Selected quad for the lemma: word_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
word_n	apostle_n	church_n	elder_n	3,592	5	9.6069	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90561	A petition for peace, directed both to the King and the Parliament, written by One, to bee subscribed by all, men and Christians, as it shall appear agreeable to mans reason, and Christs word; the fittest sword (without all controversie) to decide all the controversies of these times.	One.	1642 (1642)	Wing P1746; Thomason E121_20; ESTC R20048	3,340	10

A PETITION FOR PEACE Directed both to the KING and the PARLIAMENT Written by One to bee subscribed by All MEN and CHRISTIANS as it shall appear agreeable to MANS Reason and CHRISTS Word The fittest Sword without all controversie to decide all the Controversies of these times He that loveth life and would faine see good dayes againe let him refrain him tongue from evill and his lips that they speak no guile Let him eschew evill and doe good Let him seeke Peace and ensue it London Printed for Francis Coles 1642. The first Rudiments of a Petition for Peace most humbly beseeching his Maiesty and his Parliament Article 1. FIrst that the more undisputed sins of man against God may be more sharply punished by their joint authority especially the more spreading and allowed sins particularly those of Swearing Drunkennesse and Whoring Reason Because if this sharp axe be laid to the root of bitternesse the calamity that springs from such sins may fade in the blossome before it grow to the bitternesse in the latter end especially the more common and connived at sins Because as private faults bring personall miseries so in proportion of justice common crimes bring common calamities namely those of swearing drinking and whoring because it was confidently foretold that the Empire of Germany then as flourishing as secure should surely come to ruine because these sins were publikely winkt at by the Magistrate and committed by the People Muscul tract de iuramento post Psal Scripture For three transgressions of Damascus and for foure I will not turn away the punishment thereof But c. the like sins eight times repeated as the cause of so many Nations ruine Amos chap. 1 2. especially transgressions known and allowed 1 Sam. 3.13 by name those of swearing drinking and whoredome of which God complaineth and for which the Land mourneth Hosea 4.2 11. Article 2. 2. That the more disputed sins of man against man may be more favourably interpreted and mutually pardoned Reason Because in such disputable cases there can be no hoped for end of Recrimination and because parties exasperated are apt to mis-judge and aggravate injuries done towards themselves and because when there is deniall of pardon where there is some equality of Abetters the blood of the innocent which may be spilt is more worth then the blood of the supposed nocent which they think must be spilt And many times the Magistrates suppose that their quarrell is good and that of right they ought to make war on others and punish Delinquents when as notwithstanding the righteous God by that occasion drawes them on into perill that their sins may be punished by the men in whom they did purpose to have punished some grievous crime Bulling Decad. 2. serm 9. Scripture They know not what manner of Spirit they are of that think the Spirit of Christ any other then the Spirit of meeknesse not a Spirit of fire Matth. 11.29 Therefore Brethren you that have the Spirit if any be overtaken in a fault ye which are spirituall destroy not but restore such in the Spirit of meeknesse considering thy selfe lest thou also be tempted Gal. 6.1 By this mitigating way the people saved Ionathan when the King judged him worthy of death and thus the King pardoned Shimei whom some justly thought not worthy to live 1 Sam. 14.44 45. 2 Sam. 19.21 on both hands the interceding of one party abates the rigour of the other In like cases let your moderation be known unto all men Phil. 4.5 Article 3. 3. That the City of London with all the Suburbs may take the Oaths of Allegeance and Supremacie concluding with a clause to behave themselves with that quietnesse innocence and reverence which is due to his sacred Majesty Reason Because the unbridlednesse of some of these is averred to be the unhappy cause of his Majesties retiring and therefore the gentle receiving this curbe may well be hoped the happy cause of his returning Scripture Such innocent and reverent behaviour is due for the heart of David smote him not for threatning violence but for touching the Lords annointed and Shimei is slain in the end for but railing against the flying King And if we vilifie the King but in thought onely we shall be sure to answer for it Eccles 10.20 Article 4. 4. That on the Parliaments part the King be again entreated and on his Majesties part he would be perswaded upon the premises and what with like reason may be required to joine again with his Parliament Reason Because his absence and distance from it hath been the cause of much evill and griefe and delay and therefore his presence and anneering may be cause of much good and joy and dispatch Scripture When the King was driven from his royall City upon a commotion after a while his subjects desired him to returne and he readily consented when he knew by the expressions of their loyalty that he was indeed King over them 2 Sam. 19.11 12 23. Article 5. That all possible speed may be used for the disbanding or lessening the Forces of each side or at least that they be kept at good distance and in the meane time with due discipline regulated Reason Because if not lessened or soone disbanded their maintaining will grow to a too excessive charge to the people whom it must light upon And if not kept at distance and regulated their licentiousnesse may doe more harme then their force can remedy Scripture When Iudah and Israel kept two Armies on foot for seaven years together they met but once to try it by the sword and then with such moderate pursuance that but three hundred seaventy two were slaine by Ioabs men and but thirty two by Abners yet even that called a very sore Battell 2 Sam. 2.16 71.30 31. Article 6. That the charges of maintaining both Armies may not be laid on the shoulder of onely one Party but that it may fall in some mercifull proportion upon all the Abler sort of the Land Reason Though all will never be granted equally deep in the cause of raising this division yet all will equally share in the benefit of ceasing it and because if either side feare too much oppression the taming them to take the burden may cost more then will be recovered of them And in the meane time the meaner of the Kingdome will soone be pincht for want of employment in their manufacturall crafts who wanting work as soone as the abler want trading must needs want food as soone as they want work Scripture Beare yee one anothers burden and so you that stand upon law fulfill the law of Christ Gal. 6.2 And in a case of a collection I will not that some bee eased and others burdened but that there be an equallity 2 Cor. 8.13 Article 7. That in matters Doctrinall or Disciplinall touching the service of God the maine source of all our distractions wee expect a decision from the more learned and more unblemished Worthies of the Clergy the daily studiers of the Gospel of Christ and not from Lay-men Reason Because they being versed most in the word of God have probably most knowledge And wee goe not to a Judge for the end of our suit by vertue of his knowledge onely whereof others may have a like measure but by vertue of his office and calling and to their office and calling it belongs to determine such doubts For Scripture The Priests lips should preserve knowledge and they should seek the law at his mouth Mala. 2.7 And after much disputing in a case of Ceremonies the Church of God expected a determining sentence from the Apostles and Elders Acts 15.3.6 ☞ The Elders were not Lay-men but Ministers of the word Feeders of the Church of God Acts 20.28 Feeders of the flock of God 1 Pet. 5.1 2. and The first fault of King Saul was but once stepping into the office of the Priest for which hee was cast out of the Kingdome and which more is out of Gods favour 1 Sam. 8.12 13. as Vzziah for the same trespasse smote with leprosie 2 Chron. 26.19 Article 8. That the chusing of these able and godly Divines may be according as heretofore by the suffrage of all the Ministers of the Land they being left liable to exception both of the Choosers and Chosen who shall be thought unmeet for any notorious evill of faith or life not slanderously imputed but solidly proved against them Reason Because the Professors onely of any unvulgar Art or Science are fittest men to judge who are most eminent in that Art or Science and because the Burden of such Injunctions as shall be agreed on by the Elected and authorised by the High Court of Parliament being to fall chiefly upon the Clergy will be borne by them lesse grudgingly when they have their priviledge to choose who shall lay it upon their shoulders Scripture In this point is more rare because not so much quarrelling there about Ceremonies and the manner of Gods Service And when they who God appointed were-taxt for usurping too much upon the Holy People God staied not till an Assembly were chosen by others but appointed them to meet next morning and decided the question Himselfe by making the earth to swallow them that invaded Priesthood Numb 16. And David is carefull before hand to prevent this doubt that none ought to meddle with the Holy utensils but the Levites 1 Chron. 15.2 c. Article 9. That there be not given to the Petitioners for peace too just Reason For them to use and apply this too opposite Scripture My soule hath long dwelt among them that are enemies to peace I laboured for peace but when I spake to them thereof they made them more then ready to battell FINIS