Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	kingdom_n	law_n	parliament_n	3,975	5	6.2994	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A83501	Reasons against the independant government of particular congregations: as also against the toleration of such churches to be erected in this kingdome. Together with an answer to such reasons as are commonly alledged for such a toleration. Presented in all humility to the Honourable House of Commons, now assembled in Parliament. By Tho. Edvvards, minister of the Gospel.	Edwards, Thomas, 1599-1647.; England and Wales. Parliament.	1641 (1641)	Wing E233; Thomason E167_16; ESTC R21753	47,020	78

of them and enter into Covenant among themselves and be a Church and live without Ministers and Sacraments along time upon pretence that they can finde none fit for them yet as these Independant men doe and when they doe chuse then chuse such of their owne opinions and wayes and so they may live together at liberty in ways pleasing themselves neither can this helpe it to say this belongs onely to Saints 't is their Prerogative Royall and not others for all Heretickes Sectaries or Libertines will count themselves Saints as well as our Independant men they may be their owne Judges and will say that they are Saints as well as you say for the Ministers and Magistrates of the Kingdome shall not have the power to determine who be Saints and who not so that if the State should tolerate the Independancie they know not what they tolerate but in the belly of this Independancie they tolerate and make way for Libertinisme Heresie and what ever Satan and the corrupt hearts of men have a pleasure to broach and fall into Reason X. I Propound this question what these men would have in this toleration whether the number of these Independant Congregations that they would have tolerated should be five or six Congregations onely and no more or shall the number be left undetermined to bee free to multiply into as many Churches as they please if the number must be determined this will overthrow their principles and Churches quickely as when one Church breakes into two or three as upon their principles it must and oft times doth as at Amsterdam into two at Roterdam also and at London and when one of the Tolerated Churches breakes into two or three which shall be reckoned that that is the Church allowed of by the State for each part will pretend to it but now if they say the number must be left undetermined then we may quickely have halfe a dozen of their Churches in some one Parish of a City or Towne nay two or three Churches in a place sprung out of one of their owne and we may have every where three or foure men of an opinion differing from others to goe make a different Church and so they will encrease in infinitum and there will be no end of divisions and subdivisions But before I conclude I will answer five or sixe Reasons that be commonly alledged by them for their Toleration in this Kingdome Reason I. THis is no more than what is granted to the French and Dutch who live amongst us and have Churches and Government of their owne way exempt from the Government established Answer The case is quite different and that will appeare by these particulars First Those French and Dutch Protestants have nothing nor desire nothing but that which is Originally according to the Church and people they were borne and brought up in they enjoy nothing as Contra-distinct to the Protestants of France and Holland but the Independant men move for that which is Contra-distinct to their owne Church and Nation Yea and to all reformed Churches Secondly This liberty was granted by our pious Princes in times of persecution to the Protestants that so they might have here the exercise of their Religion in their owne tongue when they could not enjoy it at home and it hath beene of great use upon occasions in this way ever since for a refuge to the persecuted Protestants but what is your case to this you may enjoy the Protestant Religion in this Land and that by the Law and Authority of King and Parliament what colour then that you should move for an exemption of your Churches Thirdly these French and Dutch Churches will willingly be joyned in Government and in one way of Discipline with the Kingdome if there be a reformation which you will not Fourthly These Churches are not in an Independant government neither doe they hold your Principles of the Church but be as much against them as we they doe admit of appeales and in all businesse of greater moment have Synods Fifthly They being strangers amongst us of different Nations and Tongues not having those relations of Kindred and acquaintance with us but keeping themselves for the most part among themselves there is not that danger of drawing away the people nor of causing Schismes as from you that are of our Nation and tongue neither have they or doe ever vent principles against our Church and Government as you doe but content themselves with their owne way they neither can nor will admit ours to be members of their Congregations in respect our people understand not their language so that the people are so farre from leaving our Churches and becomming members of theirs as that our people cannot so much as resort to their Congregations to heare them Preach they Preaching in a language the people understand not all which is quite contrary with you Sixthly there is a great reason and necessity of allowing them Churches and places to Preach and bee by themselves because many of them understand not English at all and for the benefit of strangers of their Religion who come over who else could not enjoy the publicke exercise of their Religion at all and they may well be allowed some Discipline among themselves in respect they maintaine al their own poore not charging the Parishes where they live with them all which will not hold as a ground for Toleration of Independancy Their meetings by themselves are not upon your principles of a Church or Church government but because of different language c. Reason II. VVE seeke no more then what is granted us in Holland and what wee may enjoy there in a Countrey where we be strangers 1. Answer If your toleration in Holland be a good ground for a toleration here that we should doe so because Holland doth it then there should be a Toleration for all Religions amongst us as Jewes Anabaptists c. And if you would have it so speake out plainely there are some of you have whispered it and often spoke of it in private in the answer you give to these reasons Speake your mind and if you justifie a Toleration of all Religions I will discusse that question with you and take it up against you as not fit neither in Divinity nor policy as both against Rules of Conscience and Policy Secondly There may be a Toleration of you in Holland with much more safety to the government established and peace of that Church then can be here in this Kingdome the people of that Country not understanding your language having little or no relation to you nor you to them of kindred friendship where as it is quite otherwise here Thirdly That people of the Hollanders generally are an industrious people minding their businesses profits and keeping to what 's established by their Lawes not troubling their heads so much with other points of Religion but here in England and especially in the City of London and great Townes