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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
state_n	according_a	church_n	true_a	1,066	5	4.6644	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89196	The nationall covenant. Or, A discourse on the covenant. Wherein also the severall parts of the late protestation are proved to be grounded on religion and reason: with sundry motives and directions, tending to further our keeping covenant with God. Which may be of speciall use in these times. By Tho. Mocket, M. of Arts, and preacher of the word of God.	Mocket, Thomas, 1602-1670?	1642 (1642)	Wing M2307; Thomason E113_3; ESTC R23139	40,201	58

Jerusalem who were too many of them making a Captain and turning back again into misticall Egypt which Covenant gave the rise to this ensuing plaine unpollished discourse fitted and intended only for a country Auditory where it is a commendation to speake in the most plain and vulgar terms which in all humility I present unto you worthy Patriots not as Patrons Homo sum errare possum haereticus esse nolo for if it be the truth of God as I trust it is he is the Patron of it and will defend it if any errour be found in it I disclaim it and think the work it self too slenderly performed for so judicious persons as you are known to be but only as his hand full of water to a great * Artaxerxes Prince the widdows mite a little goats hair as a Testimony of my humble observance and thankfull acknowledgement of the unweatied labours continuall care and zealous endeavours of the Noble Peers and your selves for the publick good as also for the particular favour of divers worthy Members of your House towards my self And surely if it may seem good to your grave wisdomes to procure and adde these things to all the rest which are humbly desired by very many thousands To out dumb and scandalous Ministers setle able godly Pastors over every Congregation in England and Waies and comfortably provide for them who many of them especially in these evill times lye under much discouragement and distraction through a miserable incompetency And provide That Priests and Jesuits be quite banished the Land That Papists be fully disarmed and considerable persons be fully secured and all the Laws duly executed upon them That Notorious offenders in Church Common-wealth whatsoever they be the Achans that hinder the endeavour of Joshua and Israel be censured and punished according to the qualitie of their crimes That Idolatry and Superstition especially the abominable Masse be totally rooted out of this Kingdom for what peace so long as the whordomes of Jezabell remains in this Land That evill Councellors Rome Iezabel mysticall Revel 2.20 and 18.5 the raisers and fomenters of the great troubles and distempers of the Kingdom and of the absence of His Royall Majestie from His Parliament c. which all good Subjects are greatly greived to heare be removed from His Royall Person That distressed Ireland whose condition is much to be lamented be speedily relieved with an ample supply where as here the blood of many thousand soules cry to Heaven for vengeance and to you for help against the mighty That the peace of the Kingdom that the power and priviledges of Parliament the lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subject be firmly setled That considerable places be fully secured by approved men so trading quickned to the relief of many thousands that now languish greatly under want That the blessed work of Reformation with all good speed go on be perfected Vnnecessary things and Ceremonies be removed That the Hyerarchy if it may be proved to be the root of much evil in Church State may be eradicated and a Church-government setled according to the rule of Gods word That the Sacrament by some good provision may be kept frō being polluted by unworthy persons and all Ignorant persons be compelled to learn the grounds of the true Protestant Religion That all scandalous Pictures and Images and all other Monuments and Reliques of Idolatry and Superstition and particularly Crosses by the high wayes and in such like places be according to a former order of Queen Eliz. injunction abollished Injunct 23. which occasion much Superstition especially in these parts by reason of the ignorance of very many chiefly when they carry their dead by any of them That whereas there is a great cry and grievous charge against the Liturgie of the Church and the Vsers of it that it cannot be lawfully used yea that it is Superstitious Antichristian Idolatrous and what not whereby the consciences of many good and well-affected people are much troubled if it may be proved if not yet that whatsoever shall be proved to be either Superstitions unlawfull and may give just offence to tender consciences or unnecessary your grave wisdom with the advice of the learned and godly Divines would be pleased with all convenient speed to remove it and provide that the people might have a sure rule to walke by in their worship of God that their minds may be setled and consciences quieted to a cheerfull obedience which would be a great inducement to many to joyne with us who otherwise I feare will hardly ever be perswaded That Arminianisme and Socinianisme the enemies to free grace and Romes Coy-ducks to bring in Popery be truly and thoroughly supprest That Church Papists the most dangerous enemies and underminers of Church and State may by some good provision be discovered That You would procure that scandalous and Popish Magistrates that regard not the Execution of Justice be removed and approved just men fearing God and hating covetousnes and unrighteousnesse be placed in their rooms That Contemners of your former good Orders be punished Wakes and unnecessary Alehouses and Playhouses the very nurseries of vice and randevouz for all prophane wretches be suppressed That the joynt consent and happy concurence of the Noble Peers with your House may be still continued Especially that they and you would use all possible means and speed that His Royall Majestie may have a right understanding of your just desires and proceedings and would with the Prince be graciously pleased to reside neerer to His Parliament All which I mention not to shew you what to do impute not such folly to your humble servant but in all humility to spread before your wisdoms what is by many thousands heartily desired and humbly craved according as in your pious and deepe wisdom shall seem most agreeable to the rules of piety true christian-prudence and policy which surely will compleat the blessed worke of Reformation begun make this a most flourishing Church and State amiable to our God glorious to our friends terrible to our enemies and make you and your Posterities renowned while this is a Nation And because your difficulties be very many and great therefore heare a word of encouragement from him who greatly honours you and your Assembly and whose duty it is ex officio speciali to teach instruct exhort reprove c. The cause you are about is eminently good and of great importance God and all good men are on your side and though your adversaries be many mighty and politick yet God your Master whose worke you are about is stronger and wiser then they all and one Jacob can do more with God for you then 400. Edomites can do against you And Honoured Worthies you have found God going along with you so scattering your enemies and furthering his worke even by their wicked plots and oppositions that you should now greatly dishonour God and the cause if you

complaine of him This is just and reasonable for a publicke good of such concernement ought to bee preferred before a private Seventhly we also promise In all jost and honourable wayes to indeavour to preserve the Vnion and Peace betwéene the thrée Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland And there is great reason for it because they being now as it were one the division of them or disturbing their peace is the way to ruine all especially in these evill times when all our forces united together will be little enough and too little without Gods more then ordinary assistance to preserve our peace yea to keepe them from sinking and ruine by the common enemy to our Religion to our King and Kingdom And this is the first thing I here promised to speake off viz. what we doe here promise vow and protest Now for The second What it is to maintaine and defend the true Protestant Religion or Doctrine and oppose the contrary viz. in our hearts to beleeve imbrace love professe and walk according to the Rules of the true Reformed Protestant Religion to justifie and defend the same as occasion requireth and calleth on us and to disavow the Popifh Doctrine and Innovations which are contrary hereuntò and set our selves against it and them or any that shall endeavour to attempt any thing contrary to the true Protestant Religion the Person Honour and Estate of the King the power and Priviledges of Parliament c. Thirdly The grounds and reasons of making and entring into this Protestation or Nationall Covenant are included in the preamble to the Protestation to which I referre you for fuller satisfaction only thus much here in a few words I conceive it may be of use 1. To binde all true Protestants more firmely to God his truth wayes and worship and to prevent the growth of Popery and Popish Innovations and in time to root out both as in conscience reason Religion and policy we should And this is a very speciall meanes to effect it for this binds us not only to embrace maintaine and defend the true Religion but also to reject Popery yea to oppose it and all such as seeke to advance or uphold it 2. To discover all Popish persons and such as stand disaffected to the true Religion and the peace and welfare of the King and Kingdome Church or State that they may be dealt with according as to justice doth appertaine 3. Thereby also the better to disappoint all the Adversaries plots and designes against true Religion the King Kingdome Church and State And 4. To continue and increase the honour peace and welfare of the same to all which purposes this bond may be of speciall use and the most effectuall meanes to accomplish such blessed ends Now Fourthly How far and how firmely this bond or Covenant bindeth us 1. How far in respect of the wayes and meanes to be used and that is only to lawfull wayes to doe all these things as far as lawfully I may and by all good wayes and meanes that is by such wayes and meanes as are warrantable by the Law of God and the wholsome and good Lawes and Statutes of this Realme As for instance when we see any Popery or Popish Ceremonies and Innovations in the Church which we have protested against we may not in a violent and tumultuous way without any lawfull call and warrant set our selves against them and remove them but by our prayers to Almighty God and petitions to his Majesty the honourable Assembly or others in Authority who are by Law inabled to remove the evils that we are bound to oppose and rectifie things amisse Beside God needs no tumultuous carriages and unwarrantable wayes and meanes to effect his worke of Reformation 2. But how firmely doth this binde us Answ It binds us to keep it to the uttermost of our Power Estate and Libes even to the death so as no law of man or power of any worldly Prince or Potentate whatsoever can absolve us from it And we promise and protest in the close that netther hope feare or any woridly respect neither favour nor frowne of men neither promises nor threats neither hope of gaine profit pleasures or preferment or feare of any worldly losse trouble or the like for all these as I humbly conceive are included shall make us relinquish this promise vow and Protestation And this solemne engagement is made in expresse termes in the preseuce of Almighty God and so implicitely calling the Almighty God of Heaven and Earth who heares what we protest and doth see our intentions and purpose and will narrowly observe our future actions how we keep our solemne promise with his Majesty to reward or take vengeance on us if we doe not really and for the future carefully endeavour by all lawfull meanes and wayes to performe our promise vow and Protestation And which yet further addeth weight to this engagement it is made in the presence of the Congregation yea and I may say of the Angels also who are witnesses Ps 91.11 12. Heb. 1.14 and will testifie against us one day if we willingly and wittingly breake this our Covenant And this also our owne hands or marke which is equivalent is subscribed and stands on record as a witnesse to God and men against that man that shall wittingly and willingly breake his Protestation so solemnely made yea and this Church and these Wals and Pewes will one day rise up to condemne that man Heare what God himselfe saith of ordinary vowes and promises which are of 〈◊〉 inferiour nature to this Deut. 23.21 23. When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God thou shalt not slacke to pay it for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee anait would be sinne in thee That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and performe according as thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God which thou hast promised with thy mouth As for instance if the Jew under the Law vowed unto God to offer a lambe or bullocke or sheep or goate c. So now if any should vow or promise to God That if such a businesse succeed well if such a ship in which he hath a venture returne home well and safe if such a field of corne prosper and come well in or the like he will give so much to the poore members of Christ or the like in way of thankfulnesse to God for his goodnesse towards him Or if God doe indeed deliver him out of such a trouble sicknesse misery or affliction or the like he will give so much to such a pious use c. Keep a private day of solemne thanksgiving to God or the like he may neither omit nor delay to doe according to his promise saith Moses from God Thou shalt not slacke to pay or performe it The Lord thy God will require it of thee So againe Numb 30.1 2. This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded If a