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	king_n	power_n	4,568	5	4.9588	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90786	The way to the peace and settlement of these nations, fully discovered in two letters, delivered to his late Highnesse, and one to the present Parliament, as also one to his Highnesse Richard Lord Protector, of England, Scotland, and Ireland, &c. Wherein the liberty of speaking ... is opposed against Antichrist, for the procuring of his downfall, who will not grant the same to others; and now published to awaken the publick spirits in England, and to raise up an universal magistrate in Christendome, that will suffer all sorts of people, (of what religion soever they are) in any one countrey, as God (the great magistrate) suffers the same in all countreys of the world. By Peter Cornelius, Van Zurick-Zee, a lover of truth and peace.	Plockhoy, Pieter Corneliszoon, fl. 1659.; Cromwell, Oliver, 1599-1658.; Cromwell, Richard, 1626-1712.	1659 (1659)	Wing P2581E; Thomason E972_6; ESTC R203156	15,982	32

may not longer make a trade merchandize of the things of God Granting an equall liberty to all peaceable people as being but reason that such as have ventured their lives and estates in the time of warres should in the time of peace enjoy a like liberty with others which may soon be if you seriously consider the things all along propounded not that I am come unto England to be your instructer but to bring to your Honours remembrance those very things which have been upon your own hearts in order to the establishing of such a generall liberty as hath been for many years of late pretended unto being the only way wherein you may expect the blessing of God upon you and your posterity against all oppressors to the taking away of that shamefull reproach that the Magistrates and Ministers in England have brought down the King and Bishops rather to succeed in their places then to bring the people to peace and happinesse If the power to defend the good against the evill in all Countreys be ordained of God Romans 13. then reason requires that all sorts of people of what Nations soever being in one Countrey together should be protected as wel as if any of them severally was in his own which cannot be except there be a good publick-minded and godly Magistrate that will suffer all sorts of people in any one Countrey as God suffers the same in all Countreys of the world which I expect first in England and so from thence to break forth as a light to all other Countreys and Nations as having long enough walked as in the night by the glimps of particular lights It is time that the universal work of God as the Sun do out-shine all that is particular to which end I implore the presence of the most high God to be in your Assembly to guide and direct your hearts in all those things that may be acceptable unto him and most agreeable to his good will and pleasure Your Honours and all mens humble servant Peter Cornelius V. Z. London the 24. of Jan. 1659. Hollands stile Give ear to the poor for the cry of them is exceeding great in these Nations Peter Cornelius V. Z. together with some other lovers of the common good to the Mighty Potent Farre-renowned yet mortal Lord Oliver Cromwell Protector of England Scotland and Ireland c. For the promoting of good Governement wisheth long life wisdome and foreseeing Councellors of State to the end that his actions may tend not onely to the convincing of all that envy him but that also he may be a light and an example to all Dominions and Governments in the world WOrthy and as I hope favourable Lord being come into England during the time of your free government I have with much chearfulnesse beheld the great freedome which this Nation since the putting down the authority of Bishops doth enjoy which I hope by degrees will more and more prevaile in the world to the taking away of all force upon Consciences that men may be led and governed by reason as men and not as beasts by compulsive power And that those who are once delivered from the Antichristian Captivity may not be taken Captive again by others who together with the great Antichrist seek their own greatnesse It is most highly necessary that the Example of Christ to reconcile all into one should be followed for those that force the Conscience being not able to bring all under them by worldly power do commonly manifest their own inclination to be void of Christian love and forbearance by gathering into Sects and Schismes so that besides the great Antichrist there are many little Antichrists that endeavour to rise up None of which being able to endure any opposition or gainsaying do seek to gain and draw a part of Christendome under their jurisdiction On the contrary the Lord Jesus Christ hath taken captivity captive That is put those to shame that held others Captive by his Ascention into heaven and gave gifts unto men that they should not be led astray again viz. he gave as means to salvation Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers whose doctrine alone while it is yet through Gods mercy as a measuring line or clue of thred in the world we should set that on the Throne treading under foot all meer humane traditions as Idolatry That so all Christendome being divided into divers Sects as formerly the Jews were a generall way of Church-meeting may be instituted for the hearing of Gods word read unaltered and unsophisticated leaving a freedome for all Sects as well the one as the other to assert their owne apprehensions and understandings upon the Lessons of their Master Christ without being tyed to one anothers opinions ☞ For it belongs only to God and Christ to have dominion over Consciences and to Magistrates to prevent any from exercising Lordship over the Consciences of others in so doing they would be true maintainers and defenders of Liberty when they use not their power against those that assert their own meanings but against those that would compel others to be of their opinions For this viz. to deal equally in matters of Religion towards subjects is not only good and pious but is also the foundation of a good Government Whereas otherwise when one Sect shall be encouraged and commended to the Church and the other excluded then jealousie and envy will spoil all so that the Magistrate in stead of being beloved may often fear that their State will be undermined and at length totally destroyed especially when that one party is become numerous or do joyn with a forraign or homebred enemy Wherefore though they should want the fear of God yet for their own peace-sake they should give freedome to all and the rather seeing thereby the noblest and best of understanding are from all places invited and convened in for whose wisdome sake as of Josephs in Aegypt without respect of persons they ought to be suffered to come in by the Magistrate for the common good and welfare So that there may not only be a refining in Civil or Politick but chiefly in spirituall matters For as formerly amongst the Jews when men began to believe that the Priests under the Law could not erre as to their Institutions and Traditions Gods commands were made void or of no effect After the same manner also hath it been since the time of the Apostles in Christendom that instead of the holy Scriptures only having been confirmed by Miracles which should be held a rule of Faith yet some being lovers of themselves have taken upon them a dominion jointly with Christ giving out that men must believe and hold for true what ever the Church viz. the Bishops or other superintendents thereof do declare as truth The common people not perceiving by reason of the great respect which they bear to those that are set over them that some of them seek to make themselves great they have

children before they come to have the use of Reason holding their dependants or Members captive under them in their Net as beasts contrary to the order of their Creation well knowing that if they gave them the liberty of speaking they would not be long worshipped as Idols or sacrificed to as Bell at Babell Contrariwise people in the general Assemblies when all understandings and tongues are free will be stirred up to the exercise thereof and by conferring together will come to knowledge love and familiarity The truth which hath been long kept under or with held in unrighteousness will scatter the lyes as light doth darknesse and the great credit which we have given to some Teachers in particular will by opposition be diminished and the power of all Sects the one dispelling the Errors of the other will be broken This will be the place where we shall discern learn to know the most wise as Solomon and meek as Moses which out of all Sects only such as seek to domineer over others excluded may be appointed as Councellors The Magistrates from the highest to the lowest ought to be men of publick sp●●its for their work concerning their office is not a particular but a general work to keep steady the ballance of Government without respect of persons to the end that the Spirit of God be not confined which will be a sure mark that Wisdome for the sake of which Kings in times past were blessed is under this Government esteemed above gold and silver being the principall to distinguish all things chiefly Policy from Religion for the common good For Magistrates if they would remain without usurping the Office of Christ may not make Laws in matters of Religion but against evill deeds to protect the good To the end that their Subjects from whom they receive Taxes and Impositions may be protected in peace of what Religion soever they are For the power to punish evil-doers is ordained of God in all Lands without respect of Religion and whosoever opposeth that power opposeth the Ordinance of God not that all Officers though they rule ill are of God or are his Ministers but those only who administer their Office rightly according to Gods will Otherwise those who heretofore have risen up against Tyrants opposing their persons should have been indeed opposers of Gods Ordinance contrary to that of the Apostle Rom. 13. who hath said that such as are continually imployed in the defence of the good are the Ministers of God untill they have by false Teachers been drawn besides their Office to domineer over Consciences and so brought into the service or Ministry of Satan to the grief of their Subjects But I hope that once the sword which hath been with-held from lyers and oppressors shall cut them off together with the Cable of their hope the Tithes that so the ground of almost all oppression being taken away not only the Subjects but also the Magistrates may live in peace who are now continually liable to hear the complaints of the head Sectaries who seek to domineer over others it being the nature of such who finding their own weaknesse do make power and force their refuge contrary to the example of Christ and the Primitive Saints whose strength was only the evidence of truth Wherefore all people and chiefly Magistrates are to take heed that they assist not lyes using their power according to Gods Ordinance only against those that are to the prejudice of good Government or the hurt of mankind in generall without mingling Pollicy and Religion which were ordained for severall ends the one to defend the good men against the evil and the other to make the evill good There remains only that the Magistrates for an example to their Subjects do null all humane commanding and constraining-Laws in spirituall matters that so all plants which the heavenly Father hath not planted may according to the saying of Christ be rooted up which will best take effect when the dominion of the Teachers is through the power of the Governours come to an end and their hope of domineering over others cut off ☞ For Magistrates instead of Lording it over Consciences ought on the contrary to hinder all Lordship over Consciences that complaining and murmuring may come to an end and that the righteous may rejoyce For which end that we may transmit the World unto our posterity in a better condition then we first found it I have contributed this little to my power I beseech your Highness let not any preingagement oblige you to what you may afterwards see inconsistant with the Magistrates true interest with the due liberty of Gods people and the free propagation of the Gospel It were better for you and more for your Honour with Ahashuerus to contradict your own hand and Seal then with Herod to perform a rash engagement But while it is yet in your Highness choice let not the right hand of brave Atchievments for the vindication of liberty be ever stained with authorizing to the honour of men and dishonour of Christ any Confession of Faith Ordinance or Decree which will in the least intrench thereon or indulge the enemies thereof Be not deceived by such persons as pretend to advance your Honour as in the time of Daniel was done to King Darius that the good people in those and other Nations may not be disappointed of their hope and expectations in you I do wish for conclusion that your Highness and all your Counsellors of State to the bringing down of Antichrist and all his Adherents may have a great heart and humble under God and Christ That the great work done in England come not to the Honour of a mortal man but to the honour of him who hath received the power over the Kingdomes of the earth Be wise as Serpents and innocent as Doves Matth. 10.16 O Lord of all Lords and Magistrates teach them that rule as Gods in the world to consider that they are but men in thy eyes That they may handle their Subjects after such a manner as they wish to be handled by thee in thy judgement To his Highness Richard Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland c. Peter Cornelius wisheth an universall and unbiased heart to the end he may as a true Moderator so hold the ballance in the Government that one Sect may not domineer over the other Vnexpected yet I hope seasonable Lord Protector BEing come into England in love to the common good I have after much longing severall times had opportunity to speak with your Father about divers matters to whom also I delivered two Letters which he promised to consider of and was willing I should have liberty further to declare my mind and sense unto him this being prevented by his unexpected death I have thought fit forasmuch as your Highness hath succeeded him to transfer the aforementioned Letters to you hoping that my counsell which your Father did not despise being joyned with your power

and goodness will order all things in such a way that the light of liberty kindled in England may enlighten all Kingdomes and Governements in the world Your Highness is not ignorant how the Pope of Rome and the Bishops have held many thousands in these and other Countreys together in a false Peace by the bands of Tyranny untill some magnanimous spirits not able any longer to bear that injustice did with a strong arme throw of the Tyrannicall yoak by reason whereof the false peace being thus interrupted the people is become divided into many kinds of Sects and opinions which yet is better then to have them bound together in a false peace with the bands of Tyranny for the diseases as well of the mind as of the body cannot be cured unlesse they be first manifested neither would he do the part of a skilfull Chirurgeon that should endeavour to skin over the wound without cleansing the bottome but rather discover his base designe in preferring his own Interest before the health welfare of the Patient for this cause it will be good to suffer every one without any let or hinderance to manifest his sence and disease as well in spirituall as bodily matters to the very bottome that so the corruptions being found out the remedy for cure of the same may be applyed to which purpose that every error might meet with its Antidote I did in my Letters delivered to your Father propound the setting up a generall meeting-place in all Cityes and Countryes which might stand as a clear light between all Sects for the dispelling of errors not by violence but by the power of Scripture and reason without binding up the liberty of speaking whereby the defects of the understanding are kept hidden which is already much laboured after by the little Antichrists that seek their own greatness but I hope that you perceiving the mistery of Iniquity will above all things remember Englands liberty which hath cost much blood and with a generous spirit bring down all designes how subtil soever without being deceived by such as come in sheeps-cloathing with smooth and flattering words and in a fair and specious outside shew themselves like Angels of light against whom you ought as wel to be armed with prudence as against open enemies that so the sword which is given for the protection of the good may not be abused by those who have more hopes to prevaile with you then they had with your Father who knew their dispositions by long experience yet I hope you will shew and demonstrate by your works actions that you will in that not only follow but exceed the Exampler of your Father by not establishing any particular Sect which in other Countryes hath caused a total destruction of liberty but by maintaining a tolleration for all For the Lord of heaven hath not designed England for a particular but for a generall work therefore it is one of the main businesses of Magistrates to try the spirits of those that repaire to them for there are two kinds of Spirits that stand in direct opposition alwayes working the one for their own particular and the other for the common good not only to cure the distempers of the mind but also to take off the burthens and afflictions of the body and when you are at a losse stand centred in the eternalls will who can make way for true wisdom to direct and lead you in and out before the people Thus having born testimony against all oppression I leave it to God your Self and your Counsel not doubting but if it should prove ineffectual God will raise up instruments for delivering of the oppressed and subscribe my self to be A well wisher of Englands liberty and all other Nations happinesse Peter Cornelius Van-Zurick-Zee FINIS A mercifull man being sensible of the poverty and afflictions of others cannot be in peace before he have done his endeavour according to his power to ease the burdens and afflictions of the opressed therefore have I to discharge my duty in another Treatise which is to be published propounded a way to make the poor distressed people in these and other Nations happy