Selected quad for the lemma: state_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
state_n	church_n	member_n	visible_a	2,963	5	9.4470	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85513	The grand case of conscience concerning the Engagement stated & resolved. Or, a strict survey of the Solemn League & Covenant in reference to the present Engagement.		1650 (1650)	Wing G1486A; Thomason E589_10; ESTC R206308	16,478	22

THE GRAND Case of Conscience Concerning the ENGAGEMENT Stated Resolved Or A strict Survey of the Solemn League Covenant In Reference to the Present Engagement {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} sc. Cum Tyranno Romanis nulla fides Nulla juris jurandi religio Brutus apud Appianum Tunc fidem fallam tunc inconstantiae crimen audiam si cum omnia eadem sint quae erant promittente me non praestitero promissum alioqui quicquid mutatur libertatem facit de integro consulendi meam fidem liberat nam omnia eadem esse debent quae fuerint cum promitteres ut promittentis fidem teneas Senec. de benef. l. 4. c. 35. LONDON Printed by John Macock for Francis Tyton and are to be sold at his shop at the three Daggers neer the Inner Temple Fleetstreet 1650. The Grand Case of Conscience Concerning the ENGAGEMENT Stated and Resolved AS there is no Engagement on man more sacred and solemn then that which is contracted by Oaths and Covenants God himself being expresly appealed unto both as Witness and Judg so there is nothing more dangerous and ensnaring if not warily and honestly entred into and kept as well with a clear and sound judgment as with pure and chrystal affections The truth of this is evidently demonstrated in the late League and Covenant between these two Nations England and Scotland which although it wanted nothing of Ceremony and Solemnity in its administration yet hath proved sad and ominous in the use and application of it unto this Common-wealth And though it was first intended as the best and most proper medium of union and strength to both Nations against the common Enemy yet hath proved in several hands a stratagem to obstruct the most prudential and providential essays of perfecting the Peace and Happiness of both yea is onely left as the last reserve and ultimate plea of all sorts of dis-affected and abused spirits who having with little effect made use of all sort of weapons would by it make us miserable by our own Consciences It is not now time to look back when this Covenant was made and where viz. in Scotland or upon what occasion it was entred into at first I have so much charity to think there was on all sides good and honest intentions active in the modelling of it though some had their eyes in their heads and many objections were made at divers expressions and many desires for explanation of some Articles more fully yet it was not fit to insist on them our affairs not admiting any delay in our Brethrens assistance nor their conjunction to be obtained without a Covenant though the cause was common to both But after it past the gulf and was taken by the Parliament and Assembly of Divines and honest men of all sorts had freely lifted up their hands to God in it not fearing the after-reckoning would be so costly and dangerous every one began to make his advantage through the multitude and ambiguity of expression most unsuitable to a Covenant which ought to be plain and simple in its terms and by it to promote his several interest as if it had been made to engage unto a particular party not to unite two Nations in a common Interest Yea so many several interpretations variety of sences have been fixt upon it as if it were intended rather for Debates then Obedience and to exercise mens wits rather then enforce their Consciences to honest and necessary duties yea which we may remember with sad hearts England never knew what it was to have so many sad divisions of parties and interests until the Covenant came by the design of some disguised Politicians to be improved to some particular Interests and Parties who insisting some on one Article and some on another in opposition to the rest as they saw their advantage have divided the Covenant into several parts to engage several parties others have made one and the same Article to speak several Senses dividing the sence from the words torturing the very Comma's and Colons making a separation between them and the words which they necessarily distinguish and all but to strengthen their own Interest and destroy anothers that the abuses do seem to be worse and more heinous then the breach of it would be The first and main advantage that was made of it was to set up the Presbyterial Government in ENGLAND without any bound or limitation of the Civil Magistrate and the Scots who best knew the design of the Covenant urge their pattern first as supposing their Church to be the best Reformed and so strongly and vigorously was it managed that they got so far on the affections of the people by such pleas that the brand of Heresie and Schism in the first Article was fastened on all those that differed or dissented in Discipline from that pattern and so far on Authority that none should either preach or be fit for any place in Government of State but he that subscribed to that sence That moderate and wary spirits which through Reason and Conscience differed onely in these circumstances had nothing to relieve themselves by and avoyd the direful sentence of perjury layd on them for not bringing up their Congregations to the Presbyterial Model but onely that clause which was happily inserted According to the Word of GOD But to salve that and press on the former Interest the Reformed Churches were brought in and not onely Scotland proposed as the main and absolute Rule and the Word of God to be exegetical and expository virtually included in them and so vehemently hath this first Article been prest to that Interest that all union besides and agreement in Doctrine and the absolutes and necessaries of Religion have been accounted of as low and ordinary in comparison of it that most men have thought it was a design either to make men doubt that there is any Church-Government Jure Divino or else that any will serve the turn which is but popular and suitable to a present Interest And of such a fundamental consequence hath the Covenant bin judged in Scotland that they used it as the characteristical difference of all persons both in Church and State and looked on it as the best constituting principle of Saint-ship and holiness and the visible qualification of members of Churches and as the onely way of admission at first or re-admission on relapse for when in the first expedition many had revolted from them to the common Enemy and were excommunicated both whole Shires and Parishes It was put unto the question in the General Assembly What way should be taken for the Tryal of their REPENTANCE and to receive them in again It was absolutely carryed by Vote by a new taking of the Covenant And that there might be no further difference between England and Scotland it was often urged that by it we might be made one Kingdom and no more be distinct in Priviledg seeing we were all one