Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	church_n	government_n	reform_a	1,712	5	10.4048	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90966	A moderate reply to the citie-remonstrance; presented to the High Court of Parliament the 26 of May, 1646. Containing severall reasons why many well affected citizens cannot assent thereunto. Published according to order.	Price, John, Citizen of London.	1646 (1646)	Wing P3343A; Thomason E340_20; ESTC R200880	24,625	36

A MODERATE REPLY TO THE Citie-Remonstrance PRESENTED TO THE HIGH COURT OF PARLIAMENT the 26 of May 1646. Containing severall Reasons why many well affected CITIZENS cannot assent thereunto Published according to Order LONDON Printed for Matthew Simmons and Henry Overton in Popes-head Alley 1646. A MODERATE REPLY TO THE CITIE Remonstrance THE Citie Representative as it is made up and chosen by the Citie collective so should it act for the good of the same but it is more common then commendable for men betrusted with other mens good to behave themselves to their trustees hurt There are foure cases wherein the City collective is not bound to the City representative but ought in duty to dissent from it if not to protest against it 1. When the City representative acts in a direct evident and obvious manner against the expresse will and word of God 2. When in the like plaine and direct manner it acts against the apparent welfare peace and good of the Kingdome 3. When it acts after the same manner against the proper end of its own being the Cities welfare 4. When it acts beyond the bounds limits and extents appointed to the endangering of all its immunities and freedomes All which granted as cannot be denied the serious examination of the late Remonstrance and City Petition presented to the Parliament May 26. 1646. by the Citie representative yeelds matter reason sufficient for our utter dislike of if not protestation against the same that will appear if we consider First the Narrative and Remonstrative part of it Secondly the Prayer or Petitionary part of it Thirdly the probable tendency dangerous effects of both First for the Narative and Remonstrative part of it First we observe the Phrase Stile and Dialect thereof carrying a full compliance with his Majesties wonted Declarations against the Parliament and as if indeed drawn up by the same hand framed by the same head insinuating into the people that all manner of heresies schismes and blasphemies are tolerated and the fomentors thereof with all swarmes of Sectaries are encouraged emboldened yea admitted into places of profit and trust in Martiall and Civill affaires by the Parliament and that under a pretence of a Christian respect unto tender consciences evidenced in their late Declaration they designe a toleration for all these All which are dangerously insinuated page 2. Secondly a close but cleare intimation to the people that a sacred obligation lieth upon them from their solemn League and Covenant unto a down-right suppression of all those who cut either of weak or tender consciences cannot fully submit unto Presbyteriall government though it is notoriously known that the Parliament did promise in severall Declarations a gracious respect unto tender consciences did act accordingly in the beginning of this Parliament releasing many poore men of different judgements from their heavie pressures under the cruell tyranny of the late Prelats to the general contentment joy and acclamations of all the people for non-conformity unto their government though established by the Law of the Land and most evident it is that the end of the Covenant was not at all a rigid exaction of a forc'd uniformity unto Presbyterial government upon the subjects of England and the truth is all things considered it is a most putid and irrationall thing once to conceive that any such thing was ever intended by our present Parliament in the imposing therof For First could any suppose it could consist with the Parliaments wisdom to swear themselves enforce the people to covenant a subjection unto that Church government which they nor the people did not at that time understand Could it enter into their hearts at least to imagine that such a blind Sacrifice would ever atone the wrath of the Almighty for our former abuses in matters of Church government to lay the first stone of a blessed Reformation in blindnesse and ignorance and so to destroy Prelacy by Popery Secondly if they did understand this plat-form of Church-government to what end hath the Assembly been searching out the will of God about Church-government ever since the imposition hereof Was it to frame their Reformation according to the Word or the Word according to their resolutions Did they first resolve and then enquire First conclude and then debate If any reformed Church must be the exact pattern for us to walk by what need any further expence of toyle and time to find out the mind of God herein when the resolved pattern is before our eyes Thirdly it is notoriously known that the dissenting brethren in the Assembly Citie Countrey have taken this Covenant and were as forward in the promotion hereof by all due meanes as well as others knowing full well the true intent and meaning thereof and could we think they were so farre at variance with their own peace and future welfare as thus freely and voluntarily to contrive and promote the ruine hereof as it necessarily must follow upon the aforesaid interpretation Fourthly the Parliament did never yet give any such interpretation of the Covenant and who ought to explain the meaning but the makers thereof Is it not most absurd that they shall compose and enjoyn the Covenant and others shall put their sense upon it and endeavour the enforcement of their own sense both upon them and the whole Kingdome for no lesse is insinuated in this Remonstrance page the 3d. But you will say the very expresse letter declares the sense it is the very Text and not the interpretation which they plead being plain and obvious to every mans eye We reply The letter thereof doth not tye us to a perfect conformitie to Presbyteriall government already established in any reformed Church in the world for wee are tyed by our Covenant unto a sincere reall and constant endeavour in our severall places and callings the reformation of Religion in the Kingdomes of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the best reformed Churches So that here is no positive determination of any thing but an engagement unto an inquisition after the best and the word of God to be our chiefe informer and directer herein and we are tyed likewise to the like endeavour of our nearest conjunction and uniformitie in Religion confession of faith forme of Church-Government Directory for worship and Catechizing viz. according to the word of God that possibly we can so that if our Brethren of Scotland have taken the same Covenant with us they are bound as well to hearken to what this Kingdome shall propound unto them as this Kingdome is to consider what is tendred from them to us and if they have not taken the same Covenant with us yet wee are bound by our Covenant in case this Kingdome finde out a more perfect way of Church-Government according to the word of God then that Kingdome of Scotland hath done wee are bound we say more to perswade and reason them over to

lost so much bloud stood so fast in the libertie that God hath given them and would not be entangled with the yoke of bondage be now bewitch'd as it were into its own misery and utter undoing Shall the glory of your former fame be throwne in the dust your gallant resolutions and unparallel'd transactions be all buried in the grave of oblivion and at the last gasp as it were of our enemies hopes London should revive their fainting spirits and put life into their dying hearts Shall the whole Kingdome that was almost ready in all its quarters consulting of tokens of thankfulnesse to congratulate with London for all its love and care paines and purses and their generall safety through Gods blessings the fruit hereof throw by these thoughts and with sad hearts and pale faces wringing hands and running eyes tell their wives and children friends and neighbours Woe and alas London will ruine us London begins to decline the Parliament London begins to close with the King London is fild with the Malignants language London Remonstrates to the Parliaments prejudice Will not this prove the perpetuall language of succeeding ages that if London should now desert the Parliament and tyranny once get up in the throne by means hereof Londons Citie is Englands woe Fourthly You further acknowledge the particular assurance this honourable House hath again given the whole Land in their late Declaration to lay hold on the first opportunity of procuring a safe and well-grounded Peace in the three Kingdomes which you doubt not but this honourable House will pursue with all speedy dispatch of Propositions to His Majesty now whilst God doth so mercifully and miraculously goe along with your Armies in all the parts of the Kingdome That Declaration that gave you this assurance assured you likewise whence it was the thing was not done but suppose that providence quite altering the state of affaires the Parliament judge Propositions for Peace are not now so sutable so seasonable as then they were when they promised the same must not they judge what is most meet to be done in such a case Propositions for Peace are to be tendred to enemies not to friends doth his Majesty continue the Parliaments enemy if so his comming to our Quarters is evidently then a designe of mischiefe and not of peace and the truth is an enemy will doe more mischiefe in his adversaries quarters then in his own but if he be our enemy and yet in our hands such Propositions as before were tendred may not consist with wisdome and policie to tender now the case is altered the Market is fallen men will not give for the commoditie thereof as they would before now you see his Majesty is in our own quarters and God doth mercifully and miraculously goe along with our Armies in all the parts of the Kingdome Fifthly You minde the Parliament of our brethren of Scotland how they were first invited to engage with this Kingdome in Gods cause when yet they were at peace at home in what Covenant this Nation is mutually linked with them at what time in relation both to the weak condition of our Forces then and the season of the yeare they adventured upon an Enemy warmly lodged and well armed and prepared what they have since suffered for this Cause in their own Kingdome how succesfull ever since God hath made our Forces in suppressing the Common Enemies of both Nations and what present hopes wee have of a well-setled Peace while wee continue in this mutuall Amitie And then cannot but lament the many jealousies which the Enemies of our Peace Vnion and good Government doe now strive to beget between both Nations and tremble at the sad effects thereof if not timely prevented by the wisdome of the Parliament of both Kingdomes It is most true their love and kindnesse is never to be forgotten for although it is true First that both they and wee are embarqu'd in one and the selfe-same vessell and wee sinke and swim stand and fall together and Englands misery will be Scotlands woe so that what ever they have done for us it is virtually for themselves and although Secondly these miserable warres and bloudy blowes which fell upon us were first attempted for our Scotch brethren but Englands Parliament then in beeing would not consent to such unnaturall warres and by that means kept off the blows from our Scotch Brethren as all can witnesse and although Thirdly this Kingdome hath been likewise ready to helpe the Scots in a former case of their like necessitie against their enemies as is most apparent by authentick Histories and a forme of thanksgiving formerly appointed by the Church of Scotland for the good successe of their English ayde a Copie whereof is added at the end of this Book that wee may ever observe the due care both Kingdomes should have for the mutuall peace and prosperitie of both Kingdomes and although Lastly we must not look so much on our Brethrens successes as their good intentions measuring their love by their endeavours and not events yet let that mouth be for ever shut up and that hand wither which shall maliciously speak or write the least word to foment jealousies between both Kingdomes and confident I am that this heavie curse will fall upon none but that party who joyne issue with the old designe of promoting their personall Interests and base ends of Honour and greatnesse in the publick misery Sixthly you say you cannot but with reverence look upon this Honourable House as trusted with a great share of the supreme power of this Kingdome and as it is the representative of the whole Nation out of which and by whom the Members thereof are chosen doe fixe your hearts the more upon the same and doe by the mercy of God so long as this Kingdome doth adhere to our Covenant promise your selves now and in all future ages great blessings and assurances from the endeavours and labours of this Honourable House and in regard of this dignity of Trust you have and doe submit to all Priviledges of Parliament yet because it may now become a Tenure for life if this priviledge should be so made use of by such Members of Parliament as owe great summes of Money and protect divers under them as Servants Attendants Officers yea and their Servants if all these should be exempted from course of Law how many Citizens of London and other Subjects of this Kingdome may be undone you doe therefore with all Duty and Thankfulnesse put this Honourable House in minde that in a Remonstrance to the Kingdome 15. December 1642. you find this expression viz. That for the matter of Protections the Parliament is so sensibe of it that therein they intend to give whatsoever ease may stand with Honour and Justice and are in a way of passing a Bill to give satisfaction concerning the same Is it the great share this Honourable House hath of the supreme power of this Kingdome which makes you looke