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	faith_n	hold_v	3,740	5	6.0925	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90792	The plots of Jesuites: (viz. of Robert Parsons an English-man, Adam Contzen a Moguntine, Tho. Campanella a Spaniard, &c.) how to bring England to the Romane religion without tumult. Translated out of the original copies.; Politicorum libri decem. Book 2: 18-19. English. Selections	Contzen, Adam, 1571-1635.; Allen, William, 1532-1594.; Parsons, Robert, 1546-1610,; Campanella, Tommaso, 1568-1639.; Sparke, Michael, d. 1653.	1653 (1653)	Wing P2603; Thomason E715_19; ESTC R203166	8,916	15

When all things now seemed ripe the Lutherans were commanded to depart from their Parochial charge and all the Churches bestowed upon the Calvinists Nor durst they complain for if they did they were banished But now betaking themselves to domestick cares they onely sued for a pension immunity from taxes and the like The Calvinists in the mean while laughing to see a matter of such height and consequence brought so low as to make such humble and abject petitions 10. Whereas the young Scholars of the Universitie were Lutherans upon them also they practised with divers arts Stipendiaries such as were maintained at the Elector's charge were put to their choyce whether they would be Calvinists or be expelled And thus an exceeding great alteration came on a sudden without any tumult for the Countrey Preachers followed the motion of the superiour wheels 11. When the Lutherans Professours in the Universitie and Country Preachers refused to yeeld up their dignities the Prince told them He wondred at them seeing he had never taken them into his protection nor given them any new possession of their places For in that Countrey all places and offices become void upon the death of the Prince and the power of bestowing them is in the Successor 12. In Hassia they went on very slowly and by little and little Nor was Calvinisme offered them at once but onely a small part of it And the people come on much more willingly if at the same time they be whistled another way as to Arminianisme or some other Sect which may seem more odious Lastly both sides fell to writing but that party which was most favoured at Court quickly prevailed And the wickednesse of the Lutherans which upon all occasions was made known did much advance the cause of their Adversaries The fourth means which I have seen put in execution heretofore and still kept on foot is this viz. That such as are adverse to the Romane-Catholick Religion be put by their honours dignities and publick offices Nor is this unjust That he who hindreth the welfare of the Common-wealth should be kept from the honors and commodities of it Men guilty of great crimes are thrust from their dignities why then should blasphemers and contemners of Truth be admitted thereto A fifth means Let those particular Tenents which hear ill among the vulgar and at first sight seem absurd be culled out and load laid upon them A sixth Make profit of the quarrels of erring men A seventh Let all secret Conventicles and publick meetings be strictly forbidden Eightly By the severity of Laws and punishments compell the obstinate to duty but let the rigour of laws be slowly drawn out unless where there is danger of a contagion Let those which be most dangerous be taken away the rest by the Authority of the Prince will soon be brought into order Within these few late years a hundred thousands have been converted to the Romane Religion in France in Germany more Not one of the Germane Princes that hath assayed to draw his Subjects on to the Catholick Religion hath ever met with any power resisting his Decrees in that behalf made and executed Onely the Netherlanders broke out into Rebellion but the cause thereof was not Religion alone nor was that pretended but their priviledges and liberty The Dominion of a forain Nation over them a thing abhorred by ingenuous men and the exaction of Tenths stirred up that people to sedition 'T is I confesse the opinion of some Politicians That men are not to be compelled But those which so advise are in an errour and give counsell not against the safety of Religion onely but even of the Common-wealth For by a wholesome Law men may be over-ruled that they shall not doe evill And a good Law will soon reduce those who being of tender years are either not at all or very little tainted with heresie And so if a compulsory Reformation should not doe good upon old men it may make the younger Catholick And I know many Children have been a means of converting their Parents There are many examples of this in Bavaria Stiria Carinthia and the Low-countries Ninethly Care is to be taken for integrity of manners and purity of life For the filthy lives of Romane Clergy-men have made augmented and still do uphold heresies And oftentimes in my disputes with Hereticks I have observed that after very weak arguments they fall to accusing the ill lives of our Clergy-men and speak of things which can neither be denyed nor defended If the Bishops be not able to amend this God will send an avenger who wil take away the wicked men and their wickednesse both together Thus have the Turks got possession of Asia Aegypt Greece c. And Religion will be rooted out of Europe unlesse the manners of men be answerable to the sanctity of their Doctrine CHAP. XIX Other helps there be which wisdome may suggest according to the variety of time and place The Sinenses are taken with the Mathematicks the Japonians with Ethicks the Americans with Ceremonies and Musick All wayes are to be tryed And first Musick Paulus Samos●●enus turned certain Ecclesiasticall hymnes into obscene and enticing rimes Thus the Arians and Pelagians destroyed the faith and discipline of the Church Why then should not an Orthodox Prince make use of that for curing which Impostours have found out to be a means of destroying Secondly Before the banes of Matrimony be publickly asked Let both the man and woman be ordered and compelled to yeeld an account of their faith Upon this occasion they may be instructed in the true Romane Religion and so while they promise to continue in the Church and ever to hold fast the Ancient faith they are by degrees fastened to the truth and cannot but love it Thirdly To this of Marriage other things are to be adjoyned Let no Ceremonies but those of the Catholick Church approach the Font. Let none have the honour to be God-fathers unlesse they have given good testimony of their sincerity in the faith Let no man have the honour of Christian buriall unlesse he hath been a partaker of the Sacraments of the Church Fourthly If it fall out that wandring souls must be leisurely reclaimed and by art and that the Propators of perverse opinions cannot be put from the places they once enjoyed then let an Orthodox Magistrate so bring it about that the instituting presenting confirming and examining of such men be committed to him For so he may chase away every one that is apt to doe mischief Some wrangling Fellows that regard not controversies between Romane-Catholicks and Protestants and study onely to enrich themselves or to comply with the Prince he may safely now and then set over those Churches So shall he be able to abate the rage of heresie and yet not be troubled to remove the unlearned For by that means errour will grow into contempt And because unskilfull men are wont to erre often all constancy in errours will be

A Memoriall for Reformatiō of England by 〈◊〉 1596 De Monarchia Hispanica Campanella Robert Parsons Adam Contzen C●d● Richelieu Ex. Sump M. Sp. THE PLOTS OF JESUITES Viz. of Robert Parsons an English-man Adam Contzen a Moguntine Tho. Campanella a Spaniard c. How to bring ENGLAND To the Romane Religion Without Tumult Translated out of the Original Copies Printed for Mich. Spark at the Blue Bible in Green Arbor London 1653. The Stationer to the Reader MEeting with two Editions of a small but very learned and pious Treatise highly commended by the most eminent Ministers in France to say nothing of some in England Entituled An Apologie for the Reformed Churches against those who accuse them of Schisme with the Iudgement of an Universitie-man c. And finding in the Preface of each Edition some mention of the Plots of Parsons Contzen and Campanella and other Jesuites and of their Directions how to bring England to the Superstition and Idolatry of the Church of Rome but seeing far more in one Edition of the said book than in another I conceive my self obliged in Conscience and faithfulnesse to my Religion and Native Country not to suffer a Discovery of which very excellent use may be made for the preservation of both to lie hid any longer which in brief is the cause of this puhlication Adieu and Be watchfull Mich. Spark Contzens Plot to cheat a Church of the Religion established therein and to bring in Popery without noyse or tumult which was mentioned in the Preface to the Apologie and is taken out of the second Book of his Politicks ch 18 19. p. 103 104 c. MOst of the things before spoken touching the conservation of Truth and Religion are profitable to reduce wanderers into the way Yet they must be diversly applyed by Politick men 'T is difficult to finde out truth but 't is more hard to perswade him that erreth Yet 't is the duty of a Prince even in this to bestir himself earnestly that wicked opinions be taken away The first means What Musicians observe in tuning their instruments gently setting up the strings by little and little and what in curing diseases Physicians practise abating noxious humours by degrees and pauses the same must be done in a Common-wealth labouring under the malady of errours Although I approve not lingring bootlesse proceedings since they often beget a desisting from the design What ever means can be used my counsel is that they be attempted but in a soft and sure pace for fear of a precipice Here milde commands and admonitions do very much further the work The second this 'T is no hard matter for any Prince in Europe to call back mens mindes to the Ancient rites of their Predecessors if he list A matter heretofore held impossible to be effected but now men begin again to love the old Religion Nor can they be so held in by their Ministers but that many do every year turn to the Catholick unity What they once most greedily desired they now cast aside with disdain This levity of the vulgar to admire new things and contemn old is fatall Many Provinces in Germany have endured many Religions now they retain none being intent on the will of their Governours One cause of this is as I said but now Levity and Ignorance of the Truth Another the impossibility of holding people long ignorant of the lewdnesse of heresies and that they finde hereticks to shift t●●●r opinions every year 'T is as if you should set a company of blinde men to run a race sooner will all misse then one get to the mark Thirdly Arch-hereticks are to be banished the Commonwealth at once if it may safely be done if not then by degrees Boysterous windes being sent packing the sea will become calm and errour which wanteth a protectour will soon be ruined In alterations I have observed these twelve things following for the most part out of the History of the change of Religion in the Palatinate the Acts of Marpurg and the Edict of Brandenburg 1. They concealed their purpose of altering Religion and rooting out Lutheranisme not so that the wiser sort could not perceive it but that the common-people might not see it and raise tumults 2. By the art of the Zuinglians some were suborned who should crave the exercise of the Reformed Religion and that with many sugared humble words That the Prince might not be thought to be of his own accord inclined to odious novelty but onely graciously indulgent to liberty of conscience and to love and cherish that Facility in a Prince is commonly extolled even when he yeeldeth to those things which are fitter to be denyed 3. One Church or so and not above was petitioned for That this suit might not seem harsh to the multitude who in the mean time were to have many more and were not very solicitous of any 4. Notwithstanding the jealousie of the Lutherans did here oppose it self seeing that with the Church the maintenance would be withdrawn therefore they think of a conference and pacification They assemble in the Court the matter is debated before the Princes Councel a notary and witnesses are denyed them But this course is by no means to be approved for each part ought to have liberty Otherwise if men be born down with the power of the stronger side the Victors shall ever be esteemed to have had the worst cause This was the case of the Arminians in Holland whereas they who had the advantage of the Princes favour if they had indeed beleeved the goodnesse of their cause ought to have entred the lists upon equall terms 5. An Edict was published that none should cast aspersions upon another but by all means cherish peace and concord This proved an effectuall engine to further the mutation for hereby none durst contradict the Calvinists no not so much as name them and the Prince was not traduced as a Patron of heresies but applauded as a Lover of peace 6. A Disputation was appointed in the Vniversitie 7. All this while there was no open shew of making Zuinglianisme heir to Lutheranisme but onely this that peace might be setled for nothing was desired but that the Lutherans retaining all their dignities and revenues would vouchsafe to sit in Consistory with the rest and consult as Brethren which when they refused they were accused as proud and disobedient to Authority and seemed to deserve a dismission Hitherto things were thus carryed that trial might be made what the people would bear for if any tumult had arose a fair excuse might have been made for all things hitherto 8. When the people of Heidelburg petitioned for the continuance of their Lutheran Preachers the matter was passed over in silence without answer and care taken that those men who were petitioned for should be traduced as too furious and heady And the people were fed so long with hope till at length they laid aside all care of Lutheranisme and hope together 9.

taken away by this means Fifthly Likewise let him nourish the differences of Preachers which are in errour and let him so work that they may often conferre and wrangle For by this means when all shall understand that there is nothing setled and certain among them they will joyne in truth Sixthly Many other means there be which prudent care will dictate to a Prince of its owne accord All those things which draw love and honourable esteem to the Prince are of use to fetch over the people easily to embrace his opinion in matters of Religion Of this sort are his easing them of taxes excise speedy supplies to any part of the Countrey spoyled by fire provision of victuals and other necessaries Hereby it will come to passe that what ever they esteem distastfull to the Prince they will hold in detestation If a Prince make use of these means he may in a short time root out the Protestant Religion although in the beginning it seem too strong for his Laws or Him Campanella his Plot. CAmpanella in his Book de Monarchia Hispanica printed in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth shewing the King of Spain how to bring England under his owne subjection and to the Romane Religion hath these words The same advice that Cardinal de Richelieu gave the late King of France a little before his death c. 22. Instiget Primores Comitiorum aut Parliamenti ut Angliam in formam Reipublicae reducant that is Let the King of Spain instigate the leading men of the English Parliament to bring England to the form of a Common-wealth And Omnino id agat ut Anglorum vires infringat ad quod efficiendum Naves Hollandiae Frisiae sufficerent si nimirum Classi Anglicae opponerentur ut infra palam fiet c. that is By all means let him make it his businesse to break the strength of England To effect which the ships of Holland and Frisia will be enough if they be set against the English as by and by I will shew c. This 25 chapter beginneth thus Quamvis Anglus c. Although the English doth of all Nations seem least to effect an Universall Monarchy yet they do much hinder Spains attaining it Queen Elizabeth hath given us examples for she hath cherished corrupted humours and helped Protestants with advice and supplies in the Low Countries against the Catholick King and in France against the most Christian Prince For she is Queen of an Island which aboundeth with Ships and Souldiers and maketh a prey of all that Spain hath in the North and ramble even to America where though they cannot erect a new Kingdome yet they doe the Spaniard very much harm for Drake the English man hath gone round the world more than once though Magalanes did it before him And it may come to passe that all the Kingdome of Baccalaos which is neerer the English and more commodious to them by reason of the temperature of the aire may some time or other be pulled into their possession Certain it is and evident enough that if the King of Spain could conquer but England and the Low-countreys he would quickly become the Monarch of all Europe and of the greatest part of the New-found world Campanella goes on advising the Spaniard to erect some new Schools or Colledges in Flanders and to usher a new Religion into England first with a new Philosophy himself hath furnished us with one Anglorum Religio facile restingui non potest There is more to the same purpose in the 10. Chap. which beginneth thus Omnes Magnates Monarchiam c. All great men when they have gone about to set up a Monarchy have altered the Sciences sometimes Religion it selfe that they might be admired In the same Chap. his 7. direction is to shut up all Schools wherein the Greek and Hebrew Languages are taught because they are saith he the causes of heresies and so destroy government nisi aperiantur Scholae in Flandria interventuque illarum spargantur semina Schismatum in scienti is naturalibus Stoicis videlicet Peripateticis Telesianis The Religion of the English cannot easily be brought to nothing unlesse Schools be opened in Flanders and by help of them the seeds of Schisms in Naturall Sciences and Stoick Peripatetick and Telesian Philosophy be scattered abroad The last page of this 25 Chap. is as followeth Insula haec reducetur in formam Reipublicae quae perpetuas inimicitias cum Scotia gerat actionesque suas non nisi lente perficiet c. When this Island shall become a Republick it will be at perpetuall enmity with Scotland and move very slowly and so do the lesse harm to Spain whereupon the King of Spain as soon as the throne is empty may step in pretending to help the English But let him be sure to keep correspondency with some English Noble-men who have power over the adjacent Islands and let every one of them have full and absolute dominion in his severall place as we read it was in the dayes of old Then let him tamper with the Nobility of Ireland that when the Queen is dead that Nation may be formed either into a Common-wealth or at least into a Kingdome distinct by it self then let him promise supplies to each of those Noblemen apart and so much the more because in that Kingdome or Island Catholicks especially Monks of the ord●r of St. Francis are very much beloved Now the Irish agree better with the Spaniards than with the English either because their manners or climates are alike and because their Countreys are neer one another And there are in Ireland many vagabond persons who cannot indure to be in subjection and yet they are good Catholicks and able to doe the King of Spain excellent service in the matter which we now speak of These and the like things may easily be prepared that when Queen Elizabeth is dead they may be put in execution for every one knoweth what bloody Civill wars what alterations and changes have been oftentimes in England So that what I have propounded will not seem strange or impossible To conclude The same Campanella in his 8. Chapter of the same book laies down this rule or maxime That the way to keep up or increase the King of Spains Monarchy is To keep his own Subjects in peace and his Neighbors in contention Tho. Campanella having thus given the King of Spain directions how to get and keep the English Nation Rob. Parsons goes a step further and will help him to a title to the Crown of England For in the yeare M.DXCIII he published a book under the name of ● Doleman Entituled A Conference about the next Succession to the Crown of England divided into 2 parts Concerning this book being condemned in Parliament Ann. 35. Eliz. when it was enacted that who ever should have it in his house should be guilty of high Treason and the Printer was hanged drawn and quartered See a book