Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	church_n	great_a	time_n	4,486	5	3.5288	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58539	The Scots Commissioners, their desires concerning unitie in religion, and uniformitie of Church-government as a speciall meanes for conserving of peace, in his Majesties dominions. Presented to the Kings Majestie, and both Houses of Parliament in England. March. 1641.	Scotland. Parliament.	1641 (1641)	Wing S1001C; ESTC R219080	7,516	18

THE SCOTS COMMISSIONERS Their desires concerning unitie in Religion and uniformitie of Church-government as a speciall meanes for conserving of Peace in his Majesties Dominions Presented to the Kings Majestie and both Houses of Parliament in England MARCH 1641. EDINBVRGH Printed by James Bryson 1641. THE SCOTS COMMISSIONERS their desires concerning unitie in Religion and uniformitie of Church-government c. AS wee shall not make any proposition about the last Article of establishing a firme and happie peace but that which wee conceive to bee both expedient and just So will your Lo. we doubt not in your wisedomes consider that since that which is sought is not a cessation of Armes for a time but peace for ever and not peace onely but a perfect amitie and a more neare union then before which is of greater consequence then all the former Articles It is no marvell that a composition so excellent and so powerfull to preserve the whole Yland in health against all inward distempers and in strength against all contagion and wounds from without require manie ingredients of which if any one be wanting wee may on both sides please our selves for the present with the sweet name of Peace and yet for no long time enjoy Peace it selfe which hath in it not onely sweetnesse and pleasure but also much more profit and true honour then all the triumphes on earth As wee accompt it no lesse then usurpation and presumption for one Kingdome or Church were it never so mightie and glorious to give lawes and rules of reformation to another free and independent Church and Kingdome were it never so meane civill libertie and conscience beeing so tender and delicat that they cannot endure to bee touched but by such as they are wedded unto and have lawfull authoritie over them so have wee not beene so forgetfull of our selves who are the lesser and of England who is the greater Kingdome as to suffer any such arrogant and presumptuous thoughts to enter into our mindes Our wayes also are witnesses of the contrare against the malicious who doe not expresse what we are or have beene but doe still devise what may bee fewell for a common combustion Yet Charitie is no presumption and the common duety of Charitie bindeth all Christians at all times both to pray and professe thei● desire That all others were not onely almost but altogethe● such as themselves except their afflictions and distresses● And beside common Charitie wee are bound as Commissioners in a speciall duetie to propone the best and readie● meanes for setling of a firme Peace as wee love not to be curious in any other Common-wealth nor to play the Bisho● in another mans Diocese So may wee not bee carelesse an● negligent in that which concerneth both Nations Wee doe all know and professe that Religion is not onl● the meane to serve God and to save our owne soules b●● that it is also the base foundation of Kingdomes Estats and the strongest band to tye the Subjects to their Prince in true loyaltie and to knit the hearts of one to another in true unitie Nothing so powerfull to divide the hearts of people as division in Religion nothing so strong to unite them as unitie in Religion And the greater zeale in different Religions the greater division But the more zeale in one Religion the more firme union In the paradise of nature the diversitie of flowers and herbes is pleasant and usefull but in the paradise of the Church different and contrarie Religions are unpleasant and hurtfull It is therefore to bee wished that there were one confession of Faith one forme of Catechisme one directory for all the parts of the publick worship of God as Prayer Preaching administration of Sacraments c. And one forme of Church-government in all the Churches of his Majesties dominions This would 1. Be acceptable to God Almightie who delighteth to see his people walking in truth and unitie and who would looke upon this Yland with the greater complacencie that wee were all of one heart and one soule in matters of Religion 2. This unitie in Religion will preserve our Peace and prevent many divisions and troubles Of old as Beda recordeth the difference about the time of observing Easter although no great matter in Religion and although in divers independent Kingdomes had troubled their peace if the wiser sort had not brought them to one uniformitie wherein they were so zealous that they would not suffer so much as one small Yland which differed from the rest to bee unconforme 3. His Majestie and his Successours in their government shall be eased of much more trouble which ariseth from differences of Religion and hath beene very grievous unto Kings and Emperours As Eusebius witnesseth in his third booke chap. 12. of the life of Constantine Sedition begotten in the Church of God saith Constantine seeme to mee to containe in it selfe more trouble and bitternesse then warre or battell 4. Since by divine providence his Majestie is King of divers Kingdomes It shall be much content both to himselfe to his Nobles and Court and to all his people When his Majestie shall in person visite any of his Kingdomes that King Court and people may without all scruple of conscience bee partakers of one and the same forme of divine worship and his Majestie with the Court may come to the publick Assemblie of the people and serve God with them according to the practise of the good Kings of Iudah As on the other part difference in formes of divine worship divideth betweene the King and the people 5. This shall bee a great comfort to all his Majesties Subjects when they travell abroad from their owne Countrey to any other place in his Majesties dominions whither for commerce or whatsoever negotiation and effaires That they may with confidence resort to the publicke worship as if they were at home and in their owne paroch Church and shall satisfie many doubts and remove many exceptions jealousies and scandals which arise upon resorting to different formes of worship 6. The names of Haeresies and Sects Puritanes Conformists Separatists which rent the bowels both of Church and Kingdome are a matter of much stumbling to the people and diminish the glorie of his Majesties reigne shall no more be heard but as the Lord is one his Name shall bee one and the name of the people one in all his Majesties dominions 7. Papists and Recusants shall dispaire of successe to have their Religion set up againe and shall either conforme themselves or get themselves hence and irreligious men shall have a great scandall removed out of their way which shall bee a meane of great saftie and securitie and of many blessings both to King and people I am perswaded saith Constantine as Eusebius recordeth in his life lib. 2. cap. 63. Were I able as it is in my desires to bind all the true worshippers of God by the common bond of concord all the Subjects of my Empire