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	true_a	visible_a	7,129	5	9.3865	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87123	The harmonious consent of the ministers of the province within the county palatine of Lancaster, with their reverend brethren the ministers of the province of London, in their late testimonie to the trueth of Jesus Christ, and to our Solemn League and Covenant : as also against the errours, heresies, and blasphemies of these times, and the toleration of them.	Heyrick, Richard, 1600-1667.	1648 (1648)	Wing H800A; Thomason E434_7; ESTC R7597	26,660	31

THE Harmonious Consent OF THE MINISTERS OF THE Province within the County Palatine OF LANCASTER With their Reverend Brethren the Ministers of the Province of London in their late Testimonie to the Trueth of Jesus Christ and to our Solemn League and Covenant As also against the Errours Heresies and Blasphemies of these times and the Toleration of them LONDON Printed by J. Macock for Luke Fawne at the sign of the Parrot in Pauls Church-yard MDCXLVIII THE Harmonious Consent OF THE Ministers of the Province WITHIN THE County Palatine of Lancaster c. IT is a saying of Solomon worthy to be writen in letters of gold That a friend loveth at all times and a brother is born for adversity a Prov. 17 17 And therefore though God need not the witness of men nor truth our testimony yet when his name is blasphemed the truth contradicted and opposed the faithful friends of God and the sincere lovers of the truth will as in all ages they have done stand up in his cause which they then see in such apparant hazard In the Scriptures we read of a cloud of witnesses b Heb. 12. 1. that appeared for God and bare witness to his truth though for so doing some of them had tryal of cruel mockings and scourgings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonments c Heb. 11 36 37 38. c. In the Apostasie of the ten tribes Elijah and Elesha were zealous for God against the false Prophets of Baal Jeremy at Jerusalem and Ezekiel in Captivity bore witness against the whoredoms of the house of Judah as is most evident throughout their whole Prophesies Peter and the other Apostles though commanded not to teach any more in the name of Christ yet did not therefore forbear resolving rather to obey God then men d Acts 5.28 The two witnesses prophesied one thousand two hundred threescore days all the while the Gentiles did tread under-foot the holy City e Rov 11.2 3. Arrius met with great Athanasius and when the whole world wondered at it self that it was become Arrian the general Councel Of Nice f Concentrate a●tem pratie in un●●lles d●●●llus de p●●lyi●●ose phupt united li●e●●ll it 〈◊〉 di●●n ●in●●●i●sani●●●ale miru●●● it ●●vi●a●●●um ●●npin●●●l●m s●●tntiaplane admyab●les c. Binius vol. 1. Pay 262 met and laid an anatheme on that pernicious Heresie In latter times God had many in this Land who loved not their lives unto the death g Rev. 12 11. and gave testimony to the truth not in ink but in blood and who though they be dead yet speak h Heb. 11.4 as their names wil live for ever When the Complices of Arminius grew many some from the several reformed Churches convened in the general Synod of Dort and accursed his pestilentious Errours And yet more lately The i See the Pre. face to the Protestation May 5.1641 designs of Priests and Jesuites and other adherents to the Sea of Rome against the true reforuted Protestant Religion in his Majesties Dominions established the introducing of divers innovations and superstitions into the Church together with the driving out of multitudes out of his Majesties Dominions amongst other reasons brought forth the Protestation for the defence as of other things so also of the true reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England against all Popery and Popish innovations within this Realm wherein not only the Parliament it self was engaged but according to the k See the Order of the House of Commons May 5.1641 concerning the printing of the Preamble the Protestar'en and sending down the Copies printed by the Knights and Burgesses who were to intimate with what willingness all the Members of the House made the Protestation and further to sign fie that as they jutisie the taking of it in themselves so they cannot but approve it in all such as shal take it Order and l See the Voce of the House July 30.1641 wherein they declare that what person soever shal n●●t●ke the Protestation is unsit to hear Other in the Chuch or Common wealth Vote of the House of Commons the generality of the Kingdom were engaged too The m The Preface of the solenm League and Covenant published Sept. 27.1643 calling to mind the treacherous and bloody plots conspiracies attempts and practises of the enemies of God against the true Religion and professors therof in all places especially in these Kingdoms ever since the Reformation of Religion and how much their rage power and presumption had been of late and were at that time increased and exercised did in a great tryal of affliction n Cor. 8.2 induce these Kingdoms to enter into asolemn League and Covenant as for other thing so also for the defence and Reformation of Religion and Extirpation of Popery Prelacy Superstition Heresie Schism and Profaness c. by which so the Protestation and Covenant as there was care taken for the better defence of the truth so there was also a glorious confession of it made before God Angels and men And now when men of perverse spirits and corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith had resisted the truth o 2 Tim. 3.8 this stirred up the zeal of our reverend and godly brethren the Ministers of the Province of London to give testimony to the truth of Jesus Christ And therefore that we the Ministers of Christ within the Province of the testimony of them that have gone before us considering that we cannot but be sensible of the strange and woful Apostasie of sundry from the Faith the great opposition made against the Government and Discipline of Jesus Christ the sad Divisions and Rents in this tattered and torn Church that an universal Toleration of all even the most execrable doctrines that ever were hatcht in hel or broached in the world is earnestly labored after by many and that the solemn League and Covenant sworn with hands lifted up to the most high God is with many buried in oblivion as it is not only neglected and slighted but also contemned scorned derided and most palpably voilated and trampled on by not a few and that its manifest that God is hereby shamefully dishonored most highly provoked neighbor Churches justly scandalized all fundamental and saving truths in danger to be plucked up by the roots and our several slocks to be poysoned with the spreading Errors of the times The claim that is laid to truth by the three glorious persons in the blessed Trinity p The Father is called The God of truth Deut. 32.4 the Son the truth Jo 14 6 the holy Ghost the Spirit of truth Jo. 14.17 the high price and account that is worthy to be set upon it being to be bought q Prov. 23 23 though at never so dear a rate how ever now a days esteemed of with many as a refuse commodity the high thankfulness we ow to God for keeping trueth so chaste and pure so long

of light and reason in other things God hath put the sword in the Parliaments hands for the terror of evil doers and the praise of them that do wel c. See a Letter sent to the House of Commons and printed 1645. going under the name of Oliver Cromwel and set down by Mr Rutherford in his survey of the spiritual Antichrist page 250. part 1. that do conceive that in things of the mind the sword is not put into the hands of the civil Magistrate for the terror of evil doers and the praise of them that do wel Yet because we judg the Toleration of all kind of opinions and professions in matters of Faith Errours therein being in the number of those evil works to which the Magistrate is to be a terror k Row 1● 3 4 to be impious and wicked and would be a tender nurse to give suck to cherish the foul ugly monstrous and mis-shapen births of our times as it would bealso desturctive to the Common wealth though we shall easily grant men are not to be punished by the Magistrate for their internal opinions which they do not discover l his 〈…〉 adjlipulamun qui sicuti beminum 〈…〉 is esse ajust it a 〈◊〉 de side opiniones a magis●●●ain 〈◊〉 esse 〈…〉 quanves 〈…〉 bo miman 〈◊〉 non esse puniendas largiamur 〈◊〉 tamia de rejpubluae exitialem religlonis proseljiunem a magistratu quibuslibet civibus ese ●●mitterdam negamus Synops purior theolog disput 50. thes 60. yet with our reverend brethren we do here profess to this Church and to all the Churches of God throughout the whole world That we do detest the forementioned Toleration m See a Yestimony to the Trueth of Jesus Christ page 34. And what ever others may expect to the contrary yet we hope that God wil never suffer the Parliament of England ever to be so unmindfut of either solemn League and Covenant or of their own formet Declarations and Remonstrances n The bonoiable House of Commans do thus remonshare They insuse into the people that we mean to abolish all Church Government and leave everyman to his own fancy for the service and worship of God And then afterwards they dicl●re And we do here declare that it is farfiom our purpose and desire to let loose the golden telns of Di●cipline and Government in the Church to leave private persons or particular Congregations to take up what form of diviven service they please for we hold it requifie that there should be throughout the whole Realm a consormity to that order which the Laws enjoyn according to the Word of God See the Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom Decemb 15.1641 Protestations and Professions as once to give a liltening car to such as might move for such a thing and that they might be kept from being guilry of so great a sin shal be out earnest prayer for them unto God continually night and day IV. And thus having expressed our deepest sence concerning the Errours and Heresies of these times and the Toleration of them which to us is so hateful and abominable we are now carryed on to declare what we conceive to be the cause of the spreading of our freting leprosie and eating gangrene If we make inquiry into our selves we must needs acknowledg our not prizing trueth as we ought not improving precious opportunities for good that have been put into our hands the great decay of the power of godliness leaving first love lukewarmness sleighting and undervaluing the means of grace and barrenness under them faults generally to be found in the better sort of people together with the many other grievous sins that are commited in the Land are just causes why we should be scourged with such a spiritual plague but yet these hinder not but that we may also as truly number the not fettling a wel ordered Church Government for so long a time after the old rotten building was polled down amongst the causes of the growth and spreading of pemicious Errours Anarchy wil cause confusion in the Church as wel as in the Common wealth And therefore we do profess that without a wel ordered Church Government that we here may use the words of the general Assembly of the Church of Scotland o See the Exhortation of the general Assembly of the Church of Scotland page 12. where they use these expressions in reference to the Preshyterial Government which we do also with them fully and freely own We know no other proper and effectual remedy against the present dangers of Religion in this Kingdom or for purging the Church from Scandals which are destructive either to sound doctrive or godliness and are therefore thankful to the Parliament for ordaining of late the speedy divission of all the Counties of the Kingdom into Classical Presbyteries ★ See the Ordinance of Pailiament for the speedy dividing and settling the several Counties of this Kingdom into distinct Classical Presbyteries and orderedd to be printed Jan. 29. 1647. Discipline and Government in the Church being the golden Reins whereunto this present Parliament hath wel likened it serving to curb and restrain men who are by nature like a wilde asses colt p Iob 11 12. affecting unbridled liberty it is the rod wherewith to correct petulant and froward children the shepherds crook which the faithful Pastors cannot want but to the spiritual prejudice of their flocks the keyes opening the doors for the admitance in of those whom Christ would have to be admited into his Church and the shuting out of whom he would have kept out it is the hedg or wal to keep the ravenous beasts from entering into Gods garden and vineyard the means to take the soxes the little soxes that spoil the vines ●s q Cant. 2 15. and to purge out the leaven that other wise though but little yet would leaven the whole lump r z Cor. 5.6 And if not a little Family no Common wealth or society of men can consist without the bond of Laws or Discipline ſ Steri a societ●● into 〈◊〉 a demus quae vel 〈◊〉 samiliam ●●beat comtinon in recto statu sin dis●po●●● potell eam esse multo magr●●● 〈…〉 esse Calvin lto 4. insti● cap. 12.1 ct 1. Si●ut use samiliane● respublier 〈…〉 societas sine legum dise●pl●●● 〈◊〉 ●●●do consistere potest 〈◊〉 ●●●lesae ch●●●li 〈…〉 in hoe 〈◊〉 po●●st constare a●st ●●rto ●g●●ini at queidoreis legibus in adsba●● per quae ordoejus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 adverj●● c●ms mondi sathanae f●aues ac m●i●●toc●●●●rvlatè consirve●ui Synopsis pu●or the dog Disp 48. thef 1. how can it be expected but want of Church Government will soon bring the Church to ruine Therefore seeing Government is so neccessry for the Church we cannot but judg that the want of it for so long a time hath been and is one main cause of those great evils with which

on Englands head we judged the day of entering into this Covenant to be Englands Coronation day as it was the day of the gladness of our hearts and wherein God wiped away the reproach cast upon us by Separatists before for the want of an express Covenant We do also remember how Copies of this Covenant were sent abroad into neighboring reformed Churches by whom as they were received with great joy so doubtless then their expectations were raised to see England shortly brought neerer unto them in a thorougher Reformation according to the Word of God those things being abjured which had been formerly as a partition-wal set up betwixt them and us And let us never let slip out of our minds how God from heaven smiled upon our Armies from the first day of entering into this Covenant until through the good hand of our God upon us for good the whole power of the enemy was quite broke in pieces and therefore if so soon as we have reaped such fruit and benefit from it we cast it away who knows but we may be forced to take it up again to save our lives And yet for all this we wish we had not cause for to complain that this Covenant thus strongly urged thus solemnly sworn thus blessed with success is contemned sleighted most palpably broken scorned and derided Where an holy and religious Covenant once made is regarded as it ought it wil be reverently spoken of neither wil the earnest and pathetical pressing the not casting it away be any matter to quarrel or scoff at And yet besides sundry other unsavory and reproachful expressions used tending plainly to bring the Covenant into disgrace to say no worse of them d The first thing you complain of under the head of omission is no less then the Solemn League and Covenant and here you do abound with your pathetick inter●ogations to affect the hearts of those whose eyes are in their howels whose understandings are drowned swallowed up in their passions after this manner And shal the Covenant which is as solemn a Vow which creatures on earth can make to God in heaven c. And again shall the Covenant for the preservation c. And again like the Papists which hold up their idolatrous Eucharist in the eyes of the people that they may fall down to worship it shal the Covenant which both Houses recommended to the Assembly of Yet again as if here lay all your bait to catch gudgeons shal our mutual solemn league and Covenant subscribed by the Parliaments of both Kingdoms c. Once more yet for if this spring fails all our sport wil be lost shal the Covonant even with those that took it be already out of date c. Scot●ish ●aift dispeld page 22. some there are that liken the earnest and often pressing of not laying aside the Covenant to the practise of the Papists holding up the idolatrous Eucharist in the eyes of the people that they may sal down and Worship it The Covenant binds to endeavour Reformation according to the Word of God and to bring the Churches in these Kingdoms to neerest uniformity in matters of Religion and yet the earnest pressing uniformity according to the Covenant is made by some e But secondly why do you make the solemn League and Covenant the uniicum necessartum the ballance of your sanctuary and the golden reed to measure your temple you have not a tutle of the word of God but all your cry is the solemn League and Covenant in stead of the Word of God the Jew hath his Talmud the Turk his Alcharon the Papist his Mass-book the Prelate his Service-book and must we have the solemn League and Covenant in stead of the Oracles of Heaven the Word of God Better it is that this brazen serpent should be broken to pieces and ground to powder then that men should fall down and worship it It was the hypocritical Pharisees pretending to heaven though minding the earth who making voyd the Law of God did teach for doctrines the tradition of the Edders let us not put up mans posts the Covenant by Gods posts the holy Scriptures Scottish mist dispell'd page 26 27. a substituting the Solemn League and Covenant in the room of the Oracles of Heaven aseting up of mans posts the Covenant by Gods posts the holy Scriptures and is compared to the Jew having his Talmud the Turk his Alcharon the Papist his Mass-Book the Prelate his Service-Book which kind of expressions and comparisons as we cannot but with greatest indignation detest and abhor so in that they set the Covenant that makes the Word of God the rule of all Reformation and Uniformity that is sworn to there at hostile opposition with the Word of God it is very evident to what purpose they tend sc that the covenanted Uniformity in matters of Religion should not be insisted on or urged for that were to set up mans polls the Covenant by Gods posts the holy Scriptures and were to be like the Jew having his Talmud the Turk his Alcharon the Papist his Mass-book c. and therefore the conclusion is better it is that this brazen serpent should be broken to pieces and ground to powder then that men should fall down and worship it though formerly an healing benefit was received from it Are not these plain evidences in what mean account the Covenant is with some persons when the earnest pressing the not laying it aside is so scorned and slonted at and when the urging of covenanted Uniformity wil not be endured And is not this Covenant also most palpably broken when not only Uniformity is cryed out against but a Toleration of all kind of Errours Heresies and Schisms in stead of endeavours to extirpate them is earnestly pursued by divers to say nothing of the great increase of Errours of all kinds the woful divisions and rents in the Church which never were more or greater then since the Covenant was taken nor of the abominable looseness and profaness of the times which certainly is not for to amend our lives and each one to go before another in the example of areal Reformation according as was professed and promised For these things we see cause to hang down our heads and blush and that our eyes should run down with tears continually as our hearts at the consideration hereof may be astonished and swallowed up with grief Oh what dishonor is hereby brought to God! What scandal given to Religion What matter of reproach and scorn is this like to be unto us from our common enemy What an unparalell'd blot is hereby laid upon this Church and Nation never like to be washed out in this Age nor in the Age of our children after us and what danger of swift destruction if there be not repentance in time May not the Lord complain of us as once he did of Israel When he slew them then they sought him f Psa 78.34 35 36

and keep it not expecting the blessing of God any longer on these Kingdoms then in the remembrance of it and adherence to it And as with the Reverend Alsembly of Divines ſ See the humble Advice of the Assembly of Divines concerning a Confession of Faith Chap. 22. Sect. 4. page 40. we are assured that an oath is to be taken in the plain and common sence of the words without equivocation or mental reservation adjudging the contrary opinion to lay a certain foundation for the cluding all or the as such a salve as this that the Covenant may be taken in mens own sence hath given occasion to some to except against the taking of it t See the Reasons of the present judgment in the University of Oxford concerning the Covenant c. page 22.23 so what ever any others may conceive to the contrary with our Reverend Brethren then Ministers of the Province of London u See a Testimony to the Tinen of Jesus Christ page 28. we do firmly beleeve That neither this nor any other oath is otherwise to be interpreted then according to the common plain and true grammatical sence of it accounting it a most absurd and wicked perverting of it when it is so interpreted as to engage to defend and maintain any kind of Religion whatsoever without any inquiry at all how orthodox it is if established by them who have all the authority that is visible to choose for themselves which is the construction that is put upon it by some that profess to have taken w Secondly what would it do were it renewed and made perpetuall thus much it saith in my opinion and no more whensoever you shall be violently hindred in the execution of that Religion you had amongst you at the time of the engagoment and shal require out assistance we must afford it you for the removall of that violence In like manner when we shal be hindred in the excreise of that Religion which we according to the Covenant shall establish here upon request to you made for that effect you are tyed to assist us and so throughtout all the other clauses respectively and equally carrying this along with you we are hereby obliged to the reciprocall defenco of one another according to the declaration of the party wronged in any of the particulars there comprised without being cavilled at or scrupled by the party involied whather your Religion be the same it was or ours the same it should be whether the bounds of your liberties or ours be not enlarged beyond their then line whether your delinquents or ours be justly so or no for the native Rights of both people being the principal it not the only thing we looked on when we swore we do not keep our oath in preserving those rights if we do not allow 〈◊〉 master-right to each several people 〈◊〉 by to be sole judges within themselves what ●●●●gion they will set up what kind of laws they will have what size what number of Magistrates they hold fit to execute those laws and what offendors to be tryed by them Hereupon you know we did not enquire at all how orthodox your religion was before we towed to maintain you in it that is in the quiet possession of it not in the theological trueth of it a business for an University perhaps not for a Kingdom being well assured it was established by them who had all the authority that is visible to chase for themselves and could not without apparent breach of order and in jury to fundamentals be disturbed in the exercise of what they had to chosen See the Independen●y of England edeavoured to be maintained by Henry Marten a Member of the Parliament there c. page 11 12. it God having never given such an absolute power to any men on earth to establish what religion they please and to require from any sort of persons in any Kingdom whatsoever who are all to render an account to God for themselves that they should maintain and defend it upon such establishment without any inquiry at all whether it be according to the Word of God or no as also because the Covenant according to this interperation might be made the bond of iniquity to maintain defend such Religions as are flat contrary to the Word of God as Judaism Turcism and even Paganism yea Popery it self although by Covenant we be expresly bound to endeavour to extirpate it if established by them who have all the authority that is visible choose for themselves And therefore we are sure this can be none of those native rights of the people of any of these Kingdoms which we looked on when we sware and which by this Oath or Covenant we are obliged to preserve Thus fearing lest if we had altogether held our peace at this time x Esther 4.14 God might have sufficiently vindicated his truth by other instruments but for our baseness judged us unworthy to be intrusted any longer with so precious a treasure as trueth is we have therefore chosen rather to approve our selves faithful to God by joyning hands with our brethren who have witnessed such a good confession in giving such a publike and open Testimony to the trueth of Jesus Christ to our Solemn League and Covenant and against the Errours Heresies and Blasphemies of these times and the Toleration of them though for so doing we should be never so much persecuted by men then by our sinful silence seem to be ashamed either of Christ his Trueth or faithful servants boldly standing up in the cause of our great master although thereby we might be assured to gain the whole world And now having discharged our consciences how ever our actions may be misconstrued by some yet we knowing our witness is in heaven and that God is the righteous judg we do not doubt but the testimony of our consciences that herein we have aimed at nothing but the glory of God the defence of his Trueth the health and recovery of this bleeding Church the casting some discountenance upon the raging Errours of these times and testifie our adherence to our Solemn League and Covenant wil abundantly support us against the worst of evils that can befal us for witness-bearing to the Trueth Subscribed the 3d of March 1647. by us Richard Heyrick Warden of Christ-Colledg in Manchester Richard Hollinworth Fellow of Christ-Colledg in Manchester Alexander Horrocks Minister of the Gospel at Deane John Tilsley Pastor of Dean John Harper Pastor of Bolton Richard Goodwin Minister of the Gospel at Bolton Richard Benson Minister of Chollerton William Alt Min of Bury Robert Bath Pastor of Rachdal William Assheton Pastor of Midleton John Harrison Pastor of Asshton-underline Thomas Pyke Pastor of Radcliff John Angier Pastor of Denton William Walker Minister of the Gospel at Newton-heath Chappel Toby Furnesse Min. of the Gospel John Joanes Min. of Eccles. Edward Woolmer Min. of Flixton Robert Gilbody Preacher at Holcome Jonathan Scholefield Min. at Heywood Thomas Holland Min. of Ringley Thomas Clayton Min. of Diasbury Robert Constantine Min. of Ouldham Peter Bradshaw Min. of Cockey John Brierley Preacher at Salford Thomas Johnson Min. of the Gospel at Halsal William Bell Pastor of Hyton William Dun Min. of the Gospel at Ormeskirk James Worrall Pastor of Aughton William Aspinwal Preacher of Gods Word at Mayhall John Mallinson Min. of Gods Word at Melling Robert Seddon Min. of Gods Word at Alker Will Norcot Minister of West-Derby Will. Ward Min. of the Gospel at Walton Nevil Kay Pastor at VValton Henry Boulton Preacher at Hale John Fogge Pastor of Liverpoole Joseph Tompson Min. of Sephton Jo. Kyd Min. of Much-Crosby James Bradshaw Pastor of the Church at Wigan James Starkey Pastor of North meoles James Wood Preacher of the VVord at Assheton in Makersield Robert Yates Pastor of the Church at Warrington Bradbey Hayhurst Preacher of the VVord at Leigh Thomas Norman pastor of Newton Timothy Smith preacher of the VVord at Rainforth John Wright pastor of Billinge Henry Shaw pastor at Holland Thomas Crompton Min. of the Gospel at Aslley William Bagaley Min. of the Gospel at Burtonwood William Leight Preacher of the Word at Newchurch Richard Mawdesley pastor of Ellins James Hyet pastor of Croston Thomas Cranage pastor of Brindle Edward Gee Minister of the Gospel at Eccleston Paul Latham pastor of Standish Samuel Joanes pastor of Hoole Henry Welch Min. at Chorley Wil Brownsword preacher at Dugglas James Crichley preacher at Penwortham Edward Fleetwood pastor at Kirkham Isaac Ambrose pastor of Preston William Addison Lecturer at Preston William ●ngham Minist at Goosenarghe Matthew Moore minister at Broughton Christopher Edmundson pastor at Garstang Thomas Smith preacher at Garstang Chappel John Breres minister at Padiam Richard Jackson pastor at Whittington Nicolas Smith pastor of Tatham Robert Shaw pastor at Cokeram James Scholecroft minister at Caton Thomas Whitehead pastor at Halton Peter Atkinson minister of Ellel John Jaques minister of Bolton Richard VValker minister of VVarton Phillip Bennet minister of Vlverston VVilliam Smith minister of over-Kellet Brian VVillan Minister of Coulton Peter Smith minister of Shireshead Edward Aston minister of Claughton Thomas Demy minister of VViresdalle Thomas Fawcet minister at Overton VVill. Garner Preacher of the Gospel John Smith Minister of Melling Errata Page 4. line 10. for accursed read condemned FINIS