Selected quad for the lemma: law_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
law_n	judge_n	king_n	lord_n	8,619	5	4.0580	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89258	A leaf pull'd from the tree of life: medicinall for the healing of Englands divisions. Or, A glimpse of the excellency of a kingly government. Proving it to be 1. Most Godly. 2. Most Christianlike. 3. Most ancient. 4. Most safe for the people. Written out of love and good will to the peace and tranquility of the three nations, of England, Scotland, and Ireland. By John Moore.	Moore, John, of Wechicombe, near Dunster, Somerset.	1660 (1660)	Wing M2560; Thomason E1026_7; ESTC R208755	14,530	23

the eternall purpose and determinate counsell of God who worheth all his works and bringeth to passe all his actions after the councill of his own will and not after the counsell of any other neither of Saints nor Angells Shall mortall man be more just then God and shall man be more pure then his Maker behold he put no trust in his servants and his Angells he charged with folly how much lesse on them that dwell in houses of clay whose foundation is in the dust which are crushed before the Moth they are destroyed from morning to evening they perish for ever without any regarding it doth not their excellency which is in them go away they dye even without wisdome where is he than that can direct the spirit of Lord or being his Counsellor can teach him with whom took he counsell and who instructed him when he divided to the Nations their inheritance when he separated the sons of Adam and set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel when he establisht a Judge for a governor over the sons of Jacob and placed Kings to rule over the Nations of the Gentiles did not the Lord establish these things by a Law and a decree more unchangable then the Laws of the Medes and Persians which alter not is not the Lord perfect in his counsells yea is not the Lord righteous in his ways and holy in all his workes hath the Lord any where revealed or declared in his Word that he would alter his Counsels or frustrate his own Laws and Ordinances concerning the Government that he had subjected the people to Where is that Counsellor that can enlarge the counsel of the most High Or give a clearer sense and a fuller understanding of his Laws Statutes Ordinances and Judgements then he himself hath given by his Holy Spirit the true Interpreter of his minde If not then Wo be to him that striveth with his Maker Let the Potsheard strive with the Potsheards of the earth and not with the Almighty for surely there is no Counsel against him shall stand their turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the Potters clay And that Form of Government that issued forth from God and hath its foundation in God shall be establisht in the earth for it is most godly and it shall continue till Christ himself shall come The Alpha of all Kings by Gods decree And the Omega of all Kings must be A second reason to prove it most godly is because it carries the Image of Gods essence with it who in and of himself is one the Lord Jehovah is One and in heaven the place of his glorious residence there being no division God hath given the Regiment and Government unto one Person even to his Son so that in Heaven it self where nothing but holiness and godliness is practised is the Government of a single Person establisht The Father loveth the Son saith John chap. 3.25 and hath given all things into his hand and Christ himself saith That all power in heaven and in earth was given to him And elsewhere the Holy Ghost saith That God hath given to him a name which is above every name Can we then write after a more godly pattern of Government then is already written in Heaven by Gods right-hand All the Laws Ordinances and Statutes that Moses delivered to the children of Israel he was commanded to make them all after the Pattern that was shewed him in the Mount where he was with the Lord forty days and forty nights for advice and counsel how to ordet and establish all things both in Church and State in the performance whereof he was faithfull to his trust so then that which hath a heavenly and a holy face cannot have an ungodly visage I would here be understood not to mean corrupt persons in the Government but the Government it self For it is obvious to every eye that corrupt wicked persons may bear rule in that form of Government which in it self is truly godly being instituted by God himself as in the time of the Law in the Office of the Priesthood and under the Gospel in that pure and holy Office of Apostleship yet the Function and Calling remained still a foundation of Godliness whereof Christ himself was the chief corner Stone So that although there be a just and lawfull ground for persons to speak against reprove and oppose wickedness and tyrannie in Governours yet they have no just and lawfull ground to lay hands upon and destroy the Government it self For although it be granted that Kings Princes and Judges may sell themselves to work wickedness exercise Tyrannie and live ungodly yet it is certain they did not derive it from the Government it self nor doth it countenance them in any such thing for if corruption in Governours be any way a lawfull ground to race out the Form of a lawfull Government there is never any Government likely to be establisht in the earth that any of the sons of the first Adam shall have the managing of for by this means a gap will be open'd and a way made for the violent breaking down of All Earthly Government if once the people apprehend themselves to have any power or can gather themselves together to make the least resistance A thing which Christ himself would never do although he had all power in heaven and earth given to him nor hath he left the least precept or the least branch of a Command to any that believe on him or profess his Name to do any such thing but hath left them in subjection and conformity to that state of Government which was then in the earth when he himself was in Person upon the earth and to continue till he come again in Person So that CHAP. II. The Government of a King is most Christian-like FIrst It is most agreeable to and suitable with his own Practice as he was the Son of Man in the time of his residence and abode upon earth Two examples there are extant in the writings of the Evangelists wherein Christ owns a Kingly Government the first in Matth. 17.24 And when they were come to Capernaum they that received Tribute-money came to Peter and said Doth not your Master pay Tribute He saith Yes And when he was come into the House Jesus prevented him saying What thinkest thou Simon Of whom do the Kings of the earth take Custom or Tribute of their own children or of strangers Peter saith unto him Of Strangees Jesus saith unto him Then are the children free Notwithstanding least we should offend them Go thou to the Sea and cast an hook and take up the fish that first cometh and when thou hast opened his mouth thou shalt finde a piece of money That take and give unto them for me and thee Wherein three things are chiefly noted 1. A question of the Kings Servants to Peter whether his Master did pay Tribute or in effect whether he did conform

A LEAF Pull'd from the Tree Of Life Medicinall for the healing of Englands DIVISIONS Or A Glimpse of the Excellency of a Kingly GOVERNMENT Proving it to be 1. Most Godly 2. Most Christianlike 3. Most Ancient 4. Most Safe for the People Written out of Love and Good Will to the peace and tranquility of the three Nations of England Scotland and Ireland By JOHN MOORE Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the Potters Clay For I am the Lord I change not Let England then take heed of endeavouring to change the mutable decrees and Counsells of God And whether it be more lawfull for the Rulers of the Land to follow the Counsells of God or the wills of a giddy-headed people Let them consider They have rejected the Word of the Lord and what wisedom is in them Cease ye from man whose breath is in his Nostrills for wherein is he to be accounted of London Printed for E. Brewster at the Crane in Pauls Church-yard 1660. To the true and faithfull Philanthopos Jesus Christ God and man his poor unworthy servant prostrates himselfe begs pardon for his sins and prayeth for a blessing upon the Councills of the King and Parliament ALmighty Prince to whom all power in Heaven earth is given whose only prerogative it is to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords who hast a name given thee which is above every name to which all things in heaven and earth owe obeisance and the bowing of the knee without whom the sons of men can do nothing but that which brings shame and confusion to themselves Pardon and forgive me all my sins and transgressions which I have committed from my child-hood against heaven and in thy sight Be gracious and mercifull to this sinfull Nation wherein I dwell by giving a blessing to those that are appointed by the hand and providence to settle our peace and establish our Laws Thy name is wonderful Counsellor O exalt this name of thine amongst them do thou so guide them with thy counsells that they may do wonderfull things whereof the people may rejoyce Thy name is the mighty God exalt this name of thine amongst them by putting courage into their hearts and Loyalty into their souls that they may endeavour the establishment of and conform them even 〈◊〉 such a Government which most resembles thy divine Majesty that gives thee thy own Title of King of Kings and Lord of Lords that hath thine own 〈…〉 its branches springing out from thee Thy name is the everlasting Father O! do thou beget godly purposes and self-denying practises amongst them Let them bring forth such Acts of righteousness to the people that may be own'd and patroniz'd by such a Father thy name is the Prince of Peace O make thy self known to them in this name also that they may study peace delight in peace rejoyce in peace seek nothing more then peace and in ●his Lord give them such a prosperous and an advantagious issue that they may deservedly be called England's blessed peace-makers Let thy name O Lord be thus hallowed in the midst of them that theremay be a submissive preparation for the coming of thy Kingdom that they may do thy will on Earth after the same manner as it is done in heaven Let them be so far from coveting other mens goods and making a prey upon other mens Estates that they may be content with their daily bread forgive all their imperfections and give them hearts to forgive submissive offenders Keep them from falling into the temptations of Satan and the snares of the world Deliver and protect them from all evill and harm intended against them by men or Devills for the Kingdom power and Glory of all this belongs wholly to thy self from henceforth and for evermore Amen Lord Jesus Even so Amen To the most Christian Prince on Earth Charles the Second by the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the truly Ancient Catholik and Apostolick Faith Dread Soveraign WHen I first penn'd the ensuing lines it was in the later end of the month February and the beginning of March 1659. at which time I intended the Dedication of them to Englands happy Parliament now sitting at Westminster by your Royall Authority and since by reason of my own remoteness from London accompanied with a necessity of attending my Ministry they could not come forth in print by the time I intended viz. at the first sitting of the Parliament the decrees of heaven having been since executed for your safe return to your native Birth-right the Crown of England I was necessitated to retract the Dedication of them to the Parliament and being unwilling that those things should dye in the Birth which had gone ou● their full time in the womb of my heart and hand the publishing of them being earnestly desir'd by many of your faithfull subjects I did resolve to midwive them into the world by adventuring upon your Princely Clemency to prostrate them at the feet of your Royal protection hoping they wil find that favour at Court as to have admittance to kiss your gracious hand I shal not trouble your Majesty with a tedious Epistle lest the Gate should be bigger then the City Only let me beg this liberty to seal this my bold attempt with my prayers to the most high that he would ever vouchsafe to bless you in your Royal person with length of days health and safety in your spirit with the comfort and councills of his own in your heart and soul with meekness truth and righteousness In your Royall relations with oneness of hearty lov and unity of Faith in your Privy Councill with wisedom and fidelity In your Parliament with speciall care to your safety and honour In your Nobles with Loyall affection In your Magistrates with uprightness and justice In your Ministers with soundness of Doctrine good Discipline and Piety of life And in all your Subjects from the highest to the lowest with unfeignedness of heart rendring to their King what they owe unto him both by the Law of God and the Laws of the Nation Yea whosoever of us will not obey the Law of our God and the Law of our lawfull King Let judgement be executed upon whether it be unto death or unto banishment or to confiscation of goods or to imp●isonment from either of which rebellions the Lord keep the very thoughts of him whose heart rejoyceth at the Establishment of your Kingly Throne To which in life or death I am resolv'd to be A servant faithfully devoted John Moore From my study at Wechicombe near Dunster in Somerset June 25 1660. To the Impartial Moderate Self-Denying READER WHO ever or of what state soever thou art if thy conscience be not sear'd with the hot Iron of rage and fury against thy own flesh thy brethren the sons of Adam if thy heart be not full of burning coals of anger and revenge if thy judgment be not blinded

tongues have uttered perversness wherein few or none call for Justice and scarcely any plead for truth where the Cockatrice Eggs are hatcht and the Spiders Web woven and in whose hands is nothing else but the act of violence where their feet run to evil making haste to shed innocent blood whose paths are full of wasting and destruction where they fast for strife and debate where they do not loose the bands of wickedness nor undo the heavy burthens nor let the oppressed go free nor break any yoke where none seek for peace neither will they be acquainted with the ways thereof Where they are seeking them out new ways as if they intended to serve a strange God where judgement ss turned away backward and justice standeth a far off Where truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter Where they grinde the faces of the poor and sell the needy for a pair of shoes Where the people have used oppression and exercised Robbery by a Law Where the sins of Sodom are rife for this was the sin of Sodom Pride Fulness of bread and abundance of Idleness was found in her neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy Where the Governours prize their own Ordinances above the Ordinances of God and the Subjects thrreof more afraid to violate the former then profane the latter Ah sinfull Nation laden with such iniqui●ies as these the head whereof is sick and the heart thereof faint and from the sole of the foot even to the head there is little or no soundness or solidity in it but ful of wounds and bruises and putrifying sores of division which to this day are not yet closed with the balm of Repentance and returning to God nor bound up with the white Fillet of peace nor mollified with the pretious men of unfained love This even this is Englands state but what is the reason that we are so full of divisions that the heart of England pants and beats and is so out of frame and order so disquieted within her self is it hence because the foundation of government is out of course and if such foundations be destroyed or be out of course What can even the righteous themselves do but sit down by the waters of confusion and weep or else consider whether there be not a way for them to return to such a foundation of government which may be instrumentall for their deliverance from confusion the healing of their devisions the obtaining of their peace without which we shall never reap the true benefit of any mercy which made the Poet excellently sing forth this Verse Sit pax cum lignis Si vis ut a●diat ignis Let peace blow thy fire If warmth thou de●ire But then the Question will be what that Foundation of goverment is tha● is most likely to effect it why truely the question is soon answered and 't is this that government which hath it's foundation in the holy Scriptures to which the Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles have submitted to the law and to the Testiomony for whatsoever is not according to that word is full of darknesse and confusion I once heard a godly and a reverend Divine Mr. Newton of Taunton deliver this doctrine in the P●lpit that the Scripture God is our God and in this case answerable to that I say let the Scripture government be our government for if the Scripture be the only and sufficient ground of Faith and rule of life for the eternall peace and welfare of the soul there is certainly a sufficiency in it for the ground and rule of government pertaining to the body so that we need not go beyond the Scriptures to look us out a new form of government or new Titles for governors except we are willing to continue war in our gates the Scripture saith that when the people chose them new Gods which I understand by the context of the words to be governours who in Scripture are called Gods then was warre in their gates even of civill warrs and bloody divisions Now this is as clear as the Sun at noon-day Jud. 5.7 8 to every sober-minded Christian that is not drunk with self-Interest not overcome with a spirit of Giddinesse that the foundation of goverment which is commended to us by God in the Scripture did and was to rest and reside in a single person known by the Names or Titles of Kings and Judges and to contradict the perpetuation of it untill Christ himself come there is not one line in the whole Bible as I remember and I believe I have read the Bible over threescore times and as the Apostle saith that he that keeps the whole Law and failsin one point is guilty of all so if wee own the Scripture as the ground of faith and rule of life in some things and renounce it in other having no command for it we must unavoidably be guilty of sliting the whole for the Scripture was not given in old time by will of man nor is it to be altered or chang'd by mans will nor any thing to be added to it or taken from it upon pain that every one that shall so do shall have his name blotted out of the Book of Life and for an addition all the plagues that are written in the same book inflicted on him if ever we would then enjoy our peace our lives libereties and estates our wives and children with tranquility joy and comfort it must be by a chearfull submission to such a foundation of government which God in his wisdome hath appointed and thought meet for us and made obvious to our eye in his sacred records let then the exhortation Jer. 6. 16. which the Prophet Jeremiah hath spoken to us in the name of the Lord be acceptable to us Who bids us to stand in the ways and see and ask for the old paths where is the good way and walk therein and we shall find rest for our souls Let us consider and examine whether it be not better though we should be loosers by it to imitate the servants of God of old and walke in their steps paths then for our own ends to dance after the pipe of the covetous drunken swinish slovenly Dutch and the lustfull adulterous Venetian where under the government of the one all manner of intollerable blasphemies are tollerated and under the dominion of the other most abominable beastlinesse countenanc't yea rather let us set our eyes to behold have our ears often to hearken to our minds bent to contemplate our hearts to ponder our lips to speak of our hands to lay hold of and our feet to tread in the paths of such a goverment which hath these properties attending it First most Godly Secondly most Christianlike Thirdly most antient Fourthly most safe for the people Now the govenrment of a single person is most godly for these reasons following First because it was brought forth in time and establisht in the Nations according to