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	pope_n	3,103	5	6.3417	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51052	The case of the accommodation lately proposed by the Bishop of Dumblane to the non-conforming ministers examined wherein also the antient Prostasia, or, Episcopus Præses is considered, and the Solemne League and Covenant occasionally vindicat : together with a copy of the two letters herein reviewed : vvhereunto also is subjoined an appendix in ansvver to a narrative of the issue of the treaty anent accommodation.	McWard, Robert, 1633?-1687.	1671 (1671)	Wing M231; ESTC R5121	109,669	138

furious storme that broke off and destroyed the branches the root of the Kingdome was by this bond made sure until the time of our restitution wherein it made the first and most airly appearance so the remembrance of these things may yet be ground of hope that the Lord will arise aud have mercy upon Zion and in place of the Babel-confusions wherewith these Masters of confusion and rebuilders of Babilon do upbraid us cause his work appeare unto his Servants and his glory unto their Children In the last place the Author saith He heareth that some take the Romish Hierarchie in the National Covenant for the same with our present Episcopacy and that by vertue of the Gloss of Glasgow which yet he saith doth grosly corrupt the Text For the Romish Hierarchie is the Romish Hierarchie and no other nor hath any man or assembly of men even such as have most of the spirit in them power to bind a sense upon the words so different from and opposite to their clear and genuine signification I cannot here in the close insist on all the impertinencies hudled up in these few lines though by the Romish hierarchie abjured in the National Covenant there is no doubt meaned not only Romes proper hierarchie usurping and pretending to a domination over us but also all such like corruption in Ecclesiastick government whether in its rise growth or consummation under which it is manifest that the controverted Episcopacy as being the first workings of that mystery must necessarily be comprehended Yet it was not by this clause alone of this Covenant that this Episcopacy was conceived to be abjured amongst us in as much as the argument that may be gathered from it for this abjuration is both cumulative and concludent above exception viz. that albeit that it doth principally relate to heads of doctrine and the maintainance of the truth therein contrary to the errors of poperie yet it doth also extend itself against all manner of Superstition corruption and therefore doth not only reject the Popes worldly monarchy and wicked Hierarchie whereby without question all the degrees occasions tendencies either of worldly domination or undue Elation of Christs Ministers over his flock or among themselves are disclaimed but thereby we do expressly joine our selves to the Church of Scotland as then reformed in doctrine faith religion and discipline promising and swearing by the great name of the Lord our God that we shall continue in the obedience of the doctrine and Discipline of this Kirk and shall defend the same according to our vocation and power all the dayes of our lives Under vvhich heads especially that of Discipline according to the usual phrase of these times as it is vvithout controversy that the Government then in being vvas contained so if vve consider that the taking and subscribing of this Covenant in the year 1581. and 1590. was designedly enjoined by the general Assembly for the confirmation of Presbiterian Government then completly perfected and unanimously agreed to in the year 1581. and universally setled and established in the year 1590 it is not possible that in this matter any shadovv of scruple should remain I might here adde for a further evidence that when within a few years thereafrer King Iames and his Court-faction took upon them to innovat that forme by the introduction of Kirk-commissioners and constant Moderators or fixed presidents the faith●ul who opposed these courses did as it appeares by their writings and publick protestations yet extant very freely testify against them as perjurious defections and breaches of the oath of God which is an undeniable proof of the sense wherein it was taken But the plain and obvious account of this oath which I have already exhibit is more then sufficient to vindicat the consonancy and soundness of that interpretation made by the forementioned Assembly against the author's identick and ridiculous reasoning to wit that therefore the Romish hierarchy in that Oath cannot contain the present episcopacy because forsooth the Romish hierarchy is the Romish hierarchy And no less ignorant and lascivient confidence whereby he goeth about not only impudently to decry a most certain and cleare explication as gross and shameful but impertinently to defie or mock the Spirit of the Lord and all thereby conducted I might in this place moreover subjoine that admitting for the Author 's more ful redargution that the Assembly had lap●ed in their exposition yet seeing it was materially agreeable to truth we are thereunto bound by our sacred oath not so much assertorie of the justness of the explanation as positivè renouncing the thing therein contained this error in the manner could not by any rule dissolve the force of our oath but the certainty and lawfulness of our abjuration by this oath both of Prelacy and Episcopacy and all their aspyring degrees hath been already by me so largely and evidently declared that any addition were altogether superfluous As for what the Author tells us in the last place that the Presbyterian brethren in former times did not think themselves by that Cove●ant oblidged to Separate from the Synods wherein Bishops presided as their practices do evidence I am persvvaded I have so abundantly cleared the difference of their case from ours and thereby reconciled their and our practices in a most agreeable consistency that the very simple noticing of this reflection may almost be accounted an excess I might here adde that if Presbyterian government were offered to be truly restored upon its own proper● foundation and no thing imposed beside this constant President both eligible deposible by the Courts wherein he moderats the practice of vvithdravving would be liable to more probable exceptions but seeing the very lovvest condescendence that probably can be conjectured is immensly distant from this hypothesis and the exigence of a te●timony flovving from our present unrepented backslidings vvith the far more probable ensuing of evill then good upon a conjunction vvith the persons and in the other circumstances obvious in our present condition doe according to these grounds and rules declared in my first Discourse still persvvade to a humble tender prudent and vvitnessing separation I do here put a period to these debates FINIS

an inquirie And therfore omitting to preface any thing upon the first proposal of this Treatie and the methods of its prosecution that have since been practised I shall take its termes from their most assured warrant viz. the Articles lately given in at Paseley to the Mimisters there conveening under the title and of the tenor following Articles proposed by the Bishop of Glasgow to the dissenting Brethren 1. THat if the dissenting Brethr●n will come to Presbyteries and Synods they shall not only not be oblidged to renounce their own private opinion anent Church-government and swear or subscribe any thing thereto But shall have libertie at their entrie to the said meeting to declare and enter it in what form they please 2. That all Church affairs shall be managed in Presbyteries or Synods by the free vote of Presbyters or the major part of them 3. If any difference fall out in the Diocesian Synods betwixt any of the Members thereof it shall be lawfull to appeal to a Provincial Synod or their Committy 4. That Intrants being lawfully presented by the Patron and duely tryed by the Presbyterie there shall be a day agreed on by the Bishop and Presbytrie for their meeting together for thei● solemn ordination and admission at which there shall be one appointed to preach and that it shall be at the Parish Church where he is to be admitted except in the case of impossibility or extream inconvenience And if any difference fall in touching that affair it shall be referable to the Provincial Synods or their Committy as any other matter 5. It is not to be doubted but my L. Commissioner his Grace will make good what he offered anent the establishment of Presbyteries and Synods and we trust his Grace will procure such security to these Brethren for declaring their judgement that they may do it without any hazard in contraveening any Law and that the Bishop shall humbly and earnestly recommend this to his Grace 6. That no Intrant shall be engadged to any Canonical Oath or Subscription to the Bishop and that his opinion anent that Government shall not prejudge him in this but that it shall be free for him to declare These being the conditions offered in order to the intended Accommodation it is evident that for a due understanding of their import we ought first to know what is the nature of these Meetings called Presbyteries Synods and Provincial Assemblies to which the Brethren are invited And for that end we must not only transpose the fifth Article to the first place and supplie it with such other probabilities as may be had but also arise a little higher to remember the changes that we have lately seen and from what and to what they have carried us For seing our joyning in the present Presbyteries and Synods with or under Bishops as they are offered to be reduced is that which is principally demanded of us it is so little possible without this previous examination rightly and fairly to define the case in contratraversie that I can hardly acquit the preposterousness and deficiencie in the Articles of a greater error then a common mistake The thing then which comes first to be noted in point of fact and which I shall represent with that truth and impartiality that I hope none shall deny it is that this Church having in the Year 1638. abrogat and abjured the Government of the Kirk by Bishops and set up Presbyterian Government in its purest simplicity and paritie we together with the renewing of the National Covenant solemnly engadged Constantly to adhere unto and defend the true Religion then established in Doctrine Worship and Government contrary to all the novations and corruptions from which it was at that time reformed and to labour by all means for the purity and liberty of the Gospel as it was established and professed before these novations After which time the Church in our acknowledgement did enjoy a Ministrie and Government truely Ecclesiastick committed to them by and depending upon our Lord Iesus Christ alone as King in Zion and Head of his Church Thereafter by an Act Rescissorie it was declared and statute by both King and Parliament in the Year 1640. and 1641. agreeably to the Oath formerly taken that the sole and only power and jurisdiction within this Kirk did stand in the Kirk of God as it was then reformed and in the General Provincial and Ptesbyterial Assemblies with the Kirk Sessions established by Act. P. 1592. in like manner by the Solemn League and Covenant entred into in the Year 1643. the whole Kingdome doth again swear to the preservation of the Reformed Religion of the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government and to extirpate Popery Prelacie Schism Superstition Profannesse and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound Doctrine and the Power of Godliness Which engagement we are bound all the dayes of our life zealously aud constantly to continow in against all opposition and to promove the same according to our power Thus matters stood both in obligation and general observance until the Year 1661. At which time the Parliament then sitting having prepared their way by exalting of the prerogative in opposition to and for the overthrow of the practices of bygone times specially that of entering into Leagues and Bonds they at one blow rescinde all Parliaments after the year 1633. and the Government of the Church being thereby wholly deprived of the civill sanction and its continowance by another Act permitted and declared to be only precarious during the Kings pleasure Afterward all Ecclesiastick meetings in Synods Presbytries and Sessions are by proclamation the 9 Ianuary 1662. discharged untill they should be authorized and ordered by the Archbishops and Bishops then nominat by his Maiestie upon their entering into the Government of their respective Sees By which means the former Government being overturned and razed unto the very foundation at least as much as the wit and power of man could effectuat the next thing that offers is the new structure and frame that is raised in its place And in the year 1662. the Parliament again meeting by their first Act for re-establishing of the Government of the Church by Bishops laying it for the ground That the disposal of the external Government of the Church doth properly belong unto his Majestie as an inherent right of the Crown by vertew of his Supremacie They do thereby redintegrat the estate of Bishops not only to their places in Parliament and their accustomed dignities and priviledges but also to their Episcopal function Presidency in the Church and power of Ordination Censures and all Church-discipline to be performed by them with the advice of such of the Clergie as they should find to be of known loyalty and prudence And for removing of all scruples the Parliament doth furder rescinde all former Acts by which the sole and only power and jurisdiction within this Church doth stand in the Church and