Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	great_a	james_n	king_n	3,331	5	3.7645	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96456	The kingdoms remembrancer or, The protestation, vow, and covenant, Solemne League and Covenant, animadverted. So far as it concerns religion. / By W. Wickins, late minister at St. Geo. Southwarke.	Wickins, William, 1614-1699.	1660 (1660)	Wing W2084; Thomason E1045_2; ESTC R204166	8,034	16

took it and subscribed it but have arrested it in print to the number of 228. There are many of them now sitting Members and see the King in his greatness and the two Houses enjoying their Priviledges I shall not name them but hope and desire they would endeavour in their now place calling to see the rest of the Covenant as to the whole put in execution if the liberty of the Subject be preserved and Religion in what amiss reformed and secure we are safe and shall call them blessed Amen For the taking of this in England and Wales there was an Ordinance of Lords and Commons as followeth WHereas a Covenant for the preservation and reformation of Religion c hath been thought a fit and excellent meanes to acquire the favour of God toward the three Kingdomes and likewise to unite them and by uniting to strengthen them against the common enemie of the true-reformed Religion c. And whereas both Houses London and Westminster and the Kingdome of Scotland have already taken the same It is now ordained that the same Covenant be solemnly taken in all places through England and Wales And for the better taking thereof directions were appointed strictly to be followed 1. That the Speaker of both Houses do send to the General and Admirall copies of the Covenant that it may be taken by all Officers and Souldiers under them 2. That the Members of the Commons House do send down into their Counties a competent number of Copies unto the Committees and that they within six dayes disperse them to every Parish Church or Chappel to be delivered to the severall Ministers Church-wardens or Constables 3. That the severall Committees return a Certificate to the Clerk of the House when they received those copies and the day when they sent them forth and to what Parishes 4. That the Ministers read the Covenant publiquely to their People the next Lords day after they receive it and prepare their People for it 5. That the Covenant be taken by the Committees in the place where they reside and tendred to the Inhabitants of the Town within 7. dayes after it comes to the Committees hands 6. That the Committees after they have taken it themselves do speedily disperse themselves through the said Counties so as 3. or 4. of them be together on days appointed at the chief places of meeting for the several divisions of the said Counties and summon all the Ministers Church-wardens Constables and other Officers unto that place where after Sermon preached by one appointed by the Committee they cause the same Minister to tender the Covenant unto all such Ministers and other Officers to be by them taken and subscribed in the presence of the Committee 7. That the Committees give the Ministers in charge to tender it to all the rest of the Parishioners the next Lords day making then unto them some solemn exhortation concerning the taking and observing thereof And if any Minister refuse or neglect to appear at the said summons or refuse to take the Covenant or to tender it to his Parish that then the Committee appoint another Minister to do it in his place 8. That it be tendred to all men within the severall Parishes above the age of 18. 9. That the Earl of Manchester take care that it be tendred and taken in the University of Cambridge 10. That the Assembly of Divines make an Exhortation to all sorts of persons to take it as that which they judge not onely lawfull but all things considered exceeding expedient and necessary for all that wish well to Religion c. to joyn in 11. That if any Minister refuse to take or tender the Covenant or any other to whom it is tendred do not take it that it be tendred them the next Lords day following and if they refuse that their names be returned to the Committe and by them to the House 12. That such as are within the severall Parishes when notice is given of the taking of it and do absent themselves from the Church at the time of taking it and come not in afterward to take it they be returned as refusers The manner of taking it The Minister to read the whole Covenant distinctly and audibly in the Pulpit and during the time of reading thereof the whole Congregation to be uncovered and at the end of his reading thereof all to take it standing lifting up their right hands bare and afterward to subscribe it severally 13. That the exhortation of the Assembly be publiquely read when the Covenant is read The Assembly of Divines presented the House an Exhortation for taking the Covenant which being brought into the House occasioned this vote Die veneris Feb. 9. 1643. An exhortation touching the taking the Solemn League and Covenant and for satisfying of such scruples as may arise in the taking of it was this day read the first and second time and by Vote upon the Question assented unto and ordered to be forthwith printed In which Exhortation there is this remarkable passage IF it be said the extirpation of Prelacy to wit the whole Hierarchicall government standing as yet by the known Lawes of the Kingdome is new and unwarrantable This will appear to all partiall understandings though new to be not onely warrantable but necessary if they consider to omit what some say that this government was never formally established by any lawes of this Kingdome at all that the very life and soule thereof is already taken from it by an Act past this present Parliament so as like Jezebels carkass of which no more was left but the skull the feet palms of her hands nothing of JVRISDICTION remains but what is precarious in them and voluntary in those who submit unto them That their whole government is at best but a humane Constitution and such as is found and adjudged by both Houses of Parliament in which the judgement of the whole Kingdom is involved and declared not onely very prejudiciall to the Civill State but a great hindrance also to the perfect reformation of Religion Yea who knoweth it not to be too much an enemie thereunto and destructive to the power of godliness pure administrations of the Ordinances of Christ which moved the well-affected almost throughout this Kingdom long since to Petition this Parliament as hath been desired before even in the raign of Q. Elizabeth and of King James for a totall abolition of the same In this paragraph are many remarkable passages which at this time and in this thing should not be slightly passed over 1. To omit what some say that this Government was never formally established by any Laws of this Kingdom at all which though the strength of it may seem to be weakned with Some say yet there is more to be said for it when both the Assemblies of Divines and the House of Commons say Some say it is not every hour say that they thus speak of it is almost as if they themselves had said it 2. That the very life and soule thereof is already taken from it by Act of Parliament So that were it formerly formally established the life and soule thereof is taken away by Law therefore they infer nothing of jurisdiction remains 3. That their whole government is at best but a Humane Constitution and adjudged by Parliament not only very prejudiciall to the Civill State but a great disturbance also to the perfect reformation of Religion 4. Who knows it not to be an enemie thereunto destructive to the power of godliness and pure administrations of the Ordinances of Christ 5. How earnestly the removing not onely now but in former times hath been desired Which moved the well-affected almost throughout the Kingdome long since to Petition this Parliament as hath been desired before even in the Reign of Q. Eliz. and of K. James for a to all abolition of the same By these preceding it will clearly appear 1. How strictly the Covenant was imposed and that by authority of Parliament not only commanded but the taking thereof enquired after they severally proceeded against that refused it was not then adjudged a slight matter nor left arbitrary to every ones pleasure to take or refuse 2. How solemnly taken not in a formal superficial manner but seriously and deliberately entred into 3. That thousands are engaged therein in all the three Kingdoms and persons of all sorts rancks and conditions Lastly how far the Ministers concerned more then others as having not onely entred into it but given it to many yea seriously and earnestly exhorting them thereunto and therefore next to those that by authority imposed it are most concerned to the observation of it lest they be found great and inexcusable breakers of it and since that through the gracious and wonderful providence of God we have attained to a making it good as to King and Parliam After foul breaches made upon the Covenant in that particular what remains but that the other parts be looked on and prosecuted to wit the extirpation of Popery Prelacy Superstition Prophaness Heresie and Schisme and whatsoever is contrary to sound doctrine the power of godliness lest otherwise we shall be found before God to have entred into Covenant only with respect to our selves and such as can acquiess in the attaining of our own things and are no whit touched with those things that so neerly concern the glory of God and the good of his Churches FINIS