Selected quad for the lemma: peace_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
peace_n	lord_n	offer_v	offering_n	2,683	5	11.3716	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A19461	A modest and reasonable examination, of some things in vse in the Church of England, sundrie times heretofore misliked and now lately, in a booke called the (Plea of the innocent:) and an assertion for true and Christian church policy, made for a full satisfaction to all those, that are of iudgement, and not possessed with a preiudice against this present church gouernment, wherein the principall poynts are fully, and peaceably aunswered, which seeme to bee offensiue in the ecclesiasticall state of this kingdome. The contentes whereof are set downe in the page following.	Covell, William, d. 1614?	1604 (1604)	STC 5882; ESTC S108881	174,201	234

the peace of this Church was litle beholding to their paines who in the middest of an vniuersall ioy sounded a seditious Alarum to a second warre which as it could be no lesse than inconsiderate Zeale in some of the Tribe of Leui to drawe their swords against their Reuerend Religious Fathers as if with Aaron they had beene guiltie of erecting a Golden Calfe so we hope in the opinion of the most seuere our defence shall neither be thought needlesse nor out of season wherein peraduenture our labour is of lesse vse because we encounter in particular men of no greate authoritie in this Church whom our directions were first to haue answered in another manner but finding that to follow their steps had beene onely but to tread often in the same pathes which were wearisome in themselues and could haue brought little aduantage to this publike cause we rather resolued hauing the approbation of authoritie to giue allowance to defend a necessary weighty ●ighteous and publike Church gouernment than onely to reproue and confute some particular obscure and priuate men for accusing gaineth not that admittance in the eares of indifferent Readers which defending doth and herein I may safely protest I looked at no other scope in the labour and cost of this vnpleasing imployment than the discharge of my particular dutie and the performance of that seruice which I owed vnto this Church yet if I had known which I vnderstand since that some more of Master Hookers works had bene recouered from the iniurie of men and time once againe to speake in the defence of this truth I woul● most willingly haue obserued the praecept of the Sonne of Sirach Thou that art yong speake if need be and yet scarcely when thou art twice asked for the same things but who is able to speake the same things that he did being spoken by diuers are not the same and for my selfe if any man thinke this defence a presumption I may boldly say as E●●u did Behold I did wait vpon the words of the auncient and hearkened to their knowledge But seeing wee are children of that Church whose prosperitie was enuied and peace hindered by the aduersaries of this cause wee could not but let them vnderstand that the voyces of Angels of men and of time and all against them and if wee were in the comparison of them as they bo●st of number but like the children of Ruben and the children of Gad and the Tribe of Manasses in respect of all Israell besides yet if they will needes send vs a message by Phyneas the sonne of Eleazar and ten Princes with him saying What transgression is this that ye haue transgressed against the God of Israell to turne away this day from the Lord in that ye haue built you an Altar for to rebell this day against the Lord Haue wee too little for the wickednesse of Peor whereof wee are not cleansed this day though a plague came vpon the congregation of the Lord Wee must aunswere them as they did The Lord God of Gods the Lord God of Gods he knoweth and Israell himselfe shall know if by rebellion or by transgression against the Lord we haue done it saue thou vs not this day If wee haue built vs an Altar to returne away from the Lord eyther to offer burnt offerings or meat offerings or to offer peace offerings thereon let the Lord himselfe require it And if wee haue not rather done it for feare of this thing c. vnto vers 30. Wee hope they will giue vs leaue if their Zeale make them iealous of any thing vsed or admitted in our Church to tell them that these are witnesses betwixt them and vs. c. Betweene our forefathers and our generations after vs to execute the seruice of the Lord before him in our Lyturgie in our prayers in our Sacraments and that neither their children nor the children of any Idolatrous Church should say to our children in time to come Yee haue no part in the Lord and if for all this they cease not the heape reproaches vpon that Church whose absolute gouernment they ought with thankfulnesse to imbrace and with loue to honour we must tell them as Saint Hierom doth that amongest Christiās not he that suffereth but he that offereth reproach is wretched Wherein surely of all that euer laboured in this cause he endured most with most patience whom vertue crownd with much Honour in this life and according to his owne propheticall word ouercame whilest he suffered and now triumpheth And for my selfe Gentle Reader I resolue humbly to endure whatsoeuer it pleaseth the vsuall impatience of their furie to lay vpon mee saying with Saint Austen In a good conscience I speake it Hee that willingly doth detract from my good name vnwillingly doth add to my reward For I lay with Saint Ambrose Let no man thinke that there is more weight in the slaunder of another than in the testimonie of his owne conscience Farewell CHAP. 1. Kings and Princes haue Authoritie and ought to haue care for the Church gouernment WWhere right hath no other aduantage but Fortune and Weaknesse hath got strength from opinion of Zeale there it is no lesse safe to maintaine error than amongst better dispositions to defend a trueth The Circle of time the best discouerer of mens secret ends and not the least nor the least violent circumstance ouer the means must at length make knowen to the weakest eye that is able to discerne least who haue beene thought wicked and prophane in humilitie for maintayning a truth and who proudly haue beene opposites to this end that being ignorant and vnhonest they might bee thought to bee learned and seeme righteous As there is not any one action since the time that this Land first embraced true Religion wherein more violent and vnnaturall dispositions haue discouered themselues than in and for the Church gouernment so is there nothing wherein the Wisedome Vertue and Souereigntie of Kings doth and ought more to appeare than in the well ordering of that Societie where vnto the most vsuall and greatest harmes haue commonly proceeded from too much Zeale For that which man once apprehendeth as vertuous to bee done without great iudgement and moderation hee seldome tempereth himselfe from doing it eyther ouer-eagerly or ouermuch This as it swayeth with Inferior persons who for the most part haue no easier and speedier meanes to become eminent so it is hardly tempered in those Princes being eminent alreadie whose vertuous education hath made them religious this being in one action to the people the best assurance they can expect for themselues the best testimony of a good conscience and toward God a demeanour least vnthankfull for any straunge or miraculous deliuerance that they haue receiued All these being made stronger when a new people are become subiects when all men are disposed to giue strength to their hopes and make collection from Signes and when deliuerances are

nothing which in his name wee dare not aske beeing needfull for vs seeing they denye that it is vnlawfull to pray to bee deliuered from all aduersitie 7 To bee deliuered from Lightning and Tempest which T.C. calleth Thundring when none is nigh Doubtlesse wee haue greater reason to feare and so consequently to pray against these then any other daunger of this life It is the fearefull executioner of Gods wrath manifested in the giuing of the law to teach the transgresser what hee must expect wee want not examples The Heathen knew it dangers aboue the meanes of mans wisdome to preuent are onely to bee escaped by praier 8 The Singing nunc Dimittis Benedictus Magnificat wee know not to what purpose You cannot but know to what purpose they were first made and that the occasion of their first making was the memorie of a benefit not fit euer to bee forgotten the Church in this performeth and learneth a dutie by the same reason we may not reade the Psalmes of Dauid vnlesse wee were in Dauids case In Scripture the fence is one but the vse application is diuers yet warrantable 9 The Letanie all Popish Wee cannot doe our aduersaries a greater honour then to make them the founders of these Praiers Whether Mamercus or Gregorie made them it skilleth not The generall callamitie of the Church was the cause and seeing the presumptuous iniquities of these times may i●stly cause vs feare what wee feele not wee haue as much reason to pray to bee kept from them before they happen as to haue them remoued when they doe happen 10 Gloria Patri and Athanasius creed to what vse To giue honor to the Trinitie for as they were made to teach the Arrians to confesse what they beleeued not so they are for vs to praise expresse what we doe beleeue 11 To say after the Minister is a losse of time That Scripture which commandeth the people to say Amen doth not forbid them to say more custome and example tell vs that this losse is to the people an aduantage whose vniuersall consent exprest by their voices is like the roaring of the waues against the sea banck 12 Baptisme by women commanded and allowed Nay rather forbidden and the action not allowed though the act be Wee are sorie if any inconsiderately and presumptuouslie doe it but being done wee hold a greater necessity of Baptisme then that we dare thinke them fit to be baptised againe Heerein if there bee any fault surely it is not a fault in the Communion booke 13 Priuate Communions to the sick If the Minister and the sick person communicate how can they call it priuate for there bee not many yet there are two and where two or three are assembled as they ought they need not doubt of the blessing of a Congregation but seldome so few are and things of that vse in such extremitie desired it is Tirrannie to denie them for the not concurring of some solemne and conuenient circumstance 14 Churching of women And that Psalm● appointed If that Childbirth bee a curse for the labour and sorrow in it because then naturally an enemie is borne to Gods kingdome if many hardly escape those daungers which fitly are called by vs labour and trauell how can w● but thinke it conuenient to giue thanks and in that to acknowledge the author of their safe deliuerance to bee the Lord who protecteth his owne day night they looke not at any meanes vpon earth but vnto the hils from whence commeth their help 15 Holidayes a superstitious honour to Saints No a memoriall of that benefit which the Church hath receiued by that particular occasion which therefore it wanteth not warrant to appoint as occasions of mercies and deliuerances are new so new solempnities and therefore wee will euer say This is the day of the Lord and sing prayses vnto the Lord the fifte of August and the foure twentie of March for in them the Lord hath done great things for vs alreadie whereof wee reioyce Let the leprosie of those foure lepers cleaue vnto vs if wee hould our peace from Psalmes and thanksgiuing seeing it is a day of good tydings for surely as Zachous heard Christ speake so God shall heare vs thankfully confesse that this day Saluation is come vnto this land for he that is mightie hath magnified him and holy is his name 16 Reading of Homelies and Apocrypha If they serue to edifie why doe they refuse them if they bee not Canonicall neither are they so esteemed If nothing bee to bee read in the church but Scripture why is it a law amongst them to haue their orders for gouerning the church reade publickly once euery quarter the supposed errours in the Apocrypha maketh vs with the warrant of the Church to refuse them for Canonicall scripture to informe our faith but the excellent precepts that are in them make vs by the same warrant think them profitable to bee read for to reforme our manners 17 The Ring in Marriage Superstitious To finish an act of that solemnitie without some visible and significant assurance as it were no wisdome seeing vowes were neuer thought so firme as when they receaued a strength from some outward action so many reasons are giuen why this cerimonie is most fit and lesse harmelesse both betokening the affection of the hart the linking them together vnchangeablye the continuance of their affection without end the puritie of that ordinance which is heauenlie and last of all an humble submission to the ordinance of that Chrurch which hath authoritie to appoint cerimonies and hath appointed this as one most fitting to the grauitie of this action 18 Confirmation vnlawfull What wee promise by others in our Baptisme that wee then vndertake in our owne names and remembring the conflict wee haue vndertaken we come for an addition of new forces in Baptisme wee are regenerate to life but in confirmation wee are strengthned to battaile memorialls to this are not nor are not to be thought needlesse for many know they haue names who little remember that they are Baptised but whom the Church on earth hath once receaued to bee her children she ceaseth not to pursue with fauours and helps vntill she deliuereth them to their father which is in heauen 19 Burialls are heathnish and superstitious either in meeting the dead bodie with praiers mourners and such like It is well beseeming that hope which wee haue of the Resurrection and in this the liuing receaue profit though the dead doe not Wee esteeme the bodies of the faithfull as sometimes the vessells of the holie Ghost wee hold them fit to bee layd vp not to bee cast away and though they are not lost but sent before vs yet wee sadlie lament our want and their absence though ouer vehementlie wee mourn not as those that had no hope we may wish for them because they are not with vs but not too much

what they doe intend Few doe or can doubt but that the foundation of all happinesse to a realme is true religion it is the wals of defence to the greatest kingdomes Princes haue their best securitie from this both for Crowne and Scepter and their aduersaries shall all faile in the iustice of the highest that doe rise against it The power how to ordaine that worship which God requireth and man oweth which wee call Religion is neither in our weaknesse to inuent nor being taught and instructed in it haue wee willingnesse or strength to yeeld an outward obedience without lawes As the care then of this in all kingdomes chieffly concerneth the Prince so the best enterance and assurance to the well performing of this dutie is the sanctification of of the Lords Rest. Without this the slumber of peace shall bee no prosperitie health shal be but a sweet poison to make vs distaste what doubtlesse would be better for vs and in the end the felicitie of such states shall but resemble the grasse vpon the house top which withereth before it be pulled vp and their faire day shal bee suddenlie ouer cast or concluded and shut vp with a blacke and a long night Where it is easie to erre seldome doe men looke at vices with so much seueritie as where it is not custome haueing both the Priuiledge of a multitude to bee without shame and the lenitie of a pardon because few men think it a dutie to bee honest where the most are not or that to bee an offence in one which is the fault of all Now the persons of men being swaied many times to error by lighter occasions then meere fancie and all men des●ring a Religion yet most carelesse of the meanes that doe lead vnto it and nothing surer to finde more resistance then that counsell that crosseth affection or custome it must bee a consideration of great consequence to further by an absolute vnitie the true Religion no examples being suffered that doe lead from it and all men to bee truelie taught that they neither can with happinesse want this nor without miserie think this to bee any other sauing onelie one But because all men traduse euen without respect of nature that deuotion which they see in others who looke not the same way that they doe it shall not bee amisse to consider who and what they are that vsuallie dissent in religion in any kingdome And from the Prince and the state what fauour tolleration or respect is to bee had towards them for seeing all men though their Religion bee false haue reason both to loue and to bee earnest for the religion which they pro●esse it cannot bee in a realme where diuers stand diuersly affected towards this but that all wil looke with a iealous eie at the state and either obtaine or procure equall freedome of that which they call their conscience to themselues or complaine as suffering a harder persecution and paraduenture bee readie when oportunitie shall serue to become Traitors But because euen the most absolute Monarchs haue not an vndependant libertie to incline with mercie towards these in this case as much and as far as their princely Grace could bee content to yeeld it shall not bee amisse for the satis●action of those who importune hope for fauour in this kinde if wee let them vnderstand who they are that doe hold diuersitie of opinion concerning Religion in any kingdome and what fauour and tolleration may and ought by the Prince to bee graunted toward them And because wee haue heard the greatest Prince in the world tell vs that Kings are Phisitions in this kind wee may safely resolue that where Patients Diseases are not all one ther the remedie the cure is not all alike There may be in a kingdome for we are not now to speake either of Hippocrits or open prophane persōs Heathē Idolatours Heretickes those that erre and faile in some points of Religion publickly professed in that state and lastlie vpright and true Christians Toward all these if all happen to bee in one kingdome as paraduenture Poland can tell they are the state is to carry a diuers respect both for the curing of them that are thus sicke and for the safegard of those that are yet whole Heathens or Infidels wee call them who professe not at all the Christian Faith as Iewes and Turks Idolatours such as haue in doctrine and worship Superstitiously fallen backe from the true Religion of Christ in place wherof either Saints or reliquies haue a great part of that honor which is due vnto God onelie such are a great number of the Church of Rome these vsuallie wee call by the name of Papists and so wee must tearme them in this Chapter Hereticks are they who strike through the verie foundation of religion and directlie gainsay some article of our faith and are or haue beene condemned by some generall councell as Arrians Eunomians Seruetians Anabaptists and such like Yet in these all are not alike some beeing Seducers and others by them simplie seduced The next are those that erre beeing or seeming to bee infected with some errour but such a one as yet is not condemned as an heresie as betwixt the Lutherans and the Zwinglyans about the Sacrament both holding each other to erre wheras neither sentence as yet hath bene lawfullie condemned To these may bee referred all those erronious opinions which take not away the foundation of faith Lastlie those whom the Prince knoweth to be vertuous and sound not infected with any heresie or error a seuerall respect is fit to be carried toward all these Concerning the Iewes a Prince may lawfullie permit them to dwell in his Kingdome and to traffick in it so that marriages with Christians communicating with their religion and all nearer familiaritie betwixt such bee denied vnto them these were the limitations which were set betwixt them and the heathen by the law of Moses the lawes of Emperours haue permited the like some of the fathers but especiallie S. Austin was so fauourable toward them that hee alledgeth seuerall reasons for the doeing of it first that aboue others they had the promise of Saluation and though their case bee lamentable yet it is not desperate for euen at this present there is a remnant according to the election of Grace for God is able to graft them in againe For I would not brethren that you should bee ignorant of this secret least ye should bee arrogant in your selues that partly obstinacie is come to Israell vntill the fulnesse of the Gentils bee come in for that prayer sayth Sainct Austin was made for them Slay them not least my people forget it but scatter them abroad among the people put them downe O Lord our defence There cannot bee doubtlesse and so they are dispersed in most kingdomes better obiects to cōsider the iustice the mercie of God then they are Iustice to them mercie to vs and that wee vnlesse wee