Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	bishop_n	church_n	ordination_n	3,829	5	10.8464	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A55141	The speech of Mr. VVilliam Plessington, who was executed at Chester for being a priest of the Church of Rome, July 19, 1679	Plessington, William, d. 1679.	1679 (1679)	Wing P2567; ESTC R229248	1,624	2

THE SPEECH OF Mr. VVilliam Plessington Who was EXECUTED at CHESTER For being a Priest of the Church of Rome July 19. 1679. Dear Countrymen I Am here to be executed neither for Theft Murder nor any thing against the Law of God nor any fact or Doctrine inconsistent with Monarchy or Civil Government I suppose several now present heard my Tryal the last Assizes and can testify that nothing was laid to my charge but Priest-hood and I am sure that you will find that Priest-hood is neither against the Law of God nor Monarchy or Civil Government If you will consult either the Old or New Testament for it is the Basis of Religion for no Priest no Religion S. Paul tells us in Hebrews the 7. and 12. The Priest-hood being changed there is made also of necessity a change of the Law and consequently the Priest-hood being abolish't the Law and Religion is quite gone But I know it will be said that a Priest ordayned by authority derived from the See of Rome is by the Law of the Nation to die as a Traytor but if that be so what must become of all the Clergy-men of the Church of England for the first Protestant Bishops had their Ordination from those of the Church of Rome or none at all as appears by their own writers so that Ordination comes derivatively to those now living As in the Primitive times Christians were esteemed Traytors and suffered as such by National Laws so are the Priests of the Roman Church here esteemed and suffer as such But as Christianity then was not against the Law of God Monarchy or Civil Policy so now there is not any one Point of the Roman Catholique Faith of which Faith I am that is inconsistent therewith as is evident by induction in each several Point That the Pope hath power to depose or give license to Murder Princes is no point of our Beliefe And I protest in the sight of God and the Court of Heaven that I am absolutely innocent of the Plot so much discouresd of and abhor such bloody and damnable designs and although it be Nine Weeks since I was sentenced to die there is not any thing of that laid to my charge so that I may well take comfort in S. Peters words 1 Pet. 14 15 16. Let none of you suffer as a Murderer or as a Thief or as an Evil doer or as a Busie Body in other mens matters yet if any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed or Sorry I have deserved a worse death for though I have been a faithful and true Subject to my King I have been a grievous sinner against God Theeves and Robbers that Rob on High-ways would have served God in a greater perfection then I have done had they received so many favours and graces from him as I have But as there was never sinner who truly repented and heartily called to Jesus for mercy to whom he did not shew mercy so I hope by the merits of his Passion he will have mercy on me who am heartily sorry that ever I offended him Bear witness good hearers that I profess that I undoubtedly and firmly believe all the Articles of the Roman Catholique Faith and for the truth of any of them by the assistance of God I am willing to die and I had rather die then doubt of any Point of Faith taught by our Holy Mother the Roman Catholique Church In what condition Margaret Plat one of the chiefest witnesses against me was before and after she was with me let her neerest relations declare George Massey another witness swore falsely when he swore I gave him the Sacrament and said Mass at the time and place he mentioned and I verily think that he never spoke to me or I to him or saw each other but at the Assizes week the Third witness Robert Wood was suddenly killed but of the Dead why should I speak These were all the witnesses against me unless those that only declared what they heard from others I heartily and freely forgive all that have been or are any way instrumental to my Death and heartily desire that those that are living may heartily repent God bless the King and the Royal Family and grant his Majesty a prosperous Reign here and a Crown of glory hereafter God grant peace to the Subjects and that they live and die in true Faith Hope and Charity That which remains is that I recomend my self to the mercy of my Jesus by whose merits I hope for mercy O Jesu be to me a Jesus FINIS