Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	king_n	kingdom_n	pilate_n	2,382	5	12.0207	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86220	A discourse concerning the queries proposed by the House of Commons to the Assembly of Divines; about the divine right of Church Government in answer to two main questions. First, whether is be expedient to the State and Church, that the Assembly of Divines should answer those questions yea or no? Secondly, in case to be expedient; how they should be answered satisfactorily both to the conscionable and unconscionable disputer of the matter. Shewing first, the necessity of giving an answerr [sic]. Secondly, some necessary requisites to make that answer satisfactory to all, and without exception. / Written for the private satisfaction of a friend, anno Dom. 1646. And now published for more common use, by an unpartiall lover of truth and peace.	W. H.	1648 (1648)	Wing H152; Thomason E428_10; ESTC R204608	10,320	24

rule all at their own will or the priviledge to be exempt from all rule of the Church by an expresse Ordinance of Parliament it is not unlikely that they will endeavour to gain it some other way namely by the unsettlement of all and by Argument in denying to the Church that which is due to it and this perhaps they will attempt by some endlesse dispute about the points of right to make the Civill and Ecclesiasticall pretences of Right unto power clash together irreconciliably For so long as the matter is not decided they will pretend to a liberty to doe what they list and without controule will cast the cords of Christ from them which is all the World aims at in this controversie as is cleere by Psal 2.3 Now then although this inconvenience may seeme unavoydable as matters now stand with us and although the remedy which you enquire after is somewhat difficult to be found yet I shall briefly open my thoughts thereof unto you if perhaps somthing from hence may be hinted to your selfe or others for the facilitating of the worke Therefore to the first Question I say that it will be very expedient for the Divines to Answer the Question proposed unto them for these three principall causes 1 Because the matter is of such consequence in respect of Christ and his Kingdom that in conscience they are bound to give a resolution thereof so far as they are able 2 Because the constitution of this State and Church is such at this time that except this matter be satisfactorily decided there is no settlement at all to be expected therein and the whole guilt of our publike confusions will be imputed unto the Divines 3 Because their call and engagement to give an Answer is so publike and Obligatory that if they decline to doe their duty they will not onely lose their reputation in this Cause and most of their Authority in the Ministry and give their Adversaries matter of triumph over them but they will prejudge extreamly the Rights of all the best reformed Churches to their disadvantage If these Reasons be well considered it will appeare not onely expedient but even necessary that an Answer be given to the Questions which I shall briefly endeavour to let you see First The Importance of the matter is such that to the fundamentall constitution and compleat being of a true Church nothing is more necessary then to know by what Right the Officers thereof stand in their Charges and how they are authorized to execute the government and judicatures belonging thereunto And if the Royalty of Christ power in government and in Spirituall Judicatures is so highly concerned in this matter that except this plea be maintained his prerogative over the soules of men will be disclaimed and given up to the will of worldlings then certainly no faithfull Minister who doth beleeve him to be the only King of souls can with a good Conscience be silent when this his right is called into Question for seeing their calling is to beare witnesse unto him their silence in such a matter would be a great breach of trust And if Christ in that good confession which he made before Pontius Pilate Joh. 18.35 36 37. Did professe that he was indeed a King but that his Kingdome was not of this world how can any of his Officers in that Kingdome be counted faithfull unto him if they suffer the world to incroach upon the Rights of his Jurisdiction For if they are not of the world they cannot be given up unto the world for the Rule is give unto Caesar what is Caesars and unto God what is Gods Therefore if the Divines of the Assembly lay this matter to heart as believing it to concerne mainly Christs Royall Prerogative I cannot see how their Conscience will suffer them to be silent in the vindication of his Right for Christ when he himselfe was questioned before a worldly judge concerning the point of Right to his Kingdome attested the Truth thereof although it was laid to his charge as a matter of high treason And having plainly declared that he was a King he doth adde immediately these words To this end was I borne and for this cause came I into the world that I should beare witnesse unto the Truth thereby intimating that this was one of those Truths which he was to manifest unto the world although it might be with the perill of his life and if this was of such importance for him to declare sure it is of no lesse importance for us to know and in Case of doubt to be resolved of For as it doth concerne on the one side the Right which Christ hath to his Spirituall Crowne that his Title may be cleered and all worldly pretences of power over it taken away so on the other side it doth concerne our Consciences to be informed under whom they must stand in point of Judicature and what Christs will and appointment is who is the undoubted King of souls for the settlement of the same in doubtfull matters And as the matter is thus important in respect of Christ of his Kingdome and of our Conscience in order to him So it is of that Consequence to this Church and State that it brings with it no lesse then the to tall dissolution or happy establishment thereof For if this matter be cleerly determined according to the Word God then the Churches of this Kingdome may be ordered and settled in Peace and by this meanes the foundation of the State will be setled also which now is shaken by reason of this un-settlement for it is Christ that doth beare up the pillars of the earth Psal 75.3 And to him is the gathering of the people Gen. 49.10 now they cannot be gathered to him without a government nor can the pillars of the earth stand without order and if the matter be not determined one way or other nothing can possibly ensue but endlesse continuance of divisions and strife which being remedilesse without the decision of these doubts will at last produce inevitable ruine both to Church and State and the reason of this is cleer because the relations which men have unto God in respect of Conscience not being settled all other relations will be dissolved for if Christs will be not knowne or regarded in his government of spirits no mans spirit will regard the will of any other government and power further then he is either by feare constrained or for his owne ends he thinkes good to comply with others to serve his own turne of them for naturally thus farre and no further one man doth yield unto another So that for want of that Rule whereby mens Consciences may be wrought upon and spirits directed in the concernment of Religion to prevent or remedy Scandals all other Rules will be broken and cast off because every man being left to his own arbitrement to doe without the controulement of true spirituall government whatsoever he pleaseth in matters