Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	court_n	king_n	lord_n	2,970	5	3.7799	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76368	The Engagement vindicated; from all the objections, cavils, scruples, that wilfull opposers, or doubtfull, unresolved judgements may cast upon it. Wherein, all such objections are answered; the government proved; the Engagement it self both lawful, and necessary, from clearest principles of conscience and reason. To the satisfaction of all such as are doubting. / By T.B.	T. B.	1650 (1650)	Wing B182; Thomason E589_3; ESTC R206305	10,093	15

who have cut their way to the Throne by the sword whom the next opportunity may as lawfully dethrone and dis-impower Three objections impugne these Premises 1. We read of no such power in Scripture instituted on the people of Israel but rather the contrary To omit some footsteps that may be found of it we will concede but yet the case is farre different for we read of God's speciall acting in the promotion of those to the Throne which we can no otherwise ghesse of now than by the hand of Providence which permits of many things it doth not approve of Obj. 2. God attributes to himselfe in speciall the dealing with and ordering of Kings setting them up turning their hearts entitling himselfe King of Kings I answer we may find as many eminent expressions of others meaner Officers as of them But let that be granted God herein condescends as in many other places to the customes of men amongst whom Princes are look'd upon generally as the most absolute and supreme so it is argumentum à majori if God swayes their Scepters and hath them at his direction much the more sublunary men of the world that move in a lower sphere He must be a great King that is King of Kings who disposes of the Kings and Kingdomes of the world Thirdly They object the Example of primitive Times who found neck for any yoak and back for any sufferings that they might not prejudice the Royal Prerogative or prove in the least commotioners of States But I answer let it first be pro'vd that there were such competent numbers of Christians as might make up and be orderly chosen the Representatives of a Kingdome and then we have yet a reserve and a full answer to their objection viz. In those times the providence of God so directing it the sufferings of the Christians were improv'd to the advantage of the Church according to that receiv'd Axiome Sanguis martirum fuit semen Ecclesiae The Churches harvest was rooted in the Martyrs blood And so eager were men on propagating the Church this way that many doubt whether they were not honestly and with good intentions profuse and prodigal of themselves by their over-liberal sufferings I come now to speak of the third proposal for Inquiry 3. Concering this Subscription and first briefly as I promised of the nature of Engagements Engagements are of an order inferior to Oaths not attesting God not immediately eyeing Religion and Conscience but obligatory by the law of mutual Faith and Honesty the Pillar of humane Converse So that a man may with lesse regret give up himself to such a tye and the Magistrate with greater authority exact it Not that I would hereby prejudice the Civil-world by introducing an unobliging principle to the Faith promised and oblig'd by Engagement or open a back-door and evasion to dishonesty for though some promises imply conditions yet I conceive Engagements and Promises of this nature as strict in this respect as Oaths that a man is to eye all inconveniences and not after the submission to the Engagement make inquiry but their Obligation differs in regard of the witnesse of our Engagement God being concern'd immediately in one man immediately in the other and in regard of the principle engag'd in one Conscience and Religion in the other Moral Honesty and Faith so that the latter bears not the face of dominion over Conscience as the other doth and so with more right may be impos'd by the Civil Magistrate But particularly This Engagement is of the same nature justly impos'd by the Civil Magistrate justly may the neglect of it be punish'd by him according to his arbitrement because the refusal cannot consist with the good of the Common-wealth The rest of the time will be well spent in the removal of Objections And first 1. It is opposite and contradictory to Oaths Engagements of a higher nature yea to a Solemn Covenant For the first we grant it is so But we answer the Obligation of those Oaths is already ceas'd for the formality of the Obligation is null'd As we were bound to the maintaining of the King and his Heirs but they being wholly annihilate the Obligation must of necessity cease as we prov'd heretofore They were Kings by the common consent of the People which hath dethron'd them so that we are wholly disengaged and free For the Covenant I answer it is not contrary to that contending onely for that Government which is suitable to the law of God and Reason with both which this Law is exactly correspondent which we have pro'vd before 2. It contradicts the former agreeances of themselves the Agreement of the People and the like an Argument much prest in a publique auditory though something unsuitable to an exercise proper to practical Divinity That which was concluded by some Pieces or Parts of the Kingdom doth not reflect on the whole or was it concluded by the Body or Representatives of it yet it was not matur'd nor ratified and so not engaging to non-alteration Besides I do not conceive of this Government as a thing unalterable nor this Engagement as such as for ever to disoblige us to any other but onely thus far it binds to restrain the irregular motions or insurrections of any not lawfully called to it and obliging to the confirmation of this till altered by due course of law So that if the Representatives and Pillars of this Government should now on the sudden face about and revive the ancient Monarchy we were not at all bound to the support of this by this Engagement for so long I account any Government unlawful whether introduced by Policy or Conquest and a meer Usurpation till it be confirmed by the Representatives of a Kingdom and those Factions and Rebellions that comply not with the motions of these here onely excepting any such Constitution is a real destructive of Christian Religion which is not the case now in hand 3. It is not imposed by a lawfull Magistrate Which leades me to the fourth inquiry concerning this Government which is composed of the Representatives or Choise of the Kingdom voting together in consultation and determination of businesses of State and having an influence upon all Officers Courts of Iudicature without the assistance of King or Lords Against which it is objected by some that it is no Government To which I answer in the essential requisites it is though it cannot but be confest by the distractions and parties that yet keep up these severall factions by the infancy of it in this Kingdome it is not in all points so composed as time and continued peace may order it For we know that of all the things imaginable nothing meets with more difficulty then the re-setling a Kingdome that hath suffered some great mutation 'T is no small paines that must reduce every Notion to its right channel silence all the clamours and complaints of men refute the bold pretences and intrusions of others into Government