Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	church_n	head_n	supreme_a	4,494	5	9.0477	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45150	The peaceable design being a modest account of the non-conformist's meetings : with some of their reasons for nonconformity, and the way of accomodation in the matter of religion, humbly proposed to publick consideration by some ministers of London against the sitting of Parliament in the year 1675.	Humfrey, John, 1621-1719.	1675 (1675)	Wing H3701; ESTC R24391	30,262	97

Subscription set down in the C●nons ratis●●● by King James was not expressed in the Act of the thirteenth of Elizabeth Inst part 4. c. 74. And consequently if the Clergy enjoyed this freedom until then in reference to the Particular therein contained what hinders why they might not have the same restored in reference also to others It is true that it may seem hard to many in the Parliament to undo any thing themselves have done But though this be no rule for Christians who are sometimes to repent as well as to believe If they be loath to Repeal any thing what if they shall only interpret or explain Let us suppose then some Clause in this Bill or some new Act for Explanations If any Non-conformist cannot come up to the full meaning and intent of these Injunctions rightly explained let him remain in Statu quo under the state only of Indulgence without benefit of Comprehension for so long as those who are comprehended may yet enjoy that Case as to be indulged in some equal measure answerable to His Majesties late Declaration whether Comprehension be large or narrow such terms as we obtain are pure advantage and such as we obtain not are no loss But if any does and can honestly agree to the whole sense the Parliament intends in such Impositionr why should there be any obstruction for such a Man though he deliver himself in his own words to be received into the establish'd order with others unless Men will look on these Injunctions only to be continued for Engines of Battery to destroy the Nonconformists and not as Instruments of unity to edifie the Church of God We will not leave our Congregational Brethren neither so long that we have something more as may be said for them not ordinarily considered by any It is this That though indeed they are not and cannot seek to be of our Churches as they are Parochial under the Diocess or Super-intendency of the Bishops Yet do they not refuse but seek to be comprehended within the Church as national under His Majesty We will explain our selves The Church may be considered as universal and so Christ alone is the Head of it and we receive our Laws from him Or as particular and so the Pastors are Heads Guides or Bishops over their respective Flocks who are commanded therefore to obey them in the Lord Or as national which is an accidental and external respect to the Church of God wherein the King is to be acknowledged the Supream Head of it and as we judge no otherwise For thus also runs the Statute That our Sovereign Lord shall be taken and reputed the only Supream Head in Farth of the Church of England called Ecclesia Anglicana Now if it should please the King and Parliament to allow and approve those separate Meetings and stated places for Worship by a Law as His Majesty did by His Declaration we must Profess that as such Assemblies by this means must be constituted immediately in ●egral parts of the Church as national no less than our Parish Congregations So would the Congregate Churches at least those that understand themselves own the King for Head over them in the same sence as we own him Head over ours that is as much as to say for the Supreme Coercive Governour of all in this accidental regard both to keep every several Congregation to that Gospel-order themselves profess and to supervise their Constitutions in things indifferent that nothing be done but in subordination to the Peace of the Kingdom Well let us suppose then a liberty for these separate Assemblies under the visitation of His Majesty and His Justices and not the Bishops We would fain know what were the evil you can find in them If it lie in any thing it must be in that you call Schisme Separation then let us know in it self simply considered is nothing neither good nor evil There may be reason to divide or separate some Christians from others out of prudence as the Catechumeni of old from the fully instructed for their greater edification and as a Chappel or two is added to a Parish Church when the people else were too big a Congregation It is not all division then or separation is Schisme but sinful division Now the Supream Authority as national Head having appointed the Parochial Meetings and required all the Subjects of the Land to frequent them and them alone for the acknowledging glorifying or national serving and worshiping the one only True God and His Son whom we have generally received and this Worship or Service in the nature of it being intrinsically good and the External order such as that of time and place and the like Circumstances being properly under his Jurisdiction it hath seemed to us hitherto that unless there was something in that order and way prescribed which is sinful and that required too as a condition of that Communion there is no man could refuse his attendance on these Parochial Assemblies without the sin of disobedience And consequently his separation thereby becoming sinful proves Schism But if the Scene be alter'd and those separate Assemblies made legal the Schism in reference to the national upon the same account does vanish Schism is a separation from that Church whereof we ought or are bound to be Members If the Supream Authority then loose our obligation to the Parish Meeting so that we are bound no longer the iniquity we say upon this account is not to be found and the Schism gone Loe here a way ●p●ned for the Parliament if they please to rid the trouble and scruple of Schism at once out of the Land If they please not yet is there something to be thought on for the Separatist in a way of forbearance that the innocent Christian at least as it was in the time of Trajan may not be sought out unto punishment Especially when such a Tolleration only is desired as is consistant with the Articles of Faith a good life and the Government of the Nation But what shall we say then to the Papists which is the Objection hit still in their Teeth that plead for moderation Why we will not baulk the delivery of our opinion There are Two parts we profess of that favour or condescension we seek from the Higher Powers The one consisting of a Composition with those whose Principles are fit and capable of it And the other consisting of forbearance towards those whose Principles will allow them no more The Papist in our account is but one sort of Recusants and the conscientions and peaceable among them must be held in the same Predicament with those among our selves that likewise refuse to come to Common Prayer It is true we have Laws very severe against the Jesuite and Seminary Priest But this we suppose to be upon the ground of State Interest The Supremacy of the Pope and the Authority of the King are inconsistent in this Land The Priest and Jesuite are taken by Law as

up the dull mind of Man to remembrance of his duty by some edifying signification But the Cross being a Ceremony applied to Children who are uncapable of having their minds stirred up by any thing signified thereby it is manifestly retained without their profit We will enforce the Argument By the same reason as we retain the Cross in Baptism the other Ceremonies in Popery which are left may be readmitted As we use the Cross to signifie that the Child must fight manfully under Christs Banner we may use the Chrism wherein the Cross was used to be made to signifie the Christians anointing to the Combate and so forward There is nothing can be replyed hereto in good earnest but that it is true if the Church pleased to enjoyn it so we might We urge consequently By the same reason as the Church hath relinquisht the Chrism in Baptism it may leave the Cross also that is only if it please so to vote in a needful Convocation And that it should do so there is cause enough if there were nothing else to be said but this only that as for all other Ceremonies enjoyned the Conformists may plead that they are but Circumstances of Worship wherein the Church hath proper Authority to appoint what is decent and orderly But for any solemn intire Rite which is no Circumstance of the Ordinance unto which it is appended or any ways in genere necessary thereunto if this also be enjoyned we shall have no bottom or banks set to the appointment of Ceremonies how far this Sea shall go and no farther than so We will heap no more matters of this kind for they are infinite And it is some relief to our thoughts that the Parliament we thank God did come to be a little sensible of it in so much as they were near content one Session to Cashier this Declaration quite There does remain now therefore the Subscription and this question which will arise upon it Whether there be not as good reason in regard to the most sober Consciences to take away this subscripttion in the Act of uniformity and the Oath in the Oxford Ast as well as the Declaration of Assent and Consent and here making first our humble Protestation that we intend nothing hereby but loyally to the Government we must present the Sheet before mentioned to their renewed consideration The Subscription is this I A. B. do declare That it is not lawful upon any Pretence whatsoever to take Arms against the King And that I do abhor that Traiterous Position of taking Arms by his Authority or those Commissionated by him And that I will conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England as it is now by Law establish'd And I do declare That I do hold there lyes no Obligation upon me or any other person from the Oath commonly called the solemn League and Covenant to endeavour any change or alteration of Government either in Church or State And that the same was in it self an unlawfull Oath and imposed upon the Subjects of the Realm against the known Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom The Oath this I A. B. do swear That it is not lawful upon any Pretence whatsoever to take Arms against the King And that I abhor that Traiterous Position of taking Arms by his Authority against his Person or against those that are Commissionated by him in pursuance of such Commissions And that I will not at any time endeavour any alteration of Government either in Church or State In this Oath and Subscription we have the matter and the form of words that is the Substance and the Composure The one whereof and the other in both are lyable to the ensuing Exceptions Which we desire may be taken with Candor in respect only to our design that is as argumentative for the removal of these Injunctions Not as peremptorily definitive of our own judgments and much less of others above our Sphear in all the Cases contained in them To begin with the Oath Here are three parts of it The first part appears not for we speak it humbly only and argumentatively consistent with Judgment the second with Truth nor the third with Righteousness We will take up the last part first And I will not endeavour any alteration of Goverment There is no Government on Earth so perfect that it hath need of Laws like the Medes and Persians Government may be considered in the Administration or the Constitution The word Government here is set down indefinitely without distinction Alteration of Laws and so Government in the Administration is as necessary many times upon emergent occasions to the Body politick as the fresh Air is to the natural This Oath was brought into the House to have been made Common It were not a thing righteous to have had that engagement laid on persons in such a capacity It is not righteous to have it laid on any that are Free-holders and free Subjects as we are The Constitution of our Nation as Parliamentary is such that no Law can be establish'd or repealed but it must pass the House of Commons and so the whole Body doth concur in their representatives to every alteration of Government or in the Government that is made if it be legal And no house of Commons are chosen but by the people Every Englishman is inte●●●●d to be there present either in person or by procuration and the consent of the people is taken to be every mans consent says Sir Thomas Smith de Rep. Angl. l. 2. c. 2. Nay while the King consilio assensu Baronum leges olim imposuit universo Regno by the counsel and assent of his Barons did give Laws to his whole Realm consentire inferior quisque visus est in persona Domini sui Capitalis prout hodie per procuratores Comitatus every Inferior seemed to consent in the person of his chief Lord as now they do by their Burgesses and Knights of the Shires says Sir Henry Spelman This is so true that in this sens●●●● is that the Laws that pass are said to 〈◊〉 Quas vulgus elegerit Which the people s●●ll choose Now then if every free Subj●●t hath a fundamental liberty to choose K●ights and Burgesses and accordingly to inform them of their Grievances and petition them for Redress and in them as their Representatives do consent to the alteration of Government and Laws if there be any as profitable to the Nation How can such an Oath be imposed on him That he will not endeavour any alteration as this is Is not choosing Burgesses informing them petitioning them acting and legal●y consenting in them to that end an endeavour and that as much as can be in their Place and Calling And no more than an Endeavour in their Place and Calling was challenged by any It is true the new Laws may be made and old repealed without alteration of the Constitution But not without alteration of Government because Government takes in both the Administration and