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	king_n	pope_n	3,065	5	6.1057	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62874	A serious consideration of the oath of the Kings supremacy wherein these six propositions are asserted. 1. That some swearing is lawful. 2. That some promissory oaths are lawful. 3. That a promissory oath of allegiance and due obedience to a king is lawful. 4. That the King in his realm, is the onely supreme governour over all persons. 5. That the king is the governour of the realm, as well in all spiritual or ecclesiastical things, or causes, as temporal. 6. That the jurisdictions, priviledges, preeminences, and authorities in that oath, may be assisted and defended. By John Tombes B.D.	Tombes, John, 1603?-1676.	1660 (1660)	Wing T1818; ESTC R220153	19,748	28

it will be said The Kings of Israel were types of Christ and therefore their Power and Authority did cease in things Spiritual and Ecclesiastical when Christ was come 1. But to the contrary this is said without proof and so is rejected as easily as it is alledged 2. It is true Christ is often termed David and it is said he shall sit on Davids throne Luk. 1. 32 33. But this power of reforming Religion was not appropriate to David or the race of the Kings of Judah but belonged also to the Kings of Israel who were not types of Christ who are charged with the permission or promoting of Idolatry as their sin as on Jeroboam Ahab c. and Jehu is in some measure rewarded for the partial Reformation he made 2 King 10. 28 29 30. and therefore it belonged not to the Kings of Israel to reform Religion onely as types of Christ but even as Kings 2. This is proved and the Proposition it self That is to be ascribed to the King which was with approbation ascribed to Kings out of the Church But the Government in things and Causes spiritual or belonging to Religion is ascribed with approbation to Kings out of the Church Ergo The major is proved because what of this kind is with approbation ascribed to Kings out of the Church is to be taken as belonging to Kings as Kings and not as typical Kings or Rulers The minor is proved by instances The first of Cyrus King of Persia of whom we read that the Lord stirred up his spirit to make a Proclamation for building of Gods house 2. Chron. 36. 22 23. Ezra 1. 1 2. in doing this he is called Gods shepherd Isa 44. 28. and anointed by God Isa. 45. 1. and the same was continued by Decrees of Darius Ezra 6. 7 8 9 10 11 12. and Artaxerxes Ezra 7. 13 21 23 26. now these things belonging to the building of Gods house furthering his service were spiritual things and therefore Government in spiritual things belonging to Religion is ascribed to Kings out of the Church To these may be added the Decree of Nebuchadnezzar against them that should speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego Dan. 3. 29. and of Darius Dan. 6. 26. That in every Dominion of his Kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel which are undoubtedly about spiritual Causes or Matters of Religion and the King of Nineveh his Proclamation by the Decree of the King and his nobles that all should fast covered with sackcloth and cry mightily to God Jonah 3. 7 8. which is approved by God in that he defer'd his judgement thereupon in all which Government in matters of Religion was exercised and approved 3. That which agrees to other Rulers besides Kings agrees much more to Kings But to Govern in Causes spiritual or things of Religion belongs to Governours below Kings therefore much more to Kings 4. The major is proved from the title given to the King 1 Pet. 2. 13. where he is called the Supreme or Excelling and of those that are in Authority or Excelling 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. the King is reckoned as chief therefore if inferiour Governours are to Govern in matters of Religion much more Kings Now that they are to do so appears by the practice of Nehemiah who being not King nor Priest but Governour under the King of Persia reformed the Priests excluding aliens from the Priests chambers giving the Levites their portion and chiefly by restraining the profanation of the Sabbath Nehem. 13. 9 10 15 22. reckoning it among the works for which he would have God remember him Jacob reforms his houshold by requiring them to put away the strange gods that were among them and bury them Gen. 35. 2 4. Parents are required to bring up their children in the nurture in Greek discipline or government and admonition of the Lord Ephes. 5. 4. Servants are to be obedient to their masters as to Christ Vers. 5. As the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart Vers. 6. With good will doing service as to the Lord and not to men therefore Parents and Masters have Government in matters of Religion much more the Father and Master of the Common-wealth having a more ample Authority 4. This is further confirmed in that the Apostle where he speaks of the Powers he saith without limitation that Rulers are not a terrour to good works but to evil wilt thou not be afraid of the power do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same he is the minister of God a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil Rom. 13. 3. 4. Kings and Governours sent by them are for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well without limitation and distinction of Civil and Spiritual things 1 Pet. 2. 14. Now where the Law doth not distinguish neither are we and therefore are to understand the Governing in the text to be in Religious things as well as Civil 5. Which is further confirmed from the Titles given to them they are termed gods Psal. 82. 1 6. John 10. 34 35. Ministers of God Rom. 13. 4. That judge not for man but for the Lord 2 Chron. 19. 9. therefore they are to be ministers in a Political way and to judge in things of the Lord 6. Paul did not refuse to apologize for himself about the accusations of the Jews against him for his profession and preaching of Christian Religion but did justifie himself before Felix Festus and king Agrippa and appealed to Caesar Act. 23. 29. and 24. 5 6 8 10. and 25. 8 11 19 21 and 26. 2 3. therefore he denied not but acknowledged the Kings Government even in the things and Causes that concern Christian Religion and consequently we may in like manner acknowledge it 7. Paul exhorts us to pray and give thanks for Kings and all that are in authority or excellency that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. therefore he supposeth that Kings have some Government in matters of godliness as well as honesty and therefore are Governours In Causes Spiritual or of Religion 8. From the absurdities which follow if this be not granted 1. If the King be not Governour in Ecclesiastical things and Causes then his Kingly power is of no use in matters of Religion for if he have no Government in them he is to be a looker on and in effect a meer cipher in respect of such things But this is not to be said sith matters of Religion do as much concern him to Govern in as any causes all experience shewing that no Government can be well ordered without some regard had to Religion 2. All the actions which Kings have been commended for by godly persons were unjustifiable the pulling down of Idols restraining the importation and vending of Popes pardons and consecrated ware the causing the holy

Bible to be translated and publiquely to be read proclaimnig fasts and days of thanksgiving with many of the like acts of Kingly Authority have been unwarrantable 3. Kings should have no way of expressing their zeal for Gods worship and true Religion more then other men if they were not Governours in spiritual things and Causes nor be more accountable to God for neglect thereof then other men nor this sin of theirs of more guilt then the like sin of others which are all absurd 4. All the holy Martyrs who have owned their authority and submitted to it when they suffered under it all those who have petitioned for Reformation of Religion to Kings have giventhanks to God for it have advised that it should be sought from them should be censured as foolish if not sinfully countenancing an unrighteous usurpation and the best Christian Kings who have done most for the settling the affairs of the Church censured {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} busie in other mens matters and the like is to be said of Parliaments and so all matters of Religion must be left wholly to Bishops the evil and miserable effects of which are discernible in the Records of former and later times to be intolerable as it fell out in the troubles by Thomas Becket in the time of Henry the second of Stephen Langton in King Johns days the persecution in Queen Maries days by Bishops whose disowning the Kings Supremacy and asserting the Popes occasioned the making and the imposing of this Oath 5. Those Titles which have been given them for their care in ordering the things of the Church that they were nursing fathers and nursing mothers to it according to Isaiahs prophecy Isa. 49. 29. should be recalled all the exhortations and charges given to them by preachers to take care of the Church of God should be retracted they should be no longer minded that they are to be keepers of both tables of the Law in a word it should be their virtue to be as Gallio was that cared for none of these things Acts 18. 17. which are all absurd Against this many things are objected 1. That to acknowledge the King the onely Supreme Governour is to make him God To this I answer Not so sith he is acknowledged Governour in his Dominions and Supreme therein under God and the exclusive term onely excludes foraign jurisdiction of the Pope and other Princes and States which by the Oath is renounced not Gods Government Object 2 If Kings are Governours in all causes then they may appoint what Religion and worship of God they please and it is evil to disobey or gainsay what they impose Answer Though in temporal things they be Governours yet are they to Govern according to Laws So in Spiritual and Ecclesiastical things they are to Govern according to the Laws of Christ and such rules as agree with them and not in either in a meerly arbitrary way after their own will nor are we necessitated to obey or own what they require if inconsistent with the laws of Christ and such rules as agree with them Object 3. If Kings be Governours in all Causes over all persons then may they dissolve Churches and their Government and mould and order them as they will Answ. So far as Church constitution Government and ordering is by Christs appointment or such example which hath the force of an institution of Christ it may not be altered by a King But in such things as are left to humane prudence and there is a concernment of the weal publique Kings have authority to order them so as that they tend to the real good and advantage of the Churches of Christ and the glory of God which is the highest and ultimate end of all Object 4. This will make the use of Synods and Assemblies of Pastors to determine things of Religion and to order government unnecessary sith the determination of all will lye in the Kings breast Answ. Though Statute-laws require the Kings assent and the Government is to be exercised in his name by his Commission yet are not debates in Parliament and passing bills by both Houses nor consultations with judges nor their decisions of cases unnecessary The like is to be said of the use of Synods and Assemblies of Pastors and learned men though the calling of them and validity of their Canons that is rules in respect of the imposing them on others with civil penalties require the Kings concurrence Object 5. This hath occasioned great evils in so much that persecution hath been raised against godly persons as Heretiques and Schismatiques when Princes have been misled so as to burn banish imprison and otherwise to afflict persons judged by Prelates and others to be such Answ. 'T is true this hath fallen out when Princes ignorant of the true Religion corrupted in their education perverted by seducers and ungodly guides in their judgements have yielded too much to the misinformation of others and so have been unhappy in the abuse of their Government to the great hurt in life liberty and estate of innocent persons And the like hath been in mal-administration of civil affairs through the like causes yet the power and authority in neither is to be denied for some abuse for that would introduce a worse evil of Anarchy and mischievous confusions On the other side when Princes have been good and have used such good Counsellours as Jehojada was to Joash their Government in Religion hath been of great advantage to the Church of Christ And as things have stood in England it was the means under God whereby Popery was expelled and the Protestant Reformation was established Object 6. By allowing so much power in Ecclesiastical things Religion is often changed with the King and thereby peoples minds are at much uncertainty what Religion to be of which tends to irreligion and Atheisme Answ. So it fell out in the Kingdom of Judah yet the power of the Kings of Judah in matters of Religion was not for this cause denied And the like happens upon change of teachers as in the Churches of Galatia and Paul Acts 20. 29 30. foretels the like would be in the Church of Ephesus yet is not therefore the use and Government of Pastors to be denied but more diligence to be in using such holy means as prayer for Kings 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. c. which by Gods blessing may prevent these evils Object 7. No man is to Govern in that whereof he is no sit Judge nor is any man a fit Judge but he that is skilful in the things he judgeth which seldom happened to Kings in matters of Religion and therefore Government therein is ill ascribed to them Ans. As a King may be fit to Govern in Temporal Causes whereto is required skill in the laws of the Land of which perhaps he hath little or no knowledge not so much as a Judge is to have who passeth sentence if he choose and use them that are skilful and