Selected quad for the lemma: soul_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
soul_n	ordinance_n	power_n	resist_v	4,907	5	10.4011	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61864	Presbyteries triall, or, The occasion and motives of conversion to the Catholique faith of a person of quality in Scotland ; to which is svbioyned, A little tovch-stone of the Presbyterian covenant	W. S. (William Stuart), d. 1677.; W. S. (William Stuart), d. 1677. A little tovch-stone of the Scottish Covenant.	1657 (1657)	Wing S6028; ESTC R26948	309,680	599

Superiours can never be obedient to their heavenly Soveraigne When the lawes of men are against the law of God then it 's better to obey God then man but when there is no such opposition then the law of God obligeth vs to obedience and subiection S. Paul doth earnestly exhort all Christians to this duty when he saith Rom. 13.1 seq Let every soule be subiect to higher Powers for there is no power but of God And those that are of God are ordained Therefore he that resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God And they that resist purchasse to themselves damnation S. Peter also maketh the like exhortation 1. Pet. 2.13 and 17. How the Presbyterians have caried themselves in the duty of Subiects to the Civil Magistrate and to their other Superiours is so generally knowen and so fresh in all mens memories that it needs not be described nor amplifyed The very naming of a Presbyterian is sufficient now to raise in mens minds the true notiō of one who will obstinatly deny obediēce to those to whom he oweth it and will rigorously exact obedience from those who owes him none Indeed if the Presbyterians owne words be taken they will be esteem'd not only Saints but also most loyall and obedient subiects for so often they have tearm'd themselves But their actions alwayes bewrayes their words Conf. Vvest ch 33. n. 4. They professe in their new Confession of faith that no difference of religion yea infidelity it self cannot take away the Civil Magistrats iust right nor his peoples obedience and duty to him And yet in their practise they would not admit the King till he swore and subscribed their Covenant and solemn League which many thought were very bitter potions that went much against his stomacke Many other instances may be brought of their inordinat cariage to their Superiours and others by which they rais'd both scandal and preiudice against their religion for people seeing them to be evil Subiects and worse Masters could not think them to be good Christians but I forbeare not being willing to rip vp too much their sores wishing rather that all their bypast miscariages may be forgot and buried by their calme cariage and dutifull obedience in time to come But apparantly some in present power have no great hopes of much voluntarie amendment in them vnlesse the rod of disciplin be still kept over their heads for an eminent English Officer in his printed letter above cited speaking of the Presbyterians Christ Mod. p. 74. saith If they be not closely look'd vnto they will set all on fire againe Then for their pretext of piety I observed great shew but no substance some floorishes but small fruits huge pretexts but no performances We had indeed much preaching praying fasting and such like exercises But what were their long preachings Nothing but continual praises of the Covenant the Solemn League and Presbytery which they cryed vp to the heavens and omitted as our Saviour observed of the Pharisees the weighty matters of Gods law Math. 23. v. 23. as Iudgement mercy and faith Yea their sermons were replenished with constant and most bitter railings against their Opposers and all those who did not favour their cause by which means they armed the people with fury to aduance the Covenant and Presbytery What were their fasts But humiliations as the Prophet Esay saith for strife debate Esay 58. v. 6. and to sinne with the fist of wikednesse God faith to the Iewes Is not this the fast that I have chosen to loose the bands of wickednesse to vndo the heavie burden and to let the oppressed go free that ye break every yoke But the fasts which the Presbyterians have choosed were contrary for their fasts were to tie more firmely their Covenant which hath proved a band of wickednesse to lay heavier burdens vpon the peoples Consciences to oppresse these who were free and to augment their yokes by inventing many new oaths to the oppression of many soules It was much observed that shortly after their solemne fasts we were alwayes sure of some great claps The fast was ordinarly a preparation to some violence or evil worke that was intended This made many vnderstand what Queen Marie Stuart mean't by that famous saying That she was as much affrayed of a Fast of the Ministers as of an Armie of Souldiours for experience taught her that these fasts were sure prognostikcs of ensuing tempests Their long prayers also which were often seasoned with Tautologies and somtimes with no good sense did not prove them to be Saints more thē the like did sanctify the Pharisees They bragged much of the Spirit but shew no fruits of the Spirit if these be the fruits which S. Paul reckons out to the Gallatians Gal. 5.22 The fruit of the Spirit saith he is Love ioy peace long-suffering gentlnesse goodnesse faith meeknesse c. They rather shew and perform'd the works of the flesh which the same Apostle doth there recount The works of the flesh are manifest Ibid. v. 19.20 which are fornication c. hatred variance emulation wrath strife seditions heresies Envyings murders c. If they lived in the Spirit then they should have walked in the Spirit as the same Apostle exhort's and so they would have been better beleeved In a word if piety consists in many externall sighes and grones in long prayer and graces in wringing of hands making of strange faces in turning of the eyes and in dolefull houlings and cryes which were commonly called the Sough If piety I say consists in such things we had abondance of it but if it require some greater perfections and better fruits Then we were very scarce of it Indeed if we would heare and believe these Presbyterian Ministers we were the happiest people of the world for they said we only of all Nations had the honour to be Covenanters with God we had the truth of the Gospell in greater purity then Geneva it self We had such a clear and engyring light that the like had not shin'd to any other nation since the time of the Apostles Yea one who is esteem'd a principal Apostle among them did not sticke to affirme in the pulpit amidst the manyfold Confusions troubles and miseries which had fallen vpon this Church Nation That the Angels and Saints of heaven if they could leave the sight of God would be glad to come down and see the admirable order and beautie of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland Neither is this to be much wonder'd at for it 's probable he spoke as he thought and as the proverbe is The Crow thinks ever her owne bird fairest And every foole esteem's much his owne Babel But many indifferent men thought that he was one of those of whom S. Paul speaks to the Philippians Philip. 3.18.19 Enemies of the Crosse of Christ and whose glory is in their Confusion These practises at least a great part of them were the