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
A97141	The analysis, explication, and application, of the sacred and Solemne League and Covenant, for the reformation, and defence of religion, the honour and happinesse of the King, and the peace and safety of the three kingdomes of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Enjoyned by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament in England, and the states of Scotland, to be taken by every man throughout all the three kingdomes. Very usefull, and profitable to be read, observed, and kept by all who take the said covenant. By Richard Ward, Minister of Stansteed Mount Fitches, in Essex.	Ward, Richard, 1601 or 2-1684.	1643 (1643)	Wing W798; Thomason E70_20; ESTC R5685	6,091	8

the next thing herein is the Meanes which we must use for the performance of this part of our Covenant namely seriously to endeavour with our persons purses estates and lives to performe what we have Covenanted And Fourthly the last thing herein is the limits bounds cautions or qualifications of this part of the Covenant to wit to endeavour the performance of each clause branch or particular thereof according to our severall vocations places and interests and no further And thus much for the Morall and Politique part of this Covenant Now SECONDLY some things in this Covenant are Theologicall and pious wherein five things are notable and worthy observation viz. the Matter Manner Meanes Limits and End or Scope First the Matter or Materiall Heads of the pious and Religious part of this Covenant are these five which follow to wit 1. The Reformation of Religion in the Kingdomes of England and Ireland wherein these foure things are expressed viz. 1. What must we endeavour the Reformation of Of Religion And 2. Where In the Kingdomes of England and Ireland And 3. Wherein In these foure things viz. First in Doctrine because many Popish Arminian hereticall schismaticall and heterodoxe doctrines have beene broached and printed and unsound tenents maintained countenanced and patronized in these Kingdomes And Secondly in Worship because we were taught to worship God according to the humane inventions and ordinances of man and not according to the Word of God And Thirdly in Discipline because many things therein were superstitious and not many tending either to edification or decency And Fourthly in Government because the Government of our Church by Arch-Bishops Bishops Deanes Arch-Deacons c. was never advantageous to our Church but rather destructive as our former superstitious advancing of superstitious Priests putting downe of preaching silencing of Preachers and the like doe evidently confirme and therefore none need question the legality of the Parliaments abolishing of them or of our assisting of them herein this kind of Government not being Jure Divino but Humane at hath beene abundantly proved of late and consequently may be taken away by as lawfull authority as it was instituted to wit the Parliament of the Kingdome with which the King of Englands power is although the Person of Charles Steward be absent separated from them And 4. How must our Religion be Reformed namely First according to the Word of God And Secondly according to the example of the best Reformed Churches II. Another Materiall branch of the Theologicall part of this Covenant is the preservation of the true and truly Reformed Religion of the Church of Scotland wherein these two things are included viz. First whom or what we engage our selves to preserve viz. The Reformed Religion in the Church of England in Doctriue Worship Discipline and Government And Secondly against whom doe we engage our selves to preserve it viz. Against our or the common Enemy of Religion namely the grand Impostor of Rome with all his abetters and adherents that is as wee now desire the assistance of our brethren of Scotland against those Atheists Papists and Irish Rebels who have banded themselves against us so we covenant and promise that if any of these or the like Viperous Brood shall endeavour to overthrow the Reformed Religion in Scotland in Dectrine Worship Discipline and government that we will to the utmost of our power and place endeavour to preserve it III. Another materiall head or branch of the pious part of this Covenant is to endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdomes to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion confession of faith forme of Church government directory for worship and Catechizing And IV. To endeavour the extirpation both first of Popery And Secondly of Prelacy i.e. Church Government by Archbishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Arch-Deacons Deanes Deanes and Chapters and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on that Hierarchy And Thirdly Superstition And fourthly Heresie And fiftly Schisme And Sixtly Prophanenesse And seventhly whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound doctrine and the power of godlinesse And V. Another materiall head of the Theologicall part of this Godmans is the amendment of lifes wherein these two things are observable viz. First the Cause moving us to this amendment of life which is twofold viz. 1. The consideration of our guiltinesse by reason of our mani … s and provocations against God and his Sonne Jes●● Christ And 2. Our present distresses and dangers the fruits of that guiltinesse And Secondly the expression of this amendment of life Note here our amendment of life is expressed either by our actions or affection our deeds or desire FIRST by our deeds and actions or words for we professe and declare before God and the world our unfained desire to bee humbled Now here three things crave our animadversion viz. I. For what must we be humbled For our owne sinnes and the sinnes of these Kingdomes And II. For what sinnes must we humble our selves viz. for these namely 1. That wee have not as wee ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel And 2. That we have not laboured for the puritie and power thereof And 3. That we have not endeavored to receive Christ in our hearts nor to walke worthy of him in our lives And. III. Why must we humble our selves for these sinnes because they are the causes of other sinnes and transgressions so much abounding amongst us And SECONDLY our amendment of life is expressed by our affections and true and unfained purposes and desires which respect both our selves and ours wherein three things are considerable to wit First the matter of this purpose and desire namely I. To amend our lives And II. Each one of us to goe before other in the example of a reall reformation And Secondly the extent of this purpose and desire to wit I. It must be both in publique and private And II. In all duties we owe to God and man And Thirdly the scope or end of this purpose and desire of amendment which is I. That the Lord may turn away his wrath and heavy indignation from us And II. That he may establish these Churches and kingdomes in truth and peace and thus much for the matter of the Theologicall part of this Covenant Now Secondly the next thing in this part is the manner thereof to wit That every branch clause part and particle of this Covenant be performed and observed sincerely really faithfully and constantly And Thirdly next in order followes the meanes whereby we may be enabled to performe what we have promised which are 1. An earnest endeavour to the utmost of our ability to pay our Vowes and performe all our promises unto God And II. The grace of God enabling us in some measure thereunto And Fourthly another thing in this Theologicall part of our Covenant is the limits or qualification thereof viz. We must endeavour to observe every branch of this Covenant according to

THE ANALYSIS Explication and Application of the Sacred and Solemne League and Covenant FOR The Reformation and Defence of Religion the Honour and Happinesse of the King and the Peace and safety of the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland Enjoyned by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament in England and the States of Scotland to be taken by every man throughout all the three KINGDOMES Very usefull and profitable to be read observed and kept by all who take the said Covenant By RICHARD WARD Minister of Stansteed Mount Fitchet in ESSEX Imprimatur James Cranford Printed at London for J. D … 1643. The Analysis Explication and Application of the sacred and Solemne LEAGVE and COVENANT IN the League or Covenant we may observe these three generall parts viz. The Exordium Narration and Conclusion FIRST in the Exordium is onely shewed the occasion moving cause necessity and end of the taking of this Covenant which is so obvious and perspicuous to every eye that I forbeare for brevities sake the particular anatomizing and analysing thereof SECONDLY in the Narration or Narrative part of this Covenant are these three generalls to wit The Covenanters the Covenanted and the Covenant it selfe First the Covenanters or those who take or make this Covenant are all who are cordially and candidely affected to the true Reformed Protestant Religion in all the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland Secondly the Covenanted or he with whom we enter into Covenant 〈◊〉 Jehovah our God the great Creatour and preserver of Heaven and Earth Thirdly there is the Covenant it selfe wherein and whereby the Covenanters oblige and bind themselves solemnely unto God Now in this Covenant are some things Morall and Politick and some Theologicall and pious FIRST some things in this Covenant are Morall and Politique wherein foure things are remarkeable viz. the Matter Manner Meanes and Limits or Qualifications thereof First the Matter or Materiall heads of the Morall and Politicall part 〈◊〉 this Covenant are these to wit I. Mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments And II. The Liberties of the Kingdomes And III. The Preservation and defence of the King wherein these particular are included to wit First whom must we endevour to preserve defend the Kings Majest● Secondly what must we endevour to preserve and defend in the Kings His Majesties Person and Authority Thirdly how must we endevour the proservatiin of his person and authority In the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdomes that is either 1. We by endeavouring the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdomes doe truely and really endeavour the preservation and defence of his Majesties person and authority they being the best friends and strongest supporters of his person and power who stand most stoutly for the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms the Kings Throne being established by Piety Equity and Law Or 2. We promise to endeavour to preserve his Majesties person and authority to wit so long as he really endeavours the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms And Fourthly Why or wherefore doe we thus endeavour the preservation and defence of the Kings authority and person to wit 1. That the world may beare witnesse with our consciences of our loyalty unto him And 2. That we may make it evident unto the world that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesties just power and gr●atnesse IV. Another Materiall Head or branch of the Politique part of this Covenant is to discover malevolent and ill-affected spirits and persons wherein these three particulars are involved viz. First Whom must we discover All such as have beene or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evill Instruments of the Church or State And Secondly Wherein or how doth their malignancy shew it selfe viz. 1. By hindering the Reformation of Religion i.e. by persisting and obstinately continuing in any schisme errour heresie old custome or superstitious practise c. 2. By dividing the King from his people i.e. by drawing him from his Parliament or detaining by counsell perswasion or otherwise his Majesty from comming unto or complying with his Parliament And 3. By dividing one of the Kingdomes from another i.e. by raising aspersions casting scandals fomenting jelousies or differences betwixt them and the like And 4. By making any faction or parties amongst the people contrary to this League and Covenant And Thirdly Why must we discover these and the like Malignant persons That they may be brought to publike triall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the supreme Judicatories of both Kingdomes respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient V. Another Materiall particular of the Morall part of this Covenant is That whereas the happinesse of a blessed peace betweene these Kingdomes denyed in former times to our Progenitors is by the good Providence of God granted unto us and hath beene lately concluded and setled by both Parliaments we shall now each one of us according to our place and interest endeavour that they may remaine conjoyned in a firme peace and union to all posterity And VI. Another is to assist and defend all those that enter into this league and Covenant in the maintaining and pursuing thereof And VII Not to suffer our selves to be divided or withdrawne from this blessed Vnion and Conjunction Now herein these foure particulars are unfolded viz. First the impulsive or moving causes of this division and alienation namely Combination p●rswasion and Terrour And Secondly the Manner of this tie or obligation viz. we must neither directly nor indirectly suffer our selves to be dis-joynted by any waies or meanes whatsoever And Thirdly when or how we show our selves to be divided and withdrawne from this blessed Vnion and Conjunction to wit 1. When we make defection to the contrary part And 2. When we give our selves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause which so much concernes the glory of God the good of the Kingdomes and honour of the King And Fourthly the Meanes whereby we may better continue firme in this League of Vnity without any alienation or fraction Now these Means are 1. To continue therein all the dayes of our lives zealously and constantly against all opposition And 2. To promote the same according to our power against all lets and impediments whatsoever And 3. What we are not able by our selves to suppr●sse or over●●m● to reveale and make knowne that it may be timely prevented or removed And thus much for the Matter or Materiall Heads and branches of the Morall and Politique part of this Covenant Now Secondly the next thing herein is the Manner how all these forenamed Particulars are to be observed or performed viz. syncerely really constantly and faithfully i.e. without any falshood faining diffimulation hypocrisie coldnesse and inconstancy And Thirdly