Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A41901
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The great grievance of Scotland, the mother and nurse of many evils to church and state. Together with a rational proposal, a suitable expedient, and the proper remedy.
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1689
(1689)
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Wing G1705; ESTC R218497
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12,778
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27
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Elections and that so many of those who were Elected do own the Hierarchy may be matter of Astonishment But Secondly No not of those if it be considered that in the late Election of Members to the Parliament respect was had to the Protestant Religion to which such sad things were designed by former Governours and since many of the Church of England as it is Denominat from its worst part not its Orthodox Faith but it Romish Government having Zealously appeared against Popery not a few of those were Chosen meerly upon that Account without any regard had to their Sentiments concerning Church Government And Secondly As to many of the Electors there might have been something of Policy in that Choise which altho' I do not Commend yet I cannot Conceal while they did consider how that the Prelats and Clergy had Strengthened the Hands of our Kings in Establishing an Arbitrary and Illegal Power by their Votes in Parliament and Preaching to the People the Unaccountableness of Kings for their Actings and that it was the Duty of Subjects to Obey their Commands not once Mentioning any Limitation and crying out against Defensive Arms as an Invention of the Devil for Involving all who durst own the same in the greatest Guilt of Treason and Damnation and thus hath put the late King in a Capacity to do all the mischief we Groaned under and feared thought fit to chuse such to destroy and demolish all those Pillars of Tyranny and Popery which their Party had Erected and thus might see what Teachers they had hearkened to and might be Convinced I will not say self-Condemned if they any more owned such Teachers and Guides and hence there may be yet some ground of hope that those Generous Gentlemen who have not yet appeared against the Hierarchy will in due time consider what Conscience Religion and their Honour calls for at their Hands But whatever hath been or may be their Carriage another Parliament may offer a better and more true Account of the Sense of the Nation Piscator ictus sapit Men will know whom they may and should Trust Object 3. Tush may the Prelats say we need not altho' we do fear having so many Acts of Parliaments Engagements Promises altho' none from the Scripture for our Security Answer But we hope the Acts of British Parliaments are not like the Laws of Medes and Persians which could not be altered altho' to the better and for the Emolument of Church and State we know who said we have a Law and by that Law Christ must die But Secondly What if many of those Laws and Promises were Founded upon a very Casual supposition and were no Engagements to Continue Prelacy in the Church but to Continue Benefices and Liberties with Prelates until their Office be found to be a Grievance and a great Obstruction of the Welfare and Happiness of Church and Kingdom 3. Thirdly But what do they Prattle what a Reproach is it to the King and Parliament to allege and yet not strange to find Prelats do so that it is not in their Power to Redress Greivances or to hearken to the sad Complaints of the Oppressed Reason Justice Conscience will say let Equity get a hearing before an Impartial Judge not Byassed by Constitutions Acts Deeds Custom Practices which can never say Lawyers prescribe against Piety Justice Truth or the Publick Good. Fourthly All Promises and Engagements Founded on a Legal Establishment if the Law be justly altered and Cancelled fall to the Ground with those Laws and no more oblige and whatever the Legal Provision be no Promise nor Engagement ought to be Vinculum iniquit atis nor can by any moved with the fear of God be alledged for obliging to do Evil or to obstruct the good and happiness of Church and Kingdom 4. Obj. But should there be no regard had of these Prelates who being sensible of the Evil of their way in complying with the late Kings in all their Methods for Establishing their Arbitrary Government and for Introducing of Popery at length Zealously appeared against Popery Ans 1. The Zeal of the Scottish Prelates against Popery appeared in their Address to the late King wherein they Proclaimed Him the Darling of Heaven and wished the Necks of his Enemies of the Prince of Orange and all his Army to be given to him and that he might find that success he had met with against Monmouth and Argyle But 2. As to the English Prelates as I abhor all Methods of Cruelty Severity Malice Revenge as being a reproach to the Gospel of Christ so I am far from desiring that any good Work should want a suitable Reward But 3. It may seem strange to hear any Sober Man boast of their Zeal against Popery Ah who since the Reformation from Popery have been the Patrons of Papists in Britain but Prelates by setting so many Weak Ignorant Debauched Scandalous Parsons and Curats over Congregations And thus disposing the People 1. to Atheism 2. to Popery and whatever Religion the Court would represent to them 3. By being a Tool in the Kings Hand for bearing down of those who stood in the Gap and were Zealous against all Popish Innovations 4. by Instilling in the People the Doctrine of Non-resistance and Absolute Obedience yea they came that length that one of them viz. Prelate H. in a Sermon told his Hearers That the Distinction between Active and Passive Obedience was founded upon Disloyalty and sounded an Alarm to Rebellion that if the Pope could lay as good a claim to Infallability as our King the World would hear of it And do not these Gentlemen well deserve to be accounted the Pillars of the Protestant Religion But Thirdly As to those few who did lately appear it would be considered upon what occasion they turned Sail. 1. Did any of them once mutter till their Hands were bound that they could no more Persecute the Innocent 2. Then their Indignation at the Liberty granted to Dissenters rather than their Zeal against Popery set them to work to which 3. add their selfish Zeal for their Carnal Interest when they perceived their Court to decline and that Popish Priests had the Kings Ear lay nearest his Heart and began to enter and posses their charges they supposed it to be high time to break off their Silence and Espouse the honest Plea of the Reformed Religion for securing their Places and Dignities and now to testify their Zeal for for the True Religion they must interpose for an Exemption from the Oath of Allegiance to a King Zealous for the Reformed Religion whom His Majesty must defend in all their pretended Rights though they will not acknowledge his Just Right and deserved Dignity But for Conclusion Those are times of great hopes and Expectation and our Grievances have made such a noise in Europe that all are waiting for such a Redress and Reformation as may Answer the Desires and Prayers of the Grieved and Oppressed But if this be all the Fruit that our Springs are again sent to Run in their former Muddy Channel and if as one lately complained Those who would destroy us be suffered to be our Instructors and our Common Enemies to Teach us our Politicks what will the World say of us And Ah! how may Rome Insult over us and Rejoyce If Hope defered maketh the Heart Sick Hope frustrated especially in such a promising Season must break the Heart But O what an Honour and Name of Renown will it be to such as God will make Instrumental in Reforming his Church and what Rich reward may they expect from their Master when all their Earthly Excellency will be laid in the Dust Now let us wait looking up to him who can put it in the Hearts of King and Rulers to do this thing which would be so wel-pleasing to God and so acceptable to his People FINIS