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
A95952	Brittish lightning or suddaine tumults, in England, Scotland and Ireland; to warne the united Provinces to understand the dangers, and the causes thereof: to defend those amongest us, from being partakers of their plagues. Cujus aures clausæ sunt veritati, ut ab amico verum audire nequeat, hujus salus desperanda est. The safety of that man, is hopelesse, we, may feare, that stopps his eares against his friend, and will the truth not heare. Mors est servitute potior. Grim-death's fierce pangs, are rather to be sought; than that we should to Babels-yoke, be brought. VVritten first in lowe-dutch by G. L. V. and translated for the benefit of Brittaine.; Britannischen blixem. English	G. L. V.	1643 (1643)	Wing V5; Thomason E96_21; ESTC R20598	42,972	73

have had not onely ecclesiasticall but Civill offices also have been also privy-counsellers Treasurers Keepers of the great Seal and I know not what therefore they have been a member of the Parliament in the upper house yea they have spent the most part of their time in politick affairs and had so far ingrossed them that scarce any man without their assistance could attaine a civill office N. I hear you but I thought that the preachers much more the Bishops had so much to do in their own offices that it well required the whole man and therefore that they had no time to trouble themselves with states matters But tell me pray how had the Bishops and Politiks contrived it to bring all goverment into their hands to finish their dessigne E. To this purpose they had conceived strange windings and first they put it in to the kings head that he ought to be an absolute Soveraigne not to be under any according to the example of France and that they would bring him thereunto by means of the Ecclesiastical persons which they had now at hand in all places and sate in the ear of the people When they had made the King to relish this to make him confirm all their design then they made him presently believe that all their doing tended thereunto N. Was the King then no absolute King so that he might do all that he would not having any man above him E. In no wise for Kings are limited by laws so that they can make no new laws nor lay any impositions on their subjects nor go to war with any without the consent of the Parliament els the inhabitants are not bound thereunto yea they are lyable to punishment if they pay any impositions or subsidies to the king upon his particuler order or will and those that counsil the King therunto or assist him therin are guilty of high treason N. What is the Parliament under which the King stands also E. It is the highest assemblie of the Kingdome which consisteth of the King Dukes Earles Barrons Bishops the Commons which is two persons out of every shire and chief citie deputed with absolute power that together they might redresse the enormities of the kingdom according to the lawes and to ordeyne new laws and impositions to the advantage of the King or kingdome without any compulsion of votes which assembly is gathered and dissolved by the King N. That is a stately and powerfull assembly if they understand themselves and of great might to redresse the greatest abuses and to assist the King with great sums of mony It were to be wished that we had sometime also such Parliaments as in former times the assemblie of the states generall used to be before that there was a Parliament companie of states generall set up thereby might great abuses amongst us also be reformed under which now 't is to be feared we shall sinck But have the great ones liked this Parliament E. That you may easilie imagine O no the Arch-Bishop and all Courtiers and those that were in favour with the King have alwayes withstood it many yeares delayed it or when it was assembled and that it began to touch the soars and to search out the bad practises of the great ones then knew they how to order the King that he from time to time hath caused the Parliament to break up and now the last time in May 1640. not withstanding that the King and state was in an exceeding great distraction by reason of great stirs that were in all places of the kingdome N. I hear it well there is much-adoe in all places it goes so with us also that they that know how to make themselves masters in the Provinces they hinder as much as they can that the states may not come together or when they are together they set one city against the other casting many things in amongst the members that so they might not understand one another and so depart a sunder without effecting any thing to the highest discommodity burthen trouble dishonour and spoil of the Provinces and unspeakable disavantage of many that it concerneth that can procure no expedition from the table which in the end if the members be not wise to understand one an other to use their own freedome without depending upon these or any will bring all into confusion as you said it was in your three kingdomes But tel me what were the stirs that were in all places of the kingdomes E. Unmeasureable great and dangerous for Scotland was in arms we had a leager in the field on the frontiers of Scotland the King was set on to fall upon the Scots and they practised daily to set the two Kingdoms together by the ears N. But tel me pray whence proceeded this disunion for the two Kingdomes have one King one Religion and have till this time lived in peace what hath brought forth this disquiet E. This disunion hath been a long time in breeding by the Bishops and Papists whose designe was not onely the changing of Religion in England but also in Scotland yea to thrust in all their superstitions into Scotland first as being the weaker nation and ftom thence into England to which end they have by little and little thrust in Bishops there against the minde of the Kingdome which they first pretended should but serve to keep good order in the Church without having such authoritie over the church and Ecclesiasticall persons as in England but growing by little and little in authoritie power so 't was that they indeavoured alwaies to have as great authoritie in Scotland as in England wherein they were heartened by the Bishop of Canterbury and through his advice by the King also and in the end set on work to thrust in the Service-book that is the Lithurgie of England into the church of Scotland augmented with many additions some openly and some covertly opposing the reformed Religion together with all those former papish Caeremonies that were before in England which first of all began to be set on work when the King was in Scotland to be crowned N. How have the Scots behaved themselves therein for they have been alwayes famoused for great Protestants and lovers of the puritie of worship ful of courage to mainteyn rhe liberties of the Kingdome against all opposers E. The Scots so soon as they were aware of these novelties and that they were propounded by the king himself in their Parliament so to thrust in some beginning thereof into Scotland then have all the gentrie and burgesses cried it down in the presence of the King and persisted therein notwithstanding that the King took it very discourteously and manifested the same by his suddain discontented departure out of the Kingdome commanding his Counsell to thrust in such church orders as he had given them in charge by authority N. Durst the Kings counsell attempt such a thing against the minde of the gentrie and Commons for they

things unto you that so you may the more heartilie pray unto God for us if need so require afford us all the assistance you can also stirre up others to doe the like N. I will verie willingly goe along with you give you the welcome for I love the English nation with myne heart would be angry with all such Netherlanders as should not take compassion on the heavinesse of England that had so great compassion on us when we were wrestling against the tyrannie of Spaine when they came to helpe us both with their goods and bloods were the principall instruments of our freedome No true hearted Netherlander shal forget that favour but by all meanes seeke to requite it Seing then that we are come to a good fire I pray you relate unto me in order what are the occasions of all these stirres in England also who be the causes thereof E. The causes thereof are divers the Jesuiticall papists the Bishops those politicke flatterers that are about the King at Court other malignant persons besides who have each his particuler end yet all tending to the falsifying of religion changing of government suppressing of the subjects and ruine of church and common-wealth N. You tell me strange things how could all these persons weave one webbe seeming so contrary one to another as light and darknes heat and cold the Jesuits and bishops are alwayes so farre different one from an other as truth and falsehood Christ and Antichrist the one being supporters of the popes kingdome the other heads of the reformed Religion they serve divers masters are of a divers Kingdome yea religion the one seeketh alwayes to build up what the other seeketh to pull downe How can these two walke together when they are not a greed E. We thought so too that the Papists and our Bishops were so farre from one another as the east is from the west and that they were deadly enemies the one to the other because in former times many of the Bishops have resisted the Romish kingdome even unto bloud yea many of them have been martyred by the papists beheaded burnt and in all places in the pure religion persecuted unto death But we have in our times of peace and wealth all too well observed that our Bishops have forgotten and slighted their office their promises before God and the congregation the example of their predecessors and in stead of leaders are become misleaders of defenders of the pure worship of God falsifyers and corrupters of the doctrine of salvation and extinguishers thereof N. You relate unto me such things as I should never have beleeved What! I have sometime heard as I thinke propounded by our best polititians that it were good that we had also Bishops in our land or at least super intendants that then all things would be better carried in the church for the preservation of order to breed reverence whereas now every one being master alike great confusiō by that meās is bred in the church trouble and an heavy burthen upon the goverment for when any man will now prosecute a matter in the church before church men he is so retroubled then it were no more but speaking to the head and he should give order to the rest hereby also those Synods which cost the land so much should be cut off which seemed to me not so unreasonable a proposition but if the Bishops or Superintendants should make such worke as you tell me the Lord deliver us from them E. O friend call you them good yea your best polititians that are with childe of such a pernitious conceit that were the right high-way to turne all things upside-down amongst you to disturbe the peace both of Church and common weal and to put to hazard the purity of religion which by Gods speciall blessing is established amongst you in spight of so many enemies and wicked opposers and crowned with many blessings from heaven for that your free order and Church government agreable to Gods word not without reason so highly commended among us is the hedge whereby the truly reformed religion must be preserved and maintained which our brethren the Scots well knowing have judged that they could not answer it before God and their posterity if they should suffer their old church-government and order which as I am informed differeth not much from that of yours to be changed and will rather loose their lives and goods in Gods cause than suffer the purity of religion which is the foundation of all prosperity both in church and common weale to be given over as a prey to the enemies and suffer a company of half papish Bishops to dominere over their consciences And we hope that our Lords and Burgesses of Parliament perceaving how farre we are run out in this point of Church-government worship wil labour to bring our churches into the same church order with our brethren the Scots at least that they will utterly roote out the Episcopall goverment together with all its hurtfull rootes and branches And should you have such persons amongst you that would bring in these evil plants which God hath not planted then were you utterly undone Let not therefore the ancient land-marks be removed hold that you have that no man take your crown N. You open mine eyes more and more I had not so deepe an insight into these things before and I perceave that our Churches and the land wherin we dwel as a free people can not have peace if they should remove the land marks of civill and ecclesiasticall government the whole house should by that means totter And now I thinke upon that which was written to me a while since concerning those stirs which here and there appeare in our provinces where men under pretence of a papish right which yet ought to be nullified and cashiered by the power of our reformation seeke to rob the churches of that godly right which they have receaved from Christ their King in the free election and choice of their teachers how that the pretended patrons thrust in preachers against the wils and liking of the assembly and if they refuse to receive them they shut the church doors and thrust the lawful preachers out of the pulpit so that publike worship could not be performed without danger of blood shedding quarrelling and unsupportable insolencies God preserve us that it break no further out and therfore I will pray to God that all good and godly governors of the land may maintain the authority of Synods and Church-assemblies for the redresse of such like evils and that they may not be hindered in their proceedings in those things which concern the churches then should not the assemblies many times last so long but the land be unburthened of unnecessary charges which otherwise are here very narrowly reckoned on But I am wholy inclined to hear the state of your church tell me then what might be the intention of the Bishops and

Iesuits which you accompt one brood E. What intention should they have had to bring in papistry into England and the Inquisition over the Inhabitants N. That is lightly to be beleeved concerning the Iesuits who disperse themselves like poison over the whole world to make one childe of hell twise as bad as themselves to which end they creep into all courts sow jealousies in all places and are the cause of all the warres in the world but that the Bishops had such an intention that made profession of the reformed religion that sometimes write and preach against the papists that is not so easy to be beleeved E. You speak the truth therein that the Bishops to deceave the people and that the King should not entertain those complaints that come against them concerning that point do some times write and preach against those of the papacy yea the Arch-Bishop himselfe preaching on a time before the King did wholy proceed against popish doctrine and in the pulpit did exhort all church-men to teach write against them and that every one in his parish should have a watchfull eye over them to make them come to Church or els to complain which when some have done then hath he by indirect means persecuted imprisoned and distressed them for the same letting them secretly know that it was because others should be affrighted from doeing the like N. Then must he have bin an horrible hypocrite and have had a seired conscience so shall Gods judgement certainly follow him at the heels and his kingdome shall not stand E. Such an one he was indeed who knew how so cunningly to dissemble that the King thought him the holyest man in England he was alwayes a scoffer of the upright a freind of Iesuits a flatterer of great ones by which meanes he became so great but now truly as little and despised sitting where he can doe no more mischief N. But how is he out of favour is his game ended hath Cod brought his wheel about E. O yea God hath verified it on him that those that oppresse his shall also be oppressed for with the same measure that he hath measured to others it is measured to him again He hath thrust many out of their offices and cast them into prison and that is justly come upon himself he sits fast in the tower and is long agone condemned as a Traitor to the land and were it not for his age and that he is God-father to one of the Kings children he had bin long since executed and what shall become of him yet is uncertain N. Yea I thought that the great God of heaven and earth should yet doe right upon him which had abused his right to the greatest Injustice against his church worship But tell me I pray where hence it appears that the Bishops together with the Iesuits sought to alter the religion and bring in papistrie E. That shineth as cleer as the bright noon day you must also confesse it and the whole world when you hear what wayes they went in N. I pray now explain it a little unto me for many in our land especially amongst the great ones beleeve it not and think that they are but reproches and misse-reports of the puritanes or Brownists or some discontented great ones because they can not have choice of eare and share in the prey E. O No! they be no slaunders it appears by the particulers for all that the Iesuits could have bin able to doe suddainly to make the people papists before they were aware of it that have they done and to that end they have by little and little and by degrees set up all the outward forme of papistrie in the church of England for the apparrel which the Bishops and preachers wear in Gods service are of the same fashion with the apparrell of the Bishops and preists under the papacy N. Doe the Bishops and preachers amongst you weare other clothes then our teachets the teachers of the reformed churches in France Geneva Switserland and Germanie do weare E. O yes if you did but see the Bishops or the Bishops preachers say service in our church you could not distinguish them from the popish Clergie for they have then on a Bishops-gowne wide sleeves a fower cornered cap the tippet the surplus the Cope the hoode the cannonical clothes and all that a Priest at any time puts on N. Is that possible if our preachers here should begin to go so the children would run after them and tear such clothes off their backs throw dirt at them and esteem them for the papists apes E. Yea so doe our Episcopall-clergie carry the businesse who have a long time used our people to these clothes that it should not be accompted new when they should appear in them not as reformed but as publike servants to the seat of Rome yet this is but the least the churches also a few yeares since were made altogether like the papists churches N. What do I hear I hope that there be no Images set up there or thar Dagon is placed by the Ark there are too many excellent Authours that have written against such high places as that they should not be taken away E. O that it had bin so but we must confesse to the shame of our Nation that the Tempels of God are become slaughter-howses and right Innes for all the wares of Antichrist for the Bishops have caused to be set up in our churches Pictures Images Crucifixes Wax-candles Altars they sing their evening and morning song with Beades Organs Musick as in the popish Mattens they cause the pulpit to be hanged with the Armes and marke of the Iesuits especially in the Cathedral churches and in the Kings Chappell where they set up great Cracifixes after the manner of the papists and have also so adorned all corners with Images that many papists and other strangers coming thither knew no better but that they had been papist churches and chappels N. That is no wonder for according to your relation one egge is not so like an other as your churches and the papists But 't is wonder that the governours and specially the King have suffered such things for that is the right way to lead all the inhabitants blind fold to all Idolatrie E. It was well said concerning the governours but experience hath taught us that where the Bishops are masters the governours have not much to say yea they had such power that they have given out process to bring divers officers Majors Iustices prisoners to their spirituall Court confiscated their goods made them so affraid that they must flye the land and all because they did not dispatch to set up Altars in place of the Communion Tables no man durst lift up their heads against them and concerning the King they made him believe that the tolleration of the outward form of papistrie should bring to passe that seing there was so little difference in the outward

and all manner of Seminaries that have so done their indeavor to turn England from their Religion that they have heartened or won many thousands to the papish religion to the unspeakable weakening of our state trouble of the reformed that were where they were mightie oppressed by them yea must suffer great distresse without being heard therin when they came to complaine of it to the clergie where the favour not withstanding was continually on the papists side N. There hath been then a great fall in England for I have allwayes heard that every man was compelled to come to church and attend upon Gods service so that none were excused no not the greatest and that there were very strict orders against the Papists made in divers Parliaments so that I heare wel that it hath gone amongst you as it doth amongst us for the more is the pittie there were many times strict Proclamations read against the breaking in of papistrie but notwithstanding papistrie is openly set up in the middest of us for they have their formall churches with stooles benches Altars ovals quiers Candelsticks cupps in sundrie cities as also in the countrie and they say service at the sound of our bels going openly thereunto the Priests are knowne amongst us preaching against this goverment that it is unlawful exhorting the people to helpe the King to his land will absolve no man in shrift but such as hold the king for the lawfull Lord of the land goe publike processions with an hundred at a time place crucifixes in the church-yards at the graves of the dead come to torment the people of our religion upon their death-beds with their Idol and oyle Yea they have their whole church-goverment amongst us and have divided the whole land amongst Bishops Arch-Bishops Deacons Arch-deacons every one knowing his Iurisdiction they have also given all the civill offices unto certaine persons and when they dye then they confer them upon others againe upon hope that though now they be but titular yet ●hat once they shall have the reall possession therof So that if any change through any stir or other waies should come which God prevent each should know his place and office both in Ecclesiastical and civil affairs that so they might at once over rule the land E. You wondered that it went so in England but I wonder exceedingly that it should go so amongst you for while you give such liberty to the papists you put the souls of the inhabitants yea the whole church and land in a scale and suffer your sworn enemies that are bound by oath to the King of Spain and the Pope to set up a goverment in your goverment Who if it should go ill but in the least or that there were any likely hood to make the King of Spain master would strait fall off so that you foster an Adder in your bosoms N. You are in the right and all good Patriots understand it so it hath also sundry times appeared to be so when the land was in any trouble as when the enemie was in the valle all papists prickt up their ears spake exceeding bouldly said openly out now shortly it shall be our time and the further the enemy brake into the land the boulder they were as also when we lost Schenk-Scans and that the enemie meant thereby to come in the countenances of the papists were then cheerfull and yet when there cometh any bad newes you may easylie perceive with which fide they hold although peradventure they should be no more the better for it than wee as it appeares in manie places yet their hate is so great that they would willinglie wish to perrish them selves so that we might but perrish with them yea they are yet so bould in some places that when any godly preachers are somthing zealous to bridle their insolencies they dare send word to such persons that they should consider how it now goes in Ireland yet not withstanding these deadly enemies of our state are winked at because they blinde the eies of the Officers and great ones with great guifts and yearlie pensions as they them selves do say that they are beholding to no man for their freedome but their monie by which means they cannot be effectuallie proceeded against notwithstanding those Remonstaunces given against them by the church so that the Synods were necessitated to leave it to God and protest before all the world that they would be free of the sowles by this meanes lost having done according to their places what they could as also from that distruction which shall certainlie come upon the land therby if not speedily prevented Whereunto I pray God the Lord to stirr up all Corporations and their particuler members to take the redresse of these thinges into their hands and not to let it hang upon the officers or a few persons as it is here and thereunto the great advantage of this cause E. Yea I heare then that thinges go ill not onely in England but that in this matter it stands ill enough amongst you also although you have no Bishops to let such mischiefs break in but hold this for certaine that the whole heap of papists if they can master us and it hit right shall be quicklie a tip toe against you for I have latelie seen a letter out of the Netherlands to one of our papists which earnestlie stirreth ours up to use all meanes possible to become masters and to advance poperie assuring them that they with the helpe of England should be here strong enough to make them selves masters both of land and Religion therfore their breaking in groweth and increase of such is not to be slightlie esteemed for they can all wayes at a start be seconded by your neighbor enemies if they but make them selves masters of one passe or other so as they can not do with us because they must fetch all assistance from beyond Sea N. You say right and I know not how our goverment is so besotted that they do not better consider it for every one knoweth that there cannot be a more hurtfull nor dangerous enemy than that within especially if it be one with a powerfull enemy without and therefore God open all eyes to see it You have now told me much concerning the designs of the Bishops and the means they used to bring in papistry but tel me now once wherin the malignant Courtiers and other infected statesmen were the cause of the stirs in England E. You well remembred what I told you in the beginning that the Bishops and the malignant Politiks besides the papists have occasioned all our heavinesse for it is certain that the Bishops have spoiled all in the church and together with the Politiks have turned all things up side down in the common weal also N. How understand you that together with the Politikes I think not that the Bishops had also the care of worldly matters E. How have you not known that O yes the Bishops