Selected quad for the lemma: blood_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
blood_n	holy_a	jesus_n	lord_n	5,323	4	3.5692	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A08206	The plea of the innocent wherein is auerred; that the ministers & people falslie termed puritanes, are iniuriouslie slaundered for enemies or troublers of the state. Published for the common good of the Church and common wealth of this realme of England as a countermure against all sycophantising papsts, statising priestes, neutralising atheistes, and satanising scorners of all godlinesse, trueth and honestie. Written: by Iosias Nichols, a faithfull minister of the Ghospell of Christ: and an humble seruant, of the English Church.	Nichols, Josias, 1555?-1639.	1602 (1602)	STC 18541; ESTC S101326	105,186	267

that we might haue reformation in these things or at the least such toleration as wee might not be burdened with subscription or the strict obseruation of ceremonies but behauing our selues otherwise peaceable and as good subiectes discreet ministers we might not be troubled nor molested about these things And for this cause we did meet in the Parliament time and at other tymes while our trouble did last to consult and deuise what way wee might take to obtaine fauoure and reconciliation or reformation or releasment of our suspensions or other troubles In all which as I must needes confesse that I was among the Ministers of Kent not one of the hindemost beeing suspended onelie for not subscribing from the last daye of Ianuarie vntill the third day before the natiuitie of Christ So doe I professe to all the worlde that I knowe not anie thing which we did in our meeting or in our supplications or apologeticallwritings but that which was comely for men of our sorte and as our forefathers the faithfull Ministers of Christ in the primitiue Church did in like case before vs. For the Ministers of Christ finding themselues in the testimonie of their consciences to be heauilie burdened with the ordinances of the Church wee liue in humblie to declare their grieuances to the Magistrates in authoritie in tymes and places which may relieue them to shew by publike writings the vprightnes of their cause and by petition to craue some Christian and godlie remedie is doubtles agreeing to all law of God man and therefore I hope I shall not need to vse anie argumentes to prooue the same which we know our aduersaries being in our case would thinke themselues to haue great wrong to be denied Our fault is that we did not cōmend our cause to the Queene But if anie thing bee our fault I take it to be this That wee did not present our cause to the Queenes most excellent M. being a Prince of rare clemencie wisdome and iustice Whome when we did know to be so equal fauourable milde and of such incredible long animitie and that to her greatest aduersaries and deadlie enemies the Papistes who alwaies haue sought mischief against her person Crowne and dignitie we were doubtles much ouerseene that we commended not our cause to her most gracious and Princelie consideration For the goodnes of our cause and the innocencie of our persones being manifested before her Princelie eies it could not haue bene possible but that so prudent Christian a Magistrate vvoulde speedilie haue eased all our sorrovves and ended these vvofull troubles of the Church 2 But vvhile vve partlie fearing partly hoping as though the reuerēd Fathers themselues to vvhome vvee vsed beside our supplications diuers meanes woulde at the length haue ioyned with vs to the ending of these vnvvholsome strifes that vve trusted that our mercifull God pitying his Church vvoulde haue raysed vp some meanes to further his ovvne cause vvhile the time slipt avvay and mens mindes vvauered this vvay that vvay three most greeuous accidents did greatly astonish vs and verie much darken the righteousnes of our cause The first vvas a foolishe iester vvho tearmed himselfe Martin Marprelate and his sonnes Martin Marprelate a filthie Sycophant vvhich vnder counterfeit apish scoffing did play the Sycophant slanderously abused manye persons of reuerend place and note And such was the wisdome of the time that manie filthie and lewd pamphletes came forth against him casting forth much stincking doung and beastlie filth into the faces of honest men to the great contempt of Christes holy Ghospell and the verie apparant disparagement of the faithfull laboures of all godly Ministers on both sides This kindled a meruelous great fire euen that which S. Iames sayeth is set on fire of hell and is a worlde of wickednes Cap 3.6 It beewraied the weaknes of many a man and shewed how hard it is for fleshe and blood to hold in the raines of his own aspiring affections rather to endure reproach then to endamage the Church of God or wiselie to forethinke that we ought rather to suffer wronge then that the glorious Ghospell of our Lord Iesus Christ shoulde be euill spoken of How so euer it was the blame lighted vpon vs and we by it obtained a new name in many pulpites how iustly God knoweth wee are called Martinistes Then did our troubles increase the persuite was hardlie followed against vs the enemie of the Ghospell for slowed not the occasion to make our good iust honest godlie cause to be ill thought of and verie much condemned as if the verie state had taken knowledge that we were wicked men our cause vniust we no longer to be suffered So great hurt is it when an honest lawfull course is begun for foolish hairbraine men to thrust in thēselues to hazard such meanes as God neuer sanctified For God needeth not our follie 1. Cro. 15.13 but will make a breach among vs if we seeke him not in order Howbeit when our cause was left naked and many of vs in great hazard God him self gaue witnes to his truth manifested his iudgements and deliuered his innocent seruants so that it plainly appeared to the wiser discreter sorte that the Deuill was the author of this disgrace In this time also happened the second and third euill the Brownistes tooke offense against both sides The Brownists and Hacket of an euill spirit made a temerarious and wicked separation some two or three men being beewitched with some proud honor by a certaine man frantick spirit lifted vp themselues with hie words of blasphemie whose working this was all wise men know who know the wiles of Sathan How be it these also were drawne vpon vs and made a notable matter to aggrauate our cause But God who seeth in secret and beholdeth the bitter gaule of Simon Magus Act. 8.23 the filthie dissolutenes of Nicholas the freating canker of Hyminaeus Philetus the dogges the euill workers concision and all false Apostles which transforme them selues into Apostles of Christ namelie that these did much mischief and brought great trouble to the first beginning planting of the primitiue Church he euen he knoweth that these things were cunninglie wrought by these deep sleightes and suggestions of that olde serpent too hinder our good cause to hurt the prosperous and godly proceedings of the Church of England For by this meanes we finding the mighty winds and stronge streame against vs were faine to humble our selues vnder Gods mercie and commending our selues our cause to him who iudgeth righteously we reserued ourselues to a better time whē it should please his gracious wisedome to make his owne trueth to appeare and to moue the mindes of our superiours to bee more fauourable 3 Then tooke the idle and vnpreaching Ministers comfort at the heart supposing their standing to be good the non-residents had their mouthes

enlarged it became daungerous both in the Vniversitie and countrie to reproue either of these the people were become conuenticlers if they met together to sing a Psalme or to talk of Gods word And there was not a better way to maintaine an euill cause or to bring any honest man out of fauour then to shew thy selfe an enemie to Puritances and to entitle him whom thou wouldest disgrace with the name of a Puritane Yet let vs see whether this holie Canon of Scripture will not beare vs out to preach speake against these kindes of Prelates or to vse such kind of exercises First the Prophetes call them blind watchmen Esa 56.10.11 dumbe dogges and greedie dogges which can neuer haue inough They cry out vpon them say O idoll sheapheard that leaueth the flocke Zac. 11.17 the sweard shal be vpon his righte arme and vpon his right eye Woe vnto the sheapheardes which feed themselues should not the sheapheardes feed the flockes Ezech. 34.2 And Christ saieth of them Math. 15.14 They be the blind leaders of the blind And the Apostles cal vpon them earnestly saying Take heed vnto your selues to all the flocke whereof the holy Ghost hath made you ouerseers Act. 20.28 to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his owne blood And againe Feede the flocke of God which dependeth vpon you 1. Pet. 5.2 c. If wee speake after this Canon of the Prophets Christ the Apostles are wee troublers of the state or are not they who in their actions do contrarie to the reueiled will of God in his word And whē the same holy Scripture exhorteth men and weomen commandeth them to talke of Gods worde in their houses and when they walke in the way and that the same shoulde dwell plentifullie in vs Deut. 6.7 Colos 3.16 in all wisedome teaching admonishing our selues in Psalmes and Hymnes spirituall songs shall honest men and weomē be therefore called Puritans their godlie Christian meetings bee tearmed conuenticles And if Gods spirit say vnto vs Heb 10 20. Consider one another and prouoke vnto loue good works not for saking the fellowship we haue among our selues as the maner of some is but let vs exhort one another c. Shall honest Christians bee reproached for endeuouring the same And if they admonish anie neighbour for swearing or anie other disorder or call them to heare a Sermon are they by and by vile Puritanes I hope all wise and godlie Christians examining these things aright and waying them with the equall ballaunce of Gods sanctuarie wil conclude with me that in al these thinges especiallie in regarde of the matter of our cause howsoeuer perauenture we cannot be or haue not bene all of vs at all times perfectlie wise in the maner of doing wee haue not broken the principall Canon of our Church but faithfullie laboured to square our actiones after the expresse rule of Gods holy worde and therefore falsly and iniuriously called Puritanes Precisians and troublers of the state Cap. III. That the Ministers and people who haue disired reformation in some Church matters haue therein followed the Christian lavves and godlie proceedinges of the Ecclesiasticall estate THAT some fevv should differ from so many reuerend learned and godlie Fathers of the Church it is and hath bene alvvaies in the opinion of naturall men Men iudge by the outwarde shew a very great preiudice and the authority of the greater part ouersvvaieth the lesser sometime the better For men most commonlie iudge by outwarde appearance And therfore Christ him self being void of outward beautie forme Isai 5.3.2 was despised and reiected of men and it was thought a goodlie mightie reason against his doctrine when they coulde say Doth any of the Rulers or of the Pharises beleeue in him How be it in our Ecclesiasticall state there is matter of great consideration that the one side shoulde conster all thinges that were done at the first with great charitie and Christian pietie the other not to bee so straight as to iustifie euerie particuler The Queenes Maiestie God saue her blesse her comming to her Crowne The most Christian magnanimity of Queene Elizabeth in a troublesome and dangerous time when feare seemed to be on all sides her owne subiectes for the most part male contentes and the mightie Potentates all enemies round about her it shewed doubtlesse the wonderfull work of God most Christian royall magnanimitie in her Maiestie especiallie being a tender branch a maiden Queene that she aduentured to goe so far in reformation of religion in setting forth of the puritie of the Ghospell Wee must thinke also that those few godlie learned men who considered examined and penned the bookes not to haue bene alone without some men of greate learning and countenance which woulde sway against trueth as much as might be therefore no doubt verie wislie for the time they did so carrie the matter that the moste waightie part of that they did is without all exception some thinges may haue a verie good interpretation that which is otherwise perauenture was not espied as in a more peaceable time at more leasure and with greater aduise might haue bene And verelie to speak my conscience It is the singular mercie of God that our Church is so well reformed I take it to bee the singular mercie of God that it happened so well and that the books be so pure as they are the doctrine of faith so fullie and so sincerely declared the order of Gods worshipe so free from idolatrie the ministerie so neerelie framed to the Apostolicall times so that euery good Christiā honest subiect hath very great cause highlie to praise God for such exceeding good libertie and to pray continuallie for her Maiesties moste happie preseruation and to be thankfull to those reuerend men who did so wiselie faithfullie discharge their duetie These things being thus at the beginning the Apologetical writings of verie faithfull and learned men in explaning the Christian purpose of our Church and the statutes articles Canons iniunctiōs seemed to aime at this marke That in peace quietnes wee might not onelie enioy that which was first established but also come the neerest that might be to the pure fountaine of Gods word It doth seeme vnto me that either all these thinges which wee desire or the most needfull to bee reformed had bene long ere this amended if the cōmon enemie of mankinde who enuieth that we should haue any thing so well as we haue had not cast in a block of ciuill debate amongst vs. And I maruell not at it seing so many Papists prophane persons did vse all stratagematicall insinuations to kindle the fire and to nourish it being kindled that if God had not moderated the hote furie immoderate stiffenes of some men to maintaine that they had begunne doubtlesse it

to be admonished of these things and that the wise godly taking vsing applying thereof which I hope I shall finde at their hands may be for the good of her Maiestie and the State I would neuer haue aduentured in this sort to medle or to set forth one word at this time in this cause For how foolish were I to procure my self trouble without a warrant from God and his worde and hauing quietlie enioyed my place euer since the forlorne yeare of subscription except that I was at two times suspended some two yeare in peace and quietnes vnder the wise and fatherlie ouersight of the most reuerende Father our Diocesan of Cauntorburie not hauing subscribed in any sort neither vsed all the ceremonies so preciselie as peraduenture some other doe If the loue of the whole Church the necessitie and goodnes of the cause the glorie of God and the good of the whole lande did not in me way downe all reasoning and disputes I coulde easilie fore cast 500. cautions which would mightelie draw me back and make me afeard of such an enterprise vvhich protestation I make choise of rather in this place because doubt this chapter vvill not be altogether defensiue as I suppose the rest be but rather offensiue displeasing but I vvill frame my selfe as neere as I can to giue the least cause that any man should take occasion I vvill medle vvith no mans person onely I propound such reason for the reforming of these things as I hope shall become a Minister of Christ 1. These three thinges The vnpreaching ministrie the absence of the Pastor from his flock and subscription I take to be sin in the sight of God and if that be true then they may rightly be called troublers of the state because it is written Hier. 5.25 Esai 50.2.1 King 18. that Sinne hindreth good things from Gods people and iniquitie maketh a separation betweene God them And to forsake the commandement of the Lord is the cause of trouble to Gods Church The vnpreaching ministrie sinne Let vs first examine the vnpreaching Minister vvhether it bee not sinne Gods commaundement is that euerie Minister should be apt to teach no nouice in knowledge 1. Tim. 3.2.6 one that holdeth fast the faithfull word according to doctrine that he also may be able to exhort with wholsome doctrine Tit 1.9 improue them that say against it If then the breach of Gods commaundement be sinne as Saint Iohn saieth Seing our ministrie vvhich doth not can not preach ● Ioh. 3.4 is contrarie to this cōmandement it must needs follow that the standing thereof in our Church is sinne so a troubler of the state That vvhich causeth the people to perish is sinne but the vnpreaching ministrie causeth the people to perish therefore it is sinne This argument is testified by manie vvitnesses First Salomon saieth Where there is no visiō Prou. 29.18 the people decay And Christ addeth further If the blinde leade the blinde they shall both fall into the ditch And Oseah the Prophet applyeth the same to euerie vnpreaching Minister saying Mat. 15.14 My people are destroyed for lacke of knowledge Oseah 4.6 because thou hast refused knowledge I will also refuse thee that thou shalt be no Priest to me and seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God I will also forget thy children Looke the booke of orders in the ordayning of Priestes If the vnpreaching ministrie be no sinne why are they ordained to preach the vvord of God vvhy are they made to promise to giue faithfull diligence to minister the doctrine Sacraments and the discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded and to vse both publike and priuate monitions and exhortations And why are they at that time exhorted in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ to haue in remembrance to how hie a dignitie and to how chargeable an office they be called that is to say to be the messengers the watchmen the Pastours and stewards of the Lord to teach to premonish to feede prouide for the Lordes familie c. And why is it there also said vnto them Seing that you can not by anye other meanes compasse so waightie a worke pertayning to the saluation of man but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of holy Scripture and with a life agreeable to the same ye perceaue how studious you ought to be in reading learning the holy Scriptures c. And why are wee taught in the booke of common prayer to pray that all Bishoppes Pastours and Curates should set forth Gods true and liuelie worde and rightlie and duelie administer the holy Sacramentes if an vnpreaching ministrie were no sin The conscience heereof no doubt caused that reuerend Father M. D. Fulke to write that hee would not excuse any vnsufficient Minister nor their ordainers Ouerthrow of Stapletons fort cap 8. pag 113. Defens of trans of Engl. lib. cap. 15 pa. 401. And that hee which is voide of giftes is ordained vnworthelie and with great sinne both of him that ordaineth and of him that is ordained Now if these things bee true let wise men consider what daunger it is to suffer or maintaine a knowne sinne fortie three yeare in the Church of Christ and so whether this bee not a iust cause of the troubles of the state by the righteous iudgements of God In the next place let vs looke vpon the learned non-resident Non-residēce sinne examine whether the absence of the Pastour from his flocke and negligence as it is vsed among vs be not sin For a man may bee called by the Church as Epaphroditus was to some speciall work for a tyme Philip. 2.25 for the common good of the whole But our question is whether a man may lie in a cathedrall Church or in the Vniuersitie or dwell in some towne like a Gentilman and ioyne benefice to benefice and liuing to liuing passing his time in wealth and pleasure and his flocke 20.30.40 or 100. miles of more or lesse comming verie rarely or seldome amongst them Heere I will not dispute but onlie I humblye beeseech and adiure all those my reuerend and learned brethren by the name of our Lord Iesus Christ and by the great fearefull day of his comming when all dispensation of men shall be voide and wee shall giue a straight accounts of all our workes which we haue done in our bodies that how so euer I am a verie meane and simple man not worthie to carrie your bookes you would looke into your owne consciences and see how you can answer to God where he saieth Ezech. 34.2 Wee be vnto the sheapheards of Israell that feede them selues shoulde not the sheapheardes feede the flockes c. Take heede vnto your selues and to all the flocke whereof the holye Ghost hath made you ouerseers Act. 20.28 to feede the Church of God which hee hath purchased with his owne blood I charge thee

before God and the Lord Iesus Christ 2. Tim. 4.1 which shal iudge the quick and dead at his appearing in his kingdome preach the word bee instant in season and out of season improoue rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine Feede the flocke of God which dependeth vpon you 1. Pet 5. ● careing for it not by constraint but willinglie not for filthie lucre but of a readie minde Nowe if you my brethren liue from your charge and seldome see the same and enrich your selues with the Church liuings can you answer God that you feede not your selues but the flocke that you haue a readie mind to feede the flocke and not desirous of filthie lucre Can you say in Gods sight that you are instant in season and out of season in teaching preaching the worde by improouing rebuking exhorting and that you care take heed to all the flock of God ouer which you are ouer-seers and which dependeth vppon you when you so seldome see them so rarelie teach them If these Scriptures doe prooue a dispensation to be committed vnto you and a necessitie laid vpon to feede those people which you haue vndertaken for your flock consider whether you come not vnder that woe which saieth Woebec vnto me if I preach not the Ghospell 1. Cor. 9. ● And whether that bee not a generall iudgment reaching euen vnto you which the Prophet denounceth Cursed bee hee which doth the worke of the Lord negligentlie Hier. 48.10 And say vnto your soules whether you can auow vnto God that you Studie to shew your selues approoued vnto God workmen that needeth not to be ashamed 2. Tim. 12.15 Consider also how the example of S. Paule may trie your conscience who admonisheth the Elders of Ephesus to watch ouer their flocks Act. 20.31.271 20. remembring that for three yeares space he ceased not to warne euerie one both night and day with tears that he kept nothing back that was profitable but shewed them all the counsell of God and taught them not onlie openlie but thorow euerie house Waigh with yourselues whether this partaineth not to you remember the greate instance of Christ vnto Peter three times saying If he loued him he should feede his sheepe Adde heerevnto your promise made vnto your ordination Ioh. 21. ●5 and that your authoritie is giuen you by these words Take thou authoritie to preach in this Congregation Your presentation institution induction tye you to one certaine Congregation and that Congregation payeth you tithes because you are their Pastour to feede them with doctrine therefore you are called Rector or Vicarius of such a Parishe Last of all thinke with your selues whether it bee aiest or a true saying of the reuerende Fathers Absentia Pastoris à Dominico grege Canon Residen Anno. 1571. secura illa negligentia quam videmus in multis distitutio ministerij est res inse foeda odiosa invulgus perniciosa Ecclesiae Dei Where they affirme Non residencie to bee an vnhonest thing in it selfe odious to the people and pernicious to the Church of God If you can not answer these things with a good conscience in the fight of God as I verilye thinke you can not then weigh with your selues whether your sinnes be not great and then being obstinatelie and with an high hande maintayned whether you doe not cause the wrath of God against vs. And so non-residence is a troubler of the state Concerning subscription I will endeuour to bee somewhat briefe forreuerence to their Fatherhoodes Subscription is sinne which I am perswaded would not so vehementlie vrge it vpon vs if they thought it to be sinne I will therefore shew onlie some two or three argumentes for this purpose And I humblie pray them and all men to waigh my reasons with patience equitie and truth and shewe me no fauour but as the honestie of my cause deserueth First therefore I say Euerie action which maketh a man a false witnes of God is sinne 1. Cor. 15.15 For if to beare false witnesse against a man bee sinne Iob. 13.7.8 1. Ioh. 3.9 Hier. 23. as precept 9. much more to report vntruthes concerning God For God is greater then man And he hath said that he will be against th●se Prophetes which speake vnto his people out of their owne heart that which hee commanded not But subscription causeth a man to testifie of God that hee hath done that which he neuer did As namelie in the booke of common pr●yer That by the Baptisme of his welbeloued sonne God did sanctifie the flood Iordane and all other waters In the first prayer of Baptisme to the mysticall washing away of sinne And that Imposition of handes in confirmation of children is a signe of the fauour and gracious goodnesse of God toward them And that In the last prayer in confirmation In the last prayer saue one in matrimony God hath consecrated the state of Matrimonie to such an excellent mysterie that in it is signified and represented the spirituall mariage vn tie betweene Christ and his Church Nowe these three testimonies concerning God are not to be found in his holy word therefore if we should subscribe vnto them we should bee false witnesses of God Againe Euerie action by which a man doth approue and allow such a speach which no man hath authoritie to speak and such affirmations as hee doth not know or such promises as thou canst not performe or regardest not euerie such action is sinne for we must keepe the cōmandements of the Lord Deut. 4.2 1. Pet. 4.11 without adding or diminishing and Peter biddeth thē which speak in the Church to speake the words of God and therefore Paule auoucheth the authoritie of his sayings affirming that the thinges he wrote 1. Cor 14.37 were the commandements of the Lord. And the wise Preacher chargeth vs in the case of speaking promising saying Suffer not thy mouth to make thy flesh to sinne Eccle 5.5 And they are reprooued by Gods spirit Colos 2.18 which aduaunce them selues in those things which they haue not seen But by subscriptiō we allow such speech c. For in the booke of orders the Bishop without any authority from God doeth say to the Priest receaue the holie Ghost And the booke of common praier the Godfathers and Godmothers doe say affirme in the childes name that hee beleeueth all the articles of the Christian faith and they knowe not that the childe doth so beleeue they doe there also promise that the childe shall forsake the Deuill all his works and constantlie belecue Gods holye word c. Which promise they can not performe And the vnpreaching Minister doth promise in their ordination to preach and administer discipline which promise they can not and regard not to doe and the non-resident doth promise to preach to this cōgregation which he neuer looketh after but