Selected quad for the lemma: nation_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A45770
|
An important query for protestants viz. can good come out of Galilee? or, Can a popish ruler propagate the reform'd religion?
|
|
1688
(1688)
|
Wing I102; ESTC R19967
|
7,729
|
14
|
they went on without any more licence upon Earth being stirr'd up to it from Heaven by the Prophets tho confirm'd afterwards by King Darius Queen Esther's addressing un-call'd to King Ahasuerus after solemn Fasting and Prayer was against Law. The three Children's not bowing to Nebuchadnezar's Image Daniell praying with his windows open as at other times not withstanding the decree'd prohibition All these were publick breaches and affronts to the Laws of those Kingdoms respectively and after the Saints aforementioned had broke those Laws to keep Gods Law the Kings being convinc't changed their Decrees contrary to their respective constitutions and tho they were heathen yet they owned the true God and those that serv'd Him contrary to their own Laws and Religion The Decrees of Heaven are indeed un-changeable but the Laws of Men are mutuable like themselves and those Kings or Rulers who change for the better as his interest leads them who is King of Kings they will find it their own interest also to indulge them who are his free or new born People in pursuance of what is promis'd that Strangers shall build up their Walls and their Kings Minister to them for that Nation and Kingdom which will not serve them shall perish Yea those Nations shall be utterly wasted It appears then that the interest of the consciencious People which is Liberty hath an ascendent over other Nations no less then that part of their own which would keep them in bondage whereof Israells being led by a high hand out of Egypt to do their Sacrifice to God and Spoyling the Egyptians who had detain'd them some time from it as they also destroy'd the seven Nations in and near Canaan that resisted them is a great Example Therefore is it the Kings wisdom to suspend the Execution of those Laws which in themselves are already void on God's account who being the supreame Legislator of Heaven and Earth ought as the Apostles said to be obeyed rather then Men For if a Law should be made that Men must not eat when they are hungry not drink when they are thirsty 't is not to be obeyed because against nature so if a Law be made that Men must not pray when Gods word says they should do it always and every where or if a Law be to forsake assembling together as the manner of some is which the Scripture plainly forbids such Laws are as much against the Heavenly Divine Nature as those aforementioned are against the Humane Nor is Gods Law made for the Righteous but for the Lawless and disobedient profane unholy c. And if there be a People in the Kings Dominions against whom is no Condemnation but are free from the Law of Sin and Death then surely the Kings late concession of no New Liberty but that of Conscience does import that his royal intentions are onely to free them from Mans condemnation whom he thinks God doth not condemne for if our hearts condemne us not then our confidence towards God is very alowable not withstanding all that can be said by the Men of Judea against those of Gallilee Nor is this way of promoting the Protestant Religion by a Roman Ruler more decry'd by them that disbelieve it then the Samaritan party was mistaken when they thought that Darius would not favour the Jews of old by decreeing their re-building the Temple after they had express't such confidence to begin a new to do it against the prohibition of his Predecessors Now if God ceases not to raise such unexpected Instruments to carry on his Work as are or have been mistrusted to check or obstruct it how ill will it become the Leaders or Fathers of our Reformed at least so called Church not to further and improve this late granted Liberty since 't is their place and profession to help not hinder all Male-births of righteousness and holiness whatsoever For God cau change the Heart not only of Prince but People also and 't will reflect much upon us called Protestants to retain a spirit of Persecution and aversion to Liberty when Papists themselves shall renounce the one and embrace the other And if the day be come or near it wherein 't is promised That the Egyptians shall know the Lord do Sacrifice and Oblation yea Vow a Vow unto God and perform it then we should be cautious of blasting them whom God snall bless with a new Nime and Nature for if this be the season wherein God himself says Blâ—ssed be Egypt my People 't is not for us Christians to maintain partition walls longer 'twixt us and the very Heathen themselves because they are said to be Christs Inheritance and in Every Nation he that feareth God and worketh Righteousnesâ— is accepted of him how then can we prosper by rejecting such as God accepteth Hence is it therefore that this concession of Intire Liberty made by the King of Great Britain tends to his immortal Honour as he is in this manner not only a Prince of a very great People but as by this action he is become a Nursing Father to all of all sorts under him in their Religious or Christian Rights which are much more dear and near to them then what is Civil not but that their enjoyment of both is their Confidence because the Greater always comprehends the Less And if this intire Liberty had found its happy birth before the the unhappy Wars broke forth against King Charles the First 't is very improbable that their success had been as it was much more that our present King James the Second had been necessitated to raise new Arms against his Enemies and indeed the Blood which hath been spilt for more then sorty years past might have been prevented But blessed be God that better late then never we can now bid this new Pranciple and Practice welcome into the old World which will cause our Swords to be turned into Plowshares and Spears into Pruning-Hooks and will instruct us of this Nation yea the Rulers and People of other Nations as they shall receive and become subject to it to learn War no more For this intire Liberty hath made as intire and compleat a conquest which is of Hearts far exceeding that of Hands because as the King hath set us free to serve the living God without the fears of Men so do we avow our selves bound to the King in interest and duty by stronger bonds then Slavish Fear or Impos'd Oaths can oblige And our defect of duty to the King will be now no less to our selves since his Government is made thus easy for as his Throne is clothed with double Honour so that part of the people who by his gracious Indulgence are relieved from their harrasing Catch-Poles and Persecuting Informers will be doubly guilty if denying Caesar his due because we are the chief Criminals if not giving God his due since the King is pleased so freely to allow and incourage it And further if the Kings Heart be in Gods hand to turn as the rivers of Water what will they resemble who would dam or stop his Christian and Royal Progress but persons of an Earthy Principle and Practice for those inferiour ends which are not without regret to be named among us who are called Christians Nor is it for those who very sensibly feel the warmth of this late and new Protection to hesitate the Kings prevailing Perswasion of the National Assembly when called to agree to this so Vniversal a good for Mankind by freeing their better and more noble part from those Imposures with which the more degenerous sort of men have attempted to Embondage them Now in this procedure who can say less than God Prosper and Save yea Save Eternally the King of Great Britain who having almost incredibly till Royally Perform'd thus out done not only all his Home-born Predecessors but his Forreign Best and Greatest Neighbours whether they be Crowned Heads or Free-States If therefore it shall please God to inrich his Royal Heart with Grace so as to go on as he hath begun the potent interests of France and Spain must soon bow to him as he becomes more justly Aggrandiz'd with the titles of most Christian and most Catholick King not only in Europe but in the knows World. FINIS