Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	call_v	king_n	kingdom_n	2,557	5	5.7928	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34096	An exhortation of the churches of Bohemia to the Church of England wherein is set forth the good of unity, order, discipline, and obedience in churches rightly now, or to be constituted : with a description premised of the order and discipline used in the churches of the Brethren of Bohemia / by J. Amos Commenius.	Comenius, Johann Amos, 1592-1670.	1661 (1661)	Wing C5507; ESTC R27266	107,538	185

it securely at their pleasure over the Churches and so over the heavenly Doctrine c. What this means John Valentine of Andreas a choice Divine of the Lutherans in his Auguration Sermon or Speech at Tubinga in the year 1642. tells us in these words The impotent Usurped Power of the Pope over Emperours Kings and all power of State and Magistracy which one may call by an unusually but not an unfitly name Papal-Magistracy with a Divine Spirit of Power set at liberty their Rights Dignities Crowns and Scepters and being restored upheld them by the Authority of the Divine Word Now Satan easily perceived what an incurable wound was given him and how the very foundations of his Kingdom were shaken by this liberty of the Magistrate restored therefore superseding all force and violence he takes to his Arts and Stratagems and attempting that which no man suspected an unworthy return indeed for so great a benefit instead of Papal-Magistracy the Tables being turned he institutes Magistratical-Papacy and foisted it into the Church scarce as yet gotten out of the Roman dungeon Would you know what this word means 'T is sad indeed and that which is very prejudicial to the proceedings of the Church affairs I had rather you should have it in the words of Conrad Schlisselberg formerly an excellent Divine of Ours than in mine own Imperial-Papacy saith he is the confounding of the Church and Civil Power wherein the Secular Lords in Courts and Cities under pretence of keeping both the Tables snatch to themselves the Spiritual Sword and make themselves Lords over the Church and the Ministery of the Word Prescribing Forms of Obligation and of Teaching Praying making Sermons Honouring the Magistrate Taxing offences and Errors Administring the Sacraments and Keyes and setting up Ceremonies in the Church such as are now dangerous doubtful and contrary to the Word of God and they will have to be in their own and their Courtiers and Senates hands the Supreme and Dictator-like power of hearing taking cognizance of and determining all Ecclesiastical causes and of chusing and calling Ministers and dis-officiating the same whom and when they please whether the Church will or no consent hereunto or dissent and all to this end that themselves may not be reproved and admonished by the faithful Preachers from the Spirit of God and that the Civil Peace as they account it may be preserved Thus Schlisselburg And John Valen. of Andreas Printing on purpose a little Book entituled Apap i. e Papa inverted to shew the prodigious abominations and fatal effects of that new Monster Imperial-Papacy That it is the most desperate crafty stratagem of the Devil to frame for himself of Ministers of the Gospel Masters of State and transform the Servants of Christ into Servants of men and to hang fetters upon the Prophets to make them either dumb or fearful to speak lest they should be Reprovers Ezek. 3.25 26. Chrysostome was in the right This is the cause of all evils that the Authority of the Governours of the Church is lost and they be not had in Reverence Honour and Fear Hom. 2. on the 2. of Tim. for verily when the Magistrate will not be reproved neither will the people For Let 's but see th' Mode Royal And who 'll not be Loyal And then the Church becomes such as it was in the time of the Prophets Licentious Contumacious and impatient of all Controul Let no man strive and reprove another for this people is as they that strive with the Priest Hos 4.4 Whence it comes to pass that in those Churches where Imperial Papacy rules one of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven is neglected despised lost I did not know it the Omniscient is my witness and to this very day for what hath an incurious man to do in another man's charge for ought I know I might have been ignorant of it but that some 14 yeers ago by chance I came to the knowledge of it Excuse me as to the name of place and person and I 'le relate it to you in few words It hapned that in the chief City of Germany I had some speech with the chief Pastor of the Church in that place He told me he had a good while longed for an occasion to know whether a Book which he had read viz. The way of the Discipline and Order of the Churches of the Brethren in Bohemia did contain the true story of that Church or only a Model how a Church should be constituted I asked why he doubted it He answered because I cannot imagine any such Church should or can at this day be found in the world I answered 't was an History not a Fiction there related and that indeed there was really such Orders and Constitutions though they were not enough observed and therefore now we that would not be governed thereby are under the chastisements of the Discipline of heaven Saith he O happy you that had both the Keys we have lost one of them that is the binding Key We are appointed to be such Stewards in the House of God as are bound as it were to set open the Barns Cellars Chests and all Treasuries and not at all to shut them so that we cannot but give holy things to dogs and cast pearls before swine I have known saith he some persons in my Congregation very prophane covetous extortioners drunkards adulterers admitted to Confession and the Supper which must be by me absolved to day and for certain would be found to morrow returning to wallow in the mire I told him they were not to be admitted unless they would engage to reform He answered I tryed that but could not carry it on they defame me as some new Papist or Calvinist my life is bitter to me c. and so began to sigh and weep I tell you a true story before God who is a most faithful witness if haply even by this the enormity and deadly mischief as well of the Imperial-Papacy as the Papal-Empire may be made manifest for by the one as much as by the other is the Order of the Church shaken even in the very foundation fin and judgment being filled up to the measure by such breach of Order Is there not some likeness between the Papal Empire of the Evangelici and that Micah of Mount Ephraim making himself a new God for his House and having a Priest to perform the Service as should be by him prescribed Judg. 17. Doth it not resemble the Policy of Jeroboam setting up Calves to be his Gods and Calvish Priests to be Ministers because forsooth the reason of State so required Mark I beseech you the Founders of the old and new Church and the many Reformers and Transformers their divers and even contrary wayes God will not be mocked that which any man sowes that he shall also reap Aaron the Priest with Miriam the Prophetess go about to shake off the Authority of Moses their Prince and they are punished by God with

Bosnians Croatians c. which contributed much assistance to Cyril and Methudius they being Grecian Bishops but ready and expert in the Slavonick Tongue These passing on and about the year 861 entring into Moravia then by the Germans called Marcomannia there also they converted unto Christ Suatoplucus their King and a little after that Borivoius a Duke of the Bohemians From thence the brightness of the Gospel darted into Polonia in the year of Christs 65. the 71 year after the conversion of the Bohemians of the Moravians the 104. of the Bulgarians the 120. Fifteen years after this in the year 980. the Russi and the Mosci and the Slavonian Counties turned wholly to the Christian Religion Anna Basil the Emperours sister being given in marriage to Wlodimire a Kyoviensian Duke 17. From hence it appears that all these Countreys converted by the means of the Eastern Church even the Bohemian too were Christianized with the Grecian Rites and Forms But the Pope of Rome which even at this time lay in wait to make a prey of all the Churches in the World let slip no opportunity whereby he might bring them under the yoke of his jurisdiction What opportunities were given I must in brief relate were it onely for the sake of Bohemia 18. Satan the Enemy of our Redemption raging at the beginnings of Salvation in Bohemia suborned secretly plied his Incendiaries by which that part those of the Nobility and Commons which stifly adhered to Gentilisms being incensed and hurried into a Dog-like madness presently banish Borivoius and then his Nephew Wenceslaus with his Grandmother Ludomilla being dispatched by Martyrdom substitutes Boleslaus a sworn Slave to Heathenish Superstitions By whom many of the Noblemen and even all their Sacerdotes or Ministers were either slain or taken captive and so imprisoned or banished and driven into the neighbouring Provinces of Germany until the year 940. when Otto the Emperour coming upon them with an Army cooled their courage restraining their fury making Boleslaus restore the Temples and call home the banished and take order that Children be initiated with Christian Rites i. e. baptized Thus the Bohemians were first brought again under the power of the Roman Emperour and then presently fell into the snares of the Roman Bishop upon the next occasion which was in this manner 19. Good Bolestaus son of the Tyrant of that name being desirous very much to propagate the Christian Religion founded a Bishoprick at Prague and endeavouring ●o procure a person of great experience for the Pastor of that late scattered Church there was one Ditmar a Saxon Canon of the Archbishops See of Magdeburgh lately founded commended and chosen At the inaugurating of this Saxon was present the Archbishop of Moguntia by the French called Mentz But he prescribed to the new Bishop of that new people such Laws enjoyning and giving him in charge by express command from the Pope the Roman Liturgy in the Latine Tongue as offended the Bohemians and they not enduring that Divine Service should be celebrated in an unknown Tongue were fain to seek at Rome by certain Agents Bolehest Mislebor c. the wonted use of their Mother Tongue in the holy things in the year 977. and they obtained it But that one generation passing Gregory the seventh called Hilderbrand took it away again by an inhibitory Edict sent to Wratislaus Duke of Bohemia in the year 1079. Which Edict in the very terms thereof is extant in the History of the Preservation of the Bohemian Church chap. 5. Since that time there hath always been a contest between the Bohemian and the Roman Church the one always putting on the other always shaking off the yoke of their Superstitions even to this unhappy age of ours wherein she is fain to couch under her burden which especially as to the chief passage hereof it will not be amiss briefly to relate 20. The next age Coelestinus the Pope going about to obtrude on the Bohemians the command concerning the single life of the Clergie his ●egate viz. Peter Cardinal of Lalavie very narrowly escaped stoning by the Ministers and Prelates of Prague an 1197. this is attested by Hag●eius a Pontificial Writer 21. After this that generation passing there began to be ob●ruded on the Churches the opinion of Transubstantiation together with the Sacrilegious communion of the Eucharist in but one kinde But in Bohemia this was not imposed till the year 13●1 when Charls the fourth King of Bohemia and Emperour of the Romans changing the Bishoprick into an Archbishoprick and founding an University at Prague sent over for Masters and Doctors out of Germany F●ance and Italy So these being abroad trained up in the custom of Communicating in one kinde began vehemently to urge it here the Bohemians on the other side not enduring this innovation but stoutly setting themselves against it 22. Amongst and above all the rest of the zealots there was a certain person descended of a noble Family by name John Milicius Canon of Prague and Preacher in the Cathedral Church Which with his Collegue Conrad Stickna vehemently thundered against the encroaching abuses which were so apparently and notoriously contrary to the Word of God Notice of this being given to Pope Gregory the eleventh he dispatches a Bull whereby Milicius with his hearers were excommunicated he also being given over to the new Archbishop Ernest of Pardubitz to be corrected Who presently committed Milicius to Prison but because of the fear of the people he was set free again and then banished in the year 1366. 23. To be Successor to him there was appointed Matthias Janovius of Prague Confessor to Charls the fourth But he nothing daunted at the hard measure of his banished Predecessor perfi●s shotly to assert the Communion in both kindes Also he sollicited and perswaded Caesar to call a Council for the abolishing of the many growing abuses But then when Caesar began to negotiate this busine●s with the Pope the Pope was anygry and so instantly urged the compelling and suppressing of he busie Hereticks that Charls being infatuated by the Authority of the Pope banished his Confessor out of his Kingdom howbeit he had much place in his affection Afterward he returned indeed but passed the remainder of his life in private unto the year 1304. wherein he dyed It is testified that a little before he dyed he uttered these words to the comfort of his friends The fury of the Enemies of the Truth hath hitherto prevailed against us but it shall not always be so for there shall arise a mean people without sword or power which they shall not be able to deal withal 24. It is worth the noting that the Bohemians were not onely acted by the S. Spirit within but also put on with the concurrence of the godly every where observing and detesting the Abomination of Desolation viz. from the University of Paris and Oxford where they travelled for the advancement of Learning and came away enriched with the light of sounder

to you as there to them O! O you Corinthians that are wise that are rich that raign without us ver 4 8. For truly the things for which you contend are only of this life Rank Eminency Possessions Revenues Authority Repute and the like Prerogatives but how small a thing is all this for you which shall judge the world v 2. 3. which are in expectation of the Throne of Christ and his blessed Kingdom to Eternity Apoc. 3.21 So that whilst you that are so great contend about things so small behold God sets before you some that are contemptible and of the lowest form that you may begin even of them to learn to do better Those I mean which groaning under Christ's Cross may thus address to you that shine in glory God hath set forth unto you us as appointed unto death for we are made a spectacle unto the world to Angels and to men we are fools for Christ and you are wise in Christ we are weak but you are strong ye are honourable but we are vilified to this very time we both hunger and thirst and are naked and buffeted and have no certain dwelling place and labour working with our own hands being reviled we bless being made as the filth of the World and the off-scouring of all things c. 1 Cor. 4.9 c. Thus Paul minds them of these things in 1 Epist to Cor. and what heed they gave to him herein appears in the second Epistle where he once and again reproves them that they despised his Apostolical meanness and suffered themselves to be led away from the simplicity of Christ by them which were addicted to pomp and great swelling words and full fed with large fat morsels and no wonder for so it was with the Lord of the Prophets and Apostles that by reason of this meanness and meekness ● Jsa 42.1 2. his cross and afflictions he was so contemned that he was counted unworthy to be lookt upon Jsa 53.2 3. the World alwayes looking after nothing but power pomp and splendor doth so love to deceive it self and let the Godly take heed and beware of it For the foolishness of God is wiser then men and the weakness of God is stronger then men I God making choice of those things which are base to the world and nothing worth yea even those things which are not to abolish those that are that no flesh might glory in his sight 1 Cor. 15.28 29. However then I heartily wish you O! you great Sticklers in the great Churches some great Joseph which may bespeak his brethren with authority why fall ye out in the way of Heaven Gen. 45.24 or a Moses to cry out to you men and brethren why do ye wrong to one another Acts 7.26 or an Hezekiah to charge you as he did with royal Majesty the Levites and Priests My sons do not swerve any more for God hath chosen you c. 2 Chron. 29.11 Or else a great Constantine who gently reproving his Bishops the Ministers of Christ burned all the books of controversies Yet what forbids that I should not tread in the footsteps of Christ and setting before you great Apostles a little child in the midst and shew you what lesson you must learn of him What hinders also but that the Apostles counsel may be urged that quarrel being arisen among you about those things which concern this life only the judgement hereof may be committed to them that are the lowest in the Church This will be of Divine right whatever otherwise reason of State may suggest to them which understand not nor will understand the State of the Kingdom of Christ In confidence then of this Divine right the Bohemian though the least of all Churches and oppressed intreats You the Churches of greater Magnitude to supersede your contentions about matters so small so fading and of no value What will you contend for the Prerogative of Place and dignity when Christ did so straightly forbid his own all desire of honour and commanded that he that affected the primacy should be thrust back to the last place Mat. 20.26 23.11 12. for titles when the meekest Lord condemned the Phylacteries in the Pharisees as a piece of stinking pride ib. 5. and would have his own count themselves sufficiently honoured with the mutual compellation of Brethren ver 8. Do you strive about the higher understanding of the Mysteries when we are here all but infants scarce understanding the least part of that which by the goodness of God we shall know when we come to the state of Perfection Why may not the one of them that have an imperfection in speech have a good understanding of the other or at least bare with him Doe you contend for the right of Prebends when Christ affirmes it better to give then to receive Act. 20. and interdicts all his own which he sent forth to preach the Gospel the charge of the purse Math. 10.9 subjoyning this rule ye have received freely give freely And verily that was matter of glorying to the Apostles that they preached the Gospel gratis even to the richest Corinthians that they might not be burdensome to any 2 Cor. 11.7 9. and it was the Character of a mercenary Preacher to strive to be rich of the Gospel ib. 20. and elsewhere often Let the sincere Servants of Christ then imitating Christ and the Successors of the Apostles treading in the steps of the Apostles glory in the Lord. If you still stick at our smallnesse we must say with Syrac The Bee is small among winged creatures yet the fruit thereof is the beginning of sweetness Syrac 11.3 What more despicable then the Aunt yet how often are we sent to her as the Mistress of Prudence And may not a little Common-wealth be in greatest Order and so a mirrour to another which is greater Be the boat greater or less I am only but one still and the same as any understanding man will say Verily bigness is of no vertue unless happily to sink with its own weight all action flowes from the forme My Predecessors did adventure in the contentions of the Brethren of the Evangelici in Germany Helvetia Polonia in a brotherly way to interpose and by the assistance of God did there doe some good Why may not we the relicts of them cry out against the Relicts of contentioners They durst move Maximilian the Emperour to a Reformation of the Church Hist 108. why may not we the last reduced to the last entreat the same Our blessed Martyrs Hus and Hieron in the midst of the flames sung Psalmes unto God in confidence of the goodness of their Cause Why may not we be as them which inherit the same Cause to the last man being to triumph with Christ by his power not only in the Bab●lonian flames but beyond them also and the last flam●s of the World in the Judgment day But what would you have may some say I answer compassion Compassion I