Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	church_n	england_n	religion_n	1,637	5	5.7823	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89682	An apology for the service of love, and the people that own it, commonly called, the family of love. Being a plain, but groundly discourse, about the right and true Christian religion : set forth dialogue-wise between the citizen, the countreyman, and an exile : as the same was presented to the high court of Parliament, in the time of Queen Elizabeth; and penned by one of her Majesties menial servants, who was in no small esteem with her, for his wisdom and godliness. With another short confession of their faith, made by the same people. And finally some notes & collections, gathered by a private hand out of H.N. upon, or concerning the eight beatitudes.	Niclaes, Hendrik, 1502?-1580?	1656 (1656)	Wing N1122; Thomason E1610_1; ESTC R210332	24,412	73

in the holy Scriptures and in the Service of Love He is doubtless out of the true faith of God and Christ and erreth very much and shall not neither now nor hereafter unlesse they repent in time find mercy with God or yet through Christ obtain remission of his sins inherit the kingdom of heaven or yet become saved It is very true therefore consider advisedly of it in time Countrey-man Tell me how comest thou by this understanding or by what means was it made manifest unto thee Exile Through the obedience of the word of God the Father ministred out of the love of Jesus Christ through the holy Spirit of love and in the Crosse of Jesus Christ c. out of which ministration all things needfull to be known so well things natural as spiritual are at large laid open the true discipline frequented all grounds of Religion with all manner of errors nakedly declared the truth manifested And also all people both Christian and Heathen Jew or Gentile or of what Nation or Religion whatsoever c. are lovingly called and warned to repentance and reformation of life likewise fore-warned of the great plagues unlucky misery and wo that will speedily and unawares come upon all unrepenting sinners and licentious Scripture-learned to their utter condemnation in the fire of hell among whom I have been chief and now what am I poor sinner that I should not submit my self to such a gracious warning and repent ere ever Gods heavy wrath and indignation in his righteous judgement fall upon me to my utter destruction Countrey-man But what thinkest thou of our learned Preachers in these our days whilst many of them haply have not heard or read of such a ministration out of love as thou speakest of here or else if they have heard of it they have not perhaps so well considered thereof as it seems thou hast done art thou against them Exile I am against no learned Preacher which advertizeth the people to repentance godlinesse peace obedience and love and so long as they love God and his righteousness they have I suppose all heard of the ministration of Love and have many read and seen of the Books though perhaps they have not understood them effectually or rightly considered the mind of the Author therein for had they so done then would they not verily have spoken so much evil of them as they have done unlesse as I cannot so think as yet they did obstinately hate God and abhor all righteousnesse peace and love neither yet would they have imprisoned not so shamefully slandered so many simple souls which upon admonition from the destruction given them in the Service of Love have had an unfained desire to repent and amend their lives although some of them haply are in certain points through ignorance or fear Countrey-man Wilt thou then take part with and justifie the Author and his Books and so condemn our learned Preachers Exile I will neither take part with nor yet justifie the Author nor yet any of his Bookes but will leave them to answer for themselves neither do I meddle with things therein which are above my capacity Notwithstanding all what I finde therein written or else where that advertiseth me to repentance godliness of life obdience to God and Governours love towards God and my neighbour and peace towards all men according to the Scriptures that must I needs think well of Nevertheless if he or his Books be not able to answer for themselves so then will not I answer for them neither will I before a Law-judge condemn any whether learned or unlearned but leave that unto those unto whom judgement doth belong Countrey-man I cannot mislike thy Answers yet notwithstanding some may haply gather of such like words as thou hast here spoken unto us That the Author of those aforesaid Books with all you that are now tearmed of the Family of Love go altogether about to put down that Religion which her Majesty hath now set up and allowed and to bring it to nought And in so doing forasmuch as she is chief Governess of the same Church c. it may be imaged that ye are so against the State yea and perhaps such like matters have been put either into her Majesties head or else into some of her honorable Counsellors heads And thereupon it is come to passe that you are by some of our learned Preachers tearmed for Libertines yet all this notwithstanding I will not give any rash credit or judgement therein until I have first heard thee speak of it Exile I give you most hearty thanks therefore Then first of all I beseech you let me know what you call the Religion that is set up or at the least wise willed so to be by her Majesty and allowed so shall I the better give you an answer therein according to my simple skill Countrey-man It is to preach the Gospel plainly and sincerely out of Gods holy Spirit that all people learned or unlearned may so well by their life as by their Doctrine understand the same to their endless comfort and salvation and so to express a true belief in God the Father and in Christ our Saviour to expel all idolatry to abandon and abolish all forreign powers to administer the Sacraments and Ceremonies of the Church uniformly in their right Order To obey the Queens Majesty and live under her Laws and humane Ordinances acknowledging her as chief Governess in all causes c. here under Christ in this Realm of England and Ireland c. Exile This certainly is a good Religion were it once generally put in ure notwithstanding whatsoever men list to imagine of us that may they we cannot let them But hear me and I will tell you as it shall be found in the truth Were all his Books of whom we spake rightly considered of with indifferency so should they be found assistances in all to this aforesaid Religion and not hinderances For did the Preachers first and then the people according to his writing and admonition in the Service of Love viz. repent them and follow such counsel as is expressed by him in the same so should no doubt the Gospel then be sincerely preached according to her Majesties mind and the true belief published to the salvation of many All idolatry and forreign power as well inwardly as outwardly expulsed and driven away The Sacraments and Ceremonies of the Church should then be rightly administred The Queens Majesty obeyed not for fear but rather out of love and acknowledged as chief Governess in all causes c. as is meet And which is more the Lords heavy wrath whereof he hath often warned us in the Ministration of Love and alas which also I fear me is at hand for our wickedness cause should then be easily appeased And then yet moreover whereas many times it happeneth that the Prince is taken away for sins cause of the people her Majesty should then reign prosperously amongst us in all

his And the mighty God from whom all good doth proceed shall through his Christ claim unto him all godlinesses or vertues which are proceeded from him together with all whatsoever separateth it self from the iniquity hath handfast it self or held fellowship with the godlinesses all those as incorporated members to the godlinesses and godded or spirited with God in one spirit shall go to God again and shall reign with God and Christ soul and body in the kingdom of heaven and live in joy everlastingly It is very true Citizen But is there not some Predestinate unto preservation and again some predestinate unto condemnation as also elected thereto from the beginning Exile Yes verily there are two with their members that are predestinated or preordained thereunto from the beginning The one is Christ the man of God predestinate unto preservation and with him all his incorporated members The other is the man of sin Antichrist predestinate unto condemnation and in him all his incorporated members As for any other predestination then this come it out of Turkey or else where I know not of it Citizen Thou hast told me the truth and also fully answered me to all things natural and spiritual which I have demanded of thee What shall I ask more God be merciful unto us and unto all such as err of ignorance and give them eys of understanding and ears of pure hearts that they seeing in what estate they yet do stand and hearing also which is the right way to come out might repent them turn from their wickedness believe rightly and so come to the knowledge of truth and be saved Amen Now Countrey-man thou hast heard this fellow and his wonderful answers what sayest thou to it for I am almost at my wits end and marvellously astonied Countrey-man Doubtlesse Citizen he is in great Heresies and misbelief or else I may tell to thee in counsel in any of the learned in these days are far out of the way that leadeth to life and also ignorant of the ground of the heavenly truth wherefore I think it not amiss that thou examine him concerning his belief in God the Father in Jesus Christ the Son and in the Holy Ghost the Comforter and whereupon he hath grounded his Religion how he came by this understanding what he thinks of our learned Preachers in these days as also of other matters as thou shalt think meet lest haply we might be seduced through some subtil heretick infidel or disobedient person which perchance might be against the Queens Religion or else pretended to bring confusion over the Land Citizen Thy counsel is very good but then I pray thee rather talk with him thy self for I am brought into such a trembling perplexity and sorrow of heart since I have heard him and that as well for mine own cause as also for others which I yet see going astray that I dare ask no more questions Countrey-man Very well then I will talk with him my self Come hither Exile shew us I pray thee whereon thy belief and thy religion standeth grounded Exile I protect before God and man That my belief is in God the Father in Jesus Christ the Son and in the Holy Ghost the Comforter and is grounded on the Faith of the Holy Fathers Prophets and Apostles mentioned in the holy Scriptures also according to the common Apostolick Creed the Creed of Athanasius and the Nicene Creed to even so far forth as I may obtaine grace and power thereto of the Lord. Secondly I acknowledge there is no other way or mean either of remission of sins or of salvation for us to be had or yet mercy to be obtained at Gods hand but alone in by and through the death passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour And that he hath offered once for all upon the Altar of His Cross a full perfect and sufficient sacrifice and oblation for the sins of all the whole world Thirdly I do acknowledge that none shall be partakers thereof but only such as upon the publishing forth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ do shew forth an unfained repentance for their sins past and walk in new obedience or in a new life according to the requiring of the Gospel also such as believe aright in God and Christ and are even so baptized into the death of Christ Such as are regenerate of the water and of the spirit and forsaking themselves and their own lives do take up their cross on them and follow after Christ in death and sinful lusts and desires and so stand as those that are waking and waiting for the coming of their bridgroom ready prepared having both oyl in their vessels and light in their Lamps Such as love God and his Christ and as his very disciples keep his Commandements and walk in all love towards God and their neighbour and in all dutiful submission and allegiance towards their Governors and also live obediently under all their manly Ordinances And finally such as in whom Christ liveth and dwelleth or those that incline themselves under the obedience of the love of Jesus Christ and of his holy word with all diligence thereunto Now as touching my Religion this I say so often as I call to mind and consider the great love and kindness of God the Father shewed on me unworthy one in that he hath created me like unto his own Image and given me also his Law for that I might live therein And which is much more hath out of his meer love and mercy and of our part undeserved sent his sonne Christ to be a Saviour of the world c. So stand I Religatus or bound again that is to say Religious to love my Lord and God which loveth me so intirely with all my soul heart and might and for His loves sake to love my neighbour as my self To love my Prince and all that bear authority under her to live as a subject under her Laws and humane Ordinances And finally to walk uprightly peaceably and brotherly among all people in all love And this is only to be obtained at Gods hand by prayer and humble submission under the obedience of Gods holy word through the comforting of the Holy Ghost or Spirit of Love of which spirit God hath promised to shed forth upon his sons and daughters plentifully now in these last days like as is manifest in the Service of Love And therefore I acknowledge that whosoever now shall refuse to incline or indeavour himself for to walk in the same small or narrow way being called or warned thereto out of love by the Gospel of Jesus Christ to live in such a groundly faith of Jesus Christ in such a true Religion and upright obedience to God and Governors and in all subjection under Gods holy Laws and manly Ordinances and likewise in such a brotherly love towards his neighbour and peaceable life towards all men as I have here rehersed and likewise as is more at large expressed

those her good enterprizes and should also live unto a good old age all discord should then cease and come to an end and so we in the Realm of England should live joyfully in all tranquillity godliness obedience and love and be safely protected of God and his holy Angels from the danger of any adversary worldly or ghostly But to say that we be Libertines that is not so and who so shall look rightly into the Service of Love he shall well perceive that therein is no liberty to sin given or taught We are indeed fraile and full of infirmities and have all need of Gods mercy therefore our desire is that we might obtain such grace and power with God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ whereby we might so repent us of our sins past that we might henceforth leave off from our wicked ways more and more take up our Crosse on us against the sin dy even so daily with Christ and so imitate him in death and life until such time as we become raised up again with Jesus Christ in a new true life for that we might by such means escape the horrible plagues and miseries which now in these last times are in coming over all licentious Libertines and unrepenting obstinate sinners For other rejoycing have we not then alone in the crosse death blood-shedding and resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ And as for the Libertines and who they be I have sufficiently expressed before in six notes He that hath ears to hear let him hear and who lists not may choose Countrey-man But yet this one thing I know for a surety that thou and thy company are not only suspected to be superstitious Papists but also it is thought that this ministration called the Service of Love is published forth to the end to maintain all superstition and abuse in the Roman Religion and wist we two so much then doubtless we would not once deal therewith nor yet talk with thee any farther wherefore I pray thee yet once again that thou wouldst for my further satisfying in this behalf shew us thy mind therein ere ever we do part hence Exile The truth is so far forth as I can perceive that the Author of those Books in his Ministration out of Love doth neither maintain or allow any manner of Superstition frequented in the Roman or Popish Church But he indeed seemeth to open and disclose the first ground of the same Religion and the signification of every thing so well Sacraments as Ceremonies frequented and allowed in the same Church willing every one that shall hap to dwell where he must live under the same Sacraments and Ceremonies and where the same are by the Laws of the Land allowed and commanded to obey the Rulers and their Laws and for obedience cause not to rebel in any case against their Rulers but rather to go to the Church where the same are administred and there to mark only upon the signification of the same and what a Christian life and obedience to God and Governours the same in their right signification do ask and require of them And yet he acknowledgeth them no otherwise but as Sacraments Ceremonies Signs Images Figures or shaddows of good and holy things c. But above all he exhorteth all to the humble obedience peaceable and Christian life which those do figure forth And as for us I put you out of doubt we do likewise utterly detest all superstitious Papistry but we most chiefliest do desire that the same true obedience and godly life which is Christ Jesus might increase it self more and more in us and in many Countrey-man That life indeed is the best but why doth he call his ministration the Service of Love and those that take warning thereat why are they termed the Family of Love shew me thy understanding herein because such a name seemeth to me as also to many as yet very straying Exile I will tell you according to my simple understanding and as I gather by such writings of his as I have read in the Service of Love Forasmuch as all the generations of men on earth so well Jew as Gentile Christian as Heathen Papist as Protestant yea of what Religion soever have now in these last horrible days not only most grieviously transgressed Gods holy Commandements but also every one in his is far away digressed from the first ground whereon they were set and are yet moreover even with the old world and with those of Sodom and Gomorah run into all licentiousness and carelesnesse of life provoking thereby Gods just wrath and heavy indignation So that of his justice he might therefore worthily have destroyed us like as in the days of Noah even all the children of men Yet notwithstanding he hath now as a gracious Father and according to his wonted mercy pittied the generations of men And therefore hath once again according to his promises warned all people upon the earth through this his ministration out of Love to repent and turn every one from his wicked ways believe the Gospel become baptized so be preserved ere ever the great wo misery plagues unlucky judgments fall suddainly unawares upon all unrepenting and unbelieving sinners and licentious Scripture-learned or Libertines to their condemnation in the fire of hell All these plagues saith he and many more are like to come shortly on us all if we take scorn to be warned by these latter lovely admonitions c. which he termeth A service of ministration out of the Spirit of Love or of God wherewith the man is served or ministred unto to his preservation therefore he calls it oftentimes The Service of Love Further why he calleth all those that repent and amend their waies upon the admonition thereof the Family of Love is this because he thinks them meet to bear such a high name the whilst that being so gratiously served and warned thereby they so desire as Gods children to love God as chief and their neighbour as themselves to obey their Prince and Governors to live obediently under their Laws as also to deal uprightly brotherly and faithfully with all men in all love testifying even so aright and according to the truth that they only are the true Christians which lead a Christian life and not the talkers thereof And thus much concerning my understanding therein Countrey-man But how cometh it to passe then tell me that you are now almost of all men as well great as small yea rich as poor but especially of the learned Preachers bruted forth and that most odiously for the most detestable Sectaries or Hereticks that ever reigned on the earth yea and as people not worthy to live in a Common-wealth Exile What be those brutes wherewith we are so bruted tell me and I will answer you so near as I can according to truth Countrey-man These they are Some say you deny Christ the Trinity and the Lords prayer others say that you are Libertines and