Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	church_n	discipline_n	doctrine_n	4,176	5	6.2312	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89544	The reformed gentleman, or, The old English morals rescued from the immoralities of the present age shewing how inconsistent those pretended genteel accomplishments of [brace] swearing, drinking, [brace] whoring and Sabbath-breaking are with the true generosity of an English man : being vices not only contrary to the law of God and the constitutions of our government both ecclesiastical and civil, but such as cry loud for vengeance without a speedy reformation : to which is added a modest advice to ministers and civil magistrates, with an abridgement of the laws relating thereto, the King's proclamation and Queens letter to the justices of Middlesex, with their several orders thereupon / by A.M. of the Church of England.	A. M., of the Church of England.; Bouche, Peter Paul, b. ca. 1646.	1693 (1693)	Wing M6; ESTC R20084	100,071	189

he will be more peculiarly Worshipped This He did at the very first Creation sanctifie the Seventh Day resting thereon from all His Works which he had made and to the Jews he appointed a Seventh Day to be kept Holy So great a Veneration was 〈◊〉 b● the M●sai● Law bestowed on that Mystical 〈◊〉 that every Seventh Year was appointed for a Sabbath of rest and every Seventh of these Sababaths of Rest was a Jubilee unto the People o Israel 2. The Reasons for keeping the First Day of the Week Holy instead of the Seventh considered I shall not here run into needless Disputes about the Changing of the Sabbath from the Seventh to the First day of the Week Reasons for it in a Christian Nation are superfluous and it is to be observed none cavil so much about it as those that would be glad if there were no time at all allotted for those Sacred Solemnities 'T is true there was some Scuffle in the Primitive Times in the Eastern and Western Churches about this Matter One keeping the Jewish on the Seventh Day of the Week the Others observing the Christian Sabbath on the Lord's Day the first of the Week but the general Assent that was given by all the Church soon after shewed the Celebration of the Lord's Day to be of Apostolical Institution and not ordained by Human Tradition For a scrupulous Conscience if any such there be in this Profane Age it may be sufficient to consider that the very Jews did not observe the precise Numerical Seventh Day from the Creation but a Seventh counting from the Day of their Deliverance from the Land of Aegypt Nor could they be so strict in Sanctifying precisely their own Seventh Day since after the Commandment was written the Sun stood still for the space of a whole Day on Gibeon and went back 10 Degrees in the time of Hezekiah But besides the uncertainty the Jews were in themselves of keeping their Sabbath on a precise Day there is another Consideration which renders it impossible for all Nations to keep the same Sabbath all the World over at one instant of Time and that is the Diversity of Meridians and the inequality of the Rising and Setting of the Sun which causeth the Days in one place to vary from what they are in another in some 6 in others 12 Hours difference The reasonableness of Translating the Sabbath from one Day to another will appear more if we consider the many Memorable Passages of the Old Testament which shadow out this Change unto us as well as those Remarkable Instances of the New which all happened on this first day of the Week On this Day God began the work of Creation to build the curious Fabrick of the World and to Form all Beings out of that Chaos in which they were at first involved and it is very probable he designed as much Honour should be paid to the Memory of this great Day as of That in which he had finished all On this Day as a Hebrew Author Observes the Cloud of God's Glorious Majesty sat first upon his People then did Aaron and his Children first enter upon and Execute their Priesthood and thereon did God first solemnly Bless his People Israel This is the Day as David Prophesying of the Resurrection of Christ testifies which the Lord has made let us rejoyce and be glad therein And how great wondrous and astonishing things were done on this Day under the Gospel dispensation It was on This day that Christ finished the Glorious Work of our Redemption and rose again from the Dead for our Justification On this first Day of the Week did He appear after his Resurrection to his Disciples several times On this Day fell the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles as they were assembled together and at the same time upon St. Peter's Sermon were there added no less than three thousand Souls to the Church On this Day was it that the Disciples afterwards met frequently together to break Bread and to lay up their Charitable Contributions for the use of the Poor 3. The Lord's day How and by whom Profaned These things being premised I proceed to consider how Shamefully and Odiously the Solemnities of this Day are slighted derided and Profaned by this our Corrupt and Dissolute Age. And herein I could wish the Openly Debauched and Licentious person were the only Delinquent But alas if we deal Impartially we shall find many of those who seem to look Wisely and would be angry if you called them by any other Name than that of Christian to be deficient enough in this respect They tell you Judaism only required so strict an Observation of the Sabbath that Christ the Lord of the Sabbath has remitted that rigour with which the Mosaic Law obliged its followers That it is Puritanical Enthusiastick Zeal which spurs on some to be so Religiously given on this Day This is no invented Account grounded upon a mere Hypothesis but what is to be seen by every Days Experience And if none else can bear me Witness of the truth hereof yet I might appeal to some Judicious Mens Opinions who have declared the Suppressing of the Profanation of the Lords-Day to be triffling Nugatory and little less than a Grievance to the Subject So little is the Concern which Men now a-days have for God and Religion and such slighting thoughts do they bear to the Divinity of the Lord's Day I know not what Church allows so much Licentiousness thereon sure I am the Church of England is far from it in her Doctrines and Discipline let her pretended Followers use their Christian Liberty for a Cloak of Wickedness as long as they please 4. Who can forbear lamenting the sad Degeneracy and Apostacy of the Age wherein to reform from Superstition is to run upon the other Extream and be Profane wherein the Cure of Pharisaical Hypocrisie consists in being openly loose and Debauched wherein to plead for the Keeping holy the Lords-Day is Malepertness in the Minister Cant Impertinencie and Presbyterianism in a Private Person But notwithstanding all this I shall pursue my design in tracing the Profane and Irreligious in all His By-Paths and transgressions to lay open the several Ways by which he Violates this Holy Institution and drive him or shame him if possible into the Power as well as the Form of Godliness 5. One would think in Complaisance to the fashion and in Conformity to the Custom of the Country wherein they Live The Lords-Day is profaned First by neglecting to c●me to the publick Ordinances of the Church there should be none but what went to one Assembly or another but we have too many who neither go to Church nor to any other place of Divine Worship tolerated by Law on that Day Can't God say they be served as well at Home as in the Publick Congregation Will not our Reading a good Book profit as well in our own Houses as the Hearing of a Sermon in the more

Kindreds of the Earth which then began to increase did not God chuse any save faithful Abraham and his Seed to place his Name among them 'T was Jacob was his Chosen and Israel the Lot of his Inheritance 't was in the Tents of the Sanctified Tribes that the Glory of his Presence shone and by his Servant Moses he implanted the Rudiments of a Typified Religion which hereafter was to be refin'd and confirmed by his Successor and Master the LORD JESVS 4. Thus the knowledge of the Divinity was as it were confined within the Borders of Juda and Palestine was more happy then her Neighbours In Judah was God known and his Name was great in Israel in Salem also was his Tabernacle and his dwelling place at Sion Ps 76.1 2. Whilst the greatest part of the World remained in Darkness and sate under the shaddow of Death and groped through their Ignorance at Noon-day Whilst they changed the truth of God into a Lie became vain in their Imaginations and Worshipped the Creature more than the Creator who is blessed for ever Rom. 1. True it is the Wiser sort of Heathens guided by their Natural Light made some steps towards the raising the Soul from the Bondage of the Body and gave great Pulls to set fallen Man once more upon his Legs But alas their Endeavours fell infinitely short of that End their glimmering Light proved but a false one to them and their Intricate Reasonings and dry Speculations were so far above the reach of Vulgar heads and so uncapable of doing them any good that they have oftimes bewildred the Philosopher himself who after all his search has been forced to confess himself to be in the Dark So that tho' those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made some Advances towards the Civilizing the Barbarous Nations and preached up Morality to their Disciples yet all the Religion they could ingraft in the World was but Delusion and the best of their Altars wore no other Inscription then to the UNKNOWN GOD 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 17 23. whom ignorantly they Worshipped and of whom they could have no certain knowledge till the Sun of Righteousness arose with healing in his Wings and brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel Becoming as Old Simeon expresses himself a Light to lighten the Gentiles as well as the Glory of his People Israel Luke 2.32 Bringing the glad tidings of Salvation to the Greek and the Barbarian to the Bond and Free and Preaching Repentance and Remission of Sins among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Luke 24.47 5. This Abstract of Mercy This Over-flowing Quintessence of Compassion By a mysterious Incarnation condescended to to take upon himself not the Nature of Angels 3. Man considered in his state of Regeneration but the Seed of Abraham Hebr. 2.16 Who being in the form of God thought it no Robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no Reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of Men And being sound in fashion as a Man he humbled himself and became obedient unto Death even the Death of the Cross Phil. 2.6 7 8. And by that Expiatory Sacrifice of his he satisfied his Fathers Justice offering himself up once for all In this hopeful way of Recovery did that Blessed one leave Mankind upon his Departure hence and intrusted the farther Cure to faithful hands who were not wanting to transmit the Sovereign Balsom Christ Crucified to Posterity 6. And now began that Fevor and Warmness for Religion to appear in the World A short view of the Christian Church from the Primitive to our times All Places Ecchoed with this New Doctrine and every Mouth uttered the Gospel and Glad Tidings of Peace Innocence and sincerity began to be Visible in Mens Lives and Manners and those who could not dispute could die for their Pure and Vndefiled Religion This was the Case of that Flourishing Palm-Tree the Primitive Church which spread its Branches so far under the hottest Persecutions That most of the Dark Corners of the Civilized Nations were enlightened with the Piercing and Resplendent Beams of the Truth And the Earth began to be full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea Is ch 11. ver 9. 7. But alass this was too good to last long For no sooner had the Christian World so I might then call it enjoyed a Requiem from thè continual Harasses of Pagan Tyranny and Persecution No sooner was ChristianityVniversally Embraced throughout the Roman Empire No sooner had it the Protection of Emperours and the favour of Complaisant Courtiers who weary of the Pagan Worship became of the same Religion with their Princes No sooner was it Established by the Edicts of Constantine and confirmed by Theodosius and his Successors in the Imperial Throne But it became the Subject of its own fewds and Animosities So that what all the Vnited force of Hell and Earth had in vain endeavoured by open Violence to destroy was Over-whelm'd with its own Ruines and lay buried under its own Heaps Heresie upon Heresie Schism up●n Schism Rent the Vnion of the Church on the one Hand The Arrians and Donatists the Pelagians and Nestorians some Questioning the Divinity others the Humane Nature of Christ some Quarrelling about the Procession others about the Divinity of the Holy Ghost set the Professors of Christianity together by the Ears and involved all in Flames for two or three Centuries together But then on the other hand Superstition Blind Zeal False Principles and Interest draw'd a veil quite over the Truth and for many Ages after Believing as the Church believed Outward Pomp and a Continual Round of Mysterious splendid Ceremony was all the Religion the Indulgence of the Papal Chair required at Mens hands If they could with an Implicite Faith own Infallibility Purgatory Transubstantiation the Sacrifice of the Mass and a hundred such like Whimsioal Notions of Human Inventions were their Lives never so Wicked and their Manners never so Debauched yet they might be assured of Heaven and Eternal Happiness 8. But tho' all these sad Afflictions happened to Christianity in the successive Ages of the Church A view of the degeneracy of the present Age. yet it was free from that generall inundation of Impiety wherewith this l●st and degenerate Age is at present so overwhelmed wherein even the dregs of Sin and Pollution are as it were sunk and setled down to the very bottom Was ever Wickedness more open-faced Wa● it ever more immodest than in these worst of times And truly I cannot wonder that it is so that it struts thus b●l l● unm●sked and fears no contradiction since not only Pagans but Christians not only Papists but Protestants are its Abettors Men now-a-days not only practise but plead for their Vices and maintain a Dispute for any beloved Lust with as hot a Zeal as the best of Christians would stand up for the cause of Christ and his

Inform our Judgment nor Influence our Manners but only help us to call Names and to cast Dirt into one anothers Faces How much better would it be for all sides to forbear those Opprobrious Titles of Calvinist and Arminian of Antinomian and Antisidian and the like and endeavour to do that which might make us worthy of that one Glorious Name of Christian Could I but see that Spirit of Unity and Concord maintained in the Bond of Peace could I but see the Primitive Golden days return once more upou the Stage I should with a Chearful Heart like Old Simeon sing my nunc Dimittis too One that knows what Laws we have against Prophane Swearing and Cursing against Drunkenness and Prophanation of the Lords-Day made with such Care by the Legislators of former Ages and Commanded to be put in Execution by the Zealous Princes of This would wonder that the Civil Magistrate should need one Word more to put him in Mind of Discharging his Duty But notwithstanding they have Statutes made to their very hands and have had as much Incitements from Above as Injunctions and a Royal Command comes to yet we find matters at the same stand they were in when we had no such Opportunities put into our Hands To think any Justice of Peace ignorant of his Duty would be to charge him with want of Common Prudence an affront I would not lay at any Mans Door But I am more inclined to think that 't is want of Zeal which makes so many remiss and negligent in the Discharge of that Trust which the Higher Power has Committed to them To such therefore as are Backward in their Offfice I shall beg leave to offer some few Considerations which perhaps may prove Motives to stir them up to a Vigorous Execution of the Laws now in force against that horrid Prophaness and Debauchery which has overspread this unhappy Church and Nation And first consider what 't is God and Religion requires at your Hands He that raiseth up whom he will and casteth them down again at his pleasure has not placed you in those Posts to make a great Figure of you and for nothing else He requires you should be as much concerned for the Advancing of his Glory as you are for your own private Interests 'T is as much your Duty to punish an Offence against God as to punish a Crime against the Publick and yet we see the one Connived at whilst the other is prosecuted with the utmost R●gor But is it not a burning shame that the daily Affronts and Blasphemies offered against Heaven should be passed by with silence when at the same time a Lessening Expression against a Prince a single Calumny against your selves or a Scurrilous Reflection cast upon a Private Person shall meet with all the Severity the Law in its Largest Extent will allow of But Secondly Consider what 't is you owe your Princes from whence you derive your Authority The Commission they have given you extends to the offences mentioned in the foregoing Treatise as well as to any other whatsoever And as if that were not sufficient how car●ful have they been by Letters and Proclamations to put you in mind of your Duty in this Particular And can you Affront their Authority by slighting and contemning their Orders and Injunctions Think what a base reflection you cast upon them and how uncivil to say no worse you have been by your Connivance and Neglect Thirdly Consider what 't is your Country requires of you She expects you should not stand as Cyphers nor bear the Sword of Justice in Vain but that you should administer it to the punishment of Wickedness and Vice and to the maintenance of true Religion and Virtue Those who among the Romans Rescued the Common-wealth from Tyranny and Oppression were justly stiled Fathers of their Country our Kingdom is at present overawed with the Tyranny of Prophaness and Debauchery and none but God knows what the fatal consequences of it may prove Now if you would Gentlemen undertake an Enterprize worthy English Men and Christians if you desire the Peace and Tranquility of your Country and would do something that might render your Memories famous to succeeding Generations you can do nothing better than in your several Stations to Redeem the Nation from the Thraldom of those Pernicious Vices under which it lies and so Divert those Judgements we have just cause to fear will fall upon us if we continue Obstinate and Rebellious But Lastly that it may not be too long Consider what 't is your Oaths taken with all the Solemnity Imaginable oblige you to I shall not here repeat at length all that a Justice of Peace is bound to do it may suffice to take notice that he is engaged to Convict all Offenders against the known Statutes of the Realm of which he shall have any Cognizance and not to refuse upon Due and Lawful Information to bring any Offender to Condign Punishment out of Fear Partiality Prejudice or Interest I hope there is scarce a Gentleman in the Commission of the Peace but will lay these things to heart and will not when he Considers seriously what it is that God their Majesties his Country and his own Conscience exacts from him be any more negligent in the Discharge of that Trust which is reposed in him I have been warm in this point but withall as short and as modest as possible I hope the Gentlemen will pardon the little sallies of a well grounded and well-intended Zeal since my Design was not to affront any but purely to excite those who have been hitherto Remiss to be more vigorous in Executing the Laws against Prophaness and Debauchery for the future So that not one Tittle of this Discourse is directed to such Worthy Persons who tho too few in number are in the Commission of the Peace all over the Kingdom and have given sufficient Testimony of their Prudence and Zeal by those excellent Orders of Sessions which here and there have been issued out in those Places where the Good have been the Prevailing Party But how can the Justices of Peace suppress those Immoralities since let them be never so forward 't is impossible for them to know of every offence unless the under Officers whose Duty it is to make enquiry after the Breach of the Laws give in their Informations And that tho they may issue out their Warrants yet if the Constable or Overseer or any other Officer be negligent in executing them what will their Care signifie To which I answer that 't is too notorious how Careless and Remiss all under Officers are as well in giving in their Informations as in executing the Warrants and Levying the Penalties accordingly and 't is no wonder they should be so since they are like to get nothing by their Office but hard Words and a few Curses which is but a small Encouragement to those little hearted Creatures who for the most part know not what the

and are likewise engaged to the discharge of it as you tender the Honour of Almighty God the flourishing condition of his Church in this Kingdom the continuance of his Holy Religion among us and the Prosperity of the Country And so we bid you farewell Given at our Court at Whitehall the 9th day of July in the Third Year of our Reign By Her Majesties Command Nottingham To our Trusty and Well-beloved the Justices of the Peace for our County of Middlesex at Hick's Hall The Late Order of the Justices of Middlesex for suppressing Prophaness and Debauchery WHereas their Majesties both by their several Letters and Proclamations have from time to time been graciously pleased to declare their earnest desire That all the Laws against Vice and Prophaness be duly Executed and have expresly Commanded us Tneir Majesties Justices of the Peace of this County to take the most effectual Care for the due Execution thereof And whereas this Court in persuance of Their Majesties Commands have by their Order bearing date the Tenth Day of July last Commanded all High Constables Petty Constables Headburroughs Church-Wardens and other Officers within this County to Use their utmost Diligence for bringing to condign Punishment all the Offenders against the said Laws which upon the Oaths of divers credible Winesses as we are informed hath through the diligence of the Offcers in divers parts of this County had this good effect that many Houses of disorderly Tipling Debauchery and Gaming have been suppressed and very great Numbers of Bawds Whores and other Lewd Persons prophane Swearers Cursers Drunkards and Prophaners of the Lords day have been Convicted and Punished according to Law Yet notwithstanding in some other parts of this County through the Negligence Connivance and Evil Practices of the Constables Headburroughs Church Wardens and other inferior Officers of such Places the Offences aforesaid have received great incouragement and such Lewd Offenders as had been so suppressed have been yet received and permitted there to continue such their Lewd Practices This COURT therefore taking the same into their serious consideration and being stedfast in their Resolutions effectually to carry on a Reformation of manners by the due punishment of the several Offences aforesaid in all parts of this County the same being a Work acceptable to Almighty God and so earnestly and piously recommended by Their Majesties Doth Order and strictly Require all High Constables Petty Constables Headburoughs Church-Wardens and all other Officers to be diligent in making more frequent searches after such as keep Houses of disorderly Tipling Debauchery and Gaming and such as haunt the same and of the said Offenders and of all prophane Swearers Cursers Drunkards and Prophaners of the Lords Day and to give due information thereof from time to time to some One of Their Majesties Justices of the Peace of this County That no Partiality Connivance or underhand Practices by Private Notice to Offenders of any other ways by such Officers may prevent the conviction or Detection of them but that the several Offenders may be punished according to Law And whereas the publick Sports and playing of Boys and others on the Lords Day in Church-yards and else where is a great Contempt to the Worship of God and tends to the Corruption of Youth The said Officers are therefore hereby Ordered and Required to take notice on the said days of such disorders and to disperse such Prophaners of the Lords day or to apprehend them and to bring them before One of Their Majesties Justices of the Peace for ●his County that they may be proceeded against according to Law And we being resolved to proceed with all due strictnes● against all such Officers as shall be found faulty in the due observance of this our Order do recommend it to all persons who shall at any time hereafter have Knowledge of any of the Offences aforesaid or of any neglect or undue Practice of any Officers aforesaid whereby the Conviction or Punishment of any of the said Offences shall be hindred or avoided that they will give timely Information thereof to some One of Their Majesties Justices of the Peace of the said County from whom they shal● re●eive all due Incouragement And whereas the keeping of Musick Houses of late practised in several publick Taverns and Ale-Houses within this County to which there is a great Resort of Idle and Dissolute Persons is of ver● ill Consequence and tend● to the Debauching and Ruin especially of the younger sort of people of both Sexes and doth also occasion many Quarrels and Riots to the great dist●rbance of the publick Peace It is hereby further Ordered that the several Officers aforesaid do make a due Return to some Justice of the P●ace in their respective Division of the Christian Name Sir-name and Place of abode of all Persons keeping the said Musick Houses and of such as frequent the same to the end they may be prosecuted according to Law And it is further Ordered by this Court that the Clerk of the Peace for this County do forthwith cause this Order to be Printed and Affixed upon the great Gates of Hick's-Hall the Church Doors and all other publick Places of each P●rish within this County and distributed to the several High-Constables within this County who are Ordered by this Court forthwith to send the same to the several Petty Constables Church-wardens and Head-buroughs within their several Divisions to the end Publick Notice may be taken thereof By the King and Queen a Proclamation against Vitious Debauched and Prophane Persons AS we cannot but be deeply sensible of the great goodness and mercy of Almighty God by whom Kings Reign in giving so happy s●ccess to our endeavours for the rescuing these Kingdoms from Popish Tyranny and Superstition and in preserving our Royal Persons supporting our Government and uniting the Arms of most of the ●rinces and States in Christendom against our Common Enemy so we are not less touched with a Resentment that notwithstanding the these great Deliverances Impiety and Vice do still abound in this our Kingdom And that the Execution of many good Laws which have been made for suppressing and punishing thereof have been grosly neglected to the great dishonour of God and our Holy Religion Wherefore and for that we cannot expect increase or continuance of the Blessings we and our subjects enjoy without providing Remedies to prevent the like Evils for the future we judge our selves bound by the duty we owe to God and the care we have of the people committed to our Charge to proceed in taking some effectual Course therein And being thereunto moved by the pious Address of our Arch Bishops we have thought fit by the advice of our Privy Council to issue this our our Royal Proclamation and to declare our princely intention and resolution to discountenance all manner of Vice and Immorality in all persons from the highest to the lowest degree in this our Realm And we do hereby for that purpose