Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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B06090
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The Times dissected. Or, A learned discovrse of severall occvrrences very worthy of speciall observation, to deter evill men, and incourage good.
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1642
(1642)
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Wing T1289; ESTC R185073
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6,468
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11
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or Tyranny but Strafford sicke of the Kings well governing studied wayes of an arbitrary rule thinking his high tyde of favor would never come to an ebbe of fortune but she fooled him at last to the losse of all he held in this life most deare Great must be the art of ambition to keepe afloat the streame of a power seeing sublimity changeth as the spoke of the wheele or as the hand of the Diall at the highest 12. comes to one â—ee affected the honour and service of his Master with the ruine of the subject beating downe competitors of the worthy Patriotship and wrought by pride precipitation when by humility hee might have had a good station for he should have made it the operation of others rather then any appetite of his owne to gormondize the property of subjects goods and swallow their liberty putting fetters on the Law that nothing could be accomplished but what he and the Archbâ—shop pleased And lastly they barre from the King alwaies to heare the groanes of his people and wickednesse of their ministery This fatall deport of both might have proved Tragicall to the Kingdome where the ingredience of popular humour is mixed as well with armed forces not to be disbanded without great danger as with a mighty Schismaticall party as well Papists Brownists Anabaptists people pleased to fish in troubled waters and the malecontenâ—ed Clergy who have corrupted thâ— pure fountaines rather then they will be depressed in power it is to bee feared may all act a busie part in this Tragicke story In such designes Churchmen are never wanting to adde fuell to popular fires for though they worke it not with the meanest they effect it by head and chiefe-causing weaknesses in government and oppression of people for it is not the best doctrine a warre with subjects to advance their Hierarchy no Bishop no King When the fiâ—st Church rose by fasting and praying therefore they ought not so much teach us rules of loyalty as to know our owne duties in difficult points of Râ—ligion nor ought they make the Soveraigne believe the Parliament only breath out thâ—ir passions in a time of liberty and expresse the poverty of their Master to lessen his reputation abroad and credit at home when then the State is so festred it is a paine to fetch out the dead flesh without corasives which they are constrained to to keepe it from gangrening when that their whole aime next to religion is to looke into the Kings necessities to discharge the Armies take away the impeachments of the Common-wealth and provide for the royall sustentation much weakned by bad Counsells so that he may be potent at home and glorious abroad beginning to set things in order when so great disorder hath chalked the way to amendment for a mighty expence ever ends in the rapine and spoile of subjects but now if it please the King to follow the counsell of Machiavill doe as the time permits and be not weary of the strict enquiry of the Parliament he shall accomplish as full a Soveraignity as ever and greater This may cause the King with incomparable wisedome to suite himselfe to the necessity of the Time and expect future good from those meanâ— it so fervently and act it so painefully The King delivered of ill counsells by this blessed fortune freed and obeyed may begin to search the ground of the misery why that vertue and fortune which had setled and maintained so long his Ancestors in glory of Empire seemes to be in a trance at this time as if the Genious of the State had forsaken her and found out the way the reason of this mischiefe namely a wastfull hand too quicke for the fortunes and persons of his people the griping avarice of Ministers lawlesse liberty of Martiall forces uncivill actions of the Multitude and affording too much care to greedy and unworthy Ministers whose counsell was more subtill then solid seeing moderation reward and punishment are the supporters of Crownes and to be just of word is required of Subjects from Kings themselves so shall he effect a wondrous change in the State bringing the three Kingdomes home with wonder to his devotion and their obedience laying his foundation of government on religion quietnesse and justice so that peace and tranquility shall attend a long life though death be let in at last and fashion to his successors a most royall paterne to follow from his experience and authority to make him superior to Kings and as he is the first King of his name in our Empire since the conquest so shal he be most worthy to be stiled Britaines CHARLEMAINE and be not only capable to governe these three Realmes but the whole world so that the wrongs of fortune sometimes make Princes more then their prosperity both wise and fortunate FINIS