Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	old_a	young_a	youth_n	300	4	8.2577	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33531	English-law, or, A summary survey of the houshold of God on earth and that both before and under the law, and that both of Moses and the Lord Jesus : historically opening the purity and apostacy of believers in the successions of ages, to this present : together with an essay of Christian government under the regiment of our Lord and King, the one immortal, invisible, infinite, eternal, universal prince, the Prince of Peace, Emmanuel.	Cock, Charles George.	1651 (1651)	Wing C4789; ESTC R37185	322,702	228

riches and honor were but subservient to Natures ends but this strictness now accounted though the Magistrate might exact it where it could be or punish its neglect Yet assuredly to inforce it in this our Age were to debilitate and enervate the Nation for our rich people are generally so luxurious that if the weakness of the decaied stifled generative vertue choaked with excess were not opened again to operate more acutely through another kind of nutriment in the poor Nurse they would all prove Changlings to old English Valour though in such a soul the splendors of Christianity may be as excellent as in the strongest fairest and healthiest constitution This I hint onely to intimate at least to Professors what a duty is upon them to repress these excesses which are so ruinous to Nature and ought to be punished Natural men have out-gone most Modern Christians in these vertues My aim is at the manner not so much of educating babes or so called children as youth that is from seven years to eighteeen at least if not one and twenty or better five and twenty Now to this end I suppose that it is the duty of the Magistrate to Erect and Authorize at least in the head-Town of every County Schools of Vertue that is fitted with Masters to teach and instruct the youth according to their Ages and Capacities in Arts and Arms I mean by Arts Trades of all sorts and learning of all sorts atcording to Rule This provided that it is not intended that all children should contiue meerly learners till five and twenty and it is supposed that the present values rents and profits of and belonging to Inns of Court and Chancery Universities and Schools will serve for this work however so far that the defect may easily be supplied But that they should not be accounted men till that age nor to manage their own affairs much less of the Commonwealth but be under Guardianship And by Arms I mean all the exercises of the body whereby strength and agility shall be increased courage raised and yet being under a Tutor obedience nourished and Prudence established for these Academies or Schools it is requisite to have their Rules grave and strict but not ridiculous not such as flat Caps after so long disused nor Cappings of so called Fellows as was in Colledges though the rain pour down but to order such due respect as breeds an aw with love wherein there must be necessary severity not rigid peevish Tyranny the aw must express it self in a due silence as well as active diligence for the expence of spirits is great in clamorous nay talkative youth and sure would quick and ripe wits not vent so fast their store would last longer this makes many pregnant young men to be old dotards Let these have discreet Visitors or Superintendents who once every moneth shall come and view the progresses of the several years and a penalty set and that seriously this due training of youth will enable them to rule in season the want of knowing due obedience in Education renders most men unfit to govern by this means the natural abilities of all men will be tried and the vertuous eyed as fit for high imployments the care of Parents will be quieted while their children are so nigh as once in a week they may easily hear of their health and sickness and the nighness to the Parents will aw the child from such extravagancies as youth is subject to at all times but most when they are far from them whom Nature teaches to fear by degrees The habits of these Students I inforce not that they be all alike but that none be trimmed with Velvet Lace Points Ribonds or such fooleries none to wear long Hair Rings Scarfes Fringes Roses Weapon or Boots and that due and civil respects be observed among themselves according to their degrees but no fancies of Custom to be allowed as Salting Mustarding or any such lightnesses nor any trials of Wit or Strength but in the presence of a Master Thus shall both poor and rich be fitted to the service of the Commonwealth idleness will be banished and ignorance despised for all that were capable should to these Schools for a time till dismissed to Trades for necessary living by the Visitors or Superintendents for prayers among them early and late it is necessary but let the hours be apportioned for Study and Exercise and let each day be Catachistical to the knowledge of Christian Doctrine as Moral or Civil conversation But you must admit no Colledge-School or Academy to have any Priviledges of separate Jurisdiction as now or formerly they are but the inciters to Debauchery and Riot with great emulation and disturbance of the Peace The Magistrate must command Let no door be free from the knock of the Consuls Ax it will make some heady one or other at some time or other to lay the foundations of chusing Tribunes of the people Let onely their obedience to the Law be their priviledge and security onely let the Tutors be free from personal service in War or other service in Peace but for payments let them be charged upon him according to his Rate Let the books of Learning be publikely appointed by the Magistrate not at the Tutors will let not all be inforced to Latin but each to Read and Write in some measure Let times of rising be set down and also going to bed and some certain times wherein the children may recreate but by parcels not all at once which now is case of great confusion rudeness and disturbance Let the Masters interchangeably have times of respit for extraordinary occasions This will speedily give a large increase for knowledge which will make that your Magistrates in all places may be men of knowledge which will embellish the Commonwealth whereas now most Cities Towns yea I may say Counties are despised in Government for default of prudent knowing men A long Robe-man or two guide all and in this Age of interest and these mens interests so visible as aforesaid all is let run to confusion And by this will also the several Congregations be fitted with able knowing Pastors and Teachers yea honest vertuous emulation in ingenuous spirits will render almost every Member a Doctor This is seemingly a matter of great charge therefore before I proceed I will see how charges are to be born raised c. And the relief of Commonwealths in excessive burthens of people How all the Charges of the Commonwealth Fees and Fines c. are to be Assessed and raised and by what Rule And the wayes to ease Nations when grown over-numerous I Know that many will say this is good in Speculation but the Practise is difficult yea some will say impossible for you cannot get all men of one mind to it others that it is against Priviledge to inforce children from the Parents Tuition who being Guardians by Nature the Law will not may not admit any Rule to bar his Right Others

necessary well being of a Common-wealth Let the Magistrate neglect a due care in this But I presume it is fatall however let not the cloathes and colours which are the Ensigns of Majesty Honour and special Vertue be made not onely common to mean men but their ordinary Liveries and for servants of all sorts let their Rules be set and let others do as they will so it be ordered that they bear all publick charges at their rate of private expence Whether Titular Honours be consistent with a Free Commonwealth IF it be supposed that the Quaere be whether the Commonwealth may admit them or that they be ruining of such a settlement in themselves It is not intended to bring it into controversie the Magistrate may do it and the State may yet stand but the Quaere is onely of Prudence For the honours being hereditary and native from Monarchy their tendency is thitherward and while the root remains and hath but any sap there will be sprouting each day which will labour a re-establishment so that prudence in a resolved Commonwealth would not so much as in any case but that of necessity grant such Titles to be at least claimed of right but let only vertue proper exalt the man and then a Commonweal of all settlements is the most happy establishment which God grant may be first held forth then practised and that will assure a lasting Government for the shattering of States is Pride and Emulation of Competitors for principal management which in an interval of peace is as natural to natural men in such a case as Sweating What to be done in Cases for which no Law is set or the Law clearly abused annulled and antiquated SUurely there is no offence no transgression but it falls under some Head of general Law yet Circumstance may aggravate it so that to quash the thought of it in the corrupt heart of man there is exemplary punishment requisite upon this account The lying with a maid-child under ten years of Age consent or not was justly made death But put Case as trial was A man abuses a boy at the mouth whereby the child breaks out with pustules c. in the letter it is not Sodomy Buggery c. for which the Law provides but a filthiness of a worse nature so some of the old Earl of Castle-Havens abominations so the business so called of Mopping in Star Chamber tried in an extraordinary Court and brought in upon a challenge between two at least one great spirit This for criminal matter so for all defects and deceits which be remedied by Statutes Supplemental so called of the Common Law that is since it was presumed that there was no Law for which there was not an adjudged Case in the Year-books leaving the Rule of the string to go by the bow or in some things which ought to be remedied but now cannot as for example A. sojourns in the house of B. his Nephew A. hath divers Nephews and Neices upon whom he would settle his estate being old crazie and not able to stir abroad B. finding his Uncles and Kindred to endeavour a just and equal settlement according to A. his intention they come to A. for that purpose A. gives it under hand and declares the pressures of B. to settle all upon him and that he knows B. will make him alter all to this weakness hath Age brought him B. after this shuts the doors against Father Brothers Uncles Friends and all and will suffer no one to see A. or speak to him the Magistrate is complained to he hath no power A. is thus imprisoned it is fit to be provided that the Magistrate should take a sworn Clerk and make A. his Will not to be altered but by the Magistrate sent for by A. but it cannot be done that is lawfully and A. is now kept a prisoner till death his estate as informed all seised and converted by a debauched man a rebellious disobedient son and ungratious Nephew Thousand such things are which while the Magistrate is tied from the Rule by particular Laws lay as heavy judgements upon the land especially upon the Supream Magistrate who as a wise and good Physitian ought to have a salve for every sore The Rule of Law is Quae sunt minoris culpae sunt majoris infamiae these things which are unjust while profitable and unpunishable are the Tetters of the Common-wealth they do spread daily Therefore it must either be resolved the Magistrate in Ordinary shall punish them as the Cause is that is under the Rule of the head Law if plain or not criminal or criminal respectively otherwise to attend a meeting of divers Judges or the extraordinary Judge for Criminals and in the mean time to secure by bayl or imprisonment as the Case requires And this must be observed no Judge to be punished for want of Form if the Act tends to the speedier settlement of the Commonwealth and doth the Act in person Whether Duels be lawful or not and other Trials by fire and water c. As in the trial of Witches suspition of Adultery c. and all doubts I Shall first treat of Duels which is without question unlawful in all Cases yea of the greatest doubt But first to speak to plain Cases most of which are disgraces affronts c for which the Law gives none or not considerable satisfaction or reparations Now it is clear in Law and Reason that when words and signs become dangerous and prejudicial the Magistrate ought to provide accordingly to repress King James made very rational orders in the very cause of Duels but saw them not executed which disgusted the most discreet spirits but it was evident the catch was but to halter the great men in the Springe of the Star-Chamber Law such policies never throve yet Piety when the end is Gods Glory with the peoples good not particular persons interest is the best policy Let therefore the Magistrate no longer count words light while they bear the weight and price of blood but repair every breach give a just recompence for every loss and then punish transgressors severely in such Cases for many think they may justly become their own avengers where thc Law affords no remedy The example is evident in stealing Dogs so called for pleasure which hath cost Lives and Ears The Lord Marshall did take notice of some of these matters but not all and that with such delay and difficulty that the parties were better try it shortly therefore for all words give speedy remedy let the complaint come presently to the Judge and receive a trial accordingly as the Supream Magistrate shall order For the second part which are difficulties suspitions c. we have no infallible word to warrant it the practise arose rather from Heathenish Superstition then Christian Faith therefore we are to leave them to Gods judgement and settle the matter rather some other way as of lot in Case of doubts in civil claims which

consult a remedy and if a meeting of some few Churches yea be it provinciall shall be required till error arise it may not be unlawfull they have the Right But if the Magistrate upon error settle a Law to prevent that error further the Magistrate ought not to go and so far he may then the Churches ought to observe that Law But in case of Error or such Conventions as are possibly dangerous to the Civil Peace the Supream Magistrate ought to be advised and ought to be obeyed if dissenting yea though his dissent be not in some eyes well grounded for this evil is the least however experience hath manifested in a superstitious Age the Church-man prevailes in a swording the Magistrate What I have written may to many seem doubtful to whom the power of Right belongs But the plain meaning is this This being a Church-Affair an Assembly for the settlement of conscience it is the proper work of the Churches And if the Churches have power over one the other as in the Popish Episcopal and Presbyterian way the Summons ought De jure to move from the Church but the Magistrate may prohibit and ought to be obeyed but divers Churches dissenting this in fact caused first an address to the Imperial Power and so it would do again also the very Congregating such Members into one place ought both for the safety of them that meete and the place where they meete and of the whole State to be not onely with the knowledge but the approbation of the Supream Magistrate and the rather for that though those elected ought to go yet no Christian may be debarred this in that way and in the Congregational way more clearly will assure that though the business be a Church business and concerning matters of meer conscience yet the great matter is as they are men to consult of difficulties and this is the Church-work and therefore the Magistrate ought not to prescribe the Christians met what to propound For I presume That ought to be long before manifested first in the private Congregation then in the adjoyning Churches yea in publike Conventions There is another part of the Quaere that is Whether the Magistrate may summon without the Churches prayer Now as to the right assuredly as a Father of the Country principally intrusted for the good welfare and peace of his people and as a Christian taking notice of unchristian Controversies he may invite assembling the Churches and may require it but ought not enforce untill the civil Peace be actually disturbed he leaves the sin at their door This root of bitterness arose from thoughts of the necessity of remedying what was amiss and venturing all for that which is true and false A false colour of truth with a real mistake the Magistrate cannot enforce here the Church must have its due liberty here otherwise we must admit by the Rule of Contraries the like power to the Church against the Magistrate offending No let each keep their place and if the Magistrate will amend the Church let it be by Preaching not fighting let them come that will upon his call let him perswade the other not enforce actually politickly he may no not though all that come agree with him But I am confident Take away the interest of Power and Revenue and the Spring of all these controversies will be dried up for the matter is clear in it self and by most so agreed I could enlarge much in this and all the heads that I have treated on I could have multiplied Quaeries to delight the Ear and make the Book more Merchantable in this Age I could have scattered witty varieties Recorded old Histories and enterwoven new Stories to have delighted a foeminine fancy I could have so polished my phrase and trimmed my discourse that it should have stoln away the heart of a light youngling and like a Romance fettered him in a clew of delights till he had come to the end of the Book and been never the wiser But as the first thing moved me to this Work was the serious apprehension of the bitter Cup the Lord had put into the hand of the Inhabitants of this Nation to drink and what God had done in Germany when my soul considered the deadly defiances among men so called Christians not onely Nation against Nation but they of the same Nation one against the other When I eyed the Threats and Promises of the Word of the Eternal God Revolved his Acts of old and at present done amongst us comparing the Professions and Practises of Christians and that though we had light above others yet our sins were more grievous then others but most of all was my spirit affected with the many engagements which lay upon the Nation For this light drew from us on all sides Royal and Parliamentary and that under what notion or name or opinion soever you will rank them Promises and Vows of setling Truth and Righteousness King Parliament and People all seeing the Errors in Church and State a bare name no face if a footstep of pure Christianity This in the first place put me upon a more serious way of Writing and in the second place the multitude of my occasions would not permit the idle time to clip and pare and file when I was forced to steal time to cast and mould the matter of this Discourse by a quarter of the hour to day and as much the next seldom an hour together and then happily not of a week two or three sometimes not of a moneth after This will render me to a wise man over zealous and over-confident to rush so unadvisedly into such a great undertaking as it doth attempt the holding forth though but in Essay the frame of a Civil Christian Government and they that know me will say Have so many Ages passed Are so many wise men at present And none to undertake it but one so young a man not able for time to have digested in any part the voluminous Tracts which he that but offers at such an Essay ought to have gone through and to do all this raptim and that by snatches which required the most serious thoughts Lastly A man that practised the Law of England so short a while that he could not comprehend the Ambages of it and for eminency of parts a man of no Renown the world hath not taken notice of him I know this as to others will be the whispers and speakings concerning Me and this Work It is not presumption of my Abilities nor to gain applause that I adventure upon this Work my heart was fired within me when after so many reiterated undertakings for Righteousness Justice c. I saw the VVork so far off from perfection that it was worse then before I waited attended hoped prayed and all yea incited men able and skilled in the Laws of the Land by long study and approved parts They agreed Error in the whole a necessity of Reformation and that even by a