Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	act_n	king_n	power_n	3,247	5	5.0875	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77553	The power of God overpowering the creature. Which power came upon me William Britten, the 3d. day of the 11th. month, (called February) 1659. not suffering me to depart my chamber, until I had promised the Lord to answer a book, which I had then never seen, and but once heard of; set forth by William Prynne in defence of tyths, &c. and to present the answer in print unto the governing power of England for the time being. But making delayes, and Fran. Spira-like, consulting with flesh and blood, the Lord terrified me in conscience for neglect, yet in mercy did set me (like Jonah) the second time upon the same work.	Britten, William, d. 1669.	1660 (1660)	Wing B4824A; ESTC R170818	27,030	51

upon the peoples alms ●nd voluntary contributions Answ This W. P. cannot deny but useth eva●asions and stories to get from it yet none of them ●ll can contradict it but that William Thorp sayes ●rue in it which agrees with Scriptures for the Apostles did so in what they took by alms and volun●ary contribution but no compulsion by any humane law whatsoever was then used so the new divice for Setling and forceing a Maintenanee for Ministers was none of the foundation upon Christ the Corner Stone but when Antichrist crept in he ●aught the Priests Pride Idleness and Fulness Ephes 2.20 which could not be maintain'd but by covetousness ●nd oppression so first they obtain'd a setled Main●enance and after that by degrees gain'd a power al●o to inforce it by violence all which was against ●he Gospel practise His Book having two parts I have done with the ●●rst and now come to the second to view some ●umane matter therein also contained yet some●hing he hath by way of appendix about Melchese●ech and his proof is the opinions of Petrus Cuneus ●nd Griffith Williams which being but Opinion I ●hall wave it At Page 7. He is about Authors Fathers Hi●●ories and other humane Writers old and new to ●●nfirm his plea yea he proceedeth to Pagan Romans Heathens Arabians Carthaginians c. telling us page 11. how those that vowed their Tyth● to Jupiter Apollo c in doing of it had a plentiful crop and page 12. tells of Demostens the Pagan who reproved those that did rob the faigned goddess Minerva of her tenths c. and of tenths t● Apollo and Diana with the Temple and Alta● for her worship running divers pages on this account Answ These things are far from a Gospel ple● more fitter to be reprehended than recorded fo● Christians to take examples by seeing the Scripture should be our guide Page 22. He pretends a setled Maintenance fo● Ministry from the Creation to this present and th● it must be by Tyths Answ He now contradicts himsef in what ● granted that in the Gospel planting no Tyths we● paid amongst Christians for the first 200. or 30● Years neither do we read in Scriptures that ev● Tyths were setled or commanded of God until t● Livitical Law and then he gave that order unto t● Jews only and to no other which was many hundred years after the Creation until which time 〈◊〉 read of none that paid Tyths but Abraham once in voluntary act by way of congratulation when Mechesedech brought bread and Wine Gen 14.18 and blessed hi● but herein we may behold how he wrests the Scri●tu es according to the Apostles expression 2 Pet. 3 16. Page 26. He proceeds to tell us how Tyths m● be inforced upon refusers by coercive Laws c. Troopers hold their Horses with Bits and Bridl● and quickned with Spurs when lazie and as Sh●herds their Sheep with doggs and hooks c. Answ By this we may see what cruelty ratio● creatures would use one towards another if ● Higher Powers would suffer it as appears by his expressions even as to Horses c. Surely the man forgets himself what he saw once and suffered under prelacy that now by a humane Law would thus Tyrannize over his fellow creatures without any authority from the Lord remember that place Mat. 18.28 It is hard measure when a man released out of Prison shall begin to pull his fellow by the throat and shew no compassion Page 43. He presents us with a Catalogue of Englands Laws made for Tyths which have been many Answ What was done in times of Ignorance God wincked at Acts 17.30 but when he shines upon a Nation by the clear Gospel Light of Christ he wills men to repent and come out of that darkness It was formerly with England as to Israel in Egypt under dark dispensations and although Joseph of Arimathea might plant a true Church here yet Antichrist soon crept in as appears by the after setting up of Popery and compulsion unto set forms by the Clergy who condemned the witnesses in several ages that God raised up against such traditions sentencing them for Hereticks the Clergy Power overswaying in Councils Synods c. Whereby they insulted over Governours and Magistrates pretending to have Peters Keyes in remitting and sending to Hell at their pleasure so that where opposition was made against them they persecuted making Magistrates often times as their slaves being overswayed as Pilate was by the High Ppriest in crucifying Christ of which things the Apostle foretold how grievous Wolves should offend the Church Acts 20.29 Formerly Englands layety was in much ignorance of Scriptures the then Clergy agreeing that Lay men should not meddle with the meaning thereof so concerning things of Religion the Clergy swayed as they listed although Kings and Parliaments made Laws yet no Law would be allowed of by them against Priestly Power and Maintenance yet afterwards when the light did shine more forth in Queen Elizabeths dayes things of worship must be done as the Clergy would have it so take away the Popish Power and Mass Book if a prelatical power may remain and the Diana of Tyths continue and how did the late usurping Protector conglutinate the Clergy unto himself but by augmenting their Maintenance Acts 19.24 and continuing the old Laws to inforce the same by Tyths c. as formerly Jehu boasted to Iehonadab of his zeale destroyed the House of Ahab and slew Baals Prophets yet he would not trust God with his cause in the peoples Worship to go up to Ierusalem 2 King 10.11.15 ver 25.29 but left the Calves in Dan and Bethel as the old snare unto Israel from the time of Ieroboam 1 King 12.26 27 28. So Prelacy would demolish Popery and Presbytery would overthrow Prelacy conditionally an outward Clergy power may hold the old Setled Forced Popish Maintenance continue for they dare not trust God in this case of Maintenance taking it in the pure Gospel manner by a free contribution as the Apostles took it but they will go beyond the Lord and his Stewards and Embassadours which himself imployed in his Gospel work Note Reader this sad story of Religion how Iehu's practise is still followed where such a Ministry will eat destroy the name of one another as Ieh● did the House of Ahab and yet he and other Kings in Israel to continue the sins of Ieroboam so for Prelacy to eat out Popery and Presbyters to eat out Prelacy c. and yet the Idol of Tyths to continue which draws so many unto that office what is all this but Iehu's practise still continued I confess since Queen Elizabeths time many things have been sweetly manifested and divers witnesses according to the present discoveries have given forth their Testimonies but to be wondred at we may observe that wi●hin these last twenty years there hath been more discoveries made of Gospel Mysteries th●n was by all the English Chergy for

his whence note if a man have this Spirit it must be immediate from God seeing man cannot give it but if he have it not then such a one cannot be a Minister of Christ for he is none of his therefore those Ministers not immedi●tely fitted and sent forth by this Spirit are not of God but of mens sending and how can they do the work of him that never set them When Christ called his Apostles then they followed him when he sent them forth to Preach they had authority to go and not before and when Paul was called of God Gal. 1 1 16. and had Jesus Christ revealed in him he conferred not with flesh and blood but went to preach the Gospel unto the heathen and we find no where that a cessation should be of this Spirit although the man of sin hath a long time darkned the truth and few have come forth in the persecuting times by this spiritual power yet the Lords Arme is not shortned nor his Spirit drawn back but he hath manifested himself herein by many called forth to warn and forewarn Rulers Governours and others in these latter dayes of which I am to give notice from the Lord That upon the fourth day of the third moneth called May last 1660. God shewed me that those Messengers called Quakers was sent forth by him and were to be owned as such Luke 9.1 Christ Jesus Commissionated His Twelve Apostles to Preach c. when he was with them in flesh yet they did not continue Preaching upon that authority after his death but received a new commission after his Resurrection when the vessel o● his body had been broken and the Spirit which filled it was to be shed abroad Mat 12.18 all power being given unto him he then authorizeth them as a risen conquerer to go forth yet they must not execute this commission until it was sealed by the Spirit of promise which he shed on them abundantly Acts 10.38 Ephes 1.13 Tit. 3.6 but this they must wait for at Ierusalem Acts 1.4 Acts 2.1 until the Lords time which they received at the day of Pentecost where we may observe how they waited in silence for this Spirit not running forth to Preach upon a humane call no not upon the first Commission although Christ gave it them but they must tarry for a new to Preach a Christ risen from the dead and risen by his spiritual power in their hearts when THE POWER OF GOD had overpowered the Creature At Page 60. He strives further to make their examples in time of Temple Worship to be presidents unto us as to have the Souldiers give the tenth of the spoile unto the Priests now as they did then telling us it was the opinion of Divines Councils and Canonists at his 70. Page Answ The opinions of those might be men that would share in the benefit thereof and such would seek their gain from their quarter pleading for their own ends Isa 56.11 but for this we have no Gospel example ye there may be a plot for if the Souldiers could be drawn to give the tenth part of the spoile unto the Priests then it was not for the poor farmer to contend seeing the Priests Power might equalize the Popes in Peters Keyes and Pauls Sword for what could not be effected for the Priests one way the Sword might compel it another way but everlasting praises be to God who hath kept England out of this condition Page 88. He terrifies people with fears and dangers if they refuse to pay Tyths alledging what befel Jeroboam in six evils for spoiling the Priests and Levites possession Answ He in so doing opposed the Law of God and so the Lord punished him accordingly but Christ gave us no law for such a Maintenance therefore our sin would be the greater if we should pay it and three evils would be committed as paralelling Jeraboams practise first he went the wrong way of Worship and so do those that own such to be Gospel Ministers which are not called of God thereunto yet force a Maintenance for them contrary to the Gospel practise Secondly He made Priests of the worser people and so do those that take such Ministers which are but carnally minded and Preach for gains Thirdly He shut out the Lords Priests and set up Priests of his own chusing and so do they that refuse Teachers called of God because they are Trades-men and set up of their own choice because they have humane learning All which caused ruin on Jeroboam's Posterity and this I am to give warning unto England's Powers that until Tyths and other oppressions be taken away and Gods Laws made our Laws both within us and without us the Lord will keep overturning and bring desolation if there be no amendment Page 113. He again sets forth his Ministry as Hirelings and that accordindly they should have Hire Iohn 10.13 Answ See his own confession and a Hireling careth not for the Sheep but for the fleece and gains yet we agree to maintain those Ministers which God sends and the Saints own being called and rewarded according to Gospel Law but to Force Compel Pull Tear Imprison Persecute c. about Religion to make Christians by bringing them into such a set form and then to do the like to hurry them into that form or else to punish those that refuse it was never taught us in Scriptures Page 138. He tells us there are three sorts of Priests First every sanctified Christian for his family Secondly The publick or national Priest Thirdly Christ Jesus Answ If a man be sanctified to act as a Priest in his Family where did God forbid him to do the like amongst other believers 1 Pet. 2.5 9. Revel 1.6 Rev. 5.10 the holy Ghost tells us how the sanctified ones are a royal Priest-hood which should shew forth Gods Praises yea Kings and Priests to Reign with him on Earth so the Lord makes no such distinction as W. P. doth but by the Holy Ghost informs us how all the Saints have liberty to prophesie or Preach one by one The Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Anuntio or Praedico signifieth to Preach Shew Tell Publish or Declare and thus the Priest-hood of Saints should shew forth Gods Praises 1 Pet. 1.9 c. and this may be done two wayes First by speaking Secondly by writing and this W. P. would not have every sanctified Christian to do publickly but the Parish Priest should do it now according to his own law if none but parish Priests may shew or declare these things in publick then why doth he declare them publickly by writing see●ng he makes no such profession to be a publick Priest Thou art in excusable O man for where●n thou judgest another Rom. 2.1 thou condemnest thy ●elf Page 145. He pretends to answer William Thorps ●rgument how in the times of the Apostles and ●or 200. or 300. Years after they received no Tyths for Preaching but lived