Selected quad for the lemma: state_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
state_n	authority_n	ecclesiastical_a	jurisdiction_n	1,611	5	9.5516	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49310	A complaint of the oppressed against the oppressors, or, The unjust and arbitrary proceedings of some souldiers and justices against some sober godly persons, in and near London who now lye in stinking goals [i.e. gaols] for the testimony of good conscience : with some reasons why they cannot swear allegiance to obtain their liberty / faithfully collected by John Lovewel.	Lovewel, John.	1661 (1661)	Wing L3292; ESTC R31000	13,310	20

Lord required that if a man Swore an Oath or Vowed a Vow unto which he was not bound by any Law of God to do but was at Liberty in whether they would or would not Swear yet having sworn the Lord requires he should perform his Oath by which he hath bound his Soul Num. 30.2 If a man Vow a Vow unto the Lord or Swear an Oath to bind his Soul with a bond he shall not break or profane his Word he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth Now saith Christ it was said thou shalt not forswear thy self but thou shalt perform unto the Lord thine Oathes but I say Swear not at all As much as if Christ should say though it was your Liberty and no Sin to promise and bind your Soul to the performance of something or other you swear to do provided you break not your word yet henceforth I say that am the Son and impowred by my Father now to be the Law-giver that upon no such account or in such a kind you Swear by which you bind your Souls by promise to perform this or that But in such cases let your Yea be Yea and your Nay Nay Thus its evident that Christ forbids such kind of Swearing as was allowed by Moses in Old Times viz. Voluntary Promisary Swearing and not vain Swearing only in common talk nor Swearing by Creatures both which were forbidden by them of Old Time as also false Swearing For the which there might be a Cloud of Witnesses brought But if any should object and say that Christ indeed doth forbid Promisary Swearing but it is such onely as is rash and inconsiderable To such it is answered That rash and inconsiderable Swearing and Vowing was disapproved by them of Old Time aswel as vain and false Swearing and may be summed up in the number of the rest of Swearings that are forbidden and were spoken against by them of Old Time Eccles 5.2 3 4 5 6. Jer. 23.10 Hosea 4.2 Zech. 5.3 4. But further either Christ forbids in saying Swear not at all Mat. 5.34 and James 5.12 Above all things my brethren Swear not c. all manner or kind of Swearing of what sort soever or else he forbids all of one kind else what signify these words not at all the terme being universal and must wholly prohibit either as is said all kind of Swearing or all of that kind it relates to and therefore while it can be proved that there is a destinction to be made by allowance from Christ between Promisary and Promisary Swearing it s concluded that Christ forbids all Swearing of that kind to wit Promisary And therefore they cannot take the Oath of Allegiance Second Reason is Because they are Christ's liege People He is their King Isa 33.22 Rev. 15.4 King of Nations fer 10.7 Psal 47.1 2 3. And King of kings 1 Tim. 6.15 Rev. 19.16 They stand bound and engaged to Christ to serve obey and glorifie him to own and submit to his Lawes and Commands and not mans Traditions for he hath in his rich and free Love to them given himself for them that he might purchase and buy them with the price of his precious blood to the end he might be Lord and King over them Rom. 14.9 And that they should serve Him and not men 1 Cor. 6.20 Chap. 7.23 Now if they take the Oath of Allegiance they become bound to obey the King in what he Commands them whether his Commands agree with Christ's or no. For if they Swear they must perform Num. 30.2 If it be Objected That that doth not follow It 's Answered It will appear in the ensuing Reasons Thirdly Because he that takes the Oath of Allegiance swears and bindes his Soul though not expresly yet implicitly to obey the King in whatsoever he Commands them to do in things Spiritual as well as Temporal for he is sworn to obey the King indifinitely for by the Oath he hath no dispensation to refuse obedience to any Command of the King whatsoever Be not deceived the Oath excepts nor excludes no one Command of what nature or kind soever it be but as is abovesaid they that Swear Swear indifinitely That they will bear Faith and true Obedience to the King The King Commands Obedience to him according to his Laws which he is sworn to maintain his Laws they Command in things Spiritual as well as otherwise as might abundantly be shewed And therefore they cannot take the Oath of Allegiance Fourthly Because he that Sweares Obedience to the King must be forsworn if he afterwads frequent Meetings as formerly to Serve and Worship God according to the Command of the Spirit Heb. 10.25 and come not to Common Prayer for the King hath forbid the one and the Law Commands the other Now the plain truth is they cannot own Common Prayer nor the Lordly Bishops come Life come Death nor none of their Rubbish whatsoever Because they are not the Ministers of Christ nor their Wayes the Wayes of Christ but their own humane Inventions and Traditions For where was such a thing appointed by Christ or practised by his Ministers in the Primitive times as Common Prayer which is full of Babling and vain Repetitions contrary to Mat. 7.7 The Apostle Paul saith What is it then I will pray with the Spirit and will pray with Understanding also I will Sing with the Spirit and I will Sing with the Understanding also 1 Cor. 14.15 But who among them can be said to Pray with the Spirit that Pray out of the English Mas Book and that hears them sing Prick-Song like Fidlers in their Fantastick garb of white Frocks or Surplices their Hoods and Tippets and such like Fopperies their Organs Sackbuts Cornets Houboys and such like more like the Worship that Nebuchadnezzar commanded the Three Children Dan. 3.14 15. than any Christ commanded under or in the time of the Gospel Therefore they cannot take the Oath of Allegiance Fifthly Because he that Swears Allegiance is Sworn to maintain the Kings Dignity to the utmost of his power By which it is evident that the Oath cannot be kept in yeelding as some say they are onely bound to passive Obedience but he must also maintain the Kings Dignities saith the Oath now the Dignity of the King is not onely to be Supream in point of things Temporal but in things Spiritual also the meaning is that the Law gives him that dignity to be Supream in Spiritual things and causes as well as Temporal See the Oath of Supremacy in a Statute Intituled An Act for Restoring to the Crown the ancient Jurisdiction Made in the first Year of Queen Elizabeth Some part of which Act for better satisfaction is inserted as followeth And that also it may please your Highuess that it maybe established and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that such Jurisdictions Priviledges Superiorities and Preheminencies Spiritual or Ecclesiastical as by any Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Power or Authority hath heretofore been

or lawfully may be exercised or used for the visitation of the Ecclesiastical State and Persons and for Reformation Order and Correction of the same and of all manner of Errors Heresies Schismes Abuses Offences Contempts and Enormities shall for ever by the Authority of this present Parliament be united and annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm c. See also a Statute Anno 1. Ed. 6. Cap. 12. Let the Reader take notice that these things are not cited or said to shew that not the King but the Pope or some man else is Supream Head of the Church for such a thing is abhorred by them they utterly dis-claiming and dis-owning any Power or Authority the Pope hath and would rejoyce to see the utter desolation of him and all that Hierarchy They knowing that no man living upon the Earth hath that dignity but it is Christs to whom All Power in Heaven and in Earth is committed by the Father Mat. 28 18. Whence then it 's clear That he that Swears is not onely bound by Oath to yeeld actual Obedience to the Kings Commands in falling in with Common Prayer c. as above but he is bound by Oath with a Sword in his hand to maintain his Dignity in point of Spirituals as well as any other against all attempts made against it Therefore they cannot take the Oath of Allegiance Sixthly Because he that Swears is ignorant of what he binds his Soul to which to do is sin Lev. 5.4 5. If a Soul Swear pronouncing with his Lips to do evil or to do good what soever it be that a man shall pronounce with an Oath and it be hid from him when he knoweth of it then he shall be guilty in one of these and it shall be when he shall be guilty in one of these things that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing Now that whosoever takes the Oath of Obedience must be ignorant of what he binds his Soul to is evident because he binds his Soul not onely to the King in being to whom he Swears Allegiance but to his Successors also And if it were possible for a man to know what the King now in being would command in all points yet it is impossible to know what his Successors may For were the present King a man after God's own heart as David was yet who knowes but he that succeeds him may introduce Popery as Queen Mary who succeeded Edward the sixth did Now he that takes the Oath binds his Soul to obey those that shall succeed whether Papist or Pagan as much as the King that is in present being Therefore they cannot take the Oath of Allegiance Seventhly Because they cannot Swear upon the true Faith of a Christian as they are enjoyned in the Oath to do For as much as in part or in whole they are ignorant if not at present yet for the future what it is they are bound by Oath to Eighthly Because he that takes the Oath of Allegiance must Swear by the true Faith of a Christian now to Swear by the Faith of a Christian is to Swear by something that is not God contrary to Jer. 4.2 and James 5.12 Therefore they cannot take the Oath of Allegiance Ninthly Because they that take the Oath must Swear they take it heartily willingly and truly which no man can do except he have great clearness in himself by undeniable testimony from the Word of Life that the things he Swears to perform are uncontrovertably his Liberty if not his Duty Tenthly Because God expresly Commandeth him that will Swear and bind his Soul by an Oath to Swear in Truth Righteousness and in Judgement Jer. 4.2 which no man can do if ignorant as above said These are their Reasons or at least some of them besides all which they are in doubt in other things relating to the Oath In order unto which for satisfaction they propound these Queries following First Whether all such that Swear Allegiance who have been Actors in the late War in Person Estate or otherwise do not Build again the things they Destroyed and whether so to do be no Sin Secondly Whether all such as have Sworn or shall Swear Allegiance who assisted the Parliament in the War either in Person or Estate do not openly proclaim themselves and acknowledge upon Oath to the World that they are Trattors Thieves and Murtherers Thirdly Whether all such as have Sworn or shall Swear who have set days apart either in publick or in private to Fast and Pray for the good Success of the Parliament do not manifest themselves to be notorious Dissemblers and God-Mockers Fourthly Whether such who shall Swear as abovesaid who have kept days of Thanks-giving when any Victory hath been obtained to praise the Lord for his wonderful goodness and to speak of the might of his terrible Acts do not by Swearing openly throw dirt in the face of God and conclude that to be of the Devil that they then said was the glorious Honour of his Majesty and his wonderous Works Fifthly Whether a man though he make a hundred Exceptions if possible against some things in the Oath and leave be given him so to do and he take it after the Exceptions be made doth not Swear notwithstanding his Exceptions according to the plain and expresse Letter of it and so make void his former Exceptions forasmuch as he Swears according to these express words viz. And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and Swear according to these express words by me spoken and according to the plain and common sence and understanding of the same words without equivocation or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever Thus may all men see that these men do not lie in Prison out of any self-willedness as some wickedly say they do but meerly upon the account of Christ and a good Conscience which they dare not violate or make shipwrack of in following the steps of others neither dare they engage in any thing dishonourable to Christ their King which they conceive Swearing Allegiance to any man upon the Earth will be their refusing the Oath is not without ground Their Reasons are prevailing to them and may be to others did they duly weigh and consider them if any can take them off by the word of Truth and right Reason they will do God service and them also in being instrumental to open the Prison doors for were they satisfied then would they Swear and obtain their Liberty and acknowledge their mistake as I am truly and well perswaded of them but till then their Conscience and the Honour of Christ who is precious to them is more than stone-Walls iron Grates Locks and Bolts to hold them and therefore let not their Persecutors think to escape the dreadfull Judgements of God if they repent not of their wickedness and hard speeches that they have ungodlily spoken against them For in touching them that fear the Lord and an Oath they touch the apple of Gods eye Zech. 2.8 He reproved Kings for their sake saying touch not mine Anointed nor do my Prophets no harm Psal 105.14 15. The Lord will one day arise and have mercy upon Sion so the Heathen shall fear the Name of the Lord and all she Kings of the Earth thy glory Psal 102.14 15. For he hath looked down from the height of his Sanctuary from Heaven did the Lord behold the Earth to hear the groaning of the Prisoner to loose those that are appointed to death Vers 19 20. The humble shall see this and be glad your heart shall live that seek God for the Lord heareth the poor and despiseth not his Prisoners Ps 69.32 33. Oh happy men are they that thus suffer reproach and bonds for the Name of Christ 1 Pet. 4.14 Yea Blessed are they when men revile them and persecute them and shall say all manner of evil of them falsly for his sake Mat. 5.11 as that they are Phanaticks or Mad-men for so said they of Christ John 10.20 And many of them said he hath a Devil and is mad why hear ye him That they have turned the World upside-down and do things contrary to the Decrees of the King saying that there is another King one Jesus So said those wicked Persecutors of Gods People of Old Act. 17.6 7. That they are Pestilent fellows and movers of Sedition So said Tertullus the Orator of Paul Acts 24.5 That they are Hereticks Schismaticks and what not as saith the Pope and Englands Lordly Bishops Well notwithstanding let them rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is their reward in Heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets Christ and his Servants that were before them Mat. 5.12 It being an evident token of Perdition to their adversaries but of Salvation to them and that of God Phil. 1.28 Let them therefore be encouraged to stand fast and keep their integrity and not touch with any of the filthy Abominations of the times to obtain their Liberty God will one day make up all their losses and sufficiently repair them For if they suffer with Christ they shall reign with him 2 Tim. 2.12 Walk not then ye Prisoners of Hope nor ye Saints at Liberty in the way of this People Say ye not a Confederacy to all them to whom this People shall say a Confederacy neither fear ye their fear nor be afraid but sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himself and let him be your fear and let him be your dread and he shall be for a Sanctuary Isa 8.11 12 13. Be ye waiting upon the Lord until the day that he rise up to the Prey for his determination is to gather the Nations that he may assemble the Kingdoms to poure upon them his indignation even all his fierce anger For all the Earth shall be devoured with the fire of his Jealousie for then will he turn to the People of pure Language that they may all call upon the Name of the Lord to serve him with one consent Zeph. 3.8 9. Wait I say on the Lord and keep his way and he shall exalt thee to inherit the Land when the wicked are cut off Thou shalt see it Psal 37.34 THE END