Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	james_n	john_n	sir_n	63,767	5	6.8706	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81926	Objections against the taking of the engagement answered. Or, Some scruples of conscience, which a godly minister in Lancashire did entertain against the taking of the engagement. Resolved by J.D. wherein the chief mistakes of weak consciences, about the matter of the engagement, are in a friendly way discovered, and rectified by scripture-grounds and right reason; and published for the satisfaction of others, who may be scrupled in the same kind.	Dury, John, 1596-1680.	1650 (1650)	Wing D2876; Thomason E608_20; ESTC R205922	22,527	28

from these and am bound to set those up against these and consequently have no right to any common benefit from these But if I wil own no Magistracy at all then no Magistracy ought to own me nor have I any right to live in any humane society for no society can be without some Government But if the exception doth lie against the lawfulness of the things commanded then he must say that it is unlawful for a subject to promise that he will be true and faithful to the Common-wealth wherein he liveth because the form of Government thereof is not the same which it was before which is an assertion so irrational that I conceive no man will own it nor can any man lawfully enter into any promise or obligation to God or men which can make this Commandement void Let all soules be subject to the powers that are over them therefore it is altogether inconsistent with morality that a Subject in things good and lawful should not promise submission to the powers which are over him which I conceive is yet more then what the Engagement in express tearms doth require of you As for Christianity besides that which I have said already concerning the freedom of your Conscience In respect of Christianity which is not under the power of any outward worldly things I shall only mention this clear rule given to all men as they are men which to my understanding is beyond all exception it is the Apostles Command Rom. 13.1 Let every soul be subject to the higher powers I say then that no soule that is no man may as a Christian exempt it self from being subject in things good and lawful to the jurisdiction which is over it and although this translation will bear the weight of this inference yet the words may be rendered more properly and meerly to their full sense thus Let every soule be subordinate to the powers which have the eminency over them for the original words hupotassesthay is properly to be subordinate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and exousiai huperechousai are powers having superiority or eminency and thus the last Dutch Translation doth render the words Alle ziele zy den machten over haer gestelt onderworpen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let every soule be submitted to the powers which are setled over them as for the ordinary exception which is brought in to limit the generality of this Rule that the word exousia doth signifie only a lawful power it is of no validity at all for both in heathen and in sacred writings it is taken in the sence which signifies any ability and the power of force look upon Scapula in the compounds of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and he will tell you that Plutarch and Herodian do joyn exousian and dunamin as words of the same sence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it is used generally for any thing that a man can do whether lawfully or unlawfully as in Xenophon you have this expression exousian echo cleptein that is I have power to steal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here then the word cannot be taken for a lawful but only for a licencious power that is for an ability to do a thing unlawful and in the Scripture so far as I can now call to mind I find it taken more in this sence then in any other exousia touscotous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the power of darkness when Judas did lay violent hands upon his M●ster as upon a robber and a thief I suppose you will not say he had a lawfull warrant to do and Collos 1.13 the same expression is used to describe the power which the Devill hath over our soules in corrupt nature which I do not think you wil call a just authority used by him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Luke 22.25 exousiazontes is to exercise might and force which is the proper Character of the Rulers of the Nations which Christ forbids his Disciples to affect so also 1 Cor. 6.12 exousiasthesomai is to be under might and a forcible constraint without freedom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word then in Scripture phrase is as in Heathen Authors the power of force as well if not more then of right And in general it is an ability to do what one will which is indeed proper to superiours for such as have an uncontrouleable power in acting are superiour powers intimating that where God doth put any in a place of such eminency above others that they can do what they will without controule there all men under them are to submit unto them in things good and lawful now if men whom you call grave pious and conscientious will not take notice of this Rule conscionably and piously to obey their Rulers for Gods sake I must leave them to the event which God will determine over them and be sorry that they understand not their duty and the rule of that freedom by which they stand under their superiours Thus I have given you my thoughts concerning your scruples which I beseech the Lord to manifest unto you so far as they are his truths and wherein they are not such I beseech him to let me see the error of them for I am far from any other interest in them then as they are the testimonies of righteousness without prejudice and without partiality I shal be glad to hear from you what your sence thereof is how far you are satisfied thereby The Lord instruct us and give us understanding in all things and teach us to profit by all his dispensations to his grace I commend you and rest Written at St. James this 9. June 1650. Sir Your faithful and affectionate Friend and Brother in Christ JOHN DURY FINIS

OBJECTIONS AGAINST The taking of the ENGAGEMENT Answered OR Some scruples of Conscience which a godly Minister in Lancashire did entertain against the taking of the ENGAGEMENT Resolved by J. D. WHEREIN The chief mistakes of weak Consciences about the matter of the Engagement are in a friendly way discovered and rectified by Scripture-grounds and right reason and published for the satisfaction of others who may be scrupled in the same kind LONDON Printed by John Clowes for Richard Woodnothe at the Star under St. Peters Church in Cornhill 1650. Worthy SIR I Have delay'd writing for a time in that I have been uncertain whether I should come to London or no but now at the last resolving to wait a while before I come do make bold to present my humble thankfulness for your former kindnes shewed to me I have been much perplexed in mind concerning the Engagement and still am by which means my maintenance is and hath for a season been withheld Those scruples which I stick at I shall make bold to acquaint you with and they are these 1. The late Government voted down was in it self lawful wholsome and good and no evil ever yet did appear to me in the power but only in the persons who did exercise that power Prov. 24.21 which was no sufficient ground of change and it is not safe to meddle in it 2. To that said Government I am bound by many solemn and sacred Tyes to maintain it in my place not only in the substance and main parts of it but also in the form and circumstance thereof and those said obligations are not meerly civil and humane but sacred and divine and above the absolution of any earthly power 3. I conceive it unlawful to engage against the undoubted rights of any man I suppose there may be found such lawful Heirs of the Crown as have not any wayes forfeited their rights and also great Interests and Priviledges which mary innocent Peers of this Land may fairly challenge which they have not lost by their miscarriage Treason or Rebellion 4. I cannot be satisfied but that the liberty of the free-born English is by that means much infringed in this late settlement and constitution 1. In that many of the innocent and faithful Members the Representatives of the people were at the voting of this new establishment thrust out and debarred the House which makes it seem rather a combination or confederacy then a lawful constitution for if a people have liberty in any thing certainly it is to chuse their Governors and Government 2. The subscription is forced upon us under the penalties of out-lawing and fining so that this power are our absolute Lords which is that heavy yoak that we have feared and fought against 5. I consider if men at their inition and installment will walk so arbitrarily and domineere with so high a hand what will they do may we expect when they come to a full settlement by the consent of all the people of the Nation 6. The grieving and troubling the hearts and Consciences not of loose perverse and seditious but of grave sober pious and peaceable men is made nothing of but they are trampled upon and wholly neglected whilst many Atheists Cavaliers and base wretches that will take the Engagement are imbraced priviledged and respected These and such dear Sir are the troubles of my heart which I make bold to express thus plainly not doubting of your favour in construing my harsh and too high phrases and ove-rbold expressions only I follow this as the safest way to satisfaction and resolution hoping that the Lord will of his goodness stir you up and direct you to satisfie me or candidly to think of and bear with me Sir your loving invitation and incouragement hath made me thus bold to trouble you and as for those other businesses I formerly mentioned I conceive little can be done c. Dated 9. May. 1650. OBJECTIONS against the taking of the ENGAGEMENT Answered SIR I Hope you have received my former written the 28. of May wherein I sent you back the Petition of your Parish with some instructions how you should do to get your business effected Now I shall endeavour to offer something to your consideration towards the satisfaction of those scruples which you have sent me for which you have not been able to take the Engagement The Lord who alone is the Father of lights and knowes the capacity of all Mens Consciences instruct us in the truth and by it grant us that quietness and rest of spirit which may fit us for the performance of all righteousness and dutifulness with joy he alone can teach us to profit and lead the wearied sole to rest we may suggest to one another that wherein according to our apprehension is truth so far as it appears so to us but to seal up that truth and perswade the heart of it is the work of the spirit of God alone whom our heavenly Father by the mouth of his own Son hath promised to give to them that ask him Luke 11.13 We may therefore with full assurance crave this spirit not only for our selves but each for other and perhaps herein we may do one another better service then in suggesting our notions to each other Yet because we are commanded not only to ask by way of request but to seek and knock at the Gates of Heaven Mat. 7.7 by way of endeavour therefore let us do the one and not neglect the other and if it shall be the Lords will that by the discovery of those things which give me satisfaction in that whereat you are scrupled you shall find more light then you now have and cause of satisfaction and rest to your mind therein I shall rejoyce at it and bless God for it Give me leave therefore to discover unto you the grounds for which my Conscience ought not to be troubled at the things which you scruple so much at for you are brought thereby into many inconveniences and straits which I conceive you have cast your self into for want of due consideration of those Rules which would have steered your course clear from those Rocks and Quick-sands whereinto you are fallen 1. Scruple The former Government was in it self good and not alterable The first scruple you make is this The late Government say you voted down was in it self lawful wholsome and good and no evil ever yet did appear to me in the power but only in the persons who did exercise that power which was no sufficient ground of Change and it is not safe to meddle in it Prov. 24.21 Now this doth not trouble me at all I suppose needs not to be a matter of Conscience to you that is you need not to charge the consequence which you mention here upon your Conscience The Answer shewes for although I should think as you do that the late Government now voted down was in it self lawful yet it doth not follow