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	liberty_n	parliament_n	4,708	5	6.3048	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41016	Sacra nemesis, the Levites scourge, or, Mercurius Britan. disciplin'd, [Mercurius] civicvs [disciplin'd] also deverse remarkable disputes and resolvs in the Assembly of Divines related, episcopacy asserted, truth righted, innocency vindicated against detraction.	Featley, Daniel, 1582-1645.	1644 (1644)	Wing F593; ESTC R2806	73,187	105

upon record Lastly why was no cause expressed in the Warrant for committing him to Prison If the latter i. e. if the letter be so far from containing in it any matter subject to exception that it rather deserved approbation as expressing much loyaltie to his Majestie zeal of the true orthodox religion and a reverend regard and respect to the Assemblie of Divines with a desire to continue still among them with his Majesties leave 1. Why then is this letter made the only ground of all the proceedings against the Doctor 2. Why for writing this letter unsealed not to a stranger but to a member of the Assemblie was he voted out of both his Benefices all his estate both personall and reall sequestred his ●ooks in which lay his chiefest treasure taken from him his familie turned out of house and home his servants and friends examined upon oath concerning any plate money rents or arrerages bills or bonds belonging to him and all that could be found seized upon 3. Why is he suspended from the exercise of his Ecclesiasticall function 4. Why hath he been so long detained in prison and there put to a great charge without any allowance at all out of his sequestred estate worth above 400 pound per annum 5. Why is such a severe hand kept over him that in the space of eight moneths and more he can by no means obtain a most humble and conscionable petition to be rendered in his behalf to the house Thou whosoever readest these things and hast with Philip of Macedon reserved one eare for the defendant consider of all things impartially si quam opinionem animo conceperis si eam ratio conv●llit si ratio labefactabit si verita● extorquebit ne repugnes ●amque animo aut libenti aut aequo remittas Est eni●● haec norma forma judiciorum aequorum ut culpa sine invidiâ plectatur invidia sine culpâ ponatur whatsoever prejudicate opinion thou mayst have taken of the Doctor if reason convince it if reason overthrow it if truth it self pluck it from thee give over thy hold for this is the rule and pattern of all righteous judgements that guilt be censured without envie or spleen and envie and spleen without guilt be abandoned Post-script to the Reader COurteous Reader I know thou expectest that here the Doctors whole letter should be added But for the avoyding of ta●toligies because all the substantiall contents so far as in the Diurnall● and Mecurie they have been heretofore objected to the Doctor they are in in the Gentle Lash and in this Treatise related in severall sections and fully answered I shall intreat thee to be contented with the remainder thereof faithfully transcribed out of the originall sent to the Primate of Ireland Doctor Featley having written a letter to the Lord Arch-bishop of Armagh Mercurius Aulicus 41. week 1643. to give his Grace an account of his demeanour in the businesse of the Scottish Covenant was committed Prisoner to the Lord Peters house both his Livings given away to others and his Books bestowed upon that old instrument of sedition White of Dorchester But it was the Doctors reasons against their Covenant which raised all this stirre which the originall Letter being now in my hands I shall here impart and the pretended Houses who got a copie of it can testifie it to be true First the Doctor excepted against those words Wee will endeavour the true Reformed Protestants Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Discipline Worship and Government according to the Word of God These words said the Doctor imply that the Worship Discipline and Government of the Church of Scotland is according to the Word of God which said he is more then I dare subscribe much lesse confirme by an Oath For first I am not perswaded that any platforme of Government in each particular circumstance is jure divino 2. Admit some were yet I doubt whether the Scots Presbytery be that 3. Although somewhat may seeme to be urged out of Scripture for the Scots Government with some shew of probabilitie yet far from such evidence as may convince a mans conscience to sweare it is agreeable to Gods Word Next the Doctor excepted against that passage I shal endeavour the extirpation of Prelacy in the Church of England c. I saith he dare not 〈◊〉 that First in regard that I beleeve Episcopacie is an Apostolicall Institution 2. That the Church never so flourished as within 500 years after Christ when it was governed by Bishops 3. That our English Episcopacy is justified by the prime Divines of the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas 4. that our English Bishops now ever since the Reformation have disclaimed all Papall dependency 5. That the foure Generall Councels confirmed in England by Act of Parliament 1 Eliza. assert Episcopacy And 6. which all men had need consider the Ministers of the Church of England ordained according to a forme confirmed by Act of Parliament at their Ordination take an Oath that they will reverently obey their Ordinary and other chiefe Minister of the Church and them to whom the Government and charge is committed over them This Oath I and all Clergy-men have taken and if we shall sweare the extirpation of Prelacy we shall sweare to for sweare our selves Lastly he excepted against that passage I will defend the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament and defend His Majesties Person and Authority in defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdome Here said he the Members are put before the Head the Parliaments Priviledges before the Kings Prerogative and the restraint of defending the King only in such such cases 〈◊〉 to imply something which I fear may be drawne to ●ll consequence FINIS Esay 51.19 Acts 28.4 11.36 Herman leomel Spong ex lit. urb 8. catenae marty●um sunt monilia religionis Humphredus in vita Iuelli nebula est transib●t P●●s sat 1. Eras. adag. Andabatarum ritu Liv. dec Foedior in orbe trucidatio cum turba foeminarum puerorum que in succensum ignem se Conjicerent rivique sanguinis flammam orientem restinguerent Diego Tornis edit. Venet. 1604. Barcaeus vester Diabolo venit obviam petiitque ut cathedram ejus occuparet quia erit dignior Psal. 1. Prov. 26.5 Alderm. P. Vell. Paters l. 2. Divin Instit. l. ult. Scalig. contra Lyid In locis nitidissimis olidum ponit * The one was hanged on a Gallowes fifty cubits high the other in a Cage on the highest Tower in Munster Civicus Scoticus C●elicus Merc. Brit. pag. 47. Annal. Tacit. lib. 12. Agrippina Statilium Taurum hortis ejus inhians pervertit Iustin. lib. 1. Persae festum celebrant ob necem Magorum dictum {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Armiger Warner 1643. (a) M W●ite of Dorchest (b) M. Nye (c) M. Ben (d) M Cooke (e) Andrew Ke●win Brit. p. 45. Ans. The name of a Mood in the

lay traps in their wayes who guide our feet into the way of peace To make men Delinquents and then to persecute them with all severity Is this the piety of this age for the flocks of Christ to betray their Pastours to ravening Wolves to strengthen the Armes of Brownists and base miscreants against learned painfull and Orthodox Divines to take Oath upon Oath and enter into Covenant after Covenant to maintaine and support the true reformed Religion and yet to supplant and upon forged Cavillations overthrow the knowne Champions thereof O ubi estis fontes lachrymarum Oh where are yee fountains of teares SECT. V. That the Doctor was no Intelligencer or Spie MAulicus wee have traced your Intelligence from the Parliament to the Assemblie and found your Mercurie in the habit of a Doctor but he confessed the hope of a Deanerie seduced him Nay rather we have traced a cunning Merchant from the Beare at Bridge-foot to Kennington from Kennington to the close Committee from the close Committee to Oxford from Oxford to the Court of Wards and from thence to the Leaguer at Saint Albans Egregiam verò laudem let it be recorded to the everlasting prayse of the agents that beare themselves upon the close Committee that by fraud and falsehood they have entrapped Simplicitie betrayed Loyaltie and rewarded Treacherie before they put the Doctor into the habit of an Intelligencer they transformed themselves into Angels of light As for the Doctors confessing that the hope of a Deanerie seduced him thy word will be taken for no more then thy weekely intelligence brings thee in produce but one witnesse for it though as copped a Round-head as thy selfe and I will confesse thee to be an honest man But thou hast a Patent to Lye and whatsoever thou printest in thy weekly Curranto's though never so grossely absur'd and palpably false after thou hast got M. Whites hand to it no man can say black is thine eye Yea but the Doctor is charged to be a Spie and Intelligencer to Oxford by the report made to the House of Commons which here followeth A Letter of Doctor Featley's intercepted going to Oxford to the Primate of Armagh wherin were contained great imputations upon the proceedings of the Assembly and diverse Members both of the Assembly and Parliament whereby it appeares that he is a Spie and Intelligencer to Oxford The Letter was read before the Committee and the Doctor called to his Answer who confessed all the materiall points in it c. Septemb. 29. 1643. This report of the Chaire-man may be reduced to this Syllogisme Whosoever sends a Letter to the Primate of Armagh containing great imputations upon the Members of the Assembly and Parliament is a Spie and Intelligencer to Oxford and ought to be deprived of both his Livings Bookes and Libertie But the Doctor sent a Letter to the Primate of Armagh c. Ergo he ought to be deprived of his Livings Bookes and Libertie as it followeth there in the Sentence Here the Conclusion is in Ferio or in Bocardo rather But the premisses are both false and it will cost the Reporter hot water to make good either of them For first the originall Letter was never shewed to the Doctor nor acknowledged by him nor any witnesse produced to testifie that it was written by him and therefore can be no evidence against him in any Court where Astrea sits Secondly The Transcript upon which the Committee proceeded disagreeth with the originall in diverse materiall points as is proved elsewhere Neither was there any Faith at all made before the Doctor to convince him that the Letter read before the Committee was a true Transcript Thirdly in that Letter there was no imputation great or small layd upon the Members of the Assembly or Parliament unlesse it be an imputation to say That the Prolocutors dayly prayer was the best and truest Diurnall for that he had a speciall gift to pray not so much ex tempore as de tempore Fourthly The great imputations spoken of wee desire that the Reporter for his reputation sake would specifie For either they were true or false If they were true why are nor the Members of the Assembly and Parliament questioned and punished for them if they were false why was not the Doctor put to his proofe and in case he failed censured as a slanderer There 's a Pad in the Straw Aliquid latet quod non patet Fifthly To send a Letter from one Member of the Assembly to another is not to be a Spie or Intelligencer to the adverse partie But such a one was the Primate of Armagh not onely a Member of the Assembly chosen by the joynt Votes of the whole House of Commons but a Member at that time in such grace with the Assembly that he was often alledged with great honour and respect both by the Assessors and others especially in debating the Article of Christs descent into Hell Sixtly {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} one Swallow makes not a Summer nor one act a habit nor one link a Chain nor one flower a garland nor one rotten grain a corrupt Pomegranat nor doth one Letter sent to Wickham lying in the Road to Oxon. make a Spie or Intelligencer to Oxford and more then one Letter the Docto● never dictated and that also intercepted how then can he be a Spie For the Letter intercepted could give no intelligence to Oxon being stayed at London Seventhly Resolves of a Synod and conclusions de side are no secrets of State neither is the imparting of them to a most religious learned and every way accomplished Bishop betraying secrets to an enemie but consulting an Oracle in Theologicall disputes of as great difficultie as moment Eightly Whereas it is said that the Doctor confessed all the materiall points in the transcript it is most untrue for the main and onely materiall point concerning aspersions layd upon Members of the Assembly and Parliament was never so much as put to the Doctor much lesse confessed by him and for the truth hereof he appealeth to the whole Committee for Examinations Lastly to return to thee Sir Britanicus Civicus or Scoticus for thou art a man omnium nominum horarum tell me in good earnest what is the Trade or Profession or Mysterie whereby thou livest Is it not to be a Citie-Spie and Intelligencer And why may it not be as lawfull for the Doctor to send Theologicall Truths to Oxford as for thee every week Civill Lyes to all parts of the Kingdom And because it is said thou art either Cornutus or Cornificius I very much entreat thee in the last place to dissolve this Dilemma or Cornutum argumentum Either the Letter sent by the Doctor to the Primate of Armagh contained in it matter of offence and scandall or not Ad partes which of the horns wilt thou take hold off if thou sayest the Letter contained no matter of offence or scandall thou sayest just nothing

Super-indendents in Germanie Presidents in the reformed Synods in France and Masters Provosts and Heads of Colledges and Halls in our Universities who have a kind of prelacie and authoritie over the fellows and students whereof the major part are Divines and in holy orders Here I conceive it will be said that none of these are aimed at but only Diocesan Bishops alreadie banished out of Scotland and prelates indeed they are in a more eminent degree and if prelacie be restrained to them it is Episcopacie that is principally shot at to the extirpation whereof I dare not yeeld my vote or suffrage lest this new Oath intangle me in perjurie For both my self and all who have received orders in this Kingdom by the imposition of Episcopall hands have freely engaged our selves by oath to obey our Ordinarie and to submit to his godly judgement and in all things lawfull and honest to receive his commands if then we now swear to endeavour the abolishing of Epscopacy we swear to renounce our canonicall obedience that is as I apprehend we swear to forswear our selves It is true that the Dr was furnished with many other reasons for episcopacy besides these and of some he gave a hint in the assembly it self upon other occasions as namely SECT. VIII Sixteen reasons for episcopall government THat the name of episcopacy even as it signifieth a degree of eminency in the Church is a sacred and venerable title first in holy scripture ascribed to our blessed Redeemer who as he is dominus dominantium lord of lords so also episcopus episcoporum bishop of bishops the shepheard and bishop of all our souls next to the Apostles whose office in the Church is stiled by the holy Ghost Episcope a bishoprick let another take his bishoprick though it be translated let another take his office yet the originall signifies not an office at large but an episcopall function that office which Iuda● lost and Matthias was elected into which was the office and dignitie of an Apostle * lastly to those whom the Apostles set over the Churches as namely to Timothy and Titus who in the subscription of the Apostles letters divinely inspired are stiled Bishops in the restrained sense of the word 2 Tim. 4. written from Rome to Timoth●us the first bishop elected of the church of Ephesus and to Titus the first elect Bishop of the church of the Cretians how ancient these subscriptions are it is not certain among the learned if they bear not the same date with the Epistles themselves the contrary wherof neither is nor can be demonstrated yet they are undoubtedly very ancient and of great authority and in them the word bishop cannot be taken at large for any minister or presbyter but for a singular person in place and dignitie above other pastors for there were many other presbyters in Ephesus both before and besides Timothy Acts 20.27.18 and in the Island of Creet or Candie there must of necessity be more then one pastor or minister Besides S. Paul investeth Timothy in episcopall power making him a judge of presbyters both to rebuke them 1 Tim. 5.1 and to prefer and reward them ver. 17. and to censure them ver. 19. Against an elder receive no accusation but under two or three witnesses and he giveth to Titus expressely both potestatem ordinis jurisdictionis of order and jurisdiction of order in those words c. 1.5 That thou shouldst ordain elders in every citie and of jurisdiction I left thee in Creet that thou shouldst continue {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to correct or redresse the things that remained or those things which the Apostle before intended to amend but had not redressed 2. The Angels of the seven churches Apoc. 10.20 were no other in the judgement of the best learned * commentators both ancient and later then the bishops of those sees for in those provinces or territories there cannot be conceived to be lesse then many hundred ordinary preachers and pastors yet there were but seven precisely answering to the seven golden candlesticks seven candlesticks seven lights burning in them these can be no other then seven prime pastors who had the oversight of the rest for the errors and abuses in all those churches are imputed to them and they reproved for not redressing them c. 2.14 Thou hast them that maintain the doctrine of Baalam and v. 20. Thou sufferest the * woman Iezebel to teach c. 3. It is confessed by Molinaeus and other learned patrons of presbyteriall government themselves that episcopacy is a plant either set in the church by the Apostles themselves or their immediate successors in the first and best ages of the Church and is it agreeable to piety to swear the extirpation of such a plant 4. It cannot be denyed that when the Church most flourished and was of far larger extent then now it is over the face of the christian world there was no * other government then episcopacy regulated by divine precepts and ecclesiasticall canons and shall we swear to extirpate that government under the which the church most thrived and flourished Shall we swear against our prayers viz. for the rooting out of that upon which we are enjoyned to pray God to pour down the dew of his blessing surely the dew of heaven burns not the root of any plant upon earth but waters it and makes it grow 5. They were bishops who had the chiefest hand first in the plantation of christian religion in the dayes of Lucius king of Britain and after in the ●estitution in the days of Etheldred King of Kent and in the reformation of it in the reign of Edward the 〈◊〉 and Queen Elizabeth and is it a religiou● act to e●adicate tha● government and power which both planted and pr●ned religion it 〈◊〉 6. Christ died not intestate he made his last Will and Testament and by it bequeathed many legacies ●o his Church and among them not onely catholike doctrine but di●cipline also thi● discipline if it be not Episcopall government moderated by Evangelicall and Apostolicall rules the whole Church is guiltie of the losse of a sacred and precious jewell for certain it is out of records of all ages of the Church that no other wa● ever retained or can be found save thi● before the religious reformer and magistrates of Geneva having banished their Popish Bishops were after a sort necessitated to draw a new plat-forme of Ecclesiasticall discipline by Lay-Elders Christ as the Apostle teacheth us was faithfull in the house of God as Moses and if Moses after his fortie dayes speech with God on the mount received a pattern from God and delivered it to the Iewes not only of doctrine but of discipline also which continued till Christs comming in the flesh it cannot be conceived but that Christ lest a pattern of government to his Church to continue till the end of the world and doubtlesse his Apostles with whom he conversed forty

dayes after his resurrection speaking of those things which appertain to the kingdom of God Acts 3.1 delivered that to the Church which they received from their Master What government or discipline was that There can be conceived but three formes of government Episcopall most conformable to Monarchie Presbyteriall to A●istoc●acie and Independent as they tearm it to Democracie Presbyteriall or Independent it could not be for Presbyteriall is no elder then the reformation in Geneva and the Independent no elder then New-England whereas Episcopall government hath been time out of mind no● in one bu● in all Churches and sith it was not first constituted by any sanction of a generall Councell it followes necessarily according to S. Augustins observation that it must needs be an Apostolicall institution for what not one Church but all Churches not in one age but all ages hath uniformly observed and practised and no man can define who after the Apostles were the beginners of it must needs be supposed to be done by order or tradition from them 7. This forme of government was not only generally received and embraced by Catholikes but even by heretikes and 〈◊〉 who though they severed from the communion of the Church in doctrine yet not in discipline for the Novatians and Donatists had Bishops of their own from whom they took their names only AErius who stood for a Bishoprick and missed it out of discontent broached that new doctrine wherewith the heads of our schismatiks are so much intoxicated viz. that there ought to be no distinction in the Church between a Bishop and a Presbyter and for this confounding those sacred orders was himselfe ranked among heretiks and stands upon record in the Bed●olls of them made by Epiphanius Augustin and Philastrius It is true he had other brands on him but this was the proper mark put upon him by those ancient fathe●s who mention this tenet of his as erroneous and hereticall I grant some of the ancient Doctors affirm that in the beginning till the prevention of schism made this distinction between Bishops and Presbyters they were all one in name as now they are in those essentiall parts of their function viz. preaching of the Word and administration of the Sacraments But AErius was the first who professedly oppugned the ecclesiasticall hierarchie maintaining that there ought to be no difference and distinction between Bishops and Elders 8. This assertion of AErius as in the doctrine thereof it was def●ned by the Doctors of the Church to be heresie so in the practise thereof it is condemned by the great councell of Chalcedon to be sacriledge to confound say they the ranks of Bishops and Elders and to bring down a Bishop to the inferior degree of an Elder is no l●sse then sacriledge Now I would fain know how that comes to be truth now which was condemned for heresie and to be pietie now which was branded for sacriledge above 1200 years agoe 9. Neither were the Fathers of the councell of Chalcedon only zealous in this cause which so much concerned the honour of the Church but the other three also whose authoritie S. Gregorie held to be the next to the four Evangelists and the doctrine thereof is after a sort incorporated into our Acts of Parliament Eliz. 1. In these councells which all consisted of Bishops Episcopacie it self is almost in everie canon and sanction either asserted or regulated 10. Next to the primitive Church we owe a reverend respect to the reformed Churches beyond the seas who either have bishops as in Poland Transilvania Denmark and Swethland or the same function is in nature though not in name to wit intendents and super-intendents or they would have them if they could as I understood from manie Ministers in France or at least approve of them as appeareth by the testimonie of Beza Sadiel Scultetus and others 11. What should I speak of the Articles of religion ratified by a sequence of religious Princes succeeding one the other and confirmed by act of Parliament to which all beneficed men are required under pain of losse of their livings within a moneth to professe their assent and consent in which both the power and consecration of bishops and ministers is expressely asserted and their distinction from presbyters or of the Statute of Carlile the 15 of Edw. 2. and the first of Qu. Eliz. with very many other unrepealed Acts in which episcopall government is either related unto or regulated or confirmed in such sort that quite to abolish and extirpate it would bring a confusion and make a stop as well in secular as ecclesiasticall courts And therefore our zealous reformers if they think themselves not too good to be advised by the great councellor ought to take heed how they rashly and unadvisedly pluck up the tares as they esteem them of holy canons and ecclesiasticall laws ne simul ●radicent triticum lest together with those tares as they count them they pluck up by the roots the good wheat of many profitable and wholesome laws of the common wealth and Acts of Parliament 12. But if the authoritie of both houses could soon cure the●e sores in precedent Acts of Parliament yet how will they make up the breaches in the consciences of all those who in the late Protestation and this new Covenant have taken a solemn oath to maintain the priviledges of the members of Parliament and the liberties of the subject The most authenticall evidence whereof are Charta magna and the Petition of right in both which the rights of the Church and priviledges of episcopall sees are set down in the fore-front in capitall letters 13. To strain this string a little higher the power of granting congedeliers together with the investiture of Arch-bishops Bishops and collation of Deanries and Prebends with a setled revenue from the first fruits and tenths thereof is one of the fairest flowers in the Kings crown and to rob the imperiall diadem of it considering the King is a Person most sacred is sacriledge in a high degree and not sacriledge only but perjurie also in all those who attempt it For all Graduates in the Universitie and men of rank and qualitie in the Common-wealth who are admitted to any place of emminent authoritie or trust take the oath of Supremacie whereby they are bound to defend and propugne all preemminences authorities and prerogatives annexed to the imperiall crown whereof this is known to be one inherent in the King as he is supream head of the Church within his realms and defender of the faith 14. Yet for all this admit that reason of state should inforce the extirpation of episcopacie thus rooted as it hath been said both in the royall prerogative and priviledge of the subject and in the laws of of the land it is a golden maxime of law possumus quod jure possumut we can doe no more then lawfully we may If episcopall government must be overthrown it must be done in