Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	grace_n	ireland_n	lord_n	3,218	5	3.2488	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90786	The way to the peace and settlement of these nations, fully discovered in two letters, delivered to his late Highnesse, and one to the present Parliament, as also one to his Highnesse Richard Lord Protector, of England, Scotland, and Ireland, &c. Wherein the liberty of speaking ... is opposed against Antichrist, for the procuring of his downfall, who will not grant the same to others; and now published to awaken the publick spirits in England, and to raise up an universal magistrate in Christendome, that will suffer all sorts of people, (of what religion soever they are) in any one countrey, as God (the great magistrate) suffers the same in all countreys of the world. By Peter Cornelius, Van Zurick-Zee, a lover of truth and peace.	Plockhoy, Pieter Corneliszoon, fl. 1659.; Cromwell, Oliver, 1599-1658.; Cromwell, Richard, 1626-1712.	1659 (1659)	Wing P2581E; Thomason E972_6; ESTC R203156	15,982	32

being strangers to speak Hence when understandings might be so free and uninterrupted there would not only arise a clearing of the understanding and reforming of the lives of people but also a yielding submissive condescending love for the wisest and expertest men daily coming thus together to teach and to be taught it would incline the hearts of those that should behold them one towards another which we may discern in worldly matters as in making of Treaties or Peace with Nations whereas otherwise they being drawn up and stretched beyond their present apprehensions by the supream Authority they stand upon their guard in opposition to one another as well in spirituall as Civil affairs This now being so it will especially concern your Highness whilst the eyes of all are fixed upon you to set a compleat Example that all people that do slander you as to have no Religion may evidently perceive that you do only maintain the Christian Religion and not Countenance any other particular name or Head whatsoever For Jesus the only heavenly Teacher who hath been long enough trod under foot by Sectarians ought to be set up above all and that all men as Brethren be joyned together is the only way to abollish all Lording over Consciences which hath already driven him out of his seat and many hundred years since possessed his place that at length the spirituall usurpation with its Antichristian Dominion may be laid down at his feet Thus doing you will be accounted a follower of the example of the good King Josiah 2 Kings 23. who to reform the Jews worship of God threw down all Chimerims and Idolatry and brought forth the book of the old Covenant to the ears of the people and all the people stood in that Covenant So will all Christendome unlesse any would set up man to rule together with Christ commend your diligent and wise forecast and circumspection and pray for the prosperity of your estate to the ruine of the Romish Seat which together with all that would force Consciences hearing the report of this noble Freedome will begin to tremble yea even their silenced children whose mouths have been muzzled by compulsive restraint will begin to speak and so in time of need seeing your free Government may come to shrowd themselves under your wings To which God the Father who beholdeth you and all Mens actions afford his grace through Jesus Christ Amen To his Highnesse Oliver Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland c. MIghty and as I hope prudent Lord being by the Loadstone of your free Government drawn and come into England I have not only beheld the multiplicity of Opinions and various differences of Sects who have been long held together in a false peace but also have laid before you an expedient in my Letter of the 24. of June to bring them together to a true reall unity I hope seeing the bonds of Antichrist are in a great measure broken in England by the effusion of much blood that you as a skilful Pilot will keep your hand at the Helm your eye upon the sail that so the little Antichrists who seek to rule over Consciences may not bring your work to shame and reproach by exciting you to Tyranny and thereby obstruct you in perfecting the same For severall Princes and Magistrates have formerly laboured to bring down the Antichrist but not rightly knowing the nature thereof have unawares not observed the little ones while they oppose the great ones only as Bishops and others and the litle self-seeking ones to become great have to their power helped the Magistracy as if themselves were Enemies of the spirituall domination only that they might succeed in the others places which evidently appeared as soon as ever they began to take breath in that they have instituted new forms the cause of Sects and parties by framing new Articles of faith over and besides the holy Scripture thereby to shut men up within the Park or Inclosure of their own opinions by which means they set not up Christ in the hearts of men but their own Kingdome and Dominion which is Idolatry And the Rulers being brought on their side oppression hath been exercised upon such as have not worshipped their Images I mean their contrived Forms without life Now to oppose these deceitfull spirits who in an Angellicall humility and lowlinesse come with great and lamentable complaints and petitions The good Magistrates to the end they be not deceived should for the protecting of the Innocent be armed with a Divine foresightfulnesse and circumspection for they by all means as if the Magistrates could make their dead Forms live do incessantly implore the interposing their Authority well knowing that there is no better way to bring the Common-people wherein the strength of a Nation consists under their jurisdiction and do sometimes set the Magistracy which to govern well cannot be too high by degrees higher and higher yea upon hopes thereby to have their Forms subscribed unto resolve to make any body their King or Emperour being well assured that when he hath thus given up his power to them and set them on the Throne they may afterwards do with him what they will For the most part all Kings have lost their power by giving too much Authority to the Ministry or Teachers and have become instead of Lords servants yea fearing the opposition of them and their followers have for their sakes become Tyrants Considering these things the Magistrates to whom and not to the Teachers the sword is given for the protection of the good should hold it fast to prevent and frustrate all cunning and subtil practices and instead of giving Ministers or Teachers power and Authority should by their generall Assemblies set up in all Cities and Countries draw the common people out of their bosomes and dominion that they may loose their usurped power that so the sword may return into its right place for which God hath ordained it without the Magistrates needing in their Government to have dependance on the Ministers or Teachers who are wont to incense the people against them This besides that the whole power will come into the hands of the Magistrates will bring many thousands a year to the Common-wealth For the people having opportunity to come into the generall Assemblies out of love to hear many wise understanding men will not need to give maintainance to the hirelings who Lord it in particular Congregations whereby the Magistrates who now begin to lighten or ease the burthen of maintainance will be beloved more then formerly Then shall we first be able rightly to discern when the power is come into its right place what the Magistrates are who now many times are accounted oppressors and evill Governours though it may be that oppression and evill government doth proceed more from the nature of the Teachers then of the Magistrates who now the way to make the Teachers powerlesse is opened will begin to appear more

THE WAY TO THE PEACE AND SETTLEMENT OF THESE NATIONS Fully discovered in two Letters delivered to his late Highnesse and one to the present Parliament As also one to his Highnesse Richard Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland c. WHEREIN The liberty of speaking which every one desires for himselfe is opposed against Antichrist for the procuring of his downfall who will not grant the same to others And now published To awaken the publick spirits in England and to raise up an universal Magistrate in Christendome that will suffer all sorts of people of what Religion soever they are in any one Countrey as God the great Magistrate suffers the same in all Countreys of the world Matth. 5.15 Men do not light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlesticke and it giveth light unto all that are in the house By Peter Cornelius Van Zurick-Zee a lover of truth and peace LONDON Printed for Daniel White and are to be sold at his Sh●● at the seaven-Starres in Pauls Chu●●h-Yard 1659. To the High and Honourable Assembly of PARLIAMENT representing the whole body of the Common-Wealth of England Scotland and Ireland c. Lords and Gentlemen HAving seen that Policy and Religion which as God is ought to be universall was divided and severed into many Sects my spirit was much troubled and looking round-about me where to make a beginning to rectifie those evils I found no better object in Christendome then his late Highness the Lord PROTECTOR whereupon I resolved for a while to leave my family and native Country fearing if I should not manifest to the Magistrates in England what was upon my spirit that they having much to doe with other affairs might through the subtilty of the Clergy as in other Nations easily be deceived Therefore coming to London I made first my addresse to some of the Counsel and so by the favour of them to his Highness were I delivering the two following Letters was heard several times with patience doing my endeavour to preserve England from that great dishonour which hath befallen other Nations by setting up instead of the form and doctrine of Christ the forms and factions of men But being obstructed in my proceeding through the unexpected death of his Highness I was put to some stop waiting for a better opportunity and hearing that your Honours were to assemble together upon the 27. of January my spirit was revived hoping that my design for the peace and welfare of these Nations by that means better then heretofore might be accomplished Whereupon I resolved to bring the businesse formerly propounded to his Highness to your Honours Consideration being perswaded in my heart if You who are now intrusted with the weighty affairs of these Nations have fixed your eyes upon God as the eyes of the good people in these and other Nations are fixed upon You that the Proposals laid down in the two following Letters will have a great influence upon your hearts especially if you consider and remember the notable words of Solomon where he speaks to the Kings and Rulers of the earth that a sharp judgement shall come upon them that are in high places for mercy will soon pardon the meanest but mighty men not standing in the Counsel of God shall be mightily tormented Therefore give ear to him you that rule the people and glory in the multitude of Nations for he shall try your works and search out your Counsels Set your selves as true servants of the Common wealth in opposition to the Antichrist against all oppressors that so they that seek with Haman to destroy and trample upon the innocent contrary to their expectation may be disappointed Let some course be taken that all persons may buy their estates free from Tithes that thereby henceforth none in all your Dominions may be forced to pay Tithes to the Ministers for that hath been and is still the chiefe cause of persecution and discontent in these and other Nations ☜ Suffer by no means you having respect to the Honour of Christ that any Confession of Faith be set upon the Throne as equal with the holy Scripture for Confessions are only to distinguish one Sect from another Assist not with the sword or money of the Common-wealth any Sect or person in particular that you may not hinder the truth which hath been long kept under from manifesting it selfe by it's own power for Magistrates as Magistrates have no permission to favour any Sect or person in particular if any of them being considered as a private person will be a member of a particular Congregation he hath his liberty as wel as others and may honour the same with his presence with his tongue with his pen and with his owne money but not with the sword or money of the Common-wealth for the Magistrates being chosen by the generality of the people are to stand immoveable in the Centre as Moderators between all Sects They are in regard of their office as treasurers who are intrusted with a sum of money to imploy the same not for their own or any ones private advantage in particular but for the benefit of all those that have intrusted them if it were the magistrates worke to set up a National Ministry according to their own will then we should be in danger to have as many religions as there be severall wayes of government in the world and the Magistrates changing their opinion the whole Nationall Ministry must also as often be changed What is that then but to do his own will instead of the will of God and to have his pleasure upon the souls of men It were better and belongs especially to your office not to follow the traditions of men but to examine and reforme the Laws now in force and to disanull such as are destructive and without mercy contrary to the Law of Nature and the revealed will of God which ought to be in all ages and in all Countreys only our rule It is also your honours work and business diligently to consider what properly belongs to the office of a Magistrate before you put the sword and power of these Nations into their hands for through want of care in so weighty a matter the whole Common-wealth is in danger as in times past to fall under the dominion of one particular Sect whose Ministers to bring the common-people and so the Magistrates under their jurisdiction are commonly infecting with their forms not only the publick meeting-places and the houses of the poor or hospitalls but also the Schools called Universities which have by the subtilty of them in all Countreys almost lost the name Universal by being misapplied to self-ends and interests Now to reforme those corruptions it is necessary that the magistrates whose work it is to have an eye to the good of all do expell out of those publick houses or Colledges being builded with the money of the common-wealth all meer humane forms of Religion that they

children before they come to have the use of Reason holding their dependants or Members captive under them in their Net as beasts contrary to the order of their Creation well knowing that if they gave them the liberty of speaking they would not be long worshipped as Idols or sacrificed to as Bell at Babell Contrariwise people in the general Assemblies when all understandings and tongues are free will be stirred up to the exercise thereof and by conferring together will come to knowledge love and familiarity The truth which hath been long kept under or with held in unrighteousness will scatter the lyes as light doth darknesse and the great credit which we have given to some Teachers in particular will by opposition be diminished and the power of all Sects the one dispelling the Errors of the other will be broken This will be the place where we shall discern learn to know the most wise as Solomon and meek as Moses which out of all Sects only such as seek to domineer over others excluded may be appointed as Councellors The Magistrates from the highest to the lowest ought to be men of publick sp●●its for their work concerning their office is not a particular but a general work to keep steady the ballance of Government without respect of persons to the end that the Spirit of God be not confined which will be a sure mark that Wisdome for the sake of which Kings in times past were blessed is under this Government esteemed above gold and silver being the principall to distinguish all things chiefly Policy from Religion for the common good For Magistrates if they would remain without usurping the Office of Christ may not make Laws in matters of Religion but against evill deeds to protect the good To the end that their Subjects from whom they receive Taxes and Impositions may be protected in peace of what Religion soever they are For the power to punish evil-doers is ordained of God in all Lands without respect of Religion and whosoever opposeth that power opposeth the Ordinance of God not that all Officers though they rule ill are of God or are his Ministers but those only who administer their Office rightly according to Gods will Otherwise those who heretofore have risen up against Tyrants opposing their persons should have been indeed opposers of Gods Ordinance contrary to that of the Apostle Rom. 13. who hath said that such as are continually imployed in the defence of the good are the Ministers of God untill they have by false Teachers been drawn besides their Office to domineer over Consciences and so brought into the service or Ministry of Satan to the grief of their Subjects But I hope that once the sword which hath been with-held from lyers and oppressors shall cut them off together with the Cable of their hope the Tithes that so the ground of almost all oppression being taken away not only the Subjects but also the Magistrates may live in peace who are now continually liable to hear the complaints of the head Sectaries who seek to domineer over others it being the nature of such who finding their own weaknesse do make power and force their refuge contrary to the example of Christ and the Primitive Saints whose strength was only the evidence of truth Wherefore all people and chiefly Magistrates are to take heed that they assist not lyes using their power according to Gods Ordinance only against those that are to the prejudice of good Government or the hurt of mankind in generall without mingling Pollicy and Religion which were ordained for severall ends the one to defend the good men against the evil and the other to make the evill good There remains only that the Magistrates for an example to their Subjects do null all humane commanding and constraining-Laws in spirituall matters that so all plants which the heavenly Father hath not planted may according to the saying of Christ be rooted up which will best take effect when the dominion of the Teachers is through the power of the Governours come to an end and their hope of domineering over others cut off ☞ For Magistrates instead of Lording it over Consciences ought on the contrary to hinder all Lordship over Consciences that complaining and murmuring may come to an end and that the righteous may rejoyce For which end that we may transmit the World unto our posterity in a better condition then we first found it I have contributed this little to my power I beseech your Highness let not any preingagement oblige you to what you may afterwards see inconsistant with the Magistrates true interest with the due liberty of Gods people and the free propagation of the Gospel It were better for you and more for your Honour with Ahashuerus to contradict your own hand and Seal then with Herod to perform a rash engagement But while it is yet in your Highness choice let not the right hand of brave Atchievments for the vindication of liberty be ever stained with authorizing to the honour of men and dishonour of Christ any Confession of Faith Ordinance or Decree which will in the least intrench thereon or indulge the enemies thereof Be not deceived by such persons as pretend to advance your Honour as in the time of Daniel was done to King Darius that the good people in those and other Nations may not be disappointed of their hope and expectations in you I do wish for conclusion that your Highness and all your Counsellors of State to the bringing down of Antichrist and all his Adherents may have a great heart and humble under God and Christ That the great work done in England come not to the Honour of a mortal man but to the honour of him who hath received the power over the Kingdomes of the earth Be wise as Serpents and innocent as Doves Matth. 10.16 O Lord of all Lords and Magistrates teach them that rule as Gods in the world to consider that they are but men in thy eyes That they may handle their Subjects after such a manner as they wish to be handled by thee in thy judgement To his Highness Richard Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland c. Peter Cornelius wisheth an universall and unbiased heart to the end he may as a true Moderator so hold the ballance in the Government that one Sect may not domineer over the other Vnexpected yet I hope seasonable Lord Protector BEing come into England in love to the common good I have after much longing severall times had opportunity to speak with your Father about divers matters to whom also I delivered two Letters which he promised to consider of and was willing I should have liberty further to declare my mind and sense unto him this being prevented by his unexpected death I have thought fit forasmuch as your Highness hath succeeded him to transfer the aforementioned Letters to you hoping that my counsell which your Father did not despise being joyned with your power