Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	church_n	england_n	reform_a	4,212	5	9.5265	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41016	Sacra nemesis, the Levites scourge, or, Mercurius Britan. disciplin'd, [Mercurius] civicvs [disciplin'd] also deverse remarkable disputes and resolvs in the Assembly of Divines related, episcopacy asserted, truth righted, innocency vindicated against detraction.	Featley, Daniel, 1582-1645.	1644 (1644)	Wing F593; ESTC R2806	73,187	105

Creed that whichis commonly called the Apostles Creed ought thorowly to be received and beleeved for they may be proved by most certain warrants of holy Scripture Concerning this eighth Article vide 2 speeches pag. 13. ARTICLE 11. Of the Justification of MAN WE are accompted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ by faith and not for our own works or deservings Wherefore that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort as more largely is expressed in the Homily of Iustification Concerning this eleventh Article vide 5 speeches pag. 20. The two first clauses of the Covenant as they were offered to the Assembly licensed and entred into the Hall book according to Order September 4. 1643. and Printed at London for Philip Lane 1. THat we shall all and each one of us sincerely readily and constantly through the Grace of God endeavour in on● severall places and callings the preservation of the true Reformed Protestant Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the reformation of Religion in the Church of England this Explication to be at the end of the Covenant as far as we doe or shall in our consciences conceive to be according to the Word of God according to the same holy Word the Example of the last Reformed Churches and as may b●ing the Church of God in both Nations to the neerest conjunction and Uniformity in Religion confession of Faith Forme of Church● government directory for Worship and Catechizing that we and our Posterity after us may as Brethren live in Faith and Love 2. That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the Extirpation of Popery Prelacie Superstition Heresie Schisme and Prophanenesse and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of Godlinesse in both Nation● lest we partake in other mens sins and thereby be endangered to receive of their plagues that the Lord may be one and his Name one in both Kingdoms To which first printed copie the Doctors speech delivered in the Assembly relateth pag. 48. The two clauses of the Covenant as they were altered and Printed by Order of the House of COMMONS 1. THat we shall sincerely really and constantly through the Grace of God endeavour in our severall places and callings the preservation of the reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government agai●st our common Enemies the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the Example of the best Reformed Churches and shall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdomes to the nearest Conjunction and Uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Form of Church-Government Directory for Worship and Catechizing that wee and our Posterity after us may as Brethren live in Faith and Love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us II. That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Poperie Prelacie that is Church-Government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellours Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-deacons and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on the Hierarchie Superstition Heresie Schism Prophanenesse and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of Godlinesse lest we partake in other mens sins and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues and that the Lord may be one and his Name one in the three Kingdoms Errata Epist. to the reader l. 19. in r. to p. 12. l. 23. dazled r. so dazled p. 15. in marg. Vos de 36. r. Vos de tribus symbo p. 40. l. 1. 2. Cor. 1.30 r. 1. Cor. 1.30 p. 43. l. 13. speciei r. specie p. 52. l. 24. Acts. 3.1 r. 1.3 p. 61. adde in marg. Aug. de civit Dei l. 19. c. 19. l. ult. p. 66. l. 22. thought r. sought p. 69. l. 25. there r. then p. 87. l. 14. dele his owne Nation for Primate of Armagh r. Primate of Ireland SECTION I. The Character of Britanicus DIego writeth That Barcaeus meeting with the Devill sitting at his ease upon a Chaire bid him rise up and give place to his better The tale Britanicus is morallized in thee thou mayst very well chalenge the precedencie of Satan and thrust him out of his Chaire The seat of the scornfull wherein thou hast sate for these many moneths and out-railest all the Shimie's and Rabsekehs and out-Lyest all the Simmeasses and Pseudolusses that ever sate in that Chaire And although Tacitus whispers me in the eare Maledicta si irascaris agnita videntur spreta exolescunt Contumelious speeches if they put thee into a chafe seeme to argue guilt Yet because a wiser then he adviseth in some case to answer a foole according to his folli● lest he be wise in his owne conceit And because it is rather an argument of stupiditie then innocencie to be altogether unsensible when our integritie or the reputation of our friend is touched though it be but with the scratch of a goose quill I though fit potius vexatum castiga●um quam despectum dimitt●re Vatinium rather to dismisse Vatinius well cudgelled then slighted I meane that scorne of all the learned and hate of all good men Britanicus or rather Brutanicus not from Brutus but Brutum For he is no better then one of Cerberus whelpes at which Hercules would not vouchsafe to give a Kick in his returne from Hell yet because since he hath lickt cleane the Expraetors trencher he never leaveth barking at all who adore not the cap of maintenance nor canonize the synagogue of orbicular independents I was desired to strike him baculo pastorali and teach him from henceforth sua potius lambere ulcera quam aliorum famam arrodere rather to use his tongue in licking his owne sores then his teeth in biting them upon whom heretofore he basely fawned The best is he to whose appologie I have consecrated my Pen is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} out of the danger of this haile shot above these nebulas nebulonum his reputation is safe both from the tongue of detraction and teeth of envie being treasured up in the hearts of all that sincerely love the truth Anthonie proscribed Cicero for the space onely that the Triumvirate in Rome lasted but Cicero proscribed Anthonie to all ages The more Camomile is trod upon the sweeter smell it gives and the black aspersions of malice serve but as a dark foyle to set off the lustre of eminent vertue For thee Britanicus seeing thou knowest not thy selfe I will send thee to S. Ierome for thy Character under the name of the Else Helvidius Loquacitatem facundiam existimat maledicere omnibus bonae conscientiae signum arbitratur he accounts

a lawful way not by popular tumults but by a Bill passed in Parliament and that to be tendered to his Majestie for his royall assent and how such a bill can be pressed upon his Majestie who hath taken an oath * at his Coronation to preserve Bishops in their legall rights I must learn from our great masters of the law For by the Gospel all inducements to sin are sin and solicitations to perjurie are tainted with that guilt neither is there any power upon earth to dispence with the breach of oaths lawfully taken 15. If we desire that this Church of England should flourish like the garden of Eden we must have an eye to the nurseries of good learning and religion the two Univers●ties which will never be furnished with choice plants if there be no preferments and incouragements to the students there who for the farre greater part bend their studies to the Queen of all professions Divinitie which will make but a slow progresse if Bishopricks Deanries Archdeaconries and Prebendaries and all other Ecclesiasticall dignities which like silver spurs prick on the industrie of those who consecrate their labours and endeavours to the glorifying of God in imploying their tal●nt in the ministerie of the Gospel be taken away What ●ayls are to a ship that are affections to the soul which if they be not filled with the hope of some rewards and deserved preferments as a prosperous gale of wind our sacred studies and endeavours will soon be calmed for * honos abit artos omnesqu● incenduntur studio gloriae jacentquo ea semper quae apud quosquo improbantur honour nourisheth arts and all men are inflamed with the desire of glory and those professions fall and decay which are in no esteem with most men And if there are places both of great profit honour and power propounded to States-men and those that are learned in the law like rich prizes to those that prove masteries shall the professors of the divine law be had in lesse esteem then the students and practisers in the municipall And shall that profession onely be barred from ●ntring into the temple of honour which directeth all men to the temple of vertue and hath best right to honour by the promise of God honorantes nic honorab● those that honour me I will honour because they most honour God in every action of their function which immediately tendeth to his glory They will say that Episcopall government hath proved inconvenient and prejudiciall to the State and therefore the Hierarchie is to be cut down root and branch Of this argument we may say as Cicero doth of Cato his exceptions against * Murenae set aside the authoritie of the objectors the objection hath very little weight in it For it is liable to many and just exceptions and admitteth of divers replyes First it is said that Episcopall government is inconvenient and mischievous and prejudiciall to the State but it was never proved to be so Secondly admit some good proof could be brought of it yet if Episcopacie be of divine institution as hath been proved it must not be therefore rooted out but the luxurious stems of it pruned and those additions to the first institution from whence these inconveniences have grown ought to be retranched Thirdly if Episcopacie hath proved inconvenient and mischievous in this age which was most * beneficiall and profitable in all former ages the fault may be in the maladies of the patient not in the method of cure This age is to be reformed not Episcopacie abrogated that the libertie and loosenesse of these times will not brook the sacred bands of Episcopall discipline is rather a proof of the integritie thereof then a true argument of any maligr●tie in it to the state without which no effectuall * meanes or course can be taken either for the suppressing schismaticks or the continuation of a lawfull and undenyable succession in the Ministery 16. Lastly though some of late think they have brought gold and silver and precious stones to build the house of God by producing some stuff out of antiquitie to prove the ordination of presbyters by meer presbyters yet being put to the test it proves meer trash for there can be no instance brought out of Scripture of any ordination without imposition of Apostolicall or Episcopall hands neither hath prime antiquitie ever approved of meer presbyters laying hands one upon another but in orthodoxall Councels revoked cassated and disannulled all such ordinations as we may read in the Apologies of * Athanasius and elsewhere What shall I need to adde more save the testimonie of all Chistians of what denomination soever under the cope of heaven save only the mushrom sect of Brownists sprung up the other night all who have given their name to Christ and acknowledge and have some dependence on either the Patriarch of Constantinople in the East or of Rome in the West or of Muscovia in the North or of Alexandria in the South together with the Cophti● Maro●ites Abissenes and Chineses not onely admit of Episcopall government and most willingly submit to it but never had or at this day have any other Neither is this or can it be denyed by our Aërians but they tell us that these are Christians at large who hold many errors and superstitions with the fundamentals of Christian doctrine their Churches are like oare not cleansed from earth like gold not purged from drosse like threshed wheat not fanned from the chaff like meale not sifted from the bran like wine not drawn off the lees we are say they upon a reformation and the new Covenant engageth us to endeavour the reformation of the Church of England in doctrine worship discipline and government according to the Word of God and according to the example of the best reformed Churches The best reformed which are they whether the remainders of the Waldenses and Albigenses in Piemont and the parts adjoyning or of the Taborites in Bohemia or of the Lutherans in Germanie or those that are called after the name of Calvin in France and elsewhere First for the Waldenses the fore-runners of Luther as he himself confesseth they had Bishops who ordained their Pastours a catalogue whereof we may see in the historie of the Waldenses first written in French and after translated into English by a learned Herald Secondly for the Lutheran Churches they have Prelates governing them under the titles of Arch-bishops and Bishops in Poland Denmark and Swethland but under the name of Superintendents and Intendents in Germanie and as for their judgement in the point it is expressely set down in the * apologie of the Augusta●e confession in these words we have often protested our earnest desires to conserve the discipline of degrees in the Church by Bishops Nay Luther himself who of all men most bitterly inveighed against the Antichristian Hierarchie yet puts water into his wine adding l●t no man

it is either evill because prohibited or prohibited because evill in it self It is not evill because prohibited because the law of God no where sets out the limits of parishes nor confineth the pains of a pastor within such narrow limits all that the divine law requires is that every pastor carefully by himself and by his fellow-labourers which the holy Scripture expressely mentioneth feed that flock whereof the holy Ghost hath made him over-seer and from whence he is to receive comfortable maintenance whether this flock be comprised within the limits of one parish or no For parishes were first distinguished not by Gods law but by the Popes and with such disproportion that some parishes are too much for any one to supplie them and others make not a convenient flock for a man of meanest parts to feed and attend on Neither is Pluralitie prohibited by any law quia malum in se because it is evill in it self for none of the precisest make scruple of conscience to hold any one benefice of never so great value which notwithstanding hath divers chappells of ease annexed unto it in which it is impossible for a man to be resident and officiate the cure in person at once If they will say he may discharge both by himself and his curate so may he also do who hath two benefices and let the parishioners both of Lambeth and Acton testifie whether those benefices were not better supplyed by the Doctor himself and his two learned and able curates then now they are by those two who enjoy the sequestration of his benefices who have been perpetually non-resident from both and neither by themselves nor substitutes so much as once administred the Sacrament of the Lords Supper unto them though the best of the parishioners have most earnestly desired it SECT. XI That the abjuration of Episcopacie especially in the Clergie of England involveth them in perjurie and sacriledge THe Doctor excepted against the extirpation of prelacie Deanes Prebends because he thought it not of Apostolical institution no there is another reason of more force with the Doctor and the prelaticall partie they must have another kind of divinitie and more beneficiall positions they love not these naked truths which are not able to maintain their sattin cassocks nor those rigid opinions which will not allow a game at gleek after evening prayer Canis festinans caecos parit catulos thou or the Printer Britanicus making more haste then good speed hast stumbled at pons asinorum and thou stammerest out perfect non-sense thou sayest the Doctor excepted against the extirpation of prelacie because he thought it not of Apostolicall institution thou should'st have said because he thought it to be of Apostolicall institution for so indeed he thinketh and will maintain his tenet against all the disciples of AErius the heretick the first patron of paritie in the clergy whether they be plant-animals I mean lay-presbyters or atomes that is Independents whose arguments are like themselves all together independent and inconsequent But why dost thou deliver the Doctors mind by halfs He did not only except against that clause in the new covenant wherein Episcopacie is abjured and the extirpation vowed of that plant which the Apostles themselves planted and we in our publique liturgie established by law pray to God to pour upon them the continuall dew of his blessing because he held such an oath to be repugnant to an Apostolicall institution but also because he conceived that horrible sacriledge was couched under it For upon the taking away of Episcopacie root and branch will undoubtedly follow the confiscation of the lands of Bishops and cathedrall Churches or at least alienation from those holy uses to the maintenance whereof they were dedicated and is it a small matter thinkest thou Britanicus to violate the sacred testaments and last wills of many hundred religious christians and to draw the guilt of sacriledge in the highest degree upon the land which alreadie groaneth under the heavie burden of too many haynous sins and bewayleth them in all parts of this Realm with tears of blood SECT. XII Of profitable doctrines and beneficiall positions held by Brownists and Sectaries AS for that thou wouldst imply that the Doctor advanced Episcopacie to an Apostolicall institution as Cicero extolled eloquence to the skie that he might be li●ted up with her thou fouly mistakest the matter the Doctor is known to affect that Dutch Worthie his temper upon whose grave Iames Dowza strewed that flower among others honor●s quia merebatur contempsit quia contempsit magis merebatur because he deserved honours he contemned them and because he contemned them he much more deserved them The whole course of his life refutes that base calumnie thou castest upon him For 1. After he first shewed himself in publique preaching in his course at S. Maries in Oxford he was commended by the Vice-chancellor and Universitie to the Kings Majesties Embassador Lidget in France where Cardinall Perone homo famae potius magnae quam bonae by his agents thought to inveagle him to Popery by promise o● far greater preferments then ever he could expect in England but the Doctor esteemed no better of that motion then of the devills offer to our Saviour all th●se things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me for he was so far from turning out of his course to take up these golden apples that contrariewise he followed the harder after the price of his high calling and encountred all the Romish Priests Jesuits and So●bon Doctors wheresoever he met them even to the hazard of his life and God gave such a blessing to his many combats for the faith there that he reclaimed divers from poperie and confirmed many that were wavering in the true reformed religion 2. After his return into England when the great favourite bore all the sway and the Doctor might have climbed to preferment by that ladder by reason of his ancient acquaintance with the Duke and the dedication of a book to his dearest consort which she very much desired yet understanding that the Duke for some politick ends sided with the Arminian faction he brake off all dependence upon that favouri●e and wrote a smart book against the Arminians called Pelagius redivivus and thereby dashed all hopes of his preferment then at court 3. After the Dukes death when those that sate at the helm of the Church and had great power also at court to procure the greater libertie to the Protestants in popish Countries and to draw her Majestie to a better liking of the reformed religion sought to reduce the Church of England to a nearer conformitie to the Roman at least in some scholasticall tenets and outward ceremonies and gestures with them and to smooth the more rugged pos●tions of poperie was thought a readie means to facilitate the way to prefermet the Doctor declined this rode also though he desired nothing more then the

uniting of all christians in the faith first given to the Saints and the doctrine of the primitive Church yet he could never en●ure those who went about to sodder the Roman and reformed religion and to bring Christ and Anti-christ to an enterview neither would he ever be brought to varie in his practice a nailes breadth from the canons of the Church of England and rubrick of the Common Prayer 4. After the scene was turned and many who before had layen in obscuritie were brought upon the stage who like the statues of Brutus and Cassius eò praefulgebant quod non visebantur did shine the brighter the more they were hid The Doctor among others was chosen by 390 votes to be a member of the Assemblie and among many other of eminent parts and worth was designed by the whole house of commons to answer a popish Priest which he did accordingly and was in so fair a way that if his conscience had been a Lesbian rule and would have bowed that way where preferments are now offered he might not only have held both his benefices but expected such farther priviledges as the chief of the Assemblie now enjoy But when a covenant was tendered wherein he must of necessitie proclaim his ingratitude to the world by swearing to endeavour the ruine of those upon whom under God he built his chief hopes and intangle his conscience in evident perjurie by swearing to break all his canonicall oaths necessitie constrained him to break off from the Assemblie and for this cause he is now in bonds and stript of all his ecclesiasticall preferments and temporall revenues nudus nudum Christum sequitur and followes his naked Saviour himself also stark naked But to leave off this sad and melancholie discourse and come to the beneficiall positions and sattin cassock thou talked of and game at gleek thou shouldest have said noddie a game at which thou playest at as well Sundays as working-days For beneficiall positions I know none held by the prelaticall clergie as your schismaticall laicks tearm them save this which the Apostle hath delivered that godlinesse is great gain and hath the promises of this life and the life to come but I can tell you of fruitfull doctrines and beneficiall uses raysed by your Enthusiasts as namely that usurie after it hath been with a barber chyrurgion and hath its teeth pluckt out is very lawfull and that those of your sect alone have a right to the creature and that the wicked have no right or title to any thing they possesse and that therefore when you plunder any Malignant you steal not but take your own from them and agreeable to your positions is your practise you make no bones to devoure widows houses under colour of long prayers like vultures you hover over dead corpses and thereout suck no small advantage if any rich man be going the way of all flesh some of your fraternitie must be sent for with all speed to pray his soul ex tempore into heaven and after you have perswaded him to set his house in order for he must dye and not live and he is going to draw his last will and testament you will be sure to have a ●inger in it or rather a claw or naile to scrape and scratch something for your selves under the title of pious legacies SECT. XIII Of ministeriall habits recreations on the Lords day and how the Brownists and sectaries prophane the Christian Sabbath HAst thou yet any better stuff in thy shop Britanicus besides the large mourning weed beg'd artificially at the last funerall of a saint Yes a sattin cassock surely a decent garment for a grave divine especially on high dayes what wouldst thou have the reverend clergy to weare wouldst thou have them go in cuerpo like your new England and Holland theologues or in a rocket liued through with plush or taffata as some of the Assembly men flaunt it or in a short jacket much like the riding coat of Davids Embassadors which was cut off at o● sacrum the huckle bone Here Brit. thou playst the base cynick ●alcas fastum Platonis thou tramplest upon Plato's pride but remember what Plato repli'd calcas fastum sed alio fastu thou tramplest upon the pride of some of the clergy in their apparell but thou dost it in a worse kind of pride As for card-playing I need not gle●k it with thee for we are at play already thy earnest is nothing but jests and those very scurrilous and ridiculous and therefore either to be scorned or retorted upon thee in sober sadnesse The Doctor is no player at cards or dice nor approveth at all any recreations on the Lords day but such as like Aarons golden plate in his miter have holinesse stamped on them As for those of thy precise sect they indeed will not for a world play a game at cards or tables on the Lords day after evening prayer but they do far worse they take away morning and evening prayer both and jear out the sacred liturgy of the church if thou art come to thy self Brit. and hast thy wits about thee prethee tell me is it not better playing a game at tables on the christian sabbath wherin a wooden man is taken up without any losse or hurt or at chesse in which there is an image of men set in battail array there to cast the bloody die of war on that day to kill to pillage to plunder of the two I had rather see latrunculos on that day then latrones chesse-men then pressed-men notwithstanding to chuse you rifle houses and sequester malignants on that day your city magistrates and Officers will not suffer a poor waterman to rowe on the Thames yet they permit the souldiers in all the courts of guard and forts and ships to drink and swell all the day a physitian may not passe over the river to save the life of the body not a divine to save the life of the soul yet they account it a sanctifying of the sabbath to beat up drums and presse souldiers to kill men on that day O precise hypocrisie or rather hypocriticall precisenesse A devout father sharply reprooving the evill conversation of some christians in his time told them to their faces gentes agitis sub nomine Christi you act the parts of Gentiles in the habit of Christians but I may truly say of you Iudaeos agitis sub nomine Christi you act the parts of Iewes in the habit of Christians Iewes I say in the rigid observation of the Sabbath of Iewes in venting your spleen and malice against Christ by excluding his prayer out of your liturgie by defacing his name Iesus wheresoever you see it written in golden characters or wrought in cloth of gold or tissue or stampt in holy vessels calling it the Iesuits trim or ga●b by inveighing against keeping the feast of the nativity resurrection and ascension and terrifying those that in a religious compassion fast