Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	henry_n	king_n	pope_n	16,586	5	6.9376	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A40686	A sermon of reformation preached at the Church of the Savoy, last fast day, July 27, 1643 / by Thomas Fuller ...	Fuller, Thomas, 1608-1661.	1643 (1643)	Wing F2461; ESTC R21908	11,914	24

Resurrection and Ascention now Histories to our Children were Misteries to Iohn Baptist who though Christs Harbinger to prepare his way yet did not live to see his Master to possesse what he had provided for him Wherefore if Alexander the Emperour did count himselfe much indebted to the Gods that he was borne a Grecian and not a Barbarian how thankfull ought we to be to God who gave us to be borne neither Jewes nor Pagans but Christians since the time of Reformation But this indeed were true if all things in the Church continued at this time in the same condition of Primative Purity whereto Christ Reform'd it But long since That falling away foretold by the Apostle is come to passe and that man of sinne hath played his part in the Church therein deforming Manners with Vice Doctrine with Heresie Discipline with Superstition As for any Reformation which since hath happened in England it hath been but partiall and imperfect King Henry the eight brake the Popes necke but bruised not the least finger of Popery rejecting his Supremacy but retaining his superstition in the six Articles The Reformation under Edward the sixth was like the Reformer little better then a childe and he must needs be a weake Defender of the Faith who needed a Lord Protector for himselfe As Nurses to woe their Children to part from knives doe suffer them to play with Rattles so the State then permitted the People infants in Piety to please themselves with some frivious points of Popery on condition they would forsake the dangerous opinions thereof As for Queene Elizabeth her Character is given in that plaine but true expression that she swept the Church of England and left all the dust behind the doore Her Successors have gone in the same path and the same pace with little alteration and lesse Addition in matters of Moment save that besides some old errours unamended many Innovations have broken in upon us which might be instanced in were it as safe as it is easie to reckon them up We therefore desire and expect a Through Reformation to see Christ mounted on his Throne with his Scepter in his hand in the Purity of his Ordinances and we shall grieve and groane untill such a Reformation This objection containes many parts and must be taken asunder Some things therein are freely to be granted and others flatly to be denied and others warily to be qualified We freely confesse the Deformation by Popery as also that the Reforming was by Henry the eight and Edward the sixth good Prince of whom I had said that he dyed too soone but because he dyed when God would have him were but partiall and imperfect Withall we flatly deny that Queene Elizabeth left the dust behinde the Doore which she cast out on the Dunghill whence this uncivill expression was raked up The Doctrine by her established and by her Successors maintained in the 39. Articles if declared explained and asserted from false Glosses have all gold no dust or drosse in them Againe we freely confesse that there may be some faults in our Church in matters of practice and Ceremonies and no wonder if there be it would be a Miracle if there were not Besides there be some Innovations rather in the Church then of the Church as not chargeable on the Publique Account but on private mens scores who are old enough let them answer for themselves Religion in England is like the Cloathes of the Isralites Deuteronomie 29.5 which for many yeeres together waxed not old Alas in some places it is thread-bare may it have a new nappe in more it is spotted may it be well scowred and in all places rent asunder may it be well mended A Through Reformation we and all good men doe desire with as strong affections though perhaps not with so loud a noise as any whatsoever The highest clamour doth not alwayes argue the greatest earnestnesse But with this qualification that by Through Reformation we meane such a one whereof we are capable pro statu viatorum made with all due and Christian moderation That Arrow is well drawne that is drawne to the head but it may over-drawne cleane through the Bow and so doe no good There is in like manner a possibility of out-doing even in the point of Reforming And therefore how a true Through Reformation may be made and managed long to continue by Gods assistance and your patience I will take in hand to give the true Characters of such who are to be true and proper Reformers First they must have a lawfull calling thereunto What better deede then to make Brothers friends and to be an equall Umpire betwixt them Yet Christ himselfe declin'd the Imployment as out of his Vocation Luke 12.14 Who made me a Iudge or Devider over you Some good duties lye in common to all good men Whosoever is called a Christian hath a just calling to performe them 'T is so farre from being a sinne for any to doe them that it is a sinne for any to leave them undone But there be other duties which God hath impaled in for some particular persons so that it is a Ryot or Trespasse at least for any other to force their Entrance into them Amongst these Actions Reformation of Churches is a chief as of highest Honour and greatest concernment Now the Supreme power alone hath a lawfull calling to Reforme a Church in those respective places wherein it is supreme Where this supreme power is seated the Statists of the severall places may judge the Divine goeth no farther but to maintaine that where the Supreme power is there alone is the power of Reformation as it plainely appeares by the Kings of Iudah in their Kingdome Two sorts of Idolatry the Jewes therein were guilty of The one Grosse the other Refined Grosse Idolatry against the first Commandement in worshipping a false God as Baal and the like Refined Idolatry against the second Commandement in worshipping the true God after false and forbidden manner 2. Chronicles 33.17 Neverthelesse the people did sacrifice still in the high places yet unto the Lord their God onely Grosse Idolatry found many Reformers Asa Ioash Amaziah Vzziah Iotham Manasseh whilest onely two Iehosaphat and Hezekiah endeavoured the Reforming of Refined Idolatry and Iosiah alone perfected it In both we may observe that the Kings were praised for doing so much or dispraised for doing no more which plainly proves that the Reforming of the Church did properly pertaine unto them God neither mistakes nor confounds the good Deeds or Rewards of men but set the due praises on the true persons the person that doth well shall be praised the Prince shall not be commended for the good Deeds of the people not the people commended for the good Deeds of the Prince indeed Gods threatens the common people of Israel Leviticus 26.23 with Beasts Warres and many other Plagues if they will not be reformed But we never read that God reproved the people for not Reforming