Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	king_n	majesty_n	subject_n	2,392	5	6.9229	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42762	The humble representation of the Commission of the Generall Assembly to the Honourable Estates of Parliament upon their declaration lately communicate [sic] to us, Edinburgh, 28 Aprile, 1648.	Church of Scotland. General Assembly. Commission.; Gillespie, George, 1613-1648.	1648 (1648)	Wing G750; ESTC R21600	19,469	30

of the Assembly to the present businesse for 1. His Majestie was at that time giving satisfaction to the publick desires of this Kirk concerning Religion We heartily wish we might say the like now 2. We do not see the Cause stated in the Declaration to be for his Majesties Honour and so to fall within that duety expressed in the Declaration of the Generall Assembly And as one of the ends of the Covenant was His Majesties Honour and Happinesse and your Lordships also have acknowledged in your Oath of Parliament that the Honour Happinesse and Greatnesse of the Kings Majestie doth depend on the Purity of Religion as it is now established in this Kingdome So whatsoever crosseth or prejudiceth the grounds of the Covenant or any of the ends thereof cannot with us find any such commendation as to be a cause which concerneth his Majesties Honour 3. Whatsoever we owe to the King in civill matters distinct from the Cause of Religion sure all these other dueties are with a subordination to the glory of God and good of Religion and we are very confident it was and will be far from the thoughts of the Generall Assembly under colour of his Majesties Honour to concur with Him or any in His Name in a cause which is hurtfull and prejudiciall to the good of Religion and to the other ends of the Solemne League and Covenant yet the cause stated in the Declaration we humbly conceive to be such 4. It may be remembred that the Crosse-petition having cited the same clause of the said Petition of the Generall Assembly and making use thereof in order to an engadgement in War in his Majesties quarrell against the Parliament of England was declared against by the Commission of the Generall Assembly Anno 1643. And among other particulars it was then declared that the limitations expresly mentioned in the words cited out of the Assemblies Supplication viz. according to the Lawes of this Kingdome and duety of good Subjects were interpreted by some that spake at the time in the Generall Assembly to be all one as if it had been said within this Kingdome we not knowing of any Lawes of this Kingdome or further extent It was also then observed and may now be applied and remembred that the Nationall Covenant having been subscribed in the Yeares 1581. and 1590. before King James was King of England and being qualified in the particular Heads and Articles by expresse limitations and restrictions to this Kirk and Kingdome to the Religion Lawes and Liberties of Sotland can no more be extended to municipall debates and to the Laws and Liberties of England unto which we are strangers then the Kingdome of England can judge of our Lawes and determine our differences the two Kingdoms being still independent each on other and not subordinate one to another as the first Article of the large Treaty fully declareth As to that we finde in the close of the Declaration that this Kingdome of Scotland will now make it evident as they have often declared that their quietnesse stability and happinesse doth depend upon the safety of the Kings Majesties Person and maintenance of His Greatnesse and Royall Authority who is Gods Vicegerent set over us for Maintenance of Religion and Ministration of Justice we shall only put your Lordships in minde that your Nationall Covenant joineth with his Majesties Safety his good behaviour in his Office and sayeth That the quietnesse and stability of our Religion and Kirk doth depend upon the safety and good behaviour of his Majesty as upon a comfortable Instrument of GODS Mercy granted to this Countrey for the Maintenance of his Kirk and Ministration of Iustice Otherwise if a King do not his duty for the Maintenance of the true Religion and Ministration of Justice It is not His safety alone that make His People to be in quietnesse and happinesse Withall as our quietnes and happinesse dependeth on his Majesty and his doing of his duty as an Instrument and Minister of God for good So the Honour Greatnesse and Happinesse of the Kings Royall Majesty and the welfare of the Subjects depend upon the purity of Religion as is well expressed in your Lordships Oath of Parliament And now we shall with your Lordships favour and permission make this conclusion upon the whole matter That as we neither were nor are against an engadgement with this Kingdome in War but have been and shall be willing to consent thereto If once satisfied in our conscience concerning the clearnes lawfulnesse and necessity of the Cause and quatrell and concerning our calling manner of proceeding Instruments to be entrusted security to be had for Religion and other particulars contained in our former Papers not yet satisfied by your Lordships So we are necessitate to professe declare to your Lordships that we cannot we dare not in our consciences agree to an engagement upon such grounds and in such a way as is stated in your Lordships Declaration And therefore for our exoneration do dissent from the whole complex businesse in the said Declaration as not containing clear and convincing grounds of undertaking of a War not providing for the security of Religion nor clearly disclaiming his Majesties late Concessions and offers as unsatisfactory not tending to the suppression of the Malignant party but rather to compliance with them as we humbly conceive nor preserving the Liberties and known interest of the Kirk nor proposing the way of Treaties and all other possible wayes of Peace to be sought and assayed before a War For which reasons and others before mentioned upon the particular heads of the Declaration we plainly declare our dissent from the complex circumstantiat state of the present busines contained in the said Declaration And take to witnesse GOD Angels and Men that your Lordships have not wanted warning from the Watchmen And that we shall be free of all the distractions confusions miseries and blood which may follow upon your Lordships proceeding to an engadgement in War upon the grounds of the Declaration We further call to record the Searcher of all hearts and the righteous Judge of all the World That our not concurring proceedeth not from want of zeale against Sectaries nor from any remissenes in that which may concern his Majesties true Honour and Happinesse and the preservation of Monarchicall Government in Him and His Posterity nor from any want of tendernes of the Priviledges of Parliament nor from any want of Sympathie with our afflicted and oppressed Brethren in England In reference to all which our proceedings have been and shall be we trust reall Testimonies of our affection and sincerity But our not concurring proceedeth meerly from tendernesse in the point of security of Religion and Union between the Kingdomes and from the unsatisfactorinesse of the grounds of your Lordships Declaration as hath been expressed in the particulars Wherefore we humbly beseech your Lordships to interpret favourably and charitably any liberty which we have used the mater being such as lyeth sad and weighty upon our Consciences And that your Lordships would also be pleased to be mindfull of making good that passage of your Declaration where you say that you unresolved not to engadge in any War before the necessity and lawfulnesse thereof be cleared so 〈◊〉 all who are well affected may be satisfied therewith Which 〈◊〉 your Lordships shall be pleased to do there is a door of Hope yet open and we shall not cease to pray unto the Lord as he shall assist us that a Spirit of Counsell and Understanding and of the fear of the LORD may be upon you and that GOD would graciously rid both your Lordships and us out of all hid and lurking snares and so guide your Lordships as that there may be yet a sweet and harmonious joining of hearts and hands upon right Principles Grounds and motives in a right way and for the right Ends FINIS

are pleased here to make a light transition over that which we conceived to bee unto us a grave subject of a Solemne Declaration The third qualification in the assurance to be required from his Majestie is that he shall agree to such Act or Acts of Parliament and Bills as shall be presented unto Him by His Parliaments of both or either Kingdomes respectively for enjoining the Covenant and establishing the Presbyteriall Government Directory of Worship and Confession of Faith in all His Majesties Dominions But we humbly conceive it were more for the glory of GOD good of Religion and his Majesties own happinesse that his Majestie should after the example of the Godly reforming Kings of Judah and of the best Christian Emperours of old in the Christian Church declare his own zeale and forwardnesse for the Reformation and setling Religion and that your Lordships should do well to sollicite and incite his Majestie hereunto rather then to seem to yeeld so farre as that his Majestie shall be free for his part till his Parliaments of both or either Kingdomes respectively agree what Acts or Bills to present to him The preparing and presenting whereof how much it may be retarded and obstructed by the prevalency both of Malignants and Secretaries we know not Seeing therefore His Majestie oweth a dutie both to God and to his people for the Reformation and setlement of Religion your Lordships may do better to sollicite his Majestie and to desire that he will positively declare himself willing and ready for his part and for that duety which is incumbent to his Majestie and that he give assurance for the same in the particulars Your Lordships further declare in reference to our eighth and last desire that you are willing to subjoine to the ground of your undertaking an Oath wherein both in the framing thereof and otherwise your Lordships are willing the Church shall have their due interest is formerly in the like cases Where as wee know not how farre your Lordships meaning doth reach in the word otherwayes and in the word due So we know not why your Lordships did not think fit to agree to our desire as it was conceived and as the words stood viz. That there may bee na ingagement without a Solemn Oath Wherein the Kirk may have the same interest which they had in the Solemne League and Covenant which define is so farre unsatisfied that for our interest in the matter of the Oath and in the grounds of the undertaking we do not see it allowed or preserved to us But rather that the Declaration holdeth foorth the grounds of the undertaking already resolved upon by your Lordships Only leaving us an interest inthe forme of an Oath to bee subjoined and that not without some uncertaine and dubious qualifications as hath been touched Mean while we see only a Declaration without an Oath And as Declarations are alterable by Parliaments and their proceedings sometimes not agreeable to their Declarations which the experience of these times hath taught us so it there were an Oath subjoined to the grounds of undertaking expressed in this Declaration we could not account it a lawfull Oath but that it would make the bussinesse worse Your Lordships adde somewhat further relating to the matter of our first and second desires namely That your Lordships are resolved not to engage in any War before the necessity and lamfulnesse thereof be cleared so as all who are well affected may be satisfied therewith and that reparation to such breaches and injuries as are or shall be condescended upon shall be demanded in such a just and sit way as shall be found most lawfull and expedient This clause as likewise that which followeth that many of the dangers with the grounds and resolutions are by this Declaration of your Lordships made known to this Kingdom seems to hold us in suspense till all the dangers grounds and resolutions be made known and till the lawfulnesse and necessity of the War bee cleared and the way of seeking reparation resolved upon Yet your Lordships may bee pleased to remember that in that part of your Answer to us of the twentieth which is a returne to our desire of knowing fully your Lordships resolutions and being satisfied on the whole matter we were remitted to the Declaration is containing the grounds and resolutions of the Parliament on the whole matter As to that which followeth concerning a present putting of the Countrey in a posture of defence as in Anno 1643. we should be glad it were made to appear really that the grounds principles and ends were the same now they were in the year 1643. Otherwise the like Act upon different grounds and for different ends make it not the same cause Your Lordships do indeed speak of the principles expressed in the Declaration as the same with the first principles contained in our Nationall Covenant and in the Solemne League and Covenant But what reason we have to conceive they are new and different principles may appear by the severall particulars before mentioned We cannot here passe a new interpretation which the Declaration puts upon the Solemne League and Covenant viz. That we did Solemnly swear and promise before God and his Angels to endeavour Reformation of and Uniformitie in Religion and Church Government in all his Majesties Dominions according to the Word of GOD and the Example of the best reformed Churches Where we passe your Lordships limiting and restricting of Uniformity more then the Covenant doth which may infer that Uniformity in Church Government between the Churches of CHRIST in these three Covenanted Kingdomes is not to be urged in any other manner or measure then we have a precedent of in other reformed Kirks but that which here we chiefly aime at is the following clause of the Declaration viz. And not only to the utmost of our power with our meanes and lives to stand to the defence of our dread Soveraigne his Person and Authority in the preservation of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdom but also in every cause which may concerne His Majesties Honour to concur according to the Lawes of this Kingdom and dutie of good subjects Yet your Lordships know that no such interpretation hath beene made by the Assemblies of the Kirk of the Solemne League and Covenant as your Lordships are pleased here to make of it If it be said that your Lordships meaning was only of our Nationall Covenant yet it may be observed withall that the plain and grammaticall construction of the words will carry that interpretation either upon the Solemne League and Covenant only or both upon it and upon our Nationall Covenant How ever although our Nationall Covenant only were here fixed upon concerning which there is such an expression in the supplication of the Generall Assembly Anno 1639. to his Majesties Commissioner and the Lords of Secret Counsell yet there are some weighty considerations which we humbly offer against the application of that Supplication