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	doctrine_n	england_n	6,989	5	6.3346	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A31514	Certaine queries of some tender conscienced christians about the late protestation commended to them by the House of Commons now assembled in the high and honourable court of Paliament [sic] : wherein they desire to bee resolved concerning written by a Learned Divine.	Learned divine.	1641 (1641)	Wing C1741; ESTC R11082	5,194	14

Certaine QUERIES OF SOME TENDER Conscienced CHRISTIANS About the late Protestation commended to them by the House of COMMONS now Assembled in the High and Honourable Court of PALIAMENT Wherein they desire to bee resolved Concerning 1. The Authority imposing it 2. The Necessity of it 3. The Danger of it 4. Whether it can be taken in Faith As also Certaine Queries concerning the Ambiguity thereof appearing in most if not in all the severall Branches thereof Together with a Form of such an interpretation of it as may safely be taken and doth not goe against the literall Sence Written by a Learned Divine Printed 1641. The Queries of certaine tender-Conscienced Christians concerning the late Protestation commended to them by the House of Commons now Assembled in the High and Honourable Court of Parliament wherein they humbly crave a cleere satisfaction from their abler brethren that they may take it with a well grounded and cheerfull Conscience FIrst as concerning the Authority of it whether it comes sufficiently authorised to be imposed upon any unlesse by the joynt consent of his sacred Majesty and both Houses of that High and Honourable Court both Head and Members We do not hereby intend to charge any with the guilt of combination against Authority but in the tendernesse of our consciences humbly to signifie our just scruples about the authority imposing it and the contents of it if it be said it is not to be imposed on any then we hope none can justly blame us for using our lawfull liberty and refusall of that which is not imposed on us Secondly concerning the Necessity of it what need is there of urging or taking Protestation at this time since Oathes sacred Bonds are not to be taken without urgent necessity unlesse wee will take the Name of God in Vaine and though the prudence of the contrivers may see a necessity to commend it yet it is no wonder if such silly ones as we see not the necessity of taking it untill they shall be pleased to impart their reasons The conscientious will hold them selves bound to maintaine the Doctrine established power of Parliaments and liberty of Subjects without it all others will slight it we thinke in all humility love a stronger bond then compulsion and other meanes more effectuall for holding our of Popery namely diligent Preaching Prayer Humiliation and Reformation whereby we may encrease in the knowledge of the truth and the ability to defend us against the enemies of it But for Ministers it seemes lesse needfull who have already subscribed and sworne and subscribed to the Doctrine of the Church of England against Popery against whom sufficient Provisoes are made in case they revolt 3. Thirdly what danger by multiplying Oathes where divers for feare may be forced to take them Reluctante conscientia Most do make too little conscience of them and may endanger the Land by drawing on it a judgement for their slighting such a sacred bond or violation of it For Oathes the Land mournes Ier. 25.10 Whereupon Saint Austin in his second Sermon De verbis Apostoli Falsa juratio exitiosa vera juratio periculosa nulla juratio secura est Above all things my Brethren sweare not Isaiah 5.12 4. Fourthly whether can this Oath betaken in faith without which whatsoever we doe is sin Rom. 14.23 Now this Oath comprehends so many things of severall kinds and divers of them unknowne to most of us that though wee be ready to beleeve and receive some of them single yet our faith cannot fathome all together and so we cannot sweare without doubting And surely doubtfull swearing is as dangerous as doubtfull eating every Oath should be taken in truth Righteousnesse and judgement Ier. 4.2 How can we take an Oath in Judgement not having a full perswasion in the meaning of it or how can others with good Conscience presse it on us till they give us full satisfaction herein If it be answered that the Creed c. are ambiguous subject to doubtfull Interpretations as appeares in divers Articles yet upon this reason may not bee refused to be sworne to this the learned Divines of Aberdine have given sufficient answer pag. 50. of their Duplice these are of Divine Authority or next Divine agreeable to the word approved by the uniforme consent of all places in all ages Whereupon wee are undoubtedly perswaded that the contrivers of them did neither intend nor yet set downe any untruth and therefore we doe submit to the infallible authority of them though somethings be controverted in them whereas we cannot suppose the same in any Oath contrived by men subject to errors wanting that generall approbation The Ambiguity of the OATH appeares to us in most if not in all the severall Branches of it 1. I Promise Vow and Protest to maintaine with my Life goods and Power the true Protestant Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England Quaere What is the Doctrine of the Church of England Whether that in the 39 Articles Why is it not specified that we may know to what we sweare Whether may it not be extended to that which hereafter shall be established since in the Oath it is not not expressed or already established but Expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England which we suppose will bind us if expressed hereafter if so None will set his seale to a blanke bond so as the Obligee may make his debt as large as he listeth and we conceave wee should bee more cautelous in engaging our selves by Oath then our Estate by Bond since the tye is more vigorous and the breach more dangerous Ley pag. 55. I swear to maintain this Doctrine against all Popery and popish Innovations Quaere in what extent is Popery here abjur'd Whether onely in Doctrinals and such onely as are fundamentall or come nigh the foundation or to remoter superstructions undetermined Wherein it hath alwayes bin held lawfull for Schollars to vary and abundare sensu suo Whether to Discipline also and hath not Episcopacy bin branded for a Popish Hierarchie and the Ministers ordained by them and standing under them Notwithstanding it hath beene allowed by our Doctrine and established by our law Hath not our Liturgy though established by Act of Parliament beene rejected as Popish and all innocent Ceremonies though ancienter far then Popery if abused by them Nay one of late against Popish Ceremonies tels us that an oath must be extended to the largest sense Disput. against Engl. Ceremonies p. 93.97 3. I sweare to maintain the power and priviledge of Parliaments and the lawfull liberty and rights of Subjects Quaere What are those priviledges of Parliaments and rights of Subjects Are these evident by the light of nature that upon notifying them every one that sweares is able to give his assent acknowledging them undoubted priviledges and rights or doe they vary in diverse Countries according to the different constitutions of Statutes and charters depending on positive lawes Why are we