Selected quad for the lemma: justice_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
justice_n	king_n	lord_n	person_n	4,136	5	4.8948	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A27165	No treason to say, Kings are Gods subjects, or, The supremacy of God, opened, asserted, applyed in some sermons preached at Lugarshal in Sussex by N.B. then rector there, accused of treason by James Thompson, Vicar of Shalford in Surry, and the author ejected out of the said rectory for preaching them : with a preface apologetical, vindicating the author and sermons from that false accusation, relating the manner of his ejection, and fully answering the narrative of the said Vicar, now also parson of Lurgarshal / by Nehemiah Beaton ...	Beaton, Nehemiah, d. 1663.	1661 (1661)	Wing B1568; ESTC R17272	43,029	53

returned into the Crown-office and upon the motion of Sir William Wild in the publick Court of the Kings Bench at Westminster upon reading the Record confirmed by my Lord Chief Justice and three more of his Majesties most reverend Judges upon the eleventh day of February last N. Beaton To what purpose are the Kings Bench the Crown Office Sr William Wild the Lord Chief Justice the most Reverend Judges mentioned unless to perswade the Reader that I had a second hearing But this he durst not affirm it would have been too gross Let the Reader then know that though I therefore obtained a Writ of Certiorari because I was informed it would produce a second hearing yet I found my self wholly deceived for no Witness was examined pro or con nor enquiry made into the truth of any matter of fact or the merits of the Cause c. What advantage then is this to his Cause now managing against my Reputation What if the Judgment had been thus confirmed a thousand times is it any proof of my guilt But Reader we have both now appealed he by printing his Charge I by publishing my defence to a Court of Equity thy Conscience and here sure the reading of the Judgment or his suggestions will not without more ado produce a confirmation But thou wilt hear and weigh both parties and then though my Adversary being first in his own tale might seem righteous yet when thou hast considered how I have come after and searched him I am as certain I shall by thy justice be absolved as Mr. Thompson is I was by the Justices condemned Which absolution of all sober unbyassed persons though it leave me as far from my Living as before yet would I not exchange for more than my Adversary enjoyeth by my condemnation For though a good name be not as precious as it is to be named with a good conscience yet it is to be prized above a good yea the best Living But if it should be the lot of these Papers to fall into the hands of persons whom malice prejudice or interest will not suffer to receive satisfaction or at least will cause still to pretend they are unsatissied As I regard not their censures so can I easily foresee and could as easily obviate and answer all their cavils and objections but shall take notice only of one for the sake of some honest but very weak persons whom they may think to startle with it Object But can any man imagine that such a Charge could be forged or framed without any ground That five men would have sworn it that c. Answ Consider Reader whom these Objectors wound whilst they thus strike at me They not only offend and accuse the whole Generation of the righteous but do Crucifie again the Lord of Glory and put him to open shame For if a man must needs be guilty because condemned Then what an Impostor and Malefactor must he be who is holy harmless separate from sinners For he was accused of blasphemy condemned as a Traytor and enemy to Caesar his prosecutors Priests the Witnesses many and of considerable quality And if they thus called and condemned the Master of the house is it any wonder that they deal thus with those of his houshold Mat. 10. 25. I am accused for calling the Queen Harlot Adulteress Why with the very same train did the devil blow up the Ministry of that holy Father and faithful servant of Christ Chrysostome Adversus Joannem calumnias struunt Sermones ipsius quosdam assumentes ut dictos in probrum Reginae invidiose divulgantes They forged calumnies against him taking hold of some speeches of his and maliciously spreading and divulging them as spoken in disgrace and reproach of the Queen But what stirred up his Accusers Why he had so freely and sharply reproved their wickedness and prophaneness that they resolve some way or other to rid themselves of such a burden and this was the likeliest way What if I never spake against his Majesties right of Succession Yet I had spoken against some mens Swearing Cursing Debauchery c and that was not put into the Act for confirming of Ministers as a cause why they should not be confirmed and the other was I shall conclude with the words of the learned Bishop Sanderson for they are as his use to be worth the transcribing That there should be mighty ones sick with longing after their meaner neighbours vineyards that there should be crafty heads to contrive for greedy great ones what they unjustly desire that there should be officious instruments to do a piece of legal injustice upon a great mans Letter that there should be Knights of the Post to depose any thing though never so false in any cause though never so bad against any person though never so innocent that an honest man cannot be secure of his life so long as he hath any thing else worth the losing Of all this saith he here is an instance in my Text. He doth not say that of all this my Case is an instance nor will I now but when any man goes about to shew wherein the parallel failes he may know more of my mind till then no more as to my own vindication But though I began with my own vindication and have hitherto solely attended it yet shall I not conclude till I have also vindicated that noble Knight Sir Richard Onslow from those ealumnies and slanders which in this sheet he hath published against him for he hath done me the honour to abuse me with that worthy and honour able person With whose vindication I should have begun as the more considerable and noble subject had not I considered that till I had cleared my self I should but sully another by undertaking his defence And here though I shall not set down his words at length as before yet shall I not do him the least wrong but give thee the substance such as they have of them Only first I must acquaint thee with the occasion of this his Schedule Some malicious persons had published several Libels against Sir Richard Onslow for the smoak of envy and detraction will alwaies pursue the fairest in which they accused him to be the great enemy and ejector of many learned loyal and Orthodox Divines That is they accused Moecenas to be a hater of Poets and Alexander an enemy to valour Well against these Libellers Collonel Gardiner sends out a hue and cry in which he discovers the folly and falshood of that accusation and names many learned loyal Orthodox Divines whom Sir Richard was a refuge to in the late storms and amongst others his only mistake reckons up this James Thompson Which I call a mistake not that Sir Richard had never done him a Curtesie but because he reckons him amongst Learned Orthodox Divines Now in answer to this hue and cry of Collonel Gardiners comes forth this narrative A great part of which he spends in telling his Reader

whatever your request be the success of it depends upon the will and pleasure of God Hence we finde that when any of Gods Saints have had a Suit at Court they have first made their Addresses to the Court of Heaven Thus Nehemiah desiring leave and help from the King to rebuild Jerusalem though a Courtier and Favourite yet will not seek the Princes favour in this affair till he had first begged of God to grant him mercy in the sight of that man Neh. 1. 11. Prosper I pray thee thy servant this day and grant him mercy in the sight of this man Though then thou hast nothing it may be to beg of the King for thy self yet if thou art one that carest for the prosperity and happiness of the Church and Kingdom in which thou livest see here a way how thou may'st be serviceable to them and promote their happiness Beg earnestly of God to exercise his Dominion over the heart of the King in a way of mercy that he may be a nursing Father to the Church and a terrour to evill doers How plainly are we commanded 1 Tim. 2. 2. to pray for Kings It is out of question that 't is our duty but this Text and Doctrine may exceedingly encourage and quicken us to the performance of this duty It was one great end why I choose this Text that I might excite and provoke my self and you faithfully to discharge our duty in this point that we may not only in compliance with the commands of Authority or for any carnal advantages pray publickly for the Kings Majesty but that we may do it heartily conscienciously and constantly To engage us whereunto let us seriously weigh these following considerations First Consider the condition of the greatest and best Kings is such that they stand in great need of the prayers of their religious and faithful Subjects For 1. They are men of like infirmities with others though they are called Gods in respect of their Office yet are they but men made in all things like to one of us sin not excepted they have need therefore of sanctifying and renewing Grace which none can bestow but the heart-changing and ruling Jehovah and for the obtaining whereof even for Kings the effectual fervent prayers of the righteous avail much 2. As they are of like infirmities so are they siable to greater temptations than others 3. They are usually surrounded with Flatterers and evill Counsellours and the most probable way and means to prevent the danger of temptation and defeat the designs of such Counsellours is prayer Secondly As their condition is such that they want prayers so our own condition either as Members of the Church or Common-wealth is such that we had need pray much for them for if our prayers do them good they do us good the whole Church and State fares the better for them under God the happiness and peace both of Church and State depends on them Thirdly This is the best and highest expression of our loyalty to pray heartily for the Kings health is a better testimony of our affection and loyalty to him than the drinking his health Fourthly This is such an expression of loyalty and affection as nothing but want of heart and will can render us uncapable of we may be unable to express our loyalty by rich presents by counsell by fighting for him c. but nothing can hinder us from praying for him but the want of loyalty and true affection Fifthly This is a safe way to obtain any good you desire from them either for your selves or the publick safe I say in respect of sin it is a course God hath allowed us he hath forbid us resisting Authority or by force to endeavour the procuring what we desire be it never so just or good but he hath no where forbid us the use of this weapon Sixthly As this is a safe way so is it the good old way which the Saints and Primitive Christians have trod before us the ancient Christians though under heathen Kings and persecuting Emperours knew not so far were they from practizing the wicked Doctrines and opinions of the lawfulness of opposing Kings and Magistrates surely then they allowed not the deposing or murdedring of them no the only weapons which they durst use were prayers and tears and with these they did prevail Seventhly By Prayer may the meanest and obscurest Christian be the means of saving a King yea a whole Kingdom the weakest woman by this means may defeat the most subtle and cunning Achitophel be they such as have an interest in the God of heaven and will they but improve that interest at the Throne of Grace in frequent and fervent Prayer for the King what blessings may they be instrumental to procure him For Prayer can do almost every thing with God and God can do what he will for or with the King if you then have any loyalty to the King any love to your Country any care of or regard to the Churches welfare yea any desire of your own good be much in earnest and importunate prayer for the King 5. By the light of this Doctrine you may discover some I wish I could not say many amongst us to be desperate and dangerous enemies to the King who yet reckon themselves his best and most loyal Subjects Are you not all eager to know who they are Are you not ready to cry out as the Disciples when Christ told them there was a Traytor among them Is it I Is it I To hold you therefore no longer in suspence 't is every prophane ungodly dissolute man or woman that have taken occasion from the Kings return to grow more bold and impudent in sinning those that call their lewdness their loyalty that count their open rebellion against God a testimony of their good affection to the King this is he these are they whom I or rather my Text and Doctrine do accuse as pernitious and dangerous enemies to the Kings Majesty for if the Kings heart be in the hand of the Lord if he can deal with them in a way of mercy or justice as he pleaseth then those that do what they can to provoke this God to exercise his dominion over the heart of their King in a way of justice are certainly his most mischievous enemies Is it Treason to stir up and engage men against the King What is it then to stir up God against him That God in whose hand is their breath and whose are all their waies Dan. 5. 23. I know you will readily confess that God can do the King more good or hurt than all the World besides That there is no standing before him when he is angry What then could any man whose heart were full of malice and treason against the King do worse than these of whom we speak Say I this of my self or saith not the Scripture the same also That will tell you that the wickedness of a People proves destructive to their

what I can prove from his own mouth viz. That he had first obtained a promise or grant of my Living if I were removed before he attempted ought against me Although therefore he was a stranger to me yet with my Living was he so well acquainted that he knew it to be such a one as he had long gaped for and often succeslesly sought after Now Reader if thou canst not imagine that this accusation proceeded from malice which they say is a good informer yet might it not from avarice which is the root of all evil but bears no fruit so often as this of false accusation So that when God had prohibited this in the ninth Commandment he immediately added as that without which the other would never be kept Thou shalt not covet And when John Baptist had warned the Souldiers that they should accuse no man falsely he immediately prescribes this as the only remedy Be content with your wages It was the hope of getting the Living saith a learned Bishop that made Ziba accuse his Master falsely But Mr. Thompson had more than hopes he had an assurance of my Living before hand It was Naboths Vineyard saith the same Author and not his blasphemy that made him guilty and this this only was my treason I had a good living This hungry Vicar well knew that Lurgarshal afforded a larger bite than Shalford Common and that he could not get in unless he thus leaped the hedge the Law having let me in at the gate and shut it fast after me Wouldst thou know more of my Prosecutor to leave thee without the least doubt or scruple whether as foul a crime as false and forged accusations are yet he may be guilty of it Then hear what he hath since done When I was removing my goods from Lurgarshal this man desired to buy some of them Now though many perswaded me to decline him as a man not safely in any thing to be dealt with yet his proposition being fair that he would give as much as any and more than they could be worth if I removed them I consented to sell them But because I knew pretty well the complexion of his conscience I appointed him to bring one with him to prize them that so I might have another to testifie what passed between us In short we met and agreed on the prizes of several goods he appointed me to what person to deliver them promised again and again the payment of the money The goods I delivered according to appointment and now expected my money according to his promise but found that my Gentleman did not intend to hold my Living by one title and my Goods by another His five Witnesses were not yet dead and would they be so unkind when they had helped him to a house for nothing as to leave him now to pay for the furniture To a first a second a third demand therfore he denies to pay for my goods and bids me take my course Well after a civill Letter and almost a quarter of a years waiting he is arrested and the last Assizes the cause was tried between us Thither comes Mr. Thompson with one of his five credible Witnesses bragging of the victory and offering to lay great wagers he should cast me The Cause was called forth steps his credible Witnesse to do him now once more knights service and swears as heartily horresco referens or rather desperately as before but with some different success for the Jury so soon as they heard my Witnesses without stirring from the Bar gave Verdict against him Nay Sir William Wild who was of counsel for Thompson and who was by him prejudiced against me as one that had spoken Treason he I say and to his honour be it spoken when he heard my Case fully opened sate down and refused to plead for him and when this modest Vicar urged him to speak Sir William replied aloud with indignation Do not urge me to speak against my understanding and conscience in such a Case as this Reader should I at large relate without any comment or aggravation all the odious circumstances of this last practice I am confident thou wouldst think the man is not to be matched in England Next hear what I have to say as to the Charge I am accused and judged for preaching maliciously against his Majesties right c. 1. It is known almost to as many as know me that my judgment was against the death of the late King and for the restauration of this 2. I have often to the hazard of more than I have now lost and to the trouble of my friends openly declared my dislike and abhorrency of the murder of the King by which name I have frequently called it in publick places and was for so calling it accused to one of his pretended Judges who therefore did threaten to do great things against me 3. I was so far from thinking that his Majesty that now is had no right of succession to the Crown of these Realms that I was alwaies perswaded he had an undoubted right and that it was my duty in my place to endeavour his recovery of that right and have laboured to convince others that it was their duty I am certain I did seriously and heartily do my utmost in my place to procure it If these three Assertions be true wilt thou believe there is any truth in this Charge Now to prove them true I can produce the Testimonies and have the Certificates of many Knights and a multitude of Gentlemen both Ministers and others I will not trouble thee but with one of Sir Thomas Woodcocks who so long jeoparded his life in the high places of the field for the late King and so lately hazarded it in the High Court of Justice at Westminster a more dangerous place than the former for his loyalty to his Majesty that now is and is deservedly of that repute both at Court and in the Country for his Valour and Civility that I should much dishonour him if by giving a Character of him I should but suppose that the Reader hath not heard of him or would doubt the validity of his Testimony which follows in these words These are to certifie all whom it may concern that I have been well acquainted with Mr. Nehemiah Beaton above seven years last past In which space of time discoursing very frequently with him concerning the King and his affairs I discerned in him so deep a sense of his Majesties sufferings and so great a desire of his restauration that I was encouraged at a proper season to consult him c. where followeth a large relation of a particular service I did in order to his Majesties restauration which for brevities sake I omit and then he concludes with these words All this and much more of like nature I know and am ready to attest for him conceiving my self obliged in honour and conscience thereunto he having then given me unquestionable evidences of his loyalty