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	worship_n	3,910	5	7.2192	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96902	The Solemne League and Covenant of three kingdomes, cleared to the conscience of every man, who is not willingly blinde, or wilfully obstinate. The antiquity of the Covenant on the Scots-side; the seasonablenesse of it on the English side; the admirable wisedome of God, in stirring-up the spirits of men on all sides, at such a time as this; all this with other things mightily conducing to, and promoting of the militia of kingdomes, and the posturing every person there, is referred to a place, where it may take up more room. The clearnese for the matter of this Covenant; the solemnity for the manner of it, is the subject of these few leaves, and yet to be made more clear to them thaT have a mind to understand. By E.W. Imprimatur Edm: Calamy, the morrow after wee lifted up our hands, and subscribed our names to this Covenant, Octob. 2. 1643.	Woodward, Ezekias, 1590-1675.	1643 (1643)	Wing W3505; Thomason E71_13; ESTC R14305	22,799	20

truly we are not Carefull much lesse Curiously Inquisitive about it Grant us to be Idiots Poore Illiterate men Nay if God has given unto any of us more Light in a Land of Visions Blessed be His Name But we are Content to be accounted Idiots at this time having no more understanding nor perhaps so much touching the Discipline in Scotland there is all the Question that can be made indeed or scrupled at than Josiah a young Saint yet an old Disciple could have in all the Commandements and Statutes and Testimonies and yet he made a Covenant before the Lord to keep them every one So Josiah ●id and made the People do according to the Light he had but with a sincere heart with all his heart and with all his 2 Chron. 34. 31 32. Soul to Perform the words The Intent of the heart was sincere and stood in a direct opposition to Ahabs house and all the Idolatries and Heathenish Services there and that was as much as was required of him or his people and to the extent of their Oath I must adde and Ours which stands in opposition onely to Ahabs House the Pope and his Bishops opposition against the said Discipline I will give one Instance more because I conceive no seeing Man can stumble any where else and there his Passage is cleared with excellent Prudence possibly we understand no more touching the Scots Discipline than the Potters I finde them in the Text and I will Instance in them all along Illiterate Men their Wives and their Sons and their Daughters could understand the Commandements of the Lord His Judgements and His Statutes and yet all these entred into Ne●em 10. 28. a Curse I pray you mark it and into an Oath To do and To observe all the fore-mentioned The Statutes and the Judgements of The Lord were deep things hard to be understood Not Levites onely and the Priests but the Rabbins might exercise themselves in the search of those things and for a full understanding thereof Object But the Potters and their Wives having knowledge and understanding as it is said they had knew that those Judgements and Statutes were good and just for they were The Lords His Statutes His Judgements Who is GOD in Heaven and over all the Earth But the said Discipline is the Discipline of Scotland a Church upon Earth The Potters and their Wives might Sweare to the one for they were sure those were the Statutes of God His Judgements and Nulla litura in Decretis sapientum there is no doubt of any fault or imperfection in the Decrees and Ordinances of Heaven But in the Decrees and Ordinances of man there have been are and will be defects and wants to the worlds end and so of the Discipline of Scotland Therefore we cannot Swear to it Answ You are not called to it not called to Swear That the Discipline of Scotland is perfect Nay you may Swear if you were called to it That the Discipline of Scotland is imperfect though as near * to th● Rule as Possibly their Light could bring them yet but according to the Line of men and then very Imperfect and you may swear it to be so For we may say of the Statutes and Ordinances of Men even in Church Matters as the Author concludes his Story If I have done well and as the story required It is the thing I desired but if I have written slenderly and barely It is 2 Mac. 15. 39. that I could You may be sure this is Apocrypha you will not swear that all there is true but you dare say that all is imperfect there I could say much more even that the Pure Word of God looseth something of its Clearnesse in its conveyance to us and tasteth something of Man through the Corruption of that Conduit-Pipe that brings it to us For Application of all this I adde We enquire not about the Discipline of Scotland we ask no Questions there for Conscience sake we are Christians by Profession and Professe to walk and judge by our Rule That the Discipline of Scotland is according to that Rule as near to the Pattern in the Mount as humane understanding can bring it We beleeve verily That our Brethren in Scotland have sought Counsell at Gods Mouth and Direction from His Hand for we see with all our Eyes That He has Counselled them He has Directed them He has Blessed them and they shall be Blessed He has making Himself known unto them by His Name JEHOVAH raised-up amongst them a Stage whereon He has Acted like a God And this we beleeve more touching this Matter or Forme rather of Worship for I would clear this That as God shal be pleased to communicate more Light unto them touching His Pattern they will come-up yet closer thereunto and by the degrees of Communication that way come-up yet nearer unto the Rule But in the mean time if the Common Enemy the Pope and his Bishops shall as they have done thrust-in upon them cont●ary to their Religion and Discipline established amongst them we have Lifted-up our hands according to the Power there To make Head against that Common Enemy so opposing Gods People 2. And if so for the Religion and the Discipline of Scotland then sure we will do as much and as heartily for the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland In Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government Object But what needs all this May some good Body say though I hope there is no good Body so voyd of understanding as to say The Doctrine in the Church of England is a Pure Doctrine The Worship so The Discipline and Government so The Church of England A glorious Church Archbishops and Bishops Deans and Arch-Deacons brave men in their Trappings and Accouterments these were the Church in Name as Rome is now and cryed-up so to be all over the Christian World And must we swear to a Reformation Where is there a more perfect Church for Doctrine and Discipline under the out-stretched Canopy I have heard them say the Bishops themselves we are well enough a brave Church Rich well decked and trimmed with costly Ornaments which were found lockt-up in Pauls and Westminster we want nothing Answ Well! So said a Church as much almost as this That they wanted nothing when yet their Vaunts were but Conceipts onely Thou knowest not that thou art Wretched and Miserable and Poor and Blind and Naked (e) Revel 3. ●● Master Brightman And truely to adde a word Mutato nomine dete narratur All this is told of us the Church of England by one whom we ought to beleeve because he speaks with the cleerest Evidence of Truth even from the Mouth of God But I am very easie to grant at this time for I will not contend Let the Bishops have their saying That this Church of England is a Perfect Church for matter and forme and in all the forementioned I can cleer it to the

The solemne LEAGUE AND COVENANT OF Three Kingdomes Cleared to the Conscience of Every man who is not willingly Blinde or wilfully obstinate The Antiquity of the Covenant on the Scots-side The seasonablenesse of it on the English side The Admirable Wisedome of GOD in stirring-up the spirits of men on all sides at such a time as this All this with other things mightily conducing to and promoting of the Militia of Kingdomes and the Posturing every Person there is referred to a place where it may take up more room The clearnesse for the Matter of this Covenant The solemnity for the Manner of it is the subject of these few Leaves and yet to be made more clear to them that have a minde to understand By E W. Neh. 9. 38. And because of all this we make a sure Covenant and Write it and our Princes Levites and Priests seal unto it Eze. 20. 37 38. I will bring you into the Bond of the Covenant And I will purge out from among you the Rebels Imprimatur EDM CALAMY the morrow after wee lifted-up our Hands and Subscribed our Names to this Covenant Octob. 2. 1643. LONDON Printed for Christopher Meredith and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Crane 1643. To the Reader I Will take leave to set down my Comment upon the clearest Text that ever was seen in the world except one the most Sacred Text. What need a Comment then I will Answer with his Question Who came down to see how it fared with his Brethren when Goliah was Master of the field Is there not a cause We have 1 Sam. 17. 29. Heards and Droves of Beast-like-Men for Doctors Teachers of lies are their Leaders whose * It relates to Pastors or people for they are equally brutish Pastors rather tender consciences scruple very much at this Covenant as alwayes they have done They cannot lift-up their Hands or Subscribe their Names thereto but to lift-up their eyes and hearts unto lying vanities that they can do That cursed Liberty for Sports on the Lords Day that they could approve Edification of Altars bowing before them and serving of Images even all this also and more than all this They could foment and put-on a Bloody Warr against their Brethren this they could do and no regret of Conscience at all this but this entring into Covenant there they strain Vnreasonable men These have not Faith Faith nor Reason neither nor any more Sence than a Beast has to feel where it pincheth and to taste their Pasture where it is sweetest They grope at mid-day blinde with Light Now shew them the Sun in your hand as the Proverbe is they say they do not see it though Gods-Hand be lifted-up before all Israel and before the Sun they will not see and though his people hand be now lifted-up to GOD yet these will not see no not now nor will they yet understand O ye bruitish men When will ye understand When will ye shew your selves men For GODS sake for your Souls sake your own and the Souls committed to your charge consider Ye must see ye must understand whether ye will or no That ye may do both seasonably look into the Covenant again see what is it you quarrell with or take offence at there Ye are not resolved in some Cases of Conscience Have patience I le resolve you anon according to Truth In the mean time you will remember I hope whose Proctors ye are and be confounded because of your shame When man commanded you a bloody worke and abominable Services how did you gird-up your loyns and stir-up your selves and People by exhortations and prayers Now GOD and His p●ople cals-upon you to joyn with them in Covenant and now you draw back Object Yes and good Reason for when we did stir-up our good people to a War with Scotland then we were for the King and for Religion the Service-Book for all their Religion is there now entering into Covenant wo shall go against the King c. Answ Much might be spoken in a fools Ear and to little purpose I will onely say this L●t these men make Conscience in point of fear it contains the whole worship to their GOD and then we will trust them in point of Honour to their King Let them cease from fighting against GOD by lying vanities then we shall think them conscien●ious men and loyall to our Prince In the mean time doing as they do such things and taking pleasure in them who do the same things which do provoke the Lord to his Fate we must account th●se men as they are most corrupt in their lives and so in their Doctrines and drawing-back unto Perdition Take heed we know the word It is utter Destruction a perishing for ever One word to thee Reader whom I take to be an honest man Ignorant enough but thy ignorance troubles thee it is thy hearts griefe Thou art willing to understand and thou livest-upright according to thy knowledge This to thee I said before that this is a very clear Covenant indeed it is the clearest that ever man Penned here below The Finger of GOD is in it too by help of That Hand which wrote th● Ten Words at first this was Indited and Written sure enough for truely it is as the good Word of GOD Consider we as follows Cursed is he That do's not fulfill all therein contained with full purpose of heart and endeavour according to his light and power And yet so good and clear though it be even as is the Work and Word of GOD yet many there are as thou seest and hearest Doctors and Masters in Israel who do fault it Be not offended at that My little reading tels me of one who found fault with all the Works of GOD His whole Creation This might have been mended and so might that here and there it might have been better than it is Though GOD said of every thing he had mad● It was very good Now thou hearest That GOD Gen. 1. 31. has heard the Works of his Fingers blamed and was patient the while And I protest unto thee That I could name the Man who said The Word of GOD His Text was seditious Do not thou regard what brutish men say whose gutts are in their head and brains in their belly minde earthly things regard them not but attend with all diligence To what thou and I have lifted-up our hands and Subscribed our Names This follows not alwayes in the same words for my Work is Explication i. e. To clear the Text. Of A solemne League and Covenant explained and cleared to the Conscience of every man that is not willingly blinde nor wilfully obstinate THough I intend a continued Explication yet I cannot thinke of a more orderly beginning than with a short Dialogue so to debate a few matters one with the other first A. Your prime care is for the Scots the preservation of their Religion and

world That they have made as great a Deformation in the Church as ever was seen in the world since the Councell of Trent the Iliad of that Age Nay the perfectest that ever was or now is I cannot perfectly tell what will be upon the Face of the Earth Grant that it shall do them no good nor scruple or offend us at this point for can it be a dishonour to the most perfect Church to Reforme according to the Word of God I trow not A Church cannot come up too neer unto the Rule the Word of God they may Rest at a distance too remote and farre off but I say again yet I need not say it but we have to do with unreasonable Men we cannot come up too neer unto the Rule of Doctrine and Discipline and Government What is that It follows To the Word of God That we endeavour All in All three Kingdoms To come up To the neerest Conjunction and Uniformitie in Religion Confession of Faith forme of Church Government Directory for Worship and Catechizing O Blessed Work I should speak to that but it would not be a little and Catechizing That we and our little ones may as Brethren live in Faith and Love and the Lord may delight in us This is all we have sworn unto And do we Repent Yes That we were so foolish as to make any Scruple here upon so cleer a Text. We are Satisfied now and had we an hundred Hands as I Read one Man had and half as many Mouthes we would do as much as much with all our Hands and Mouths as we have done and so for the next II. That we will endeavour in like manner the extirpation of Popery the Rooting of it out What else and Pr●la●y they were never seperated these came-in together and they must go out together Ay but the 〈◊〉 and his Wi●● their Sons and their Daughters too Pray let me use those words I mean Illiterate Persons may stumble at this for indeed though Pr●lacy has won●erfully Blasted it self as Tyranny has done yet good words both Tyranny is but Government and Prelacy a Superioritie amongst Church-Men and this must be and we allow of it with all our Hearts Therefore the Po●ters and their Wi●es we finde them entring into Covenant will observe what follows for explication and cleering their doubt touching Prelacy for Popery they know it well enough It is A walking in the wayes of Jeroboam who made Israel to sin and after the Whoredomes of Ahab and Jezebels house i● lifting up the Eye and the Heart to lying vanities this is plain 〈◊〉 And now they will understand Prelacy as well for know one and know both that is Church Government by Arch-Bishops and Bishops and their Chancellors with their Etcetera's together with I cannot tell what to call it but I have heard it called The Refuse and Garbadge of their Courts depending and following the Hierarchy as their train or as the shaddow the Body bringing in Superstition Heresie Schisme Prophanenesse c. Let Baal Plead for Baal because not one but three Kingdoms have sworn to Cast out his Lordship and his Images and to break down their house perhaps and make it as Baals a draught house Let Baal Plead and bring forth strong Reasons The Potter and his Wife will not Plead for them for though they may live in the Remotest Parts of the Kingdom yet they are not such strangers to the Common-Wealth of Israel as not to know though they understand not the word Hierarchy * I● is a Sacre● principal●●●e for it had its Originall f●●m the Heat●ens Arch Flamin● and Fla●in● co●inued with a very little change and ●esse Reason up ●ll most to this ●ay It is a cu●sed Government crept into the Church ●nsteed of an Hiera●●●●a a Sacred service whi●h 1. a●● shall be these Persons what they are what Blasphemies they have spoken besides hard words what Heresies they have maintained what Injustice they have done ungodly deeds and what In lets they have been to Prophanesse These cannot be Ignorant That the Government by Archbishops has been Tyrannicall Pharaoh like from the first Archbishop to him that three yeers a gone sate in his Throne I say Pharaoh like and his Bishops for they were his and at his Beck he said unto them do ye this and they did it Countenance Altars they did it and more Give the People a grant to Riot on the Lords day they did it Stop the Mouths of the Ministers they did it Thrust in the vile Throwout the Pretious they did it his Bishops And his Bishops were as Pharaohs Task-masters grievous oppressors they have by help of their Chancellors and their Etcetera's St●r●ned the Church of God evermore And for their Superstitions how Grosse Palpable and how many and Heresies as many How many all these I have no leisure to number my haires now The hearing of them would make a Mans hai●es stand up-right and his ears to tingle These are so many and so horrid I le report but one Heresie and this I will report because it has been an In-let to that which follows ever Prophane●esse and has done the greatest disservice that is Imaginable to the Potters and their Wives I mean still my Poor Brethren and Sisters in the Countries that live in the dark under the droppings of Cathedralls and the Cure of the forementioned such Brutish Men. I le Name the Heresie and the Heretick whom I have not heard named hitherto either in the high Court or in the Assembly In good time we may hear he is both found and thrown-out for that end I will Name him And that both may appear else as the old Custome was and as Reason is I le appear for him to suffer his Censure You shall hear the Text first I will have Mer●y and Matth 9 13. Doct●r Turners Text of Scripture fear●ul●y blasphemed not Sacrifice I will take leave to explain it I hope to my Lords meaning and that the Simple may understand If thou art going to offer a Sacrifice and a Work of Mer●y offer it self to thee in thy way which cannot be delayed w●rk that Thy Good and Gracious Lord will dispence with thee now for His Sacrifice He will let that stand aside that the Work of Mer●y to thy Brother may be done Nay let me adde That Mer●y may ●e shewn to an Inferiour Creature to an Oxe or an Asse I do not account him as one Calls him a Brother Brother Oxe and Brother Asse yet that thou mayest shew Mercy to either of Both and to tell thee how well Pleasing the shewing of Mercy to the lowest Be●e Anseltur Creatures for His Mercy is over all is unto The Lord The God of Mercies He will let His Sacrifice give Place the while thou art shewing this Mercy in helping these out of the Di●●l● when thou seest him faln as thou art passing by to offer thy Sacrifice the Calves of thy Lips now Prayers and Praises