Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	king_n	law_n	parliament_n	7,328	5	6.6868	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85957	The fort-royal of Christianity defended. Or, a demonstration of the divinity of scripture, by way of excellency called the Bible. With a discussion of some of the great controversies in religion, about universal redemption, free-will, original sin, &c. For the establishing of Christians in truth in these atheistical trying times. / By Thomas Gery, B.D. and Rector of Barwell in Leicestershire.	Gery, Thomas, d. 1670?	1657 (1657)	Wing G618; Thomason E1702_1; ESTC R209377	93,977	264

In the Old Testament God commanded that the Levites who were the persons set apart to attend upon the service of God in those times under the Law as the Ministers of the word are under the Gospel should have allowance both by Tithes and other emoluments and profits out of sacrifices and oblations as every one knows and moreover they had given them by God's appointment 48. Cities with their suburbs and land annexed and appropriated to every one of them extending in quantity to 2000. Cubits of ground round about every City as it 's recorded in the 25th Chapter of the Book of Numbers and the first verse and so forward Secondly In the new Testament our Saviour Christ sending forth his 70. disciples to preach the Gospel bids them take neither bag nor scrip nor shooes but to eat and drink with those into whose houses they entred for the labourer is worthy of his hire Luke 10.4 5 6 7. verses S. Paul also justifies this at large and several times in 1 Cor. 9.9 10 11. verses He writes thus It is written in the Law of Moses Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corn Doth God take care for Oxen or saith he it altogether for our sakes for our sakes no doubt this is written that he that ploweth should plow in hope and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope If we have sowen unto you spiritual things is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things And then he addeth in the 23. verse Do you not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the Temple and they which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospell should live of the Gospell Here is no ambiguity nor obscurity in this Text but a plain and punctual affirmation that they which preach the Gospel should have their maintenance and livelihood for preaching of it But see yet further proof hereof to beat down if it may that unreasonable and unjust desire that is in some niggardly people who would have Ministers do all their work and labour for nothing Gal. 6.6 The Apostle gives this precept Let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that teacheth in all good things And again in 1 Tim. 5.17 18. verses Let the elders which rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the word and doctrine For the Scripture saith Thou shalt not muzzle the Oxe that treadeth out the corn and the labourer is worthy of his reward Here then is plentiful proof of Scripture for the justification of this point But now see it proved also by force of reason which I have learned out of Scripture also namely out of 1 Cor. 9.7 8 12. here the Apostle reasons after this manner Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges who planteth a vineyard and eateth not of the fruit thereof or who feedeth a flock and eateth not of the milk of the flock Say I these things as a man or saith not the Law the same also And then in the verses following rehearsed before applies it to the Ministers of the Gospel As if he should have said Every vocation and profession from the highest to the lowest from the King to the day-labourer affords some emolument and recompence to them that labour in them this cannot be denied And therefore if all other men live by their functions and callings it 's just that Ministers also should also live by theirs Again I read in Scripture namely in 1 Tim. 3.2 That a Bishop should be hospitable Now if people should afford him no allowance and compensation for his labour and pains but rather subduct that which hath been formerly given both by God as I shall make appear hereafter and devout men to the support of the Ministry I demand which I know cannot be rationally answered by what means a Bishop should maintain hospitallity So that very reason equity and justice claim an allowance to be yielded to the maintenance of the Ministry 2. Now I shall prove That it stands with equity and justice That Ministers have Tithes for their allowance And this I prove four ways or by four Arguments Argument 1. First Because God himself appointed this payment of Tithes first to his Ministers the Levites as was mentioned before in way of compensation for their work of the Ministry And therefore it stands with equity and justice because it hath him for the first Author who doth all things justly Argument 2. Secondly Because the payment of Tithes hath been used and continued here in England many hundred years by the appointment of the supreame Magistrates from time to time without any interruption and hath been also confirmed and established by sundry laws under the Saxon Kings of this Realm long before the Conquest and by many Acts of Parliament since in their several Ages which never yet were repealed Who herein have followed the pattern which God had set them so that to charge them with injustice herein is both against Reason Religion Duty and charity From whence it 's clear that Beneficed Ministers of the Church of England in their several respective Incumbencies have as full just and legal title and claim to their Tithes and as much right thereunto as any Lord of a Mannour Freeholder or other person hath to any of the Lands or Goods whereof he standeth possessed to wit Per Leges Consuetudines Angliae Wherefore seeing it's evident out of the Chronicles and Histories of the Politick Government of this Nation that Tithes have been so long alienated from the Layity and dedicated and given to the maintenance of the Ministry by those persons in supreme power from whom Lay-mens title to their Lands and to the other nine parts of the increase and fruits of the same was derived it 's therefore contrary to all equity and reason that they should claim any property or interest in Tithes now who have been so long time out of possession of them and divested of all interest and property in them Argument 3. Thirdly Because Tithes are assigned to the Ministers in England by the peoples own consent and Vote in Parliament For the Parliaments Vote is their Vote the Parliament being the Representative body of all the people in the Land Furthermore it 's also to be considered for the defence of the justice of the peoples payment of Tithes to Ministers that seeing it 's not nominated in the New Testament where a compensation is allowed and enjoyned for the work of the Ministry what or how much this compensation or allowance shall be therefore there was great equity that the supreme lawful Magistrate and the Parliament should determine and appoint what it should be as being the fittest intermediate Judges between the Ministers and the People For it was neither fit that Ministers should have

and blind whether is greater the gold or the Temple that sanctifieth the gold But the word sanctifies the Church so saith our Saviour Sanctifie them with thy truth thy word is (b) Joh. 17.17 truth And again Now are ye clean through the word which I have spoken unto (c) Joh. 15.3 you And saith S. Faul Christ gave himself for his Church that he might sanctifie and cleanse it by the washing of water through the (d) Ephes 5.20 word The word therefore communicating sanctity and so therewith authority unto the Church must needs precede and excel it in both If any ask against whom I take up this weapon seeing the Church of Rome seems to disclaim and disavow this Tenet For the Rhemists in their Annotations on Gal. 2.2 affirm the disputation of this question to be superfluous and the comparison to be altogether unfit to be made I answer in the words of the Apostle So fight I not as one that beateth the (e) 1 Cor. 9.26 air I do not with the foolish Affricans called Psylli as Gellius reports take up Arms against the wind For besides divers others hereafter mentioned the said Doctors who would seem to decline this opinion and this unseemly comparison do in the very same place depresse the Scriptures and make them inferiour to the Church in four respects 1. In respect of Antiquity in that the Church was before them 2. In excellence of nature in that the Church is the Spouse of Christ the Temple of God and the proper subject of God and his graces for which Church the Scriptures were and not the Church for the Scriptures 3. In power of judging the Church having judicial power to determine of doubtful questions touching the sense of the Scriptures and other controversies of Religion of which judicial power the Scriptures are not capable 4. In evidence the definitions of the Church being more clear and evident then those of the Scriptures Now if by the Church they understood the whole Catholique Church and so included all the Patriarks Prophets and Apostles by whom the Scriptures were penned the contestation between us and them would not be so irreconcileable But their drift is to entitle the present Church Militant which is but one small part of the whole Catholique Church to those glorious prerogatives which belong not unto it And that it 's this Church which they so strive to advance above the Scriptures it 's more then manifest outof the writings of many of their Authors of special note amongst them as namely out of Pighius Melchior Canus and Stapleton All which in their writings quoted in the margent (a) Pig de Hierar eccle lib. 2. cap. 2. Can. loc com theolog lib. 2. cap. 8. Stapl. Doctr. princip lib. 9. cap. 12. here attribute authority to the present Church Militant above the Scriptures And Cardinall Bellarmine writes after their Copy affirming That the strength of all ancient Councels and of all opinions in doctrine doth depend upon the authority of the present (b) Bellar de effectu Sacram lib. 2. cap. 25. in fine Church Whereas therefore the fore-named Doctors of Rhemes did one while affirm all comparison between the preheminence and authority of the Church and Scriptures to be unfit to be made and anotherwhile spin out a tedious comparison between them about the very same particular they bewrayed both their personal weaknesse and the weaknesse of the cause which they intended to strengthen by stating and discussing that question which with their tongues or pens they had before disallowed to be disputed of Hitherto of the Theological conclusions inferred from this principle That Scripture is demonstratively divine Now it follows to speak of some duties for practice that may be raised and urged upon all sorts of persons from it and namely both upon Magistrates Ministers and People First This challengeth from all Christian Kings and Princes who are God's Vice-roys upon Earth all honourable respect patronage and possble protection of this holy word of God against all religions and opinions in Religion which are repugnant unto it and against all persons that either in word or deed doctrine or life slight or dishonour it For they sustaining the person of God here on earth for which they are dignified with the title of gods themselves in this (a) Psal 82.6 word do owe this reciprocal respect to him whose Vicegerents and Ministers they are to see as much as in them lies all due observance honour and obedience to be exhibited to this his sacred Word Thus did the good King Josiah for when the Book of the Law which was known to be God's Book was found in the house of the Lord and shewed unto him he presently summoned all the Elders of Judah and Jerusalem to appear before him and then himself rehearsed in their ears all the words of God's Book and made a Covenant both for himself and all the people that they should keep the Commandements and accomplish the Covenant written in it and suppressed all religions which did impunge it and removed all occasions and instruments of Idolatry and whatsoever else was adverse to the contents of (b) 2 Kin. 23. it Yea further it 's said that he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Beniamin to stand to (c) 2 Chro. 34.32 it And thus have all good and godly Princes ever done both under the Law and the Gospel And it 's great reason they should for the Scepter of Christ's Kingdom which is this word of his is a Scepter of (a) Psal 45.6 righteousnesse And a rod of (b) Psal 110.2 strength And when Kings Scepters uphold it then it defends them like the roof of a building either of wood or stone and the walls or pillars thereof which afford a reciprocal and mutual aid and benefit each to other the pillars or walls support and uphold the roof and the roof doth protect consolidate and corroborate them Thus the Scepter was never taken away from the Kings of Israel and Judah so long as they swayed it for the defence of God's word but while they were observant of it God was propitious to them Nor doth this duty lie solely upon the highest powers but upon all secondary and subordinate Magistrates both Counsellors of State Nobles Judges and Justices whom god hath advanced to such high places of honour and put into their hands the sword of justice for this very end primarily that they might weild it according to his word and for it according to the directions and rules that he hath inscribed in it and for the support of the honour and authority of it by punishing and suppressing all impious scorners prophaners and transgressors thereof And verily when they do thus execute justice by the word of God and for it and without connivence or partiality then are they the very nerves and sinews of the body of the Commonwealth and bring both strength and glory unto it When

Government of the World by Angels preached before the Astrologers in 4. Dr. Joh. Whincop God 's Call to Weeping and Mourning A Sermon preached at a Fast before the Parliament in 4. Mr. George Walker A Sermon preached at a Fast before the Parliament in 4. Richard Meggot The Rib Restored or the Honour of Marriage A Sermon preached in Dionis Back-Church occasioned by a Wedding the fifth of June 1655. newly published Mr. Valentine A Sermon preached at a Fast before the Parliament in 4. Mr. William Good Jacob Raised A Sermon preached at a Fast before the Lords in Parliament in 4. Mr. Thomas Goodwin The great Interest of States and Kingdomes A Sermon preached before the Parliament in 4. Mr. Samuel Kem The King of Kings His privy marks for the Kingdomes choice of new Members A Sermon preached upon the choice of Burgesses for the City of Bristol in 4. Mr. Ben. Hubbard Sermo Secularis Or a Sermon to bring to remembrance the dealings of Jehovah with this Kingdome of England in 4. Mr. J. P. A Sermon preached upon Matth. 22.21 wherein is set forth the King 's Due in part and the Peoples Duty in 4. Mr. Ambr. Stavely Iudex Expurgatorius Or a short Examination of the doctrine of Purgatory A Sermon lately published in 4. Mr. Peter Sterry The Clouds in which Christ comes A Sermon preached before the Parliament in 4. The teaching of Christ in the Soul A Sermon preached before the Parliament in 4. Mr. Robert Wilde The arraignment of a sinner at the Bar of Divine Justice A Sermon preached in St. Maryes in Oxon at an Assize there the 5th of March 1655. newly published in 4. Mr. Giles Firmin Stablishing against shaking or a discovery of the Prince of darknesse Scarcely transformed into an Angel of light powerfully now working in the deluded people called Quakers in 4. Mr. Stephen Marshall The Power of the Civil Magistrate in matters of Religion vindicated A Sermon preached before the first Parliament on a Monthly Fast day newly published Mr. Simeon Ash Good courage discovered and encouraged A Sermon preached before the Commanders of the Military forces of the City of London in 4. In Octavo large Mr. Robert Young A Soveraign Antidote against all Grief with the Victory of Patience in 8. Mr. Ben. Needler Expository Notes with Practical Observations upon Genesis lately published in 8. Octavo small Mr. George Hopkins Salvation from sin by Jesus Christ or the Doctrine of Sanctification which is the greater part of our Salvation founded upon Christ who is both the Meritorious and Efficient cause of sanctifying Grace purchasing it for working and perfecting it in his people c. newly published in 8. Mr. John Thrap Theologia Theologiae the true Treasure or a Treasury of holy Truths touching God's Word and God the Word in 8. Bp. Davenant An Exhortation to Brotherly Communion betwixt the Protestant Churches in 8. Bp. Cooper The Triumph of a Christian in three excellent Treatises 1. Jacob's wrestling with God c. in 8. The Bee-Hive of the Romish Church A work of all good Catholicks to be read and most necessary to be understood in 8. Mr. John Simpson The Perfection of Justification against the Pharisees the Purity of Sanctification against the Stainers of it the Unquestionablenesse of Glorification against the Sadduces in 8. Mr. Hall The Loathsomnesse of long hair A Treatise wherein the question is stated many arguments agaimst it produced with an Appendix against Painting Spots Naked Brests c. lately published in 8. Vindiciae Literarum The Schools Guarded or the excellency usefulnesse of Arts Sciences Languages History all sorts of Human Learning in subordination to Divinity with an Appendix in Answer to Mr. Webster lately published in 8. Mr. John Warren of Hatfield in Essex Principles of Christian Practice Illustrated with Questions and Scripture-answers lately published in 8. Mr. Daniel Evans A Baptismal Catechisme shewing unto what persons whether of riper years or as yet Infants the Sacrament of Baptism ought to be administred according to the Scriptures lately published in 8. Twelves large Mr. Thomas Gery The Fort Royal of Christianity Defended Or a demonstration of the Divinity of the sacred Scriptures with a discussion of the great controversies in Religion about universal redemption free-will original sin c. in 12. newly published The Practice of Christianity or the Epitome of Mr. Rogers seven Treatises in 12. Mr. Yhomas Jackson The true Evangelical Temper wherein Divinity and Ecclesiastical History are interwoven and mixt c. in three Sermons in 12. Twelves small Mr. Mullard Celestial Soliloquies composed of several divine Meditations and Prayers drawn from the holy Scripture in 12. Francis Thin Esq The perfect Embassador treating of the Antiquity Priveledges and Behaviour of men belonging to that Function in 12. FINIS