Selected quad for the lemma: power_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
power_n	david_n	king_n	saul_n	2,575	5	9.7545	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52357	The true liberty & dominion of conscience vindicated, from the usurpations & abuses of opinion, and persuasion	Nalson, John, 1638?-1686.	1677 (1677)	Wing N117; ESTC R19982	50,790	152

onely my sense and opinion but that of all dissenting Parties who therefore propose the determination of them by the establishment of their way as the onely expedient to obtain these excellent ends Thirdly Indifferent things become necessary if they promote Decency and Order because so they are agreeable to St. Paul's general Rule 1 Cor. 14.40 Let all things be done decently and in order Thus that all should kneel at the Prayers where it is appointed besides that it is a posture of supplicating humility and devout adoration That they should stand up at the rehearsal of the Articles of our Christian Faith and at the Hymns Psalms and Praises are all matters of great decency and order Whereas that one should sit another stand a third lean a fourth lie along at his ease are no less indecent and irreverend than disorderly and confused Thus that Church-men should wear distinct Habits both when they celebrate the Divine Service and at other times such as may shew gravity sobriety purity innocence or distinction of degrees are all decent and orderly and so far therefore necessary Lastly Indifferent things become necessary if they be significantly expressive of our inward profession Thus the Cross after Baptism the Ring in Marriage the Surplice and other Vestments Postures and Gestures having all their outward significations of the inward profession of our minds are necessary for those ends I should speak more fully of these things had not the Learned Mr. Falkner taken such pains about them and sifted them so narrowly as not to leave any just pretence of a quarrel against them to which incomparable Discourse I therefore refer the Reader for an ample satisfaction in all these particulars CHAP. XI Of the Way whereby indifferent things become obligatory to Conscience not only upon a Mans private Persuasion from the forementioned Rules but so as to oblige all persons who live under Government viz. by the Determinations and Commands of Lawful Authority THus far I have shewn the chief among many Considerations whereby any indifferent thing may become necessary so that if any person finds these or any other indifferent things in the Worship or Service of God conduces to these Ends he is obliged in Conscience to the performance of them but this layes only a private obligation and the same that it does upon all other indifferent things and actions which yet remain so by being undertermined But now in regard some of these things though innocent and indifferent in their own Natures may to some Mens Opinions and Persuasions appear very conducive to the before-mentioned Ends others may appear more effectual to some other Persons lest from divers Opinions about these Circumstantials of Religion which are best most decent orderly and edifying there should arise division distraction and confusion in the Service of God as by miserable experience we daily find there does it is requisite that we seek for some stronger obligation whereby those things which are indifferent may become necessary to all and this must be by the determination and commands of a lawful Authority which has power to judge which amongst all indifferent circumstances of Divine Worship conduce most to Gods glory and the good of Mankind especially those under their charge and jurisdiction by promoting and maintaining Peace Unity Concord and Piety and after such judgment to pass a final determination which shall lay the double obligation both of a prudent and necessary Law and also of Conscience upon all who live under their Government and expect the advantages of it and therefore owe Obedience to it For otherwise disputes and differences must be endless if Men will not refer themselves to some Umpires and Arbitrators to decide them which must after Men have tyred themselves to find out what these Arbitrators must be at the last be lawful Authority Now that all Dissenters are of the same judgment with us in this Point and believe that a lawful Authority has this decisive Power it is most plain from the frequent instances and repeated importunities which they make to the Supreme Authority to make Alterations in the present or to establish another manner or form of Worship according to their way or however if they cannot hope for such Concessions yet they will Petition that Authority will not interpose it self in these Religious Affairs but leave them to their freedom in the manner of the exercise of their Religion and this is if I mistake them not that which they call Liberty of Conscience And they must either be the greatest Dissemblers and Hypocrites in Nature by begging that from Authority which they believe it has no real Power over or else it plainly implies That it is in the Power of a lawful Authority to determine that Liberty in indifferent things which concern the circumstances of Divine Worship This therefore being acknowledged we have nothing to do but to prove That the Authority which has determined these indifferent things and by consequence now made them necessary to be done and matter of Conscience had a just Right and Power as well as wise and prudent Reasons and Considerations so to do as being a lawful Authority We must therefore consider and examine what is requisite to make an Authority so lawful as that it may of Right challenge such a decisive and determinative Power as that all Persons who live under it shall be obliged in Point of Conscience to submit to its definitive Sentence and take it for a finalis Concordia in all indifferent things and to which no Man can be disobedient without a manifest and wilful sin against Conscience in the breach of those known commands Obey them that have the Rule over you Rom. 13.1 And let every Soul be subject to the higher Powers First therefore that Authority which is of Gods appointment is without controversie a lawful Authority as pleading a Divine Right from him by whom Kings reign Such was the Authority of Moses Aaron Samuel and the Judges and even of Saul a wicked and tyrannous Prince of whom therefore David said to Abishai 1 Sam. 26.9 Destroy him not for who can lift up his hand against the Lords Anointed and be guiltless And it was well for him that he fell into the hands of a Man who was after Gods own heart We have seen some whom a lesser interest than Davids in his death would have tempted to serve him as Epominondas did his sleeping Centinel had they found him sleeping they would have been of Abishai's judgment and have left him sleeping his last But to proceed secondly That Authority is lawful which is warranted by long Succession Prescription is accounted a good and safe Plea and Title for all other Men for their Estates and Possessions certainly much more for the Crowns of Sovereign Princes for hereby their Title passes into Inheritance which is a Right which no Man can violate or invade without being guilty of the breach of that positive and known Command