filthy Sodome Remember Mr. Latimers once againe once againe Tug and wrestle We may come to see and our people may bee made to know that their heart is turned backe againe to the God of their Fathers 1 King 18. 37. But to return to Master Capel He was of a sound and setled judgement He pitched at first upon a good foundation and being nourished up in the words of Faith he continued in the things he had learned and been well assured of knowing from whom he had received them as 1 Tim. 4. 6. He was well grounded in his opinion one that stood like a brazen wall as firm as a very Rock in the middest of all the dashings and clashings of tempestuous times He saw with a clear eye through all the painted glosses of those that were given to change and therefore was not moved at all with any thing that was said or done in that kinde he was true to his Religion and clave close all along to his first principles holding fast the Faith that was once and as he himself would often express it but once delivered to the Saints He lived and dyed a true Orthodox Divine according to the known Doctrine of the Church of England He knew full well for all the great talk of the Gospel as though it were but newly dropt out of the clouds that there is not any other Gospel but the everlasting Gospel Rev. 14. 8. that was preached before unto Abraham Gal. 3. 8. and hath been entertained all along still by Gods faithful people and shall be so continually to the end of the world Yet some there be that are no mean pretenders to the Gospel and notwithstanding the same are in great danger of perverting the Gospel of Jesus Christ as Gal. 1. 7. This constant and stable man was set up as a sure Sea-mark Let us stand to his steps though we stand alone God and a good conscience are alwayes good company Elijah was but one yet did he very good service One Athansius in the East one Hillary in the West was of mighty great use in a staggering time What if we meet with storms It is but a poor Religion that is not worth suffering for It will turn to a Testimony Luke 21. 13. When the wilde humour is spent men will return home again A Statue of Mercury wil be looked upon then Those poor silly souls that be tossed to and fro and whirled about and about again with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4. 14. will be glad of such a sight in the day of their visitation whereas they which know or should know more of God be not steddy in their steering but vary in their course poor bewildred hearts will be at their wits ends not knowing which way to turn nor to whom to go nor whom to walk after As there is but one God so there is but one Faith one Baptisme and one way to eternal life and one Rule for us all to walk by why be we not then all of one heart why walk we not all in one tract So many men as we see so many mindes there be Every moneth almost produceth a new Faith It is easie to swim with the Tyde To perswade the heart of the rectitude of that that is favoured by the times and yet to pretend still that it is from more light We may talk of the Spirit but its certain that Schisme is a fruit of the Flesh. The old way is the good way Jer. 18. 15. He shall stumble and ensnare his feet that swerves from the antient paths What is got by gadding Men itch for change still and there is no rest but with our first Husband Hos. 2. 7. It is good to be all of one minde in God Where there is not unity in Judgement there is scarce unity in affections We are too fierce against such as close not with our Notions It was Bell Book and Candle once It is not much better now Wilde fire flyes amain We cannot all cut to a thread there will be some variation in the Compass But whilst we aim at the white the odds is to be passed by without bitterness Why should there be such huge Rents and Divisions in the Church Where is our mutual forbearance We have not yet learned our Lesson well to wait one for another till God shall reveal it Phil. 3. 15. Whilst we be so sharp in our contests Satan makes his Markets Religion goes to wrack our differences are widened Some are ready to give up all seeing there is no better Harmony Others could well wish themselves out of the world that they might be delivered as Melancthon said from the implacable difference even amongst some Divines Oh! that we could hearken unto God who would have the truth followed but in love Eph. 4. 15. If the Word will not prevaile the Cross will come and make a Hooper and a Ridley imbrace one another Let us fall upon that one and onely solid way of God it will ever be our glory Get we to God he can stablish our unresolved hearts 2 Cor. 1. 21. See that the judgement be so rightly set Isa. 33. 6. and the heart so firmly knit to God and his Truth and then we shall not waver Tamper not with opinions 2 Pet. 3. 17. nor with opiniative men 1 Tim. 6. Rom. 16. 17 18. Nor yet with Books that scatter Tares This grave and prudent Divine gives a very good caution to this purpose in his Treatise of Temptations from famous Mr. Dod a man of vast experience An honest heart may be sorely puzled with a forked Argument The Martyr could dye for Christ that could not dispute for him Some pretend that they must try all things But they speak besides the Book Who will try Rats-bane or a sharp Sword whether it will pierce into his bowels Some think that they can withdraw when they see danger but Satan is subtle Venome will get ●n before we be aware and error will stick and eat like a Gangrene What gets the Fly that playes with the Candle They that nibble at the bait shall hardly escape the hook Again gingle not with tearms that be

Protestants also must have born some share To consider hereof a great Assembly of Papists and Protestants of the whole Nation was appointed in the Lord Deputy Faulklands time The place of their meeting was in the Hall of the Castle in Dublin At which time the Bishops by our Lord Primates invitation met at his house where he and they drew up and unanimously subscribed a Protestation against the Toleration of Popery A Copy whereof because it deserves perpetual remembrance is here inserted The Judgement of the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland concerning the Toleration of Popery which is applicable also against the Toleration of other Heresies The Religion of the Papists is Superstitious and Idolatrous their Faith and Doctrine erroneous and Heretical their Church in respect of both Apostatical To give them therefore a Toleration or to consent that they may freely exercise their Religion and profess their Faith and Doctrine is a grievous sin and that in two respects For 1. It is to make our selves accessary not onely to their Superstitions Idolatries Heresies and in a word to all the abominations of Popery but also which is a consequent of the former to the perdition of the seduced people which perish in the Deluge of the Catholick Apostacy 2. To grant them a Toleration in respect of any money to be given or contribution to be made by them is to set Religion to sale and with it the souls of the People whom Christ our Saviour hath redeemed with his most precious blood And as it is a great sin so also a matter of most dangerous consequence the consideration whereof we commend to the Wise and Juditious Beseeching the Zealous God of Truth to make them who are in Authority zealous or Gods glory and of the advancement of true Religion zealous resolute and couragious against all Popery Superstition and Idolatry Amen Ja. Armachanus Mal. Cashlen Anth. Medensis Tho. Hernes Laghlin Ro. Dunensis c. Georg. Derens. Rich. Cork Cloyne Rosses Andr. Alachadens Tho. Kilmore Ardagh Theo. Dromore Mic. Waterford Lysm Fran. Lymerick This Judgement of the Bishops Dr. George Downham Bishop of Derry at the next meeting of the Assembly which was April the 23 1627 published at Christ Church before the Lord Deputy and Council in the middest of his Sermon with this preamble viz. Are not many amongst us for gain and outward respects willing and ready to consent to a Toleration of false Religions thereby making themselves guilty of a great offence in putting to sale not onely their own souls but also the souls of others But what is to be thought of Toleration of Religion I will not deliver my own private opinion but the judgement of the Archbishops and Bishops of this Kingdome which I think good to publish unto you that whasoever shall happen the world may know that we were far from consenting to those favours which the Papists expect After he had published it the people gave their votes with a generall acclamation crying Amen The judgements of the Bishops prevailed so much with the Protestants that now the Proposals drove on very heavily and after much debate of things the L. Deputy finding the discontents of both parties encreasing desired our Lord Primate as the fittest person both in regard of his esteem in the Assembly and being a member of the Council and therefore concerned in promoting of the Kings business to sum up the state of things and to move them to an absolute grant of some competency that might comply with the Kings necessities without any such conditions with which upon their answer he would cease moving any further which upon very little warning he did with much prudence according to his double capacity of a Privy Counsellour and a Bishop A copy of which Speech desired of him by the Lord Deputy was immediately transmitted into England But it not being prevalent with the Assembly to induce them to supply the Kings wants it was dissolved Not long after the Lord Deputy Falkland being called back into England when he was to take Boat at the water side he reserved our Lord Primate as the last person to take his leave of and fell upon his knees on the sands and begged his blessing which reverend respect shewed to him gained a greater reputation to himself both in Ireland and England and indeed from his younger years the several Lord Deputies had alwayes a great esteem of him It was no small labour to him to answer those many Letters which came to him from forreign parts and our own Nations upon several occasions some for resolution of difficulties in Divinity others about Cases of Conscience and practical subjects Twelve of the most eminent Divines in London who at his being here were wont to apply themselves to him as to a Father as Dr. Sibbs Dr. Preston c. between whom and him there were most entire affections wrote to him for his directions about a Body of practical Divinity which he returned them accordingly He much endeavoured the augmentation of the maintenance of the Ministery in Ireland and for that end he had obtained a Patent for Impropriations to be passed in his name for their use as they should fall but it was too much neglected by themselves whereby his desires were frustrated He preached every Lords day in the forenoon never failing unless he was disabled by sickness in which he spent himself very much In the afternoons his directions to Dr. Bernard his assistant were that before publick Prayers he should Catechize the youth and that after the first and second Lesson he should spend half an hour in a brief and plain opening the Principles of Religion in the publick Catichisme and therein he directed him to go first through the Creed at once giving but the sum of each Article the next time to go through it at thrice and afterwards to take each time one Article as they might be more able to bear it and to observe the like proportionably in the Ten Commandements the Lords Prayer and the Doctrine of the Sacraments The good fruit of which was apparent in the common people upon their coming to the Communion at which time by orde● the receivers were to send in their names and some account was constantly taken of their fitness for it His order throughout his Diocess to the Ministers was that they should go through the Body of Divinity once a year which he had accordingly drawn out into fifty heads When any publick Fast was enjoyned he kept it very strictly preaching alwayes first himself and therein continuing at least two hours in a more than ordinary manner enlarging himself in prayer the like was done by those that assisted him in the duty His expences for Books was very great especially whilst he enjoyed the revenues of his Archbishoprick a certain part whereof he laid aside yearly for that end but especially for the purchasing of Manuscripts and other Rarities

as well from remote parts of the world as near at hand He was the first that procured the Samaritan Bible which is onely the Pentateuch to the view of these Western parts of the world It was sent him from Syria by the way of A●eppo Anno Christi 1625. He had four of them sent him by a F●ctor whom he imployed to search for things of that nature and these were thought to be all that could there be had One of these he gave to the Library of Oxford A second to Leyden for which Ludevicus de Dieu returns him publick thanks in a Book that he dedicated to him A third he gave to Sir Robert Cottons Library And the fourth after he had compared it with the other he kept himself The Old Testament in Syriack an other Rarity also was sent him from those parts not long after It might happily seem incredible unto some to relate how many years agone he confidently foretold the changes which since are come to pass both in Ireland and England both in Church and State and of the poverty which himself should fall into which he oft spake of in his greatest plenty Some took much notice of that Text which he preached of in St. Maries in Cambridge Anno Christi 1625 upon the late Kings Coronation day and the first annual solemnity of it out of 1 Sam. 12. 25. If you still do wickedly you shall be consumed both you and your King Others of the last Text that he preached on at the Court immediately before his return into Ireland 1 Cor. 14. 33. God is not the Author of confusion but of peace as in all the Churches of the Saints In his application he spake of the confusions and divisions which he was confident were then at the doors In his Book called Ecclesiarum Britannicarum Antiquitates p. 556 ●he hath this remarkable passage after he had largely related the manner of the utter destruction of the British Church and State by the Saxons about the year 550 as he found it in Gildas he gives two reasons why he was so prolixe in setting it down 1. That the Divine Justice might the rather from thence appear to us the sins of persons of all sorts and degrees being then come to the heigth which occasioned not onely shaking of the foundations of the British Church and State but the very destruction and almost utterly overturning of them 2. That even we now might be in the greater fear that our turn also is coming and may be minded of that of the Apostle Rom. 11. 22. Behold the goodness and severity of God On them which fell severity but towards thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness Otherwise thou also shalt be cut off He often acknowledged that sometimes in his Sermons he hath resolved to forbear speaking of some things but it proved like Jeremiahs fire shut up in his bones that when he came to it he could not forbear unless he would have stood mute and proceeded no further He was very bold and free in the exercise of his Ministry sparing sin in none yea even before Kings he was not ashamed to do it He often to his utmost stood in the gap to oppose Errours and false Doctrines he withstood to the face any Toleration of Popery and Superstition by whomsoever attempted He was so fervent in his preaching that that of the Psalmist might be applied to him The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up Anno Christi 1624 he spake before many witnesses and often repeated it afterwards that he was perswaded that the greatest stroak to the Reformed Churches was yet to come and that the time of the utter ruine of the Roman Antichrist should be when he thought himself most secure according to that Text Revel 18. 7. When she shall say I sit as a Queen and shall see no sorrow c. His farewell Sermon in or very near the place where he had lived in England was then much observed upon Jam. 1. 25. Sin when it is finished brings forth death wherein he spake of the fulnes of the sins of this Nation which certainly would bring great destruction Adding that the Harvest of the earth was ripe and the Angel was putting in his sickle Rev. 14. 18. applying also that of the Epha in the Vision Zach. 5. when it was filled with wickedness and that of the Amorites who when their iniquities were come to the full were destroyed He often also hinted the same in his private discourses and many that heard them laid these his sayings up in their hearts and by what hath already fallen out do measure their expectations for the future At the last time of his being in London he much lamented with great thoughts of heart the wofull dis-unions and the deadly hatred which he saw kindled in the hearts of Christians one against another by reason of their several opinions in matters of Religion and observing how some opposed the Ministry both to Office and maintenance Others contemned the Sacraments Others raised and spread abroad Damnable Dectrines Heresies and Blasphemies Upon which considerations he was confident that the enemies which had sown these up and down the Nation were Priests Friers and Jesuits and such like Popish Agents sent out of their Seminaries from beyond the Seas in sundry disguises who increasing in number here in London and elsewhere do expect a great harvest of their labours and he was perswaded that if they were not timely prevented by a severe suppressing of them the issue would be either an inundation of Popery or a Massacre or both adding withall how willing he was if the Lord so pleased to be taken away from that evil to come which he confidently expected unless there were some speedy Reformation of these things An. Christi 1634 A little before the Parliament began in Ireland there was a Letter sent over from the late King to the Lord Deputy and Council for determining the question of the precedency between the Primate and Archbishop of Dublin the question was nothing as to their persons but in relation to their Sees This good man out of his great-humility was hardly drawn to speak to that Argument but being commanded he shewed in it a great deal of learning and rare observations in matters of Antiquity so that the business was de●ermined on his side who afterwards by another Letter procured without his seeking had the precedency given him of the Lord Chancellor These things took little with him but were rather burdens to him who was not in the least elated or puffed up thereby ' At that Parliament he preached the first day of it before the Lord Deputy and the Lords and Commons in St. Patricks Dublin His Text was Gen. 49. 10. The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his feet till Shiloh come and to him shall the gathering of the people be At the beginning also of the