Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	head_n	king_n	lord_n	3,023	5	3.6782	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50948	The readie and easie vvay to establish a free commonwealth and the excellence therof compar'd with the inconveniences and dangers of readmitting kingship in this nation / the author J.M.	Milton, John, 1608-1674.	1660 (1660)	Wing M2174; ESTC R33509	22,275	110

our loss of glorie and such an example as kings or tyrants never yet had the like to boast of will be an ignomine if it befall us that never yet befell any nation possessd of thir libertie worthie indeed themselves whatsoever they be to be for ever slaves but that part of the nation which consents not with them as I perswade me of a great number far worthier then by their means to be brought into the same bondage Considering these things so plane so rational I cannot but yet furder admire on the other side how any man who hath the true principles of justice and religion in him can presume or take upon him to be a king and lord over his brethren whom he cannot but know whether as men or Christians to be for the most part every way equal or superior to himself how he can display with such vanitie and ostentation his regal splendor so supereminently above other mortal men or being a Christian can assume such extraordinarie honour and worship to himself while the kingdom of Christ our common King and Lord is hid to this world and such gentilish imitation forbid in express words by himself to all his disciples All Protestants hold that Christ in his church hath left no vicegerent of his power but himself without deputie is the only head therof governing it from heaven how then can any Christian-man derive his kingship from Christ but with wors usurpation then the Pope his headship over the church since Christ not only hath not left the least shaddow of a command for any such vicegerence from him in the State as the Pope pretends for his in the Church but hath expressly declar'd that such regal dominion is from the gentiles not from him and hath strictly charg'd us not to imitate them therin I doubt not but all ingenuous and knowing men will easily agree with me that a free Commonwealth without single person or house of lords is by far the best government if it can be had but we have all this while say they bin expecting it and cannot yet attain it T is true indeed when monarchie was dissolvd the form of a Commonwealth should have forthwith bin fram'd and the practice therof immediatly begun that the people might have soon bin satisfi'd and delighted with the decent order ease and benefit therof we had bin then by this time firmly rooted past fear of commotions or mutations now flourishing this care of timely setling a new government instead of ye old too much neglected hath bin our mischief Yet the cause therof may be ascrib'd with most reason to the frequent disturbances interruptions and dissolutions which the Parlament hath had partly from the impatient or disaffected people partly from som ambitious leaders in the Armie much contrarie I beleeve to the mind and approbation of the Armie it self and thir other Commanders once undeceivd or in thir own power Now is the opportunitie now the very season wherein we may obtain a free Commonwealth and establish it for ever in the land without difficulty or much delay Writs are sent out for elections and which is worth observing in the name not of any king but of the keepers of our libertie to summon a free Parlament which then only will indeed be free and deserve the true honor of that supreme title if they preserve us a free people Which never Parlament was more free to do being now call'd not as heretofore by the summons of a king but by the voice of libertie and if the people laying afide prejudice and impatience will seriously and calmly now consider thir own good both religious and civil thir own libertie and the only means thereof as shall be heer laid before them and will elect thir Knights and Burgesses able men and according to the just and necessarie qualifications which for aught I hear remain yet in force unrepeald as they were formerly decreed in Parlament men not addicted to a single person or house of lords the work is don at least the foundation firmly laid of a free Common-wealth and good part also erected of the main structure For the ground and basis of every just and free government since men have smarted so oft for commiting all to one person is a general councel of ablest men chosen by the people to consult of public affairs from time to time for the common good In this Grand Councel must the sovrantie not transferrd but delegated only and as it were deposited reside with this caution they must have the forces by sea and land committed to them for preservation of the common peace and libertie must raise and manage the public revenue at least with som inspectors deputed for satisfaction of the people how it is imploid must make or propose as more expressly shall be said anon civil laws treat of commerce peace or warr with forein nations and for the carrying on som particular affairs with more secrecie and expedition must elect as they have alreadie out of thir own number and others a Councel of State And although it may seem strange at first hearing by reason that mens mindes are prepossed with the notion of successive Parlaments I affirme that the Grand or General Councel being well chosen should be perpetual for so thir business is or may be and oft times urgent the opportunitie of affairs gaind or lost in a moment The day of counsel cannot be set as the day of a festival but must be readie alwaies to prevent or answer all occasions By this continuance they will become everie way skilfullest best provided of intelligence from abroad best acquainted with the people at home and the people with them The ship of the Commonwealth is alwaies under sail they sit at the stern and if they stear well what need is ther to change them it being rather dangerous And to this that the Grand Councel is both foundation and main pillar of the whole State and to move pillars and foundations not faultie cannot be safe for the building I see not therefor how we can be advantag'd by successive and transitorie Parlaments but that they are much likelier continually to unsettle rather then to settle a free government to breed commotions changes novelties and uncertainties to bring neglect upon present affairs and opportunities while all mindes are suspense with expectation of a new assemblie and the assemblie for a good space taken up with the new setling of it self After which if they finde no great work to do they will make it by altering or repealing former acts or making and multiplying new that they may seem to see what thir predecessors saw not and not to have assembld for nothing till all law be lost in the multitude of clashing statutes But if the ambition of such as think themselves injur'd that they also partake not of the government and are impatient till they be chosen cannot brook the perpetuitie of others chosen before them or if