Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	christian_a	church_n	communion_n	2,479	5	8.9287	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52875	The sentiments of N.N. (a loyal subject of the Roman Catholick communion) touching the Roman consistorie's designs and practices, by and with their correspondents here, (viz. the Jesuits, monks and friers) to the prejudice of this nation, and the future involving it in misery and trouble, under the (feigned) pretence of advancing Catholick religion : together with some general remedies or expedients for preventing thereof, expresses in certain propositions, and humbly submitted to the censure of those whose prudence, or authority inables them better to judge of things.	N. N., loyal subject of the Roman Catholick communion.	1679 (1679)	Wing N55; ESTC R5986	30,279	45

England but the Sword and that the Pistol will confute Heresie more to purpose a great deal than the Pen with other like speech which is observ'd sometimes to fall from them shewing as I verily perswade my self a most wicked and hostile resolution to be taken up by the Consistory of reducing England if ever they shall be able to the Communion of the Catholick Church and obedience of the Apostolick Sea not by any fair proper Christian and Apostolick means or endeavour but by Fire and Sword Compulsion and Violence and with all the Miseries and Calamities that War and Foreign Tyranny can bring upon us unless God of his Goodness in mercy prevent it Proposition XXII That to prepare the way to this work and to facilitate the bringing about their design it is their business at present as much as may be to keep up the Divisions that are amongst us in point of Religion and by all arts and means to obstruct and hinder a perfect reconciliation and a firm Union betwixt his Majesty and the generality of his Subjects that so all Parties remaining still in the old Fewd and at distance one with another and all likewise more or less in disgust and disaffected to the Royal Government and Interest we may all for want of Union amongst our selves be the more easily subdued when time shall be to the yoke they are making for us Proposition XXIII That therefore to prevent the hideous mischief that will certainly first or last follow and fall upon this Nation through the wicked practices and industry of this Party if timely care be not taken to the contrary and to disappoint the devilish designs of those who machinate and project such misery to us the only and most effectual means under God would be if all True hearted English of what Judgment soever in point of Religion could be perswaded timely to unite both Counsels and Affections for one of These without the other will do but little good and to be jealous of every thing or motion that tends of disunion either of the Subjects from their Sovereign or of the People amongst themselves Proposition XXIV That this Union can never be permanent and cordial unless some convenient Liberty of Conscience and Free-exercise of Religion at least in private be granted to all Dissenting Parties whatsoever without exception of any that profess themselves Christians Proposition XXV That this Liberty granted and a perfect Union of all English hearts following upon it would with God's help effectually secure us against all evil practices whatsoever of this nature and more disappoint the designs and counsels of our enemies than any other courses or counsels that can be taken by us and it being likewise a thing so consonant to the common grounds of Protestant Religion it cannot well be opposed by any Protestant nor would be I verily believe if once well set on foot by any Persons but such as care not how much they Sacrifice the Peace and publick Welfare of the Nation to their own Pride Passion and worldly Interests Proposition XXVI That therefore the deposing of all animosities rancour and ill-will against one another upon the account of any differences in Religion is a thing to be wish'd pray'd for and endeavour'd by all sorts of People that pretend to Religion as a thing far more consonant to Christian Piety and Charity and most conducing to our present and future safety and especially that great prejudice which too many English are apt to have against those of the Roman Catholick perswasion if they rightly consider'd the matter both Charity and Prudence would perswade them at length to lay it aside seeing it hath hitherto serv'd for nothing nor eve will serve to any other effect than to be a plausible and easie means for Ambition Covetousness Cruelty and Hyocrisie to advance themselves into Power and to exercise their Tyranny over us A Truth which this Nation hath been taught by so late and sad experience that we cannot think many Persons will be found in the whole Nation to dispute it Proposition XXVII Wherefore verily judging it an Expedient most fit for the general and secure Settlement of the Nation in Peace and Safety I shall take the boldness to wish That Liberty of Conscience to all Christians professing Faith in God and in our Lord Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures were by Act of Parliament made such a Fundamental Law of State as that it should be Treason or a Premunire Unpardonable for any Person in time to come whether in Parliament or out of Parliament to speak against it or to wish motion or argue for the Repeal of it Proposition XXVIII That in such case it would be the duty of us Catholicks in order to our having the benefit of the general Indulgence and Liberty aforesaid to be willing and ready at all times to give the State sufficient assurance of our Fidelity and Loyal Affections to his Majesty and the present Government and of our having nothing to do with the Pope Consistory or Court of Rome in any thing relating to Temporal Affairs or the Government of State but only in Things Spiritual and pertaining to our Faith and Conscience Proposition XXIX That though the Oath of Allegiance already by Law established be in it self both sufficient and fit for this purpose and the taking thereof by us Catholicks undoubtedly consistent with the Catholick Faith which we profess and with the duty of good Subjects yet because some cavillatory Objections are made against it and the pope upon mis-information hath by some private Breves forbidden the taking of it to prevent all scrupling and dispute about the matter it might be wish'd perhaps that a new Oath might be fram'd comprehending as particularly and expresly all things pertaining to Temporal Allegiance as the Wisdom of Parliament should think fit to prescribe But withall by an express Proviso declaring that notwithstanding any words in the Oath we are left free to acknowledge and give that respect to the pope as chief Pastour of the Church which according to the Principles of our Faith is known to belong to him that is in matters meerly spiritual and pertaining to Faith and not in Temporal Affairs wherein his Authority Jure Divino is nothing at all out of his own Territories And as for that which he claims Jure Ecclesiastico by vertue of some Canons or by Prescription Custom c. we doubt not but these being all Titles of Humane Right meerly the power grounded upon them may upon just reasons be limited suspended or abrogated by the Sovereign Authority of each Nation Kingdom or State respectively for it self and as de facto in this and divers other Christian Kingdoms and Countries even of the Roman Catholick Communion it is abrogated or not acknowledg'd Proposition XXX That as the World goes and the Inclinations of People generally are the Parliament we think needs not much to fear that upon granting Liberty of Conscience to Roman Catholicks

and where they think good a better Vnderstanding between the Court of England and Rome than hath been in former times III. That for the avoidance of a greater Evil which in prudent judgment is held to be inevitable and certain to come to pass a lesser evil may be both counselled and practis'd Understanding in Both cases the evil of sin that is 't is lawful to commit a lesser sin for the avoiding of a greater which by no other means can be avoided They usually give examples of this in smaller matters as if I know a Thief intends to rob such a poor Man as I cannot otherwise save from being robb'd but by telling the Thief where he may have a greater prize Viz. by robbing a rich Man I may both tell him where it is to be done and perswade him to do it and the like But who seeth not how easily the Maxim if taken for a truth may be extended to things of greater consequence As for example the publick profession and prevalency of Heresie being in the judgment of this Court incomparably the greatest of evils to hinder the growth and establishment thereof otherwise judg'd inevitable and certain what other evil and sinful practices may not by vertue of this Maxime be allowed and set on foot as the raising of Dissension and War the multiplying of Sects and differences in religion amongst those who are already Hereticks What Treasons what Massacres yea even of Catholick people too if they judge it may conduce or be necessary for the rooting out of Hereticks IV. That the Pope under Christ is Lord and proprietor General of the whole Universe and that in order to the Administration of Christ's Kingdom upon Earth of which he is held to be Supream and Perpetual Vicar or Vice Roy he may dispose of all the Temporalties of the World as he thinks good and that he hath the same Dominion in Things as Vicar and Deputy which Christ hath as Soveraign and that by vertue thereof that Text of the prophet Jeremias chap. 1.10 is literally true and to be understood of him Constitus te hodiè super gentes super regna ut evellas aestruas ut disperdas dissipes ut aedifices plantes with diverse other Extravagancies of like nature attributed to him justly abhorred and long since confuted as well by Catholicks themselves as protestants However standing yet as they do Uncensured and passing in the quality of probable opinions at Rome where all probable opinions are also practicable when occasion serves whose estate can be thought secure whether Princes or peoples whether Sovereigns or Subjects from the mischievous effects of them what wicked and destructive practices may not the Consistory when they please or see-occasion warrant and allow to be put in execution by confidence of such opinions what fireing of Cities Towns Escurials or Palaces-Royal what betraying of Forts Castles Places Ships c. what Robberies what Murders and Assassinations of Men may not upon this pretence be perpetrated and done with many other like out-rages both publick and private Omen avertat Deus God grant we may never feel the effects of such opinions But if the Pope be Lord of all as they forbear not to profess where they dare speak their minds freely and that he may dispose of all Temporals our Fortunes and Lives too in ordine ad spiritualia as they say what may not this Nation and all others in like condition with it have just reason to fear V. That upon the same ground Viz. of being Christ's Vicar upon Earth the Pope hath Jus Belli the right of waging War and of using Temporal Force against all Nations and People that live not in communion and due obedience to the Church Now seeing he not only accounts us Enemies and Rebels but every Year by his Bull of Excommunication proclaims us such and that we are commonly stiled his Rebels by those that come from him it is left to common prudence here likewise to consider what clandestine and treacherous mischiefs may not by order and direction of this Court be practis'd against us upon this score remembring that of the Poet Dolus an Virtus quis in hoste requirit All courses are held lawful to damnifie and destroy a declared Enemy VI. That in order to the advancement of Religion and as Christ's Vicar the Pope may do whatsoever God can do if it be in his power that is excepting only Acts of Omnipotency and such like and particularly that in order to good ends he may make use of evil and wicked Instruments and according as it is said of God by Saint Augustin that he doth benè uti malis hominum voluntatibus so they talk of the Pope The Pope may not say they by himself or by others bid any Man sin but knowing his inclination to sin he may effectually comply with it and make use of his sin to some good end of his own Neither may he bid or command any to tempt others to sin but knowing them to be so wickedly disposed that they will do it he may place them in office or put them in favour and give them opportunity with persons whom they may tempt and whom he knows subject and apt to be tempted This they say he may do if it be judg'd expedient for the advancement of his better and greater designs So that if it be for the interest or according to the designs of the Consistory that a Prince or other Person in the State and Government be made publickly odious and contemptible by reason of his Vices the Pope or rather the Consistory and Court in whose power the Pope is little less than captivated as to cases of this nature by Vertue of this Maxim may set or use its interest and power for the setting of such Ministers and Servants about him as shall daily tempt and sollicite him to evil and to all manner of courses that may render him odious and contemptible to his people VII That by vertue of Christ's words to Saint Peter Matth. 16.19 Quicquid solveris super terram erit solatum in coelis c. The Pope may dispense with and loose all bonds whatsoever betwixt Men that he shall judge expedient and fit to be loosed in order to his Ends as Pope and Vicar of Christ upon Earth But enough hath been said for the present of Consistorial Doctrine or Maxims I return now again to my own Propositions and say Proposition XXI That in pursuance of these and the like false and nefarious Principles and in further neglect yea even contempt and defiance of their duty and of the true means order and way by which they ought to endeavour the advancement of true Christian Catholick Religion Viz. Preaching Exhorting Charitably-admonishing amicable and friendly reasoning and the like many of the Pensioners and Missionaries of this Court stick not where they dare be free and open to profess that it is not the Word that must do the work in