Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	covenant_n	king_n	kingdom_n	2,844	4	5.8167	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

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

Discipline B. Yes and great reason it should be so for their care towards us exceeds ours towards our selves A. You swear to maintain the Discipline of Scotland a bold Oath not one of ten amongst you that understands what he swears B. Indeed our light is not clear at that point nor theirs neither not so clear as it shall be yet without doubt I shall clear that objection fully in due place much must be said to it which shall not interpose now A. But what need you think so much of defence and managing a warre you may have a Peace and at an easie rate if you can see the way unto it and Petition thereafter the Irish may have it nay we hear it is granted them and doubtlesse if ye are modest and bashfull some there are who will intercede for you touching this matter Besides there are men amongst your selves very many who have been importunate Petitioners for Peace as their Wives were the eighth of August last and will put on for it again B. Here are some State-matters let Statesmen look thereunto These are within compasse of our knowledge and Eternall Truths 1. That an Irish Peace is worse than an Irish Warre and then we want a word to expresse how abominable it is 2. That cursing and blessing cannot come forth of the same Mouth 3. Nor was it ever seen in our Land since men dwelt there that the Idol and Peace except an Idol-Peace came in from the same Quarters 4. Let then talk what they will of their Peace GOD has sworn and his people too That he will have war with them avenge upon them the Blood of His Servants cast them down and lay them lower then the earth who have endeavoured to lay His Glory in the dust and to dethrone the Lord Jesus Christ And for the other Petitioners with their commanding wives they will come too late now we have covenanted against them their Atheisme Superstition Prophanesse and to throw these all out so also against the evill of our own lives every man confessing the Plague of his own heart and resolving in Gods strength to search his own tents and to cast out the accursed thing thence and then to walk in the midst of his house as a man whose Vows are upon him Gods people as His people Gods Minister as His Minister shewing forth the Doctrine that it is from Heaven by the light of his conversation before men for the Covenant ends as we shall see anon in a personall Reformation A. Then Peace comes in now a Peace of Gods giving according to your own hearts desire what needs then such preparation for Warre and Vows to defend each others things B. The greatest need now because of the Agony or fight of afflictions we now expect and will be We are but in a way to Peace pursuing it orderly as we read before every man resolving for his own part to reform one and to contend for the Faith But Peace I meane a peace of Gods giving we abominate any other so abused so perverted so ill improved and Truth so reproachfully thrust away will not be given back again to us quickly There must be Time and Cost about it and we must wait and expect the greatest brunt now the sorest opposition against all three Kingdoms Ye end●red a great fight of afflictions saith the Heb 10. 32. Apostle When After ye were illuminated after you had a clear sight of God and your selves of Gods wayes and your wayes how ye walked how He walked how contrary one to the other After ye were illuminated a sore fight so after we enter into Covenant every Man for himselfe to do so and so then expect a fierce opposition a sore Agony which well considered on will knit us the faster all together all as one man and make our bonds the stronger engage us more to look to our selves and each to others matters A. What have you to do with Scotland their Religion and Discipline let them look to themselves and you to your selves It is against the Laws and Constitutions of Kingdoms that you should meddle with their matters or they with yours A. In truth I have heard as much as this once and again but I will heare it no more it is a wicked objection it makes my Ears tingle If we cast off the care each of other farewell all for all fals to ruine O abominable All under one Head and one King Professing the same Faith Heirs of the same hope Members on● of another and yet against the Law To have care one of another The care of all the Churches lay upon Paul what Law did he break there Elizabeth whom every mouth did Blesse except that which does Blaspheme for she loved the Nation She Cared for Scotland sent succours thither seventy yeers agon What law did She break in so doing Not the Law of God nor of Charity nor of Christian Communitie then nor the Laws of men Indeed is is a Cain's Objection Am I my Brothers Keeper Yes that he was and so every Man is his Brothers Keeper It is so of Kingdoms too specially united under one Crowne wherein there is a Common Interest which commands a Common Care There is a (a) T it 1 4. Common Faith and a (b) I●de 3. Common Salvation which engageth us unto Scotland Scotland unto us To contend for that Faith and to seek the Common wealth each of other Therefore we will not hear what Cain objects for he slew his Brother We stand every one charged to Care every one for anothers things Scotland to maintain our Religion and Discipline we theirs and so our Conference ends now I make way to the Objection I. If so be the Devill and his Proctors subtill Brokers for Babylon shall endeavour as they have done To put out the Eyes of our Brethren in Scotland To take away Religion which we must be as tender of as of our Eyes and preserve with the same diligence as we do our (c) Qu●● pura est p●p●lla occ●li c. Salv. de Gu● l. 2. Souls and Discipline in Scotland or blend and mixe it with their folly mate either th' one or th' other with their madnesse Service Book or Services oppugne or storm it by any other more violent way we have lifted up our hands That according to the Power in our hand in our Calling and Station mark that we will oppose the Devill and all his Bishops The Adversary shall not take away their Religion nor mixe it neither nor their Discipline we have lifted up our hands unto it and to the most High God in all the Peoples fight That we will oppose them who will oppose our Brethren in these matters Object Fooles first they take a Vow and after enquire (d) Eccles what is the Discipline of Scotland They that have lifted up their Hands to maintain it do not know what it is Answ Like enough it is so with me and many more And

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