Selected quad for the lemma: prince_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
prince_n	ordinance_n	power_n	resist_v	2,543	5	10.0817	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90769	A plea for peace: shewing the dignitie of princes, against the many railings of the rabble, the invectives of the ignorant, and murmurs of the malicious. Written by a well-wisher to the peace of this our Sion.	A Well-Wisher to the Peace of This Our Sion.	1642 (1642)	Wing P2515; Thomason E118_23; ESTC R212774	5,658	8

A PLEA FOR PEACE SHEWING THE DIGNITIE OF Princes against the many Railings of the Rabble the Invectives of the Ignorant and Murmurs of the Malicious Written by a Well-wisher to the peace of this our Sion September 22. London Printed for Francis Coles 1642. A Plea for Peace THat the Government of the Civil Magistrate is the Ordinance and Institution of the Almighty I hope at this time needs no disputation for that I beleeve it remaines without and beyond all matter of controversie the Lord himselfe not having onely testified with acceptation and approbation thereof but with much commendation hath set forth its honour and dignity to his people as in Psal 82. 1 6. God standeth in the Congregation of the mighty he judgeth among the Gods I have said ye are Gods and all of yee are children of the most High Prov. 8. 15. By me Kings reigne and Princes decree Justice And in the 16. By me Princes rule Rom. 13. 1 2. Let every soul be subject to the higher Powers for there is no power but of God the powers that be are ordained of God whosoever resisteth the power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation And in the 5. vers he concludeth that we must needs be subject not onely for wrath but for conscience sake Esay 49. 23. Kings shall be nursing fathers and Queenes shall be nursing mothers 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. I exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers and intercessions and giving of thankes be made for all men for Kings and all that are in Authority as if the Apostle had said especially for them adding further reason That we may leade a quiet life in all godlinesse and honesty as if he there intended to teach Christians whatsoever their condition were not to thinke of other weapons to mend themselves than onely their prayers many other places of Scripture might be alleaged to this purpose but these I suppose are sufficient to let men know how detestable it is to the eares of God to heat a wicked Shimei cursing and railing against the Prince of his people a sin too too common in these our dayes not onely among the basest of men but even in the Priests and pastours of the people who should teach them a lesson of meeknesse modesty and moderation in stead of which they stir them up to madnesse sedition tumults and faction by rendring in what in them lie the person of sacred Majesty odious to all men but whether in so doing they spit not in the face of the Almighty and strike at his honour in the person of his Ministery he that hath an eye to see let him see To stand here to make a large relation of the severall sorts of Government or what jurisdiction would best suit with this or that people were a businesse to as little purpose as profit and therefore briefly the best way is to fall quickly on the matter intended for if we compare without circumstance the severall estates together it will not be difficult to discerne which of them in profit over-balanceth the other if they be impartially compared together for as the way is easie to fall from kingdom into tyranny so it is no way harder to fall from the rule of many to the faction of a few and most facill of all from a plebean Government to fall to sedition but whatsoever the Lord hath establisht among us it is not onely unsound but unsafe to seek to alter it for that in so doing we contemne the providence of God whatsoever therefore it hath pleased that eternall Majesty to set over us whether Kings over Kingdomes Senators or Officers over free Cities whosoever he maketh Rulers in power over us it is our praise to yeeld obedience to them and first acknowledging their powers from God let us reverently esteem them as the deputies of God Many indeed there are who hold the Civil Magistrate in a kinde of venerable estimation as things expedient for the common benefit accounting them in themselves no more in a manner than as necessary evils but if they cast their eye upon the rule of all good they shall finde themselves bound to a far greater respect 1 Pet. 2. 17. Fear God and honour the King as if the fear of the one were inseperably joyned with the honour of the other Solomon Prov 24. 21. as with a selfe fame conclusion saith My son fear thou the Lord and the King And no whit inferiour is that example of Paul before alleaged that we obey not onely for wrath but conscience as he had said that in so doing we yeeld our obedience to God we must be obedient to them in every respect obeying their proclamations paying their tributes and what not which stands not opposite to the Almighty for as Paul saith Every soul must be subject to the higher powers and who so resisteth it resisteth the Ordinance of God and since the Magistrate cannot be resisted but with the resistance of God himselfe though he be altogether naked the Almighty is ever strongly armed to take vengeance on those who in themselves do fight against him Nor is this subjection and obedience limited or restrained so that it shall extend no further than to such Princes whose pious and godly endeavours are still executing their duties to the people but even to the most lewd and malevolent Magistrate amongst men and to that purpose marke the close of that most reverend learned and orthodox Divine Master Iohn Cal. l. 4. c. 2. sect 24. he cals a Prince the father of his Countrey the Pastor of his People the keeper of peace the protector of righteousnesse the revenger of innocency and saith he he is worthy to be accompted a mad man who alloweth not of such a Government But where as this is in a manner the experience of all ages that of Princes some being carelesse of all things do without all care slothfully wallow in delights other some addicted to their gain do set out to sale all Lawes privileges judgements and grants other some spoil the poor Communalty for money to be wasted on their own prodigall and lavish expendings other some exercise meer robberies in pilling of houses defiling of virgins and matrons murdering of innocents many cannot be perswaded that such should be acknowledged for Princes whose authority they ought to obey so far as they may for that in so great an unworthinesse so much contrarie not only to the dutie of a Magistrate but even of a man they behold no forme of the image of God which should be in a Magistrate and therefore conclude that they ought not to acknowledge such a Governour And to say truth this feeling of affection hath ever beene naturally implanted in the minds of all men no lesse to hate and abhor Tyrants than to love and honour lawfull Kings But if we look to the word of God saith he it will lead as further teaching not only to subject