Selected quad for the lemma: honour_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
honour_n	due_n	render_v	tribute_n	1,418	5	10.3726	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85177	The oppressed close prisoner in Windsor-Castle, his defiance to the father of lyes, in the strength of the God of truth. Occasioned by some late, scandalous and slanderous reports, raised and dispersed to the dishonour of that noble cause, wherein he (with others of the Lords servants) is so deeply engaged. As also, a seasonable word, concerning the higher powers: concerning the payment of taxes and tribute-money by the saints to those powers: and how far a minister of the Gospel may intermeddle in state-affairs without sin. / By Chr. Feake, in his prison-watch-tower.	Feake, Christopher, fl. 1645-1660.	1654 (1654)	Wing F572; Thomason E820_10; ESTC R202087	97,195	127

their shepherd to feed them with knowledge and understanding in this point and therefore accordingly I spent some time in clearing it up unto the Congregation in a second Epistle written in answer unto theirs It seems some of them through anacquaintedness with Scripture-distinctions in this doctrine and otherwise did not make a right interpretation of the Truths therein expressed but mistooke my minde and meaning and so whether weakly or willingly divulged or suffered to be divulged abroad some passages in the Letter which ought not to have been done considering the Letter was intended for their use and edifying onely and not for open publication I had some hint of this in a short time but not being conscious to my self of any alteration in the least no not in thought and purpose of heart toward a compliance and well knowing that no part of the Letter could signifie any such thing if rightly understood I neglected the rumour as onely one of the petty stratagems of the devil whereby to do me some mischief But afterward finding that that secret whisper and murmur was ripened suddenly into an infamous report Letter after Letter also representing this as of very sad consequence to that Name and Cause for which I am bound with this Chain I was brought under a necessity of presenting to publick view the Epistle it self so far as it concerns this Cause Especially when I finde it certified that one well known to all sorts of people in the City coming where several were together in company did in a laughing and scoffing maner draw forth a paper and say There was my Recantation pretending it was mine own Letter or a Copy of it wherein I wrote That I was now satisfied that the Government was a lawful authority c. It appears to me that the envious One and his Emissaries are altogether in extreams in their suggestions against my Good Name sometimes the world must be made believe yea and the Elect also that I am against Magistracie and Ministery that I am an enemy to Government a most dangerous man in my Principles that way c. Again sometimes it is for his advantage to perswade such as would have it so that I am come over to my Adversaries and Oppressors of mine own accord and that suddenly too without any Overtures made or Arguments used to draw me to a compliance or conformity But how improbable and irrational a practice such an hasty return would appear to solid Christians to be I refer it to themselves to say and judge No blessed be the Lord I shall not so far be forsaken by him or left to my self as to gratifie the foes and grieve the friends of my dear Redeemer by turning Apostate after all my sufferings in so good a Cause HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR HIS SERVANT yea let all my Friends and Enemies also know assuredly that I stand my ground by divine assistance yea I get ground and am abundantly confirmed that I am out of the reach of the earthly powers insomuch that if they should slay me they could not hurt me Let God in all things be glorified by Jesus Christ to whom also be glory for ever Amen The Epistle followeth together with a further manifestation of the Truth This following is a true Copy of the Epistle so far as concerns the matter in hand which I have divided into Sections for methods sake in the explanation of my meaning Grace mercy and peace from the ever-over-flowing Fountain to every son and daughter of the living God Sect. 1 HAving lately even in my last unto you declared among other things that purpose and determination concerning my Bonds and Imprisonment which I have according to my best understanding taken up upon Scripture-ground I shall now proceed to add something for the rectifying of some mistakes about the present powers and the image of the Beast It falling in properly upon this occasion for me to speak something to you concerning those Truths which do lie somewhat remote and out of the way of ordinary observation Sect. 2 The judgement of the Congregation appears by their Letter to me to be this viz. That you cannot do any thing toward my enlargement prayer excepted without owning the Powers in Being the doing of which say you is accounted a bowing the knee to the image of the Beast Now for the better clearing up of the minde of God in this dark and doubtful matter I shall plainly declare as follows Sect. 3 First I do not know by whom the ownnig of the Powers in Being is accounted a bowing the knee to the image of the Beast It was never neither is it like to be mine Opinion and whether you mean some of your Number or of other Congregations I cannot tell if I had particularly known I should have given a particular Answer for as for my self I do own the Powers in Being according as God himself hath commanded and have done all along I have and do render to all their Dues Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custome to whom Custom Fear to whom Fear Honour to whom Honour Sect. 4 And therefore secondly the doing of this that is Owning the Powers in Being is not ought not to be accounted a bowing the knee to the image of the Beast to own those Powers aforesaid is a plain duty not to be dispensed with by any Law of man whatsoever where as to worship or bow the knee to the Beast is a known sin forbidden in the Word of God By the Powers in Being I understand the Army as Supream and all those who joyne with them to carry on the work of justice and of mercy according to the indubitable principles of right reason and equity for Rulers saith the Apostle are not a terror to good workes but to the evil and so far as the Powers answer those principles they are Powers and the Ordinance of God and there is no more reason to resist them then there is to resist righteousness and truth whilst and so long as they answer the ends for which they were ordained and you know I never taught you to rise up against them in the least Sect. 5 If any would ask me How I can be said to own the Powers and yet preach against them and for the destroying of them thus one after another I answer I do in this matter as the Prophets and Apostles and Martyrs and upright and understanding Saints in all ages did before me for I make no question but they owned the Powers then in Being according to their own Doctrine and principles and yet at the same time preached and prophesied against them for their abominations both to their faces and behinde their backs also and this was done by the Lords faithful servants in all ages but I confess it did cost them very dear some their lives others their liberties others their ther substance c. where as the Court-Chaplains the Parish-Clergie and the Apostate Independents take a very

promising conforming to such prohibitions as that I am made more fervent in spirit against the abominations of these men from the Highest to the Lowest and for the promoting the Interest of my Lord against the Court-Interest lately set up in contradiction to their own solemn Declarations in the sight of God Angels and Men not many yeers ago It is co●●●rtable to consider That true spiritual Christians have an unction which teacheth them of all things ● Joh. 2.20 27. and they accordingly from that unction have learned to distinguish betwixt the Power and the Weakness of the Rulers betwixt the Ordinances of God and of Men for by the light of the word of truth they know that righteous Laws are the strength of the Higher Powers and that Tyranny and the Results and Consequences of Arbitrariness in Government are their weakness and their folly and not onely so for the knowledge hereof may in some degrees be attained by such as know not Christ but they are able in the power of a higher Spirit then that of the proudest Monarchs to tell them THIS IS A TYRANNICAL WAY OF RULING AND THAT IS A PLAIN CONTRADICTION TO THE LAW OF CHRIST and shall be broken and destroyed though all the Kings of the earth should joyne their Power and Policy to uphold it It is one thing to know wherein Rulers do commit open Abominations and it is another thing to testifie openly against those publick wickednesses without respect of persons But more of this afterwards in its proper place for here it is a Digression from the point in hand I have many things to bring out of that treasury which the Lord hath put into this earthen vessel and should rejoyce to have an opportunity to exemplifie those Truths by lively voice which have been set upon my spirit in this prison where I have remained this nine months and more for I finde it very difficult to express my minde by writing but this I have to encourage me The Lord is able to bless my Indeavors this way for the present seeing I am so unrighteously hindred from preaching the Gospel by the Powers now in Being Having spoken thus much to the first general Qualification That I do own the Powers that are but how ACCORDING TO GOD or ACCORDING AS GOD HIMSELF HATH COMMANDED having particularly explained my meaning to own them by submitting to their Laws whether Arbitrary or Rational according as may consist with our Allegiance to Christ and the direction of his word and spirit which in very many cases directs us to obey passively but to die rather then to fulfil their Law by active obedience I shall now go on to the next limitation which is to own them in paying tribute custom and honor and fear as I have expressed in the forementioned Epistle I shall now go on to the next Limitation which is to pay them Tribute and Custome Honor and Fear as I have expressed in the fore-mentioned Epistle And because I do own the Higher Powers in this particular also I shall explain my self herein likewise A Discourse concerning Taxations from Scripture according as I intended when I wrote though then I had not any thoughts that I should bee brought upon the Stage to give so publick an account of my Principles and Practice in the payment of those Taxes which I and others of my Brethren are still burthened withall though some Abatement is now spoken of But first for the better and more effectual satisfaction of the people of God I shall communicate what I have met with in the good word of God concerning this thing for it is suitable to my Office and may bee useful to the Saints to understand something concerning the first practice of this Oppression and which will bee more welcome when their Taxations will bee removed and have an end It is to bee remembred That one of the Higher Powers is described very briefly and emphatically thus Heb. One that causeth an Exactor to passe over He did suddenly stand up was as suddenly pulled down Whether Moses Joshua the first Judges which preceded Monarchy were Raisers of Taxes Dan. 11.20 There shall stand up a RAISER of TAXES c. but within few dayes he shall be destroyed neither in Anger nor in Battel It is worth our observation That the Spirit of God gives him no other Title as if this Taxing of the people were the Beginning and the End of his Reign Before I speak of particular Instances I desire the Reader to search the Scriptures that so he may be able to satisfie himself in this Question viz. Whether Moses Joshua or the Judges did practise the way of Assesments and Impositions upon their Brethren which now are so current and have been so much in use in the Nations round about as well as here at home so that it is as it were another nature as it happens to those Porters who carry Burthens custome makes that to seem but light to them which to another not conversant in such Imployment would be found a Burthen too heavy for him to bear The children of Israel were made a FREE PEOPLE by God when he took them out of the House of Bondage and so might have continued under their Judges Jehovah being their King and Lawgiver If they had not set up a King after the manner of the IDOLATROUS NATIONS round about them There is not a more broad black badge of absolute slavery under absolute Sovereignty than for a people once made free by Gods especial Providence to be contented to bee Taxed and Assessed by the Arbitrary power of a Sovereign Lord afterward I shall begin this Epitome of the HISTORY of TAXES Monarchy and Taxes born brought forth among Gods people in Samuels time with the History of Monarchy set up in the midst of Israel rashly and unadvisedly by themselves when they were blessed with Samuel one of the best Governours that ever the people of God injoyed for it appears to mee that these Burthens upon the Lords people came in with Kingship or at least the way was prepared for Bondage to return upon them when nothing but a King would serve their turn For when the Lord bid Samuel protest solemnly unto them It is the manner of Kings to take the peoples goods in part or in whole 1 Sam. 8.14 15. 16 17. verses and shew them the manner of the King that shall reign over them Among other heads of Arbitrary power which he reckoned up before them hee tells them plainly THAT THEIR KING WOVLDTAKE THEIR FIELDS AND THEIR VINEYARDS AND THEIR OLIVEYARDS even the best of them and give them to his servants And he will TAKE saith Samuel THE TENTH OF YOVR SEED AND OF YOVR VINEYARDS and give to his Eunuchs and to his servants He will TAKE THE TENTH OF YOVR SHEEP and yee shall be his servants c. Now although the total sum of the charge besides their bondage otherwise

further urged by others But particular Christians did go to Law with the King before the Parlament was called and so opposed him that way by Arguments drawn from Reason and Justice as Mr. Hampden c. and cannot you go and do thus likewise namely wage Law with your Oppressors Answ 1. Most of the Judges were deaf on that ear concerning Law and Justice and were for the Kings Power and Prerogative and so carried it for the King being over-awed this I have from a good hand Nevertheless I honor the memory of those worthy persons who were willing to spend their Estates and hazzard all rather than not to bear testimony against tyranny 2 If the Sword were not the supreme Power and if all the Laws were not silenced or suspended at least which are against that Sword-interest It may be some particular persons whom God should make free might dare to wage or plead the Law of the Land against their oppreffors or appeal to the higher Powers if there were any as high or higher than the sharp power of the Sword as Paul did from the Jewish Powers unto Augustus Act. 25.11 12. But when Caesar who was the highest Power on earth did oppress him whither or to whom could Paul appeal but to Jesus Christ the Lord of Lords and King of Kings and thus it is with me Cranmer appealed from the Power in being which oppressed him to the next General Council whch was a Power in some ages had in great veneration but what good could that do him the present Power burnt him to ashes and his Appeal to a future contingent Power dyed with him yet it was a kind of Testimony against his persecutors And if that be judged to be of any use upon Scripture-ground I can enter my Appeal to the next higher Powers which the God of Heaven shall set up in mercy and love to his poor Remnant to do us right and deliver us from our potent persecuters But as the case now stands I am made a Bond-slave who was born free and never forfeited my liberty blessed be the Lord I can speak it before men and devils by any transgression of mans Laws yet I have and do cheerfully and with great delight submit to the will of God in these sufferings so burthensome to flesh and blood and I am perswaded if they should scourge me as the Jews did the Apostles and as the Prelats did some under the former Monarchs I should rejoyce to be counted worthy to suffer shame for his name * Acts 5. last vers Gal. 2. last verse who hath loved me and given himself for me the unworthiest worm of all and if the Lord should permit them to put me to a shameful death like the death of the Crosse I am ready But it is not yet signified to me by what death I shall glorifie God Oh it s a sweet life to live free from the fear of death Joh. 21.19 Heb 2.14 15 1 Cor. 15.57 Thanks be to God who giveth us victory through Jesus Christ to whom be Glory and Dominion for ever Amen Hitherto of giving Tribute Now as touching the other two particulars Honor and Fear due to Higher Powers as Tribute and Custom is due unto them Honour and Fear which are to be given to the Higher Powers beside Tribute and Custome In a very few words this I have to say That I alwayes freely gave honor to whom honor was due And in particular when I was apprehended the first time namely about the 21. of the 10. Month 1653. and brought before the Council for expounding the Prophecie about the little Horn in Dan. 7. I did obeysance according to the custome of the Country or Nation in which I live used towards Superiours I stood while they sat and with my head uncovered the General having his hat on and this without reluctancy besides I freely gave him the honorable Title of a Lord in discourse with him as being Captain General of all the Forces and I suppose this is to own a Higher Power for those who do not own Government and Superiority among men do not so behave themselves as namely the Shakers as they call them or any others of those principles and thus I did to the Committee of the Council when I was apprehended and brought before them this second time and I do not remember that ever any Powers did challenge me in this matter As for Fear and the rendring of fear to whom fear is due I am of this perswasion that if I were guilty in mine own conscience and before the Lord of any such grosse wickednesse as some of the choisest Saints have been overtaken and overcome withall and were brought to a legal trial and convicted by witnesse without as well convinced by witnesse within I should be afraid of the Power but not otherwise For the Apostle saith Wilt thou not be afraid of the Power do that which is good but if thou do that which is evil be afraid so that in this also I am ready to own any Higher Powers which shall be set up in my dayes when there is occasion and reason for it and surely no man can say at least if his words have the sap and juyce of sense and reason in them that I ought to fear any power higher or lower unlesse when I have done evill and this be made known unto me in the light of the righteous Law of God But though I know nothing by my self yet I am not thereby justified in the sight of God Thus I have for the Cause sake which might suffer if I should have neglected this impudent slander freely declared my former and present principles concerning the Powers in being But who could have imagined first That in saying I owned the present powers I had recanted and submitted and acknowledged them to be a lawful Authority and an hundred false rumors to the grief of my brethren of the same spirit with me in the present Truth whereas I never said nor thought otherwise And who could have imagined secondly that any one who calls and accounts himself a Christian would take part of the letter or a few sentences here and there torn from the rest and thereupon divulge and shew them as a testimony and proof of such a Report whereas to recapitulate all in a word This is that I will close up this Section with 1 I acknowledge there are Higher Powers in being and every one must grant this as well as I and my Fellow-prisoners for they feel it I beleeve though not so effectually as we do 2 I yeelded my body to be apprehended and carried away without striving or lifting up my voyce in the streets when they sent their Messengers with swords and it may be other weapons about them to bring me before the Council And I reckon this to be an owning of the present powers I never did yeeld thus far to private men who should come to apprehend me in my