Selected quad for the lemma: law_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
law_n	sergeant_n	sir_n	thomas_n	13,755	5	9.7066	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45123	An answer to Dr. Stillingfleet's sermon, by some nonconformists, being the peaceable design renewed wherein the imputation of schism wherewith the doctor hath charged the nonconformists meetings, is removed, their nonconformity justified, and materials for union drawn up together, which will heal both parties.	Humfrey, John, 1621-1719.; Lobb, Stephen, d. 1699.	1680 (1680)	Wing H3668; ESTC R22261	36,018	45

in general and the Laws and State of the Land in particular which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Kingdom regulated by Laws as Sir Thomas Smith hath it Rex sub Deo Lege The King is under God and the Law says Hooker and Bracton so that it requires the skill of the greatest Judges Serjeants and Sages of the Law to determine the Cases included in it it is a very hard thing we think that every poor silly Minister is put to decide the same for himself and to have that evidence therein as to be able to take his Oath or give his Hand to the certainty of it The other part of the Subscription concerns the Covenant and here the words nor any other to name none else are such a Ford that as to the Conscience of all not throughly Episcopal so far as we see is unpassable It is nothing to some of our selves to subscribe there lyes no obligation on me from the Covenant to endeavour any alteration of Government because we never took it it was against our Consciences and we can conceive for others in a Private capacity what have they to do with Government NO Oath can bind to sedition and disobedience But as for such as are in a Publick capacity and can act lawfully towards Reformation in their place what shall we say to those One way there is indeed will strike off all quite and that is to hold the present Government establish'd to be Jure Divino altogether so that any alteration is sin He that holds thus may affirm clearly that though a Man swore he would endeavour to alter the Government it binds him nothing let him be in what capacity he will the least alteration is unlawful and he must therefore repent of his Oath and not perform it But if a Man hold that the Presbyterian Government is rather Jure Divino or that neither Episcopal nor Presbyterian is Jure Divino or that Episcopal Government is well yet that ours as it is now is not altogether so well but that someting may be alter'd for the better We would fain be infromed how such a Man can absolve him who is in a publick capacity as a Parliament Man from his endeavouring so much according to time and prudence if he hath sworn before that he will It is in vain to hide where the water sticks There are some cannot tell how to absolve One other for their lives They say not there lyes an Obligation upon any to do as they have sworn for fear it be dangerous and they dare not say there lyes none for fear of their Consciences or for fear of God As to our selves This we may say that we desire to be instructed and this we will say that it is an hard thing to be put on it to say that there lyes no Obligation upon any other but our selves whether there does or no. We will therefore close up our Reasons for Non-conformity with this one Note only If there be so many difficulties in One of the things alone which is required to Confromity what a River hath he to wade that must pass through All together that belongs to it We descend to some Proposals for concord or mutual quiet to the Nation under the Differences which is the last part of our undertaking Secundae Cogitationes prudentius moder atius consulunt prudentius quia moder atius It hath pleased His Majesty by several gratious overtures to commend an Union of his Protestant Subjects to the consideration of Parliament A Design full of all Princely Wisdom Honesty and Goodness In this Atchievement there is a double Interest we apprehend to be distinguish'd and weighed that of Religion it self and that of the Nation The Advance of Religion does consist much in the Unity of its Professors both in Opinion and Prctise to be of one Mind and one Heart and one Way in Discipline and Worship so far as may be according to the Scriptures The Advance of the Nation doth lye in the Freedom and Flourishing of Trade and uniting the whole Body in the Common Benefit and dependance on the Government The one of these bespeaks an Establish'd order and Accommodation the other bespeaks Indulgence Liberty of Conscience or Tolleration for while people are in danger about Religion we dare not launch out into Trade say they but keep our Moneys seeing we know not into what streights we shall be driven and when in reference to their party they are held under severity it is easie to those who are designing Heads to mould them into Wrath and Faction which without occasion will melt and dissolve it self into bare dissent of Opinion peaceably rejoycing under the enjoyment of Protection The King we know is concerned as Supream Governour and as a Christian Protestant Governour As he is King he is to seek the welfare of the Nation as he is a Christian the flourishing of Religion and the Protstant Religion particularly is his Interest as this Kingdom doth lye in Ballance he being the chief Party with its Neighbour Nations The Judgment now of some is for a Comprehending Act which may take in those who are for our Parochial Churches that severity then might be used for reclaiming all whosoever separate from them The Judgment of some others is for a free and equal Act of Grace to all indifferently the Papists with most excepted whether separatists or others abhorring Comprehension as more dangerous to them on that account mentioned than all the Acts that have passed Neither of these Judge up to the full Interest of the King and Kingdom as is proposed It becomes not the Presbyterian if his Principles will admit him to own our Parochial Church and enjoy a Living to be willing to have his Brethren the Independants given up to persecution And it becomes not the Separatist if he may but enjoy his Conscience to repine or envy at the Presbyterian for reaping any further Emolument seeing both of them supposing the latter may do so have as much at bottom as can be in their capacities desired of either It is an Act therefore of a mixt Complexion providing both Comprehension and Indulgence for the different Parties must serve our purpose And to this end as we may humbly hope was there once a Bill in Parliament A Bill for the ease of the Protestant Dissenters in the Business of Religion Which that it may some time or other be cast into this model we must present the same desires under a little further Explication There two sorts we all know of these Protestant Dissenter One that own the established Ministry and our Parish Congregations and are in capacity of Union upon that account desiring it heartily upon condescention to them in some smaller matters The other that own not our Churches and so are uncapable of a Conjunction who do not and cannot desire it or seek it For the one That which we propose is a further latitude in the present constituted