Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	new_a	old_a	testament_n	3,965	5	8.0680	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39796	The perfect politician, or, A full view of the life and action (military and civil) of O. Cromwel whereunto is added his character, and a compleat catalogue of all the honours conferr'd by him on several persons.	Fletcher, Henry.; Raybould, William.	1660 (1660)	Wing F1334; ESTC R18473	129,473	366

ones to be made in that behalf 11. That the Protestant Christian Religion as it is contained in the Old and New Testaments be asserted and held forth for the publike profession of these Nations and no other and that a Confession of Faith be agreed upon and recommended to the people of these Nations and none be permitted by words or writings to revile or reproach the said Confession of Faith c. This is the sum of the most material matters contained in the Parliaments Advice which the Protector liked very well and was resolved to follow yet with much reluctancy in himself considering the great burthen that was to be borne upon his shoulders which he had rather any man should bear then himself but being it was the pleasure of Parliament that none but he must be the buckler to defend Englands Priviledges he past their Petition and declared unto the whole Assembly as followeth That he came thither that day not as to a Triumph but with the most serious thoughts that ever he had in all his Life being to undertake one of the greatest burthens that ever was laid upon the back of any humane creature so that without the support of the Almighty he must sinke under the weight of it to the damage and prejudice of these Nations This being so he must ask help of the Parliament and of those that fear God that by their prayers he might receive assistance from God for nothing else could enable him to the discharge of so great a duty and trust That seeing this is but an Introduction to the carrying on of the Government of these Nations and there being many things which cannot be supplied without the assistance of Parliament it was his duty to ask their help in them not that he doubted for the same Spirit that had led the Parliament to this would easily suggest the same to them For his part nothing would have induced him to take this unsupportable burthen to flesh and blood but that he had seen in the Parliament a great care in doing those things which might really answer the ends that we have engaged for and make clearly for the liberty of the Nations and of the Interest and preservation of all such as fear God under various Forms And if these Nations be not thankful to them for their care therein it will fall as a sin on their heads Yet there are some things wanting that tend to reformation to the discountenancing vice the encouragement of vertue but he spake not this as in the least doubting their progress but as one that doth heartily desire to the end God may Crown their work that in their own time and with what speed they judge fit these things may be provided for This Speech being ended the Members returned again to the House and in few dayes after the Speaker received a Letter from the Protector desiring the Parliament to adjourn their sitting till further time Hereupon the speedy Inauguration of his Highness was concluded upon Accordingly June 26. 1657. all things being prepared in Westminster Hall for this great solemnity the Protector about two of the clock in the after-noon went by water to the Lords House and after some short retirement into a room near the Painted Chamber he came forth attended by the chief Grandees of his Court all these being marshalled into Ranks and Files marched away with his Highness to the place appointed in Westminster-Hall where the Protector having taken his standing under a cloath of Estate the Speaker Sir Thomas Widdrington in the name of the Parliament presented to him a Robe of Purple-Velvet lined with Ermines a Bible a Sword and a Scepter all which were precious tokens of the Parliaments favor at the delivery of these things the Speaker made a short Comment upon them to the Protector which he divided into four parts as folfolloweth 1. The Robe of Purple this is an embleme of Magistracy and imports Righteousness and Justice When you have put on this Vestment I may say you are a Gown-man This Robe is of a mixt colour to shew the mixture of Justice and Mercy Indeed a Magistrate must have two hands Plectentem amplectentem 2. The Bible is a Book that contains the Holy Scriptures in which you have the happiness to be well vers'd This Book of Life consists of two Testaments the Old and New the first is Christum Velatum in the second is Christum Revelatum it is a Book of Books and doth contain both Precepts and Examples for good Government 3. Here is a Scepter not unlike a staff for you are to be a staff to the weak and poor it is of antient use in this kind It 's said in Scripture that the Scepter shall not depart from Judah It was of like use in other Kingdoms Homer the Greeke Poet calls Kings and Princes Scepter-Bearers 4. The last thing is a Sword not a Military but Civil Sword it is a Sword rather of defence then offence not to defend yourself onely but others also If I might presume to fix a Motto upon this Sword it should be this Ego sum domini Protectoris ad protegendum populum meum This Speech being ended the Speaker took the Bible and gave the Protector his Oath afterwards Mr. Manton made a prayer wherein he recommended the Protector Parliament Council the Forces by Land and Sea Government and people of the three Nations to the Protection of God Which being ended the Heralds by sound of Trumpet proclaimed his Highness Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging requiring all persons to yeeld him due obedience At the end of all the Protector with his Train returned a joyful man no doubt to White-Hall and the Members to the Parliament-House where they prorogued their sitting to the next January There is no humane joy free from the mixture of some sorrow yea many times it falleth out to be equivalent to if not superabounding the joy it self So it fell out here for though the Protector might rejoyce at this acquisition of a Scepter yet the death of General Blake like a dish of cold water cast into the boyling Pot of his rising fortunes could do no less then mitigate the heat of it and cover the Courts countenance with a Cypress Vail This noble Blake in the beginning of Englands distractions sufficiently testified a high resolution in his almost miraculous defending of Lime and Taunton against the furie of Prince Maurice and the Lord Gorings Armies Afterwards the worth of this inestimable great Commander being taken notice of in Parliament they resolved it should not long lie hid at home but shew it self abroad and therefore he was advanced to be one of their Generals at Sea At his enterance into this Office he pent up Prince Rupert in the chief Port of Portugal and hunted him from Sea to Sea till he had reduced those ships with him which before had revolted from the Parliament This was but

importance and might much conduce to the taking in of Dunkirk it self as afterwards it proved The French and English having beleaguered this strong place did not lie long before they reduced it to a surrender upon Composition so that it was delivered up wholly into the possession of the English But presently after the French being withdrawn into winter-Quarters came a strong body of Spaniards and made a fierce Camisado upon the Fort hoping to give the English little joy in their new Conquest but it fell out quite otherwise for the assailants were stoutly repulsed and inforc't to flee having lost in the attempt several brave Commanders The Protectors forraign affairs standing in a posture answerable to his desires his domestick designes at the same time did likewise very well correspond thereunto for the Parliament having sate near nine Months had in this time past many Acts which crowned the Protectors hopes so fully that more could not have been desired by him nor well granted by them For first out of a deep sence of his loss should such a design as bold Syndercomb's take effect they made provisions for the security of his Highness Person wherein it was Enacted High Treason for any to attempt compass or imagine the Protectors death This Act having pared the claws of cholerick humours at home in three whoops more the Title of Charls Stuart c. was utterly defunct And besides this to answer the end for which they were called round sums of money were granted to carry on the Spanish War notwithstanding his Highness late Conquests in the Indies that so the Protector might with more facility bang the legs of that long-limb'd Enemy The Acts made for this purpose were these that follow   Per Mens An Act for an Assesment upon England for three Months at the rate of 60000 l. On Scotland for three Months at 05000 l. On Ireland for three Months at 05000 l. On England Scotland and Ireland for three years     England to pay 35000 l. Scotland 06000 l. Ireland 09000 l. An Act for continuing of Tunnage and Poundage     An Act for preventing the multiplicity of buildings in and about the Suburbs of London and within ten miles thereof a whole years Revenue to be presently payd for dwelling or out-Houses that had been reared upon new Foundations since the year 1620.     An Act for Excise of merchandize imported Hobby-Horses Childrens Rattles and old shirts not exempted     These with many more being at once presented to the Protector for his consent were by him passed at which time he made this short Speech to the Parliaments Speaker I perceive that among these many Acts of Parliament there hath been a very great care had by the Parliament to provide for the just and necessary support of the Commonwealth by these Bills for levying of money now brought to me which I have given my consent unto and understanding it hath been the practice of those who have been chief Governours to acknowledge with thanks to the Commons their care and regard of the Publike I do very heartily and thankefully acknowledge their kindness herein The Protectors thanks for this could do no less then animate the Parliament to compleat the great work they were about for settlement of the Nation This business had been dayly debated and was almost brought to perfection when on a sudden a Petition was ushered into the House by a worthy Citizen of London to have his Highness one Tittle higher in his Title Hereupon the great Machine of Englands Government called the Petition and Advice was hastened away to the Protectors view with a desire that his Highness would be pleased to magnifie himself with the Title of KING Alas what thing more averse to his nature could be presented to him then this It was not to sit in high places that made him undertake the Government but rather to be a Servant to his Countrey Monarchie he knew was as odious to the Army as according to the proverb comparisons among the people and therefore he could not look upon this otherways then as a Temptation to try the strength of his resolution against that which before had like to have wrackt the peoples Liberties which said he undoubtedly had fallen out had not he stept into the sea of bloud and with invincible Arms preserved the Ship of State from those Piratical inchroachers that were ready to board her Yet to do nothing unadvisedly nor without mature deliberation his Highness took time to return the Parliament this positive answer to their liquorish desire which he with much meekness gave them in the Painted Chamber in these words That he could not undertake the Government with the Title of King Upon this the Parliament voted that Protector should be the stile of the chief Magistrate All things being now brought to maturity in the Petition and Advice and nothing wanting to make it a Law but onely the Protectors condescention a Committee was sent to desire a Conference with his Highness which he granted and appointed the place of meeting to be in the Painted Chamber May 25. 1657. his Highness attended by his chief Officers came accordingly and there the Speaker Sir Thomas Widdrington presented him with the Parliaments Petition and Advice the substance whereof was as followeth 1. That his Highness under the Title of Lord Protector would be pleased to exercise the office of chief Magistrate over England c. and to govern according to all things in this Petition and Advice also that in his life-time he would appoint the Person that should succeed in the Government after his death 2. That he would call Parliaments consisting of two Houses once in three years at farthest 3. That those Persons who are legally chosen by a free election of the people to serve in Parliament may not be excluded from doing their duties but by consent of that House whereof they are Members 4. In the fourth was shewn the qualifications of Parliament-Members 5. In the fifth the Power of the other House 6. That the Lawes and Statutes of the Land be observed and kept and no Laws altered suspended abrogated repealed or new Law made but by Act of Parliament 7. For a constant yearly revenue ten hundred thousand pounds to be settled for maintenance of the Navy and Army and three hundred thousand pounds for support of the Government besides other temporary supplies as the Commons in Parliament shall see the necessities of the Nations to require 8. That the number of the Protectors Council shall not be above one and twenty whereof the Quorum to be seven and not under 9. The chief Officers of State as Chancellors Keepers of the great Seal c. to be approved of by Parliament 10. That his Highness would encourage a Godly Minstery in these Nations and that such as do revile or disturb them in the Worship of God may be punished according to Law and where the Lawes are defective new