Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	child_n	king_n	lord_n	2,366	5	3.6403	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66600	God, the King, and the countrey, united in the justification of this present revolution containing also animadversions on Dr. William Sherlock's book intituled, The case of allegiance due to soveraign powers, stated and resolved, according to scripture and reason, and the principles of the Church and England / by Tim. Wilson ...	Wilson, Timothy, 1642-1705.	1691 (1691)	Wing W2950; ESTC R8407	46,572	49

make us wise to salvation The Law of Nature or Right Reason is the Rule of Political Government And all Civil or Municipal Laws are to be squared by it and so directed to the publick good as their end But more particularly for the illustration hereof 1. I shall consider what Government is 2. The several kinds thereof 3. I shall shew the Latitude of Subjection 1. I shall consider what Government is Government is Power or Authority which some men have over others derived from God and exercised according to Agreement for the good of the whole Society In this Description 1. We have the general Nature Power or Authority 2. The Author of Government it is derived from God 3. The formal Reason it is exercised according to Agreement 4. The End for the good of the whole Society 1. We have the general Nature Power or Authority Government generally considered denotes superiority of Office and Authority Where there is no Authority there can be no Government nor no Obedience or Subjection due Power or Authority saith Camero is that whereby a person may claim any thing to himself without the injury of any other Thus a Father exercises his Power when he commands his Children A Master over his Servants And a King over his Subjects 2. We have the Author of Government It is derived from God There is no Power but of God All Dominion is Gods The Kingdom is the Lords saith David and he is the Governour among the Nations And the Lord hath prepared his Throne in the Heavens and his Kingdom ruleth over all Psal 22.28 and 103.19 By me Kings reign and Princes decree justice By me Princes rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the Earth Prov. 8.15 16. God is the Absolute Monarch over all 3. The Formal Reason It is exercised according to Agreement My Opinion is this Government in general is of the Law of Nature but in special whether Monarchical Absolute or Limited and Conditional whether by Hereditary Succession or by Election is according to Positive Humane Law and Compact So that the People or Fathers of Families were at liberty to chuse what Form of Government they thought most convenient and Fundamentally to fix the Constitution Which may not be altered but by the same means or power Thus Power in general is of God as Solomon and St. Paul say But the Specification Limitation and first Designation of the Person or Form is by Humane Right or Positive Law according to the Discretion of the Assembly of the People And this seems to me evident by Scripture and Reason Thus the Higher Powers are the Ordinance of God saith St. Paul And the Emperor is the Ordinance of Man saith St. Peter Mankind is naturally subject to none but God or whom God shall appoint But otherwise the Sons of Adam are left at Liberty to chuse what Person or Form of Government any free Multitude can agree upon This Opinion seems consonant to the Doctrine and History of the Holy Scriptures the constant Practice of the Kings of Israel or rather the People of any Common-wealth is consonant to the Principles of the Law of Nature and is neither Erroneous in Divinity nor dangerous in Policy And experience sheweth that the best and most conscientious Subjects pay Obedience according to the several Laws and Customs of their Countreys The Epistle to the Romans was written either in the Reign of Claudius Caesar or of Nero. As for Claudius Historians tell us that he hid himself and the Souldiers proclaimed him Emperor and both the Multitude and the Senate agreed to his Election And as for Nero his Quinquennium or first five years were admired by all and had the approbation of the best Men while he followed the Advice of Seneca and other grave Counsellors And tho' afterwards he proved a cruel Tyrant and Persecutor yet the Laws and Customs of the Roman Empire in Civil things were good and just And in those things of which St. Paul speaks even Nero's commands were to be obeyed Actively As is plain For there is no Power but of God and Rulers are not a terror to good Works but to the evil and he is the Minister of God to thee for good And therefore pay Caesar his due Tribute Custom Fear Honour or whatever the Laws of your Countrey and Conscience and the Laws of God require of you without Resistance For they that resist shall receive to themselves Damnation And this is the Judgment of all the Famous School-men either Ancient or Modern whom I have either read or look'd into Insomuch that I stand amazed that this Doctrine should have no more Followers in England when in all other Disputes our English Divines are the most rational Men in the World But to use St. Paul's words in another case I bear them record that they have a Zeal for Monarchy but not according to Knowledge Yet let them know that as far as I can find by search it is the united Determination of all Politicians School-men and Divines who purposely handle the Controversies that tho' Prince and Subject are Relatives yet prioritate rationis or Ordine naturae intendentis as Logicians speak in nature and time Subjects were first instituted and Princes were constituted for the Subjects sake on certain conditions unless you follow the example of such as design'd Tyranny From whence it follows that Subjects were no Born for Kings but Kings or Princes and Governours ought to promote the profit of Subjects I have as much reason as any of your Majesties Subjects to value your Service Crown Dignity Honour and Prosperity and the Succession to your Heirs yet I follow the old Maxim Malim veris offendere quàm placere adulando I think nothing becomes a Priest so much as Integrity I am sure that no Man can deny that the Apostle speaks of the Higher Powers commanding things lawful or of the Civil Legal commands of the Higher Powers and these must not be resisted But they mistake who think that this command of the Apostles was given to Christians to be obedient to Nero in his unlawful commands Whereas the Apostles command in this place saith a Learned Divine reacheth to all times and is made to all that are Christians Tho' they did live under Nero yet it doth not follow that the Apostle commands them to be subject to him in Unlawfuls If indeed Nero's commands were only unlawful and this Direction of the Apostle was made only to Christians in those times and that subjection commanded were only suffering subjection then this Scripture might make much more for Non-resistance But tho' Nero was an Enemy to the Christians yet some of his commands were lawful and this Direction of the Apostle was not made only to Christians in those times but as a general rule for all good Men. And the Obedience and Subjection here commanded was not only to be Passive but Active This Scripture commands Active Obedience to the Higher Powers in all things

which concern the Duty of Subjects and the Publick Good And as for the Instances in Scripture out of the Books of the Kings and Chronicles it is plain that there was a Covenant between the King and People And after the Deposing of Athaliah all the Congregation made a Covenant with the King in the House of God 2 Chron 23.3 And what doth a Covenant signifie if it may not be defended and justified If such a dead Dog as I am were worthy to admonish an English Monarch I would advise him to make Law the Rule of his Reign and shew his Prerogative in Acts of Bounty Mercy and Mitigation of the Rigour of some severe Laws And I would not tell him that it is Rebellion for an Innocent Subject to defend himself And yet I imagine that I am as great a Friend to Monarchy and to the Church of England as the greatest Passive-Obedience-Doctor is 4. We have the End of Government For the good of the whole Sodiety Power and Authority is ordained of God for the Happiness of Mankind By this we are legally secured against wicked Men in our Houses Possessions Lands and Estates in our Liberties and Properties and in whatsoever belongs to us as Members of a Civil Society Political Order is a just Disposition between King and Subject as well as between Subject and Subject God is the Author and Lover of Order and an Enemy of Disorder and Confusion And Government was constituted by the singular Wisdom and Providence of God for the good of his Creatures From hence I may deduce these Inferences 1. Hence the Power and Authority of Kings and Governours is clearly Divine They are constituted Rulers by God and are his Ministers And therefore Honour and Obedience is due to them for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2.13 2. Hence it follows evidently That Princes and Governours ought to Rule in Gods fear and so perform their Office as Gods Vicegerents administring Justice impartially knowing whose Authority they have Hence Princes are called Pastors of the People and Fathers of the Countrey And should bear the Name of Gods and Children of the most High not only in Power but in Goodness 3. Hence it necessarily follows that all Subjects ought to reverence and honour their King and Governours with most humble Service Homage and Obedience in all things But of this more anon 2. I shall consider the several kinds The most common Distribution is into Monarchy Aristocracy and Democracy The first kind or Form of Government is Monarchy I approve of this as best according to the saying of the most Famous Poet The Rule of many is not good Let there be one Ruler one King to whom God gives the Scepter He is King who hath Supream Power subject to none And a Monarch is either Absolute or Conditional And again either Elective or Successive Elective when in a Kingdom a Person of a new Family or of the same Family is chosen Successive when the next Heir Male and in some Kingdoms the Female is owned and proclaimed Thus the Kingdom of England is by Inheritance and Succession And our King never dies as we say But the King of England is not Absolute but Limited And hath Lords and Commons without whom he cannot make nor repeal Laws And we have Magna Charta unviolable And the Subjects great Felicity and no less the Kings Honour who Rules not over Slaves but Freemen 3. I shall shew the Latitude of Subjection It is a Civil Filial Fear of the King And excludes all things that tend to his Dishonour and includes all things that tend to his Honour It contains all Duties and Services required of Subjects to their Prince There is an universal Obedience next under and after God in all things Legal due to the King who Reigns by the Ordinance and Appointment of God Native Religion and true Christianity is the greatest Interest of Princes A good Conscience and pious Heart abhors Obmurmurations Factions Seditions Rebellions or whatsoever can be conceived to disturb the Souls subjection to the Higher Powers It is gross Hypocrisie to pretend to follow the Holy Jesus and not render to Caesar the things which are Caesar's I am sure that Christ and his Apostles taught Subjection to the Roman Emperor as the Ornament and Honour of their Religion This Subjection first forbids light and vain thoughts of the Kings Authority and Person 2. Uttering Wicked and Trayterous words speaking evil of him Thou shalt not revile the Gods nor curse the Ruler of thy People Exod. 22.28 And curse not the King no not in thy Thought Eccles 10.20 And the Holy Ghost brands them with the odious name of filthy Dreamers who despise Dominion and speak evil of Dignities St. Jude ver 8. In brief It excludes all retaining of his Dues Tribute Custom c. all Cheating him of his Revenue all Disobedience to his wholsom Laws all Contempt or Violation offered to his Sacred Person 2. Subjection includes or comprehends all Duties of a Christian Subject to his King For that which is in one place Let every Soul be subject to the Higher Powers is in another Fear the King and Honour the King And in the Fifth Commandment Honour thy Father and Mother Here as by Father and Mother all Superiors are meant not only our Natural Parents but also our Political Father our Governours especially the Supream Magistrate the King As it is well explained in our Church-Catechism To Honour and Obey the King and all that are put in Authority under him Which also is the Interpretation of all sober Divines So by this word Honour all kinds of Duty and Services from all Inseriors to their Superiors respectively are comprised So to Honour as to Fear Love and Obey them c. This is expressed also by St. Peter Submit your selves unto every Ordinance of Man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as Supream or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well This is yet more fully and largely set down by St. Paul Rom. 13. Where this Doctrine is not only declared but pressed and confirmed by many strong and solid Reasons We must needs be subject not only for Wrath but also for Conscience sake v. 5. If you make Conscience of your ways give the King his Due There is nothing more plain than this Chapter for Subjection to the King and Submission and respect to his Officers without murmuring and repining when according to Law they demand their Dues The humble Christian and obedient Subject who willingly submits to the Kings Laws may be assured that in that particular he pleaseth God and he always hath the Testimony and Satisfaction of a good Conscience But the stubborn and disobedient who will not render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's assuredly displeaseth God and can never quiet his Conscience but runs the hazard of a most ignominious esteem in

though the Dr. saith There is nothing like this any where else in Scripture which is gratis dictum yet other Learned Divines say that the Apostle means this 1 Pet. 2.13 14. When he saith Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lords sake whether to the King as Supream Hence they collect and I think truly That the Donation of the Power is of God and the Designation of the Person or Limitation and Qualification of the Power is of Man tho' it is also the disposal of Providence I have said in another Discourse God and Man in these Acts are not opposite but subordinate God is the first Cause Man is the second Cause The Prince that receives Authority from Man receives it from God also tho' mediately by Man and is Gods Minister and a Ruler v. 3 4. The Dr. proceeds Then in order to the fulfilling of this precept it would be necessary for Subjects to exarmine the Titles of Princes and to that end to be well skill'd in History and the Laws of a Nation and to be able to judge between a pretended and real Right c. A. And surely it is not so difficult a thing to know who is our Prince as the Dr. would make it It is so easie that every Subject in England as far as ever I heard never doubted that the late King James was the lawful King of England c. And there needs no great skill in History and Law to know this And as for the Revolution when we are bound in Conscience to obey another King there needs no History to tell us what we have seen and heard And the Reverend Dr. will tell us when the Government is setled p. 9. Suppose the greatest uncertainty that you can suppose the Consciences of men would not be more perplexed than you have perplexed them at this day And therefore you need not have said Let any man judge in what perplexities this sense of the Apostles Precept would involve the Consciences of men The Dr. hath a great deal more to the same purpose and descants at large To which I answer in general That if St. Paul had taught us Politicks in Rom. 13. I should have thought it very strange Men must learn Politicks from the Laws of Reason and the common Prudence and Experience of Mankind Suppose the Great Turk in a Passion or upon a small Provocation should draw his Scymeter or Sword to kill some Eminent Nobleman of his Court and the Nobleman should defend his Life by force of Arms and by Skill or Strength should disarm his great Lord and Master and escape for his Life In this case I say Natural Religion and Conscience will justifie the Innocent Nobleman and will tell the Great Turk that he ought to give God thanks in such like words as David did when Abigail by her wisdom pacified his wrath 1 Sam. 25.32 Blessed be the Lord God who sent thee this day to meet me And blessed be thy advice and blessed be thou who hast kept me this day from shedding blood I should never read the Scriptures nor any History or Law-book to tell me who is my King no more than I would to tell me who is my Father and Mother I like a Fool have all my days presumed without Book with my Fellow-subjects and with my Brethren and Sisters who is my King and who is my Father and Mother and have honoured and obeyed them according to the fifth Commandment Such reasoning is unworthy of the profound Judgment of Dr. Sherlock If the Dr. pleaseth I would desire him to write a Book to teach Children what are their Names and who are their God-fathers and God-mothers before we Catechize them any more For is it not a very hard thing to know all these things See how prejudice blinds the Eyes of pious and wise men I confess that when there is a competition for the Crown or when Imposture may be reasonably suspected or in the like extraordinary case then the Subjects may become Sceptics But then we have a Privy Council and a Parliament to examine judge and determine But otherwise I am persaded that there was not one of ten thousand that ever doubted whether King Charles the Second was the true Heir and rightful King or King James the Second But let us hear the Dr's Objection p. 24. If the choice and consent of the People makes a Prince then no man is a Subject but he who consents to be so For the major Vote cannot include my consent unless I please That is the Effect of Law and Compact or Force not of Nature If Subjects give their Prince Authority they may take it away again if they please There can be no Irresistible Authority derived from the People For if Authority be wholly derived from them who shall hinder them from taking it away when they see fit Vpon these Principles there can be no Hereditary Monarchy One Generation can only chuse for themselves their Posterity have as much right to chuse as they had A. The Dr. owns That if the Lineal Succession should fail then the People must chuse a Prince and this hinders not Hereditary Monarchy No more doth it in such an extraordinary case as our present case is And the Dr. himself saith p. 25. A Legal Entail is nothing more than the Authority of the People tho' here he saith Vpon these Principles there can be no Hereditary Monarchy Let him reconcile these The Parliament hath setled the Succession But saith the Dr. Every Subject must consent This is thought a mighty Goliath but I think it a poor weak Argument I have elsewhere shewed that the meek wise and ever-renowned Hooker foundeth all Government in Covenant so that I am not singular in the Church of England And surely it is not required in our Constitution that every individual person consent explicitly to Acts of Parliament but the major Vote includes all And there is nothing more common in the World either in Political or Sacred Affairs than for a Father or Guardian or God-father or Friend or Relation to engage for a Child See Deut. 29 10 11. If it were any other person I should be afraid would turn Anabaptist or at least a Puritan and write a Book against God-fathers In these Cases an Implicite Covenant is fully sufficient If the whole Kingdom consists of such who were Children to their Parents that Elected the Prince and agreed that the Kingdom should be Hereditary this in Conscience binds them Tho' they make no Personal and Vocal Expression of their Consent and Agreement as the Fathers did I imagine that upon second Thoughts the Dr. will have no mind to oppose this and therefore I say no more But the Dr. saith That if Subjects give their Prince Authority then they may take it away again if they please A. All Subjects are bound in Conscience to stand to their Covenant Agreement Promise and Oath And here whosoever resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance