Selected quad for the lemma: parliament_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
parliament_n	burgess_n	king_n	knight_n	3,853	5	7.2952	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90094	Observations upon the instructions for the taking the vovv and covenant throughout England.	England and Wales. Parliament. House of Commons.	1643 (1643)	Wing O119; Thomason E64_9; ESTC R11387	9,396	17

OBSERVATIONS UPON THE INSTRVCTIONS For the taking the VOVV AND COVENANT Throughout ENGLAND OXFORD Printed by Leonard Lichfield Printer to the University 1643. Observations upon the Instructions for the taking the Vow and Covenant throughout the Kingdome Instruct 1. and 2. THat all Knights and Burgesses now in Parliament doe 〈◊〉 speciall care speedily to send downe into their severall Counties a competent number of the copies of the Vow and Covenant unto the Deputy Lievetenants and Committees of Parliament in their severall Counties and require a Certificate from them of the day when they were received c. And that the said Deputy Lievtenants and Committees doe within six dayes at the utmost disperse the said copies unto every Parish Church or Chapell in their severall Counties c. Obser 1. That these Instructions are not acknowledged to be made or enjoined by either or both Houses of Parliament only in the frontispice of the paper wherein they and the Oath are Printed wee finde an Order mentioned as made by the Lords and Commons for the Printing and publishing these Instructions to the whole Kingdome Which to my apprehension imports that some private men or some Parliament men in a private way framed them and so presented them to the Lords and Commons for their approbation to the printing and publishing of them and that is all the true power and authority they as yet carry in them But I assure you whosoever they were that contrived them they flew very high in their presumption to make all the Knights and Burgesses now in Parliament to bee the first Officers in that disparch I should thinke that where such as they are required to doe ought there should be at least a Be it enacted by our Sovereigne Lord the King with the consent of the Lords and Commons c. prefixed before it and had the King and the Lords with the consent of some of the Knights and Burgesses imposed such an office upon all Knights and Burgesses in Parliament it would have gone neere to have beene voted an high breach of their priviledges It were therefore well worth the knowing who it is that hath gotten this new Sovereignty over all the Knights and Burgesses now in Parliament Obser 2. That the Knights and Burgesses chosen by the several Counties to keepe off all pressures and burdens from them are heereby made the prime instruments of laying the forest and heaviest burden on them that ever was laid on them since the burdon of the six Articles Thus doth God when any trust in the shadow of brambles not only suffer those brambles to plucke off their fleeces and teare their skinnes but oftentimes causeth fire to come out of those brambles to devoure them and the tallest Cedars of Lebanon that are neere them Did the Knights and Burgesses of the severall Counties seriously consider how many soules will be hazarded by taking this oath thus conveied unto them as some by taking it doubtingly others by taking it ignorantly some by taking it presumptuously others by taking it desperately and all by taking in sinfully and irreligiously they would beware how they had any further hand in this businesse knowing that they have enough to answer for what they themselves have sworn without bringing upon them the guilt of others fwearing and forswearing in this dreadfull maner Obser 3. That if any of the Deputy Lievtenants and Committees of Parliament in their severall Counties such ministers of Justice as were never heard of in any County till this present Parliament should have so much bowels and compassion towards the soules of poore people as to desire to give them some reliefe against this oath or some respite to bethink themselves better of it ere it be tendered to them they cannot affoord any ease or time to any soule without danger to themselves Should a man compare the liberty granted in former times unto others through whose hands oathes were to passe ere they were taken with the liberty alotted to all those through whose hands this oath is to passe hee would hardly believe that the liberty of the Subject is so maintained in any respect as is pretended no not in respect of mens consciences their most precious liberty nay the liberty and respite granted for the tendring and taking of the late Canonicall oath so much and so justly spoken against was most gracious and consciencious to what this is Instruct 3. The Ministers of the severall Churches or Chapels are to give publicke notice upon the first Lords day after the receipt of such copies c. What day the said Vow and Covenant shall be taken the time not to exceed the seventh day after such notice Obser If the copies come to the Ministers hands on the Saturday night hee shall have but very small time till the next day to consult with God the oath and himselfe whether it be lawfull for him to invite his people to make such a covenant or not much lesse hath hee any convenient time to fit and prepare his people for so solemne a businesse Then if the Minister chance to be a forward man in the promoting it as there are not a few forward promoters of Parliament Orders bee they what they will be hee may appoint the next day after for the taking it and cannot if hee would deferre it above seven dayes the people must not be suffered to chew too long upon it lest in stead of swallowing it they nauseat or distast it and alas what resolution or satisfaction in point of conscience can poore soules that shall scruple ought in this Covenant get within so-short a space You know the fashion of most Country people they will hardly spare a day to consult the Physition in a dangerous disease till the market day come that they may doe that and their other businesse together and t is to bee feared too many of them will as hardly spare a day to consult the Divine in this desperate case till the Lords day come that they may goe to their Church and to their Minister both at once Besides it may be those Ministers whose judgement they desire to heare are imprisoned or flying up and downe for fear of imprisonment many miles from them and ere they can goe or send to them their alotted time will be expired or it may happen that those Ministers or other knowing friends to whom they addresse themselves neere hand may bee so far from satisfying their doubts that they may cause more to arise in them yet take it they must within so few daies Their Ministers themselves that have the charge of their soules and must be answerable soule for soule cannot grant them longer time though it were to save their soules from perishing Instruct 4. and 5. For feare lest at the day appointed some should slip from taking this Oath or shuffle it over in the taking t is Ordered That the Constables in every Parish shall bring to the Ministers of the Parish the names fairely