Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	good_a	king_n	prince_n	3,500	5	5.4628	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A55293	Moses and Aaron, or, The ministers right and the magistrates duty vindicated from the exceptions made against both by Richard Kingsnoth, in a late book of his entitled, The true tything of the Gospel-ministers / by Daniel Pointel ...	Pointel, Daniel, d. 1674.	1657 (1657)	Wing P2741; ESTC R4455	113,893	137

of this attempt by smiting the Intruder with a Leprosy while he had a Censer in his hand Verse 19. Verse 21 23. and was wroth with the Priests and this never cured upon him to the day of his death though a good King repenting doubtlesse and pardoned and many prayers offerd up for him by all the Faithful God would make him a standing example to after Princes that they should not stretch beyond their commission in matters of Religion Now if what was done and that so generally were an usurpation as well as this likely God would have been jealous here too and not have suffered himself to be perpetually nosed in matters he is so exceeding tender of yet this never done they not once blamed but alwayes commended and the Neglecters ever branded with a Note of Infamy for their neglect yea the thing so pleasing to God that he delights to speak of the doing of so acceptable a thing and will make mention of the name of that blessed Instrument he intends to make use of for this purpose above three hundred years before he was born 2 Kin. 13.2 yea and an Heathen Cyrus shall be honoured with the like favour about two hundred years compute the uttering of that Prophecy Is 44.28 and the beginning of the seventy years how you please before he was born for this very thing not only for saying to Jerusalem Thou shalt be built but for saying also to the Temple This Foundation shall be laid and God sure would never set so large a Character of honour so long before upon that Action which if an unwarrantable exorbitancy from mens bounds of duty could never have pleased him Nay in this very thing we treat of Ministers maintenance till Hezekiah's time it seems there needed no Laws under the raign of good Kings and the malice of bad ones afforded none though like enough there needed then but then what an expresse one do we find 2 Chro. 31.4 this before the captivity after the captivity another Neh. 13.10 11 12. These I proposed to my Neighbour as appeares to which he addes P. 5. Is 49.13 a place never once by me mentioned to him and this which I mentioned not he frames an answer to such as it is but to that I did indeed alledge he sayes nothing if this be fair dealing Neighbour in your serious howrs for conscience to conferre with it self do you judge yet this must not serve your turn either therefore show us that these had no such power it was a meer usurpation or show us plain evidence of Scripture for the revoking of this power or yeeld to the unanswerable conviction of truth for you may not slyly carry away such a matter as this is by saying nothing to it After Nehemiah's time the Priestly and Princely power meet again not as at first Princes becoming Priests but Priests becoming Princes so it was for a time before under the Government of Eli and so it continued ●ill the Romans a third party 1 Machab. 14.41 between Brethren contending swallowed up all whatever Authority those times may afford it is wholly ours in this cause Plain Resolutions these for such a power in Magistrates once had how came they so considerable a Pearl in the Crown of Princes to drop out thence a plain expresse revoking is not pretended to and consequences had need be very manifest in a matter of this weight 't is easy to daily with such kind of proofs as he that found out a repeal for this power in Matth. 5.38 39. and Gen. 49.10 such manner of proofs men may alledge by the scores but to do this soundly clearly and convincingly will be an hard thing This is the usual plea that the power of Magistrates in making Laws about Church matters was typical and to cease upon the coming of Christ Typical and Ceremonial are two words that help us at a dead list many a time when we have nothing else to say but pray Sirs were Cyrus and Artaxerxes types of Christ too Ezra 7.27 And how is it proved that all the Kings of Judah were Types of Christ And if so in any respect how appears it they were so as Law-makers in matters of the Church and if so why not asmuch in matters of State Matth. 28.18 Eph. 1.22 Rev. 2.23 all power is given to Christ and he is the head of all things to the Church what else is killing Children with death but an execution of such a power Spiritual Weapons cut off after another manner yet if Typical must it needs therefore be repealed Melchizedech's benediction was Typical most of any thing in his Ministery yet I hope not repealed therefore I have my Neighbours Testimony with me in this business who pleading for free will-offerings P. 17. finds them out in the old Law and addes This was Typical Therefore I suppose to continue under the Gospel because Typical if nothing else hinder not therefore to be abrogated that Type of Christ whose fulfilling was mysterious let that be abrogated by Christ but that Type whose fulfilling was literal may and I suppose must abide still Be it then Typical yet as Christ blessed Abraham the Father of Believers by Melchizedech his Type and now blesses Believers the Children of Faithful Abraham by Ministers who are in his stead so Christ may provide for the Church by Magistrates his Types under the Law so now may he do the same by Magistrates who in the Acts of their office are in Christs stead too I ask now whether the meer consideration of a Type can overthrow this In fine therefore whatever things are contained in this shift are uncertain vain empty all and grant as much in courtesy as they can ask yet then unconcluding too I shall now see what may be said for the affirmative that this power duty still continues in Magistrates hands now under Gospel times Matth. 5.17 1 Tim. 1. I hope it will not be denied that the moral Law is of force now as ever as a rule of duty out of that there are two Commandments which resolve this power to be in the Magistrate The fourth wherein the Stranger is Commanded to keep the Sabbath-day and who shall engage him to this but the civil Magistrate every Stranger within their Gates was not a Proselyte to be kept in by the Authority of the word Nehemiah's Example is a good exposition upon the Law in this thing 11. In the fifth Commandment none doubts but the Magistrate is concerned and that what a private Father hath to do in his Family that the publick Father hath to do in the Common-wealth so much at least and more and that man is a sad Father who thinks himself not engaged to Command his Children in first Table duties aswel as in second Table ones they are not worthy to be called the Children of Abraham Eph. 6.4 and have not learnt what the Apostles nurture and admonition means why not the same

those two examples were given 12. When I asked you whether you did demand it by the Law of God you answered no. I did not say so only I waved that question as being unwilling to trouble him with it 13. He addes immediately as from me you were no Jew nor Levite c. This was not in answer to the question about the Law of God in general as he relates it falsely but in answer to the question of the Law of God as it made Tithes due to the Levitical Priesthood as such for I was no Jew Aug. 25. 1656. c. This he wrote out of the Narrative of the Conference word for word from whence he might have related the rest with faithfulness for it was before him 14. When I asked you Do you require it by the gift of Indulgent Princes you say no. The quite contrary is most true I alwayes pleaded it to him by the gift of Indulgent Princes and people and never used to him any Argument but that and my similitude to make things plain to him was this A Testatour dies and leaves me a Legacy his Executor refusing to pay is constrained to it by order of Law the Law here does not ground the Title but the Testators will P. 13. it only confirmes the will and affords a remedy to the injured person This he knows and hath confessed was my Language to him see what he Prints 15. Yet to deceive the simple you plead both I challenge him to name the person to whom I have said otherwise in this or in any other point then I have said to him and then it will appear whether this be a slander or no. 16. Your Predecessor takes 20. l. per an of you to let you have the living and cometh once or twice a year for his money and Preacheth a Sermon to colour it over Untrue and incredible both through the grace of God I am what I am I hope they that know me do not believe that I need lay our money to purchase a living I was sought to from London at that very time from a people there after a free and full Election as I have to show under their hands this in the midst of my relations and acquaintance and was it likely I should wound my Conscience so deep without cause that I might place my self in the dirt far from my Friends among a company of meer strangers or if I were so vain as well as wicked could not this money matter be carried closely as such manner of purchases are want to be were we all so many of us such sots as to proclaim our wickedness in the face of the Sun No no there was no such matter if ever I saw Gods hand in any particular providence all my life it was in his over-ruling hand disposing me for Staplehurst and bringing me to it it was Gods work I am most undoubtedly assured of it and not the Devils had I not seen it most apparently I had never staid here what was done between me and my Predecessor was done before many witnesses it was but this Two Ministers consenting to Preach to the same people by consent likewise share the proportion both of time and maintenance which each should have that there might be no difference about these things afterwards a thing not only lawful to be done but in a manner necessary on my part with all sincerity undertaken and performed God is witness as for my truely honoured Predecessor his integrity needs not my defence he is able to do it himself in a season and manner convenient if need be 17. More might be said from experience in this Parish but I spare a most merciful Reviler we are guilty in things it seems not to be named such is the modesty and tender-heartedness of the man For my part where I walk out of the way of my duty I desire not to be spared let him or any man reprove me in a way of Gospel Charity he that spares my sins does not spare me is cruel to me I desire for ever so to think But if the concealed matters be of the same nature as this which is expressed and one would think impudent lies should not be uttered and things true hid oh that he would at last learn to spare his own soul use no more false and uncharitable reproaches and repent of these even the Saints God is a consuming fire 18. They presently prepare war Mic. 3.5 P. 19. there is no presently in the Text either in word or sence but it s put in that I after above three years patience may be the more deeply wounded by a false accusation how often have I been thanked by this man and commended for my long forbearance 19. Like the Priests Boyes 1 Sam. 2.15 16 17. had my Neighbour pleased I might have had that name of scorn put upon me without changing the translation he uses into a worse from a visitation Sermon the Levites that Ministred unto the Priests in holy things did begin their service from 30. years age Num. 4.3 I have attained through Gods patience some years above that and yet can well enough bear that Title without any injurious reflexions upon the infirmities of old age Alas how childish are such Contests as these in Print and how unbeseeming the honour of Religion 20. P. 7. I adde one more drawn from the very cause all these are personal a thing more then once we are told of and it tends to weaken the force of our civil constitutions in the behalf of Tithes That those Princes Laws that first established Tithes in England did also establish the Catholick Faith of the Church of Rome and all Traitors that denied it whether this be a truth or no Though with an impudence to amazement he bring it in with Be it known to you I am sure he knows it not to be a truth for being desired where thee Laws might be found now he tells me of Henry the eighth no great Establisher of Tithes I think to be sure not the first by and by he tells me of Magna Charta wherein Tithes are not at all mentioned but included in general among the rights of the Church And whether ever there were any Law that makes it treason not to be of the Religion of Rome let the skilful in the Law judge heresy likely More of this nature hereafter but treason not likely These uncharitable Censures and plain Falsehoods I have privately demanded satisfaction for and offer'd a fair debate of them before indifferent men matters of Fact coming most of them within the compass of an ocular demonstration may admit of a speedy decision if men will but see what is before their eyes and this I did that I might prevent this ungrateful narrative had it been accepted and now I am still ready by the same means to make good the narrative I have given to prevent unnecessary replyes to this part of the

ought not a man to chuse rather to suffer in his goods then in his person and expose them to buy his own peace as a man delivers his purse to a thief upon the way to save his life an honourable similitude your friends are wont to use to set forth the authority of those good Lawes under whose protection next to Gods you live Why neighbour upon this ground you have acted hitherto in paying and preaching as I am informed for the payment of them and is it not strange you should run over this foundation of your former practice not so much as speaking one word of it My neighbour stay a while and bethink your selfe what hath carried you off from your former peaceable principle resolution and practice Have you considered the Apostles rule That nothing be done through strife and vain-glory Let me put some thoughts into your mind It is not to be imagined that Jeroboam and his Successors were so unpolitick as to take away the Levites Tythes Priests he must have and they must have a maintenance why not that which was Gods own They paid the third yeers Tithe Act. 4.5 why not this too and which the people had been long accustomed to pay He had no reason unnecessarily to make provoking changes in matters of Religion and there is no mention of his or their doing any such thing Doubtless this bait to tempt the Lords Priests to stay and countenance the Schism and Idolatry would never be neglected Now did any Prophet forbid this payment or any of the Lords people scruple it In the Family of David instance in the long Apostacy under Manasses and Amon what wicked Kings and Priests were then yet none of Gods people were restrained from paying their Tythes In Christs time when the High-Priesthood was and for a long time had been bought and sold he that would give most undermining his fellow many of them heretical Sadduces besides yet is any relaxation of this duty even then nay are they not bound to it by Christs own bonds these ought ye Mat. 23.23 In the Apostles times not one word to forbid any the payment of Tythes to the Christ-forsaking and Christ-forsaken blaspheming persecuting Jewish Priests and Levites Tythes were paid under Heathens to the Priests of Idol-Temples by the then Lawes no one Apostle Father Martyr ever contradicting and yet they were zealous against complyance with Idols too He that shall but read Tertull. de Idololat will find strictness enough if not too much that way if Demetrius stood up so fiercely for his craft not directly opposed by the Apostles would not the Idol-Priests have stood up much more for their Tythes if the Apostle had raised questions about this thing among them Acts 19.17 1 Pet. 2.13 Nay Peters very ordinance will exact obedience active to all lawful commands passive to all unlawful ones and this among the rest when the World was turned Arrian Athanasius Basil c. never taught that Tythes were unlawful to be paid unto Teachers of Arrianism and at this day it is the constant resolution of all Protestant Divines to the quieting of scrupulous consciences that have asked advice from them often and often Rivets dissert in Gen. 14. That those Princes Lawes which command Tythes to be paid to Popish Massing Priests are to be submitted to by those of the Reformed Religion that live within the Dominions of such Princes The like is the resolution of all Popish Divines concerning their Catholicks that live under the Dominion of Protestant Princes as appeares by their general uncontradicted practice But we must be used so as no Ministers of holy things were ever used how bad soever who enjoyed the countenance of publick Authority nay not so well as a thief that takes a purse I put this case Tythes are no private mans propriety I speak of those paid to Ministers let the user of land divide his own from what is not his own and carry in what is his leaving what is not his upon the ground and then permit him that can bear it out in the Court of men whether he have a just right or no whether those Lawes are righteous or no to enter upon the land and carry it away I ask now what Law of God this Farmer sins against and whether he doe not his most apparent duty if the Takers title be not good the Leaver hath none at all and cannot remedy the badness of the Takers title he is not made a Judge to punish an Idolatrous Priest much lesse is he to mulct the Priest and take the fine to himself Pray think of this question you have overlooked you make too much haste Have you stood thus long upon this ground and doe you now relinquish it without being beaten off with the assault of so much as one slight Argument 2. Neither doe I finde any thing concerning the unlawfulness of a Tenth P. 21. supposing it freely paid and without compulsion I meet indeed with Christs nailing ceremonies to his Crosse and Tythe reckoned among the rest but you seem not to mean that Tythes are a ceremony as Tythes but as a forced maintenance Frequently you tell us of Tythe chang'd into a free gift a tenth into any proportion determined by the mind of the giver In one place indeed we have the proportion chang'd P. 15. but then it is from Levis to Melchisedechs and Jacobs from a tenth commanded to a tenth freely given and vowed at least if theirs be the example surely the tenth is not alone excluded But my good friend why this confusion you found the questions distinguished to your hands if Tythes be Ceremonies as Tythes P. 18. tell us plainly if as stinted summes and this is that which is abolished as sure as Christ is come in the flesh tell us so plainly too that we may deal with you upon certainties I see the main weight of your Book is against a maintenance stinted by the Magistrates Authority and I took notice of it among the Brownists at the Conference at Hedcorne and this is not done without great and deep advice They knew that to satisfie some mens clamours and other mens scruples consultations had been enter'd upon to alter the present way into some other supposed more commodious and free from contradictions If therefore they would fasten any thing to the Ministers disadvantage they must let goe the debate of Tythes as such and take better hold the Magistrate hath no power to injoyn any proportion at all that will doe it this Principle fits their turn it strikes home Agreeable to this was the killing Argument in the Remonstrance or Petition drawn up by them and intended to be presented either to the Protector or Parliament had they sped in their choice If they build again what they have destroyed they shall be found transgressors They had been and were a destroying our Ministry as Popish and Antichristian alas that we should be such eye-sores to them