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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	england_n	faith_n	king_n	1,763	5	3.6537	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39279	A defence of the Thirty nine articles of the Church of England written in Latin by J. Ellis ... now done into English ; to which are added the Lambeth Articles ; together with the judgment of Bishop Andrews, Dr. Overall, and other eminent and learned men upon them.; Articulorum XXXIX Ecclesiae Anglicanae defensio. English	Ellis, John, 1599?-1665.; Andrewes, Lancelot, 1555-1626.; Overall, John, 1560-1619.; Church of England. Thirty-nine Articles.	1700 (1700)	Wing E587; ESTC R1641	74,086	146

was then in the Hands of the Bishops and Priests because at that time the Church had no other Watchmen and Conducters of Souls but the Word of God does not exclude other Supporters of the Gospel such as pious Princes are whom the Church has sometimes accounted Guides to promote Piety Obj. 3. We find that the Apostles governed the Church Acts 20. 28. Passed Sentence concerning Religious Controversies Acts 15. 6. and inflicted j●st Punishments upon Offenders Acts 5. 3. And therefore the Government of the Church in this Kingdom of England does of Right belong to the Ministers and not to the King's Majesty Answ. The Apostles were Ministers extraordinary And that ancient State of the Church wherein there were no Christian Princes must not be made use of for a constant and standing Rule Obj. 4. To Christ was given all Power both in Heaven and Earth Mat. 28. 18. By which is signified 〈◊〉 Spiritual and an E●rthly Kingdom But C●ist gave the Keys of both to Peter Mat. 16. 19. Now Peter has given his Authority to the Bishop of Rome And therefore to this Bishop as in others so also in this Kingdom of England d●s this 〈◊〉 belong Answ. Some understand the 〈◊〉 Place of a Spiritual Power As if Christ had said As in Heaven I am the King of Angels and blessed Spirits so by Faith I reign in the Hearts of Men. Others interpret this exalted Power to be given to Christ the Mediator over all Creatures which could not be communicated to mere Man But now in neither of these Senses did Christ give an absolute Power to Peter he only gave him a Share in the Ecclesiastical Ministry and in the same Sense the Keys were given to the rest of the Apostles Mat. 18. 18. Besides could you suppose that Peter had such a Power given him above the rest of the Apostles it could not yet be proved that the Pope as being his Successor is possessed of the same Authority Obj. 5 King John made this Country tributary to the Pope Answ. King John unwillingly and out of Fear made England tributary to the Pope and because it was to the Prejudice of the Kingdom and his Successors Henry his Son with the chief Estates of the Realm protested against this Donation nay and threatned that they would defend themselves by Arms against the Temporal Jurisdiction of the Pope as appears by our English Annals Obj. 6. Against the latter part of this Article 't is objected that Theft is a grievous Crime and yet the hanging of Thieves is against the Law of God which thinks it sufficient to punish it with a Four or a Five-fold Restitution Ex. 22. 1 2. Answ. Some answer to this that That Law of not inflicting a Capital Punishment upon Thieves was parely Political and did belong only to the Jews Neither was it ever repeated or confirmed under the New Testament And then they say that when Faults were multiplied the Punishment was to be more severe and prove from P●v 6. 31. That the Punishment of Theft was heightned to a Seven-fold Restitution and then t●ey all●dge 2 Sam. 12. 5. that of a Thief that was condemned to Death by King David They say besides that the Law of Moses does not at all hinder but that Thieves may suffer Death especially supposing that Capital Punishments for such Cr●mes be 〈◊〉 by a publick Law and a general Consent of All For Laws of this sort in things not contrary to Piety do approach very near the Nature of Divine Laws Rom. 13. 1 2. And again supposing that the Thieves are not weak and sickly Men unsit for working or not taken care of by the Overseers of the Poor for there is a regard to be had to such as are compelled by extreme Want to steal Besides too supposing Thefts cannot be corrected by gentler and l●ghter Punishments Or lastly supposing that which is taken away by stealth be a considerable Injury and Loss to the Owner Obj. 7. Capital Punishment of ●einous Offences seems to be contrary to the Law of Charity so peculiar to the Gospel for the New Testament as 't is a gracious 〈◊〉 does not admit of Revenge or Punishments too severe Answ. Under the Old Testament heinous Offences were punished with Death notwithstanding the Law of Charity which was as much in force then as it is now But Grace in the New Testament as to the Matter of Salvation is opposed to a slavish Fear and rigorous Observance of the Law of Moses but nor to any Capital Punishments inflicted by the 〈◊〉 upon Offenders Obj. 8. To the last part of the Article 't is objected That 't is the express Command of God that Man's Blood be not shed Gen. 9. 6. But Wars cannot be waged without shedding of Blood Answ. It is a private and not a publick Slaughter that is there forbidden Obj. 9. It is the Command of Christ that we resist not Evil but whosoever shall smite thee on thy Right Cheek turn to him the other also Mat. 5. 39. Answ. Christ here teaches us the utmost Patience that we should not repell Injuries in any violent manner but rather to bear them patiently than to strive with self-will'd Men or study any private Revenge especially when the Love of our Neighbour the Conversion of Insidels or the Glory of God require this Submission from us This Duty seems chiesly to belong to Christians in the time of a publick Persecution such as was almost continual in the Primitive Church Yet we are not hereby forbid to avoid an Injury by such Rules of Defence as are unblameable Neither are Magistrates forbidden to execute publick Revenge otherwise the Malice of wicked Men would be sharpened and the Common-wealth would never be in quietness Obj. 〈◊〉 It is said Mat. 26. 52. All they that take the Sword shall perith with the Sword Answ. Our Saviour here speak● of him that shall take up the Sword by a 〈◊〉 Authority and not of a Magistrate 〈◊〉 God's Minister that bearet● not t● 〈◊〉 in ●ain Rom 13. 1 2. Obj. 〈◊〉 The Arm●●ians are not Carnal but Spiritual saith St. Paul 2 Cor. 10. 4. Answ. The Means which the Apostles were wont to make use of in planting and promoting the Gospel is there spoken of Such they were not says he as Men of Carnal Minds are wont to use to gain Authority to their Doctrine such as Humane Skill Flattery and outward Force But they were the inward Truth and Efficacy of the Doctrine it self Now it cannot be gathered from all this that it is not lawful to wage War upon just Reasons ART XXXVIII Of Christian Mens Goods which are not common THE Riches and Goods of Christians are not common as touching the Right Title and Possession of the same as certain Anabaptists do falsly boast Notwithstanding every Man ought of such things as he possesseth liberally to give Alms to the Poor according to his Ability Obj. 1. The more common any Good is the better it is and therefore

prevail as that no Publick Assembly either very numerous or very remarkable can be found to worship God rightly As in the time of Elijah 1 Kings 19. 14. The Prophet complains that he alone was left not only of the Prophets but of all the Sons of Israel with whom the publick and ordinary Worship of God was yet observed and that these Words of the Prophet are to be taken in the largest Sense and not of the Kingdom of Samaria alone the Apostle gives us to understand Rom. 11. And then the Kings of Judah at that time revolted and grew cold in their Worship and the service of God Now those Seven thousand that had not bowed the Knee to the Image of Baal did not constitute any visible Church because they lay concealed in the midst of Idolaters and not so much as the Prophets were known Let us withal consider how small a Church it was while Christ was alive and almost all Men opposed him and his Doctrine and when the Son of Man shall come the second time he will hardly find Faith in the Earth Luke 18. 8. All this is not said as if there were not visible Assemblies to be found agreeing with us in Doctrine for the Eastern Churches have retained the Fundamentals of Religion uncorrupted and would never be Subject to the See of Rome So in other Countries there have been always Assemblies of the Faithful that have maintained our Cause as very many have demonstrated ART XX. Of the Authority of the Church THE Church has Power to decree Rites or Ceremonies and Authority in Controversies of Faith And yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to God's Word written neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another Wherefore altho' the Church be a witness and keeper of Holy Writ yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of Salvation Against which it is Objected Obj. 1. The Lord has said Deut. 4. 2. Ye shall not add any thing to the Word which I command you and therefore it seems the Church has no Power of adding Rites and Ceremonies Ans. These Words are not to be understood of every Addition that is made but of That only which is contrary and repugnant to Scripture or which is a Corruption of what God had commanded by Moses Obj. 2. The Apostle would not have the Christians to be subject to the Ordinances of Men Col. 2. 20. but Ecclesiastical Ceremonies are such Answ. The Apostle forbids the Colossians to be subject to the Decrees of the Ceremonial Law of Moses such as The not touching dead Bodies lest they should be defiled The not eating of this or that Meat as if it were unclean but he does not speak against such Rites and Ceremonies which tend to preserve the external Worship of God and the State of the Church Obj. 3. Those Doctrines which are the Commandments of Men ought not to be taught otherwise it were in vain to worship God Mat. 15. 4. Answ. Men would indeed worship Christ in vain if they neglected his Commands to obey the Commandments of Men But Christ does not blame such Precepts of the Church as are not contrary to the Divine Laws but only such Commandments of Men as are purely human Conceits invented by Men contrary to the Will of God Of which there are some vain and trifling as the Superstitious Washings ver 2. others Erroneous as that the Soul is polluted with Meats ver 11. and others again absolutely contrary to the Word of God as the defrauding of Parents ver 6. Obj. 4. Scripture is the Judge of Controversies and therefore the Church has no Authority in them Answ. In the deciding of Controversies of Faith the Church has not the supream and principal Authority but a ministerial and limited one as far as it follows the judgment of Scripture and declares that to others ART XXI Of the Authority of General Councils GEneral Councils may not be gathered together without the Commandment and Will of Princes and when they be gathered together forasmuch as they be an Assembly of Men whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God they may Err and sometimes have erred even in things pertaining unto God Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to Salvation have neither Strength nor Authority unless it may be declared that they be taken out of Holy Scripture Obj. 1. The Church is sometimes des●itute of a Christian Prince and yet even then Councils are to be called Answ. This Article is to be understood of that time when the Church is not destitute of such a Prince Obj. 2. Princes have only Authority in Political Matters and Christian Princes are not set over Christians as they are Christians but as they are Men For Princes themselves as they are Christians are the Sheep and for that reason must be Subject to the Shepherds Answ. Princes have Authority in Ecclesiastical Matters not to officiate in Holy Things but to take care that they be done Christian Princes are set over Christians as such because altho' Princes are the Sheep in respect of such Actions which relate to an inward Ecclesiastical Government such as the Preaching of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments yet in respect of the outward Government of the Church Princes are the Pastors of all their People Kings are under Ministers in some Ecclesiastical Matters but Ministers are subject to Kings in all Civil Concerns Obj. 3. It is said that where two or three are gathered together in the Name of Christ they shall always obtain what they desire Much more then shall Bishops praying in a Council obtain all things necessary to determine whatsoever relates to the Church Answ. The Faithful do not always obtain what they desire and if they did obtain it they do not always use it with the best Wisdom and Discretion therefore they often Err And altho' Christ be with us yet in this Life we know but in part Obj. 4. The whole Church cannot err in Faith Mat. 16. 18. but a Council does represent the Church and the whole Authority of the Church is form●ly in the Bishops as the Sight is in the Eye Answ. Tho' a Council do represent the Church yet its Legates and Ministers may err whilst the whole Body of the Church does not Councils are but a part of the Church and the same Privileges do not belong to the Part as to the Whole They that are not in Councils have sometimes particular Gifts by which Councils themselves might be mended Neither are all the Eyes of the Church in those Bishops that are met in Council whereas there are many Bishops out of the Council that see as well as the other Nay all single Christians do in some measure see And their Gifts are not to be despised neither Obj. 5.